MULLINS CONTINUES WITH HOT STREAK - 9/01/01
MULLINS CONTINUES CLIMB FOR TITLE DEFENSE IN DELAWARE
By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE (9/1/01) - Defending point champion, Craig Mullins of Bridgeville, Del. got off to a slow start in the 2001 season but since his first win in mid-July, he has been on fire. Mullins, who is currently second to Bobby Wilkins in the point standings, continued his charge by taking his fifth win of the season in Saturday night's 25-lap Valley National Gases Modified feature. Eddie Towers of Milford, Del. upped his win total to six after he captured the 15-lap Modified Lite main.
Eighteen-year-old Kyle Strickler set the pace from his pole starting position in the modified main. Chad Marvel worked by Glenn Reed for second but had it taken by Ricky Johnson on lap four. Johnson then looped his car coming of the fourth turn with a flat tire and was nearly collected by Mullins. Mullins lost several positions in the altercation. Cliff Foskey stepped up to challenge Strickler for the lead just before the yellow flew again for the stalled car of Doug Beach.
On the restart Marvel regained the second spot with Mullins working his way back into third. At the halfway sign the top five were Strickler, Mullins, Marvel, Foskey, and Andy Best. Mullins made a bid for the lead on 14 as he powered under Strickler in the third turn. Mullins then slid up the track and Strickler raced under him to regain the lead. Mullins had just nosed ahead of Strickler when the yellow came out for debris on the speedway. Under the yellow Strickler headed to the pits with a flat left rear tire ending his strong run. Norman Short was on a late race charge and was sitting second under the yellow.
Once out front, Mullins had no problems and survived a final yellow with three to go. He went on to his fifth win of the year in the Gene's Auto Sales/Bi-Rite Auto Sales/Troyer. Short, Marvel, H.J. Bunting, and Wilkins rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Best, Johnson, Sparky White, Ellsey Conover, and Strickler. Strickler, Best, and Mullins won the heats with Robert Dutton taking the consolation.
It took three attempts to get the first lap of the Modified Lite feature in the books but when it was, Eddie Towers had moved from his sixth starting spot to the lead. Dana Walker moved into the second spot with Danny Martin in third. Bobby Walls climbed through the field to second from ninth and at the halfway sign the top five were Towers, Walls, Erik McKinney, Judd Mills, and Jon Callaway.
Two cautions in the second half would keep Towers from building a big lead. Callaway came on strong on the final lap to take second but could not catch the leader. At the checkered, it was Towers, in the Glenn Richards/Willis Ford/Pro Suzuki taking the win. Callaway, McKinney, Walls, and Martin rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Walker, J.R. Steele, Landis Musser, Joe Warren, and Jason Cahall.
This Saturday night the Slide for 5 returns along with the Vintage Stock Cars and the four weekly divisions. Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 7 p.m.