MILLS AVOIDS TRAFFIC TO TRIUMPH IN VOLUSIA FLORIDA SWING 2000 OPENER
BARBERVILLE, FL ...DIRT Motorsports kicked off its Silver Anniversary of racing at Volusia Speedway Park on Tuesday and it was Delaware driver Jamie Mills scoring a narrow victory in the FLORIDA SWING 2000 opener.
Mills' first career Florida Tour triumph was worth $2,000 and improved his DIRT big-block Modified win total to 14. All previous feature wins for DIRT's 1994 Rookie of the Year were registered at Bridgeport (NJ) Speedway and Delaware Int'l Speedway, where he is the reigning points champion.
"We just got lucky tonight," said Mills, 29, alluding to the lap 23 crash that sidelined race leader Brett Hearn and returned Mills to the point. "Brett definitely had the fast car but it was just our night."
"There's something about this track, it's a different configuration that just seems to fit Delaware drivers. The Delmar (Delaware) set-up seems to be close right from the start and we're able to fine tune it the rest of the week," said Mills, who finished third in the final Florida points last February and fourth the year before.
Mills stayed tuned in throughout the night as he led all but four laps scored in the 29th Winternationals lid-lifter. He started outside row two to begin the 30-lap modified main after finishing second to home state rival Deron Rust in the first of three qualifying heats. The 'heads-up' feature race start placed Mills fourth yet he needed just three laps to duck under Rust following the first of five caution periods for minor mishaps.
The Milford, Del. standout quickly opened up a comfortable advantage while the Troyer cars of Doug Hoffman and Kenny Tremont weaved their way toward the front. Seventeenth-place starter Hearn was charging even faster, taking the high line around Volusia's smooth half-miler to crack the top-five by lap 10. Teammate Tony Stewart, top '99 Winston Cup rookie, ran among the top-10 until contact sent his own Budweiser entry sliding into the turn one wall.
Hearn remained on track and finally swept around Mills as the leaders exited turn two. The New Jersey star suddenly mirrored Stewart's plight just two laps later as he jumped a wheel in traffic and slammed the turn one wall after landing.
Mills inherited the lead and only '99 DIRT Driver of the Year Tremont could get close as the white no. 30 Mills Bros. Markets/Troyer machine held on for a car-length victory to begin DIRT's 25th season of open-wheel competition.
Doug Hoffman, Tim Fuller and younger brother Keith Hoffman crossed the line in order while hard-charger Butch Tittle (began 25th), Alan Johnson, Scott Kania, race alternate Kenny Brightbill and defending Hoosier Tire/Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT Champion Danny Johnson rounded out the top-10 in the 25-minute finale.
The DIRT Modifieds return to Volusia on Thursday to battle in round two, with a 50-lap championship event closing out the four-day swing under the lights on Saturday.
FLORIDA SWING 2000 RACE RESULTS @ Volusia Speedway Park - Tue., Feb. 15
DIRT Modified Feature (30L)
FIN
CAR#
DRIVER
TEAM (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)
1
30
Jamie Mills/Milford,DE
Mills Bros. Markets/Troyer/Myers
2
115
Kenny Tremont/West Sand Lake,NY
Emerick Assoc-S&S Asphalt-Fane Concrete/Troyer/Tremont
3
27
Doug Hoffman/Allentown,PA
J & J Shop/Troyer/Feil
4
m1
Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
B&F General Machine-Follweiler's Garage/Olsen/Enders
5
5
Keith Hoffman/Whitehall,PA
Bashore Trucking-Wenger's Farm Mach./Troyer/Morrison
6
Z
Butch Tittle/Saylorsburg,PA
Tittle & Sons Motorsports/Troyer/Fiehls
7
1p
Alan Johnson/Phelps,NY
Pillsbury Doughboy-Beachy Motorsports/Bicknell/Enders
8
4
Scott Kania/Ferndale,PA
Hughes Plumbing & Heating/Troyer/Coffey
9
b1
Kenny Brightbill/Sinking Spring,PA
B&F General Machine-Follweiler's Garage/Olsen/Enders
10
27j
Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
Sweeteners Plus-A&C Speedworld/Troyer/C.C. Performance
11
96
Deron Rust/Georgetown,DE
Bodie's Dairy Markets-Delmarva-Dirt-Blasters/TEO/B&G
12
9t
Tom Moore/West Chester,PA
Doodle's Crew-Quaker State/Olsen/Larkin
13
57
Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA
Troy's Garage-Bachetti's Auto Sales/TEO/Enders
14
74
J.R. Heffner/Averill Park,NY
A.Colarusso & Son/Olsen/Raspuzzi
15
8
Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
Central Jersey Trailer & Hitch Depot/Troyer/Enders
16
2
Craig Mullins/Bridgeville,DE
Gene's Auto Sales/Troyer/Feil
17
3d
Matt DeLorenzo/Voorheesville,NY
B.B.L. Construction/Bicknell/Enders
18
32
Jim Rasey/Southington,OH
Twin Oaks Services South/Troyer/Rasey
19
1
Jonny Johnston/Cambridge,MD
Ed Brown's Engines-Cambridge Motorsports/Olsen/Brown
20
33
Ray Swinehart/Bechtelsville,PA
J & L Speed Supplies/Bicknell/Reinford Racing Engines
21
3
Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
Budweiser-WLR Const-Cavallaro Produce/TEO/Feil-Enders
22
24
Jimmy Johnson/Bloomingburg,NY
Clayton Delaney Saloon/Troyer/Precision
23
3t
Tony Stewart/Rushville,IN
Budweiser-WLR Const-Cavallaro Produce/TEO/Feil-Enders
24
2gr
Bucky Kell/Hammonton,NJ
Statewide Hi-Way Safety-BGM Motorsports/Olsen/Feil
25
9
Bob McCreadie/Watertown,NY
Kinney Drugs-Syracuse Frame-F.X.Caprara/Troyer/Morrison
26
94
Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY
Jreck Subs-Syracuse Frame-F.X. Caprara/Troyer/Morrison
DNQ
46
Kayle Robidoux/St-Constant,QUE
BERT Transmission/TEO/Bert
DNQ
3
Rich Polenz/Flemington,NJ
RAP Auto-Art's Radiator/TEO/Bags-Morrison-Polenz
DNQ
87
Jason Barney/Constantia,NY
Spruce Grove Marina-Stadium Int'l-Pit Stop/Bicknell/Moshier
DNQ
77
Bob Hamm,Jr./Windsor,NY
Hamm Motorsports/Bicknell/Precision
DNQ
97b
Ryan Bartlett/Adams,NY
D.P. Barlett & Sons Plumbing Heating & AC/Olsen/Bow-Tie
DNQ
30+
Mike Frost/Factoryville,PA
High Power Performance-Conklin Motors/Troyer/Frost
DNQ
97
Mike Romano/Johnstown,NY
Andy's Speed Shop/Bicknell/Malcuit
DNQ
60
Brian Berger/New Lebanon,NY
Zoom'N Groom-B&B Auto Sales/Olsen/Feil
EVENT SUMMARY:
LAP LEADERS: Rust (1-2), Mills (3-20), Hearn (21-22), Mills (23-30).
CAUTIONS: 5.
HEAT WINNERS: Rust, B.McCreadie, Bachetti.
CONSI WINNERS: Kania, Johnston.
TOTAL PURSE: $10,250.
CARS ENTERED: 34.