MATT JESTER DOMINATES FOR THIRD WIN IN DELAWARE MODIFIEDS

By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE – Matt Jester brought his “A” game to Saturday night’s Hertrich Pontiac/Buick/GMC Modified feature at the Delaware International Speedway. Jester was by far the dominate car in the event that was slowed only once in the 25-lap distance.

Robert Dutton led the first lap of the Big Block Modified main before Jester, who started in fifth, took the point. H.J. Bunting raced his way past Chad Clark for third on lap three and Jamie Mills followed into the top five.

Mills continued to climb through the field taking fourth from Clark and third from Bunting on lap 12. His climb ended at the halfway sign as the car slowed and pulled to the infield with mechanical problems while running in fifth behind Jester, Dutton, Clark, and Bunting..

The one and only yellow was out on lap 14 when Dana Walker came to a stop in the second turn erasing the almost six second lead that Jester had built. Back under the green Jester went right back to pulling away with Dutton and Clark nose to tail for second and third. Bunting lost out on a chance to gain on Mills in points as he began to slow when his engine went sour and Norman Short moved into fourth.

Jester opened up a comfortable margin of over three seconds and went on to his third checkered of the season in the Clearview Farms/Smith Concrete/Teo. Dutton turned in his best performance of the season in second as Clark did in third. Fourth went to Short and Ricky Johnson came on in the closing laps to finish in fifth. Heats were won by Dutton and Mills.

“I figured we were going to have another caution free race but it worked out,” smiled Jester. “We were pretty much junk in the heat race but we did a little work on in and everything came around for the feature.”

The 15-lap AC Delco Modified feature was an excellent battle. Adam Jarrell worked past Herman Powell to lead the first lap. Michael White was on a charge from seventh and dropped John Curtis to fourth on lap two. Two laps later White got by Powell for second. Tim Trimble joined the chase taking third on lap six.

Casey Lynch came to a stop bringing out the only yellow of the event. Under the yellow, the leader Jarrell headed to the pits with a flat rear tire. White was the new leader at the halfway point and was followed by Trimble, Joseph Tracy, Brad Trice and Powell. White and Powell put on a great battle for the lead with Trimble leading lap 11. White moved back on top for lap 12 but it was Trimble back out front for laps 13 and 14.

Trimble lost just a little momentum in the final turn and White ducked to the inside and edged out the win. It was White’s fourth win of the season and padded his point lead in the J&M Builders/Teo. Trimble finished in second by just .03 seconds. Tracy finished in third with Trice fourth and Powell fifth. Tracy set fast time in qualifying.

This Saturday night will be the final point event of the season and will be sponsored by R.C. Holloway Co. and will feature the URC Sprints. It will also be “Bonus Night” paying $1750 to win for the Big Block Modifieds and $1250 to win for the Super Late Models. A $50 “Gamblers Fee” will take the winning in the two divisions to $2000 and $1500 respectively. It will also be Millsboro Fan Appreciation Night with anyone with a picture I.D. that includes a Millsboro home address admitted to the spectator side free of charge. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 7 p.m.

RESULTS: 25-Lap NAPA Big Block Modified Feature: 1. MATT JESTER; 2.Robert Dutton; 3. Chad Clark; 4. Norman Short Jr; 5. Ricky Johnson; 6. Tim Millman; 7. Joseph Watson; 8. Ryan Walls; 9. Craig Ott; 10. HJ Bunting; 11. George Richardson; 12. Dana Walker; 13. Jamie Mills; 14. Jeff Brown; 15. Steve Cooper; DNS: Howard ONeal.

15-Lap AC Delco Modified Feature: 1. MICHAEL WHITE; 2. Tim Trimble; 3. Joseph Tracy; 4. Brad Trice; 5. Herman Powell; 6. Brandon Perdue; 7. Westley Smith; 8. John Curtis; 9. Bobby Watkins; 10. Randy Oswald; 11. Scott Calhoun; 12. Jason Bishop; 13. Scott Baker; 14. Grant Ireland; 15. Danny Smack; 16. John Wynn; 17. Bryan Applegate; 18. Garrie Bostwick; 19. Herbie Hempel; 20. Mark Rowe; 21. Adam Jarrell; 22. Ted Reynolds; 23. Casey Lynch.