Jon Callaway on "Topless Night" July 18, 2009 in the AC Delco Modified Curtis Farms # 42. He claimed 3 wins after only starting his season on July 4, 2009 when he took over for injured Adam Jarrell.
Last Run Down Of 2009 Racing Action In The Delaware International Speedway
January 27, 2010
By Bonnie Nibblett
Delmar, DE…..The New Year has come and it’s the end of January so quickly. The Delaware International Speedway is all closed up for the winter. But on January 9, 2010 the track honored the top ten drivers of the five weekly divisions at the Dover Hotel & Casino. Over $45,000 in cash were distributed to the top ten in each class.
Last month we reviewed some of the divisions’ top drivers with extra wares that they produced during 2009; we covered the big blocks and crate late models. This month we will finish with the remaining classes reviews and impressive stats of drivers and teams of the super late model, AC Delco mod, and mod lites.
You know all kinds of factors play a part in being a winner or champion other that just driving skills. Equipment, crew chief and crews, a little lady luck all contribute toward a banner season. Some of this goes all along with all to be successful.
The Super Late Model championship went to Richard Jarvis, Jr. of Ocean City, MD driving the Mid-Coastal Siding & Construction Rocket owned by Steve & Patty Nutall of Salisbury, MD. Jarvis claimed another championship title in 2005 making this year his second late model title. Nutall claimed his first championship as owner. Jarvis kicked off the season with a win on opening night, and went on to claim a total of seven wins during the year. One of the wins came in the second Mix-N-Match special races with the late models & big blocks run together. Jarvis went on to stat in the top 5’s 10 times out of 20 features; not so bad, a total 17 wins & top 5’s when combined.
Ross Robinson of Georgetown, DE took the second spot this year with 9 top 5’s and 6 top 10’s; last year Ross finished tenth in points as he did the year before in his Rookie year. Robinson didn’t get a win but he sure was knocking on the door many times during the season.
History was made again this year when 71 year old veteran driver Hal Browning of Georgetown, DE would claim a win on Aug. 29 in the “Wings & Things” special event. Browning earned 4 top 5 & 10’s and finished 10th in points. Browning was so close to win on many of a night as well, but would fail with mechanical woes or involved in a wreck he was trying to miss. Lady luck and karma do so help, too.
An impressive third place in track points went to reining 2006 & 2007 Super Late Model Champion Donald Lingo, Jr. of Millsboro, DE. The year may not have been what Lingo wanted, but he did claim his only win on June 6, but he wind up with 12 top 5’s & 3 top 10’s. Lingo also lost a motor during the season.
Ray Davis, Jr. would only take one win home this year on July 11, but made up by being consistent with 7 top 5 & 10’s. Davis had a few engine woes too. Davis was also the 2008 Super DIS Late Model Champ.
Kerry King of Delmar, DE moved up nine positions over last years finishes to take home 5th place this year. King had 5 top 5’s & 5 top 10’s out of the 20 events held.
2008 history maker Staci Warrington of Milton, DE took 6th in points with her only win on July 4, but she had 2 top 5’s and 8 top 10’s.
The last three races were won by a Pettyjohn. David Pettyjohn had 3 wins and won the last point’s race of the year. David won the second race of the season and on June 27 and final one on Sept. 19. David also had 7 top 5 & 10’s. Kenny Pettyjohn ten time track champion raced once and won once on Aug. 5. Last, the father of the above drivers Eddie made history by taking the old famous no. 8Ball to Victory Lane on Sept. 15. He was also the second oldest winner of the year.
Out of the WoOLMS event held on May 28 was an upset when Jamie Lathroum of Mechanicsville, MD took over the lead when Steve Francis suffered a flat tire on lap 44. Ricky Whaley, Bob Geiger, David Hill round out the top ten in the track points with consistent top 5 & 10’s.
The AC Delco Crate Modified had a repeat champion when Michael White of Laurel, DE won the championship again this year. White has only been driving 6 years, before that he never had raced anything. White had seven wins this year, 10 top 5 & 2 top 10’s out of 20 events.
This year a few newbie’s had impressive runs. Shawn Ward of Laurel, DE was second in points with no wins but he had 9 top 5’s & 10 top 10’s. Ward was a rookie in this class this year and was awarded the 2009 Redbud69racing.com Rookie of the Year in the crate mods sponsored by AutoWorld of Salisbury, MD.
Kyle Fuller a rookie last year barreled out one win and had 8 top 5’s & 6 top 10’s. Fuller’s win was at the Camp Barns Benefit races. Matt Hawkins seasoned 3rd year driver now and 2007 Redbud69racing.com Youngest Rookie of the Year at Georgetown Speedway had 10 top 5’s & 4 top 10’s. Hawkins finished fourth in points at Delmar this year.
Jon Callaway of Harrington, DE didn’t take over the no. 42 ride with teammate John Curtis until July 4, and this was his first time behind the wheel of a crate modified this year. In that little bit of time he was a real firecracker to claim 3 wins, 3 top 5’s & 2 top 10’s. Callaway a former three time Mod Lite Champion at Delmar and drove super late model for Gary Simpson in 2008 to finish 2 second in points. Teammate finished sixth in track points this year.
Brandon Dennis of Harrington, DE burned rubber to claim his second consecutive track championship of the Modified Lite division. Dennis only had one win, but made up for it by being consistent to own 16 top 5’s and 1 top 10.
Steve White was able to tag 12 wins this season, the most of anyone in all of the divisions this year. Paul McGinley, Denton, MD was crowned the 2009 Redbud69racing.com Rookie of the Year. McGinley maintain 8 top 5’s and 3 top 10’s.
There is a Father/son team out of Saxis Island, VA, that competes every weekend. This year the son, 2007 Redbud69racing.com Rookie of the Year, Curt Miles, Jr. had 8 top 5’s and 7 top 10’s and finished 5th in points. Dad, Kirk Miles, Sr. had an impressive 15 top 10’s and took 7th in track points.
Rookie James Hill did not run a full season but he did get the rights to two wins, Aug. 1 & 29. Hill had 1 top 5 & 3 top 10’s.
Kevin McKinney of Magnolia, DE would own an honorable third place in DIS track points with 8 top 5’s & 6 top 10’s. A few other drivers ran each week in the top 10 pack.
Full points and results can be seen on the tracks web at www.delawareracing.com or www.redbud69racing.com webs.
Thank you to all the drivers for a great 2009 racing action season. NASCAR is getting ready to restart in Feb. and that will hold all of us NEED FOR SPEED fans off until racing at my home track starts this April 2010.
The only tidbit of DIRT I have for Delaware International Speedway 2010 schedule is the URC Sprints are scheduled for six events according to the URC schedule. More schedule news will be coming forth before the season starts.
Don’t forget to send in your sneak preview photos of your 2010 cars, karts, bikes, boats, anything you race, so fans can get a look at your racing vehicle for this year. Send to redbud69racing@aol.com or call me to take pics for you? Be sure to let us know your changes & plans for racing this year. Hopefully, it will be another super year of racing.
Be sure to check out redbud69racing.com for all your DE news. Visit the largest message board on the shore at www.redbud69racing.com for Your Delaware and Surrounding Tracks Race News Plus NASCAR. Check out the largest message board on the shore at http://redbud69racing.proboards2.com/index.cgi which is powered by Hab Nab Trucking of Seaford, DE and A1 Graphic and Lettering of Georgetown.
The speedway is located on the Delaware Motorsports Complex just one mile north of the MD / DE state line, 50 minutes South of Dover, DE and 30 minutes west from the beaches on Sussex Hwy. The complex is also the home of the U S 13 Dragway quarter mile strip, with the U S 13 Kart Club Track just on the left before you enter the main grounds of Delaware International Speedway (DIS) or the complex. See you at the track!