16 Days Until The Sweet Roaring Sounds Of Stock Cars Racing

March 29, 2007

By Bonnie Nibblett

Cars lined up on pit road ready to take to the track. Photo by Bonnie Nibblett

16 Days Until The Sweet Roaring Sounds Of Stock Cars Racing

Delmar, DE…..The Delaware Motorsports Complex has had to cancel two of the three Test-N-Tune sessions, and delay the original opening date at the strip since Mother Nature has not been nice on weekends already. Hopefully now, most of the bad weather will be behind us. Even the points chase for the dragway has had to be set back a week and will start Sunday, April 1^st to begin the 44^Th straight year of the U. S. 13 Dragway quarter-mile being opened.

All the racers have the itch to go down the straight away to feel that unexplainable rush of running as fast as you can in a dragster or any of the weekly divisions which include Super ET, Pro, Pro Bike, Street Eliminator, Jr. Dragster 1, Jr. Dragster II, and Bike Trophy that run on the complex.

The month of April kicks off with the first Summit ET Point Series. April 8th the Easter Bunny will make his annual emergence to the track and on April 15th it will be double point’s day.

The first special of the season for the dragway will be on April 22nd when Delmarva Power Sports introduce their first of two bike shows along with the ET racing plus the first event in the High School Series.

With the dragway just a few weeks ahead of the circle tracks start; there’s just 16 days until the sweet roar of those Big Block Modifieds, and Super Late Models, along with both AC Delco Late and Modified TSS crate classes and with the mighty Modified Lites. There will be a Test-N-Tune session Saturday, April 7, 2007. Gates open 5 PM, and testing from 6-9 PM. Check the tracks hot line to see if they run by calling 302-846-3968.

The 36^th year opening the Delaware International Speedway (DIS) half-mile clay oval track is officially to begin April 14. Gates open at 5 PM and hot laps start at 7 PM. Just to let you know that this is 16 days from today; fans like me are ready to get going. The desire for the NEED FOR SPEED is ready to kick in to get some satisfaction for this addiction. The hot sounding motors, fast cars, sliding action, rubbing, what’s not to like?

The season offers all kind of changes with teams and drivers. Beau Wilkins, second place holder in 2006 Modified division will seldom be home to run at Delmar this year. Wilkins has taken a job with Robert Yates Racing in fabrication. We’ll miss him, but who can blame him for going, if the opportunity is there, take that chance and do what you want to do. That’s all any of us can do, gook luck Beau. Sources also tell that Bobby Wilkins (Beau’s Father & a supreme racer) will take a knock at a super Late Model this year some behind the Jake Marines number 85. That should be fun to see! 2005 DIS Late Model driver Richard Jarvis, Jr. will take to asphalt this season in the Busch East Series.

Richard White, Jr. will not race in the AC Delco Modified this year in order to help his son continue in his quest of racing in go-karts to start. 2006 AC Delco TSS Modified champ Jack Mullins has plans to go to a crate late model this year. Ross Robinson, the 2^nd place AC Delco TSS Late Model champ will dabber in a super late this year. Robinson had nine wins in his rookie year in the crate class. That will be some more of the change ups at DIS. Don’t worry; there are plenty of new drivers and drivers switching from one class or another at the speedway. As soon as we get rolling, more scoops will come forth.

Along with the speedway’s regular night of action, the URC Sprints, and Little Lincoln Vintage Stock Car Club will visit through out the season. Both of those racing classes make a fine show to see as well as the great regular weekend warriors action.

Don’t forget to mark your calendar for two huge mid-week shows. The World of Outlaw Late Models Series return on Thursday night, May 31 to kick off the big NASCAR weekend in Dover and the annual Camp Barnes Benefit race will host on Wednesday night, July 11^th for some great racing.

One change for all the crate classes this year is that all “new” motors have to be purchased through the Salisbury Courtesy Chevrolet dealer. If you had your motor checked last year by DIS technicians and it is still sealed with the DIS seal you will be allowed to run once you go through tech to make sure the DIS seal & motor has not been tampered with. The best thing to do is read the revisions in the rules for all the cars. The crates drivers that come from out of town and all should check the tracks web for the new rules and revisions to be safe. Below are some of the changes

ENGINE: General Motors spec motor # PN88958602 only. Stock rocker arms that came with the motor only. OEM style fan & water pump crank driven. Crate motors must run all parts that come on the engine. (Example: Must use the distributor and harmonic balancer that came with that motor.)
ENGINE PURCHASE: All new motors must be purchased at Courtesy Chevrolet in Salisbury MD. We will not except any crate motor that does not have our current seals.
ENGINE SEALS: All motors must have current D.I.S. seal.
EXHAUST SYSTEM: Mufflers required. Recommended mufflers, Flo-Master or Super Trap. Max. 100 db at 25 feet. Tube Header 4-Tube 1-collector per side only. No tri y headers.
DISTRIBUTOR: Self contained HEI only - comes with motor. Must have MSD Rev. Limiter #MSD 8728 with 6000 RPM chip. This must be hooked up and working at all times. (We recommend soldering all connections). If found to be higher than 6000 RPM chip, you will lose purse and points for that event, and a fine of $500.00 must be paid before racing again. MSD must be out of reach of the driver. All wiring must be exposed and easily traced.
TIRES: Cannot be siped, grooved or treated. All tires will be stamped DIS. American Race Tires 13” max width, 92” max circumference. Right rear 29.0/11.0-15 DTW SD48. All other tires SD44 or harder. Max tire hoop width is 16.75 in.

If you check to see if what changes may have occurred in the rules, then you will be set to race this year. For any questions check the tracks web site at www.delawareracing.com or call the tracks office at 302-875-1911.

March 18, the U. S. 13 Kart Club Track held the first practice of the season. It was cold, but there were quite many karts that turned out.

The first Delaware Dirt Divisional Series (WKA sanctioned) will be this weekend on Saturday, March 31, if the weather holds out. Gates will open at 7 AM, Registration 7-9 AM, Practice will start at 9:30 AM. The first club race will be held the following week on Friday, April 13, 2007.

Look for more changes with classes and drivers at the kart track too. For any question in rules or times check out the go-karts track web at www.dekarting.net or call the hot line at 302-846-2646.

The season looks to be just as jammed packed with weekly action for all those racing fans and new fans. If you have never been to a race track, take that leap, and join the fun. For all your Delaware tracks news visit www.redbud69racing.com. See you at the track!