Photo by Bonnie Nibblett

Ross Robinson  # 7 behind the wheel of the new TSS Late Model with crate motor.  Robinson transfers from Micro Sprints to this Street Modified/Crate class for 2006. 

 With Just One In The Books

April 23, 2006

By Bonnie Nibblett

Delmar, DE.....With just about all of the East Coast dripping in rain, forcing any tracks hopes of running last weekend; yet, the desire has not been deterred for the fans, and teams. With just one night of racing on the half-mile clay circle it managed to master the start of the adrenalin to feed that fever for NEED FOR SPEED that exist and must be fed often. The Delaware International Speedway first and only practice fell short due to rain on April 8, then the track ran the first event on 15th of April, and with this past weekend ending before a start canceling the first appearance of the mighty-winged URC Sprints.

The entire Delaware Motorsports Complex was one of the tracks to forfeit to Mother Nature last weekend, closing the kart track on Friday, ½ mile oval track on Saturday, and the ¼ mile dragway on Sunday. The rains were much needed but let’s just hope from now on it falls during the week. We wait all winter for the season to start at the complex to please which type of fix you need rather the going straight, or around in circles.

The opening night air was as warm as an early summer night, not having to hover in the stands freezing as the many years before. With just that one night of racing on the speedway, there’s a lot of DIRT on the teams and drivers; it will be interesting this year to keep up to speed on things. Although I tend to favor the speedways action, as that is my forte, all the action each weekend at the complex should fill all your needs in racing; although, most die-hards never want the night of racing to end.

Each year the tracks get new drivers, old drivers returning, and ones changing one from one type of racing into another grade. Two years ago, Promoter Charlie Cathell introduced the sealed crate engine called the AC Delco TSS Modified as a new racing class for drivers to race economical and have the option to move from the AC Delco Modified to the Big Block Modified.  The TSS Modified has proven each year to grow and let many a chance to race.  This season while the TSS Modified starts the 3rd year, a new class has been added in the Street Modified.

The intentions of adding the sealed crate motor to the Street Modified Class will have both racing of the regular Street Modifieds along with the crate motor late model. The same reasons of transferring into the Late Model class with some minor changes as the TSS Modified did would be an option for street drivers in this class.

Options and rules to suit both types of cars to be on a level playing field have been set and enacted. On opening night some of the regular drivers in this class switched to the new set up as it were more economical to use that motor, and more than likely it will last longer then what motor they usually run in streets division.

2005 DIS Champion Steve Bunting started right where he left on last season with the first win of the year. Finishing the top five were Hal Browning, rookie Joe Warren, Chris Sockriter and Kelly Putz.

Mike Wilson two time winner in the Street Modified # 12W, Heritage’s Legacy Development, TEMCO Builders, The Family Attic, Knock Out Services has switched to the crate motor this year. Legend, Hal Browning took the plunge to get the small block # 46 crate motor to run in the class. Returning after 15 years of absence, Charles Jarvis in # C45; Joe Warren a regular in the Mod Lite class will power in the street class and new set up to run # 11A. Kevin Scott, Jr. makes the change from US 13 Kart Club and kart racing to run the # 12 TSS Late Model division.

Ross Robinson will come from micro racing to run the TSS Street Modified. Robinson ran 2 or 3 races in Mike Karr’s AC Delco TSS Modified last year and handled it quite well. This year Robinson will run the # 7 TSS Street Modified. Chris Sockriter’s (a street driver) brother will come to this class in # 32 as well and Daniel Freidler from Mod Lite will drive in this class too.  More changes will come and you will get all the DIRT.

The AC Delco TSS Modified class has some changes going on as well. The class each year produced 20 to 28 cars each weekend. Opening night this year there were 27 cars. Many of the same prior drivers, returned opening night adding Bobby Ballatine #10, Brett Cogdill and his son Michael both out of Jersey will share # 98 all season at Delmar. Mark Byram will run the Mitchell’s Auto Salvage # 57 this year. Just got the word that Reese Carey Motorsports driver of # 21M and 37 Modified Lite, Mike White will take on the TSS Modified very, very, soon.

Lance Mears # 91W will be new coming from a mostly kart racing. Ryan Walls of M&M Heating & Air, and the TUSA 2005 National Champion will leave Mod Lite to take on the TSS Modified # 14W upgrade to take on a new challenge. 2005 Defending Champion Bobby Watkins # 4, has a new paint scheme, Jack Mullins, Jr. # 1, along with Brad Trice # 33, and Richie Walls Sr. # 26W, all power racers in this class will return with fun, tight action every race. Top five opening nights were strong Andy Hammond, Tommy Evans close 2nd, Bobby Watkins, Mark Byram, and Richie Walls, Sr.,

In Modified News, Matt Jester, slides right on into the Clearview Farms, Matco Tools # 62 big block. Formerly, Rick Bishop rode in the # 62, but Rick’s son is starting to want to race and they agreed to concentrate on that right now. Jester was new in the AC Delco TSS Modified last season and will jump right in to run with the big dawgs. Judd Mills will be in the Big Block #1R, and “Jamin” Jamie Mills plans on running DIS this year and took the first win opening night followed by H. J. Bunting, III, Bobby Wilkins, Ricky Johnson and Tim Millman.

Robert Dutton will be in the Keith Coulborne # 55 Big Block Modified this season. Bobby Wilkins and Son Beau Wilkins will compete among one another in Jake Marine’s power. The season looks to be interesting.

Late Model action had the powerful Kenny Pettyjohn in stupendous rare form to take home the first win, with Gary Simpson, David Hill, Donald Lingo, Jr. and veteran Lou Johnson top five. Gary Simpson was strong all night and will be running in this class after being a Modified driver. Modified driver Ted Taylor has gone to Late Model # 45 this year. New will be a double entry night where a driver can race two divisions that may have late and mod drivers switching up as it seems to be more popular all the time.

Three times DIS Street Modified Champion Mark Williams’s # 26, finally makes the change to Late Model with Bob Geiger’s muscle. Returning favorites Kenny, with Brother’s Mark and David Pettyjohn, Lou Johnson, Donald and Dale Lingo, David Hill, Kerry King, Rick Whaley, Robert Massey, Bob Schirmer, and Vic Thomas to name quite a few. Look for even more cars to come as we get started.

The Modified Lite class had fewer cars on opening night with only 15 cars surely that will change with more. But the top dogs prove that they will warrant action every Saturday night. Tim White started the season with the first win of the year followed by team-mate Steve A. White, Brandon Dennis, Jon Callaway, and 2005 Redbud’s Rookie of the Year in Modified Lites Aaron Bada rounded out the top five. More changes will come about and DIRT of this class as the season goes on.

Even though the weekend was a wash out for any racing action, next week holds to offer more action all over. The Speedway will celebrate with the Wm. J. Cathell Memorial Race and adding to the regular 5 car line up will be the comical Slide For Five. Gates open at 5PM hot Laps at 7PM. Check the tracks hotline at 302-846-3968, track office 302-875-1911 and the tracks web site at www.delawareracing.com  for information. A newly extra page with the history of the tracks grounds has been added to the tracks web. Very, very, nice display of history & how our racing has come to be so strong and offer so much for race fans with 3 types of racing. The URC Sprints will return May 13, 2006.

The US 13 Dragway will be back in swing Sunday with gates opening at 10AM with time trials at 11AM and eliminations at 2:30PM. Sunday will be the first Bad 8 Series event along with a regular program of NHRA/Summit ET Point Series Bracket eliminations. Check the track hot line or track office and web for more details.

The US 13 Kart Club was plagued with same wet news as everyone else. Only one club race has run and that was back on April 14, 2006, and 102 karts on the grounds that night before the rain fell in the last hour of racing. Next race scheduled is a State race on Saturday, May 6. The decision to have a make up club race this Friday is not known at the time of writing; however visit www.dekarting.net  for updates or the tracks hot line at 302-846-2646. This Friday was originally a club date scheduled off, but with the weather bumming last weeks action it will be hard to tell if they run or not. So just keep checking as the answer will be decided early this week.

During the season www.Redbud69racing.com  owner/promoter will be doing some live driver interviews with www.RaceNite.com  at both the kart and speedway or any track over the weekend. Www.RaceTalkLive.com  has added RaceNite, a new show where several persons call in to give heats, & feature winners, an interview, special events & all kinds of info from various persons around the nation at different tracks. If you are interested in an interview contact me at the track if I don’t get you first. Thanks to Mark Pettyjohn late model guest, Gary Simpson late model heat winner, and Norman Short, Jr. Modified heat winner for doing a grand interview with RaceNite host Mark Potter when asked last week. Show runs both Friday and Saturday from 8PM to midnight.

As always for all your Delaware racing news visit www.redbud69racing.com.  Still looking for old photos from any MD, DE, & VA racing on any tracks to post on the “New” for 2006 Redbud’s Classic photo gallery. This is a way for fans, drivers, owners all to contribute to let others see what racing went on to what we have established today. Send your photo by email, snail mail, etc. by visiting Redbud69racing.com. See you at the track!