Just Getting Started

April 24, 2008
By Bonnie Nibblett

April has come and almost gone, but the Dirt Track Racing in Delaware is just getting started. Delaware International Speedway that is, a ½ mile clay oval located on the Delaware Motorsports Complex, Delmar, DE, along with the ¼ mile dragway, and a fast go-kart track.

The season opener for the speedway was back on April 12, with a good show of stock cars. The mighty URC Sprints just visited last week and the William J. Cathell Memorial Night is this weekend. A grand night of racing action in memory of the founder William J. Cathell, by his son Charlie Cathell and the family as they continue to operate the track for it 45th year this season. It’s a super night of action and tribute to honor him. Next weekend will be the first show of the “Blast From The Past” Little Lincoln Vintage Stock Car Club. Each weekend there is something special happening on the grounds; referring to some type of racing.

I tend to lean on the fast ½ mile speedway as my race of choice, and fix for that “Need For Speed”. Just a bit of 2008 DIRT goes like this. This year has already started off with a bang of action and changes in drivers.

Promoter Charlie Cathell also just recently announced that Delmarva NAPA Auto Parts Stores will sign on as the division sponsors for the Big Block Modifieds this year.

In the NAPA Big Block Modified class, last years’ 2007 Redbud Rookie of the Year in the AC Delco Modified, Chad Clark H20, will compete with the big boys of racing by switching to the big block this year. Steve Downs II will be racing in the Woods # 39W full time, 2007 DIS Rookie of the Year Joe Dekutoski has a new number this year with 50D. Tim Millman had back surgery near the end of 2007 and just got the clearance to race for 2008. Millman started the opening night off with a victory driving number 56 Jake Marine’s hot rod. One team had three cars running on opening night, Craig Ott T10, Scott Hulmes 410, and George Richardson 10. Donny Radd 9R, will power behind Jeff Brown’s Chesapeake Paving NAPA Modified, with Brown behind the number 9. The top five on opening night went to Tim Millman 56, Ricky Johnson 69, Matt Jester 62, Steve Downs II 39W and Jamie Mills 55 in the Keith Coulbournes’ modified. Opening night twenty-two race cars started the field.

Super Late Model had Richard Jarvis, Jr. returning in the Steve Nutall’s number 11. Jarvis raced a few races for Nutall at the end of last year and the two have teamed up again this year. First night of racing Jarvis claimed the win followed by Ray Davis, Jr. 84, Austin Hubbard 11A, Rob Massey 6, and David Hill 75. That race was pretty hot to watch. Hubbard 2007 Virginia Motor Speedway Champion held second until the latter five laps when Davis grab second. Other late model DIRT this year has Kevin Scott, Jr. 12K moving from the crate late model to the super late along with Derrike Hill 57. Staci Warrington 20 and Jon Callaway both come from the crate late model with Callaway in the Gary Simpson number 12 super late. Scott finished 8th and Warrington placed 10th on opening night not bad for racing with the big dogs.

The AC Delco Modified started the season with twenty-six race cars for the feature on opening night. The feature winner went to Joe Tracy 37J, Tracy finished second in last years point’s standings. The top five finishes on opening night were Tracy, Tim Trimble 21, Brad Trice 57, Herman Powell 92, and Mike White 85M. Powell finished the best he has ever raced in this class. Trice last years’ DIS track champion will be behind the number 57 Mitchell’s Auto Salvage modified; the Mitchell’s have been a fixture in local racing for many years and support many drivers. Quite a few of the same drivers returned this season, Casey Lynch 31, Scott Calhoun 6, Herbie Hempel 53H, Garrie Bostwick 82, plus many more. New this year, Danny Clark, 14 yrs old, will handle the number 25 some this year that Tommy Evans commands.

The Street Modified/Crate Late Model had a good show of cars with eighteen to take to the field. The winner of the night went to Herb Tunis 5M, with Jack Mullins, Jr. 1 in second. Those two drivers started right back where they left off last year, with some good tight racing action. Third was Barry Beauchamp 11B, his best finish, Mike Wilson 12, and Eric Vent 86 rounded out the top five of the night. A few new names this year were Chris Justice 80 out of VA, Punky Chism 77, and Josh Millman 6. Some of the other regular drivers returning were John Imler 63, Kelly Putz 59, Nick Davis 92, Joe Warren 11, and Tyler Reed 44 plus a lot more to name as the year goes on.

On opening night the Modified Lite class had a couple new drivers this year, TJ Williams 77, and Shawn Weber 19 made the switch from go-karts. The 10 lap feature winner went to 2007 DIS Track Champ, Steve White 76, Brandon Dennis 10, Curt Miles, Jr. 21JR, Tim White 93, and Sparky White 16 rounded out the top five. What a fantastic race between Dennis and Miles, Jr. Miles had worked from 5th to second, with the two battling back and forth the last laps, except, the very last lap. As they came off turn four both were wheel to wheel to the flag stand and Dennis just inches took second from Miles under the checkered. Most the regular drivers returned opening night, Cody Belote 6, Rick Wheatley 14, Aaron Bada 10H, Chad and Alan Passwaters to name a few.

Don’t forget that when NASCAR is in Dover this spring, kick off your weekend with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series (WoOLMS) on Thursday, May 29, 2008. The touring series hits over 50 races in the season. Greats like Rick Eckert, Steve Francis, Josh Richards, Chub Frank, and Billy Moyer just to name a few of them. This group of racers can go to any track and put on an ultimate, supreme night of racing. Another important date to keep in mind for the speedway is Wednesday, July 9, 2008 for the annual Camp Barnes Benefit night of racing. Keep a look out for when tickets go on sale or call the tracks office at 302-875-1911.

The Dragway continues to race each Sunday until June 13 when they will switch to Friday nights when schools let out. This Sunday will be the first Bad 8 out of the 6 scheduled Bad 8’s this season. Gates open at 10 AM with time runs at 11 AM and eliminations at 2:30 PM. Check the tracks web at www.delawareracing.com, or the track hot line at 302-846-3968.

The US 13 Kart Club Track had the first Delaware Dirt Divisional Series (DDDS-WKA state) April 5. Winners were Payton Heck 19, Dillon Adams 25, J. B. Loomis 17 (2), Brandon White 09, Robbie Emory 9, Chad Hayes 18 (2), Bryan Bradford 94, Kirk Harrington 98, Bryan Brobst 11, Charlie Vallandingham 15, Allen Larson 39, Shannon Morris 7, and Michael Ellerbush 4.

The second club race winners at the kart track on April 11, went to Jace Darling 30, JB Loomis 17, Dallas Godman 97, Brandon Beale 10, Chris Perozzi 5, Mike Allaband 7, Allen Larson 39, Robbie Emory 9, Jacob Pearson 24, Richie Hornsby 1. This coming Friday the track is off and will return to Delmar Friday, May 9, gates open at 5PM. The second DDDS state races will be Saturday May 3, and held at the Delmarva Motorsports Park gates open 12 PM.

With the season just getting going look for lots more DIRT on the guys. For all your Delaware tracks race news visit www.redbud69racing.com. Or check the largest racing message board on Delmarva’s race news at http://redbud69racing.proboards2.com/index.cgi powered by A1Graphic and Lettering of Georgetown, and Hab-Nab Trucking of Seaford. See you at the track!