Beau Wilkins # 85 Jake Marines' Big Block Modified

photo by Bonnie Nibblett

 

It All Comes Down To Points In The End

 

 

September 25, 2006

By Bonnie Nibblett

 

 

Delmar, DE…..It all comes down to points in the end?  The Delaware Motorsports Complex will be winding down with the racing season soon ending.  The Delaware International Speedway will host the last point’s races this coming Saturday, September 30, which was added to the fall schedule.  The U. S. 13 Kart Club Track has three races left with points added before the end on Friday, September 29, and Fridays, October 6, and October 21, 2006 which will be make up races from Mother Natures curse through out the season.  The U. S. 13 Dragway will be wrapping up the points soon as well.

 

What are points?  Points in racing are given to drivers that race at facilities or in a series.  Such as NASCAR, BUSCH, World of Outlaws Late Models, WoO, MACS, NRHA, WKA, different divisions of racing and so on.  Most divisions have there own points system in play.  Some drivers could care less about points in the end or beginning for that fact.  But there are some that do care very much. 

 

So why strive to get points?  Bragging rights for the most part and the money.  Most drivers or teams, owners, crews get recognition for that year as the Track Champion, or Champ of 2006 Nextel Cup and what ever the track or series they race, to be awarded for.  Being able to gloat about the title the entire year or season as the CHAMP is also very much a big part of it.  Just as some race titles hold more value than other races.  Such as the Daytona 500, Camp Barnes, or Delaware State Dirt Track Champion.  Not all points systems are scored the same, or the prizes for that title the same as others.  Either way those with the highest scores get the best monies, gifts, trophies, and that bragging rights over the others.  Most have banquets to acknowledge the top ten, but it still comes down to the top one winning with the highest points.

 

Well, with a good season, consistency to be in the top 5 each race, or as high as finish you can get, good crew, great driver, quality equipment, a little luck on the side all contribute to the hard work that goes into winning the track title.  Sometimes the class may not be close among the drivers or one sweeps it away, but then it might come down to mere digits in the end and few only.  

 

As it stands now at the DIS speedway, one more race will determine the victory with only few points between them to claim the title.  The Modified Lite may well be locked in with Tim White having 130 points advantage over Steve A. White.  Joe Warren also has 130 points ahead of Ross Robinson; both of the later share rookie status as this is their first year in the TSS Late Model, formerly Street Modified class. 

 

The other three classes may be a little different.  In big block action, H. J. Bunting III, just took the lead back last Saturday night from Beau Wilkins.  Only 24 points differ between Wilkins & Bunting, who started the night off with the lead.  During the heats, Wilkins car was totaled when he went sailing high in the air end over end before coming to a stop.  The right front tire broke when going into turn 3, sending Wilkins in his first racing flip; he suffered no injuries.  Wilkins forced to use his back up car had to start dead last but rose to a 5th place finish out of 21.  Bunting is the 2005 defending champ.  Way to go! 

 

Late Model action has Donald Lingo, Jr. in the lead with 72 points over rookie Gary Simpson.  It will be Lingo’s first title.  This is the first year in a super late model for Simpson and he has been consistent.  Jack Mullins, Jr. has only 35 points over Brad Trice in the AC Delco TSS Modified class, so that can go either way.  As it always goes, “it ain’t over til it’s over.”  The weekend will determine the champs for sure, make a note, you don’t want to miss this action on Saturday night.  Track opens at 5 PM and cars on the track at 7 PM.

 

The URC Sprints made their last appearance to DIS last weekend determining who will hold the Taylor & Messick Delaware Sprint title.  The URC Bar's Leaks/Advance Auto Parts Sprint Series Points leader is Curt Michael in the Palladino number 99 with 160 advantage over Kevin Welsh.  Michael is the 2005 Defending champion. 

 

After this Saturday the speedway will not run until the November 4-5 for the Delaware State Track Championships.  A rain date would be the following weekend of November 11-12.  For information on the events connect to www.delawareracing.com or call the office at 302-875-1911.  Next month the end results for sure will be made along with special notices of teams. 

 

The dragway action continues this weekend with Sunday, October 1, with the Foot Brake Nationals.  The dragway will continue activity all through October.  Point’s leaders will be announced next month.  Gates open 10:00 AM, time trials start 11:00 AM.

 

Lastly, the U. S. 13 Kart Club Track has three more races scheduled, Friday, September 29, October 6, & 22nd.  Both Oct. dates will be make up races for cancels due to rain.  The points for a few of those classes are pretty close going too.  It all hangs in getting those points finalized. 

 

The Delaware Dirt Divisional Series (WKA Sanction) at the kart track ended the season back on Saturday, September 2.  Although the event was canceled with Ernesto blowing through; the way WKA points system works if a race is canceled due to weather, is the drivers still have to come to the track and register, if they do, they will receive first place points.  So the totals have just been posted as who are the champions. 

·        Junior I Lite – Buddy Bloom, IV  # 40

·        Junior I Heavy - Dylan Evans # 80

·        Junior II Lite - Clint Chalabala # 44

·        Junior II Heavy - Clint Chalabala # 44

·        Junior III Lite - Brandon White # 09

·        Junior III Heavy - Brandon White # 09

·        Stock Lite – Shane Forrest  # 01

·        Stock Medium – Buddy Sload, Jr.  #53

·        Stock Heavy - Buddy Sload Jr.  # 53

·        Stock Xtra Heavy – Josh Williams  # 3

·        Senior Stock – Ralph Moore  # 5

·        Limited – Bryant Renfro # 3

·        Animal Medium – Mike Ellerbush # 4

·        Animal Heavy – Brandon Morris # 55

·        Open - Brandon Morris # 55

 

The Kart track will take to the track this Friday, September 29, 2006, gates open 5:00 PM, karts on the track at 7:00 PM.  Last week the outlaw runners were invited to race, and have been invited to revisit this Friday.  For rules and updates visit the tracks web at www.dekarting.net. 

 

Redbud69racing.com even gets in on the awards with AutoWorld of Delmar sponsoring the www.Redbud69racing.com Rookie of the Year.  Each division that has a rookie or any drivers first year in a new class count as Rookie according the guidelines set by the presenters’ web owner.  The top rookie in points receives an 8 X 10 plague and the title of the Redbud69racing.com Rookie of the Year in each division. 

·        Big Block Modifieds - Matt Jester # 62

·        Super Late Models - Gary Simpson # 12K

·        TSS Modified - Ryan Walls # 14W

·        TSS Late Models - Joe Warren  # 11

·        Modified Lite - Jody Cahall  # 77

The remaining rookies in each class will receive a certificate with their ending place in points. 

 

For any of your Delaware tracks news & updates visit www.redbud69racing.com to know what is going on.  See you at the track!