Racerchaser
05-04-2009, 01:44 PM
By Charlie Brown,
Delmar, DE
(5/2/09)
The Delaware International Speedway tried a new format on Saturday night and hit a home run with the fans. The new “Mix & Match” program took five cars from each of the two Super Late Model and two NAPA Big Block Modified heats. An additional two cars from each division came from respective consolations and the driver with the highest point total that did not qualify in each division was added to make up the 26 car starting field.
At the end of 30 laps the “Mix & Match” had become a “claw and scratch” as drivers appeared to drive their hardest for bragging rights as to which division was the fastest. It all boiled down to the final two turns with Jamie Mills surviving a near tangle with Donald Lingo, Jr. to post the $2000 win.
Late Model driver, Donald Lingo, Jr. and modified invader, Chad James drew for the pole starting spot with James pulling number two. Lingo started on the pole in the Delaware start with the modifieds lined up on the inside row and the late models on the outside behind him.
Lingo set a blistering pace at the drop of the green with James running in second. The late models of invader Austin Hubbard and Ross Robinson held third and fourth and sophomore driver, Jordan Watson ran in fifth. On lap four the yellow was out for a jingle involving the modifieds of Jamie Mills and Bobby Watkins and the father and son late model team of David and Derrike Hill. All four cars were able to restart at the rear of the field.
Late model driver, Richard Jarvis, Jr. was on the climb and took fifth. Two laps later he worked by both Robinson and Hubbard for third. The top five would shuffle again on lap ten when second place runner, James slowed with a vibration in his car. The top three were now the late models of Lingo, Jarvis and Robinson with Jordan Watson fourth and Hubbard fifth.
Eyes now turned to veteran Hal Browning who was making an inspired drive from his 13th starting spot. Browning was up to fourth just as the yellow came out for a spin involving Jarvis and Watson.
It was now the late models of Lingo, Robinson and Browning running in the top three with Hubbard and the modified of Matt Jester running in the top five. The order remained the same through the halfway point until lap 17 when Mills had worked his way back through the field into fifth.
A series of yellows kept the field closely bunched. Mills got by Hubbard for fourth with ten to go as Browning had the crowd on its feet as he got by Robinson for second and started to pressure Lingo for the lead.
Hubbard was not out of the picture as he mounted one more charge and got back to third but would come to a stop with two laps to go to set up a green-white-checkered finish. Mills got by Browning on the restart and went to the inside of Lingo in turn three with the two making contact but the yellow was out for a final time as Derricke Hill and Eric Vent tangled.
The scoring reverted back to lap 28 and again it was Lingo, Browning and Mills coming to the green. Mills got by Browning before the first turn and tucked in behind Lingo. On the final lap Mills took the lead going down the back straight but Lingo went in low and hard with the two making contact again and both going off the top of the third turn.
Mills kept his foot in the throttle coming back on the track in turn four. Robinson had gotten by Browning on the final lap and tried to beat Mills back to the line but it was Mills, in the I.G. Burton/Coulbourne Farms/Bicknell taking the win by .286 seconds.
“I’ll tell you what,” said Mills. “There’s no love lost between the modified and late model guys. I think it’s worse now and this next mix and match race is going to be interesting too. It’s a lot of fun because you’re getting to run with guy you normally don’t get to run with. They’re not cutting anybody any slack and I’m not cutting anybody any slack.”
Both Jester and H.J. Bunting got by Browning on the final lap to finish in third and fourth and Browning rounded out the top five. Late Model heats were won by Ray Davis, Jr. and Staci Warrington with Derricke Hill credited with the consolation. Modified heats were won by Jordan Watson and Dana Walker with Scott VanGorder taking the consolation.
RESULTS:
30-Lap “Mix & Match” Feature:
1. JAMIE MILLS;
2. Ross Robinson;
3. Matt Jester;
4. HJ Bunting;
5. Hal Browning;
6. Jordan Watson;
7. Jeff Brown;
8. Dana Walker;
9. Scott Van Gorder;
10. Bobby Watkins.
11. David Hill;
12. Dale Hawkins;
13. Dale Lingo;
14. Austin Hubbard;
15. Bob Geiger;
16. George Richardson;
17. Donald Lingo Jr;
18. Derrike Hill;
19. Eric Vent;
20. Rick Whaley;
21. Staci Warrington;
22. Richard Jarvis Jr;
23. Chad James;
24. Joseph Watson;
25. Howard ONeal;
26. Kerry King.
Delmar, DE
(5/2/09)
The Delaware International Speedway tried a new format on Saturday night and hit a home run with the fans. The new “Mix & Match” program took five cars from each of the two Super Late Model and two NAPA Big Block Modified heats. An additional two cars from each division came from respective consolations and the driver with the highest point total that did not qualify in each division was added to make up the 26 car starting field.
At the end of 30 laps the “Mix & Match” had become a “claw and scratch” as drivers appeared to drive their hardest for bragging rights as to which division was the fastest. It all boiled down to the final two turns with Jamie Mills surviving a near tangle with Donald Lingo, Jr. to post the $2000 win.
Late Model driver, Donald Lingo, Jr. and modified invader, Chad James drew for the pole starting spot with James pulling number two. Lingo started on the pole in the Delaware start with the modifieds lined up on the inside row and the late models on the outside behind him.
Lingo set a blistering pace at the drop of the green with James running in second. The late models of invader Austin Hubbard and Ross Robinson held third and fourth and sophomore driver, Jordan Watson ran in fifth. On lap four the yellow was out for a jingle involving the modifieds of Jamie Mills and Bobby Watkins and the father and son late model team of David and Derrike Hill. All four cars were able to restart at the rear of the field.
Late model driver, Richard Jarvis, Jr. was on the climb and took fifth. Two laps later he worked by both Robinson and Hubbard for third. The top five would shuffle again on lap ten when second place runner, James slowed with a vibration in his car. The top three were now the late models of Lingo, Jarvis and Robinson with Jordan Watson fourth and Hubbard fifth.
Eyes now turned to veteran Hal Browning who was making an inspired drive from his 13th starting spot. Browning was up to fourth just as the yellow came out for a spin involving Jarvis and Watson.
It was now the late models of Lingo, Robinson and Browning running in the top three with Hubbard and the modified of Matt Jester running in the top five. The order remained the same through the halfway point until lap 17 when Mills had worked his way back through the field into fifth.
A series of yellows kept the field closely bunched. Mills got by Hubbard for fourth with ten to go as Browning had the crowd on its feet as he got by Robinson for second and started to pressure Lingo for the lead.
Hubbard was not out of the picture as he mounted one more charge and got back to third but would come to a stop with two laps to go to set up a green-white-checkered finish. Mills got by Browning on the restart and went to the inside of Lingo in turn three with the two making contact but the yellow was out for a final time as Derricke Hill and Eric Vent tangled.
The scoring reverted back to lap 28 and again it was Lingo, Browning and Mills coming to the green. Mills got by Browning before the first turn and tucked in behind Lingo. On the final lap Mills took the lead going down the back straight but Lingo went in low and hard with the two making contact again and both going off the top of the third turn.
Mills kept his foot in the throttle coming back on the track in turn four. Robinson had gotten by Browning on the final lap and tried to beat Mills back to the line but it was Mills, in the I.G. Burton/Coulbourne Farms/Bicknell taking the win by .286 seconds.
“I’ll tell you what,” said Mills. “There’s no love lost between the modified and late model guys. I think it’s worse now and this next mix and match race is going to be interesting too. It’s a lot of fun because you’re getting to run with guy you normally don’t get to run with. They’re not cutting anybody any slack and I’m not cutting anybody any slack.”
Both Jester and H.J. Bunting got by Browning on the final lap to finish in third and fourth and Browning rounded out the top five. Late Model heats were won by Ray Davis, Jr. and Staci Warrington with Derricke Hill credited with the consolation. Modified heats were won by Jordan Watson and Dana Walker with Scott VanGorder taking the consolation.
RESULTS:
30-Lap “Mix & Match” Feature:
1. JAMIE MILLS;
2. Ross Robinson;
3. Matt Jester;
4. HJ Bunting;
5. Hal Browning;
6. Jordan Watson;
7. Jeff Brown;
8. Dana Walker;
9. Scott Van Gorder;
10. Bobby Watkins.
11. David Hill;
12. Dale Hawkins;
13. Dale Lingo;
14. Austin Hubbard;
15. Bob Geiger;
16. George Richardson;
17. Donald Lingo Jr;
18. Derrike Hill;
19. Eric Vent;
20. Rick Whaley;
21. Staci Warrington;
22. Richard Jarvis Jr;
23. Chad James;
24. Joseph Watson;
25. Howard ONeal;
26. Kerry King.