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MORNING STAR • AUGUST 14 - 20, 2008
Watson gets first career win in Delaware Big Blocks By Charlie Brown Three weeks ago at the Delaware International Speedway, 17-year-old rookie Joseph Watson almost pulled off the upset in the NAPA Big Block Modifieds until a late race caution erased his lead and allowed his uncle, Jamie Mills, to take the lead with five laps to go. On Saturday night, Watson was not to be denied as he held off the challenges of defending point champion H.J. Bunting to record his first career win in the Bonus Night 25-lap feature. Brad Trice held off the two car challenge of Herman Powell and John Curtis to win the exciting 15-lap AC Delco Modified win and Tim White started on the pole but had to contend with Rick Wheatley before winning the 15-lap Modified Lite feature. Watson has been very quick on the learning curve in his rookie season and has been consistently turning in stronger and stronger performances. On Saturday night, Watson captured his qualifying heat then started on the pole in the feature. He immediately took control at the drop of the green as Jeff Brown and Ricky Johnson battled for second. The yellow was out on lap four when George Richardson came to a stop. Under the yellow Tim Millman headed into the pits. H.J. Bunting was on the move from his seventh starting spot taking fourth on lap six and third from Brown on lap later. The race stayed green with Watson comfortably in command. At the halfway sign Bunting had climbed past Johnson for second with Johnson, Brown, and Robert Dutton holding down the top five. It looked as if Watson might once again get bitten by the yellow as his brother Jordan Watson, who had captured the second qualifying heat, came to a stop with just five laps left to go. On the restart, Bunting cranked up the pressure taking the lead by a nose in the third turn. Joseph raced back to the front by the start/finish line and would hold on for the rest of the distance in his Cortland Manor/Bicknell to take the win by one second over Bunting. Johnson finished in the third spot with Matt Jester coming on strong late to finish in fourth and Howard O’Neal rounded out the top five. The bonus night win was worth $1,750 for Watson. The 15-lap AC Delco Modified Feature was a thriller. Herman Powell led the first lap before Brad Trice moved on top. A three car tangle brought out the yellow on lap two. On the restart, Tim Trimble
moved by Joseph Tracy for fourth while John Curtis held down the third spot. Scott Baker came to a stop on lap five bringing out the yellow for the second and final time. Curtis grabbed second from Powell on the restart and at the halfway point the top five were Trice, Curtis, Powell, Trimble and Tracy. The order would not change the rest of the distance but coming to the checkered, Curtis and Powell made one final challenge. Curtis went to the inside of Trice with Powell going to the outside and the trio crossed the finish line separated by less than two tenths of a second. Trice, in the Mitchell’s Auto & Truck Salvage/Bicknell, took his third win of the season with Powell second and Curtis third. Trimble finished in the fourth spot with Tracy fifth. Tim White started on the pole and took the early lead in the 15-lap Mod Lite feature. Rick Wheatley challenged from the second spot taking the lead just before halfway. Two laps later, Wheatley got around and White found himself back on the point. Curt Miles, Jr. was now running in the second spot with Brandon Dennis charging by Eric McKinney for third. White would make no mistakes as he brought the Floyd Carey/CLC Cabling/Lightning home for the win by less than an second over Miles, Jr. Dennis took the third spot with Jimmy Wills getting by McKinney with two laps to go to finish in third. James McKinney also got by Eric McKinney on the final lap to finish in fourth. This Saturday night will be another “bonus night” at Delaware International. It will also be Laurel Fan Night with any resident of Laurel with a picture I.D. admitted free to the spectator side. The NAPA Big Block Modifieds will run 25 laps for $1,750 to win plus an extra $50 in positions second through sixth. The Super Late Models will also run 25 laps for $1,250 to win plus $100 to take the green and an additional $50 for positions second through sixth. The AC Delco Modifieds, Crate Models, and Modified Lites will all compete for an additional $100 for the winner and $25 extra in positions second through sixth. Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 7 p.m. Spectator general admission will be $12 with pit admission $25 and children 13 and under admitted free with a paying adult on the spectator side. The United Racing Company Sprints that were rained out on August 2 have been rescheduled for Saturday night, August 23.
David Tucker stops Bastianelli, wins Super Pro at U.S. 13 By Charlie Brown Danny Bastianelli has been on a tear lately in the Super Pro division but on Friday night, Ellendale’s David Tucker was up for the challenge as he captured the Super Pro final over Bastianelli. Tim Foskey, Jr. of Rhodesdale, Md. captured the Pro final while James Farmer of Felton rode to the win in Pro Bike. Other winners on the day included: Matt Hurd of Georgetown (Street Eliminator); Jack Belleville of Parsonsburg (Import); Mykl Johnson of Delmar, Md. (Bike Trophy); Cortney Cathell of Laurel (Jr. Dragster 1) and Roland Morris of Delmar (Jr. Dragster 2). The all-dragster Super Pro final was a good one between last week’s winner, Danny Bastianelli and David Tucker with his fuel injected small block. Bastianelli had the better reaction with a .009 to Tucker’s .016 but Tucker had the better run to take the win with a 7.878/166.11 on a 7.86 dial. Bastianelli ran a 7.537/174.28 on a 7.50 dial. Semifinalists were Andy Olenik of Dover and Lou Thibault of Millsboro. Quarter-finalists were Jay Parrott, Jr. of Quantico, Md., Greg Olenik of Dover and Alan Clayville of Laurel. The Pro final matched Tim Foskey, Jr. and Frank Parks of Denton. Foskey took the double break out win with an 11.467/114.30 on an 11.49 dial. Parks was out by a greater margin with an 11.477/116.85 on an 11.50. Semi-finalists were Andre Blades of Fruitland and Jesse Truitt of Parsonsburg. Quarter-finalists were Eddie Baker of Salisbury, Michael Miller of Harrington, Steve Long of Linthicum, Md. and Steve Taylor of Severn, Md. James Farmer rode up against Sean Tilghman of Ridgely, Md. in the Pro Bike final. Tilghman had a red light foul and Farmer rode to the win with an off the throttle 13.477/54.64 on a 9.59 dial. Semi-finalists were Doug Thomas of Ellendale and Chris Waters of Easton. Quarter-finalists were Preston Hopkins of Millsboro, Gary Witcher of Dover, Jay Windsor of Felton and Tony Mumford of Berlin. Matt Hurd took advantage of a red light foul to defeat Steven Horner of Salisbury in the Street Eliminator final. Hurd ran a 12.019/112.47 on a 12.04 dial. In Import it was Dustin Krauss of Tyaskin, Md. leaving too early and fouling and Jack Belloville took the win with a run of 16.878/82.31 on a 16.52 dial. Mykl Johnson once again topped Bike Trophy as he defeated Aaron Ames of Townsend. Ames also fell victim to the “red light fever” and Johnson ran a 13.004/94.05 on a 12.90 dial for the win. Courtney Cathell remained unbeaten for the second week in a row in Jr. Dragster 1. Cathell had the better reaction over Phillip Palmer of Snow Hill and drove to her second consecutive win with a 9.054/70.36 on a 9.03 dial. Palmer ran a solid 9.005/71.50 on a 9.000 dial. In Jr. Dragster 2 it was Roland Morris taking the win on a single with a 9.952/63.59 on a 9.80 dial. This Friday night will be the last Friday night before switching back to Sundays and will feature the Bad 8 along with the Summit E.T. Point Series racers. Gates open at 3:30 p.m. with time runs at 4:30 and eliminations at approximately 8 p.m.
Whaley survives cautions to win in Delaware Late Models RESULTS: 1. RICK WHALEY; 2. Richard Jarvis, Jr.; 3. Ray Davis, Jr.; 4. Mark Byram; 5. Hal Browning; 6. Dave Hertz; 7. Kevin Scott, Jr.; 8. Derrik Hill; 9. David Pettyjohn; 10. David Hill; 11. Staci Warrington; 12. Kerry King; 13. Bryan Driver; 14. Jon Callaway; 15. Bob Geiger; 16. Trent Collins; 17. Ed Drury. 15-Lap Crate Model Feature: 1. JOE WARREN; 2. Barry Beaucham; 3. Tyler Reed; 4. Herb Tunis; 5. Justin Breeding; 6. Eric Vent; 7. Mike Wharton; 8. Mike Wilson; 9. Darin Henderson; 10. Josh Millman; 11. Nick Davis; 12. Clint Chalabala; 13. Gus Economides; 14.Chris Hitchens; 15. John McLanigan; 16. Jeff Patilla; 17. Mark Williams; 18. Sparky White; 19. Russell Dadds; 20. Kelly Putz; 21. Jeff Swartz; 22. Roy Hassler; 23. Chris Jestice; 24. Travis Justice; 25. Mike Williams; 26. Skip Syester; DNQ: Richie Hornsby; Eddie Williams; John Imler; Mike Wilkins. 10-Lap Little Lincoln Feature: 1. DONALD ROBINSON, JR; 2. Mel Joseph, Jr.; 3. Bill Brittingham;4. Jamie Wagner; 5. Mark Cashdan; 6. Tony Daisey; 7. Duke Walsen; 8. Steven Baker; 9. Chris Loveland; 10. Albert Mitchell; 11. Pat McNeal; 12. Brian Brasure; 13. Jeff Wheatley; 14. Emory West; 15. Matt Johnson; 16. Richard Zach.
15U Delaware Roadrunners holding tryouts Aug. 14 The 15U Delaware Roadrunners select baseball team will hold tryouts on Thursday, Aug. 14 at 6 p.m. at Sports at the Beach, Field 8. The tryouts are open to serious baseball players that turn 15 after April 30, 2008. If you are interested in trying out, please call (302) 249-7957.
The Seaford Department of Recreation is holding signups for the following leagues: Youth Tackle Football- Ages 7-13. The cost is $30 and includes a physical and all equipment. Tryouts are September 6, so sign up early. NFL Flag Football- Ages 6-11. The cost is $20 and the league is co-ed. Games start in September and are played on Sunday afternoons. Youth Cheerleading- Ages 7-14. The cost is $40 and includes a uniform that you can keep. Practice starts in September and the girls cheer for the tackle football league on Saturdays. Youth field hockey- Ages 7-12. The cost is $20 and includes a shirt. This is an instructional league that runs on Saturday mornings and starts Sept. 6.
Covering all the local sports, the Seaford/Laurel Star.
SUDOKU ANSWERS:
Seaford Department of Recreation to hold fall signups