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MATT HAWKINS WINS NORRIS BRYAN MEMORIAL FOR FIRST CAREER WIN IN DELAWARE BIG BLOCKS

By CHARLIE BROWN, DELMAR, DE – The challenging August schedule has had an effect on car counts at the Delaware International Speedway but the quality of the racing ramped up on Saturday night for the Norris Bryan Memorial. Matt Hawkins scored his first career win becoming the first father/son combo to win in the same division in the same season in recent memory. Amanda Whaley set a blistering pace to hold off Donald Lingo, Jr. and Ricky Elliott in the S.R. Pete & Sons Late Models. Dwayne Crockett in the AC Delco PSC Modifieds and Zac Weller in the Crate Models both scored their second career wins while James Hill made it number eight in the Mod Lites and Mel Joseph, Jr. won his fifth in the Little Lincoln Vintage Cars.

 

Robert Dutton took the lead at the start of the 25-lap NAPA Big Block Modified feature. Scott VanGorder worked by Matt Hawkins for second and took the lead for lap four. Going into the third turn, Dutton and VanGorder made contact with VanGorder getting around and bringing out the yellow.

 

Back under the green Hawkins kept the pressure on Dutton while Bobby Watkins moved into third. H.J. Bunting was on the charge from seventh and was up to fourth just as Matt Hawkins got by Dutton to lead lap eight. Two laps later, Bunting was up to third and at the halfway sign the top five were Hawkins, Bunting, Dutton, Brad Trice and Watkins.

 

The caution flew again at this point when VanGorder came to a stop. The remainder of the race would be caution free. Hawkins remained flawless and kept just out of the reach of Bunting to earn his first Big Block Modified victory. Bunting would finish in second with Dutton third. Fourth went to Trice and Watkins rounded out the top five. Heats were won by Matt Hawkins and his father Dale Hawkins.

 

“We have had terrible luck this season,� said Hawkins. “I thought tonight was going to be more of the same when I picked up a wad of clay in my right rear wheel on the first lap. I almost shook me to death.�

 

NAPA Big Block Modified Finish: 1. Matt Hawkins; 2. H.J. Bunting; 3. Robert Dutton; 4. Brad Trice; 5. Bobby Watkins; 6. Dale Hawkins; 7. Scott VanGorder; 8. Dave Gerhart; 9. Mike White.

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