9/25/2016
Delaware International Speedway
KEVIN SOCKRITER GETS 1ST MODIFIED WIN WITH SMALL BLOCK – CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT THE DELAWARE INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
By CHARLIE BROWN, DELMAR, DE – Saturday night was not only Pepsi Night and Topless Night at the Delaware International Speedway but it was also the final night of the point season at the track. By the end of the night there was a first time winner in the NAPA Big Block Modifieds and three first time track champions out of the five weekly divisions.
H.J. Bunting came into the 25-lap NAPA Big Block Modified feature with his seventh championship a virtual sure thing. Rookie Westley Smith would lead his first feature laps in the division with Brandon Watkins and Kevin Sockriter battling for second.
On lap three the caution was out as Matt Hawkins, who had a long shot at the title coming into the race, slowed with a flat right rear. Smith controlled the restart and Sockriter worked by Watkins for second and one lap later took the lead.
Yellows on the next two circuits kept the field tightly bunched and allowed Howard O’Neal to move into second. At the halfway sign the top five were Sockriter, O’Neal, Brad Trice, Eric Vent and Bunting.
Sockriter had built over a second advantage over O’Neal when the yellow again flew with eight to go as Dale Hawkins came to a stop off turn two. On the restart Bunting got by Vent for fourth but that was as far as he would climb.
Sockriter maintained the high groove and drove his Colbourne Racing small block to his first win in the division. O’Neal finished a solid second with Trice third. Fourth and his seventh title went to Bunting with Vent turning in his best ride in fifth. Heats were won by Smith and Sockriter, drivers that had both moved from the AC Delco Sportsman during the season.
NAPA Big Block Modified Finish: 1. Kevin Sockriter; 2. Howard O’Neal; 3. Brad Trice; 4. H.J. Bunting; 5. Eric Vent; 6. Dave Dissinger; 7. Scott VanGorder; 8. Matt Hawkins; 9. Brandon Watkins; 10. Robert Dutton; 11. Dale Hawkins; 12. Dana Walker; 13. Kyle Fuller; 14. Westley Smith.
