10/23/2016
Delaware International Speedway
AUSTIN HUBBARD RETURNS TO RACING AND WINS FIRST LATE MODEL FALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Austin Hubbard was back behind the wheel of his Late Model and ready to race on Saturday night. Hubbard and friend Andrew Mullins were involved in a serious auto accident in North Carolina this past summer. Both are still on the mend but Hubbard proved on Friday night when he won his heat that he was back ready to race. Ricky Elliott started in the second spot after winning his heat on Friday.
Hubbard pulled out to a lead over Elliott at the drop of the green with Mark Pettyjohn quickly settling into third. Nic Davis who was sporting a throwback wrap on his car as a tribute to all-time leading winner at DIS, David Hill, held on to fourth with Joe Warren running fifth in his small block Ford.
The leaders were in traffic by lap ten and Elliott was able to close on Hubbard. The first caution did not fly until lap 14 when Robbie Emory got around and was tagged by Donald Lingo, Jr. Lingo had started the race in third but tangled with Pettyjohn early in the race while in third and dropped back to twelfth. He had been on a charge on the outside and could not avoid Emory.
On the restart Hubbard again pulled away to a 3.4 second lead until Kerry King caught a rut in the fourth turn and bounced to a stop. Amanda Whaley was now up into the fifth spot. Dylan Evans, who finished in the runner-up spot last year, would bring out the caution just past halfway keeping Hubbard from running away and hiding. A long stretch of green followed that allowed Hubbard to do just that.
Elliott’s hopes ended with eight to go when he slowed and headed to the pits. Two laps later former Fall Champion, Rob Schirmer brought out the yellow and headed to the pits with a flat right rear. Davis would be the next to have tire problems bringing out the yellow with four to go.
Hubbard still seemed to have plenty left and went on to his first win in the fall classic. It was a big payday for him as he had led all laps, paid the gambler’s bonus and had the cancer awareness ribbons on his car earning $7885! “I’ve led 49 laps a couple of times and 48 laps once,� smiled Hubbard. “I is really great to finally win this one.�
Pettyjohn ended a good run in second with Whaley likewise in third. Fourth went to a steady Herb Tunis and Emory recovered from the early spin to salvage a top five.
50-lap S.R. Pete & Sons Super Late Model Finish: 1. Austin Hubbard; 2. Mark Pettyjohn; 3. Amanda Whaley; 4. Herb Tunis; 5. Robbie Emory; 6. Joe Warren; 7. Kerry King; 8. Kevin Scott, Jr.; 9. Nick Davis; 10. Rob Schirmer; 11. Daulton Bigler; 12. Shaun Jones; 13. Jason Dean; 14. Ricky Elliott; 15. Dylan Evans; 16. Donald Lingo, Jr.; 17. Kellie Lewis; 18. Bob Geiger.
