10/23/2016
Delaware International Speedway
JAMIE MILLS FENDS OFF INVADERS TO WIN 2ND BIG BLOCK FALL CHAMPIONSHIP
By CHARLIE BROWN, DELMAR, DE – Cooler temperatures but a fast track and a pits packed with racers provided the backdrop for the final night of the 2016 Delaware State Dirt Track Championships. With over $60,000 in prize money plus $4000 in lap sponsorship and $50 bonuses from Carolyn Parsons and Why Not Travel for supporting breast cancer awareness drivers had a lot to compete for. Even one lucky fan went home with the 2016 Dodge Pace Truck courtesy of K&B Auto of Delmar.
Friday night’s heat races were won by Craig VonDohren and Shawn Ward starting them in the top two spots. VonDohren set the pace but the yellow was out on lap two when Scott Hulmes got around. The next 20 laps provided some hard two groove racing. Mike Gular moved into second with Jamie Mills, who had started in eighth, taking third.
Mills was on the move taking second from Gular on lap 15 and closing on VonDohren in traffic by lap 20. H.J. Bunting had the fans’ attention as he was high riding from his 17th starting spot and was up to fifth behing Neal Williams.
Mills cranked it up on the outside taking the lead from VonDohren for lap 22 as Bunting moved into fourth behind Gular with Jordan Watson following into fifth. With Mills out front and VonDohren holding second Bunting and Gular put on a good side by side battle for third. Bunting slid too high on lap 36 losing three spots. Things only got worse when he and Matt Hawkins tangled ending his night with a broke shock.
Gular was the next to drop on the restart and the yellow was out again. On the third attempt Watson and VonDohren made contact with VonDohren getting around collecting Brad Trice and Dale Hawkins. VonDohren headed to the pits but not before expressing his displeasure with Watson with some contact.
This completely shuffled the top five with Mills still on top and Watson in second. Ryan Watt, who started in 13th was up to third with Richie Pratt, Jr. in fourth and rookie Brandon Watkins in fifth. Mills was back hard on the throttle pulling away in the closing laps by over three seconds for the win. With lap money and the gambler’s bonus the win totaled $7517.
Watson finished in the second spot with Watt third. Pratt finished in fourth and Watkins ended a great run in fifth.
50-lap Big Block Modified Finish: 1. Jamie Mills; 2. Jordan Watson; 3. Ryan Watt; 4. Richie Pratt, Jr.; 5. Brandon Watkins; 6. Mike White; 7. Kevin Sockriter; 8. Jim Britt; 9. Dave Dissinger; 10. Shawn Ward; 11. Matt Hawkins; 12. Dale Hawkins; 13. Matthew Peck; 14. Mike Gular; 15. Matt Jester; 16. Craig VonDohren; 17. H.J. Bunting; 18. Brad Trice; 19. Neal Williams; 20. Ron Roberts; 21. Dave Schirk; 22. Carson Wright; 23. Howard O’Neal; 24. Scott VanGorder; 25. Scott Ambruster, Jr.; 26. Brad Roberts; 27. Kevin Gardner; 28. Scott Hulmes; 29. Bob Sarkisian; 30. Glenn Reed.
