4/13/2018
Delaware International Speedway
SUPERMAN SOARS TO VICTORY IN THE FULL THROTTLE SERIES
April 12, 2018 Full Throttle Series # 1By Bonnie Nibblett
Delmar, DE...The FULL THROTTLE SERIES Race # 1 officially got underway tonight at the Delaware International Speedway. The Taylor & Messick, 40 lap big block modified feature, had 34 Modifieds hitting the track for a spot in the lineup with $4000 on the line for the winner and $400 to take the green. In addition, there were lap bonuses included tonight.
Matt Sheppard 9S, of Waterloo, NY, stated, “the track was one of the best I’ve raced on there was a racing groove from the top to the bottom I could run anywhere I needed.�
Sheppard blazed the track flawlessly from the drop of the green to take the lead from Anthony Perrego 44, from the start. The first yellow came out with Scotty VanGorder stopping in turn 4. On the restart Sheppard, Perrego, Jamie Mills 30, Jimmy Horton 43H and Ryan Godown 66 were the top 5. Mills and Horton battled for third on the take off until lap 7, when local Jordan Watson 1J slows in turn 4 and he's done for the night. Watson was plagued with mishap in hot laps with water pump woes but qualified in the consi to take the green in the feature.
By Lap 10, Godown charged Sheppard for the lead with some good old-fashioned side by side racing for a number of laps until lap 12 when Ryan Watt 14W slowed in turn 4 with a flat. On the restart, Godown, Sheppard, Perrego, Mills, and Craig VonDohren 14S were the leaders, with Sheppard retaking the lead by laps 14-15 in turn 2 setting up a 4 to 5 car length lead. The caution was back out on lap 20 when Horton slowed and Jeff Brown 9 went in the pits with a flat.
At the half way restart it was Sheppard, Godown, Perrego, Mills, VonDohren in the top 5; 6th to 10th went to Billy Pauch Jr. 51, Rick Laubach 1K, Duane Howard 357, H. J. Bunting 85 and Shawn Ward 7W. Brown was able to return in time for restart.
Sheppard remained the leader with a battle for third between Mills and Perrego in turns 1 and 2. Mills looked to drive down and the car just kicked out from under him bringing out the yellow on lap 25, when he hit the retainer wall just outside of turn 2. This ended the good run he had going. Sheppard leads Godown, Perrego, Pauch Jr. and Howard in the top 5 on the restart. Howard and Pauch Jr. made little contact, but the green remained out with 18 cars on the track.
Watt made his way through the pack to claim 11th after having a flat on lap 12. On Lap 28, Perrego and Howard battle for third until Perrego ends up taking second. Lap 32 Howard gets around in turn 4 by himself bringing out the caution. Lap 33 Sheppard leads, Godown, Perrego, Pauch, Jr., VonDohren, Laubach, Jim Britt 118, Watt and Mike Gular 2A rounded out the top 10. The final two laps had a showdown for third between Bunting and VonDohren and VonDohren pushed forward claiming third. The final top five was Sheppard, Godown, VonDohren, Bunting and Perrego. The full field rundown was Matt Sheppard 9S, Ryan Godown 66, Craig VonDohren 14S, H. J. Bunting III 85, Anthony Perrego 44, Rick Laubach 1K, Billy Pauch Jr. 51, Ryan Watt 14W, Jim Britt 118, Mike Gular 2A, Jo Jo Watson 30M, Shawn Ward 7W, Brad Trice 33, Scott VanGorder 17, Kevin Sockriter 55K, Ron Roberts Z14, DNF: Brandon Watkins 4W, Duane Howard 357, Jeff Brown 9, Jamie Mills 30, Kevin Gardner 71, Michael White 43, Jordan Watson 1J, and Jimmy Horton 43H.
The track was super-fast all night leading Sheppard to having the fastest lap in the feature with 18.577 sec and 96.577 mph. During the heats, Sheppard still had the fastest lap of 18.161 sec and 99.113 mph. Heats were won by Mills with 18.303 sec and a 98.345 mph, Watt at 18.326 sec and 98.221 mph lap, Sheppard, Godown with 18.627 sec and fast lap of 96.634 mph. The two consi heats were won by Kevin Sockriter 55K, and Watson. DNQ: J. Justice, B. Watkins, M. Hawkins, K. Peek, D. Hawkins, C. Tatman, DNS: M. Byram, C. Wright, R. Dutton, and B. Hitz.
The track would like to thank Taylor & Messick of Harrington, De. for their continued support of the Full Throttle Series. In addition, L & J Sheet Metal of Laurel, De. for their sponsorship of every lap during the Modified feature.
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