4/17/2016
Delaware International Speedway
DELAWARE INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY SEASON OPENER GOES TO H.J. BUNTING
By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE – The residents of Delmar and the Delmar Chamber of Commerce were guests for Saturday night’s season opener at the Delaware International Speedway. While the temperature did get cool after sunset, the action remained hot throughout the night.
The first night of the season has the drivers start heads up from their finishes in the heat. Defending six- time point champion had his son draw for his starting position in the heat and the draw was the No. 1. Bunting took full advantage of the spot winning his heat and starting on the pole. Brad Trice captured the second qualifier and started inside row two in the Delaware Start with Scott VanGorder on his outide.
Bunting jumped on the throttle at the start of the green as did last year’s opening night winner, Jamie Mills who started in fifth. Mills wasted no time and had cleared the second place car of Trice by lap two.
By lap 11 Bunting was encountering traffic as he began to lap the back of the field. At the halfway sign Bunting almost tangled with Drew Simmons. Simmons did get around to bring out the first yellow. Bunting refused to give up the top groove but Mills was able to close on the bottom. The yellow would fly a final time on lap 18 as Simmons got around for the second time.
Mills was able to keep the pressure on Bunting and pulled even on one occasion with four to go. Bunting was up for the challenge and drove to his first checkered of the season. Mills finished just .545 seconds behind in second with Trice completing a good run in third. Fourth went to VanGorder and Beau Wilkins rounded out the top five.
NAPA Big Block Modified Finish; 1. H.J. Bunting; 2. Jamie Mills; 3. Brad Trice; 4. Scott VanGorder; 5. Beau Wilkins; 6. Dale Hawkins; 7. Matt Hawkins; 8. Michael White; 9. Howard O’Neal; 10. Robert Dutton; 11. Richie Pratt, Jr.; 12. Carson Wright; 13. Clay Tatman; 14. Dave Dissinger; 15. Drew Simmons; 16. Bobby Watkins; 17. Carl Schirmer; 18. Norman Short, Jr.; 19. Brandon Watkins: DNS: Aaron VanGorder.
