6/19/2016
Delaware International Speedway
BUNTING ENDS WATKINS’ HOPES LATE IN RACE TO WIN IN DELAWARE BIG BLOCK MODIFIEDS
By Charlie Brown, DELMAR, DE – A good field of cars and two first time winners provided fans with a preview of Tuesday night’s 44th Annual Camp Barnes Benefit at the Delaware International Speedway Saturday. Veteran H.J. Bunting made a late race pass of rookie Brandon Watkins to win his second NAPA Big Block Modified feature of the year.
Drew Simmons started on the pole in the 25-lap main and set the pace with Brandon Watkins giving chase from second. Dave Dissinger started in the eighth spot and was running the high side as he charged into fourth behind Michael White.
Matt Hawkins was following Dissinger on the top but did a 360-degree spin in the second turn. The caution came out but because Hawkins never stopped moving he was able to restart back in fifth. On the restart Watkins got by Simmons for the lead and Dissinger followed into second. At the halfway sign it was Watkins, Dissinger, Simmons, Howard O’Neal and Matt Hawkins.
On the next circuit Dissinger became the third different leader of the race but slid high in the second turn losing four spots in the process. Watkins was back on top with Simmons holding second and Bunting making a charge up to the third spot.
With six to go Bunting got by Simmons for second and quickly closed on Watkins. With four to go he went to outside and edged by Watkins for the lead. At the checkered the top three were Bunting, Watkins and Simmons. Matt Hawkins finished in the fourth spot and Dissinger held on to finish in fifth. Heats were won by Michael White and Brandon Watkins.
NAPA Big Block Modified Finish: 1. H.J. Bunting; 2. Brandon Watkins; 3. Drew Simmons; 4. Matt Hawkins; 5. Dave Dissinger; 6. Robert Dutton; 7. Scott VanGorder; 8. Clay Tatman; 9. Kyle Fuller; 10. Dale Hawkins; 11. Don Hallowell; 12. Dana Walker; 13. Richie Pratt, Jr.; 14. Howard O’Neal; 15. Michael White; 16. Dana Walker.
