9/11/2016
Delaware International Speedway
JAMIE MILLS RETURNS AND EARNS $3000 WIN ON FINAL LAP IN DELAWARE BIG BLOCKS
By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE – Saturday night at the Delaware International Speedway it was S.R. Pete & Sons Night headlining the three top divisions in dirt track racing – the big block modifieds, super late models and sprint cars. Jamie Mills made his first appearance since being injured in a crash early in the season at Bridgeport Speedway. Mills started 14th in the NAPA Big Block Modified field and passed H.J. Bunting coming to the white flag to pick up his first win this season.
Matt Hawkins and Kevin Sockriter started off the night for the Big Blocks by winning their respective heat races. In the 25-lap feature, Kyle Fuller led lap one before the one and only caution would fly as Scott Ambruster rolled to a stop.
Fuller remained in control on the restart with Robert Dutton in second. Sockriter took over in second on lap three with H.J. Bunting, who had started in tenth rim riding into third. Sockriter held off Bunting for the next two circuits before both Bunting and Brad Trice moved by.
Bunting navigated on top for lap nine with Trice following into second. Mills was making a charge through the field and by this point had just cracked the top five. By halfway, Mills was up to third and challenging Trice for the second spot. Mills made the pass with ten to go and set out to catch Bunting.
With two laps to go Mills had caught the leader and going into the third turn pulled along side in the low groove. The pair slid up the track in the fourth turn and make contact. Mills crossed under the white flag first and crossed under the checkered 1.44 seconds ahead of Bunting for his first win of the season and the tenth different winner in the division this year. Trice finished in the third spot with Matt Hawkins climbing to finish fourth and Sockriter rounding out the top five.
In victory lane, Carol Droney presented Mills with a $1250 bonus check in the memory of her stepfather, local businessman and racing enthusiast Buddy Messick who passed away earlier this year. This brought Mills’ winnings to $3000 for the 25 lap main.
