NASCAR Hall of Fame Driver Bobby Allison Serves As Grand Marshall
Story By: BRETT DEYO / GEORGETOWN SPEEDWAY MEDIA
Photos By: GEORGETOWN SPEEDWAY / RACERSGUIDE
GEORGETOWN, DE – October 15, 2016- H.J. Bunting (Modified) and Ricky Elliott (Super Late Model) headlined the Stockley Tavern ‘Showdown’ winners Friday night at Georgetown Speedway.
A large crowd took in the program, which included an appearance by NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Bobby Allison. Prior to the start of racing, Allison spent more than an hour meeting fans in the grandstand area, then addressed attendees with stories of his racing career.
Milford, Del.’s Bunting won for the second time this season at Georgetown in the 25-lap big-block/small-block Modified main, worth $3,000. Bunting’s Jake Marine-owned No. 85 rolled off the grid from eighth position via a redraw of top qualifiers.
Through a series of early cautions, Bunting surged forward, ultimately slipping past both Matt Hawkins and Howard O’Neal to take command.
As Bunting led, New Jersey star Jimmy Horton was on the climb. Neshanic Station, N.J.’s Horton, who started ninth, followed Bunting to the front in the Halmar International-backed No. 43.
During the race’s second half, Horton closed on Bunting – at times pulling up to the back bumper of the leader – before crossing the line less than a car-length behind the victor.
“We were getting pretty loose at the end,” Bunting said. “I knew somebody was there, I was trying to keep it straight.”
Following Bunting and Horton across the line was a hard-charging Jordan Watson. The Milford, Del., driver was collected in a tangle, pitted, and rode the speedway’s extreme outside lane to take third, besting Parsonsburg, Md., driver Brad Trice at the line.
Completing the front five was Ryan Watt of Boyertown, Pa., who like Watson spun during the main and raced back to fifth in the Ron Roberts-owned No. 14W.
Finishing sixth through 10th, respectively, were Howard O’Neal of Lincoln, Del.; Craig Von Dohren of Oley, Pa., recovering from an early tangle; Matt Jester of Milford, Del., driving the Beau Wilkins No. 90W; pole starter Richie Pratt Jr. of Woodbury Heights, N.J.; and Kevin Sockriter of Seaford, Del., in the Keith Coulbourne-owned No. 55.
Seaford, Del., driver Ricky Elliott dominated the 20-lap Super Late Model event for a $2,000 winner’s share. Elliott led the event from start-to-finish, opening up a substantial lead on the second-place battle.
Ross Robinson of Georgetown, Del., recovered from driveline issues in hot laps to hold on for a runner-up finish, holding off Green Lane, Pa., driver Danny Snyder, Donald Lingo Jr. of Millsboro, Del., and Amanda Whaley of Millsboro, Del.
Tom Tanner of Ivyland, Pa., made his Georgetown Speedway debut a memorable one in Crate 602 Sportsman competition. Tanner fought tooth-and-nail for the $600 payday. Jordn Justice pursued Tanner heavily as time wound down in the 20-lap main. Tanner mastered a restart on the final lap to hold off Justice, New Jersey’s Brandon Grosso, Tim Trimble with a late charge, and Jeff Brown.
Dwayne Heck earned the Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Car 15-lap feature win in convincing fashion. Vic Thomas finished second and was the first Sportsman across the line. David Parsons, John Burton and Chris Loveland finished third through fifth, respectively.
Landy Adams scored an emotional victory in the 15-lap Little Lincoln main event. Adams was greeted on the frontstretch by Bobby Allison, who at one time drove for the Melvin Joseph team in NASCAR competition. Kirk Lawson, Joe Tracey, Mel Joseph Jr. and Matt White followed Adams across the line.
In another back-and-forth Delaware Super Truck 12-lap feature, Billy Cropper outdueled Robert Smith and David Smith for his fourth win of the season. Matt Long and Dale Elliott completed the front five.
Scott Calhoun utilized a heat-race charge to earn a front-row spot in the Delmarva Charger 12-lap main and was never headed, taking his second consecutive Georgetown win. Following Calhoun were Brett Sellers, Jay Sipple, Tanner Marvel and Jerry Barker.
Racing resumes on November 4-5 with the Mid-Atlantic Championship Weekend.
On Friday night, small-block Modifieds will race for a $3,000 winner’s share (complete show), plus Crate 602 Sportsman (complete show), Delmarva Chargers (complete show), Delaware Super Trucks (complete show) and heat races for big-block Modifieds and Super Late Models.
Saturday will be headlined by consolations and feature events for big-block Modifieds and Super Late Models (40 laps, $4,000-to-win, $400 to start each) plus complete programs for Crate Late Models (602), Delmarva Chargers, Delaware Super Trucks, Little Lincolns and Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Cars.
A complete schedule and information will be posted on the official Georgetown Speedway website in the coming days.
Georgetown Speedway, originally constructed by Melvin L. Joseph in 1949, is located at the intersection of Route 113 and Speedway Road in Georgetown, Del., just miles from the Delaware beaches and less than a 40-minute drive from Ocean City, Md.
A new website is live for the speedway at www.thegeorgetownspeedway.com. Like Georgetown Speedway on Facebook, follow @thegtownspdwy on Twitter, e-mail georgetownspeedway@gmail.com or contact Brett Deyo at 845.728.2781 during business hours for more information.
GEORGETOWN NOTES: Some 119 race cars filled the speedway’s pit area, with 32 Modifieds, 12 Late Models, 21 Crate 602 Sportsman, eight Southern Delaware Vintage Cars, 12 Little Lincolns, 20 Super Trucks and 14 Delmarva Chargers in the pit area….
Despite the busy program, the Modified feature hit the track at 9:33 p.m. with Super Late Models following immediately….
The much-anticipated debut of the Walt Breeding No. 1 experimental Modified driven by Ricky Elliott ended quickly when Elliott pulled off during his heat race with oil leak issues….
Event sponsors Stockley Tavern were active at the event, selling apparel and offering post-race specials for attendees….
STOCKLEY TAVERN ‘SHOWDOWN’ RACE SUMMARY – GEORGETOWN SPEEDWAY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14
Big-Block/Small-Block Modified Feature Finish (25 laps): H.J. BUNTING, Jimmy Horton, Jordan Watson, Brad Trice, Ryan Watt, Howard O’Neal, Craig Von Dohren, Matt Jester, Richie Pratt Jr., Kevin Sockriter, Matt Hawkins, Ryan Anderson, Ron Roberts, Neal Williams, Carson Wright, Ricky DiEva, Shawn Ward, Trent Willey, Matt Peck, Scott Van Gorder, Jim Britt, Bobby Watkins, Mike White, Jamie Mills.
Did Not Qualify: Kevin Gardiner, Ricky Elliott, Eric Vent, Ernie Miles, Jeff Brown, Dale Hawkins, Scott Ambruster, Don Hallowell.
Super Late Model Feature Finish (20 laps): RICKY ELLIOTT, Ross Robinson, Dan Snyder, Donald Lingo, Amanda Whaley, Dylan Evans, Kevin Scott, Herb Tunis, Mike Wharton, Kelli Lewis, Zac Weller, C.J. Faison.
Crate 602 Sportsman Feature Finish (20 laps): TOM TANNER, Jordn Justice, Brandon Grosso, Tim Trimble, Jeff Brown, Trent Van Vorst, Steve Kemery, Chuck Sayres, Adam White, Ryan Riddle, Freddy Massey, Andy Hammond, Ryan Mortimer, Dave Jenkins, Matt Smith, Scott Hitchens, Brett Ballard, Trey Hicks, Brian Hitz, Devin Dodson, Duane Rust.
Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Car Feature Finish (15 laps): DWAYNE HECK, Vic Thomas, David Parsons, John Burton, Chris Loveland, Mark Williams, Dave Schamp, C.J. Schirmer.
Little Lincoln Feature Finish (15 laps): LANDY ADAMS, Kirk Lawson, Joe Tracey, Mel Joseph Jr., Matt White, Tommy Elliott, John Stevenson, Ryan Walsen, Bunky White, Jordan Herbert, Joe Walbert, Sean Smith.
Delaware Super Truck Feature Finish (12 laps): BILLY CROPPER, Robert Smith, David Smith, Matt Long, Dale Elliott, Jerry Hill, Cory Sapp, Mike Kennedy, Wayne Wilkenson, Rocky Whitley, Action Jackson, Michelle Jackson, Seth Goss, D.J. Voss, John Glackin, Kara Klink, Mike Lewis, Reid Mitchell, Shannon Lewis, Shane Clogg.
Delmarva Charger Feature Finish (12 laps): SCOTT CALHOUN, Brett Sellers, Jay Sipple, Tanner Marvel, Jerry Barker, Ashley Merritt, Tippy Martinez, Randy Merritt, Butch Hudson, Charles Hudson, Bud Sipple, Derek
