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DELMAR, DE – Redemption.
After falling two turns shy of victory in the Delaware International Speedway opener on March 31, Mike Gular turned the tables on Wednesday night. Gular, of Boyertown, Pa., slipped past First State driver Jordan Watson with three laps remaining in the 30-lap Millman’s NAPA Auto Parts Modified event at the half-mile oval, earning $4,000.
Gular also received a guaranteed starting position for the ‘Speed Showcase’ at Pa.’s Port Royal Speedway in October paying $50,000 to the winner and $1,000 to take the green flag.
The competitive 30-lap main featured four different leaders.
Oley, Pa.’s Louden Reimert, driving the Don Grebe-owned No. 33, launched off the outside pole and paced the opening 11 circuits. New York invader David Schilling was reeling in Reimert when a caution for a slowing Jimmy Horton set up a double-file restart.
When the green flew, Schilling put the BDR Speed No. 20 out front in a rare Delaware International start.
Schilling’s time out front lasted four laps before reigning track champion Jordan Watson jumped three-wide on the 16th circuit. Gular, who started sixth, took over second.
A caution with three laps remaining changed the race’s complexion dramatically.
Gular drove the Terry Fasnacht-owned No. 2A to the inside of Watson in turns one and two, surging ahead off turn two.
The Keystone State star stretched out his advantage to pick up the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series-sanctioned triumph.
“We came down here to try to gain some redemption and it paid off,” Gular said. “Man, this feels good.”
Gular noted his car came on late in the distance.
“It was really tight in the beginning,” Gular said. “Ron (Seltmann) said ‘Wait until the last half of the race it’s going to come to you.’ He was right.”
Milford, Del.’s Watson narrowly held off a resurgent Schilling in a drag race to the line for second.
“We’re fighting a really bad carburetor issue,” Watson said. “That race was given up. The motor’s dead in the middle of the corner. We need to get it figured out. The longer we run the more the motor shuts off.”
Schilling left for his five-hour ride back to East Greenbush, N.Y., with a podium finish.
“We’ve had a couple bad runs in a row,” Schilling said. “To leave with a top-three is a morale boost. It’s good to come to a place I’m not familiar with and get comfortable, making adjustments, and learning.”
Ringoes, N.J.’s Ryan Godown quietly raced to a fourth-place finish after starting 12th and 22nd-starter Matt Stangle of Neshanic, N.J., drove to fifth.
A field of 25 Modifieds signed in, with heat victories going to Brandon Grosso, Ryan Krachun and Rick Laubach.
Linden, Va.’s Kyle Hardy broke into the Hovis RUSH Late Model Series Delaware International win list, kicking off the four-night ‘Battle of the Bay’ with a $3,000 victory.
A diverse field of 39 RUSH Late Models checked into the Delaware International pit area.
Hardy stalked early leader – Canada’s Charlie Sandercock – before taking a lead he wouldn’t relinquish.
Trevor Collins chased Hardy to the checkered, followed by Max Blair, Nick Davis and Garret Paugh.
Dylan Betts completed a late-race pass to win the 12-lap Little Lincoln feature.
Jerry Hill recorded his second consecutive 12-lap Delaware Super Truck checkered flag.
A back-and-forth 12-lap Delmarva Charger feature went to Joey Waters over Jay Lowman.
Racing at Delaware International Speedway takes a pause until the ‘Diamond State 50’ Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco event on Tuesday, May 16 (rain date: May 17) featuring the STSS Rent Equip/Party Central Modifieds ($5,000 to win), Belmont’s Garage Crate 602 Sportsman ($1,500 to win), Delaware Super Trucks and Delmarva Chargers.
All Delaware International events in 2023 will be broadcast live on FloRacing (www.floracing.tv) with the $150 annual subscription.
A new website for Delaware International Speedway is live at www.delawareinternationalspeedway.com. Keep posted as the site is updated daily.
Like “Delaware International Speedway” on Facebook for more.
Delaware International Speedway is located at 37854 Sussex Highway Delmar, DE 19940. A new office phone number exclusively for the dirt track has been set up: 302.567.8294 and e-mail delawareinternationalspeedway@gmail.com.
‘BATTLE OF THE BAY’ RESULTS SUMMARY – DELAWARE INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2023
Millman’s NAPA Auto Parts Modified Feature Finish (30 laps): MIKE GULAR, Jordan Watson, David Schilling, Ryan Godown, Matt Stangle, Rick Laubach, Danny Bouc, Austin Hubbard, Ryan Krachun, Brandon Grosso, Carson Wright, Joseph Watson, Sean Metz, Bobby Watkins, Brett Ballard, Drew Simmons, Louden Reimert, Danny Hieber, John Willman, Jimmy Horton, H.J. Bunting, Jeff Marker
Did Not Start: Ryan Watt, Ryan Riddle, James Hill
Ad-Art Sign Company Top Spec Small-Block Bonus ($250): Sean Metz
RUSH Late Model Series Battle of the Bay Feature Finish (30 laps): KYLE HARDY, Trevor Collins, Max Blair, Nick Davis, Garret Paugh, Charlie Sandercock, Ben Scott, Demetrios Drellos, Mike Wonderling, Jeremy Pilkerton, Jeremy Wonderling, Ashton Briggs, Michael Duritsky, Jr., Jim Rasey, Joe Martin, Andy Michael, Cody Dawson, Joe Warren, Chad Sines, Matt Glanden, Matt Hill, Tyler Hoy, Amanda Robinson, Matt Latta, Jason Knowles
RUSH Late Model Non-Qualifier Race (10 laps): BROCK PINKEROUS, Ryan Hare, Kyle Sopaz, Kerry King, Joe Brosseau, Brandt Graham, Marc Berzowski, Travis Justice, Braeson Fulton
Did Not Start: Russell Erwin, Derek Magee, Matt Tepper
FK Rod Ends RUSH LM Fast Qualifier ($100): Charlie Sandercock – 20.196
Sunoco Dash Winner ($100): Charlie Sandercock
Little Lincoln Feature Finish (12 laps): DYLAN BETTS, Jordan Herbert, Tyler White, Kirk Lawson, Eric Reed, Bryan Piercy, Mel Joseph, Jr., MJ White, Andrew Hopkins, Ryan Walsen
Delaware Super Truck Feature Finish (12 laps): JERRY HILL, Zack Phillips, David Smith, Greg Nailor, L.J. Walburt, Thomas Jackson, Dylan Todd, Troy Hopkins, Tony Guinta, Dan Streebig
Delmarva Charger Feature Finish (12 laps): JOEY WATERS, Jay Lowman, Ashley Merritt, Randy Merritt, Robbie Strain, John Bailey, Billy Cummings, Michael Harmon, Jr., Garren Morris, Tyler Hottle
