7/12/2015
Delaware International Speedway
DALE HAWKINS INHERITS LEAD FROM SON THEN WINS IN MODIFIEDS
By CHARLIE BROWN, DELMAR, DE – Dale Hawkins drove the race of his career Saturday night to pull the upset in the NAPA Big Block Modifieds at the Delaware International Speedway. Hawkins chased his son Matt for the first half of the race then inherited the lead when mechanical problems sidelined Matt. He then held off challenges after a late race restart to earn his first win in several seasons. Mark Williams made a daring outside pass on the final lap to capture the Tony Steele Memorial for Vintage Cars.
In the 25-lap NAPA Big Block main Matt Hawkins jumped out to the early lead with his dad, Dale chasing in second. Matt had been blistering fast in winning his heat and was in solid control early on. Mike White was running a strong third with H.J. Bunting quickly moving from tenth to fourth.
The change for the lead came just before halfway when Matt began to show light smoke out the back of the car and slowed, taking the car in the pits and turning the lead over to his father. At the halfway sign Dale Hawkins had a sizable lead with Bunting getting clear in second and Jordan Watson, who won the second heat, following on his tail in third White held down the fourth spot and Shawn Ward was running in fifth.
Ward got by White for fourth with ten to go and with eight to go the yellow was out as Brad Trice lost an engine going down the back straight. On the restart, Bunting really began to apply the pressure to Hawkins but Dale stepped up his pace and held on to the lead. Watson moved in with five to go to make it a three car battle for the lead ducking low under Bunting in the fourth turn. The pair brushed wheels resulting in a flat right rear for Watson and a flat left rear for Bunting. Under the yellow both were able to make speedy changes and return to the back of the pack.
Beau Wilkins, who started in 15th found himself in second with an opportunity for the win. Dale Hawkins however was not going to give up easy and made no mistakes in the final four circuits to collect the checkered. Wilkins finished in the second spot with Bobby Watkins third. Fourth went to Ward and Bunting rebounded to finish in fifth.
NAPA Modified Finish: 1. Dale Hawkins; 2. Beau Wilkins; 3. Bobby Watkins; 4. Shawn Ward; 5. H.J. Bunting; 6. Dave Dissinger; 7. Jordan Watson; 8. Michael White; 9. Scott VanGorder; 10. Kyle Fuller; 11. Brad Trice; 12. Dana Walker; 13. Matt Hawkins; 14. Bryan Brasure; 15. Aaron VanGorder; 16. Clay Tatman.
