---

RICHIE PRATT, JR. TAKES ADVANTAGE OR FRIDAY NIGHT TO TRAVEL AND WIN

By Charlie Brown, DELMAR, DE - In an unprecedented move, Charlie Cathell decided to move his regular Saturday night program of racing at the Delaware International Speedway to Friday night based on the weather. The track had been rained out for the past four weekends and the forecast for Saturday was for one to two inches of rain. The move payed off as Friday was a warm and sunny day and a solid turnout of cars and fans made the move a success.

Several drivers took advantage of the Friday night move to travel to southern Delaware including Richie Pratt, Jr., Ron Roberts, Brad Roberts and Jim Britt in the big block modifieds.

In the NAPA Big Block 25-lap main, rookie Brandon Watkins, who recorded his first big block heat win earlier in the night, led the first lap before another rookie, Carson Wright shot into the lead. Wright quickly opened a sizable advantage while Watkins held off Dave Dissinger for second. Pratt had won the second heat and started in fourth. He was able to get by Dissinger on lap seven but was unable to get by the young Watkins.

The one and only caution of the race would come at the halfway point when Drew Simmons almost collected the wall on the back straight and spun to a stop. Wright had been working his way through lapped traffic and barely clipped the stopped car of Simmons. The contact was enough however to flatten Wright’s rear tire sending him to the pits for repairs.

Watkins would lead on the restart but Pratt got a good run off the second turn and took the lead down the back straight. Pratt would make no mistakes and drive to his first big block win at the track. “I guess I like racing here on Friday nights,� said Pratt referring to his only other win at the track which came In the Friday night Small Block Modified Fall Championship in October.

Watkins, in only his second night out in the big block division would end a great run in second with Howard O’Neal coming on strong in the final five laps to finish in third. Dissinger ended a great run in fourth and H.J. Bunting rounded out the top five.

NAPA Big Block Modified Finish: 1. Richie Pratt, Jr.; 2. Brandon Watkins; 3. Howard O’Neal; 4. Dave Dissinger; 5. H.J. Bunting; 6. Matt Hawkins; 7. Brad Trice; 8. Kevin Sockriter; 9. Bobby Watkins; 10. Ron Roberts; 11. Robert Dutton; 12. Brad Roberts; 13. Michael White; 14.  Dale Hawkins; 15. Eric Vent; 16. Carson Wright; 17. Drew Simmons; 18. Don Hallowell; 19. Scott VanGorder; 20. Jim Britt; DNS: Kevin Gardner.

 

Back to News