3/30/2017
Delaware International Speedway
NEW TRACK SURFACE PROVIDES RECORD TIMES AT WEDNESDAY’S TUNE & TEST
By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE – Over 50 race teams turned out for Wednesday’s impromptu Tune & Test. At the end of the night the new surface and banking got two thumbs up from the competitors and the green light from Sunday’s season opening Full Throttle Racing Series event, the Messick Family 40.
The surface proved to be more than the management could have hoped for. It remained smooth and dust free for the three hours of continuous hot laps and was lightning fast. Drivers in four of the five weekly divisions eclipsed the former track records for their respective divisions.
Matt Hawkins demonstrated that he was ready for Sunday night lowering the NAPA Big Block Modified record to 19.419 seconds before mechanical problems ended his night. Defending AC Delco PSC 602 Sportman champion, Jordn Justice was in top form setting the AC Delco mark with a 20.381 time. Justice also got to turn some hot laps in the Colbourne Motorsports backup Big Block. Defending Mod Lite champion, James Hill was just a tick off his own personal record with a 21.698 that he recorded with a stock engine.
Although not part of Sunday’s Full Throttle Series race No.1 on Sunday, the S.R. Pete & Sons Super Late Models and the new Sweeney Chevrolet, Buick, GMC Rush Crate Late Models both lowered their division records. While it can be expected that the Rush Crate Model times will be quicker due to the more powerful GM 604 engines used in the series, defending champion Sparky White’s record time of 20.754 was a good one. The jaw dropping lap of the night came in the S.R. Pete & Sons Super Late Models when Nick Davis unleashed a lap of 17.951 at just over 100 mph average! That was the first time that a conventional Late Model have cracked the 17 second barrier at the track.
Records could continue to fall on Sunday night when the top Big Block racers in the Northeast descend on Delmar. Veteran Jimmy Horton is a guaranteed starter after winning the Mel Joseph Memorial a couple of weeks ago at Georgetown. Bridgeport champion Ryan Watt and standout driver Billy Pauch have also indicated that they will be running the series and Jeff Brown shook down his Big Block on Wednesday that will be driven by none other than “The Doctor� Danny Johnson of Rochester, NY.
Gates open Sunday at 4 pm with hot laps at 6 pm and qualifying heats to follow. Along with the NAPA Big Block Modifieds and the AC Delco PSC 602 Sportsman will be be the Mod Lites, the Super Trucks and the Delmarva Chargers. General admission is $20 with Pit admission at $35. As always children 13 and under will be admitted free on the spectator side when accompanied by a paying adult.
