10/19/2014
Delaware International Speedway
RICK LAUBACH DRIVES FROM 11TH TO WIN BIG BLOCK CHAMPIONSHIP
Jamie Mills had high hopes of a second Fall Championship win when he started on the pole for the 50 lapper but it was not to be as he pulled into the infield while leading off the fourth turn on the first circuit and was done for the day. Ryan Godown in the Bill Hewlitt No. 901 got by Jordan Watson on the initial start and took the lead with Brad Trice moving into third.
Rick Laubach had jumped up on the outside at the start and was on the move from his 11th starting spot. By lap three he was up to fifth and in four more circuits had dropped Trice from third while H.J. Bunting and Craig VonDohren battled for fifth.
Four cautions in the first 20 laps kept the field tightly bunched but then the field settled down to some solid racing. Laubach got by Watson and began to pressure Godown just prior to halfway. On lap 23 Lauback shot under Godown and took the lead. At the halfway sign the top five were Laubach, Godown, Watson, Bunting and VonDohren.
Bunting was working traffic well and got by Watson for third but that would turn into a three way battle for second between Godown, Bunting and Watson. Watson retook third on lap 34. Laubach’s lead was erased when Godown got into Dave Dissinger in traffic with Dissinger spinning in the third turn. Watson had just gotten by Godown but the yellow put him back into third.
Watson would take second on the restart as Godown started to slow with a rear tire going down. The final yellow came out with five to go when Bobby Watson got around and Godown headed to the pits. Watson had begun closing on Laubach before the yellow but on the final restart Laubach was able to open a three car length to the checkered for his second Fall Championship win. Watson finished a solid second with VonDohen who started in 13th taking third. Matt Jester came on strong in the closing laps to finish in fourth after starting 17th and Bunting held on to round out the top five. Heats were won by Mills and Watson with Ron Roberts taking the consolation.
“We weren’t planning on coming after running Syracuse last weekend,� said Laubach. �I didn’t ask my car owner until Thursday if I could bring the car and he wasn’t anxious to do that because he wanted it to be ready for Charlotte. I told him that we would probably win the heat and start up front so not to worry but it didn’t turn out like that.� Laubach didn’t participate in the gamble’s bonus but still earned $5000 for the win plus $598 in lap leader money for a total $5598.
Big Block Modified Finish: 1. Rick Laubach; 2. Jordan Watson; 3. Craig VonDorhren; 4. Matt Jester; 5. HJ Bunting; 6. Eric Korrman; 7. Wade Hendrickson; 8. Brad Trice; 9. David VanHorn Jr; 10. Shawn Ward; 11. Ronnie Roberts; 12. Ryan Anderson; 13. Bobby Watkins; 14. Ryan Godown; 15. Dale Hawkins; 16. Dave Dissinger; 17. Neil Huber; 18. Roy Weist; 19. Scott Hulmes; 20. Jessie Bonaduce; 21. Scott VanGorder; 22. Brad Brightbill; 23. Joseph Watson; 24. Matt Hawkins; 25. Doug Manmiller; 26. Michael White; 27. Richie Pratt Jr; 28. Kevin Gardner; 29. Glenn Reed; 30. Jamie Mills; DNS: Neal Williams; DNQ: Pete Serra.