10/19/2014
Delaware International Speedway
ROB SCHIRMER PULLS UPSET OF THE WEEKEND - LEADS FINAL 100 YARDS FOR 1ST FALL CHAMPIONSHIP
The biggest upset of the two day Delaware State Dirt Track Championships was pulled off by Milton, Delaware’s Rob Schirmer. Schirmer would start eighth behind a group of heavy hitters but drove the race of his career in the 50-lap championship.
In qualifying on Friday night Andrew Mullins and Nick Davis captured the heat and would start in the top two spots. Mullins took off at the drop of the green with Davis on his rear bumper. By lap seven the leaders were in traffic with Mullins nearly tangling down the front straight and Austin Hubbard getting mired in the traffic while running in fourth.
Ricky Elliott was looking for his fifth consecutive Fall Championship and had just gotten by Davis for second when the first yellow flew on lap 11 for a spin and Elliott had to restart in third. Davis dropped to fourth on the restart as Hubbard got by Elliott to take the second spot. On lap 18, Hubbard pulled by Mullins for the lead.
At the halfway sign it was Hubbard on top with Mullins a close second. Elliott held the third spot and Schirmer had climbed to fourth with Ross Robinson taking fifth as Davis slowed with a flat to bring out the second caution. Back under the green Hubbard quickly opened a 2.3 second lead. That was erased on lap 35 when Brandon Dennis slowed with a flat to bring out the third caution.
Hubbard remained solidly in control on the restart but with eight laps to he had used up his rear tire and slowed going coming off turn two and the yellow was out again. Mullins was now back on top with Elliott ready to pounce in second and Schirmer up to third. A fifth straight win was not to be however as Elliott suffered the same tire woes and went to the pits with just six laps left.
Mullins was positioned to end a dream season but with three to go, Joe Warren slowed on the back straight while running in seventh and the yellow was out for a final time. Mullins controlled the restart and looked to be headed for the win but going into the final turn, he too had a tire go down and Schirmer shot by to take the checked to the cheers of the packed house. Robinson finished in second after starting in seventh and Donald Lingo, Jr. finished in third. Fourth went to Amanda Whaley and Kerry King, who started in ninth, finished fifth.
An emotional Schirmer said in victory lane, “This has been a long time coming. I’ve run so good in this race – during the day finished second and I finally got an opportunity win it and I’m tickled to death. I knew his (Mullins) tire was going flat. I could see it going down the last couple restarts but I was just trying to keep my car straight and keep my tires because it was pretty rubbered up. I love this kind of track. I love this kind of racing. I told Charlie (Cathell) he was going to do something to the track and I said leave it alone, I love it like this. I’ve got to give a big shout out to Rick Whaley. I needed a tire. Thank you for the right rear tire and I’ll make sure I get him a new one.
Schirmer didn’t participate in the gambler’s bonus but still earned $5035 for his win with the final lap leader bonus and the $25 from Carolyn Parsons for supporting breast cancer awareness.
Super Late Model Finish: 1. Rob Schirmer; 2. Ross Robinson; 3. Donald Lingo Jr; 4. Amanda Whaley; 5. Kerry King Sr; 6. Austin Hubbard; 7. Robbie Emory; 8. Andrew Mullins; 9. Brandon Dennis; 10. Kelly Putz; 11. Michael Wilkins; 12. Joe Warren; 13. Ricky Elliott; 14. Mark Williams; 15. Chuck Schutz; 16. Herb Tunis; 17. Nick Davis; 18. Dan Fiedler.