10/22/2016
Delaware International Speedway
CRAIG VONDOHREN AGAIN WORKS HIS MAGIC IN SMALL BLOCKS
A solid field of 29 Small Block Modifieds were on hand for Friday night's 50-lap championship event. Heats were won by Trent Willey, Carson Wright and Richie Pratt, Jr.
Pratt jumped out to the early lead with Willey in second. Craig VonDohren wasted no time at the start and was running second by lap two. Pratt was smooth out front and built a comfortable lead while VonDohren and Ryan Watt battled for second.
VonDohren was able to run down Pratt but just as he got to his bumper the yellow flew for Kevin Sockriter. Watt took advantage of the restart to take second from VonDohren but the yellow was out again as Willey's good drive ended on lap 19 when he got around while running in fifth.
On the restart VonDohren practiced what he had learned from Watt and regained the second spot. VonDohren kept up his momentum and went to the outside of Pratt going into the third turn. VonDohren was able to complete the pass to lead lap 21.
Pratt would get around two laps later collecting several cars including C.J. Jones; H.J. Bunting, Kevin Gardner, Carson Wright, Dave Dissinger and Scott Holmes.
At the halfway sign the top five were VonDohren, Watt, Matt Jester, Kevin HIrthler and Ray Swinehart. Jordan Watson in the Will Brown No. 1W started to pick his way through the field taking fifth as Swinehart began to slow then fourth from Jester. With ten to go Watson moved by Hirthler to take over third.
VonDohren would make no mistakes and opened a comfortable lead that he carried to the checkered. It was his sixth Small Block Fall Championship win.Watt finished in the second spot with Watson third. Hirthler finished in the fourth spot and Jester rounded out the top five.
"I saw what Watt did on that one restart," said VonDohren. "On the next restart I decided to go for it while my tires were still good. I took it in hard and it stuck."
50-Lap Small Block Modified Finish: Craig VonDohren; 2. Ryan Watt; 3. Jordan Watson; 4. Kevin Hirthler; 5. Matt Jester; 6. Brad Trice; 7. Scott VanGorder; 8. Jim Britt; 9. Michael White; 10. Dave Dissinger; 11. C.J. Jones; 12. Matthew Peck; 13. Kevin Gardner; 14. Scott Hulmes; 15. H.J. Bunting; 16. Ray Swinehart; 17. Richie Pratt, Jr.; 18. Carson Wright; 19. Dave Shirk; 20. Ron Roberts; 21. Trent Willey; 22. Kevin Sockriter; 23. Pete Serra; 24. Kyle Borror; 25. Steve Warner; 26. Scott Ambruster, Jr.; DNS: Jeff Brown; Robert Riley; Jeff Sargent.