Delaware dirt divisional finale

By Bruce C. Walls - special to Motorsport.com

DELMAR, DE-RJ Robinson ended his 2001 Delaware Dirt Divisional Series season with a pair of championship clinching wins. The Salisbury, MD based 15-year-old Phantom kart pilot dominated Briggs Stock Medium and Lite at the Robinson Speed Shop sponsored Divisional that lured 122 regional racers from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware to US-13 Kartway in Delmar, DE Saturday September 15th.

At 12.824 seconds lap put Robinson on Briggs Stock Medium's pole. From there the Robinson Speed Shop Team Driver dominated the 13-racer field finishing 3.378 seconds before Charles Vallandin.

"The Phantom kart was good in practice and real good in qualifying and it went on in the feature," Robinson described. "I want to thank Robinson Speed Shop, Phantom Racing Chassis, Williams Wheels and My-Chron for their support in this series."

Matt Mobray, Brad Trice and Ray Davis rounded out the top five.

Mobray earned Briggs Stock Lite's pole with a 12.845 seconds lap and Robinson shared front row with him. Robinson shot into the lead when the green flag waved, opened up a comfortable lead and showed the 11-racer field home from here. Trice tried to catch him but finished second 1.326 seconds behind Robinson.

"It feels good winning two tonight," said Robinson. "The kart felt a whole lot better on this on and the motor was the same."

Mobray made third again. This time he was follow in the top five by Kirk Lawson and Brad Huffman.

Richboro, PA racer Scott Glover, Jr. did it all in Briggs Junior Sportsman-1 Heavy. The Robinson Speed Shop powered Phantom kart pilot turned the top qualifying lap at 13.686 seconds, reaching 52 mph and led the five-racer field flag-to-flag finishing with a 1.040 seconds advantage over Brandon White.

"The kart and motor were awesome," credited the 11-year-old winner. " I want to thank Bill Mattlin for the tires, Kenny Mattlin, PWD Kendal Motor Oils and Jones Motor Sports for the tires."

`Awesome' Austin Hubbard, of Seaford, DE took third, Robert Coulbourn finished fourth and T. J. Henry rounded out the field.

Glover clocked Briggs Junior Sportsman-1 Heavy's pole time, but when the final flag flew it was for Snow Hill, MD based Robinson Speed Shop powered Michael Scott. Glover grabbed the early lead and commanded the eight-racer field during most of the first half. Just before mid race Scott's Robinson Speed Shop powered Shadow kart shot by Glover for the lead. As Glover dropped to fourth Michael Mobray made second and held it to the end where he was just .301 seconds behind Scott.

"I got under him (Glover) in the turn and got by him," said the 10-year-old winner. "The kart was a little loose, but fast and the motor ran real good."

Huffy Powered Cameron Mattox, of Delmar, MD, was third across the stripe followed by Glover and Brandon White.

Eldorado, MD based Nick Helgason handled Briggs Junior Sportsman-2 Heavy's nine-racer field finishing with a .690 seconds advantage over second place T.J. Henry. Lori Dahling produced the pole lap at 13.485seconds reaching 53.393 miles per hour. When the green flag waved it was a three wide battle entering turn one and when they exited turn two Helgason took a never surrendered lead to the finish.

"The Shadow kart worked good and the Robinson Speed Shop motor was powerful," said the 13-year-old winner who dedicated his win to the victims of terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C.

Erika Hearn took third, Ethan Stoeckel followed in fourth and Dahling capped the top five of nine.

Henry set Briggs Junior Sportsman-2 Lite's pace with a 13.425 seconds qualifying lap and hustled into the initial lead. Several laps later while trying to hold onto the lead from a hard charging Lee Hurlock, Henry slipped off the track just long enough for Hurlock's Ace Adkins Racing Motors powered Phantom Nemesis kart to take the lead. Hurlock held onto the lead as Helgason moved up to second. Two laps later the race's only caution flag flew for Hearn in turn two. Hurlock led the restart and fought off Helgason who finished .150 seconds behind at the end.

"Ace Adkins motor was fine and I want to thank Robinson Speed Shop for the Phantom Nemesis chassis," said the 12-year-old Rhodesdale, MD based Snap On Tools/ Ace-n-Racing sponsored winner.

A third place finish clinched the Divisional Championship for Beef Performance powered Matt Hubbard of Seaford, DE. Hearn was fourth under the checkered flag followed by Randy Hill who finished fifth out of eight.

Hearn, of Greenwood, DE, avenged herself later that day with a win in Briggs Junior Champ, which secured the championship for the 11-year-old HP Speed Shop, powered Illusion kart pilot. Hearn earned the pole with a 14.158 seconds lap that topped out at 50.855 mph and led the six-racer field flag-to-flag.

"The Illusion kart handled real good and Chad Hayes' motor was real fast," she credited adding thanks to Bi-Rite Auto Sales, Jimmy's Grill and the VFW Post 4961 of Seaford for their support of her 2001 campaign in the Delaware Divisional Series.

Hubbard brothers Matt and `Awesome' Austin trailed her across the stripe for second and third followed by Helgason and Mattox for the top five.

Brittany Abbott bagged Briggs Restricted Junior's win over Dover, DE based Jack Zatlokovicz by just .213 seconds. Milford, DE based Huffy Power Racing Engines powered Phantom kart pilot Jordan Watson secured the pole with a 13.229 seconds lap, but Abbott quickly took charge of the seven racer field and led them across the finish line. Watson crossed third, Charles Short followed in fourth and Virgil Davis capped the top five.

"It's a girl thing," Abbott said about beating the boys. "The Phantom Nemesis kart was handling really good and the Huffy Power motor was great, it was flying," added the Delaware Auto Exchange backed winner.

Short won Briggs Junior Stock, taking the final flag with a very comfortable 1.021 seconds over Zatlokovicz. Watson earned the pole again and led the 10-racer four times around before surrendering the lead to Short who took it all the way from there.

"The Stinger kart handled great and I want to thank Walt's Karts-n-Parts for the motor, my dad and Robert Marshell for all of their help today," said the Bloxom, VA based winner.

Watson finished third again. This time following in the top five were Virgil Davis and Milford, DE based Cortney Lewis.

Allen Ford's Huffy Powered Phantom Nemesis kart clocked the fastest qualifying lap in Briggs Stock Extra Heavy at 13.064 reaching 55.113 mph. From there the Laurel, DE based racers ruled the eight-racer field flag-to-flag with Lincoln, DE based HP Speed Shop powered Mike Reynolds trailing by .460 seconds. The win secured Ford the Delaware Divisional Championship.

"The Huffy Power motor was unbelievably strong and the Phantom Nemesis kart was perfect every lap," Ford credited. "I want to thank Ron Faisen, Rick Huffman, Kenny Brown and Robinson Speed Shop and Matt and Terry Jester for all of their help and support this year," Ford added noting that his birthday was the day before.

Buddy Mears, Chad Reed and B&B Speed Shop backed Bill Holloway made up the remaining top five.

Georgetown, DE based HP Speed Shop powered Nuclear kart pilot Chad Hayes produced Briggs Limited's pole lap with a blistering 12.570 seconds lap that reached 57.279 mph. When the green waved outside pole winner Randy Wroten, of Bridgeville, DE, roared into the early lead only to have Salisbury, MD native Bryan Bradford take it from him before the half. Bradford built a small cushion over Wroten when the race's only caution flag waved. Bradford led the restart and showed the field home from there. Hayes trailed by 1.557 seconds and was followed across the stripe by Wroten, Kenneth Peek and Herman Powell.

"That caution made me a little nervous, but the Phantom kart and Robinson Speed Shop motor were perfect from the get go. I couldn't have asked for better," said Bradford.

James Lewis, of Salisbury, MD commanded Briggs Controlled Stock's finish. The Robinson Speed Shop powered pilot posted the pole time with a 12.803 seconds trip and beat Bradford to the finish by just .832 seconds. Lewis jumped into the early lead, swapped the lead with outside pole winner Tom Adkins, of Sharptown, MD several times before securing it for the win.

"The Shadow ZX-1 kart was fast all day and the Robinson Speed Shop motor was fast as always," said Lewis who added thanks to Eric P. Shupe, Inc., Quality Lawn Care, his uncle Ron, Eric and his dad and brother.

Behind Bradford in the top five of nine were Adkins, Brian Bowman and Terry Patchett.

Mechanicsville, MD based Charles Vallingdin led 17 Briggs Stock Heavy racers wire-to-wire. Vallingdin shook off early challenges from Bridgeville, DE based Rick Huffman and then led them through two caution restarts before taking the final flag with a comfortable 1.082 seconds advantage over Bradford.

"Those cautions actually helped us because I could get a good jump on the restart thanks to the Robinson Speed Shop motor and Ronnie Robinson was a big help getting the Phantom Nemesis set up," Vallingdin said adding thanks to his wife Marci and son Tyler.

Lewis, Adkins and Holloway handled the remaining top five positions.

Walt Ramsey ruled Briggs Senior Stock. After roaring off the pole when the green flag waved the Felton, DE based WKRP Racing Engines powered Stinger kart pilot opened a half-track advantage over the six-racer field and finished a whopping 5.056 seconds ahead of Salisbury, MD based Robinson Speed Shop Team Driver Deb Gaines.

"The kart was excellent, a little tight and the motor was great," said Ramsey. "I want to congratulate for winning the championship in this class this year it was a great run."

Michael Wilkins, Pratchett and Glen Renfro rounded out the top five.

Racers in the WKA/Delaware Dirt Divisional Series and US-13 Club competition will be recognized for their achievements in the 2001 season at an awards dinner at Ocean City, MD's Princess Royal in late January. US-13 Club races will continue Friday nights through October.