DELMAR, Del. — What a night, what a finish.
BD Motorsports Media LLC opened a new era of NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series racing at Delaware International Speedway on Friday night. Savannah, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard thrilled the large crowd with a final-lap pass to win the Jake Marine Memorial for the Millman’s NAPA Auto Parts Modifieds at the half-mile oval.
Management delayed the start of the event to file the large number of attendees into the facility.
Sheppard bested a 32-car field of Modifieds to pick up the $8,585 payday in memory of Marine, a prominent Delmarva car owner and supporter of the sport who passed away in February, 2020 while attending a race at All-Tech Raceway in Florida. Marine’s family enjoyed the event from a VIP tower.
The 30-lap main event, run on a wide and smooth surface produced a thrilling conclusion.
Sheppard, who had trailed Mike Gular for the late stages of the main, ducked to the inside of Gular following the white flag from starter Tanner Hollis. Sheppard surged ahead down the backstretch and slid to the cushion entering turn three.
Gular drove back to the inside through turns three and four. The lead duo drag-raced to the Sunoco Race Fuels checkered flag with Sheppard – who started seventh in his Hurlock Auto & Speed No. 9s – prevailing by a car-length.
“You can’t forget why we are here tonight: Jake Marine. Just like Brett (Deyo) said at the drivers’ meeting, everyone has a Jake Marine story,” an elated Sheppard said on the frontstretch, recalling his younger days watching Marine’s iconic No. 85 cars compete.
Boyertown, Pa.’s Gular, the event’s pole starter, relinquished the lead to reigning track champion Jordan Watson at the outset before reclaiming the top spot on an eighth-lap restart in the Terry Fasnacht-owned No. 2A.
Sheppard cleared Watson on lap 19 and stalked Gular for the final 11 circuits, before completing the pass on the final circuit.
“The track was absolutely awesome,” Sheppard said. “It seemed like I struggled a little bit on the restarts. I’d get by some guys and lose some spots on the restarts.
“I got up into second and I could get next to Mike (Gular) and couldn’t do anything. Then I messed up a couple times and he drove away. I kind of got back up on him again and I don’t know if I got a really good run up off of (turn) two or he bobbled a little bit, but I saw the opening. I knew I had room to throw a slider, but I would probably be out of control.
“I was just about out in the weeds (in turns three and four coming to the checkered), but we held onto it.”
Gular settled for second, with Watson driving the family-owned No. 1J to the final podium position. Danny Bouc advanced from 10th to fourth in a steady drive and Alex Yankowski completed the top five. Yankowski started 19th and earned the $250 Kruger Trailers Hard Charger Award.
Joe Toth swept the outside lane to take the 25-lap Blue Hen Dispose-All Crate 602 Sportsman 25-lap triumph, worth $1,085 plus an $85 bonus from the Marine family and $100 from Belmont’s Garage as a heat-race winner.
Toth stalked race-long leader James Hill before powering around the topside with six laps remaining.
Toth was driving a No. 917 painted as a throwback tribute to his grandfather, former racer Bill Tanner.
Hill’s car came up light on the scales post-race, moving Michael White into the runner-up position. Thomas Sherby, Jordn Justice and Eric Kormann completed the front five.
The Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Car feature saw D.J. Cameron prevail in the 12-lap feature, while Nathan Auston was declared the division’s ‘Sportsman’ winner.
Melvin Joseph Jr. thwarted the advances of Dylan Betts to pick up the Little Lincoln 12-lap event.
After an early crash that saw his No. 69 perched atop another truck, Jerry Hill rallied to use a last-lap pass to pick up the Delaware Super Truck 12-lap main event.
Jay Lowman dominated the 12-lap Delmarva Charger feature in the division’s Season Opener.
The Finish:
Feature (30 Laps): MATT SHEPPARD, Mike Gular, Jordan Watson, Danny Bouc, Alex Yankowski, Mike Mahaney, Ryan Krachun, Jimmy Horton, Ryan Godown, Matt Stangle, Bobby Hackel, Danny Creeden, Joseph Watson, Danny Hieber, Bobby Watkins, Ryan Riddle, Sean Metz, HJ Bunting, Loudon Reimert, Brett Ballard, David Schilling, Norman Short, Jr., Tanner Van Doren, Brandon Grosso, James Hill, Austin Hubbard, John Willman, Carson Wright