ARCA Truck Veterans Duel in Delaware; Gullatta Holds Off Christman for Hard-Fought Victory
DELAWARE ON (8-1-08) – ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series veteran Nick Gullatta out-dueled veteran Steve Christman during a late-race battle to win the curfew-shortened Lincoln Welders 100 Friday night at Delaware Speedway in Delaware, Ontario.
Gullatta, in Stan Rosen’s Thomson Automotive-Mr. Heater-Enerco Chevrolet, edged Christman at the final stripe by a half-length to earn the hard-fought victory, his seventh series triumph of his career.
“It’s always a lot of fun racing with Steve (Christman)”, said Gullatta. “He’s a veteran; I knew he would race me hard, but I also knew he would race me clean.”
Christman, who led the first 10 laps, had to settle for second in the Bagman Racing Chassis-R&B Fabrication Chevrolet.
Current series point leader Paul Hahn, who started last after accepting The Ultimate Truck Challenge, was leading on lap 45 when his truck made right-side contact with the wall after it had started to rain, handing the lead to Gullatta.
But as the rain persisted, series officials put out the red flag, which delayed the race just over two hours while track drying procedures took place.
Before racing resumed, track officials shortened the race to 75 laps to accommodate an approaching local curfew.
When the red flag was replaced by the yellow flag, Hahn changed both right-side tires and rejoined the field from the tail-end before racing resumed on lap 46. Back under green, Gullatta led the way while Hahn began racing his way forward from the back, while Christman mounted an immediate challenge on Gullatta.
Christman followed Gullatta for several laps before making his move with three laps to go. Christman drove to the high-side of Gullatta and raced side-by-side with the eventual winner for the final two laps before Gullatta inched ahead just as the checkered flag unfurled.
Hahn, in the Hahn’s Powder Coating-Fox Auto Parts-Howe Racing Chevrolet, charged back to finish third and front of Duane Bischoff, who finished fourth in the Gamco Concrete Forms-Valvoline Ford. Ash Hawkins finished fifth in the A&K Racing Chevrolet.
Hahn also earned his 14th career 2BKool Quick Time Award, which ties the all-time mark set by Jeff Speakman.
Norm Weaver, who led 23 laps, finished sixth in the Dan Cava Toyota-Safety Clean-Lifeguard Medical Toyota, followed by Nathan Trepkowski, who finished seventh in the B&J Auto Center-Ubly Auto Supply Chevrolet. Mike Young finished eighth in the Dave White Chevrolet ahead of Robbin Slaughter, who was ninth in the Ed & Company Racing Supplies Chevrolet. Defending champion Bill Withers finished 10th in the Mannings USA-Tubular Techniques-Hall Electronics Ford.
The next event for the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series will be the G&W Blacktop 50 at Sandusky Speedway Saturday night, August 9th. The series then travels to the Illinois State Fairgrounds for a 50-lap main event on the mile-dirt August 16th. The event in Springfield serves as the preamble for the same-day USAC Silver Crown Series race and the next-day ARCA RE/MAX Series Allen Crowe 100.
CONTACTS:
Don Radebaugh (419) 450-0611
Jackie L. Franzil (419) 574-2685
http://www.arcaracing.com Official Results
ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series
Delaware Speedway, Delaware Ontario (8-1-08)
FIN
STR
NO
DRIVER/HOMETOWN
TEAM & CAR
LAPS
STATUS
1
5
31
Nick Gullatta/Cleveland OH
Thomson Automotive-Mr. Heater-Enerco Chevrolet
75
Running
2
1
19
Steve Christman/Fort Wayne IN
Bagman Racing Chassis-R&B Fabrication Chevrolet
75
Running
3
6
7
Paul Hahn/Canton MI
Hahn's Powder Coating-Fox Auto Parts-Howe Racing Chevy
75
Running
4
7
15
Duane Bischoff/St. Leon IN
Gamco Concrete Forms-Valvoline Oil Ford
75
Running
5
4
16
Ash Hawkins/Canfield OH
A&K Racing Chevrolet
75
Running
6
3
21
Norm Weaver/Clarksburg WV
Dan Cava Toyota-Safety Clean-Lifeguard Medical Toyota
75
Running
7
8
41
Nathan Trepkowski/Ubly MI
B&J Auto Center-Ubly Auto Supply Chevrolet
75
Running
8
2
23
Mike Young/Toledo OH
Dave White Chevrolet
75
Running
9
9
1
Robbin Slaughter/Grove City OH
Ed & Company Racing Supplies Chevrolet
75
Running
10
12
57
Bill Withers/Columbus OH
Mannings-Tubular Techniques-Hall Electronics-Wachholz Ford
74
Running
11
10
00
Mark Otting/Plainwell MI
Tri County Fuels-Mycogen Seeds Chevrolet
74
Running
12
11
22
Tim Schafer/Canfield OH
Sprinkler Fitters Union 669-Baird Brothers Sawmill Chevrolet
74
Running
13
13
0
Dan Short/West Unity OH
Archbold Elevators Chevrolet
71
Running
10
Tully Esterline/Pettisville OH
University of Toledo-Rupp Seeds Chevrolet
2BKool QUICK TIME AWARD: Paul Hahn 19.763
LAP LEADERS: Christman 1-10 (10); Weaver 11-33 (23); Hahn 34-45 (12); Gullatta 46-75 (30)
Don Radebaugh
PR/Media Director
8117 Lewis Ave., Temperance, MI 48182
Office: (734) 847-6726
Cell: (419) 450-0611
mailto:dradebaugh@arcaracing.com
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