Little Lincoln Vintage Stock Car Racing Club Ends 2007 With An Annual Crowning Of The Champions

Little Lincoln Vintage Stock Car Club 2007 drivers (Bottom-L to R) Richard Zack, Donald Robinson, Jr., Mark Cashdan, Matt Tipton, Emory West, Tony Daisey, John Stevenson. (Top-L to R) Bobby Williamson, Pat O'Neal, Duke Walsen, Mel Joseph, Jr., Jeff Wheatley, Jamie Wagner, and Bill Brittingham

Little Lincoln Vintage Stock Car Racing Club Ends 2007 With An Annual Crowning Of The Champions

By Bonnie Nibblett

January 16, 2008

Viola, DE…..Last Saturday night, Delaware’s Little Lincoln Vintage Stock Car Club celebrated the 2007 season by crowning the champions at the Viola Ruitan Building, Viola, DE. 2007 marked the twelfth year of the club. A favorite old fashion meal was fitting, with beef and dumplings, and crab imperial set everyone just right for the night before the awards.

There were a total of twenty-one different drivers hitting the track one time at least in 2007. There were a total of eleven different features the Little Lincoln Vintage Stock Car Club raced. Which includes the Delaware International Speedway usually once a month, and then there were a few races at the Georgetown Speedway before it closed last year. With so many dates raced this year that the club dropped two points’ events before the total points were announced. The top fourteen drivers were all awarded trophies too the top champion. Bill Brittingham won just three races out of the eleven events along with third place champion Pat “Elvis” O’Neal claiming three wins. Second place, Jamie Wagner won two races and John Stevenson and Donald Robinson, Jr. each earned one win this season.

The 2007 champion was no stranger to the Little Lincoln Vintage Stock Car championship title. Bill Brittingham, of Felton, DE claimed his forth championship title. Brittingham previously claimed the championship titles in 2000, 2001, 2005 over the years he has raced in the club. Bill stated, “I’ve been racing for about twenty-one years, but I have the most fun racing with these guys.” Brittingham drove a little bit in a Street Modified class before joining the Little Lincoln Vintage Stock Car Club some years ago.

Brittingham admits that he owes all this to his crew for winning. Brittingham smiling remarks, “Okay, well maybe the driver did help some” “Seriously though, these guys work so hard, that I truly could not have done it without them. And I mean that!” Brittingham was also given a nice mirror plague from one of his sponsors, CMJ Graphics, to honor his championship title.

To support his team Brittingham had a special trophy made up just for his crew chief, Steve Ellingsworth. Ellingsworth, looking surprised but replied with “Thank you, I just enjoy doing it and helping out.” Brittingham mentions all the crews names and thanks all of them, Stevie, Dale, Tommy, Michelle, Peaches, Katie, Stumpy, Gary, Jeremy, Ric and Taco the cars mascot. Brittingham drives the number four 1957 Chevy.

Brittingham went on to thank his sponsors:

Adam Hobbs & Son Trucking – Felton, DE

Hendricks & Son Custom Applications – Harrington, DE

Sunnyfield Contactors – Dover, DE

Jarrell Farms - Magnolia, DE

Top Notch Home Improvements – Felton, DE

Carl Deputy & Son Builders

Columbia Boiler Company – Baltimore, MD

Carl King, Inc Sales and Service

Trader Funeral Home – Dover, DE

Lubed by Slick Ric

Island Way Bar & Grill – Salisbury, MD

Purnell Mobile Attic -Felton, DE

CMJ Graphics

2007 Second place champion was Jamie Wagner of Millsboro, DE; Wagner took home two wins, including setting a goal for 2008. In 2006, Wagner earned a third place spot, 2005, the year before, and his first year, he earned the 2005 Rookie of the Year and finished sixth in points. Wagner was handed his trophy and made a note to say, “Last year we were third in points, this year second, and next year I want the championship. Wagner drives the number three orange 1957 Chevy.

Third place champion was Pat “Elvis” O’Neal III, of Baltimore, MD; who rides two-in-a half hours to race ten laps. McNeal’s father “Big Pat” keeps the double zero J. B. Auto Machine 1957 Chevy tight. McNeal has been racing the Little Lincoln five or six years after racing some in Eudora’s.

The top three guys switched back and fourth with the lead right up to the last race. Brittingham was only twenty points ahead of Wagner, with O’Neal only two points behind Wagner. Fourth and fifth weren’t that far back either, Duke Walsen, Milford, DE, followed with only twenty-six points from O’Neal. Walsen had a good year after having the monkey on his back the year before. The fifth place car has two drivers sporting the number fourteen-A, with John Stevenson and Jeff Wheatley behind the wheel. Both drivers were new to the Little Lincoln Vintage Stock Car Club this year. They stayed in the top five most features and Stevenson even won the final point’s race November 3, at Delaware State Dirt Track Championship at Delmar; move over boys’ new blood moving through.

The drivers fifth through tenth were Mel Joseph, Jr. 30, Donald Robinson, Jr. 64, Tony Daisey 7, Matt Tipton & Emory West 7X, and Richard Zack. The remaining drivers receiving trophies were Mark Cashdan 8, Bobby Williamson 41, Kenny Foy 47 (who has sold his car), and Albert Mitchell 10. The remaining drivers that drove this year were Matt Johnson 69, 2006 Delaware State Dirt Track Champion. Johnson had a bad year when his motor blew in the beginning of the year. Chris Loveland 47, just bought the Foy car and only raced a couple times this year and plans to run races this coming season, Matt Esham 18 only drove a couple times in 2007, Wayne Wilkerson 43, Mike Karr 7K, and Ron Wilson 15, round out all the drivers this year. The latter few drivers only managed to race a race or two; Wilson was the 2006 Little Lincoln Champion.

Twelve years and this club have always put on a spectacular race at every event they race. These guys don’t mess around on the track; it’s “ALL ON” when the tires hit the dirt. It’s hard to believe they only race for 10 laps in a feature. The vintage style stock cars varies from age of 1949 to 1964, American made, and full size sedans are eligible to become a member and race or even own the car. For rules, schedules, photos and any other news of the Little Lincoln Vintage Stock Car Racing Club, also known as the “A Blast From The Past” visit the clubs web site at www.littlelincolns.com

As it stands right now, the club has six races on the schedule at Delaware International Speedway. There are two special races to include that were not confirmed with the other six monthly race dates yet, but pretty sure they will be added to the schedule.

First, will be the fantastic touring World of Outlaws Late Model Series event on Thursday, May 29, 2008 at Delmar. The other spectacular event will be the Delaware State Police Camp Barnes Benefit, usually scheduled in July, and also at Delmar.

If you have never seen this group of guys races’, in addition to watching the entertainment these vintage stock cars bring; sadly you are missing out. They are a magnificent group of guys and race their hearts hard every race and always a crowd pleaser. The drivers really put on a thrill race.

For all of your Delaware tracks race news be sure to visit www.redbud69racing.com and check out the shores’ largest racing message board Redbud69racing powered by Bi-Rite Auto Sales, and Hab-Nab Trucking, both of Seaford. See you at the track!

2007 Little Lincoln Vintage Stock Car Champion Bill Brittingham awarding his crew chief Steve Ellingsworth with a trophy for all his work done

2007 Little Lincoln Vintage Stock Car Champion Bill Brittingham being awarded a mirror plague from his sponsor CMJ Graphics