By Glenn Rolfe

DELMAR — Motor racing’s annual support for the Delaware State Police camp for youth took center stage Saturday night with the special 49th edition of the Camp Barnes Benefit Stock Car Race.

The 2021 event was special in that the late Melvin Joseph, whose construction business took root in 1949, had a big heart for motorsports and Camp Barnes. His favorite number was 49.

“This race is always huge for the camp,” said Det. Jeff Hudson, Camp Barnes director. “It is one of the biggest and largest fundraisers we have each year. We are up to 49 now. The ‘49’ is very symbolic in Sussex County with Melvin Joseph Construction company, and this year we wanted to recognize him.”

“When they started Camp Barnes, Melvin did some of the original site work,” said Ken Adams, one of Mr. Joseph’s grandsons. “He was really involved in the beginning of it. He always was involved. It really meant a lot to him. So, this being the 49th, they were kind enough to honor Melvin. But again, supporting Camp Barnes was always big to Melvin.”

Traditionally, Camp Barnes race draws a huge turnout of fans and race teams from Delmarva and beyond.

At stake: some big bucks for those who made it to victory circle.

Drivers in Big Block-Small Block Modifieds, Super Late Models, RUSH Crate Late Models, Crate 602 Sportsman, Little Lincoln, Vintage, Mod-Lites and Super Trucks competed for prize money that topped $40,000. The night featured 163 laps of feature event racing.

“That’s what we are here for — all the money,” said RUTH Crate Late Model driver Coleby Frey.

Also at stake, prestige.

“It’s a really big night for me,” said Kirk Lawson, Mr. Joseph’s grandson who competes in the Little Lincoln class. “We raced Friday night at Georgetown and finished third. I really was being careful knowing tonight is what it was, honoring my grandfather. I have not won a Camp Barnes race. I would like to win one. And absolutely, if I could only win one, it would be this one.”

In some cases, there’s family bragging rights. Several members of the Joseph family competed Saturday. Melvin Joseph Jr., at age 67, drove the orange No. 49 Little Lincoln. Several cousins from the Pettyjohn racing family also competed.

“It’s tradition, longstanding. The No. 49,” said Melvin Joseph Jr. noting his dad “was instrumental in helping form Camp Barnes, originally. He did a lot of work down there. That was a big deal to him. Camp Barnes was always special to him.”

Camp Barnes originally opened in 1948 and was named in recognition of Col. Herbert Barnes. Located next to the Assawoman Wildlife Area on Miller Creek near Bethany Beach, the camp every summer welcomes 100 youth ages 10-13 weekly over six weeks at no financial burden to their family. Youth, under supervision of camp counselors and directors, participate in outdoor activities and are taught leadership and teamwork skills.

Like some state troopers, Delaware State Police Superintendent Col. Melissa Zebley has a personal connection to Camp Barnes.

“Not that I was a camper, but my mother was. She is the daughter of a Wilmington police officer and he died early in his service,” said Col. Zebley, noting that left her grandmother with an armful of young kids in the 1950s. “This obviously is a statewide camp, so it is going to bring in kids from around the state. They got the call, where my mom was able to be a camper for a week in the 1950s. For her, this was as far away from Wilmington as it could be. It was just a great opportunity to have one of her children go to a camp for free.”

“We have several fundraisers throughout the year which greatly impact our opportunity to serve those youth, modernize our campus for their experience, this being the chief among them. We certainly could not do what we do for the youth of Delaware, to include our campers, our counselors and the troopers without the support specifically of this event,” said Col. Zebley. “We are so pleased to see those renovations take place over the last several years — the bunk houses, the rec hall, the dining facilities, everything. This is just tremendously impactful for these young people.”