Lake City, FL - James Powell III used every trick in his extensive book to hold off the fast closing Mac Johnson and win Saturday night's Florida Pro Series 125 Late Model race at Columbia Motorsports Park.

Two different rain storms limited practice and washed out time trials with point leader Shane Russ leading the 19 car field from the pole position on the fast half-mile oval.

Rick Carlton, fully healed from his broken thumb, took the early lead over Russ. By lap 15 Jonny Kay had displaced Russ in second as Wayne Anderson moved to third. Meanwhile Powell was quitely moving Mark Cowheard's Chevy toward the front and took the point on lap 72. Three rounds later Mac Johnson, in a former Wayne Anderson mount, moved Anderson out of the way to gain third spot as he took off after Carlton.

With the top three all looking very strong, a triple tussle for the lead on lap 107 saw Carlton spin and fall from contention. Johnson now turned his attention to Powell and the battle ensued. A late race yellow closed up the field and with the white flag waving the fans were going nuts and it was anyone's race. Powell led Johnson by inches, not feet, off turn four as they came to the stripe and as the checkers flew it was Powell by, as one person put it, "three coats of paint." Johnson was a very close second over Jimmy Cope, Anderson, Kay and Carlton. Rich Pratt and Doc Batson rounded out the cars on the lead lap. Tom McCann, Jr and Al Beckleheimer, Jr completed the top 10 finishers.

In local division action, Richard Ferry topped John Crawford to win the Florida modified main while Jason Garver was the best of the street stocks and William Jerkins checkered first in the pure stocks.

-Marty Little

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