When you are as hot as Mike Franklin Jr. is, it doesn't matter where you start the race. Of course, the pole is nice, but when you can earn a $2,500 bonus for winning from the back of the pack, why not?
Franklin made it 3-for-3 this year at Charlotte County Motorsports Park, as he captured Saturday night's 100-lapper for Limited Late Models. Not only did Franklin claim the $3,000 winner's share, but he earned a $2,500 bonus for winning from the back of the 21-car field.
In January, Franklin took $5,000 for winning the Davidson Memorial. He won February's race worth $4,000. And now the $5,500 makes Franklin and car owner $14,500 richer.
Franklin, who pilots the No. 12 car sponsored by Punta Gorda Construction Management, quickly moved up through the field Saturday night. His most trying moment came on lap 41 when he got into a scrape with the 19 car of Steve Arnold in a move for third place. The two cars got together coming out of turn two to bring out the caution. Arnold then intentionally rammed Franklin under yellow.
"I was up to his door and he ground me down," Franklin said. "That's just racing. We're good friends. I don't know why he rammed me. I didn't appreciate that."
On lap 63, Franklin passed Joe Winchell's 15 car for the lead. Winchell, a veteran hotshoe, was making his first start of the season at the Punta Gorda 3/8-mile paved oval.
Winchell stayed close to Franklin the rest of the way. Franklin did a good job of pulling away from Winchell on restarts over the final 10 laps.
Mike Hovis was third in the 29 car. Bobby Shelton was fourth in the 8 car. Teen sensation Dalton Zehr was fifth in the 119.
Living legend Randy Fox also chose to start from the rear in an attempt for the bonus. He was sent to the back twice for spinning out cars and was never a factor.
Polesitter Phil Morrison and Dan Ferri got together on the very first lap. Morrison was sent to the back and then black flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct.
There was plenty of other action Saturday night at Charlotte County Motorsports Park. Both the Fastrucks and Fastkids ran features.
In the 75-lap Fastruck race, Mike Powers in the 05 held off hard-charging John Kidwell in the 7 truck. Blake Koch was third in the 33. The race was caution-filled.
Mike Powers drove from the rear of the field to win in FASTRUCKS
Fastkids went 35 laps with Ross Chastain ruling in the 36 truck. He was stalked early by Josh Williams in the 6 truck, but he broke on lap 29. Williams had fast time in qualifying. Chastain won by a comfortable margin over runnerup Patrick Fox, the nephew of the great Randy Fox. Casey Caudill took third in the 33.
Three of the "backbone" divisions also raced Saturday.
Stuart VanDevender's No. 23 car was the class of the Sportsman division, Second in the 35-lapper was Dale Dean III. James Cassady Sr. was third.
Thunder Trucks started of action with a 25-lapper. Larry Ballard Jr. continued his meteoric rise with another victory in the B-52. Randy Kile took second and Phil Tackett was third.
Road Warriors finished up action in the wee hours. The race was limited to 15 laps because of how late it was. Donnie Ollie Jr. nosed out Terry Price for the win. Anne Marie Ricardi battled hard for a third. Early leader Jesse Gargus was spun out twice and had a flat. Shane Leonard also had a flat in the caution-filled affair.
Fast Mini Cup action saw Ray Black Jr. the pro division and Darrel Miller in the kids division.
This coming Saturday at Charlotte Motorsports Park will see the USA Sprints return along with Outlaw Modifieds, Dwarf Cars, Sportsman, Road Warriors, Junkyard Dogs and go-karts.
Finishing Orders:
Sportsman 1. 23 Stuart Vandevender ---Heat Winner 2. 19 Dale Dean 3. 7 James Cassady sr. 4. 16 Guy Sheets 5. 22 Troy Yates 6. 17 David Morr 7. 83 John Hanuschik ---Heat Winner 8. 92 Mike Holmes 9. 20B Steve Olone 10. 20 Kevin Brikley
Late Models 1. 12 Mike Franklin --- Fast Time 2. 15 Joe Winchell 3. 29 Mike Hovis 4. 8 Bobby Shelton 5. 119 Dalton Zehr 6. 23 Cory Collum 7. 54x Mark Childres 8. 4 Randy Fox 9. 30 Chris Huntoon 10. 66 Ray Perry 11. 62 Buzz Martin 12. 136 Ross Padula 13. 21 Chris Grubb 14. 100 Dan Ferri 15. 36 Gary Padulla 16. M8 Todd Cooper 17. 27 Kyle Maynard 18. 98 Chuck Wolfe 19. 6 Jason Coldiron 20. 19 Steve Arnold DQ 21. 63 Phil Morrison DQ
Fast Trucks Pro 1. 05 ??? Power 2. 7NY John Kidwell -- Fast Time 3. 33 Michael Cenzi 4. 83 Tom North 5. 84 Bill Vandevender 6. 4 Ray Blackjr. 7. 3 Dennis Rockenhaus 8. 11 Graham McCoy 9. 97 Scott Hendric 10. 9 11. 66 Kevin Brickley 12. 48 Vernon Hart 13. 38 14. 18 Dustin Henderson 15. 22 Bobby Mcknight 16. 53 James Green -- DQ
Fast Truck Kids 1. 36 Ross Chastain -- fast time 2. 4 Patrick Fox 3. 33 Casey Cadill 4. 31 Kevin Blum 5. 46 Matt Cohen 6. 6 Josh Williams 7. 74 Seth Greico 8. 77 Lance Daubach
Road Warrior
1. 3 Terry Price 2. 09 Donny Ollie jr. 3. 33 Ann Marie Ricardi 4. 19 Greg Anderson 5. 48 Cory Scott 6. 5 Donnie Castillo 7. 18 Shane Leonard --- Heat Winner 8. 38 Dar Houghtaling 9. 23 Jeff Rumbold 10. 39 Blaine Baer 11. 1 Jessie Gargus---- Heat Winner 12. 63 Peter Amelotte 13 59 David Cleveland 14. 20 Dan Benoit 15. 34 Eddie Morrison
Thunder Trucks 1. B52 Larry Ballard jr.---Heat Winner 2. 21 Randy Kile 3. 51 Phillip Tackett 4. 18 Robert Willms 5. 69 Tom Pryor
When you are as hot as Mike Franklin Jr. is, it doesn't matter where you start the race. Of course, the pole is nice, but when you can earn a $2,500 bonus for winning from the back of the pack, why not?
Mike Hovis was third in the 29 car. Bobby Shelton was fourth in the 8 car. Teen sensation Dalton Zehr was fifth in the 119.
