IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

June 29, 2008 Mike Franklin Wins in Late Models at Charlotte County Speedway By Linda Jericka Once again there was a threat of rain on race night so after qualifying was done we went right into features and first up were the T.Q Midgets for 25 laps. The number 1 of Jack Duffy won the feature event with Ernie Teed Jr. coming in second and Michael Elder third. The Legends saw the 6 of Josh Williams end up third the 7 of Mike Verhaagh second and the 2 driven by Codey Benoit won the race in one piece till he tried to celebrate on the front for the fans and ended up hitting the wall and had to be towed off. Mini Stock saw Ricky Bullard of Arcadia in the winners circle again Joe Rice had a good run coming in second and Robert Carter third. Twenty two late models came out on the track for the fans to meet and greet, while the black clouds rolled over and gave a threat of rain again for these guys. While the drivers were signing autographs and fans finding out about the 97 car driven by Patrick Starpoli getting accepted into HARVARD, the clouds rolled away and the sun came back out so it was time to go racing. The 34 of Blake Koch out of West palm Beach set fast time in qualifying with a 15.100 but after pulling the pills started third row inside, which put the 4 of Randy Fox on the pole and Joe Winchell outside. Joe Winchell took over the lead from Fox on lap 5 and held on for the first 50 laps that saw seven cautions flags being thrown. Seven cautions gave the 12 of Mike Franklin who was right behind Winchell enough time to study his starts cause the restart of lap 50 Mike Franklin made his move and took over the lead. The cautions continued throughout the race with cars going in and out of the pits to remove body parts, even young Ross Chastain tried a trick of rubbing the outside wall to remove a fender not wanting to give up that six spot but had no luck and would have to go to the pits. Now if any of these drivers say there is no outside groove have them give randy Fox a call who said that’s all he was doing on the starts was testing the outside when one time it worked real well for him when he jumped 6 cars. Twenty two cars started and only thirteen were able to cross the finish line after 100 laps and an hour and half later, Mike “ Hollywood” Franklin out of Homestead driving the number 12 ACTION GLASS car wo n the race. Bobby Shelton out of Del Ray Beach would be second and the 19 car of Kevin Macy third Fast qualifier Blake Koch would have to settle for third. The Outlaw street stock were up next for fifty laps of excitement as always with thirteen cars all trying to get to that first spot. The 2X of Robert Crisp lead forty eight laps till he and the hard charging 09 of Donnie Ollie Jr. got together which sent both to the pits with flats and put the 71 car in the lead that would hang onto the last two laps. The 71 would be DQed in tech after a four wins in a row tear down and now rumor has it the finish could be under review. And the last race of the night went out with a bang, the 69 truck of Tom Pryor would Bang into the turn one wall on the second lap and the 35 truck who was also involved when they were three wide down the front stretch. The 35 truck of Ray Jayne after a quick tire change and back out would Bang into the turn three wall when his tire came off. James Wright would go on to win the race with Randy Kile second and Lance Sober third.Check out the web site for more details at charlottecountyracing.com T.Q. MIDGETS 1) 1- Jack Duffy 2) 10- Ernie Teed Jr. 3) 52- Michael Elder 4) 3- Geoff Styner 5) 17- Jamie Barnum 6) 30- Michael Belusar 7) 15- Doug Hopper 8) 26- Ted Durfee – DNS MINI STOCKS 1) 54- Ricky Bullard Jr. 2) 77- Joe Rice 3) 30- Robert Carter 4) 27- Derrick Horton Legends 1) 2- Codey Benoit 2) 7- Mike Verhaagh 3) 6- Josh Williams 4) 19- James Rodriguez 5) 9- Mitch Verhaagh 6) 38- Mike Fazio 7) 55- Conrad Molter LATE MODELS 1) 12- Mike Fanklin Jr. 2) 8- Bobby Shelton 3) 19- Kevin Macy 4) 34- Blake Koch (fast time) 5) 56- Wayne Morris 6) 97- Patrick Staroploli 7) 69- Stephan Nasse 8) 36c- Ross Chastian 9) 4- Randy Fox 10) 33- Casey Caudill 11) 127- Karo Vaughn 12) 66- Ray Derry 13) 98- Chuck Wolfe 14) 54- Mark Childress 15) 49- Ron Lofquist 16) 5- Robert Regula 17) 15-Joe Winchell 18) 136p- Gary Padulla 19) 100a- Dean Ferri 20) 77- Ed Leeke 21) 100f- Jim Ferri 22) 11- David Weaver-DNS OUTLAW STREET STOCKS 1) 18- Shane Leonard (fast time) 2) 30a- Richie Shepard 3) 12- Rocky Reinhold 4) 05- Ricky Partrigde 5) 09- Donnie Ollie Jr. 6) 28- Mike LaPlant 7) 2x- Robert Crisp 8) 6x- Dave Davis 9) 9- Vernon Hart Jr. 10) 2- Bobby Fisher 11) 48- Chris Scott 12) 77- James Della 13) 71 Darrin Ellis DQed in tech Thunder Trucks 1) 63- James Wright 2) 14- Randy Kile 3) 2- Lance Sober 4) 9- Ray Scott 5) 24- Darryl Morris 6) 35- Ray Jayne 7) 69- Tom Pryor Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!