IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

August 17, 2008 Johnny Collins wins the battle on the blacktop at CCMP by Rob Shore As far as the main event went Saturday night, it's safe to say this was an upset. A Michael Phelps losing to a toddler inwater wings sort of an upset. Not that the winner of the inaugural "Battle on the Blacktop" was a surprise, since winner Johnny Collins was the United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series' point leader. But that it would come in 13 minutes — a staggeringly quick time for a 50-lap feature — and that it would come without a single caution. Without the cautions, the Jacksonville resident's quarter-lap margin of victory at Charlotte County Motorsports Park truly reflected how he dominated. “I would never have expected that many green-flag laps,” Collins said. “I was glad to see it go green that long.” With Mike Bresnahan, Dusty Cone and Mark Whitener battling for position behind Collins, a caution became their only hope, one that never materialized. Bresnahan and Cone finished second and third, respectively. What made the lack of yellow flags surprising was that it would be the UDLMCS' first event on an asphalt track and one where the drivers were not allowed to make major modifications to suit the surface. Bresnahan said it was like roller skating on an ice rink. Cone said it was the slickest asphalt track he'd ever raced on. Whitener had never raced on asphalt. Collins Makes the Winning Pass on Mark Whitener The surface proved not to be an issue for Collins, who had raced eight times on asphalt and won four times on the surface. It only left the also-rans muttering afterward. “I’d have liked to see yellow to see if I had anything for him,” Bresnahan said. “But Johnny was awesome. We had the second-best car tonight.” Disappointed as he was to not get the needed yellow flag, Cone appreciated the incident-free race. "Once we got geared up, you might as well keep going," he said. North Port's Josh Williams ran away in the 25-lap Legends feature, clearly with the fastest car in the event. After struggling to get past early leader Mike Verhaagh, Williams shot past him in turn three of the seventh lap and pulled away for a comfortable victory. Gerald Campbell took second in the Legends, just holding off Chelsea Schilling at the finish. Ross Chastain took the Fastrucks event easily in the 36 car, taking the lead from pole-sitter Mario Ramay in the eighth lap and holding it for the rest of the 50-lap event. Dustin Breeden challenged for the lead, but did well to hold onto second after spinning out twice in the last five laps. Both times others were judged to be at fault, and Breeden's runner-up status was restored. Ramay finished third. It seemed like the Fastrucks would never get going, after a pair of spinouts on the opening lap prompted restarts. On the third try to start the event, Trey Miller of Fort Myers lost his right rear axle and spun out in turn one to a shower of sparks. Road Warriors saw the 77 of James Dellea back in the winners circle only to be DQed in tech which gave the win to Chris Onken who was racing with a heavy heart, second would be Chris Scott in the 97 and Jeff Firestine third. Thunder Trucks saw Wally Smith driving the 63 truck beat out Randy Kile who finished second and Tom Pryor came in third. Next Week at CCMP will be a 50 lap race for the Sportsman, Open Wheel Modified for 35 laps, Thunder Trucks, Pro 4, Fab 4 and Figure 8 racing also Friday night Aug 22 will be Go Kart Racing under the light. check out the ccmp web site for all info and photos at charlottecountyracing.com Legends 1.-40 - Josh Williams - North Port 2.-39B - Codey Benoit - Lehigh 3.-75 - Chelsea Schillig - Apopka 4-.21 - Devin McLeod - Zephyrhills 5.-7 - Mike Verhaagh 6.-4 - Tyler Smith - Claremont 7.-9 - Mitch Verhaagh 8.-39 - Gerald Campbell - Sebring 9.-60- Kevin Williams -Nort Port 10.-38 - Mike Fazio - Davie 11.-55 - Conrad Molter - Naples Fastrucks #4 1. 36- Ross Chastain - Alva 2. 1- Dustin Breeden 3. 53 - Mario Romay - Coconut Creek 4. 4 - Al Neumann - Bradenton 5. 41 - Steve Davalis - Venice 6. 50 - Danny Anderson - Bradenton 7. 34 - Blake Koch - W. Palm Beach 8. 37 - Nick Hernandez - Palmetto 9. 64 - Brent Huber - Venice 10. 69 - Stephen Nasse - Pinellas Park 11. 9 - Thomas Warnick - Ormond Beach 12. 82 - Steve Jones - Tampa 13. 9p - Rick Partridge - Brandon 14. 3p -Terry Price -Port Charlotte 15. 44 -Michael Wear-Fort Myers 16. 3 -Trey Miller - Fort Myers Thunder Trucks 1. 63-Wally Smith 2. 14-Randy Kile 3. 69-Tom Pryor 4. 6-Chuck Stevens 5. 2-Lance Sober 6. 9-Ray Scott Road Warriors 1. 61 - Chris Onken 2. 97 - Chris Scott 3. 32- Jeff Firestine 4. 29 - Don Jericka 5. 38- Gary McFall 6. 93 - Spencer Ross 7. 23-Jeff Rumbold 8. 17 - Leonard Lindsey 9. 24 - Jeff Pacheco 10 .77-James Dellea Dqed United Dirt Late Models 1.) 5C Johnny Collins Jacksonville 2.) 66 Mike Bresnahan Lecanto 3.) 5W Mark Whitener Middleburg 4.) 17SS Shan Smith DadeCity 5.) 13 J.R. Garcia Wimauma 6.) 101 Keith Nosbisch Valrico 7.) 88 David Pullen jr Tampa 8.) 42 Marshall Austin jr 9.) 7C Kent Corbin Punnell 10.) 32 Roger Crouse Plant City 11.) 48 Bill Howard Apollo Beach 12.) 51 Bobby Clark Brandon 13.) 2 Paul Gibbs Plant City 14.) 9 Jimmy Waldrop Seffner 15.) 00 Billy Castello Satsuma 16.) 98 Johnny Allen Lehigh Acres 17.) 17 Dusty Cone DQ IN TECH Jennings 18.) 121 Jack Nosbisch DNS Valrico Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!