IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

August 16, 2009 Johnny Collins Makes it TWO in One Night at Volusia Speedway Park by Jane Smith Barberville, FL (August 15, 2009) In spite of the late start at Volusia Speedway Park on Saturday night, once the action got going, the fans were not disappointed. With 29 Late Models in the pits for a regular Saturday night event, excitement filled the air. Quite a few fans brought in school supplies and backpacks for the area school kids for Volusia's BACK TO SCHOOL Night. It was also News Journal Night as they filled the VIP suite over the concession stand. Kids were invited to try their luck at the Wheel of Fortune for a few school supplies and one of the backpacks and had a great time. But it was then time to get serious as the track was finally ready for the cars. After a few quick heat laps, the rainout feature for the Late Models was ready to go. I will just get down to it and let you know that one driver won both the rainout feature and feature and it was none other than Johnny Collins. Very few drivers have done this, win two features in one night, but Johnny Collins proved that it could be done. Lawton Minchew had the pole for the make-up race with Jack Nosbisch, Jr. on the outside pole. Minchew quickly took the lead on the green over Rich Pratt, Johnny Collins, David Clegg, and Donnie Chappell. Collins waste no time as he takes over second with Clegg third and Pratt fourth. Minchew goes sideways in turn 4 but is able to continue as Collins takes over the number one spot putting Minchew second, Clegg third, Chappell fourth and Pratt fifth. The first caution comes out on lap 3 for Shan Smith who has spun. The field quickly gets back to green with Collins on the inside and Minchew on the outside for the start. Collins quickly takes the point over Minchew, Clegg, Chappell, and Pratt. Lap 7 sees the second caution for John Rankin who is trying to get his machine into the pits. As Rankin slows, Cory Hupp gets involved trying to evade Rankin. Both are done for the night as they go to their pits. With Collins on the inside and Clegg on the outside for the restart, Collins quickly once again takes the point over Clegg, Chappell, Minchew, and Stanton Mills. But racers beware, Jason Fitzgerald is coming up fast as he has now made it to mid-field from his rear starting position. Caution 3 comes out on lap 11 as Bobby Richardson has problems on the backstretch. The field gets back to green as Collins once again takes the inside, Clegg outside for the restart. But there are problems on the start as Clegg climbs up on Collin's car down the frontstretch and ends up in the turn 1 wall. Clegg retires as Collins takes the inside and Chappell takes the outside for the restart. Collins quickly takes the point over Chappell, Minchew, Fitzgerald, and Nosbisch. Minchew passes Chappell for second as Nosbisch takes over fourth and Fitzgerald goes to fifth. The fourth caution comes out on lap 16 for Ken Monahar who limps his car off the track and Andy Schell has problems. Both cars go into the pits as it is now halfway and a single file restart. Collins leads the way over Minchew, Chappell, Nosbisch, and Fitzgerald. Jason Kimball is smoking bad and takes his smoke machine into th pits as Collins continues to lead the way. Lap 18 sees Fitzgerald challenge Nosbisch for fourth but Nosbisch shuts the door. Collins continues to lead the way and takes his first win of the night over Lawton Minchew, Jack Nosbisch, Jr., Jason Fitzgerald, and Donnie Chappell. Heat races were up next as Jason Davis and Jamie Carter topped the heats for the Modifieds. Street Stocks saw Steve Mooers and Grady Christian on top. Thunder Stocks did not run a heat but just a feature race. Matthew Schell had the pole as Robert Schrunk was on the outside pole. Schell quickly took the point on the green over Michael Rood, Skip Land, Donnie Nobles, and Schrunk. Eddie Tovet quickly passed Schrunk and took over fifth as Schell is a half track ahead of the rest of the field. Lap 4 sees Land goes sideways but does a great job of saving the car and keeping it going. Schell continues to lead the way over Nobles, Rood, Scott Mooers, and Land. Lap 5 sees Rood smoking badly but does not want to stop. Land gets squirrelly again as Richard Calmes passes Land for fifth but once again, Land holds on and keeps the car going. Robert Pence brings out the caution on lap 9 as he spins at the bottom of lap 2. It is a single file restart as Schell continues to lead the way over Nobles, Rood, Mooers, and Calmes. Mooers passes the smoking Rood and takes over third as Rood goes to fourth Mooers challenges Nobles for second but Nobles quickly shuts that door. Rood is smoking badly now but is going to drive it until it dies but is black flagged off the track. Schell takes the checkered over D.J. Nobles, Scott Mooers, Richard Calmes, and Skip Land. It was now time for the heat races for the Late Model feature race of the night. Winning heat one was Darrell Padgett. Donnie Chappell topped heat two with Jack Nosbisch, Jr. winner in heat three. The 4 Cyl Challengers also ran only a feature race and no heats. RJ Glaser had the pole with last week's winner Dalton Strehle on the outside pole. Strehle, who was in the hospital part of the week, was well enough that he wanted to win again. But before a lap was down, the caution came out for Danny Lunn who was driving blind because his hood flew up and he could not see. Lunn slowly took his machine to the pits so his crew could fix the hood. A complete restart was in order. Once again, Glaser on the inside, Strehle on the outside, Strehle took the point over Gilbert Epsy, Glaser, Lunn, and Daniel Laird. Davey Wolf puts the heat on Laird and takes over fifth. Wolf then passes Glaser and takes over fourth as Glaser settles into fifth. Epsy puts the heat on Strehle as he takes over the point with Lunn on his tail for second and Strehle in third. Lunn puts the heat on Epsy but Epsy wants nothing to do with it and shuts the door quicly. Lap 9 sees Strehle retake second from Lunn as Wolf passes Lunn for third and Lunn settles into fourth. Lunn begins to slow badly as he slides backwards into the field. Epsy and Strehle are going at it for first but a lap car gets in the way becoming the middle of an oreo sandwitch, Epsy is able to fight off the hard charge of Strehle as he continues to lead the way over Strehle, Wolf, Gilford Williams, and Glaser. Epsy takes the checkered for the win over Dalton Strehle, Davey Wolf, Gilford Williams, and RJ Glaser. Modified were up next with Austin Sanders on the pole and Dale Murray on the outside pole. Sanders quickly takes the point over Murray, Jamie Carter, Jeff Matthews, and Larry Burkins. Matthews, who normally races at Eastbay Raceway Park, puts the heat on Carter and takes over third. Matthews then sets his eyes on Murray and takes over second and finally gets the position that he wants as he takes over the point from Sanders. It is now Matthews, Sanders, Murray, Carter and Burkins leading the way. Racin Jason Davis puts the heat on as he takes over fifth. It is now Matthews, Sanders, Murray, Burkins, and Davis leading the way. Carter is not happy in sixth and retakes fifth from Davis on lap 11. Two laps later Davis looks to be slowing which is something he seldom does. Davis ends up spinning in turn 4 and brings out the caution. Davis is done for the night. It is now a single file restart as Matthews has the point over Murray, Sanders, Burkins, and Carter. Lap 16 sees Underwood having problems and bringing out the caution as he is done for the night also. Four laps to go as Matthews continues to lead the way over Murray, Sanders, PJ Wiggins, and Burkins. Burkins passes Wiggins for fourth as James Smith passes Wiggins and takes over fifth putting Wiggins in sixth. Matthews has a 20 car lead over the field as he takes the checkered for the feature win over Dale Murray, Austin Sanders, Larry Burkins, and James Smith. Street Stocks saw Phil Brown on the pole with Steve Oldaker on the outside pole. Oldaker quickly takes the point over Brown, Bubba Christian, Michael Tovet and Steve Mooers on the green. Mooers has his hands full with Grady Christian who takes over fifth as Mooers goes to sixth. Lap 3 Grady challenges Tovet and takes over fourth as Tovet goes to fifth. It is now Oldaker, Brown, Bubba Christian, Grady Christian, and Tovet. Grady then puts the heat on nephew Bubba and takes over third. Phil Brown is the next victim as Grady passes him for second and sets his eyes on leader Oldaker. By lap 9, Grady has the point followed by Oldaker, Brown, Bubba Christian, and Mooers. Lap 12 sees the caution come out for Michael Tovet who has spun in turn 3 hitting the wall slightly. At this time Oldaker also retires to the pits. As the field goes back to green, it is Grady Christian, Brown, Bubba Christian, Mooers and Tim Hughes. Lap 16 sees Bubba Christian challenge Brown but Brown shuts the door. Lap 18 Bubba challengees one more time but Brown once again shuts the door. Once again Grady Christian takes the checkered over Phil Brown, Bubba Christian, Steve Mooers, and Tim Hughes. The hour is very late so some fans have gone home and missed the final race of the night - the Late Models. Twenty two out of the twenty nine are in the field for the night's feature race with Jason Fitzgerald on the inside and Racin Jason Davis on the outside. Fitzgerald quickly takes the point over Davis, Johnny Collins, Andy Schell, and Jack Nosbisch, Jr. Nosbisch passes Schell for fourth as Darell Padgett takes over fifth followed by Dillion Wood, Donnie Chappell, Stanton Mills, Rich Pratt, Bobby Richardson, and Chris Freeman. The yellow comes out on lap 10 for Lawton Minchew who has spun in turns 1 and 2. With Fitzgerald inside and Collins outside, the field is ready to go back green. This is all that Collins needed as he takes over the point putting Fitzgerald second followeed by Davis, Nosbisch, and Padgett. Lap 13 Fitzgerald comes back and retakes the point but Collins retakes it back on lap 14. Lap 17 sees the caution come out for a spin in turn 4. The field gets back to green fast due to the lateness of the hour and approaching storm as Collins leads the way over Jason Fitzgerald, Jason Davis, Darell Padgett, and Donnie Chappell. Chris Freeman brings out the caution on lap 17 as he spins on the backstretch. Collins takes the point on the green followed by Fitzgerald, Davis, Padgett, and Chappell. But it is a short green as the caution comes out again on lap 18 for Cory Hupp who has spun at the bottom of turn 4. With no more cautions, Collins leads the way on the restart followed by Fitzgerald, Davis, Padgett and Chappell. Padgett challenges Davis for third but Davis quickly shuts the door. Collins takes the checkered for his second win of the night over Jason Fitzgerald, Jason Davis, Darell Padgett, and Shan Smith. Volusia Speedway Park will be closed on August 22 but will return on August 29th with Late Models, Sportsman, Modifieds, 4 Cyl Challengers and Thunder Stocks $250.00 to win. OFFICIAL RESULTS VOLUSIA SPEEDWAY PARK AUGUST 15, 2009 LATE MODEL (RAINOUT MAKE-UP RACE) 1. #5 Johnny Collins, Jacksonville 2. #23 Lawton Minchew, DeLeon Springs 3. #12 Jack Nosbisch, Jr., Riverview 4. #7 Jason Fitzgerald, Middleburg 5. #25 Donnie Chappell, Jacksonville 6. #145 Jason Davis, Hawthorne 7. #17 Richard Ferry, Macclenny 8. #16M Stanton Mills, St. Augustine 9. #0 Rich Pratt, Anthony 10. #26W Dillon Wood, New Smyrna 11. #21Q Chris Freeman, Enerprise 12. #42 Adam Bennett, Jacksonville 13. #32P Jeff Phipps, Longwood 14. #49 Justin Tilton, Dunnellon 15. #79 Jason Kimball, Brooksville 16. #311 Ken Monahar 17. #NOC Andy Schell, Pierson 18. #RP1 Bud Rose, Holly Hill 19. #46P Darell Padgett, Jacksonville 20. #07 David Clegg, Bunnell 21. #45 Bobby Richardson, Eustis 22. #1 John Koller, Grand Island 23. #17SS Shan Smith, Dade City 24. #1XXX Cory Hupp, Apopka 25. #53 John Rankin, Ocala 26. #58 Ivedent Lloyd, Ocala 27. #21 Josh Peacock 28. #16 Wayne Shugert, St. Augustine DNS 29. #30 Larry Anderson, Jacksonville DNS 30. #31 Tracey Butler, Marathon DNS 31. #57 Chuck Julian, Apopka DNS 32. #J17 Joe Kump, Lake Helen DNS 33. #P1 Wallace Peacock, Dover DNS 2ND LATE MODEL FEATURE 1. #5 Johnny Collins 2. #7 Jason Fitzgerald 3. #145 Jason Davis 4. #46P Darell Padgett 5. #17SS Shan Smith 6. #25 Donnie Chappell 7. #16M Stanton Mills 8. #0 Rich Pratt 9. #42 Adam Bennett 10. #88 David Pollen, Jr. 11. #21Q Chris Freeman 12. #45 Bobby Richardson 13. #23 Lawton Minchew 14. #NOC Andy Schell 15. #12 Jack Nosbisch, Jr. 16. #26W Dillon Wood 17. #1XXX Cory Hupp 18. #49 Justin Tilton 19. #311 Ken Monahar 20. #36D Dillon Buhr 21. #1 John Koller 22. #17 Richard Ferry 23. #RP1 Bud Rose DNS 24. #21 Josh Peacock DNS 25. #79 Jason Kimball DNS 26. #07 David Clegg DNS 27. #32P Jeff Phipps DNS 28. #53 John Rankin DNS 29. #58 Ivedent Lloyd DNS MODIFIED 1. #33 Jeff Matthews 2. #66 Dale Murray 3. #64 Austin Sanders 4. #54B Larry Burkins 5. #40 James Smith 6. #410 PJ Wiggins 7. #15x Jamie Carter 8. #Z06 Larry Mott 9. #7s Ronnie Chance 10. #1K Scott Kurtzner 11. #145 Jason Davis 12. #8 Rick Scott 13. #F90 Alan Thomas 14. #77 Rob Underwood 15. #491 Justin Tilton 16. #41B Barry Sheffield 17. #41D Darron Smith 18. #01 Shane Burrows DNS 19. #10 Don Depew DNS 20. #77a Wayne Allen, Jr. DNS STREET STOCK 1. #36 Grady Christian 2. #13 Phil Brown 3. #04 Bubba Christian 4. #95 Steve Mooers 5. #54 Tim Hughes 6. #20 D.J. Nobles 7. #12 Charlie Macnichol 8. #2S Mick Kulak 9. #XXX Doug Weber 10. #51 Steve Oldaker 11. #4b Michael Tovet 12. #11S James Smith 13. #28 Jeff Miller 14. #22R Rodney Wright DNS THUNDER STOCK 1. #57 Matthew Schell 2. #17 Donnie Nobles 3. #10 Scott Mooers 4. #07 Richard Calmes 5. #0 Skip Land 6. #9P Robert Pence 7. #03 Robert Schrunk 8. #00 Eddie Tovet 9. #D10 Michael Rood 10. #01 William Martin 4 CYL CHALLENGERS 1. #37E Gilbert Epsy 2. #75 Dalton Strehle 3. #48W Davey Wolf 4. #39 Gilford Williams 5. #004 RJ Glaser 6. #29L Daniel Laird 7. #911 Mike Lane 8. #20 Casey Feaster 9. #01C Mark Comitale 10. #39.5 Danny Lunn 11. #11 David Ladrie 12. #7E Hank Goodrich DNS Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!