Itıs awfully hard to come from the back of the pack and win in Limited Late Models at Charlotte County Motorsports Park.
Mike Franklin tried it a few times, but threw in the towel. Starting sixth is a heck of a lot better than starting 26th.
With track owner/promoter Bobby Diehl waving money in his face, Wayne Anderson bit on the back-of-the-pack challenge for Saturday nightıs 100-lapper.
Anderson, who recorded fast time in lap qualifying, could pocket a $1,500 bonus for pulling off the feat. He patiently marched his No. 84 car through the field, climbing as high as third. But that is where his ride ended, as Franklin took checkers in the 12 car followed by Kyle Macy in the 19.
Franklin, a driver who has been dominant at CCMP in the past, collected $3,000 for his effort.
Jonny Kay, who won the May 100-lapper, looked strong again in the 48 car. He took the lead from Drew Brannon on lap 6 and walked out to considerable leads before Franklin reeled him in.
On lap 46, Kayıs yellow car drifted high on the track coming out of two. Ocalaıs Franklin seized the opportunity and the lead.
Kay ended up pitting and going to the back himself. He charged back to a fifth-place showing behind local legend Randy Fox, who was fourth in the 4 car.
Steve Arnold was sitting in third place as late as lap 85, but his 19 car got loose coming out of four, allowing Anderson to move up to third. Arnold was sent to the back, then pitted and called it a night.
The race was cautioned-filled, with the yellow flag waving a whopping 15 times.
The Fastruck series visited the Punta Gorda 3/8-mile paved oval. The kids were up first with a 25-lapper.
Ross Chastain saw his six-race winning streak at CCMP end, as he had a couple of problems with the 36 truck. Tyler Laing of Fort Lauderdale ended up the winner in the 39 truck. Matt Cohen of Lithia was second and Chase Hoffman of Oldsmar took third. Early leader Patrick Fox of Alva saw his transmission explode on the track.
The Fastruck pros raced 50 laps. No one could give James Green Jr. of Inverness a real challenge, as he smoked the field in the yellow 53. Dustin Henderson of St. Cloud was second and Mike Powers of Hollywood took third.
The Sportsman and Road Warrior features were held to 10 laps each because of an impending curfew.
In Sportsman, Ricky Bullard Jr. of Arcadia kept his 77 car in front all the way despite a hard bump early in the race from runnerup Stu Vandevender. Kurt Riley was third.
In Road Warriors, Anne Marie Ricardi of Naples grabbed her first feature win ever in the 22 car. Jeff Firestine of Venice was second in a wild finish. Dean Burtrum was third.
Late Models
1) 12 Mike Franklin 2) 19M Kevin Macy 3) 84 Wayne Anderson 4) 4 Randy Fox 5) 48 Johnny Kay 6) 11 David Weaver 7) 27 Bob Elting 8) 5 Robert Regula 9) 10 Ron Regula 10) 23 Cory Collum 11) 21 Chris Grubb 12) 67 James Dubose 13) 38 C.J. Calabrese 14) 19 Steve Arnold 15) 58 Chris Huntoon 16) 29 Mike Hovis 17) 08 Drew Brannon 18) 127 Karo Vaughn 19) 26 Joe Gentry 20) 62 Buzz Martin 21) 77 Ed Leeke 22) 8 Bobby Shelton 23) 69 Gary Padula 24) 00 John Rippley 25) 1 Charlie Coyle 26) 54X Mark Childress (DQed)
Sportsman
1) 77 Ricky Bullard 2) 86 Bill Vandevender (heat Winner) 3) 31 Kurt Riley 4) 18 Craig Amboyan 5) 83 John Hanushik 6) 16 Guy Sheets 7) 10 Kirk Demyah 8) 19 Dale Dean 9) 2 Derrik Heath
Fastkids
1) 39 Tyler Laing 2) 46 Matt Cohen 3) 7T Chase Hoffman 4) 74 Seth Greco 5) 78 Jason Pyros 6) 36 Ross Chastain 7) 87 Westley Hopper 8) 4 Patrick Fox (fast time) 9) 77 Lance Daubach
Fastrucks 1) 53 James Green jr 2) 18 Dustin Hemderson 3) 05 Mike Powers 4) 71 Barry Barlett 5) 33 Casey Caudill 6) 7T Bill Hoffman 7) 11 Graham McCovey 8) 48 Vernon Hart jr. 9) 92 Michael Cenci 10) 15 Jerry Maxson 11) 78 Austin Hopper
Road Warriors
1) 22 Ann Marie Ricardi (heat Winner0 2) 93 Jeff Firestine 3) 20 Dan Benoit 4) 3 Terry Price 5) 39 Blaine Baer 6) 09 Donnie Ollie jr 7) 97 Cory Scott 8) 95 Ernie Sparks 9) 23X Kenny Gibson 10) 29 Brain Champagne 11) 34 Eddie Morrison 12) 32 Dean Butrum 13) 59 14) 18 Shane Leonard 15) 46 Michael Collins 16) 19 Greg Anderson 17) 7 James Tidwell
Pro 4's 1) 00 Chris Lucas (heat winner) 2) 24 Shane Moore 3) 7 Dwayne Thibodeau 4) 27 Scott Adkins 5) 45 Randy Kile 6) 33 Les Couch DNS
Mini Cup Pro's
1) 67 Zach Hoyt 2) 2 Frank Pfisher 3) 13 James Irish 4) 00 David Miller
