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Brandon Johnson wins Camping World 100 Late Model Race at Charlotte
By: Melanie Beckne
Punta Gorda, FL... Twenty six late models made the start of the Camping World 100 lap Late Model feature at the Charlotte County Motorsports Park, this past Saturday night. Brandon Johnson sat on the pole, while fast qualifier Joe Boyd had to start in the ninth starting position. Brandon Johnson took the lead at the start of the race.
The first caution to wave was on lap seven, that is when Richie Anderson hit the front stretch wall under the flagstand and then spun out in turn one. Gary Padula and Eddie King got together in turn four on the twelfth lap, with King spinning and Padula being sent to the rear of the field.
Lap twenty two, brought out another caution when Johnny Kay got into the back of Wayne Morris car causing a multi-car collision. Johnny Kay was sent to the back of the pack on the restart of the race. Wayne Morris got into third place runner Austin Kirkpatrick on the thirty fifth lap. Kirkpatrick went spinning on the frontstretch from the contact and Morris was then sent to the back.
On lap sixty eight Steve Dorer spun out on the backstretch which the officials had called it on Dorer and he did not agree. The officials tried to get Dorer to the tail of the field and he refused. After about five lap under caution and him not going to the rear of the field, he was then blackflagged and disqualified for Unsportsman like conduct.
After about another two laps with the officials showing Dorer the black flag he still refused to go to the pits , so the race had to be red flagged to bring the tow truck on the track. When the tow truck came on the track DOrer played a cat and mouse game with the driver of the tow truck around the track and finally went into the pits.
Brandon Johnson led the entire race with Joe Winchell all over his back bumper, up until about lap eighty when it appeared thae Winchell's car was not handling as well. Brandon Johnson took the victory with Joe Wincehll finishing behind Johnson in second and Austin Kirkpatrick came in third.
The first feature race of the evening was a twelve lap Bandolero feature. Mark Hooven was the polesitter and led the first lap once the green flag came out. Taylor McFadden took the lead from Mark Hooven on the second lap and led the next five laps. Mark Hooven took back the lead on the eighth lap and stayed their to take another feature win. Taylor McFadden was second with Shawn Hooven finishing in third position.
The TQ Midgets ran a caution free twenty lap feature with rookie driver Jay Stutz on the pole. On the start of the race Stutz car seemed to have trouble coming through the gears and Mike Belusar took the lead. Belusar led until lap nineteen and coming to the checkereds he spun out just before the finish line and Jack DUffy, who was running second took the win. Jamie Barnum came in the second spot while Mike Belusar made it through the finish line to finish third.
Brandon Reichert was the polesitter for the twenty five lap Pro 4 race. Reichert jumped to the early lead on the start of the race, but that would be the only lap he would be the leader. The first caution came out after the first lap was completed, that is when John Rizzo spun his car out in the bottom of turn one . On the restart Codey Benoit took the lead from Brandon Reichert and stayed their to capture his third feature win in a row. Brandon Reichert came in second, while John Pummel Jr came in the third spot.
It was a wreck fest for the Legends car who were suppose to run a twenty five lap feature with Mark Hooven starting up front. Hooven led the first lap and then the first caution waved for the spinning car of Conrad Molter in turn four.
When the caution came out Mitch Verhaagh, who was running in the second spot, climbed the side of the leader Hooven's car. Both cars had to pull into the pits for some repairs and both cars made it back on the track in time for the restart. On the restart the lead was handed to Mike Fazio who led the two laps before another caution came out. This time Mitch Verhaagh spun out in turn two and on the restart of the race Gerald Campbell took over the lead from Fazio.
The next lap a caution came out again for Mark Hooven spinning this time in turn four and Devin McLeod had just took the lead from Campbell. The final pass for the lead occurred on lap eight when Josh Williams put is car up front.
The final caution came out on lap twelve Gerald Campbell got into Devin McLeod car in turn two. Both cars were battling for the second position when the contact happened and McLeod went spinning. At that time the Legends official stopped the race and declared Josh Williams the race winner Devin mcLeod was second and Mark Hooven came in the third position.
Thunder Trucks were up next for their twenty five lap feature, with Ray Scott starting up front. Lance Sober took the lead from Scott before the first lap was completed. The first caution came out for Jay Justice on the second lap, when Justice looped his truck around in turn one. The lead switched on the eighth lap when Andy Pryor passed Sober for the top spot. The last caution came out when Tom Pryor spun his truck out in the backstretch. Tom Pryor was in the second position at the time. Andy Pryor went on to win the Thunder Truck feature with David Moor and James Dellea completing the top three.
The Juniors Trim Shop Road Warriors came out to run what was suppose to be a twenty five lap feature. Billy Benoit led the field to the green flag with Kenny Gibson jumping out front immediately. Gibson led the first two laps and then Jeff Firestine passed Gibson the following lap and took over the lead.
The first caution came out on lap twelve when Bryan Boxell spun his car out in the bottom of turn four. On the restart Logan Leonard lost control of his car and spun out on the front stretch, bringing out the caution again. Bryan Boxell spun out again on the fourteenth lap and on the retart Dean Butrum brushed the front stretch wall. Something broke on Butrum's car and he hit the wall hard in between turns one and two.
Even though Butrum's car was heavily damaged he was ok and clearly upset. Officals tried to calm Butrum down, but he managed to get away and proceeded to go on the front strightaway were the other cars were stopped. It appears that he had felt that he was helped into the wall by Terry Price and wanted to let Price know that he was not happy with him and it turned out that Price actually had nothing to do with the wreck. This concluded the Road Warrior race since Butrum had made some threats and officials did not want anyone to get hurt. Jeff Firestine won the race shorten Road Warrior victory. Chris Loney was second and Steve Elder came in the third spot.
Once the mess was cleaned up from Dean Butrums wreck, the Fastrucks came out for their thirty five lap race. Mike Smith sat on the pole and took the lead at the start of the race to only have the caution come right out. Michael Wear spun out his truck going into turn one and this made for a complete restart.
Once the race got restarted Mike Smith jumped out front again for the lead. On lap fourteen Pat Mahoney sent Michael Wear's truck spinning into turn two, with Mahoney being sent to the rear of the field and Wear getting his spot back. The next caution to wave was on lap twenty three when Chris Huntoon got into Andrew Gipson's truck in turn two and spun Gipson out.
On lap twenty nine Mike Smith was still leading when TJ Duke, who was running in second got into the back of Smith's truck in turn four. This sent Mike Smith spinning and brought out the last caution. TJ Duke was sent to the rear of the field, while Mike Smith had to take his truck into the pits and was not able to continue and this handed the lead over to Josh Williams. WIlliams led the last six laps to take home his second victory of the evening. Tyler Laing and Ross Chastain completed the top three spots.
The last race of the evening was the fifteen lap feature for the Fab 4 division with David Doty on the pole position. Doty led the first lap before Jason McGonnel took the lead from Doty. The first caution came out on lap ten, when Kenny Gilley came to a stop on the bottom of turn four. Jeremy Perkins brought out the last caution when, he hit the front straightaway wall. Jason McGonnel went on to take the win with Mike Goss coming in second and Jason Perkins finished in the third spot.
