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Mary Jane Cardwell
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 19) - Johnny Collins, in his Collins-owned Barry Wright/Southern Style Engines combination, held off an overflowing field of cars to win the Scott Thompson Memorial Event, hosted by Volusia Speedway Park, a combined event featuring members of the National Late Model Series and United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series. Racing was fast and furious as over 60 cars vied in 6 heats, 3 Consolation races and a final Last Chance race to make the 30-car field for this special event.
Keith Nosbisch showed everyone how to qualify on this track, running in the very low 18s and ultimately holding down the pole position for the feature event. Joining Nosbisch on the front row was Mark Whitener. On the second row, Jack Nosbisch, Jr. and Brandon Cameron took their respective positions followed by Johnny Collins and Adam Bedenbaugh. These six drivers won their respective heats and were ready to do all they could to win the $3800.00 prize.
The next two groups taking their positions for the feature, having placed second and third in their respective heats, were Josh Peacock, Steve Mathis, Shane Williams, Darrell Padgett, Jimmy Lee Davis and David Clegg (the Senior Statesman for Volusia Speedway Park), Jeff Mathews, Andy Schell, Jay Johnson, Bill Howard, Russell Brown, Jr. and Shan Smith. These guys had done all they could to win their heats and helped put on exciting races that were mere preludes to the feature. Shane Williams and Jay Johnson more than had their hands full with valiant tries by Joe Kump to hold onto a feature position with some of the best mid pack racing seen this season.
Several big names had to try to make the feature by winning or placing second in the three Consolation Races made the jump to the feature event. These drivers included, David Whitener, Clay Bedenbaugh, Patrick Williams, Rich Pratt, JR Prather, Jr., and Lawton Minchew. One Last Chance, added at the last minute, allowed for a one person transfer to the feature event. Bo Allen, in his new 71A ride, held on to win the Last Chance race and make the jump. With over 30 cars vying for this one position, drivers did all they could to overtake Allen, to no avail. The remainder of the field included 1 track provisional - Richard Ferry, 2 Series provisionals - Jeffrey Hunter and Wayne Shugart, and 2 UDLMCS provisionals - Roger Crouse and Billy Costello.
Following driver introductions and Frisbee tosses, Patrick Williams, driving the No. 38 vehicle in memory of Scott Thompson, led the field in memorial laps. Keith Nosbisch then led the 30-car field to the green flag and held on for a few laps before Johnny Collins took the lead. Collins had barely taken the lead when up through the pack Jimmy Lee Davis plowed his way toward the front. Also working his way forward were Bill Howard and Patrick Williams, but 50 laps were not enough to let anyone catch and pass Collins. He held the lead for most of the race, winning the extra prize for leading lap 38 and winning the race.
Next up for the National Late Model Series is a double race event in Alabama August 1-2, 2008 - Penton on Friday and East Alabama on Saturday. See ya' at the track.
Results
1 5C JOHNNY COLLINS 100
2 26 ADAM BEDENBAUGH 99
3 38 PATRICK WILLIAMS 98
4 5W MARK WHITENER 97
5 101 KEITH NOSBISCH 96
6 48 BILL HOWARD 95
7 46P DARRELL PADGETT 94
8 00B RUSSELL BROWN, JR. 93
9 3D JIMMY LEE DAVIS 92
10 21P JOSH PEACOCK 91
11 22B BRANDON CAMERON 90
12 95 STEVE MATHIS 89
13 33 JEFF MATHEWS 88
14 12 JACK NOSBISCH, JR. 87
15 00C BILLY COSTELLO
16 23 LAWTON MINCHEW 85
17 J1 JAY JOHNSON 84
18 7F RICHARD FERRY 83
19 71A BO ALLEN 82
20 27H JEFF HUNTER 81
21 81 DAVID WHITENER 80
22 32C ROGER CROUSE
23 1W SHANE WILLIAMS 78
24 6 CLAY BEDENBAUGH 77
25 07 DAVID CLEGG 76
26 NO¢ ANDY SCHELL
27 17SS SHAN SMITH 74
28 007 J.R. PRATHER, JR. 73
29 16 WAYNE SHUGART 72
30 0 RICH PRATT 71
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