Franklin Checks Out At East Bay
Dennis Franklin (27c) charges under Doug Watson en route to victory Saturday night at Florida's East Bay Raceway Park. (NeSmith photo)
GIBSONTON, Fla. — Dennis “Rambo” Franklin drove the AES Racing Special to his second straight win on Saturday night in the 50-lap event for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Tour at East Bay Raceway Park.
After a race-long duel with Doug Watson, Franklin took the lead on lap 47 and cruised to a 2.401-second victory.
The 36th annual Winternationals was a good one for Franklin, as he finished second on Thursday night and followed that up with wins on Friday and Saturday night. Franklin leads the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series standings with 296 points and holds a 24-point advantage over Jack Nosbisch, Jr.
“I kept working the inside on Watson and he finally made a bobble in turn two where we got by him at the end of the race,” Franklin said. “I’ve got to thank Steve Cooke and the AES Racing Team for letting drive this car here. It was a great race car all week.”
Watson held off a late-race charge from Doug Horton to finish second in the Brandon Auto Services Rocket. Horton overcame fuel problems early in the night to take the third spot in the Mainland Transport Warrior. Horton won the first 15-lap B-Main race, started 16th in the main event and earned the Hedman Husler of the Race Award.
Matthew Turner was fourth in the Hedman Husler Special and William Thomas finished fifth in the Harrod Logging Special.
Franklin made it a clean sweep of the program by setting fast time honors among the 45 entrants with a lap around the third-mile clay oval in 15.708 seconds.
The finish:
Dennis Franklin, Doug Watson, Doug Horton, Matthew Turner, William Thomas, Dave Schmauss, Mark Tice, Walker Arthur, Jack Nosbisch, Jr., Phillip Cobb, Travis Varnadore, Michael Blount, Steve Cooke, David Earl Gentry, Shane Hitt, Austin Hubbard, Shan Smith, Chase Edge, Devin Dixon, Anthony White, Shannon Lee, Maverick Varnadore, Chris Cantrell, Mack McCarter, Todd Morrow.
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Short URL: http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/?p=43685
Posted by NSSN Staff
on Feb 5 2012 Filed under Dirt Late Models, Latest Headlines, Other Dirt Series, Top Stories.
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