Golden Isles Speedway
Franklin raids Golden Isles for $10,000 victory
By Ozzie Altman
Golden Isles SpeedwayBRUNSWICK, Ga. (Oct. 27) — Sixth-starting Dennis "Rambo" Franklin earned $10,000 at Golden Isles Speedway with a victory in the National Late Model Series-sanctioned Showdown on the Coast. Franklin picked up the lead when polesitter and early race leader Matt Miller suffered suspension damage and fell out of the race on the 45th lap.
Franklin, driving the 30th anniversary Barry Wright Race Car, sped to the front of the field and survived several run-ins with lapped cars as he battled with Michael Lloyd, Ben Faircloth and Ivedent Lloyd to lead the remainder of the 100-lapper, a race slowed by 18 cautions.
The 11th annual event drew 53 entries with 26 drivers taking the green flag for the long-distance event. Miller earned the pole by winning the Optima Trailers Fast Gun qualifying award and winning Friday night's first heat race. It appeared Miller might be on his way to his second straight big payday at Golden Isles — he won $10,000 two weeks earlier in O'Reilly Southern All Star competition — but his night ended as his path was blocked by a spinning lapped car. Miller’s mount sustained heavy damage to the right front of the car.
When the green flag waved to restart the event, Franklin withstood the heavy challenges by his opponents and even made it through a close call on lap 55 when he and Michael Lloyd made contact as the pair battled for the lead with backmarkers spinning directly in front of them.
Franklin outran his challengers through the balance of the race, including seven more restarts for caution periods. Ben Faircloth eventually raced his way into the second spot and crossed the finish line behind Franklin. Ivedent Lloyd Jr., Michael Lloyd and Jeremy Faircloth rounded out the top five.
Notebook
Franklin's Barry Wright Race Car is powered by a Koury Race Engine and sponsored by Swiftco, Jacky Jones Automotive Group and Cherokee Landscaping. ... Bodine Massengill was the MasterSbilt South Hard Charger of the Race. .... The start of the feature was delayed by rain showers. .... The NLMS tour wraps up Nov. 10 at Waycross (Ga.) Motor Speedway. ... Golden Isles wrapped up its 2007 season, but the track is planning for its Super Bowl of Racing IV on Jan. 23-Feb. 2 which features 10 nights of Super Late Model action with $10,000 going to each night's feature winner.
