Saturday, August 16, 2008 Johnny Collins wins the "Battle on the Black top" DIRT LATE MODELS + FULL MOON = WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO BE? Nearly four years to the day after Hurricane Charley changed the landscape and the mindset of Charlotte County, there's another storm brewing. Tonight the energy will be in the form of the super high-powered United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series, sure to take the breath away from the fans sitting closest to the action. Johnny Collins and Billy Costello came from Jacksonville and Daytona to show their cars at the Murdock Walmart on Friday. Then they along with a dozen or so of the early arrivals from Florida and Georgia made their way to the speedway to prepare for the "battle". Billed as the "Battle on the Blacktop" some of the best drivers on dirt, where the action is usually a full contact sport will race 50 laps on the hard asphalt of Charlotte County Motorsports Park for a $3000 winner's share of the purse. Several of the drivers were having a little difficulty getting their cars to handle the pavement Friday night, as these light weight rockets are faster than any of the late model stock cars the fans are used to seeing at Charlotte. The crew of Bobby Clark, the Circle Track Magazine entry prepares Friday night Johnny Collins wins the battle on the blacktop at CCMP Charlotte County Motorsports Park, PUNTA GORDA — As far as the main event went Saturday night, it's safe to say this was an upset. A Michael Phelps-losing-to-a-toddler-in-water wings sort of an upset. Not that the winner of the inaugural "Battle on the Blacktop" was a surprise, since winner Johnny Collins was the United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series' point leader. But that it would come in 13 minutes — a staggeringly quick time for a 50-lap feature — and that it would come without a single caution. Without the cautions, the Jacksonville resident's quarter-lap margin of victory at Charlotte County Motorsports Park truly reflected how he dominated. “I would never have expected that many green-flag laps,” Collins said. “I was glad to see it go green that long.” With Mike Bresnahan, Dusty Cone and Mark Whitener battling for position behind Collins, a caution became their only hope, one that never materialized. Bresnahan and Cone finished second and third, respectively. What made the lack of yellow flags surprising was that it would be the UDLMCS' first event on an asphalt track and one where the drivers were not allowed to make major modifications to suit the surface. Bresnahan said it was like roller skating on an ice rink. Cone said it was the slickest asphalt track he'd ever raced on. Whitener had never raced on asphalt. The surface proved not to be an issue for Collins, who had raced eight times on asphalt and won four times on the surface. It only left the also-rans muttering afterward. “I’d have liked to see yellow to see if I had anything for him,” Bresnahan said. “But Johnny was awesome. We had the second-best car tonight.” Disappointed as he was to not get the needed yellow flag, Cone appreciated the incident-free race. "Once we got geared up, you might as well keep going," he said. North Port's Josh Williams ran away in the 25-lap Legends feature, clearly with the fastest car in the event. After struggling to get past early leader Mike Verhaagh, Williams shot past him in turn three of the seventh lap and pulled away for a comfortable victory. Gerald Campbell took second in the Legends, just holding off Chelsea Schilling at the finish. Ross Chastain took the Fastrucks event easily in the 36 car, taking the lead from pole-sitter Mario Ramay in the eighth lap and holding it for the rest of the 50-lap event. Dustin Breeden challenged for the lead, but did well to hold onto second after spinning out twice in the last five laps. Both times others were judged to be at fault, and Breeden's runner-up status was restored. Ramay finished third. It seemed like the Fastrucks would never get going, after a pair of spinouts on the opening lap prompted restarts. On the third try to start the event, Trey Miller of Fort Myers lost his right rear axle and spun out in turn one to a shower of sparks. Road Warriors saw the 77 of James Dellea back in the winners circle only to be DQed in tech which gave the win to Chris Onken who was racing with a heavy heart, second would be Chris Scott in the 97 and Jeff Firestine third. Thunder Trucks saw Wally Smith driving the 63 truck beat out Randy Kile who finished second and Tom Pryor came in third. Next Week at CCMP will be a 50 lap race for the Sportsman, Open Wheel Modified for 35 laps, Thunder Trucks, Pro 4, Fab 4 and Figure 8 racing also Friday night Aug 22 will be Go Kart Racing under the light. check out the ccmp web site for all info and photos at charlottecountyracing.com