UKIAH >> Lakeport’s Charlie Collins started dead last and passed the entire field on Saturday to capture
the North State Modified Series American Racer PRS 60-lap main event at the Ukiah Speedway.
Collins, who is now second in the season point standings behind leader Darrin Knight of Kelseyville, collected $1,000 for his first series win since Sept. 26 of last year.
Collins was unable to qualify during time trials as he was attending his son’s Pee Wee football game in Fort Bragg earlier that day. With two of the top eight NSMS points leaders, Jason Philpot and Richie Potts, unable to start — Philpot because of a broken transmission and flywheel and Potts because of an injury — Collins had to maneuver his Dana Stahl-built car past 18 other hard-charging competitors.
Mike Collins, also from Lakeport, was the Penney Racing Supply/Sunoco Fast Time Award winner after clocking in at 13.159 seconds. Kelseyville drivers Darrin Sullivan (13.204), Darin Snider (13.245), and Knight (13.254) had the next best qualifying times.
Mike Collins drew an eight for the invert, putting Upper Lake’s Wade Coleman and Sonoma’s P. J. Pedroncelli in the front row for the start of the main event. Pedroncelli pulled ahead at the drop of the Johnny Miskill green flag with Coleman, Thompson, Snider and Sierra Furia tight on his heels. Lap two saw the yellow flag fly when Trever Abella spun in turn two.
Pedroncelli took control on the restart with Snider diving to the inside past both Thompson and Coleman to take over the runner-up slot. Knight came from fifth to third by lap three as Coleman faded to sixth.
The race was slowed again on lap five when contact between Furia and Codi Barba resulted in Furia spinning into the turn two infield. When racing resumed, Snider powered into the lead followed by Thompson, Knight and Sullivan, dropping Pedroncelli to fifth. Knight swapped places with Thompson on the eighth lap and set his sights on Snider. Snider pulled away and had a three-car-length lead by lap 15.
Meanwhile Charlie Collins was picking off car after car. He passed Sullivan for fourth on lap 20. Three rounds later the yellow flag came out when Kevin Coburn and Orion Mosher tangled in turn two. Snider chose the outside lane for the restart and when Knight drove too low and hit the infield rocks, Snider shot high to avoid any contact. Knight regrouped and stole the lead from Snider. Thompson followed Knight and took over second. At the same time Josh Stewart shot off the end of the track but he regained control and rejoined the pack without a yellow flag coming out.
Charlie Collins dove under Snider for third place on the 27th circuit and at the Swartz Diesel halfway mark the running order was Knight, Thompson, Charlie Collins, Snider, Sullivan, Eric Johnson, Pedroncelli, Mike Collins, Barba, Clay Catureglli, Trystan Mucci, Coleman, Furia, Adrianna Strugnell, Coburn, Rick Avila, Mosher and Stewart. Snider’s car dropped out the following round with mechanical woes.
Thompson pushed high on lap 32, allowing Charlie Collins to fill the gap and steal second place. Knight and Collins masterly drove around lapped traffic the next 25 laps until Collins had a clear shot at the lead. He moved to the outside and made the winning pass on lap 49.
With only 10 laps to go, Mike Collins’ car shot off the track in turn two, stopping at the outer safety barrier. He pitted for repairs and restarted at the rear. Charlie Collins dominated the remainder of the race to pick up his first NSMS victory of 2016. Knight settled for second with Thompson third, Sullivan fourth and Johnson fifth. Rounding out the top 10 were Pedroncelli, Barba, Caturegli, Furia and Strugnell.
In the Lucas Oil Dash for Cash, Barba collected $100 for the win with Strugnell getting $50 for second. Johnson earned the Wenteq Hard Charger Award. Barba took home the Naake Suspension award, and the DJ Safety Certificate went to Stewart.
The final two points races for the North State Modified Series are on back-to-back Saturdays – Sept. 24 at All American Speedway in Roseville and Oct. 1 at Shasta Speedway in Anderson. The Roseville race also features the Pacific Challenge Series Late Models during the Fall Classic. The Shasta event is the Lloyd Burton Against the Wind Challenge with $1,500 going to the winner and $300 to start.
The North State Modified Series is presented by: Protect the Harvest, Swartz Diesel, Lucas Oil, Sinister Diesel, Penney Racing Supply, American Racer Tires, Naake Suspension, Sunoco Fuels, Five Star Bodies, Wrap Star Pro, Wenteq, Scribner Plastics, DJ Safety, and the Buckhorn Bar & Grill.
