NLMS: Collins Claims Second Win of Season on Southern Dirt tour
11 May 1999
By: Donnie HelmlyJacksonville, Florida--The National Late Model Sportsmen Series, Southern Dirt Tour made there once a year stop at the Columbia Motorsports Park in Lake City Florida this past Saturday night for a one day, 75 lap, $3,500 to win event on the 1/2 mile track for a rare appearance on an asphalt surface.
Everett Phillips of Lake City turned in the fastest lap of the 25 cars, to place him on the pole. Phillips would jump out to an impressive lead, beginning to lap cars by lap 20. Everett was setting a blistering race speed, when he encountered the lap car of Gary Barrett of Jacksonville. Barrett took the low line to stay out of the way of the leaders, but still managed to get tangled with Everett, sending both cars in to the outside retaining wall. Both cars were finished for the night. Johnny Collins of Jacksonville Florida took the lead from there and would hold off a late race charge by Ivedent Lloyd of Ocala Florida to claim his second win of the season. Michael Lloyd of Jacksonville would come from the tail of the field to finish third, with Cecil Eunice of Blackshear, Georgia in fourth, and outside pole sitter Skip Pannel of Albany Georgia, rounding out the top five.
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