Carolina Clash Super Late Model
Friendship Motor Speedway
June 21, 2014
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Brandon Overton Becomes 58th Different Winner on Carolina Clash Tour with Friendship Win

by Mark Huey
ELKIN, NC (June 21) - Brandon Overton picks up his first career Carolina Clash Super Late Model victory after an epic battle with Dennis Franklin in lapped traffic at Friendship Motor Speedway on June 21, 2014. He became the 58th different series winner since 2000. It was the 14th event at Friendship Motor Speedway and Overton's first win on the track he claimed "to like."

"I ran a few times here with a crate car and knew the high side would be the place to make passes. It worked when I got it cleaned off and could just about put the car anywhere on the track after that," stated a visibly exhausted Overton from the Friendship front-stretch victory lane area.

Overton drives the #5 Elite Concrete, Baird Transport machine based out of Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia. Overton took over the ride a few weeks back and has competed successfully in both it and the #76 Budweiser car from Augusta, Georgia.

Overton and Rambo swapped the lead several times during the event, which had two extensive caution periods on laps 13 and 25, where many cars were involved in single and multiple car incidents. Johnny Pursley, Jonathan Edwards, and Scott Shirey all took serious hits in their individual point races after suffering DNFs at Friednship. Edwards car was most seriously damaged after plowing head-on into the turn one wall on a lap 13 restart.

Mike Gault, Brian Moody, and Doug Sanders each retired with mechanical problems. Billy Lambert and Kevin Wilson were tangled in a lap 25 restart attempt off turn two. Lambert was shaken up in the crash but was okay, after a hit to his forearm with his steering wheel center bars.

Anthony Sanders was battling with Kyle Pierce during a lap 25 restart and the two made contact exiting turn four. Sanders car crashed into the frontstretch wall and entangled Ronnie Hoover in the accident, who was running just behind the two point campaigners. Pierce was able to continue and finished sixth. Sanders displayed his displeasure with Pierce by striking Pierce's car with his helmet and right foot on the front-stretch while he watched his damaged #421 car being towed away.

The most significant occurrence during the event was when the #51 lapped-car of Randy Harmon re-entered the racetrack with less than 10 laps to go. Harmon exited the track after a lap 1 after an opening lap spin canceled the first attempt. He would play a part in the outcome of the event, even after receiving the consultation (black) flag for being an excessive number of laps down. Harmon continued to stay on the track and after numerous attempts by the race officials to keep him out of the way of the lead cars, Harmon would impede the efforts of Dennis Franklin in the final laps and set up the position for Overton to roar around the outside of Franklin, who was "picked-off" by Harmon's slow machine.

Overton went on to win the race to the delight of the crowd. Zack Mitchell of Enoree, SC continues to string together solid performances with the Carolina Clash and finished third for the fourth time on tour. He is now in a tie for second-place in points with Kyle Pierce. Kennie Compton continues to lead the regular season points chase with 238 over the pair tied for second at 225.

"I just didn't want to give up. I learned a lot last night (at Cherokee) and knew that my day would come. It finally did and it feels great!"

Kevin Godwin of Blythewood, SC went on to pick up the event's Safety-Kleen Hard Charger of the Race Award after finishing ninth from his 20th place starting position. Other notable finishes include Ricky Weeks (5th) , Hall of Fame member Billy Hicks (7th), who was driving a car powered with a CT525 engine, and Bubba McGee (8th).

5 - Brandon Overton - Appling, GA                                          
2 - Dennis Franklin - Gaffney, SC                                              
57 - Zack Mitchell - Enoree, SC
10 - Kennie Compton - Rocky Top, VA
1 - Ricky Weeks - Rutherfordton, NC
281 - Kyle Pierce - Statesville, NC
79 - Billy Hicks - Mt. Airy, NC
31 - Bubba McGee - Pinnacle, NC
G2 - Kevin Godwin - Blythewood, SC
421 - Anthony Sanders - Spartanburg, SC
5 - Ronnie Hoover - China Grove, NC
618 - Kevin Wilson - Stoneville, NC
42 - Doug Sanders - Springwood, NC
9 - Billy Lambert - Mt. Pleasant, NC
7 - Brian Moody - State Road, NC
21 - Mike Gault - Gaffney, SC
09 - Johnny Pursley - Clover, SC
32 - Jonathan Edwards - Clover (*Lake Wylie), SC
10 - Scott Shirey - Swansea, SC
51 - Randy Harmon - Galax, VA

Pole Qualifier - Dennis Franklin - 15.207