Dennis Frankin.(Mark Bochiardy)

Carolina Clash: Franklin Picks up Round Four of "Chase for the Championship" at Dublin

Series report

DUBLIN, N.C. - Sept. 24. Dennis Franklin visited victory lane Saturday, picking up the $4000 to win Carolina Clash event at Dublin Motor Speedway. Franklin made good use of the front row starting position, and after battling hard in the beginning laps with Luke Roffers to take the point, "Rambo" never looked back.

It was Franklin's second Clash victory of the season and the win moved him back into the JE Pistons Roush/Yates Performance Parts "Chase for the Championship" points lead.    Kenny Compton, Jr. followed across the line

Fast qualifier and early second place runner Luke Roffers (right) and David Taylor converse after a front stretch incident that took them both out of the race. (Mark Bochiardy)

in the runner up spot. Roffers, rolling into Dublin third in the "chase" points - just 23 points out of the lead - ran a blistering lap of 15.935 to take the fast time award. Roffers night ended with disappointment, however, as he and Compton made contact on the restart of lap five, which took Roffers out of contention and collected David Taylor, Tim Allen and Travis Yow. Allen's night was cut short from the heavy damage received in the incident. Taylor and Yow went behind the wall for repairs and were able to rejoin the field. 

In the last quarter of the race, the 2009 Carolina Clash Champion, Jeff Smith, battled with Scott Autry, and Mike Gault. Autry and Gault's night ended just short of the goal after getting tangled up with a lap car going in turn one on lap 35. Smith was able to avoid the incident and went on to finish third.

Scott Autry works on third running Jeff Smith at Dublin. (Mark Bochiardy)

Dean Bowen chases Dustin Mitchell before moving to a fourth place finish at Dublin. (Mark Bochiardy) 

Luke Roffers surveys the damage to his race car after a wreck that involved several cars at Dublin.(Mark Bochiardy)

Chuck Smith earned the Safety Kleen Hard Charger of the Race Award by gaining 12 spots en-route to a fifth finish - his career best with the Clash. 

Rookie of the Year contender Yow began the night with a 14th place qualifying run, and after getting involved in an early race incident, Yow was able to race back up to a ninth place finish and earn the Klotz Lubricants Rookie of the Race Award. Yow continues to lead the ROY points. 

In the JE Pistons Roush/Yates Performance Parts "Chase for the Championship" Rambo regained the points lead by eight over Compton. Roffers holds onto third and Smith holds the fourth spot. Mike Gault and Scott Autry share the fifth spot.

In the 2011 season winner's list Luke Roffers leads with four Carolina Clash victories. 

David Taylor gets the old "WTH?" from Brett Dysart after contact between the two resulted in Dysart going into the wall.(Mark Bochiardy)

	Sept. 24 - Carolina Clash at Dublin Speedway 1) Dennis Franklin, 2) Kenny Compton, Jr., 3) Jeff Smith, 4) Dean Bowen, 5) Chuck Smith, 6) Scott Autry, 7) Mike Gault, 8) Kerry King, 9) Travis Yow, 10) Dale Hammond, 11) Chris Miller, 12) Dustin Mitchell, 13) David Taylor, 14) Jay Sessoms, 15) Greg Clark, 16) Craig Shuffield, 17) Dalton Wilson, 18) Brett Dysart, 19) Luke Roffers, 20) Tim Allen, 21) Ray Tucker, 22) Travis Hair, 23) Chris Blackwell, 24) Mike Parker
Mark Bochiardy photo