Published: May 19, 2008 12:05 am            

Franz holds on to take top honors in NCRA event at Enid Speedway

Brian Franz, of Halstead, Kan., dominated with a thrilling victory run aboard his Millennium Machine & Tire-sponsored Bills Built car in the National Championship Racing Association (NCRA) modified shootout at Enid Speedway Park Saturday night.

Franz shot off the outside pole and set up a commanding lead. Franz had command of the track when a pile-up in turn one triggered a violent rollover by Randy Timms, which brought out the red flag in lap four.

Franz picked up where he left off when the race resumed and appeared unbeatable with more than a straightaway advantage. Troy Gemmill skillfully marched through the field and steadily reeled in Franz. Gemmill made a late challenge but Franz held fast with a precarious lead at the line.

Dan Daniels, Jon Herring Jr. and Kip Hughes rounded out the top five.

Jerry “The Warrior” Derr continued his reign in street stock as he piloted his Tools Plus/R & R Oilfield Rental-sponsored Chevy to his fourth win of the year.

Dustin Allen accelerated off the outside pole and led the early going of the 20-lap race. Allen sported a commanding lead when the track went under caution in lap five. The restart tightened the field and put Adam Schrag and Jerry Derr in the hunt.

Allen defended his line and steadily extended his advantage until a second yellow flag flew in lap 11. It was a drag race between Allen and Derr on the restart. Allen found the quick way around but drifted high in lap 16, which saw Derr take the point.

With a clear track in front of him, Derr was unstoppable on his route to the checkered flag. Schrag settled for second, trailed by Jon Herring Sr., Link Shelton and Ryan Bohnstedt.

Perseverance paid off for Robert Elliott as he piloted his limited modified to victory lane for the second time this season.

Heston Shaw exploded off the pole and headed up the field. But the man on the move was Scott Parli. Parli skillfully navigated through the field and took command with a daring low challenge on the backstretch at the race’s midpoint. But all that effort was for naught as a yellow flag flew for debris on the track.

Robert Elliot showed the way when the green flag waved and, in spite of two late-race cautions, never was challenged on his route to the checkers. Ross McCartney captured second, trailed by Nick Shenberger, Greg Deterding and Parli.

You only have to lead the last lap to win and that is what Ronnie Ramer did to post his second win in a row in factory stocks.

John Whitley raced off the second row and took command in lap two. With a clear track in front of him Whitley put a straightaway lead on the field in a mere two laps. Ramer marched through the field when a yellow flag came out in lap 12.

Whitley resumed control when the race went green, with Ramer hooked to his bumper like glue. Whitley’s luck ran out on the white flag lap as his engine went up in a puff of smoke and obscured the track, which triggered a pile-up in turn two.

Ramer inherited the point on the restart and captured the win. Dave Cameron, Landon Maddox and Milt David trailed at the line.

Michael Meek continued his run in pure stock as he put his Dirt Perform-ance/Midstate Oilfield Machine-sponsored Monte Carlo in the winner’s circle for the fifth time this season.

Dustin McNamara jumped into the lead but his run was short-lived as a yellow waved on the start.

James Goldman took the point when the race resumed, with Meek in pursuit. They raced bumper to bumper until another caution came out in lap five. They picked up where they left off on the restart, with McNamara in the hunt.

The fourth restart was a charm for Meek as he exploded to the front and took a commanding lead to the checkers. Duane Head raced to second, trailed by McNamara, Tommy Bohnstedt and Tim Smart.

McNamara was disqualified in a post-race tech inspection for racing springs.

Heat winners in NCRA modified were Franz, Mike Jarvis, Gemmill and Don Renfro.

Frank Graven, Logan Macy, Kevin Snow and Elliott won their heats in limited modified.

Street stock heat winners were Jon Herring Sr. and Schrag.

Whitley won his heat in factory stock, with McNamara and Head taking the honors in pure stock.

Joe Adams and Casey McClaskey won the “B” and “C” features, respectively, in NCRA modified.

Enid Speedway Park’s next card of racing will be 7 p.m. Saturday.