Green Valley Speedway
Rambo continues assault with Green Valley victory
From series reports
Ray Cook welcomes Franklin to victory lane. (mikessportsimages.net)
GLENCOE, Ala. (July 21) — Advantage, Dennis Franklin.
In the two-driver battle at the O'Reilly Southern Nationals, the driver nicknamed "Rambo" from Gaffney, S.C., went ahead in the points chase with a flag-to-flag victory at Green Valley Speedway in the sixth leg of the 10-race minitour. Franklin outran reigning series champion Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., for the second consecutive series event to edge out to a 886-882 lead in the series points. The title pays $5,353. | O'Reilly Southern Nationals schedule | Slideshow
Franklin started on the pole at Green Valley and led all the way for the second consecutive race. Franklin, who earned $3,500, also won July 15 at Cherokee Speedway, his hometown track, and July 19 at Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Ga. Madden, who started third at Green Valley, finished second followed by front-row starter Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, Tenn. Tony Knowles of Tyrone, Ga., and William Thomas of Phenix City, Ala., rounded out the top five.
Notes: Franklin pilots the Barry Wright Race Cars house car. ... The race was slowed by four cautions, the last on lap 32 of the 35-lapper. ... James Cline won the PPM Racing Products Hard Charger honors with his 13th-to-seventh run. ... The series heads to Crossville (Tenn.) Raceway on Tuesday, July 22.
Southern Nationals @ Green Valley: (1) Dennis Franklin, (2) Chris Madden, (3) Ronnie Johnson, (4) Tony Knowles, (5) William Thomas, (6) Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, (7) James Cline, (8) Robert Gant, (9) David Gentry, (10) Brandon Kinzer, (11) Anthony Burroughs, (12) Rick Rogers, (13) Jake Knowles, (14) Anthony Hill, (15) Craig Scott, (16) Steve Harbottle, (17) Brian Booze, (18) Lee Sutton, (19) Shon Flanary, (20) Justin McRee, (21) Daniel Miller, (22) Tony Morris, (23) Michael Williams, (24) Scott Jones. Fast qualifier (among 32 cars): Franklin, 14.729 seconds. Consolation race winners: Knowles, Gentry. Provisional starters: Jones, Morris.
