(Mike Collins Racing)

John Collins
Visalia, Ca
. August 18, 2006
By Paul Vetter and Don Low
Opening night of the annual two day Giant Automotive Summer Clash at Plaza Park Raceway
found over 50 drivers competing on the Friday night portion of the event. Feature winners John Collins
(Junior Sprints), Dylan Black (Restricted 600), Ryan Reeves (Stock 600), and Wes Gutierrez (Multi 600)
raced their way into the record books with their victories.
Junior Sprint winner John Collins captured his first ever feature win in the 20 lap affair.
The nine year old driver started upfront and was never headed. Dylan Kent and then Michael Manhire
put in early bids to overtake the leader to no avail along with quick timer Dominic Scelzi.
A lap six yellow saw Scelzi and Trent Reed pit out of the event with Cody Key moving
into second on the restart as Garrett Long also pitted.The leading trio of Collins,
Key, and Manhire were then challenged by Cole Cabrera up from ninth starting.
Key put a move on the leader with five laps remaining but Collins
held on for the exciting first time win. Key, Cabrera, Manhire and Carson Macedo
ran in the top five. Of the original 16 car starting field,
only three dropouts occurred in the well conducted race.