Collins notches win in Laughlin

LAUGHLIN -- After severing his successful racing partnership with Dale White last September to run his own off-road racing program, it would have been reasonable to expect Brian Collins to struggle for at least a few races before returning to the winner's circle.

But the 37-year-old Las Vegas businessman said he wasn't the least bit surprised to be hoisting the first-place trophy Sunday after capturing the Class 8 division with co-driver Billy Goerke in the season-opening SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge.

"Not at all," Collins replied when asked if he was surprised to notch a win in only his second race under the Collins Motorsports banner. "I hate to sound arrogant, but I have a great team -- I have more than anyone could ever ask for. They all like to be here and they have a lot of heart.

"With the guys that I have, I knew wins were going to come ... and I hope to see five more of these -- and there is no reason we shouldn't."

With many of Collins' crew joining him from White Lightning Racing, they also have a lot of experience, and that played into Collins' victory Sunday during the second day of the unique two-day event.

With one lap remaining in his five-lap run Sunday, Collins reported a drop in oil pressure in his Chevrolet C1500 truck. After debating whether to come into the pits or stay out and complete the final lap, Collins' crew had its driver pull into the pits.

While checking out the source of the oil-pressure problem, Collins' crew noticed the truck also was leaking oil from the rear end and promptly corrected that problem.

"I was a little concerned," Collins, the defending SCORE Class 8 champion, said. "It was fortunate that we stopped for the oil ... because I don't know if we would have been able to finish."

Indeed, as Collins' truck sat perched on the podium in the winner's circle following the race, a steady stream of gear oil poured out from under the rear end.

Las Vegans Ed and Tim Herbst had a far less eventful day in winning the featured Trophy-Truck division, posting a 5-minute elapsed-time victory over runner-up Doug Fortin -- the only other truck to complete all 10 laps over the two days.

Danny Anderson captured the Class 10 title, the third Southern Nevada driver to win a class title in the event. Anderson was the only driver among the 22 starters in his class to complete all 10 laps.

The rough 13-mile course took its toll on machines in virtually every class as only 62 of the 201 vehicles finished the race.

The event was marred by the death of Class 1 driver Larry Deaton of California on Saturday.

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