Joe Collins Wins 14th Annual Stick Shift Nationals

Joe Collins Wins 14th Annual Stick Shift Nationals

The 14th annual Butner Construction/Twin City Rebar Stick Shift Nationals is a once-yearly gathering of clutch cars that never disappoints, and the latest running was no exception. The event was held June 15-16 at Farmington Dragway near Mocksville, North Carolina. 

[Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in DI #190, the State of Drag Issue, in September/ October of 2024.]

This premier event, which famously is completely free to enter for competitors, got kicked off on Friday night with the Scarlette’s Performance/Stick Pullers of America Gambler’s race. Colton Kirchner, who was one round away from winning the Gambler’s race in 2023, sealed the deal 12 months later when he took the win light over Richie Gerringer for the weekend’s first payday. 

The main event on Saturday is likely the most coveted win of any stick shift racer’s career, and the competition is fierce on race day. Castalia, North Carolina’s Joe Collins went the distance in the main event to become the latest winner, and at 71 years of age, he’s among the oldest, if not the oldest competitor to ever win the Stick Shift Nationals. 

One thing’s for certain: Collins has never won the event before, and so the growing streak of first-time winners continues, as no one has ever repeated the feat in the main event for the entire 14-year history of the Stick Shift Nationals. “I came close to winning it back in 2021 when I runner-upped to Ronnie Courtney,” says Collins. This year, Collins went the distance to collect the $10,000 payday when he got past Blanchester, Ohio’s Chuck Martin, driving his familiar “Chuck Wagon” 1978 Mercury Zephyr wagon. 

Collins is a 43-year veteran of drag racing, and he’s done every bit of racing in the same car: a 1969 Camaro that he bought in November of 1980. “I bought the car in ’80 and I’ve been racing it since ’81…it’s the only car I’ve ever raced,” he smiles. 

He’s collected many wins over the years at Rocky Mount, North Carolina’s Brewer’s Speedway, and even clinched an IHRA divisional title at Kinston Drag Strip in the mid-1990s, but he says his Stick Shift Nationals victory is for certain the biggest win of his career. “I’m still not ready to hang it up with this car!” he says. 

His son Cameron feels the same way, and also drives the car on occasion, winning a CCRA Stock/SS race, as well as runner-up at an NMCA race. “It’s been a real good car for us,” concludes Joe. 

Brandon White took home the victory in the Second-Chance race over veteran racer Ronnie Skinner. White has experienced great success at this event, driving the same 1957 Chevy that he put in the winner’s circle at last year’s Stick Shift Nationals main event. Matthew Wilson and Mike Boyles each had a solid outing this year, making it to the semifinals. 

The Stick Shift Nationals continues to be the marquee event for manual transmission-equipped race cars from across the country, with 130 entries making first-round time runs, including Marcus Allen, who towed 21 hours from Peyton, Colorado, to compete. Jeff Smith Jr. took home the win in the Ram Clutches Dash For Cash, driving his Chevy Nova. Floyd Brown clocked 4.83 in his “Swamp Dog” 1963 Corvette to clinch the Dan Englebert Memorial Low E.T. award. The sponsor support for this event continues to pour in year after year, allowing for the traditional free-entry and huge paydays that this event is famous for. 

The 15th running promises to be another highly-anticipated gathering, and has already been slated for June 13-14, 2025. “A huge thanks goes to Sandy Collins, Leigh Anne Flynt, Mike Boyles, Larry Waller, and a host of other great folks for making this event continue on,” concludes Mark Joyce, Farmington Dragway official.

Second-chance race winner Brandon White

Second-chance race runner-up Ronnie Skinner

Main event runner-up Chuck Martin

This story was originally published on October 3, 2024.

The post Joe Collins Wins 14th Annual Stick Shift Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated.

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