The Rocket Chassis house car driven by Josh Richards.
*Story submitted by Joshua Joiner of World of Outlaws Late Models
Red-Hot West Virginia Driver Will Aim for Weekend Trifecta in Sunday’s WoO LMS Visit to Eriez Speedway
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – Aug. 22, 2015 – Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., put on another stellar performance Saturday night at Atomic Speedway, leading all 50 laps of the night’s main event to complete a sweep of the 3/8-mile oval’s World of Outlaws Late Model Series doubleheader weekend.
The three-time WoO LMS champion left no doubt as to who was the dominant car at Atomic’s two-race event in driving his Valvoline Rocket Chassis house car to a lead of more than eight seconds in Saturday’s caution-free race. Richards, 27, earned $10,150 for his eighth WoO LMS victory of the season and his fourth in the national tour’s past five events.
“This car was a dream to drive,” said Richards, who will attempt to add another victory to his impressive weekend when the WoO LMS heads for Eriez Speedway in Erie, Pa., on Sunday. “I love coming here to this awesome track. To drive all over it and move around like that, it was a lot of fun.”
Richards crossed the finish line 8.471 seconds ahead of WoO LMS points leader Shane Clanton of Zebulon, Ga., while Jared Hawkins of Fairmont, W.Va., settled for third after challenging Richards through the race’s early portions. Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, was fourth with R.J. Conley of Wheelersburg, Ohio, rounding out the top five.
Starting from the fifth position, Clanton steadily moved forward in his Weldbank Energy Capital Race Cars house car before taking the second spot from Hawkins on lap 47.
Although he fell short of the victory, Clanton continued to march toward his first-career WoO LMS title with his fifth consecutive top-five WoO LMS finish and his third straight finish among the top three. His lead over Richards at the top of the WoO LMS standings sits at 158 points with eight races remaining on the season.
“It took me so long to get by a couple guys there and lapped traffic was pretty tough with the cushion as big as it was in one and two,” Clanton said. “I didn’t wanna take no chances. We needed to finish where we were and come home second. Josh has been on a roll. Our Capital Race Car is pretty good right now, just needs to be a little better.”
After starting alongside Richards on the front row, Hawkins was the only driver to provide Richards a serious challenge. Hawkins’ Rocket machine kept pace with Richards through the early laps with Hawkins even taking a few looks under Richards when the leaders reached lapped traffic around lap 10.
But Hawkins couldn’t maintain Richards’ pace and faded late. He settled for third in completing a solid weekend.
“I was surprised I was keeping up with him because I was really pushing it,” Hawkins said of his attempt to keep pace with Richards early in the race. “I’m sure I burnt my stuff up there. Those last 20 laps were a handful.
“I’m glad we came home with a top three and I’m real happy with the weekend. It’s a lot of fun racing these guys. To be able to come out and be competitive with them makes it even better.”
Jason Montgomery of Jackson, Ohio, was sixth in the final rundown, with Eric Wells of Hazard, Ky., taking seventh. Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., was eighth with Chris Ferguson of Mount Holly, N.C., and Chase Junghans of Manhattan, Kan., rounding out the race’s top 10 finishers.
Gates open at 4:30 p.m. at Eriez Speedway on Sunday with racing scheduled to begin at 6. The night’s program will feature a 50-lap, $10,000-to-win WoO LMS A-Main. Adult general admission is $30, while children ages 6 to 15 and children 5 and under are free. A general admission family package of two adults and up to four children is $75. Pit entrance is $35. Visit www.eriez-speedway.com for more information.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com. Fans can also follow the WoO LMS on Twitter at Twitter.com/WoOLateModels and Facebook at Facebook.com/WorldofOutlawsLateModelSeries.
Results of World of Outlaws Late Model Series at Atomic Speedway (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):
1. (1) Josh Richards/50 $10,150
2. (5) Shane Clanton/50 $5,050
3. (2) Jared Hawkins/50 $3,000
4. (6) Devin Moran/50 $3,000
5. (8) R.J. Conley/50 $2,000
6. (4) Jason Montgomery/50 $1,850
7. (3) Eric Wells/50 $1,450
8. (7) Chub Frank/50 $1,400
9. (12) Chris Ferguson/50 $1,250
10. (18) Chase Junghans/50 $1,650
11. (10) Rick Eckert/50 $1,200
12. (13) Darrell Lanigan/50 $1,150
13. (16) Gregg Satterlee/50 $950
14. (9) Mason Zeigler/49 $950
15. (15) Frank Heckeneast Jr./49 $900
16. (17) Tim McCreadie/49 $950
17. (11) Jackie Boggs/49 $1,320
18. (22) Rod Conley/49 $750
19. (20) J.T. Conley/49 $730
20. (21) Morgan Bagley/49 $750
21. (23) Boom Briggs/48 $750
22. (19) Brandon Overton/40 $1,000
23. (14) Steve Casebolt/26 $700
24. (25) Greg Oliver/22 $725
25. (24) Jordan Yaggy/2 $700
Time of Race: 13 Mins., 27 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 8.471 Secs.
Yellow Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Richards (1-50)
Provisional Starters: Briggs (WoO), Yaggy (WoO), Oliver (track)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner ($500): Moran
WoO LMS ‘Rookie of the Race” ($250): Overton
