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CONCORD, N.C. (March 9, 2007) - While many of his peers are still
adjusting to the demands of being a college freshman, 18-year-old Josh
Richards is already working on a master's degree.
But Richards' version of higher education doesn't involve professors
or textbooks. It's coming behind the wheel of an 850-horsepower dirt
late
model on the tough 360 OTC World of Outlaws circuit, and one of his
early
season exams will come during the April 20-21 Circle K Colossal 100 at
The
Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway.
"Right now, I am taking off school and focusing on the racing deal,"
said the youngster from Shinnston, W.Va. "If racing doesn't work out, I
can
always go back to school. It would be hard to do both, and be good at
both.
So, for now, I'm focusing 110 percent on racing."
Known to race fans as "Kid Rocket," Richards earned his clever
nickname because his father, Mark, co-owns Mark Richards Racing
Enterprises
which manufacturers the popular Rocket Chassis for dirt late model
racing.
"My dad's been involved in racing his whole career," Richards
explained. "It's a family deal. My father is my car owner, my mother
and
grandmother both work at the shop and my uncle also races. I grew up
around
the race track at home. Then, when I got old enough, 12 or 13, I
started
going on the road with my dad and I got hooked."
Richards made his first dirt late model start in October 2003 at age
15, and has literally rocketed through the sport.
He earned the 2005 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series
rookie-of-the-year award and, that same year, became the youngest
driver to
qualify for both The Dream and World 100 races at Ohio's Eldora
Speedway.
In 2006, Richards competed in the prestigious Chili Bowl Midget
Nationals as a teammate to two-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart,
graduated
from high school and finished ninth in the World of Outlaws Late Model
Series point standings.
Richards, who will celebrate his 19th birthday on March 22, kicked
off the new season by winning the 360 OTC World of Outlaws opener at
Florida's Volusia Speedway Park and has his eyes on the series
championship.
"We started the year focused on the World of Outlaws title and to
win the first race was amazing," Richards said. "There are so many
races to
run but our goal is to win the championship."
Looking further down the road, Richards has much higher aspirations.
"My ultimate goal is to get as far as I can, which would be the
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series," he said. "This year, I'm also going to do
some
pavement racing to see how that works."
Richards failed to qualify for the 100-lap finale of last year's
Circle K Colossal 100, but heads into the April 20-21 event on a
mission to
claim the $50,000 first prize.
"Lowe's Motor Speedway has an extremely nice facility but the track
hasn't been good to us. It's not anything about the track, it's been
problems we've had," Richards explained. "We're definitely looking to
improve and I'm looking forward to racing there."
The Friday night portion of the Circle K Colossal 100 will feature
group time trials and heat races. The top two finishers in each heat
will
secure a spot in the 100-lap finale and a draw will determine the
starting
lineup.
Saturday night's program begins with a driver autograph session and
on-track action includes at least four additional qualifying races to
the
main event. The race will be part of the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late
Model
Series, but The Dirt Track's traditional format, including the
extremely
popular double-file restarts, will be utilized.
If purchased in advance, reserved tickets for both Friday and
Saturday nights are $49 for adults and $19 for ages 12 and under.
Two-day
pit passes are $60 in advance.
Tickets and pit passes for the April 20-21 Circle K Colossal 100 can
be purchased online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling
1-800-455-FANS.
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