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Richards takes World of Outlaws thrill at Attica
By Brian Liskai
ATTICA, Ohio - Josh "Kid Rocket" Richards gave his mom, Tina, a great
birthday present - his second World of Outlaws Late Model feature win of the
season Friday, May 16, at Attica Raceway Park.
Richards, a rising 20-year-old star from Shinnston, W.Va., followed veteran
Chub Frank for most of the race, waiting for "Chubzilla" to make a mistake.
The opportunity came on lap 44 of the 50-lap feature when Frank went to the
bottom of the track to try and block Richards' advance. Richards drove
around the outside exiting turn 4 to grab the lead and the win.
"That was one of the funnest races I've ran in awhile. My hats off to the
crew...they worked hard in the shop this week. They put a new rearend, new
transmission and new engine in this car and it paid off," said Richards
beside his Mark Richards Racing Enterprises/Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket No.
1.
"This was an awesome trace track...it suits the way I like to drive," added
Richards of the World of Outlaws first ever appearance at "Ohio's Finest
Racing" speedplant.
Richards earned $10,150 for his eighth career triumph on the WoO LMS. He
became the second repeat winner in 10 tour events this season, joining
four-time victor Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark. The driver also completed a
clean sweep of the night's action. Earlier in the program he set fast time
in qualifying with a lap of 14.587 seconds and won his heat race.
"It was just a great night," said Richards, whose previous WoO LMS win this
season came in the tour's opener on Feb. 14 at Volusia Speedway Park in
Barberville, Fla. "We worked hard all week - until midnight a couple
nights - trying to get this car dialed in and ready to go. We've been
experimenting the last couple weeks, and we decided to get back to just
bone-stock, old stuff, and it worked out for us all night."
The 410 sprint feature was just as entertaining and exciting as the late
model main. Fremont, Ohio's Paul Weaver battled with Brock Mayes and Dale
Blaney the last 10 laps before prevailing for his third career victory in
the 30-lap, non-stop affair.
"I was thinking about hanging it up...we were really struggling this year.
But, Andy Potter knows how to get a car hooked up on slick race tracks and
here we are. I'll keep racing if it stays this much fun," said Weaver beside
his Genzman Racing, Ludwig Propane backed sprinter.
At the start of late model main, Frank grabbed the early lead with Richards,
Clint Smith, Shane Clanton and Shannon Babb in tow. The action would slow
for the first of three yellow flags on lap 8 with the running order Frank,
Richard, Babb, Clanton and Smith.When the race resumed, Frank could not
shake Richards, who had his hands full with Babb. The leaders hit lapped
traffic by the 16th circuit when the yellow would fly again on lap 17. The
top five remained Frank,
Richard, Babb, Clanton and Darrell Lanigan.
On the restart, again Frank jumped to the outside cushion with Richards
running in his tire tracks and Babb following. Just past the halfway mark,
the car on the move was Lanigan as he drove around Babb for third. When the
leaders hit lapped traffic again by lap 32, Frank had a slight cushion over
Richards, with Lanigan and Babb battling hard for third.
The action up front heated up on lap 38, as lapped traffic held up Frank,
allowing Richards to drive under him and race side by side for the lead. The
pair of aces raced nip and tuck the next six laps. Then Frank made his
mistake. He dove low to try to stop Richards' momentum exiting turn four on
lap 44, alllowing Richards to drive to his outside and into the lead and
take the win..
Frank, 46, settled for his second runner-up finish of the season, ending the
race 2.113 seconds behind Richards after leading laps 1-43 in his Lester
Buildings Rocket car.
"We were probably a little softer on the left-rear tire (than Richards), and
I'd say it probably gave up the last eight or 10 laps," said Frank, whose
previous second-place finish in WoO LMS action this season came on Feb. 16
at Volusia Speedway Park. "I tried to run as high as I could in (turns)
three and four without getting against the cushion, but I got too tight to
drive in there and run the top like he could - and when I tried to move
down, I just didn't have enough traction.
"Josh did a very good job," he added. "He was very patient. He didn't do
anything that would've wrecked either one of us. He took his shots when he
thought he had 'em, and when he couldn't clear me on those 'sliders' he got
out of the gas and let me go. I think that was very good for him to see that
patience sometimes is better than being aggressive."
Lanigan of Union, Ky., placed third in his gottarace.com Rocket after
holding off the late-race challenges of Moweaqua, Ill.'s Babb. It was the
best WoO LMS finish of the 2008 season for Lanigan, who has secured
consecutive top-five finishes after going without one for the first eight
events of the campaign.
Babb crossed the finish line fourth in NASCAR Sprint Cup star Clint Bowyer's
Traeger Grills Rocket, and Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., repelled the
dogged bids of Wooster, Ohio's Doug Drown to complete the top five in his
RSD Enterprises Rocket.
Echoing Frank's thoughts, Richards viewed his triumph as a sign of increased
maturity behind the wheel.
"The last couple years I feel like I've gotten a lot more patient and a lot
more comfortable in certain conditions that I hadn't been before," said
Richards, the 2005 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year. "It's tough to be patient.
You get close to the lead in one of these races and you just want to go for
it, but I've learned that you just have to stay smooth."
Finishing in positions 6-10 was Drown, who earned the $500 WoO LMS 'Bonus
Bucks' prize for being the highest-finishing driver who hasn't won a tour
A-Main and wasn't ranked among the top-12 in the points standings;
14th-starter Tim Dohm of Cross Lanes, W.Va.; defending WoO LMS champion
Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky.; 2006 tour titlist Tim McCreadie of Watertown,
N.Y.; and Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga.
In the 30-lap sprint car main, Weaver would grab the early lead with Brock
Mayes, Brandon Martin, Andy Shammo and Byron Reed in tow. Weaver would hit
lapped traffic by lap 10, with Mayes in second and eighth place starter Dale
Blaney starting to mount a challenge. Just past the halfway mark, Mayes
moved to the bottom groove and began to put pressure on Weaver, as Blaney
kept them in his sights.
When Weaver crossed the start-finish line to complete the 20th lap, things
started to get interesting. Mayes would pull under him on several occasions,
only to see Weaver slingshot around the top side to maintain the lead. That
allowed Blaney to close on the top two. With just three laps remaining,
Blaney would drive under Mayes and Weaver in a daring move, nearly taking
all three of them out of the race. Coming to the checkers, Blaney tried one
last ditch move, but Weaver diamond off the exit of turn four to slow
Blaney's momentum and take the win. Blaney, Mayes, Martin and Mike Linder
would round out the top five.
Attica Raceway Park will be back in action Friday, May 23 for the 305 Engine
Builders Challenge, paying the 305 sprint feature winner $1,200. The Service
Drive Solutions UMP Attica Late Models will also be running for $1,000 to
win and the dirt trucks will battle for $500 for the top spot. Adult general
admission is only $10.
For more information log onto www.atticaracewaypark.com
Results of WoO Late Model Series at Attica Raceway Park (Finishing
Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):
1. (1) Josh Richards/50 $10,150
2. (2) Chub Frank/50 $5,100
3. (3) Darrell Lanigan/50 $3,000
4. (6) Shannon Babb/50 $2,500
5. (4) Shane Clanton/50 $2,000
6. (9) Doug Drown/50 $2,200
7. (14) Tim Dohm/50 $1,400
8. (12) Steve Francis/50 $1,300
9. (7) Tim McCreadie/50 $1,200
10. (5) Clint Smith/50 $1,100
11. (23) Tim Fuller/50 $1,050
12. (8) Donnie Moran/50 $1,000
13. (11) Eddie Carrier Jr./50 $950
14. (15) Vic Coffey/50 $1,150
15. (18) John Blankenship/50 $850
16. (17) Jeep VanWormer/49 $800
17. (22) Jerry Bowersock/49 $770
18. (13) Wayne Maffett Jr./49 $750
19. (16) Danny Johnson/49 $730
20. (20) Brian Ruhlman/49 $700
21. (24) Joe Isabell/48 $700
22. (21) Tyler Boggs/47 $700
23. (10) Rick Eckert/16 $700
24. (19) Rocky Owens/16 $700
Time of Race: 24 Mins., 05.014 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 2.113 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 3 (Laps 7, 17, 18)
Lap Leaders: Frank (1-43); Richards (44-50)
Provisional Starters: Fuller, Isabell
Rookie of the Race: Vic Coffey ($250)
WoO LMS 'Bonus Bucks' Winner: Doug Drown ($500)
Integra Shocks Crew Chief of the Race ($50): Jimmy Frey (Richards)
Chick Hawk Racing Hot Lap Award (half-off tire warmers): Frank
Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):
1. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 14.587
2. 18-Shannon Babb/Moweaqua, IL 14.642
3. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 14.685
4. 19-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 14.786
5. B4U-Brad Eitniear/Defiance, OH 14.956
6. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 14.960
7. 99-Donnie Moran/Dresden, OH 14.997
8. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 15.015
9. 11-Rusty Schlenk/Jackson, MI 15.021
10. 6T-Tim Dohm/Cross Lanes, WV 15.091
11. 28-Eddie Carrier Jr./Salt Rock, WV 15.167
12. 25-Shane Clanton/Locust Grove, GA 15.186
13. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 15.224
14. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 15.238
15. 49-Brian Ruhlman/Clarklake, MI 15.282
16. 27J-Danny Johnson/Phelps, NY 15.335
17. 12-Doug Drown/Wooster, OH 15.342
18. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 15.351
19. 23-John Blankenship/Williamson, WV 15.352
20. 45-Mike Marteney/Bellevue, OH 15.407
21. 55-Jeep VanWormer/Pinconning, MI 15.435
22. 51-Devin Shiels/Britton, MI 15.440
23. 18R-Chris Ross/Wallaceburg, ONT 15.447
24. 20-Jerry Bowersock/Wapakoneta, OH 15.449
25. 34-Ky Harper/Holland, OH 15.495
26. 1-Tyler Boggs/Warsaw, IN 15.501
27. 40-Dusty Moore/Swanton, OH 15.516
28. 1-Casey Noonan/Sylvania, OH 15.563
29. 50-Ryan Missler/Bellevue, OH 15.694
30. 6J-Joe Isabell/Pennellville, NY 15.713
31. 88d-Larry Kingseed/Sandusky, OH 15.768
32. 5M-Ryan Markham/Ashland, OH 15.802
33. 40-Wayne Maffett Jr./Mansfield, OH 15.812
34. 27-Ken Hahn/Gibsonburg, OH 15.836
35. 5H-Ernie Haynes/Rising Sun, OH 15.896
36. 48-John Bores/Bellevue, OH 16.041
37. 1-Jim Fleming/Bellevue, OH 16.058
38. 55-Chuck Hummer/Ottawa Lake, MI 16.089
39. 2D-Curtis Deisenroth/Oak Harber, OH 16.113
40. 77-Steve Kester/Holland, OH 16.151
41. 29-Rocky Owens/Mansfield, OH 16.160
42. 93T-Jeff Esbenshade/Ashland, OH 16.202
43. 27-Bill Hahn/Gibsonburg, OH 16.340
44. 92-Brandon Perkins/Republic, OH 16.353
45. 12-Michael Stiltner/Green Springs, OH 16.458
46. 25-Ryan Eddleblute/Mansfield, OH 16.508
47. 63-Randy Scott/Mansfield, OH 16.575
48. 3R-Chuck Roelle/Fostoria, OH 16.840
49. 991-Dave Wirt/Fredericksburg, OH 16.943
50. 30-Nate Potts/Bellevue, OH 17.847
51. 32c-Vic Coffey/Leicester, NY 1:50.855
52. 18s-Sean Beardsley/Central Square, NY N/T
Heat No. 1 (10 laps - Top 4 Transfer): Richards, Frank, Dodd, Maffett,
Owens, VanWormer, Eitniear, Harper, Stiltner, Missler, Schlenk, Wirt,
Fleming
Heat No. 2 (10 laps - Top 4 Transfer): Lanigan, Babb, Eckert, Dohm, Boggs,
K. Hahn, Esbenshade, Shiels, Hummer, Eddleblute, Isabell, Fuller (DNS) Potts
Heat No. 3 (10 laps - Top 4 Transfer): Moran, C. Smith, Carrier, Coffey,
Blankenship, Ruhlman, Haynes, Moore, Deisenroth, Kingseed, B. Hahn, Scott,
Ross
Heat No. 4 (10 laps - Top 4 Transfer): Clanton, McCreadie, Francis, D.
Johnson, Noonan, Bowersock, Marteney, Markham, Kester, Bores, Roelle,
Perkins (DNS) Beardsley
B-Main No. 1 (12 laps - Top 3 Transfer): VanWormer, Owens, Boggs,
Esbenshade, Schlenk, Missler, Isabell, K. Hahn, Shiels, Hummer, Wirt,
Stiltner, Eddleblute, Harper, Eitniear (DNS) Fleming, Fuller, Potts
B-Main No. 2 (12 laps - Top 3 Transfer): Blankenship, Ruhlman, Bowersock,
Noonan, Deisenroth, Haynes, Moore, Marteney, Kester, Kingseed, Ross, Scott,
B. Hahn, Bores, Roelle, Perkins, Markham (DNS) Beardsley
410 Sprints
Heat 1 - All Pro Heads (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 48S-Andy Shammo; 2. O4-Cap Henry; 3. 15C-Chris Andrews; 4. X-Mark Keegan;
5. 10-David Harrison; 6. 6-Mike Dussell (R); 7. 91-Aaron Middaugh; 8.
34-Luke Hall; 9. 75-Mike Hogan; 10. 92V-Mathew Reed; 11. 16S-Lee Stark
Heat 2 - Ultra Shield Race Products (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 312-Mike Linder; 2. 16-Lee Jacobs; 3. 11M-Brandon Martin; 4. 2H-Tim
Hunter; 5. 12-Caleb Griffith; 6. 48-Mike Burkin; 7. D7-Tony Beaber; 8.
3J-Kevin Lee; 9. 98-Bruce Robenalt; 10. 9-Chad Goff
Heat 3 - Bell Racing (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 2-Dale Blaney; 2. 11B-Brock Mayes; 3. 1W-Paul Weaver; 4. 69-Scott Curren;
5. 83-Phil Gressman; 6. 5B-Chad Blonde; 7. O1-Bryan Sebetto; 8. 9X-Kevin
Huntley; 9. 97S-Aaron Shaffer; 10. 20X-Brian Smith
Heat 4 - Friendship Food Stores (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. W20-Greg Wilson; 2. 5R-Byron Reed; 3. 22-Cole Duncan; 4. 2M-Dustin
Daggett; 5. 24H-Rob Chaney; 6. 23-Ben Rutan; 7. 59-Kirk Jeffries; 8.
5T-Travis Philo; 9. 28-Hud Horton
B-main - Computer Man Inc.
1. 75-Mike Hogan; 2. 98-Bruce Robenalt; 3. 9-Chad Goff; 4. 20X-Brian Smith;
5. 16S-Lee Stark; 6. 92V-Mathew Reed; 7. 97S-Aaron Shaffer
B-main - Computer Man Inc.
1. 24H-Rob Chaney; 2. 83-Phil Gressman; 3. O1-Bryan Sebetto; 4. 5B-Chad
Blonde; 5. 6-Mike Dussell (R); 6. 48-Mike Burkin; 7. 91-Aaron Middaugh; 8.
D7-Tony Beaber; 9. 9X-Kevin Huntley; 10. 75-Mike Hogan; 11. 34-Luke Hall;
12. 10-David Harrison; 13. 59-Kirk Jeffries; 14. 98-Bruce Robenalt; 15.
3J-Kevin Lee; 16. 5T-Travis Philo; 17. 23-Ben Rutan; 18. 12-Caleb Griffith
A-main Starting Position [#]
1. 1W-Paul Weaver[2]; 2. 2-Dale Blaney[8]; 3. 11B-Brock Mayes[1]; 4.
11M-Brandon Martin[4]; 5. 312-Mike Linder[9]; 6. 48S-Andy Shammo[3]; 7.
16-Lee Jacobs[10]; 8. 5R-Byron Reed[6]; 9. W20-Greg Wilson[11]; 10. 5B-Chad
Blonde[20]; 11. 15C-Chris Andrews[7]; 12. X-Mark Keegan[13]; 13. 24H-Rob
Chaney[17]; 14. O4-Cap Henry[12]; 15. 22-Cole Duncan[5]; 16. 83-Phil
Gressman[18]; 17. O1-Bryan Sebetto[19]; 18. 2M-Dustin Daggett[16]; 19.
2H-Tim Hunter[14]; 20. 69-Scott Curren[15]
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