|
Red-Hot Clanton Returns To Fayetteville Motor Speedway On Tuesday Night (Oct. 7) For Postponed World of Outlaws Late Model Series Show
FAYETTEVILLE , NC – Oct. 2, 2008 – Before rain postponed the first-ever World of Outlaws Late Model Series event at Fayetteville Motor Speedway on Aug. 15, Shane Clanton had established himself as one of the drivers to beat in the 50-lap A-Main.
But when the tour returns to the four-tenths-mile oval on Tues., Oct. 7, to complete the held-over program, Clanton will be an even bigger favorite to grab the race’s $10,000 top prize.
Clanton, 33, of Locust Grove , Ga. , has simply become the hottest driver on the WoO LMS since rain interrupted Fayetteville ’s Aug. 15 card two laps in the first of two B-Mains. He enters the mid-week show having won two straight and three of the last six tour events as well as the prestigious UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned World 100 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg , Ohio .
“Everything has fallen into place and we’ve gotten on a real good roll,” said Clanton, who has moved to third in the WoO LMS points standings with four A-Mains remaining on the 2008 schedule. “Hopefully we can keep it going at Fayetteville .”
Considering the speed Clanton flashed behind the wheel of his RSD Enterprises Rocket car seven weeks ago at Fayetteville , no one would be surprised to see his tear continue. He was the fastest qualifier in the 38-car field that assembled for the historic event and appeared to be rolling to a heat-race victory until a final-lap tangle with a lapped car allowed WoO LMS points leader Darrell Lanigan of Union , Ky. , to steal the checkered flag.
Though it was his first career visit to Fayetteville , Clanton had little trouble finding the fast route around the track. He’ll return confident that he can make his way to the front from the third starting spot in an A-Main lineup that already has its top 16 positions determined.
“We had a real good car there in August and – barring anything out of the ordinary happening – we’re bringing the same car back on Tuesday,” said Clanton, who will follow front-row starters Lanigan and Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville , Ga. , to the green flag in the 50-lapper. “We’ll probably try to settle in there behind Lanigan at the start, see where his weak spots might be and then try to make a move.”
A winner of a career-high four WoO LMS A-Mains this season, Clanton will attempt to become just the fourth driver since 2004 to win three consecutive events on the tour. Rick Eckert of York , Pa. , holds the WoO LMS consecutive-win record of four races (2006), while former tour champions Tim McCreadie of Watertown , N.Y. , and Steve Francis of Ashland , Ky. , both captured three races in-a-row in 2005.
Pulling off the rare feat of three straight WoO LMS wins would serve as yet another enhancement of Clanton’s growing star in the dirt Late Model world. His name recognition, of course, has already expanded in the last month thanks to his World 100 victory.
“It feels pretty good when you go to tracks now and hear your name announced as the ‘2008 World 100 winner,’” Clanton said with pride.
Fayetteville ’s WoO LMS program on Tues., Oct. 7, will begin with the final 10 laps of the first 12-lap B-Main that was stopped by rain on Aug. 15. G.R. Smith of Cornelius , N.C. , and WoO LMS regular Clint Smith of Senoia , Ga. , are scheduled to restart from the first two spots in the last-chance race.
The second B-Main has Austin Hubbard of Seaford , Del. , and Larry Blankenship of Mooresville , N.C. , scheduled to start from the front row. WoO LMS standout Josh Richards of Shinnston , W.Va. , is listed as the fifth starter in the second B-Main after struggling before the rain arrived in August.
The 50-lap WoO LMS A-Main will top off the postponed program, which also includes held-over features for Fayetteville ’s weekly open-wheel Modified, U-Car and Young Guns divisions.
Pit gates are scheduled to open at 12 noon and the grandstand gates will be unlocked at 2 p.m. A driver autograph session will be held in the spectator area at approximately 5:30 p.m. and racing is slated to commence at 7 p.m.
Rainchecks and pit bands from the Aug. 15 date will be accepted for admission only on Oct. 7.
For more information, visit www.fayettevillemotorspeedway.net or call 910-223-RACE.
The WoO LMS will head west across North Carolina following Tuesday’s program for the Armour Foods Vienna Sausage Showdown presented by Ferris Commercial Mowers on Wednesday night (Oct. 8) at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. The first-ever ‘topless’ event in WoO LMS history will feature a 50-lap A-Main that could pay up to $30,000 to win.
More information on the WoO LMS is available by logging on to www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Fayetteville Motor Speedway World of Outlaws Late Model Series Event Information:
B-Main No. 1 Running Order (after 2 of 12 laps; top 3 will transfer to A-Main): 1. G.R. Smith, 2. Clint Smith, 3. Ray Tucker, 4. Ricky Weeks, 5. David Taylor, 6. Roger Lucas, 7. Jeff Isabell Jr., 8. Joe Isabell, 9. Scott Neighbors, 10. Michael Ray Mason (DNS) Chris Madden, Jason Fitzgerald
B-Main No. 2 Starting Lineup (12 laps – top 3 will transfer to A-Main):
Row 1: Austin Hubbard/Larry Blankenship
Row 2: Ed Gibbons/Craig Shuffield
Row 3: Josh Richards/Ricky Boahn
Row 4: Chuck Smith Jr./Dustin Mitchell
Row 5: Justin Labonte/Sean Beardsley
A-Main Starting Lineup (16 of 24 positions set):
Row 1: Darrell Lanigan/Jonathan Davenport
Row 2: Shane Clanton/Tim Fuller
Row 3: Steve Francis/Shawn Beasley
Row 4: Scott Autry/Dean Bowen
Row 5: Vic Coffey/Chris Blackwell
Row 6: Chub Frank/Timmy Blackwell
Row 7: Rick Eckert/Shannon Babb
Row 8: Brent Robinson/Jeff Smith
|
|
