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Lernerville Speedway

Richards completes sweep of Firecracker prelims

June 29, 2013, 5:32 pm
By Kevin Kovac
World of Outlaws Late Model Series
Josh Richards takes the checkers Saturday afternoon. (Jason Shank)
Josh Richards takes the checkers Saturday afternoon. (Jason Shank)

SARVER, Pa. (June 29) — Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., completed an unprecedented sweep of the Firecracker 100 presented by GottaRace.com preliminary events with a victory in Saturday afternoon’s postponed 30-lap World of Outlaws Late Model Series feature at Lernerville Speedway. | Video | Slideshow

The two-time WoO champion started from the pole position and led the entire distance to become the first driver to win both Firecracker 100 preliminary features since the weekend was expanded to three full nights of racing in 2010. He earned $6,150 for his fifth triumph of the season on the national tour with his father Mark’s Valvoline-sponsored Rocket Chassis house car.

Shane Clanton of Zebulon, Ga., shared the front row with Richards for the start and chased the WoO points leader from flag-to-flag. He closed within a few lengths of Richards in the final laps but settled for a second-place finish, 0.397 of a second behind the victor.

Jared Landers of Batesville, Ark., placed third, earning a career-best series finish. Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., and Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, Pa., completed the top five after swapping the fourth position twice.

Richards, 25, cited his performance in Ohlins Shocks Time Trials and his heat race for propelling him to the checkered flag on a challenging track surface baked by the afternoon sun. Heavy rain on the event’s originally-scheduled date on Friday night forced officials to run the program on Saturday afternoon before the evening’s Firecracker 100 finale.

“The pill draw was huge,” said Richards, who picked the pole position in the redraw among heat winners, “but we still had to earn our spot up front. We went out second-to-last in qualifying, but I knew we had a really good car so I just tried to make a smooth lap and we ended up qualifying fifth. Then I was able to get by (Ron) Davies there in the heat (for the win); I had to make the move early because I knew once everybody got in line it would be hard to pass and we were able to get that done.”

Richards cruised alone out front for most of the race, which was slowed by just a single caution flag on lap nine for a turn-four tangle involving John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va., and Don Angellichio of Greensburg, Pa. Clanton, 36, drew close only when Richards began nearing slower cars.

“We got a little closer there at the end because I think Josh didn’t want to get in lapped traffic,” said Clanton, who remained second in the WoO points standings, 28 points behind Richards. “With a rubbered-up racetrack it’s kind of hard to deal with lapped traffic, so he just done his job. He got out there to the lead and didn’t make any mistakes.

“We’re pretty good, but we got some work to do to catch the ‘1’ car.”

Richards is confident entering tonight’s $30,000-to-win Firecracker 100. He will start the first heat race from the pole position.

“Overall we really didn’t make any changes to the car from Thursday night,” said Richards, who outdueled Steve Shaver of Vienna, W.Va., to win the first preliminary feature. “I know the track was different today, but I still feel like it had a pretty good balance to it. I know the racetrack is gonna be 180 degrees different tonight, but I feel pretty good about our chances.”

After the afternoon program teams began preparing their cars for the evening's Firecracker finale. Officials expect to start the evening show on schedule with hot laps at 6:50 p.m. and the first of six heat races at 7:35 p.m.

Feature: (1) Josh Richards, (2) Shane Clanton, (3) Jared Landers, (4) Austin Hubbard, (5) Gregg Satterlee, (6) Darrell Lanigan, (7) Scott Bloomquist, (8) Russ King, (9) Rick Eckert, (10) Jimmy Mars, (11) Mike Marlar, (12) Steve Shaver, (13) Steve Francis, (14) Jonathan Davenport, (15) Morgan Bagley, (16) Eric Wells, (17) Brian Birkhofer, (18) Chub Frank, (19) Boom Briggs, (20) Tim Fuller, (21) Dave Hess Jr., (22) Bub McCool, (23) John Blankenship, (24) Ron Davies, (25) Tim McCreadie, (26) Andrew Reaume, (27) Dan Angelicchio. Fast qualifier (among 59 cars): Reaume, 16.260 seconds. Heat race winners: Clanton, Eckert, Hubbard, Satterlee, Richards, Landers. Consolation winners: Blankenship, Bagley, McCool. Provisional starters: Fuller, McCreadie, Frank.

Consolation finishes

First consolation: John Blankenship, Eric Wells, Alex Ferree, Jared Miley, David Watts, Derrick Casner, Tony Burke, Todd Bachman, Herman Bertolini

Second consolation: Morgan Bagley, Dave Hess Jr., Davey Johnson, Mike Pegher Jr., Clint Smith, Jason Rider, Bump Hedman, Derek Stefanick, Kevin Wilson

Third consolation: Bub McCool, Dan Angelicchio, Brady Smith, Tim Fuller, Dale McDowell, Chub Frank, Garrett Krummert, Chris Rhodes, Michael Norris, Michael Holmes, Brandon Wearing. Scratched: Dan Sonte, Ross Camponovo.

Heat finishes

First heat: Shane Clanton, Andrew Reaume, Steve Francis, Mason Zeigler, Alex Ferree, John Blankenship, Derrick Casner, Tony Burke, Todd Bachman, Herman Bertolini

Second heat: Rick Eckert, Darrell Lanigan, Mike Marlar, David Watts, Eric Wells, Jared Miley, Ken Schaltenbrand, John Garvin Jr., Tommy Beck, Jason Fosnaught

Third heat: Austin Hubbard, Jimmy Mars, Boom Briggs, Dave Hess Jr., Morgan Bagley, Jim Rasey, Jason Rider, Bump Hedman, Derek Stefanick, Kevin Wilson

Fourth heat: Gregg Satterlee, Russ King, Steve Shaver, Tim McCreadie, Mike Pegher Jr., Davey Johnson, Clint Smith, Chris Casner, Justin Kann, Brian Tavenner

Fifth heat: Josh Richards, Ron Davies, Brian Birkhofer, Bub McCool, Tim Fuller, Dale McDowell, Garrett Krummert, Chris Rhodes, Michael Holmes, Brandon Wearing

Sixth heat: Jared Landers, Scott Bloomquist, Jonathan Davenport, Brady Smith, Dan Angelicchio, Michael Norris, Chub Frank, Dan Stone, Ross Camponovo

Time trials

First group
1. 88-Andrew Reaume/Blenheim, ONT 16.260
2. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 16.285
3. 11-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 16.388
4. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 16.694
5. 5b-Mike Marlar/Winfield, TN 16.713
6. 32-Jim Rasey/Southington, OH 16.729
7. 10-Alex Ferree/Saxonburg, PA 16.979
8. 04-David Watts/Buchanan, VA 17.005
9. 28-Jimmy Mars/Menomonie, WI 17.009
10. 25-Shane Clanton/Zebulon, GA 17.022
11. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 17.085
12. 99B-Rick 'Boom' Briggs/Bear Lake, PA 17.087
13. 41-Derrick Casner/Mifflintown, PA 17.235
14. J4-John Garvin Jr./Sarver, PA 17.394
15. 76-Jason Rider/Clinton, PA 17.420
16. 23T-Tony Burke/Sarver, PA 17.620
17. 29s-Ken Schaltenbrand/Sarver, PA 17.667
18. B22-Bump Hedman/Sugar Grove, PA 17.686
19. 23-John Blankenship/Williamson, WV 17.692
20. 18-Eric Wells/Hazard, KY 17.906
21. 618-Kevin Wilson/Stoneville, NC 17.967
22. 25z-Mason Zeigler/Chalk Hill, PA 17.982
23. 1-Tommy Beck/Murraysville, PA 18.003
24. 44H-Dave Hess Jr./Waterford, PA 18.134
25. 66-Todd Bachman/Natrona Heights, PA 18.372
26. J19-Jason Fosnaught/Creighton, PA 18.442
27. 44g-Derek Stefanick/Oakdale, PA 18.542
28. 7x-Herman Bertolini/Creighton, PA 18.917
29. H1-Jared Miley/South Park, PA DQ – deck height
30. 14M-Morgan Bagley/Longview, TX DQ – deck height
Second group
1. 22-Gregg Satterlee/Rochester Mills, PA 18.013
2. 71d-Ron Davies/Warren, PA 18.052
3. 5-Jared Landers/Batesville, AR 18.256
4. C33-Chris Casner/Mifflintown, PA 18.344
5. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 18.500
6. 0-Scott Bloomquist/Mooresburg, TN 18.548
7. 6-Steve Shaver/Vienna, WV 18.562
8. 15b-Brian Birkhofer/Muscatine, IA 18.577
9. 49-Jonathan Davenport/Blairsville, GA 18.633
10. 56-Russ King/Bristolville, OH 18.778
11. 29K-Garrett Krummert/New Castle, PA 18.809
12. 18c-Ross Camponovo/Clarksdale, MS 18.874
13. 1c-Mike Pegher Jr./Cranberry Twp., PA 18.963
14. 57J-Bub McCool/Vicksburg, MS 19.005
15. 72-Michael Norris/Sarver, PA 19.061
16. 66K-Justin Kann/Hesston, PA 19.492
17. CR9-Chris Rhodes/Windber, PA 19.654
18. 14-Dan Angelicchio/Greensburg, PA 20.057
19. 1J-Davey Johnson/Latrobe, PA DQ – deck height
20. B1-Brandon Wearing/Callery, PA DQ – deck height
21. 2s-Dan Stone/Thompson, PA DQ – deck height
22. 37-Brian Tavenner/Winchester, VA DQ – deck height
23. 17M-Dale McDowell/Chickamauga, GA DQ – deck height
24. 2-Brady Smith/Solon Springs, PA DQ – deck height
25. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA DQ – deck height
26. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY DQ – deck height
27. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA DQ – deck height
28. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY DQ – deck height
29. 91-Michael Holmes/Perth, W. Australia DQ – deck height

World of Outlaws points

(Through June 29)
1. Josh Richards - 3,390
2. Shane Clanton - 3,362 (-28)
3. Darrell Lanigan - 3,322 (-68)
4. Rick Eckert - 3,274 (-116)
5. Tim Fuller - 3,090 (-300)
6. Eric Wells - 3,084 (-306)
7. Tim McCreadie - 3,070 (-320)
8. Bub McCool - 3,044 (-346)
9. Morgan Bagley - 3,034 (-356)
10. Chub Frank - 3,026 (-364)
11. Clint Smith - 2,872 (-518)
12. Scott James - 1,958 (-1432)
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