By Chris Tilley (Independent Racing Series P.R. Director)
HAGERSTOWN, MD (August 4, 2007)—Josh Richards of Shinnston, WV came from his eighth place starting position and “Rocketed” himself to the lead in just 12 laps to win the 27th Annual Shorty Bowers/Bull Durham Championship at Frank Plessinger’s Hagerstown Speedway in Hagerstown, MD on Saturday night August 4, 2007 which was sanctioned by the Independent Racing Series. The win was worth $5,000 for Richards who made his first visit with the Independent Racing Series in 2007.
Richards, who was not in his familiar # 1 Rocket/Cornett race-car drove the Ernie Davis owned # 25 mount to Victory Lane which is sponsored by Ernie’s Salvage Yard. The 19 year-old “Kid Rocket” won his first Independent Racing Series event while driving the Malcuit Racing Engines powered Rocket chassis Monte Carlo.
Front-row starters Robbie Blair and Ricky Elliott brought the 25 car field down to the green flag for the start of the 40 lap event with Blair going to the commanding lead on the field as Elliott settled for second with hard-charging JT Spence lurking behind in third. Elliott made a charge off of turn four to lead closely at the line the first of many circuits around the bad-fast half-mile.
The yellow had come out on the third lap as debris on the speedway slowed the field for the first time. Elliott was still out front with Blair a close second and Spence third.
JT Spence would made a run on the inside of turn one to try and take second from Blair but Blair rolled high and kept the momentum going to hold the spot just before the field rolled down for the fourth circuit while Josh Richards was creeping up from behind already moving up two positions behind Gary Stuhler who was fifth.
The battle for the lead would now heat up on the fifth lap as JT Spence and Ricky Elliott were fighting it out for the top spot with Elliott high in turn two, swapping a close lead several times before Elliott stayed in control to lead the sixth lap.
On the ninth lap, Josh Richards was still picking up some real estate already into the third slot behind leader Elliott and JT Spence. Blair would have to settle for fourth in this battle.
On lap 10 the yellow would wave as Ronnie DeHaven Jr. slowed on the front-chute with smoke coming from the rear of his # 1D mount. On the restart Richards got a good jump and took second away from Spence as the field dove into turn one.
Now this would set the stage for a lead battle between front-row starting Elliott and eighth place driver Richards who would now stick his nose underneath Elliott for the lead and become the new leader on lap 12 of the 40 lap affair.
Richards would roll out front while Blair would get around Elliott for second spot on lap 14 and Spence would still hold fourth with Jason Covert fifth.
The yellow flag would wave again during the half-way point in the race as Jack Pencil slowed in turn two.Richards would now put some real estate on the rest of the field on therestart leading the remaining laps for the win.
As the field came down for the 35th lap, Richards was starting to put Ryan Markham, Wayne Chinn and Al Shawver Jr. a lap down. On the same lap, Ricky Elliott fell off the face and entered the pits and was done for the rest of the event.
The caution would come out for the final time with just two laps to go on the 38th circuit bunching the field back up with Richards still out front.
Richards would go on to lead the final mile and win the event over JT Spence, Robbie Blair, Gary Stuhler and Jason Covert.
Official Summary of Results
Round # 13-Independent Racing Series
Hagerstown Speedway
Hagerstown, MD
Saturday night August 4, 2007
A-Main Finish:
1. Josh Richards-Shinnston, WV
2. JT Spence-Winchester, VA
3. Robbie Blair-Titusville, PA
4. Gary Stuhler-Greencastle, PA
5. Jason Covert-York Haven, PA
6. Davey Johnson-Latrobe, PA
7. Rick Eckert-York, PA
8. Jeremy Miller-Gettysburg, PA
9. Booper Bare-Rockridge Baths, VA
10. Marvin Winters-McConnellsburg, PA
11. Alan Sagi-Hagerstown, MD
12. Rick Aukland-Zanesville, OH
13. Brian Booze-Marion, PA
14. DJ Troutman-Hyndman, PA
15. Jim Yoder-Selinsgrove, PA
16. Al Shawver Jr.-Hampstead, MD
17. Jamie Lathroum-Mechanicsville, MD
18. Ryan Markham-Ashland, OH
19. Wayne Chinn-Bradford, OH
20. Ricky Elliott-Seaford, DE
21. Jack Pencil-Bedford, PA
22. Billy Wampler-York Haven, PA
23. Roy Deese Jr.-Laurel, MD
24. Ronnie DeHaven Jr.-Winchester, VA
25. Bo Feathers-Winchester, VA
Entries: 51 from seven states: (KY, OH, DE, MD, WV, VA, PA)
Integra Racing Shocks Fast Time: Robbie Blair-18:872 seconds
Heat-1: Jack Pencil, Robbie Blair, Jim Yoder, Jamie Lathroum
Heat-2: Ricky Elliott, Josh Richards, Davey Johnson, Wayne Chinn
Heat-3: Gary Stuhler, Jason Covert, Ronnie DeHaven Jr., Paul Crowl
Heat-4: Marvin Winters, Rick Aukland, Brian Booze, Frankie Plessinger
Heat-5: JT Spence, Alan Sagi, Booper Bare, Roy Deese Jr.
Heat-6: Jeremy Miller, DJ Troutman, Billy Wampler, Kyle Lear
B-Main # 1: Al Shawver Jr., Jamie Lathroum, Terry Lescaleet, Pal Crowl
B-Main # 2: Roy Deese Jr., Rick Eckert, Frankie Plessinger, Dan Stone
Dash: Robbie Blair, Ricky Elliott, JT Spence, Brian Booze, Rick Aukland
Series Provisionals: Ryan Markham and Wayne Chinn
Track Provisional: Bo Feathers
Current Independent Racing Series Points: (after 8/4/07)
1. Rick Aukland-1763 (Zanesville, OH)
2. Ryan Markham-1750 (Ashland, OH)
3. Wayne Chinn-1738 (Bradford, OH)
4. Chris Wilson-1488 (Louisa, KY)
5. Robbie Blair-1182 (Titusville, PA)
6. Dave Hess Jr.-1169 (Waterford, PA)
7. Corey Conley-957 (Wellsburg, WV)
8. Rick Bond-947 (Mansfield, OH)
9. Robbie Scott-886 (Shinnston, WV)
10. Mike Balzano-876 (Parkersburg, WV)
HAGERSTOWN, MD (August 4, 2007)—Josh Richards of Shinnston, WV came from his eighth place starting position and “Rocketed” himself to the lead in just 12 laps to win the 27th Annual Shorty Bowers/Bull Durham Championship at Frank Plessinger’s Hagerstown Speedway in Hagerstown, MD on Saturday night August 4, 2007 which was sanctioned by the Independent Racing Series. The win was worth $5,000 for Richards who made his first visit with the Independent Racing Series in 2007.
Richards, who was not in his familiar # 1 Rocket/Cornett race-car drove the Ernie Davis owned # 25 mount to Victory Lane which is sponsored by Ernie’s Salvage Yard. The 19 year-old “Kid Rocket” won his first Independent Racing Series event while driving the Malcuit Racing Engines powered Rocket chassis Monte Carlo.
Front-row starters Robbie Blair and Ricky Elliott brought the 25 car field down to the green flag for the start of the 40 lap event with Blair going to the commanding lead on the field as Elliott settled for second with hard-charging JT Spence lurking behind in third. Elliott made a charge off of turn four to lead closely at the line the first of many circuits around the bad-fast half-mile.
The yellow had come out on the third lap as debris on the speedway slowed the field for the first time. Elliott was still out front with Blair a close second and Spence third.
JT Spence would made a run on the inside of turn one to try and take second from Blair but Blair rolled high and kept the momentum going to hold the spot just before the field rolled down for the fourth circuit while Josh Richards was creeping up from behind already moving up two positions behind Gary Stuhler who was fifth.
The battle for the lead would now heat up on the fifth lap as JT Spence and Ricky Elliott were fighting it out for the top spot with Elliott high in turn two, swapping a close lead several times before Elliott stayed in control to lead the sixth lap.
On the ninth lap, Josh Richards was still picking up some real estate already into the third slot behind leader Elliott and JT Spence. Blair would have to settle for fourth in this battle.
On lap 10 the yellow would wave as Ronnie DeHaven Jr. slowed on the front-chute with smoke coming from the rear of his # 1D mount. On the restart Richards got a good jump and took second away from Spence as the field dove into turn one.
Now this would set the stage for a lead battle between front-row starting Elliott and eighth place driver Richards who would now stick his nose underneath Elliott for the lead and become the new leader on lap 12 of the 40 lap affair.
Richards would roll out front while Blair would get around Elliott for second spot on lap 14 and Spence would still hold fourth with Jason Covert fifth.
The yellow flag would wave again during the half-way point in the race as Jack Pencil slowed in turn two.Richards would now put some real estate on the rest of the field on therestart leading the remaining laps for the win.
As the field came down for the 35th lap, Richards was starting to put Ryan Markham, Wayne Chinn and Al Shawver Jr. a lap down. On the same lap, Ricky Elliott fell off the face and entered the pits and was done for the rest of the event.
The caution would come out for the final time with just two laps to go on the 38th circuit bunching the field back up with Richards still out front.
Richards would go on to lead the final mile and win the event over JT Spence, Robbie Blair, Gary Stuhler and Jason Covert.
Official Summary of Results
Round # 13-Independent Racing Series
Hagerstown Speedway
Hagerstown, MD
Saturday night August 4, 2007
A-Main Finish:
1. Josh Richards-Shinnston, WV
2. JT Spence-Winchester, VA
3. Robbie Blair-Titusville, PA
4. Gary Stuhler-Greencastle, PA
5. Jason Covert-York Haven, PA
6. Davey Johnson-Latrobe, PA
7. Rick Eckert-York, PA
8. Jeremy Miller-Gettysburg, PA
9. Booper Bare-Rockridge Baths, VA
10. Marvin Winters-McConnellsburg, PA
11. Alan Sagi-Hagerstown, MD
12. Rick Aukland-Zanesville, OH
13. Brian Booze-Marion, PA
14. DJ Troutman-Hyndman, PA
15. Jim Yoder-Selinsgrove, PA
16. Al Shawver Jr.-Hampstead, MD
17. Jamie Lathroum-Mechanicsville, MD
18. Ryan Markham-Ashland, OH
19. Wayne Chinn-Bradford, OH
20. Ricky Elliott-Seaford, DE
21. Jack Pencil-Bedford, PA
22. Billy Wampler-York Haven, PA
23. Roy Deese Jr.-Laurel, MD
24. Ronnie DeHaven Jr.-Winchester, VA
25. Bo Feathers-Winchester, VA
Entries: 51 from seven states: (KY, OH, DE, MD, WV, VA, PA)
Integra Racing Shocks Fast Time: Robbie Blair-18:872 seconds
Heat-1: Jack Pencil, Robbie Blair, Jim Yoder, Jamie Lathroum
Heat-2: Ricky Elliott, Josh Richards, Davey Johnson, Wayne Chinn
Heat-3: Gary Stuhler, Jason Covert, Ronnie DeHaven Jr., Paul Crowl
Heat-4: Marvin Winters, Rick Aukland, Brian Booze, Frankie Plessinger
Heat-5: JT Spence, Alan Sagi, Booper Bare, Roy Deese Jr.
Heat-6: Jeremy Miller, DJ Troutman, Billy Wampler, Kyle Lear
B-Main # 1: Al Shawver Jr., Jamie Lathroum, Terry Lescaleet, Pal Crowl
B-Main # 2: Roy Deese Jr., Rick Eckert, Frankie Plessinger, Dan Stone
Dash: Robbie Blair, Ricky Elliott, JT Spence, Brian Booze, Rick Aukland
Series Provisionals: Ryan Markham and Wayne Chinn
Track Provisional: Bo Feathers
Current Independent Racing Series Points: (after 8/4/07)
1. Rick Aukland-1763 (Zanesville, OH)
2. Ryan Markham-1750 (Ashland, OH)
3. Wayne Chinn-1738 (Bradford, OH)
4. Chris Wilson-1488 (Louisa, KY)
5. Robbie Blair-1182 (Titusville, PA)
6. Dave Hess Jr.-1169 (Waterford, PA)
7. Corey Conley-957 (Wellsburg, WV)
8. Rick Bond-947 (Mansfield, OH)
9. Robbie Scott-886 (Shinnston, WV)
10. Mike Balzano-876 (Parkersburg, WV)
