Josh Richards wins Thursday prelim to 5th Annual Late Model Knoxville Nationals

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By Stacy Ervin

Josh Richards of Shinnston, West Virginia, won the opening-night preliminary feature on Thursday, September 25, at the 5th Annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals presented by Super Clean. “Kid Rocket” claimed $7,000 for the victory in the 25-lap main, which actually wrapped up just after 1 a.m. on Friday.

Richards started sixth and took the lead with a late-race slide job. When the race went green, outside front-row starter Billy Moyer jumped out to the lead over polesitter Earl Pearson Jr. Moyer set a fast pace, coming to lapped traffic at the fifth circuit. That allowed Darrell Lanigan, who started fourth, to close.

Lanigan edged out to the lead at the flagstand on the seventh circuit and began to run away. Meanwhile, Richards gave chase to Moyer, whose machine began smoking on the ninth lap. Moyer’s mount went up in a big puff of smoke on the 10th lap to bring out the race’s first yellow flag.

After that, Lanigan continued to lead with Richards hot on his bumper. Just when Richards looked to be making his move, the yellow flag returned when Boone McLaughlin spun in front of the leaders in turn four on the 17th lap.

When the race went green again, Lanigan led another lap before Richards put on a slide job in turn four and took the point. From there, it was all Richards.

The night started off with Lanigan suffering mechanical issues in hot laps and pulling out a second car before qualifying. Time trials saw a new track record sealed by Pearson at 16.631. In all, 20 of the 62 cars in competition on this night broke the track record set in 2006 and five cars were in the 16-second bracket.

Jimmy Mars set another track record in the first heat for 12 laps in this division. Other heat races were won by Justin Fegers, Terry Casey, Jason Utter and Scott Bloomquist.

There were several incidents in those heat races and a total of three late models got upside down during the course of those races. In the first heat, Curt Schroeder and Matt Furman got together at the start and Schroeder went hard into the first-turn fence. In the second heat, Kerry Hansen flipped on the frontstretch. In the fifth heat, Jerry Bagby Jr. and Chris Smyser got together at the start and Donnie Moran found himself collected and upside down.

Mechanical troubles also plagued several drivers in the heat races. In the second heat, former event winner Brian Birkhofer led before his machine went up in smoke and he did not return to compete on this night. In the third heat, Eric Jacobsen was leading when his machine went up in smoke and a ball of flame on the white flag lap.

Brian Harris won the C-Main and set a new track record for 10 laps in that event. Shannon Babb won the B-Main.

Time Trial
Pos. Car Name, Hometown Time Points
1 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL 16.631
2 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR 16.852
3 7 Matt Miller Arlington, OH 16.937
4 29 Darrell Lanigan Union, KY 16.941
5 99 Donnie Moran Dresden, OH 16.972
6 20 Tony Stewart Columbus, IN 17.005
7 1 Josh Richards Shinnston, WV 17.051
8 32D Darren Miller Chadwick, IL 17.059
9 39 Tim McCreadie Avon, NY 17.126
10 19x Steve Francis Ashland, KY 17.129
11 28M Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI 17.152
12 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL 17.188
13 20J Jimmy Owens Newport, IN 17.190
14 56x Chris Spieker Massena, IA 17.206
15 55 Jeep Van Wormer Pinconning, MI 17.255
16 24 Rick Eckert York, PA 17.266
17 2 Brady Smith Solon Springs, WI 17.279
18 50 Denny Eckrich Oxford, IA 17.305
19 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV 17.314
20 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 17.318
21 s9 Dan Schlieper Sullivan, WI 17.483
22 F15 Justin Fegers Mound, MN 17.493
23 42 Terry Casey New London, WI 17.530
24 3s Brian Shirley Chatham, IL 17.550
25 14 Boone McLaughlin Mediapolis, IA 17.613
26 83 Scott James Lawrenceburg, IN 17.636
27 5K Eddie Kirchoff Gillette, WY 17.641
28 56 Andy Eckrich Iowa City, IA 17.654
29 32 Chris Simpson Marion, IA 17.664
30 28 Eddie Carrier Jr Salt Rock, WV 17.715
31 1c Wayne Chinn Bradford, OH 17.733
32 9K Ken Schrader Concord, NC 17.771
33 93 Jay Johnson West Burlington, IA 17.775
34 25 Chad Simpson Mount Vernon, IA 17.782
35 25s Chris Smyser Lancaster, MO 17.799
36 58 Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA 17.836
37 25H Kerry Hansen Spencer, WI 17.910
38 5X Eric Jacobsen Santa Cruz, CA 17.918
39 31 Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA 17.937
40 33X Nick Marolf Moscow, IA 18.012
41 51 Matt Furman Iowa City, IA 18.120
42 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA 18.168
43 21B Rich Bell Sheffield, IL 18.198
44 21H Brian Harris Davenport, IA 18.209
45 77 Jeff Aikey Cedar Falls, IA 18.242
46 21L Matt Lux Franklin, PA 18.290
47 12A Matt Aukland Fargo, ND 18.342
48 99D Darrel DeFrance Marshalltown, IA 18.378
49 5 John Duty Portland, OR 18.389
50 22 Jill George Cedar Falls, IA 18.400
51 10 Junior Coover Norfolk, NE 18.514
52 00 Mitch Johnson Hickson, ND 18.550
53 33F Rickey Frankel Quincy, IL 18.574
54 33 Paul Glendenning Mount Ayr, IA 18.657
55 A1 Rod Smith Monmouth, IL 18.867
56 15c Curt Schroeder Des Moines, IA 19.361
57 45 Curt Martin Independence, IA 19.372
58 40 Nick Kramer Pine Island, MN 19.400
59 95 Ed Sanger Postville, IA 20.267
60 K94 Jerry Bagby Jr. Secor, IL 20.304
61 44zo Alonzo Grosse Council Bluffs, IA 20.551
62 3c Chris Schroeder Ankeny, IA 20.683
63 19 Darin Duffy Hazleton, IA No Time

Heat 1
Pos. Car Name, Hometown
1 28M Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI
2 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL
3 21L Matt Lux Franklin, PA
4 20 Tony Stewart Columbus, IN
5 24 Rick Eckert York, PA
6 1c Wayne Chinn Bradford, OH
7 83 Scott James Lawrenceburg, IN
8 58 Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA
9 10 Junior Coover Norfolk, NE
10 44zo Alonzo Grosse Council Bluffs, IA
11 s9 Dan Schlieper Sullivan, WI
12 15c Curt Schroeder Des Moines, IA
13 51 Matt Furman Iowa City, IA

Heat 2
Pos. Car Name, Hometown
1 F15 Justin Fegers Mound, MN
2 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR
3 2 Brady Smith Solon Springs, WI
4 1 Josh Richards Shinnston, WV
5 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
6 5K Eddie Kirchoff Gillette, WY
7 9K Ken Schrader Concord, NC
8 12A Matt Aukland Fargo, ND
9 25H Kerry Hansen Spencer, WI
10 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA
11 45 Curt Martin Independence, IA
12 3c Chris Schroeder Ankeny, IA
13 00 Mitch Johnson Hickson, ND

Heat 3
Pos. Car Name, Hometown Time Points
1 42 Terry Casey New London, WI
2 32D Darren Miller Chadwick, IL
3 7 Matt Miller Arlington, OH
4 50 Denny Eckrich Oxford, IA
5 56 Andy Eckrich Iowa City, IA
6 33F Rickey Frankel Quincy, IL
7 5X Eric Jacobsen Santa Cruz, CA
8 20J Jimmy Owens Newport, IN
9 21B Rich Bell Sheffield, IL
10 40 Nick Kramer Pine Island, MN
11 93 Jay Johnson West Burlington, IA
12 99D Darrel DeFrance Marshalltown, IA

Heat 4
Pos. Car Name, Hometown
1 31 Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA
2 29 Darrell Lanigan Union, KY
3 39 Tim McCreadie Avon, NY
4 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
5 25 Chad Simpson Mount Vernon, IA
6 32 Chris Simpson Marion, IA
7 5 John Duty Portland, OR
8 3s Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
9 56x Chris Spieker Massena, IA
10 33 Paul Glendenning Mount Ayr, IA
11 21H Brian Harris Davenport, IA
12 95 Ed Sanger Postville, IA

Heat 5
Pos. Car Name, Hometown
1 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
2 19x Steve Francis Ashland, KY
3 77 Jeff Aikey Cedar Falls, IA
4 28 Eddie Carrier Jr Salt Rock, WV
5 55 Jeep Van Wormer Pinconning, MI
6 14 Boone McLaughlin Mediapolis, IA
7 33X Nick Marolf Moscow, IA
8 A1 Rod Smith Monmouth, IL
9 22 Jill George Cedar Falls, IA
10 K94 Jerry Bagby Jr. Secor, IL
11 25s Chris Smyser Lancaster, MO
12 99 Donnie Moran Dresden, OH

C Feature
Pos. Car Name, Hometown
1 21H Brian Harris Davenport, IA
2 56x Chris Spieker Massena, IA
3 21B Rich Bell Sheffield, IL
4 33 Paul Glendenning Mount Ayr, IA
5 10 Junior Coover Norfolk, NE
6 95 Ed Sanger Postville, IA
7 44zo Alonzo Grosse Council Bluffs, IA
8 00 Mitch Johnson Hickson, ND
9 3c Chris Schroeder Ankeny, IA
10 51 Matt Furman Iowa City, IA
11 22 Jill George Cedar Falls, IA
12 45 Curt Martin Independence, IA
13 99 Donnie Moran Dresden, OH
14 s9 Dan Schlieper Sullivan, WI
15 93 Jay Johnson West Burlington, IA
16 25s Chris Smyser Lancaster, MO
17 25H Kerry Hansen Spencer, WI
18 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA
19 15c Curt Schroeder Des Moines, IA
20 40 Nick Kramer Pine Island, MN
21 K94 Jerry Bagby Jr. Secor, IL

B Feature
Pos. Car Name, Hometown
1 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
2 83 Scott James Lawrenceburg, IN
3 24 Rick Eckert York, PA
4 14 Boone McLaughlin Mediapolis, IA
5 55 Jeep Van Wormer Pinconning, MI
6 9K Ken Schrader Concord, NC
7 5K Eddie Kirchoff Gillette, WY
8 3s Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
9 32 Chris Simpson Marion, IA
10 56 Andy Eckrich Iowa City, IA
11 21H Brian Harris Davenport, IA
12 5 John Duty Portland, OR
13 58 Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA
14 21B Rich Bell Sheffield, IL
15 33 Paul Glendenning Mount Ayr, IA
16 25 Chad Simpson Mount Vernon, IA
17 33X Nick Marolf Moscow, IA
18 12A Matt Aukland Fargo, ND
19 33F Rickey Frankel Quincy, IL
20 1c Wayne Chinn Bradford, OH
21 A1 Rod Smith Monmouth, IL
22 56x Chris Spieker Massena, IA
23 20J Jimmy Owens Newport, IN
24 5X Eric Jacobsen Santa Cruz, CA

A Feature
Pos. Car Name, Hometown
1 1 Josh Richards Shinnston, WV
2 29 Darrell Lanigan Union, KY
3 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY
4 32D Darren Miller Chadwick, IL
5 20 Tony Stewart Columbus, IN
6 28M Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI
7 7 Matt Miller Arlington, OH
8 19x Steve Francis Ashland, KY
9 50 Denny Eckrich Oxford, IA
10 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
11 2 Brady Smith Solon Springs, WI
12 F15 Justin Fegers Mound, MN
13 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL
14 24 Rick Eckert York, PA
15 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
16 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
17 28 Eddie Carrier Jr Salt Rock, WV
18 31 Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA
19 83 Scott James Lawrenceburg, IN
20 14 Boone McLaughlin Mediapolis, IA
21 21L Matt Lux Franklin, PA
22 42 Terry Casey New London, WI
23 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR
24 77 Jeff Aikey Cedar Falls, IA
 




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