SHINNSTON, W. Va. – Sept. 19, 2011 – Josh Richards became the winningest driver on the 2011 World of Outlaws Late Model Series with a convincing victory in Saturday night’s 55-lap Pepsi Nationals at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo.
Racing at the high-banked, one-third-mile oval promoted by NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader and Ray Marler, Richards bolted off the outside pole to grab the lead at the initial green flag and never looked back. He maintained firm control throughout the distance, keeping Darrell Lanigan at arm’s length while negotiating heavy traffic to register his series-leading eighth win of the season.
Richards, 23, of Shinnston, W.Va., entered the race tied with Lanigan for top-winner status on the 2011 tour. His triumph snapped the deadlock and also moved him within one win of the tour’s single-season win record (nine by Scott Bloomquist in 2004) and the all-time WoO LMS A-Main win record that encompasses the ‘modern era’ (2004-present) and the earlier 1988-89 seasons (Billy Moyer’s 37 career wins over that period leads all drivers).
The two-time defending WoO LMS champion also moved within 16 points of series leader Rick Eckert, who finished sixth in the Pepsi Nationals. Five points races remain on the tour’s 2011 schedule; the next race is Oct. 6 at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park in Elbridge, N.Y.
“My car was awesome,” Richards said of his Roush-Yates Ford-powered Kentucky Fuel Corporation Rocket No. 1. “I was able to maneuver and was still able to keep the momentum up to get by the lapped traffic. That was definitely key to winning tonight.
“I just have to thank all my guys – my dad, Matt (Barnes), Jimmy (Frey) and all the guys back at the Rocket shop. They all do such a great job.”
Richards was especially excited to earn his first-ever win at I-55 Raceway, an action-packed bullring that is operated by Schrader, who has been a strong influence on Richards’s racing career.
“This is a great racetrack,” Richards said after the event. “I’ve always loved racing here – it’s kind of like a mini-Eldora. Ken and Ray do a great job with this place and always make everybody feel welcome, so it’s cool to win one here.”
Richards, who timed third-fastest in Saturday’s 42-car field and won a heat race, was scheduled to compete in a WoO LMS event on Friday night at Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, Ill., but rain that arrived during time trials forced the cancelation of the program.
Richards’s victory at I-55 came one week after he experienced a heartbreaking loss in the prestigious World 100 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. He had charged all the from the 19th starting spot to third place on lap 82 when he made contact with second-place Dale McDowell, who had slowed suddenly after getting into the turn-four wall due to a handling problem. Both Richards and McDowell spun across the track and were forced to retire.
“I finally felt like we had our shot,” said Richards, who finished 19th. “I felt like we had saved our stuff long enough and it was time to go, and I got a run on (Don) O’Neal (for third place on lap 82) down off two and into three and was just clearing when I happened to glance up and Dale was stopped because he had knocked his nose off in two. We were just going so hard that we just got jammed up, spun and the tow of my car got knocked out.
“I was so aggravated,” he continued, remembering the disappointment of an opportunity lost in dirt Late Model racing’s biggest event. I just really felt it was our time to shine (at Eldora), but we just had some bad luck.”
Richards plans to compete this weekend in the Ernie Davis-owned Rocket No. 25 at Winchester (Va.) Speedway, which hosts the annual Winchester 200. The weekend begins on Fri., Sept. 23, with a full program topped by a 30-lap feature and continues on Sat., Sept. 24, with the 50-lap, A-Main.
For more information on Josh Richards, visit www.joshrichards.com and follow him on Twitter at @Josh_Richards1.
Josh Richards’ No. 1 team carries support from Rocket Chassis, Roush Yates Engines, Cornett Racing Engines, Seubert Calf Ranches, Kentucky Fuel Corporation, Ernie D’s Enterprises, ACE Metal Works, Petroff Towing, Tony Stewart Racing, Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Racing Tires, Integra Shocks, Slavic Custom Decals, Valvoline, AEM, AFCO, ATL Fuel Cells, Aurora Bearing Company, Autolite, Banshee Graphics, Barnes Systems, Beyea Performance, Brinn Transmissions, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Braswell Carburetion, Butlerbuilt Seat Systems, CV Products, Dohm Cycles, Dyer’s Top Rods, Fram Filters, Frankland Rearends, Howe Racing, Kwik Change Product, LSI, Mason Racin’, MSD Ignition, Outerwears, Performance Bodies, Performance Friction Brakes, Performance Rod & Custom, Ringers Gloves, Scott Performance Wire, Simpson Race Products, Sweet Manufacturing, Tel Tech, TWM Racing Products, Trick Carbon Fiber Driveshafts, Jones Racing Products, TurboStart Racing Batteries, US Brake, Weld Racing Wheels, Wehr’s Machine, Wilwood and Wrisco Aluminum.