Richards finishes third and captures second DIRTcar Nationals title

*Updated to show revised points

BARBERVILLE, Fla. – Feb. 20, 2016 – One night after being involved in a multi-car accident, Shane Clanton had to battle Josh Richards and a near photo finish with Scott Bloomquist to take the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series win on Friday night during the finale of the DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park.

Richards led 45 of 50 laps but came up just short of the weekend sweep en route to capturing the Big Gator awarded to the week’s overall points champion.

Richards dominated from the beginning of the night in his Valvoline/Rocket Chasses No. 1, as he posted the second fastest time in qualifying and then led flag-to-flag in his heat to place himself in the redraw for the feature.

Just as he did Thursday night, Richards matched his speed with luck as he drew the top starting position for the $10,000 to-win feature.

Richards easily rocketed to an early lead over second place starter Brian Shirley in the Arnie Ranta/Longhorn Chassis No. 3s. Shirley settled into second before he lost the position to Jonathan Davenport who drove his Baird Transport/Elite Concrete No. 6 from his sixth starting position into the top two by lap six.

Davenport, who has finished third and second twice so far this week, looked to have the car to contend with Richards for the win but faded near the halfway point of the race, when Clanton charged his way past him for second.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FINALE OF DIRTCAR NATIONALS

Clanton had piloted his Weldbank Energy/Capital Chassis No. 25 from the inside of the third row to get around Davenport, but was four seconds behind Richards for the lead with fewer than 25 laps remaining.

Richards looked to be cruising to his third win in-a-row and fourth out of five nights at the DIRTcar Nationals, but within 10 laps Clanton had reeled in the leader and was all over Richards’ back bumper.

Clanton and Richards battled side-by-side for the top spot as the they diced through lapped traffic. With the two leaders stuck in a heated fight for the lead, Scott Bloomquist snuck his way into the third position and into the battle for the victory.

With only seven laps remaining, Richards, Clanton and Bloomquist were separated by a matter of car lengths, setting up a shootout for the feature victory.

Clanton used a lapped car to pick Richards, as he made his move to the leaders outside and captured the lead with five laps left. Richards then fell victim to Bloomquist who muscled his way into the runner-up position.

The Zebulon, Ga. native looked to have the race wrapped up, with only a handful of laps left, as he cruised to a second and a half lead. Bloomquist never quit, and on the white flag lap, the second place driver had caught the leader.

Clanton, not realizing Bloomquist was as close as he was, eased off the accelerator just enough to give Bloomquist a window to his inside coming to the checkered flag.

Bloomquist powered his way off the final corner, pulling even with Clanton as the leader began celebrating his victory with one hand out the window. Bloomquist came up just short of capturing the win as Clanton nosed him at the line by a fender.

“We just bided our time early in the race,” said Clanton, the defending series champion. “We started catching lapped cars and I could finally see Josh [Richards] again, then when I finally got past [Jonathan] Davenport, I had a clean racetrack where I could do what I wanted to do. We then caught [and passed] Josh, who was having trouble getting through lapped traffic and putting his car where he wanted to.

“I’ve had such a terrible week this week. To win a race it was just relief that came across my body and I started celebrating not knowing Scott [Bloomquist] was that close. If I would have known that I wouldn’t have [started celebrating] when I did. But it’s a testament of all the hard work we have done the past two days, from blowing a motor one night to having the car in a million pieces and almost upside down last night, then coming back and winning tonight.”

Bloomquist recorded his best finish since winning during DIRTcar Late Models action Wednesday night.

“We thought it was a 60-lap race,” Bloomquist said. “I had a number of people tell me they thought it was 60 laps, but it’s just the way it goes. We might’ve been able to pick up the pace a little more, but I saw we were on lap 49, then saw the white flag the next lap and thought ‘we better get it on now’. So I got past Josh and got to Clanton, but should’ve picked up the pace a little sooner.”

Capturing his second DIRTcar Nationals championship, Richards only needed to start the A-main to win the prestigious Big Gator. Not only did Richards start the A-main but he dominated the race and finished third.

“Winning this means everything to us,” the Shinnston, W.Va.-native said. “We worked hard all winter and then to have a speed weeks like we did, it was just unbelievable.

“I think our worst finish was seventh a couple of times, but most of the time we were running up front and battling for wins, so that’s all we can ask for. We had another great car again tonight, but sometimes when you’re leading you can be a sitting duck. But we can’t be dissatisfied with our trip, we had a phenomenal trip, and it was awesome.”

Richards opened up a large lead of over four seconds at one point before Clanton took over the second position. Once Clanton made his way into the runner-up position he started taking large chunks out of the deficit every lap.

“It didn’t surprise me when he caught us,” Richards said. “He was really good rolling the middle here last year, and I was on the bottom just trying to conserve a little. I should’ve tried to move up a little and try harder to make it work, but Shane was really good and he turned a bad night around last night into a win tonight.

“I’m going to spend some time at home, but we’re going to continue to work and get ready for the rest of the swing. It’s going to be nice to be home – it’s been a long month but it’s been a lot of fun. We’re going to take a break for a few days and then get back to work.”

The World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series returns to action at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway for the prestigious Douglas Dodge Ram Trucks Illini 100. Practice will begin March 31 with feature racing kicking off on April 1 and 2.

Great seats are still available for the Douglas Dodge Ram Trucks Illini 100 by calling 844-DIRT-TIX (347-8849), or by visiting WorldofOutlaws.com/Tickets.

For more information on the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series, visit www.WorldofOutlaws.com. Fans can also follow the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/WoOLateModels and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/WorldofOutlawsLateModelSeries.

DIRTcar Nationals Statistical Report; Feb. 20, 2016; Volusia Speedway Park; Barberville, Fla.

A-Main (50-laps): 1. 25-Shane Clanton [5][$10,350], 2. 0-Scott Bloomquist [3][$5,250], 3. 1-Josh Richards [1][$3,300}, 4. 76-Brandon Overton [4][$2,750], 5. 6-Jonathan Davenport [6][$2,000}, 6. 3s-Brian Shirley [2][$1,750], 7. 25z-Mason Zeigler [7][$1,900], 8. 15-Steve Francis [11][$1,450], 9. 28E-Dennis Erb Jr. [15][$1,250], 10. 16-Justin Rattliff [18][$1,150], 11. 5-Don O’Neal [22][$1,100], 12. 22s-Gregg Satterlee [8][$1,050], 13. 99j-Frank Heckenast Jr. [20][$1,150], 14. 20-Jimmy Owens [24][$900], 15. 99B-Boom Briggs [12][$1,150], 16. 17M-Dale McDowell [17][$800], 17. 15s-Donny Schatz [10][$770], 18. C9-Steve Casebolt [14][$750], 19. 1*-Chub Frank [19][$780], 20. 14M-Morgan Bagley [26][$750], 21. 39-Tim McCreadie [23][$800], 22. 7-Rick Eckert [25][$850], 23. 18-Eric Wells [30][$160], 24. 18c-Chase Junghans [27][$750], 25. 21JR-Billy Moyer Jr. [21][$950], 26. 2F-Dennis Franklin [28][$700], 27. 38s-Kenny Pettyjohn [16][$700], 28. 2c-Joey Coulter [13][$700], 29. 77-Jordan Yaggy [30][$110], 30. 1W-Dillon Wood [9][$700].

Last-Chance Showdown No. 1 (10 laps – Top 2 Transfer): 1. 1*-Chub Frank, 2. 5-Don O’Neal, 3. 18-Eric Wells, 4. 0f-Coleby Frye, 5. 2F-Dennis Franklin, 6. 14r-Reid Millard, 7. 25F-Jason Feger, 8. 16H-Mike Hammerle, 9. 22-Chris Ferguson (DNS), 10. 11-Austin Smith (DNS), 11. 57-Chuck Julien (DNS).

Last-Chance Showdown No. 2 (10 laps – Top 2 Transfer): 1. 99j-Frank Heckenast Jr., 2. 39-Tim McCreadie, 3. 5w-Mark Whitener, 4. 91-Tyler Erb, 5. 14M-Morgan Bagley, 6. 18c-Chase Junghans, 7. 3c-Charles LaPlant, 8. 93-Pancho Lawler, 9. 8-Matt Sponaugle, 10. 16T-Tyler Bruening (DNS).

Last-Chance Showdown No. 3 (10 laps – Top 2 Transfer): 1. 21JR-Billy Moyer Jr., 2. 20-Jimmy Owens, 3. 7-Rick Eckert, 4. 20s-Rodney Sanders, 5. 21-Ivedent Lloyd Jr., 6. 4D-Chad Hollenbeck, 7. B1-Paul Wilmoth Jr., 8. 48-Tim Lance, 9. 77-Jordan Yaggy, 10. 5B-Kyle Bronson (DNS).

Qualifying Group A: 1. 0-Scott Bloomquist, 15.585; 2. 1-Josh Richards, 15.907; 3. 1W-Dillon Wood, 15.908; 4. 2c-Joey Coulter, 15.959; 5. 22s-Gregg Satterlee, 16.193; 6. 28E-Dennis Erb Jr, 16.249; 7. 25z-Mason Zeigler, 16.337; 8. C9-Steve Casebolt, 16.448; 9. 76-Brandon Overton, 16.467; 10. 1*-Chub Frank, 16.479; 11. 11-Austin Smith, 16.483; 12. 18c-Chase Junghans, 16.501; 13. 2F-Dennis Franklin, 16.585; 14. 25F-Jason Feger, 16.600; 15. 3c-Charles LaPlant, 16.608; 16. 22-Chris Ferguson, 16.707; 17. 5-Don O’Neal, 16.772; 18. 5w-Mark Whitener, 16.784; 19. 0f-Coleby Frye, 16.861; 20. 18-Eric Wells, 16.988; 21. 8-Matt Sponaugle, 17.044; 22. 14r-Reid Millard, 17.511; 23. 16H-Mike Hammerle, 18.460; 24. 16T-Tyler Bruening, (DNS); 25. 57-Chuck Julien, (DNS).

Qualifying Group B: 1. 6-Jonathan Davenport, 16.093; 2. 3s-Brian Shirley, 16.121; 3. 99B-Boom Briggs, 16.121; 4. 15s-Donny Schatz, 16.224; 5. 15-Steve Francis, 16.338; 6. 25-Shane Clanton, 16.351; 7. 38s-Kenny Pettyjohn, 16.364; 8. 21J-Billy Moyer Jr, 16.386; 9. 20s-Rodney Sanders, 16.425; 10. 39-Tim McCreadie, 16.452; 11. 20-Jimmy Owens, 16.457; 12. 16-Justin Rattliff, 16.509; 13. 91-Tyler Erb, 16.529; 14. 17M-Dale McDowell, 16.536; 15. 5B-Kyle Bronson, 16.548; 16. 93-Pancho Lawler, 16.608; 17. 21-Ivedent Lloyd Jr, 16.612; 18. B1-Paul Wilmoth, 16.680; 19. 14M-Morgan Bagley, 16.777; 20. 48-Tim Lance, 16.871; 21. 7-Rick Eckert, 16.944; 22. 99j-Frank Heckenast Jr, 16.973; 23. 4D-Chad Hollenbeck, 17.112; 24. 77-Jordan Yaggy, 17.244.

Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. 0-Scott Bloomquist, 2. 25z-Mason Zeigler, 3. 2c-Joey Coulter, 4. 1*-Chub Frank, 5. 2F-Dennis Franklin, 6. 0f-Coleby Frye, 7. 14r-Reid Millard, 8. 22-Chris Ferguson, 9. 57-Chuck Julien.

Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. 1-Josh Richards, 2. 22s-Gregg Satterlee, 3. C9-Steve Casebolt, 4. 5-Don O’Neal, 5. 18-Eric Wells, 6. 25F-Jason Feger, 7. 16H-Mike Hammerle, 8. 11-Austin Smith.

Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. 76-Brandon Overton, 2. 1W-Dillon Wood, 3. 28E-Dennis Erb Jr., 4. 5w-Mark Whitener, 5. 18c-Chase Junghans, 6. 3c-Charles LaPlant, 7. 8-Matt Sponaugle, 8. 16T-Tyler Bruening.

Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1.6-Jonathan Davenport, 2. 15s-Donny Schatz, 3. 38s-Kenny Pettyjohn, 4. 39-Tim McCreadie, 5. 99j-Frank Heckenast Jr., 6. 91-Tyler Erb, 7. 14M-Morgan Bagley, 8. 93-Pancho Lawler

Heat No. 5 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. 3s-Brian Shirley, 2. 15-Steve Francis, 3. 17M-Dale McDowell, 4. 20-Jimmy Owens, 5. 21JR-Billy Moyer Jr., 6. 21-Ivedent Lloyd Jr., 7. 4D-Chad Hollenbeck, 8. 48-Tim Lance.

Heat No. 6 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. 25-Shane Clanton, 2. 99B-Boom Briggs, 3. 16-Justin Rattliff, 4. 20s-Rodney Sanders, 5. B1-Paul Wilmoth, 6. 7-Rick Eckert, 7. 5B-Kyle Bronson, 8. 77-Jordan Yaggy.

World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners (awards presented to noted finisher/qualifier or next highest displaying decal):

Comp Cams – $50 Product certificate: Shane Clanton
MSD – $50 Cash: Shane Clanton
QuarterMaster – $100 Product certificate: Shane Clanton
Wrisco Aluminum – 3 Sheets of aluminum: Shane Clanton
Penske Shocks – TBD Product certificate: Scott Bloomquist
Mobil 1 – $50 Cash: Brandon Overton
JE Pistons – $50 Cash: Brian Shirley
VP Racing Fuels – $50 Cash: Steve Francis
Edelbrock – $50 Cash: Dennis Erb Jr.
Comp Cams – $50 Cash: Justin Rattliff
Morton Buildings – $50 Cash: Don O’Neal
Cometic Gasket – $50 Cash: Gregg Satterlee
JRI Shocks – $50 Cash: Boom Briggs
SuperFlow – $50 Cash: Boom Briggs
QuarterMaster – $25 Product certificate: Boom Briggs
JE Pistons – Set of rings: Dale McDowell
QuarterMaster – $50 Product certificate: Chub Frank
Arizona Sport Shirts – $100 Product certificate: Morgan Bagley
Mobil 1 – 20% Off product certificate: Tim McCreadie
JE Pistons – Set of rings: Tim McCreadie
MSD – $25 Cash: Chase Junghans
QA1 – $50 Cash: Scott Bloomquist
Bonus Bucks – $500 Cash: Mason Zeigler
Rookie Bonus – $250 Cash: Billy Moyer Jr.
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Shane Clanton, Josh Richards, Brandon Overton, Frank Heckenast Jr., Boom Briggs
Craftsman Bonus – $100 Cash: Scott Bloomquist

2016 World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series Point Standings as of Feb. 20 – 5 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/residence/points/deficit to leader):

The World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), Bad Boy Buggies (Official Side-by-Side Vehicle), The Kenny Wallace Dirt Racing Experience (Official Racing Experience), VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel), Morton Buildings (Official Building) and DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award); in addition to contingency sponsors, including: Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Mobil 1, MSD, Ohlins Shocks, Penske Shocks, QA1, QuarterMaster, Superflow Dynos and Wrisco Aluminum; along with manufacturer sponsors, including: Capital Race Cars, Integra Shocks, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, Rocket Chassis and TNT Rescue.