SHINNSTON, W. Va. - Sept. 27, 2010 - As Josh Richards gears up for a final World of Outlaws Late Model Series championship showdown, he's again increased his 2010 win total with standout performances off the tour.
The 22 year old from Shinnston, W.Va., enjoyed another Victory Lane celebration with the Ernie D's Enterprises team - the West Virginia based operation he joins for many non WoO events - on Saturday night (Sept. 25) at Winchester (Va.) Speedway, capturing the 50 lap dirt Late Model portion of the annual Winchester 200.
It was a nearly perfect evening for Richards, who is off from WoO LMS action until Oct. 13 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C. He won a 25 lap semi-feature to earn the pole position for the 50 lap headliner, which he controlled after passing front row mate J.T. Spence for the lead on lap five. The Saturday night sweep earned Richard a cool $11,000.
"The car was phenomenal again," Richards said of his Ernie Davis-owned Rocket No. 25. "It was really fun to drive. We threw some things at it on Friday night (he finished sixth in a 25 lap preliminary feature after starting 12th) and I knew it would be good (on Saturday night). Once the track slowed down we really shined.
"Spence got the jump on me at the start (of the 50 lapper) and I thought it might be tough to pass him, he won on Friday night and was really good all weekend. But the next thing I knew, I was under him and passed him. After that we just set a good pace and kept him behind us."
The triumph was Richards' fourth of the season driving for Davis and his 12th overall. It also made him the first driver from West Virginia to win the prestigious Winchester 200 at the three-eighths-mile oval.
In addition, the victory marked the fourth time Richards has reached the checkered flag first with a Roush Yates Ford engine under the hood of the blue and white No. 25.
"The Roush Yates engine has been great," said Richards. "We're real happy with the results." I would like to thank Jeff Clark and the entire Roush Yates group for all the support and success they are helping us achieve."
Richards, who is currently two points behind leader Darrell Lanigan in the WoO LMS standings as he chases a second consecutive title with the national tour, will head to Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway this weekend (Sept. 30-Oct. 2) with his Mark Richards Racing Enterprises/Seubert Calf Ranches team for the unsanctioned seventh annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals. He finished a heartbreaking second in the 2008 version of the 100 lapper and placed fifth in last year's rain plagued event, so he feels he's ready to break down the door to Victory Lane in the $40,000 to win spectacular.
"I love going out to Knoxville," said Richards, who will kick off his trip to the famous half-mile oval by competing in full preliminary programs topped by 25 lap, $7,000 to win A-Mains on Thursday and Friday. "It's one of my favorite tracks to race on, and it seems like we're usually pretty good there. Hopefully this is the year that we can get the job done.
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, Cornett Racing Engines, Seubert Calf Ranches, 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.
Honey Elizabeth Rentz
Rising Star Management Group
hrentz@risingstarmg.com
The 22 year old from Shinnston, W.Va., enjoyed another Victory Lane celebration with the Ernie D's Enterprises team - the West Virginia based operation he joins for many non WoO events - on Saturday night (Sept. 25) at Winchester (Va.) Speedway, capturing the 50 lap dirt Late Model portion of the annual Winchester 200.
It was a nearly perfect evening for Richards, who is off from WoO LMS action until Oct. 13 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C. He won a 25 lap semi-feature to earn the pole position for the 50 lap headliner, which he controlled after passing front row mate J.T. Spence for the lead on lap five. The Saturday night sweep earned Richard a cool $11,000.
"The car was phenomenal again," Richards said of his Ernie Davis-owned Rocket No. 25. "It was really fun to drive. We threw some things at it on Friday night (he finished sixth in a 25 lap preliminary feature after starting 12th) and I knew it would be good (on Saturday night). Once the track slowed down we really shined.
"Spence got the jump on me at the start (of the 50 lapper) and I thought it might be tough to pass him, he won on Friday night and was really good all weekend. But the next thing I knew, I was under him and passed him. After that we just set a good pace and kept him behind us."
The triumph was Richards' fourth of the season driving for Davis and his 12th overall. It also made him the first driver from West Virginia to win the prestigious Winchester 200 at the three-eighths-mile oval.
In addition, the victory marked the fourth time Richards has reached the checkered flag first with a Roush Yates Ford engine under the hood of the blue and white No. 25.
"The Roush Yates engine has been great," said Richards. "We're real happy with the results." I would like to thank Jeff Clark and the entire Roush Yates group for all the support and success they are helping us achieve."
Richards, who is currently two points behind leader Darrell Lanigan in the WoO LMS standings as he chases a second consecutive title with the national tour, will head to Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway this weekend (Sept. 30-Oct. 2) with his Mark Richards Racing Enterprises/Seubert Calf Ranches team for the unsanctioned seventh annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals. He finished a heartbreaking second in the 2008 version of the 100 lapper and placed fifth in last year's rain plagued event, so he feels he's ready to break down the door to Victory Lane in the $40,000 to win spectacular.
"I love going out to Knoxville," said Richards, who will kick off his trip to the famous half-mile oval by competing in full preliminary programs topped by 25 lap, $7,000 to win A-Mains on Thursday and Friday. "It's one of my favorite tracks to race on, and it seems like we're usually pretty good there. Hopefully this is the year that we can get the job done.
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, Cornett Racing Engines, Seubert Calf Ranches, 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.
Honey Elizabeth Rentz
Rising Star Management Group
hrentz@risingstarmg.com
