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Josh Richards Encouraged By Top-Five Finish Down South At Screven Motor Speedway

Wednesday August 20, 2008

 

SHINNSTON, WV – Normally a fifth-place finish doesn’t get Josh Richards too excited, but he was smiling after taking the checkered flag in that position on Saturday night at Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Ga.

The 20-year-old star from Shinnston, W.Va., felt pretty good about his performance in the three-eighths-mile oval’s first-ever World of Outlaws Late Model Series event.

“We usually always struggle at tracks like this – these southern places,” bottom-lined Josh following the 50-lap A-Main that just beat an approaching thunderstorm. “It’s just something about the dirt down here that we haven’t been able to really figure out, but we finally got a good run.

“Actually, the feature was really fun. I’m kinda looking forward20to coming back next year.”

Driving his familiar Mark Richards Racing-owned Seubert Calf Ranches/Ace Metal Works/TSR-Tony Stewart Racing/Petroff Towing/MCB Motorsports/Ernie’s Auto & Hauling Rocket Chassis No. 1, Josh timed 11th-fastest in the 34-car field and finished third in a heat race. He started 11th in the A-Main but smartly advanced forward, getting as high as third on lap 39 before losing some momentum and settling for fifth at the finish.

“I got by the 4 car (driven by Georgia’s Jeremy Faircloth) for third, but I had such a good run down the front straightaway I ended up pushing up in (turns) one and two,” Josh said of his bid for third on lap 39. “Then he got back by me and (Shane) Clanton went by both of us.”

Josh entered the event tied with Steve Francis for second in the WoO LMS point’s standings, but he fell to third as Francis raced to a victory at Screven. Josh trails leader Darrell Lanigan by 152 points and is now 10 markers behind Francis.

Josh’s WoO LMS weekend in=2 0the Southeast began on Friday night with a visit to Fayetteville (N.C.) Motor Speedway. Rain during the first B-Main forced officials to postpone the remainder of the program to Tues., Oct. 7 – but not before Josh experienced one of the most frustrating nights of the 2008 season.

With officials deciding to reduce the night’s time-trial session to one lap per car due to a late start to the card and the threat of rain, Josh qualified 35th-fastest out of 38 cars because he got out of shape on his lone circuit. He then finished seventh in the third heat – missing a transfer spot by three positions – and was scheduled to start fifth in the second B-Main.

Josh will continue his chase of the WoO LMS title this week with three tour events. He’ll start off by competing in the pair of $10,000-to-win A-Mains that comprise the fifth annual ‘Scorcher’ presented by Alltel Wireless on Wednesday and Thursday (Aug. 20-21) at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn., and then head to K-C Raceway in Alma, Ohio, for a 50-lap/$10,000-to-win program on Saturday night (Aug. 23).

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This report was provided by an outside PR source and posted by Kim DeHaven.

 

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