|
SHINNSTON, WV. – Josh Richards has proven that he’s ready to make some
serious noise on the dirt Late Model scene in 2008.
After completing a solid three-week stretch of racing in the Southeast that
was highlighted by a victory in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series
season opener, the young star known as ‘Kid Rocket’ seems to already be
firing on all cylinders.
“All in all, it was a real good trip for us,” Josh said upon finishing his
extended season-starting excursion to Golden Isles Speedway in Brunswick,
Ga., East Bay Raceway Park in Gibsonton, Fla., and Volusia Speedway Park in
Barberville, Fla. “We got a win, a couple seconds, a few more top-fives.
“Considering the competition that we ran against in all these races, we’re
real happy with the results we had.”
Of course, the most memorable moment of Josh’s winter racing odyssey was his
triumph in the 50-lap WoO LMS lidlifter on Feb. 14 at the half-mile Volusia
oval. In a very competitive race, he fought his way to the front from the
third starting spot to assume command on lap 31 when Shane Clanton slowed
with mechanical trouble. He then outran Billy Moyer – the hottest driver of
Florida Speedweeks 2008 – following a late restart to capture the WoO LMS
season opener for the second consecutive year in his 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.
Two nights later, on Feb. 16, Josh backed up his seventh career WoO LMS win
with a hard-earned third-place finish in the 50-lap A-Main that closed out
the 37th annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia. He swapped the lead
several times early in the distance with eventual winner Moyer before
settling for third place – and a share of the tour points lead with Moyer.
“To come out of (Volusia) on top of the points is a great way for us to
start the year,” said Josh. “You don’t want to start off with a bunch of
problems and get behind in the points right off the bat, and we avoided
that. It was a great morale boost for the whole team.”
The 19-year-old standout from Shinnston, W.Va., was one of the steadiest
drivers on the challenging Golden Isles-to-East Bay-to-Volusia circuit,
which stretched from Jan. 23 to Feb. 16. A total of 18 feature events were
run – seven at Golden Isles from Jan. 23 to Feb. 2, six at East Bay from
Feb. 4-9 and five at Volusia from Feb. 11-16 – and Josh qualified for 16 of
them; he missed the cut for the openers at Golden Isles and East Bay,
leaving him behind only Moyer and Steve Francis in feature starts (both made
17 races).
Overall, Josh registered seven top-five finishes. That included the win at
Volusia; runner-up placings at Golden Isles (Jan. 29) and Volusia (Feb. 13);
a third at Volusia (Feb. 16); two fourths at East Bay (Feb. 6 and 7); and a
fifth at East Bay (Feb. 9). He also won seven preliminary events.
Josh entered the Golden Isles and Volusia events with his familiar Rocket
Chassis House Car, and he ran the Ernie Davis-owned Rocket No. 25 in the
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series ‘Winternationals’ at East Bay. He felt that
a few incorrect tire-compound choices he made at East Bay were all that
prevented him from seriously contending for victory with the Davis car as
well.
Nearly a month spent on the road definitely wore Josh out, but it won’t take
him long to recharge for a busy season ahead.
“I’m ready to go home, relax a little bit, and get ready to go again,” said
Josh. “We’re basically busy every weekend from now until November, and
that’s a good thing. I’m going to race more than I ever have before this
year and I’m pumped up about it.”
Weather permiting, Josh will be back in action behind the wheel of the Davis
No. 25 this Saturday afternoon (Feb. 23) in the Northeast’s dirt Late Model
season opener at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway. His tentative March schedule
with Davis currently includes visits to Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap,
Tenn., on March 1, Hagerstown on March 8, Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway on
March 13-15, and Hagerstown on March 22, before he returns to his blue No. 1
for the next WoO LMS event on March 28-29 at Pike County Speedway in
Magnolia, Miss. |
