‘Kid Rocket’ Rocks Eldora Speedway

June 12, 2005
 

Shinnston, WV --- Josh ‘Kid Rocket’ Richards stunned the dirt Late Model industry this past weekend by not only qualifying for the prestigious 11th Annual Dirt Late Model Dream race at Eldora Speedway but also by rocking the house with an incredible seventh place finish in the $100,000 to win extravaganza in only his second appearance at the famed mighty high banks located in western Ohio. Kid Rocket turned in his amazing performance in his Mark Richards Racing-owned #1 Seubert Calf Ranches, Ace Metal Works, MCB Motorsports, Hoosier Racing Tires, Rocket Chassis, Cornett Engines Grand Prix.

“I couldn’t ask for a better weekend,” understated the modest 17-year-old from Shinnston, WV. “The car has been awesome this whole season. We think we have everything straightened out and it’s a really good car. If we would have done to the car what we normally run I think we would have done better. The motor wasn’t running. It sounded like it was running on seven cylinders.”

Richards qualified eighth fastest out of 144 cars that entered the event and won the second heat. Starting fifth in the main event Richards ran the 100-laps with some of the best in the sport coming across the finish line with an impressive seventh place finish in one of dirt Late Model racing’s ‘crown jewel’ events.

Having only raced a year and a half, Richards hasn’t had too much experience in 100-lap races but found the Dream to his liking. “It didn’t seem that long at all, it’s an easy 100 laps,” commented Kid Rocket. “It only felt like 50 laps. We learned a lot. We’re good up there in the wet but we think we know what to do to get better.”
 

In addition to getting complimented by Eldora Speedway owner Tony Stewart Kid Rocket and Chub Frank signed autographs for over an hour and 45 minutes at the Slavic Custom Shirts souvenir trailer with their new autograph cards.

This weekend Richards will be back on the road with the World of Outlaws Stacker 2® Late Model Series where he sits in eighth place in the World Of Outlaws Stacker 2® Late Model Series national points chase tied with Clint Smith with 1,452 points. Kid Rocket has only one prior appearance at KC Raceway, for an unsanctioned race on May 7 where Richards finished third. “That was the first time I raced there, but I liked it a lot,” said Richards. “It’s a nice place. It reminds me of Eldora actually.”

The World of Outlaws Stacker 2® Late Model Series will be visiting one of the nation’s most electrifying and lightning quick dirt race tracks in June. Jim Nier’s KC Raceway near Chillicothe, OH has been added to the 2005 schedule with a huge two-day event at the high-banked 3/8ths mile oval scheduled for Friday and Saturday, June 17th and June 18th .

The World of Outlaws Stacker 2® Late Model Series open the “Veterans Appreciation 100” with time trials Friday, June 17th and a special event matching the top 6 “Dirty Dozen” drivers in championship points against the top 6 non-“Dirty Dozen” drivers from time trials. Those 12 drivers will wage war in a 15 lap - $2,000 to win main event. Qualifying heat races, “B” Mains, Pole Dash and the “Veterans Appreciation 100” are scheduled for Saturday, June 18th.

Kid Rocket has released a variety of new merchandise produced by Slavic Custom Shirts.
 

Prepared by Lehman Motorsports Services

Photo By Rick Schwallie
 

Copyright © 2005

Josh Richards Racing

PO Box 69

Shinnston, WV 26431

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