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SHINNSTON, WV – The Dirt Track World Championship will always hold a special
place in the heart of Josh Richards – the crown-jewel event did, after all,
serve as the launching pad for his dirt Late Model career four years ago.
But it would have meant even more to ‘Kid Rocket’ if he had been able finish
one spot better in Saturday night’s 27th annual edition of the Carl
Short-promoted mega-show at K-C Raceway in Alma, Ohio.
The 19-year-old sensation from Shinnston, W.Va., led more than half of the
100-lap distance before settling for a runner-up placing to fellow World of
Outlaws Late Model Series regular Chub Frank.
“It’s tough to accept coming so close to winning a major race after having
such a good car and leading for so long,” said Josh, who crossed the finish
line about a half-straightaway behind Frank. “But Chub’s been racing a lot
longer than I have and this is the first time he’s ever won (the DTWC), so I
was happy to see him win it.”
After winning a Friday-night heat race despite running with a broken
left-front A-frame on his Mark Richards Racing-owned Seubert Calf
Ranches/Ace Metal Works/TSR-Tony Stewart Racing/Petroff Towing/MCB
Motorsports Rocket Chassis No. 1, Josh drew the third starting spot for the
DTWC A-Main. He surged forward quickly, grabbing the lead from Mike Marler
on lap four.
But Frank came on near the halfway point to challenge Josh. The two Rocket
Chassis stalwarts spent nearly 15 laps battling side-by-side for the lead
before Frank pulled in front for good on lap 56.
“Early in the race my car was working real good,” said Josh. “I wasn’t even
pushing it too hard. It would just roll around there.
“But when we got to lapped traffic, I think the track got a little
dirtied-up where I was running and I didn’t feel as good. I was able to hold
my own with Chub until I just ran out of room behind a lapped car and he got
ahead of us.
“Later on the track cleaned up and I was better, but it was too late for me
to do anything with Chub.”
Josh pocketed $12,500 for finishing second in the DTWC. He ended up so close
to the race’s famed $50,000 top prize such a short time after debuting as a
15-year-old racer in the 2003 edition of the event at Bluegrass Speedway in
Bardstown, Ky.
“I feel like I just ran (the DTWC) for the first time yesterday,” said Josh,
who failed to qualify for the ’03 event while also competing in that year’s
special ‘Futures’ race for teenage drivers. “Everything has just gone so
quickly the last few years. I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot and learned
a lot so far, but there’s still a long way to go.”
As great a night as the DTWC was for Josh, it was also equally memorable for
the Rocket Chassis company co-owned by Josh’s father Mark. The top-five
finishers in the 100-lapper – Frank, Josh, Steve Francis, Steve Shaver and
Darren Miller – all were behind the wheel of Rocket Chassis cars.
Josh will head this weekend to Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway, where he’ll drive
one of Ernie Davis’s Rocket No. 25 machines in the $10,000-to-win dirt Late
Model portion of the annual ‘Octoberfest 350.’ Qualifying is on Saturday and
the features will be contested on Sunday.
Earlier this year Josh won an Interstate Racing Series event at Hagerstown
behind the wheel the wheel of a Davis-owned mount.
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