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SHINNSTON, WV – Josh Richards didn’t enjoy his trip to the Midwest last
weekend.
‘Kid Rocket’ managed only a single top-10 finish during the three-race World
of Outlaws Late Model Series swing – not the type of results that sat well
with him.
“It was a rough weekend,” said Josh. “When we run these tracks out (in the
Midwest) – the little tracks, on the (UMP Hoosier) 20/40 tire rule – we just
seem to still struggle. It seems like something bad always happens when we
come out here.”
Josh’s best performance came on Friday night, when he finished ninth in the
‘Paducah 50’ at Paducah (Ky.) International Raceway. He had to come from the
19th starting spot in that event after qualifying through a B-Main.
The 19-year-old Shinnston, W.Va., driver’s fortunes seemed to be looking up
on Saturday night at Ken Schrader’s I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo., after he
recorded the fifth-fastest lap in time trials and won a heat race. But his
Mark Richards Racing-owned Seubert Calf Ranches/Ace Metal Works/TSR-Tony
Stewart Racing/Petroff Towing/MCB Motorsports Rocket Chassis No. 1 was
tightened up too much for the 50-lap ‘Pepsi Nationals’ A-Main and he was
never a factor, slipping from the seventh starting spot to a 13th-place
finish.
Josh closed out the swing on Sunday night at La Salle (Ill.) Speedway,
finishing 13th in the 40-lap ‘Best Western Illinois Fall Nationals’ A-Main.
He started 11th, but on the opening lap he clipped a uke tire in turn two,
forcing him to pit during a first-lap caution period to fix nosepiece damage
on his car. He returned but was hampered by a bent front end for the
remainder of the distance.
“This weekend kinda brings the team down a little, but fortunately next week
we get to go to Bedford and Pittsburgh,” said Josh. “They’re both big tracks
that I like running, so hopefully we’ll turn everything around.”
Josh will compete this weekend in WoO LMS events on Friday night (Sept. 21)
at Bedford (Pa.) Speedway and Saturday night (Sept. 22) at Pittsburgh’s
Pennsylvania Motor Speedway in Imperial, Pa. He enters the weekend ranked
fifth in the tour points standings, just 14 markers behind fourth-place
Shane Clanton. |
