Richards Claims Back-to-Back Victories
In World of Outlaws Mid-Atlantic Region Tripleheader
SHINNSTON, W.Va. (Aug. 17, 2015) - Josh Richards scored back-to-back wins at Delaware International Speedway and Potomac Speedway in Budds Creek, Md., Friday and Saturday. The victories came during the World of Outlaws Late Model Series Mid-Atlantic region three-race weekend. Richards rounded out the trip with a top-10 finish at Winchester (Va.) Speedway on Sunday.
Traveling to Delaware on Thursday, Richards unloaded with a fast Valvoline car, beginning the night by setting fast time in qualifying. His qualifying effort lined him up on the pole for the first of four heat races. Richards jumped out front early and never looked back leading all 10 laps en route to his heat race win. Eligible for the redraw to determine his starting position in the 50-lap Feature, Richards drew the fourth starting spot. Lining up on the outside of row two, the West Virginia native quickly drove to the third position on the opening lap. A yellow flag period on Lap 13 put Richards in position to advance on the ensuing restart. When the green flag dropped, Richards drove by Chub Frank to take over the second spot. As the race wore on, Richards began to gain ground on the lead car of Austin Hubbard and was applying pressure to his back bumper by Lap 40. Running lap times faster than Hubbard and pulling alongside of him on the straightaways, it seemed to only be a matter of time before Richards would take over the lead. It happened quicker than expected when Hubbard pulled off the track on Lap 44 due to a mechanical failure, allowing Richards to assume the point position. Leading the remaining five laps, Richards cruised to his fifth World of Outlaws Late Model Series win of the season.
Coming off of a victory from the night before, Richards felt confident going into Friday's event at Potomac speedway. It didn't take long for the team to show their strength as Richards again earned the overall fast-time award in qualifying. Lining up on the pole for Heat Race 3, Richards led flag-to-flag easily bringing home the win. Again drawing for his starting position in the main event, Richards picked the six starting spot, lining him up deeper in the field than he would have liked. On the initial lap, the No. 77 car of Jordan Yaggy spun out in front of Richards and with the field bunched tightly together there was nowhere to go. Richards' Valvoline machine sustained damage on its right side in the melee. Unaware of the extent of the damage, Richards knew he couldn't let it hold him back and charged toward the front on the ensuing restart going from fifth to first in just one lap. After Richards' impressive display of driving skills, he settled into the point position and never looked back, leading the remainder of the race to capture his second victory in as many nights. The win marked his sixth World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory of the season and eighth overall this year.
Entering Sunday's race at Winchester Speedway looking for a weekend sweep, Richards started the evening by qualifying third in time trials. His effort lined him up in the second spot for Heat Race 3. With the track only having one racing groove, Richards was unable to advance finishing second. With the top-two finishers of each heat race eligible for the redraw, Richards drew the fifth starting spot for the 50-lap Feature. Slipping back to sixth on the initial lap, Richards was able to gain a position putting him back in fifth when the caution flag flew on Lap 4. With the field already spread out single-file on the bottom of the racetrack, Richards knew when the green flag dropped on the ensuing restart it would be now or never if he was going to advance. The 27-year-old drove to the high side in an attempt to gain some positions, but was unable to advance and dropped to ninth before finding an opening in the bottom groove. As the laps wore on, the field stayed nose-to-tail with no passing for the remainder of the race. Though he came home with a top-10 finish, Richards was frustrated knowing he had a good car but was unable to pass on a one-groove racetrack.
Richards remains second in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings, 168 markers behind leader Shane Clanton.
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series returns to action at Atomic Speedway in Waverly, Ohio, Aug. 21-22 and Eriez (Penn.) Speedway Aug. 23.
Thursday Results
Qualifying - 1st Heat Race -1st Feature Start - 4th Feature Finish - 1st
Friday Results
Qualifying - 1st Heat Race -1st Feature Start - 6th Feature Finish - 1st
Saturday Results
Qualifying - 3rd Heat Race -2nd Feature Start - 5th Feature Finish - 9th
JOSH RICHARDS QUOTE: "Overall we had a great weekend in our Valvoline car.This year's been up and down, so we'll definitely take it. I love racing in this Mid-Atlantic region. It's been several years since I've been back to these tracks and I've missed getting to race in this region greatly. It is awesome to come back and get some wins. We've all been working really hard to get back in Victory Lane. We haven't given up and it's showed. It definitely feels good to win again."
Josh Richards’ No. 1 team carries support from Valvoline, Seubert Calf Ranches, Ace Welding, Petroff Towing, Sallack Well Service, Rocket Chassis, Durham Engines, Hoosier Racing Tires, Sunoco Racing Fuels, Keyser Manufacturing, Integra Shocks, Sweet Manufacturing, Slavic Custom Tee Shirts And Graphics, Brown and Miller, Brazwell Carburetors, Bazell Racing Fuels, ButlerBuilt Seat, Beyea Headers, Performance Rod and Custom, Wilwood Disc Brakes, Frankland Rear Ends, Simpson Safety Equipment, J E Pistons, Strange Oval, Wrisco Aluminum, R2C Filters, Aurora Rod Ends, Snap On Tools, Scott Wires, Trick Carbon Fiber Drive Shafts, Five Star Bodies, Jones Racing Products, Howe Racing, Performance Bodies, Lithionics Batteries, Brinn Transmissions, Eagle One, Car Brite, ATL Fuel Cells, Dohm’s Cycles, Weld Wheels, Barnes Oil Systems, Tel-Tac, MSD Ignitions.