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Contact: DIRT MotorSports™
Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
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Richards Heads ‘Down Under’ For Holidays To Compete At New Zealand’s Baypark Speedway

CONCORD, NC - Dec. 22, 2010 - Josh Richards will spend the holidays Down Under.

The reigning World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion is leaving his native West Virginia’s cold, snowy conditions behind to enjoy a week of racing and relaxation in the summer sun of New Zealand, where he’s scheduled to compete in two events at Baypark Speedway, a quarter-mile clay oval located about 100 miles southeast of Auckland between the beach resort of Mount Maunganui and the city of Tauranga.

Richards, 22, will drive a Rocket Chassis dirt Late Model owned by veteran Tauranga racer Maurice Cowling in separate programs for the Super Saloon division – New Zealand’s featured full-fender class – on Dec. 27 and Jan. 1. He is slated to take on New Zealand Super Saloon champion Brent Emerson in a match-race duel and the rest of the division’s field in the regular racing, which includes the prestigious Super Saloon Grand Prix on New Year’s Day.

“I’m definitely excited about making the trip,” said Richards, whose only previous excursions outside the borders of the United States were for WoO LMS events in Canada. “I don’t really know what to expect, but I’m sure it’ll be a fun way to get away for a little bit and do something different.”

Richards connected with Cowling through Wisconsin dirt Late Model driver Terry Casey, who drove one of Cowling’s Super Saloon cars at Baypark in 2008 and earlier this year sold Cowling the Rocket machine that Richards will steer at Baypark. After Casey mentioned the possible trip to Richards and relayed to Cowling that Richards was interested, Baypark promoter Willie Kay stepped in and arranged travel plans for Richards.

The drawing power of American short-track stars like Richards is a proven winner for Kay, who has been flying U.S. standouts to New Zealand for special appearances throughout the past decade and in 2006 brought the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series to Baypark for three nights of sanctioned racing. Not surprisingly, Richards’s upcoming visit – as well as former WoO Sprint Car Series champion Sammy Swindell’s scheduled participation in Baypark’s Sprint Car show on Dec. 27 – is receiving major local media coverage, including a feature story (“Rocket Man To Fly In For Race Duel”) in the Dec. 22 edition of New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty Times (www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz).

Richards’s appearance at Baypark, however, goes beyond what his status as a national champion does for attendance. When he hits the track in a car that was built by his father Mark’s Shinnston, W.Va.-based Rocket Chassis, he will help introduce New Zealand’s fans and racers to full-blown dirt Late Model action. The current Super Saloon division runs under a more restrictive rules package than its U.S. cousins, using open rearends, torsion bars and more stock-appearing bodies.

“From what I’ve heard from Maurice, there seems to be a lot of interest in getting a real Late Model deal started down there,” said Richards, who in 2010 became the first driver in the modern era of the WoO LMS (2004-present) to win two points titles. “I hope I can help that by showing people how exciting Late Models are and answering their questions about them.”

A huge crowd is expected to witness Richards’s exploits at Baypark Speedway, which is part of a unique sports, exhibition and conference center near the surf beaches of the Pacific Ocean. The dirt track encircles a rugby field and is surrounded by 17,700 stadium-style seats, most of which are covered by a roof.

“It looks like a real nice facility,” said Richards. “I’ve seen some pictures of it on the internet, so I can’t wait to get over there and see the place in person. I don’t think there are many tracks like it.”

Richards is scheduled to begin his long journey to New Zealand on Thursday morning. Accompanied by his buddy Jared Hawkins, a young dirt Late Model driver from Fairmont, W.Va., who was recently hired to drive the Bobby Lake Motorsports No. 46 in 2011, Richards will fly from Pittsburgh to Chicago to San Francisco and, finally, to Aukland, New Zealand, arriving on Christmas Day. He will spend Sunday – the Boxing Day holiday in New Zealand – getting fitted in Cowling’s car and setting it up before heading onto the track on Monday night for the first of his two races.

Upon returning to the States after the first of the year, Richards, who celebrated Christmas with his family on Tuesday night, will dive back into his preparation for a 2011 season that will likely see him chase an unprecedented third consecutive WoO LMS championship. He will begin his Outlaw campaign on Feb. 17 and 19 with a pair of 50-lap A-Mains during the 40th annual DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla.

“We’ve been working hard building and rebuilding for the past month,” said Richards, who toils in his shop alongside his father Mark and car chief Matt Barnes. “We’ve worked mostly on rebuilding the car we ran at the end of the year – we’re planning to make it our primary car to start the season at Volusia – and we have a new frame sitting in the shop that we have to put together, so we have plenty to do.”

The DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH begin on Feb. 8 and run nightly through Feb. 19. Joining the WoO LMS action on the schedule is four nights of DIRTcar UMP Late Model racing (Feb. 14-16, 18); the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series (Feb. 11-13); the Super DIRTcar Series for big-block Modifieds (Feb. 16-19); the All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series (Feb. 9-10); and the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds (Feb. 8-15).

Ticket information on the DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH is available by visiting www.DIRTcarNationals.com or calling Volusia Speedway Park at 386-985-4402.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.
 

2011 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Schedule Released At Performance Racing Industry Trade Show

CONCORD, NC - Dec. 10, 2010 - An exciting mix of stalwart tracks, new venues and lucrative, high-profile events will comprise the 2011 World of Outlaws Late Model Series schedule, which was released on Friday during the Performance Racing Industry trade show in Orlando, Fla.

Forty events covering 46 race dates at 33 tracks in 20 states are currently confirmed as part of the national tour’s 2011 slate, including a half-dozen extra-distance blockbusters highlighted by the $50,000-to-win USA Nationals on Aug. 5-6 at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis., the fifth annual Firecracker 100 on June 23-25 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., and the second annual Commonwealth 100 on April 15-16 at Virginia Motor Speedway in Jamaica, Va.

The eighth consecutive WoO LMS season under the World Racing Group banner kicks off on Feb. 17 and 19 with a pair of 50-lap A-Mains during the 40th annual DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. It will conclude for the fifth straight year with the World of Outlaws World Finals on Nov. 3-5 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C.

“Another spectacular year of World of Outlaws Late Model Series action is in store for fans across the country,” said series director Tim Christman. “We’re proud to be working with some of dirt Late Model racing’s top racetrack operators to provide teams and spectators a schedule that’s filled with thrilling, can’t-miss events from February through November.

“As the dramatic 2010 battle for the World of Outlaws championship proved, every lap of every race counts. There’s no doubt fans are going to once again see the sport’s best drivers racing all-out every night in search of that big $100,000 prize that’s waiting for the champion.”

Christman said he expects to add at least five more events to the schedule released on Friday, potentially pushing the total number of races and host tracks in 2011 to historic high-water marks. The WoO LMS currently boasts alltime single-season highs of 44 A-Mains (2007 and 2010) and 38 different tracks (2010).

The centerpiece of the WoO LMS’s attractive special-event schedule remains Cedar Lake Speedway’s 100-lap USA Nationals on Aug. 5-6. The crown-jewel program, which returned to the WoO LMS schedule last year for the fifth time overall in its 24-year history, holds the status as the richest race on the ’11 sked with a purse of nearly a quarter-million dollars.

Lernerville’s fast-growing Firecracker 100, meanwhile, will again boast three full nights of competition after its popular expansion in 2010. The early-summer festival of speed at the sparkling four-tenths-mile oval kicks off with 30-lap, $6,000-to-win preliminary features on Thurs., June 23, and Fri., June 24, before ending with the traditional 100-lap headliner offering $30,000 for first place on Sat., June 25.

Returning to the WoO LMS slate after a successful debut in 2010 is the Commonwealth 100 at Virginia Motor Speedway, a $25,000-to-win springtime biggie set for April 15-16. The event at Bill Sawyer’s pristine half-mile oval carries the third-largest winner’s share on the 2011 schedule.

The list of century-grind events also includes the fourth annual Illini 100, which moves to La Salle (Ill.) Speedway on April 1-2 after three seasons at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway; an inaugural early-season 100-lapper on March 18-19 at Columbus (Miss.) Speedway, which hosts the WoO LMS for the first time since 2007; and the brand-new ‘Outlaw Sizzler 101’ on July 2-3 at Tazewell (Tenn.) Speedway, which will dominate the Independence Day weekend landscape by presenting its biggest dirt Late Model race ever. All three races will pay $20,000 to win.

Other multi-day programs featured in 2011 include February’s DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH; the RaceFest World Championships on May 28-29 at West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells, which will reprise its successful ’10 Memorial Day weekend program with a 30-lap A-Main for $8,000 to win on Saturday night and a 40-lap headliner offering a $10,000 top prize on Sunday evening; the Oil Region Labor Day Classic on Sept. 3-4 at Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Pa. (two 50-lap, $10,000-to-win cards for the sixth consecutive year); and the World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, which will pack the house for a season-ending tripleheader weekend on Nov. 3-5 that also includes the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and the Super DIRTcar Series for big-block Modifieds.

The season’s longest – and perhaps most critical – swing will be mid-July’s ‘Wild West Tour,’ which expands to an ambitious stretch of at least seven races over a 12-day period after being condensed to a more modest four events over consecutive nights in 2010. After the western trek kicks off with a Sooner State doubleheader at Outlaw Motor Speedway in Muskogee, Okla. (July 8) and Tri-State Speedway in Picola, Okla. (July 9) – the tour’s first visit to Outlaw since 2004 and Tri-State since 2005 – successive races will be contested on July 12 at Independence (Iowa) Motor Speedway (first-ever WoO LMS event); July 13 at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn. (the ‘Gopher 50’ makes it seventh straight appearance on the series); July 14 at Superior (Wis.) Speedway, which hosted the tour for the first time in 2010; July 15 at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D. (sixth straight year on the schedule); and July 19 at Gillette (Wyo.) Thunder Speedway, which returns to the tour after a one-year hiatus.

The WoO LMS will close out the busy month of July with another regional swing that begins on July 27 at Central PA Speedway in Clearfield, Pa., and ends on July 31 at Eriez Speedway in Hammett, Pa. The Keystone State tracks will sandwich two additional dates that are still to be announced.

Other highlights of the 2011 schedule include:

* An early-season tripleheader weekend in the Southeast, with events on March 25 at Ocala (Fla.) Speedway, March 26 at Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Ga., and March 27 at Needmore Speedway in Norman Park, Ga. Ocala (2010) and Screven (2010 and 2009) have previously hosted the tour, while Needmore is new to the schedule.

* A Midwestern weekend to close out the month of April. The tour’s return engagement to Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, Ky., on April 30 anchors the doubleheader, which will visit a still-to-be-determined track the previous night.

* Spring dates on May 6 at Fayetteville (N.C.) Motor Speedway and May 7 at Swainsboro (Ga.) Raceway. The two tracks paired up on the WoO LMS schedule for the first time in 2010.

* The traditional spring midweek event at Delaware International Speedway in Delmar, which hosts the WoO LMS for the seventh time in eight years on Thurs., May 12. The trip to the First State will be followed by a first-ever visit to Winchester (Va.) Speedway on Sat., May 14.

* Beckley (W.Va.) Motor Speedway hosts the tour for the first time on Fri., May 27, as a lead-in to the Memorial Day weekend doubleheader at West Virginia Motor Speedway.

* A pre-Firecracker 100 event on Tues., June 21, at Brewerton (N.Y.) Speedway – the only WoO LMS event currently scheduled in the Empire State during the 2011 season.

* A midweek date on Wed., Aug. 3, at Shawano (Wis.) Speedway that precedes the USA Nationals. The WoO LMS appeared at the half-mile oval outside Green Bay last year for the first time since a 1989 event there during the first incarnation of the tour.

* A first-ever WoO LMS event at Winston Speedway in Rothbury, Mich., on Aug. 19. The race, which brings the tour to the Wolverine State for the first time since 2007, will be paired with another event on Aug. 20 that series officials will soon announce.

* Hartford (Mich.) Motor Speedway will host the tour for the first time on Sept. 16 – the eve of the Pepsi Nationals on Sept. 17 at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo., which has become a popular stop on the series itinerary.

Just five tracks are scheduled to host multiple WoO LMS A-Mains in 2011. Leading the group with three races apiece are Lernerville and The Dirt Track at Charlotte, which also presents the mid-week World of Outlaws Late Model Showdown on Oct. 12 at part of Charlotte Motor Speedway’s NASCAR weekend; Volusia, West Virginia Motor and Tri-City will also hold two events each as single-visit doubleheaders.

The series is currently scheduled to visit six tracks for the first time.

WoO LMS officials expect to announce additional dates in the near future.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

2011 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Schedule (as of Dec. 10, 2010)

Date – Day – Track/Location – Event - To Win - Laps

Feb. 17 – Thurs. - Volusia Speedway Park/Barberville, FL (DIRTcar Nationals) - $10,000 – 50L
Feb. 19 – Sat. - Volusia Speedway Park/Barberville, FL (DIRTcar Nationals) - $10,000 -50L

March 18-19 - Fri-Sat – Columbus (MS) Speedway - $20,000 – 100L
March 25 – Fri. - Ocala (FL) Speedway - $10,000 – 50L
March 26 – Sat. - Screven Motor Speedway/Sylvania, GA - $10,000 – 50L
March 27 – Sun. - Needmore Speedway/Norman Park, GA - $8,000 – 40L

April 1-2 - Fri-Sat - La Salle (IL) Speedway (Illini 100) - $20,000 – 100L
April 15-16 - Fri-Sat - Virginia Motor Speedway/Jamaica, VA - (Commonwealth 100) - $25,000 – 100L
April 29 – Fri. – TBA
April 30 – Sat. - Bluegrass Speedway/Bardstown, KY - $10,000 – 50L

May 6 – Fri. - Fayetteville (NC) Motor Speedway - $10,000 – 50L
May 7 - Sat. - Swainsboro (GA) Raceway - $10,000 – 50L
May 12 – Thurs. - Delaware International Speedway/Delmar, DE - $10,000 – 50L
May 14 – Sat. - Winchester (VA) Speedway - $10,000 – 50L
May 27 – Fri. - Beckley (WV) Motor Speedway - $10,000 – 50L
May 28 – Sat. - West Virginia Motor Speedway/Mineral Wells, WV (RaceFest) - $8,000 -30L
May 29 – Sun. - West Virginia Motor Speedway/Mineral Wells, WV (RaceFest) - $10,000 – 40L

June 21 – Tues. - Brewerton (NY) Speedway - $10,000 – 50L
June 23 – Thurs. - Lernerville Speedway/Sarver, PA (Firecracker 100) - $6,000 – 30L
June 24 – Fri. - Lernerville Speedway/Sarver, PA (Firecracker 100) - $6,000 – 30L
June 25 – Sat. - Lernerville Speedway/Sarver, PA (Firecracker 100) - $30,000 – 100L

July 2-3 - Sat-Sun - Tazewell (TN) Speedway (Outlaw Sizzler 101) - $20,000 – 101L
July 8 – Fri. - Outlaw Motor Speedway/Muskogee, OK (Wild West Tour) - $10,000 – 50L
July 9 – Sat. - Tri-State Speedway/Picola, OK (Wild West Tour) - $10,000 – 50L
July 12 – Tues. - Independence (IA) Motor Speedway (Wild West Tour) - $10,000 – 50L
July 13 - Wed. - Deer Creek Speedway/Spring Valley, MN (Wild West Tour) - $10,000 -50L
July 14 – Thurs. - Superior (WI) Speedway (Wild West Tour) - $10,000 – 50L
July 15 – Fri. - River Cities Speedway/Grand Forks, ND (Wild West Tour) - $10,000 – 50L
July 16 – Sat. – TBA
July 19 – Tues. - Gillette (WY) Thunder Speedway (Wild West Tour) - $10,000 – 50L
July 27 - Wed. - Central PA Speedway/Clearfield, PA - $8,000 – 40L
July 29 - Fri. – TBA
July 30 - Sat. – TBA
July 31 - Sun. - Eriez Speedway/Hammett, PA - $10,000 – 50L

Aug. 3 - Wed. - Shawano (WI) Speedway - $10,000 – 50L
Aug. 5-6 - Fri-Sat - Cedar Lake Speedway/New Richmond, WI (USA Nationals) - $50,000 – 100L
Aug. 19 – Fri. – Winston Speedway/Rothbury, MI - $10,000 – 50L
Aug. 20 – Sat. – TBA

Sept. 3 - Sat. - Tri-City Speedway/Franklin, PA (Oil Region Labor Day Classic) - $10,000 – 50L
Sept. 4 - Sun. - Tri-City Speedway/Franklin, PA (Oil Region Labor Day Classic) - $10,000 – 50L
Sept. 16 – Fri. - Hartford (MI) Motor Speedway - $10,000 – 50L
Sept. 17 – Sat. - I-55 Raceway/Pevely, MO (Pepsi Nationals) - $10,000 – 50L

Oct. 12 – Wed. - The Dirt Track at Charlotte/Concord, NC (WoO LM Showdown) - $10,000 – 50L

Nov. 3 - Thurs. - The Dirt Track at Charlotte/Concord, NC (World Finals) – Qualify
Nov. 4 - Fri. - The Dirt Track at Charlotte/Concord, NC (World Finals) - $10,000 – 50L
Nov. 5 – Sat. - The Dirt Track at Charlotte/Concord, NC (World Finals) - $10,000 - 50L

Schedule subject to change. Check www.WorldofOutlaws.com for the latest information.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

 

Working With Rookie Driver’s Team Has Clint Smith Energized For 2011 World of Outlaws Late Model Series

CONCORD, NC - Dec. 1, 2010 - Clint Smith failed to snap his long, frustrating winless streak on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series in 2010, but he made strides with his performance.

And if the positive vibe he has about the slightly new direction of his 2011 racing program is correct, the hard-nosed veteran from Senoia, Ga., just might rediscover his winning touch on the national tour.

“I feel good about next year,” an optimistic Smith said while working in his shop earlier this week in preparation for his eighth consecutive season as a WoO LMS regular. “I think it’s going to be a great year for us.”

Smith’s attitude might seem a bit rosy for a driver who is winless in his last 114 WoO LMS starts and recorded just six top-five finishes en route to a distant ninth-place result in the 2010 points standings, but he has good reason to be bullish on his chances in the coming season. He recently reinforced his own team by striking a deal to serve as a mentor to Brian Reese of Sharpsburg, Ga., a 29-year-old dirt Late Model upstart who has big plans to travel alongside Smith in 2011 in search of the WoO LMS Rookie of the Year award.

In exchange for sharing his nearly 30 years of racing experience and knowledge with Reese, Smith, 45, will receive valuable assistance from Reese Motorsports that should improve his own operation.

“They’re local, they came into some money and wanted to race, and I guess I was the best one in the area to teach him how to race,” Smith said of Reese, whose parents are his primary backers. “They came to me (during the season) and said they’ve been trying all year and hadn’t had any success, so they were looking for some help. I needed some help too, so we got a partnership together and now we’re going at it.”

“It’s a good situation for both of us. I’m going to try to help (Reese) venture out and do some racing on the road with the World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year program to progress his career; hopefully we’ll pick him up five years (of experience) in one year. And having him as a teammate is going to help my program significantly.”

Smith, of course, has been struggling to find consistency on the WoO LMS since 2007, when he won four A-Mains and finished a career-best third in the points race after leading the standings for nearly half the season. He hasn’t cracked the top five in the points standings at any point in the last three campaigns and hasn’t reached Victory Lane since June 17, 2008, at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway.

But Smith showed signs of a revival in 2010 after switching back to Rocket Chassis for the first time in five years, qualifying better and registering three runner-up finishes, including two during a late-season stretch that saw him tally four top-fives in five races. An outbreak of hard-luck engine problems, however, prevented him from building any momentum.

“We ran better this year than we have in the past few years, but we didn’t have anything to show for it,” said Smith, who sat 10th in the points standings for most of the 44-race schedule before overtaking Chub Frank for ninth during last month’s season-ending Lowes Foods World Finals Presented by Bimbo Bakeries and Tom’s Snacks at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. “We had a real good car at a lot of places, but I just had some issues with some stuff – not blaming anyone – that caused me to have some motor problems when we were running well and that put us back in the points.”

The powerplant failures also forced Smith, who has 11 career wins on the WoO LMS, into scramble mode several times in 2010. With Reese’s team providing Smith more resources, he’s confident he won’t have to worry about having an engine to bolt inside his car.

“He’s helping me with my motor program,” Smith said of Reese. “I’m still owning some motors and he’s owning some motors, but we’ve got a team situation. If he needs a motor he gets one from me, and if I need one I get one from him. It gives me something to fall back on in case I need it.

“Anytime you get a team situation, usually it will be better than a single person,” he continued. “This will help me get more of a high-powered team going, more on the level of a Josh Richards and Darrell Lanigan. With this I’ll feel like I’m more an equal to those top teams, able to compete with them on a regular basis. Rather than just showing up and trying to place, we’re gonna be showing up trying to win.”

Smith, whose race shop is just four miles from Reese’s, debuted as Reese’s adviser last month. Smith’s influence was immediately apparent on Nov. 13 when Reese set fast time for the unsanctioned National 100 at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, Ala.

“I think we’ve already helped him pick it up and hopefully he’ll keep improving next year,” said Smith, who is bringing mechanics Darrell (‘Don Vito’) Cooper and Brad Baum back to service his equipment in 2011. “Hopefully we’ll pick it up too. We know what we’re racing against on the World of Outlaws tour; it’s a tough program. But we’re gonna be ready to go out there and try to win races.”

The 2011 WoO LMS campaign is scheduled to kick off with a pair of 50-lap A-Mains on Feb. 17 and 19 as part of the 40th annual Florida DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. Ticket information for the blockbuster winter racing meet – which runs from Feb. 8-19 and also includes action for the DIRTcar UMP Late Models, WoO Sprint Car Series, O’Reilly All-Star Sprint Car Series, Super DIRTcar Series for big-block Modifieds and UMP Modifieds – is available at www.dirtcarnationals.com.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

 

Richards Calmly Handled Pressure In 2010 To Capture Second Straight World of Outlaws Late Model Series Championship

CONCORD, NC - Nov. 24, 2010 - The pressure was on Josh Richards midway through the final A-Main of the 2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series.

Clinging to a six-point lead in the standings over Darrell Lanigan and with his friendly rival on the charge in the season-ending 50-lapper on Nov. 6 during the Lowes Foods World Finals Presented by Bimbo Bakeries and Tom’s Snacks at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C., Richards could feel his hopes and dreams of winning a second consecutive championship crushing down on his shoulders.

But pressure seemingly has no affect on the sensational 22-year-old driver from Shinnston, W.Va. Doesn’t matter if he’s faced with the lofty expectations that accompany his high-profile ride, catcalls from tough fans, criticism from his father/car owner (yes, Mark Richards admits that he’s sometimes hard on his son) or even a nip-and-tuck battle for the $100,000 WoO LMS points title; he’s always cool, calm and collected.

“He’s just got a demeanor that can handle the pressure,” Rocket Chassis co-owner Mark Richards said of his son, who has driven Mark’s familiar blue No. 1 house car for his entire seven-year career. “The spotlight’s on him all the time because of who he is, so he gets overanalyzed by a lot of people. The average person couldn’t deal with that, but Josh doesn’t really care what people say about him. He just goes out there and races without getting too worked up or emotional about any situation.”

That ice-water-in-the-veins persona is a big reason why Richards put his name in the record book in 2010, becoming the first driver in the modern era of the WoO LMS (2004-present) to win the championship twice. He survived Lanigan’s dramatic come-from-behind bid in the season finale to capture the title by four points – the second-closest championship margin in the history of the national tour.

“When you think about winning the championship by four points – four points! – it just seems crazy,” said Richards, who clinched the title by finishing fourth, to Lanigan’s third (from the 21st starting spot), in the World Finals nightcap that was witnessed by a sell-out crowd of over 14,000 and a live television audience on SPEED. “We race all year and it comes down to two positions. It just goes to show you that you have to fight for every spot in every race.

“Lanigan was fast all year and put up one heck of a fight, but we were lucky enough to pull it off. Winning the championship last year was a feat in itself, but to come out on top for the second year in a row shows how strong our team really is.”

There were plenty of opportunities, however, for Richards to succumb to the pressure of the intense 2010 points race. While he registered a series-best eight wins (highlighted by his first-ever 100-lap score in the $20,000-to-win ‘Battle At Eastern Door’ on Sept. 1 at New York’s Mohawk International Raceway), finished 43 of the season’s 44 A-Mains on the lead lap (the only blemish was a DNF-23rd on Aug. 7 in Cedar Lake Speedway’s 100-lap USA Nationals, which offered only show-up points), recorded 27 top-five and 36 top-10 finishes and led the points standings after more than three-quarters of the season’s events, he did experience some bumps in the road. It was his knack for responding positively to each setback that proved his mettle.

Consider this: six times Richards fell to second in the points standings – once to Brady Smith after the second race of the season; three times to Tim McCreadie early in the campaign; and twice to Lanigan down the stretch – but each time he roared back in the next event to regain at least a share of the points lead. What’s more, Richards didn’t flinch when he watched Lanigan completely erase a 78-point deficit in the standings on the strength of a red-hot summer stretch nor when Lanigan sliced Richards’s points lead from 22 to six points with a fourth-place finish (to Richards’s 12th) in the postponed Saturday-afternoon 40-lapper during the World Finals.

“Darrell made up a lot of ground in the middle of the summer, which definitely put more pressure on me and our team,” said Richards, whose longest winless stretch of the season – 12 races from late June through the entire month of July – largely coincided with Lanigan’s surge. “It was a little frustrating because we were running well but just not as good as him, but you can’t overreact to what’s happening. You just have to keep digging and doing your thing.

“The main thing is to focus on what your team needs, your car needs and what you need to be better,” he continued, perfectly articulating the champion’s philosophy he has acquired. “Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing, because when you’re focusing on someone else all the time it’s hard to focus on your own program.”

Actually, Richards’s ability to maintain his composure in the face of Lanigan’s assault – an amazing comeback highlighted by a streak of nine consecutive top-three finishes that was unprecedented in WoO LMS history – was made even more impressive by the fact that he’s so close to the Kentucky driver. The Richards and Lanigan teams are virtually inseparable on the road – and, of course, Richards considers Lanigan, 40, one of his racing mentors.

“We park together, we travel together up-and-down the road, we share information and we’re great friends,” Richards said of Lanigan, who won a career-high seven WoO LMS A-Mains in 2010. “I’ve watched Darrell race ever since I was a little kid and he’s helped me become a better driver, so it seems surreal for (the championship) to come down to a battle between two buddies.

“We’re always pulling for each other, but we both want to win too – that’s what makes us drive even harder. It was cool to have Darrell come over and be supportive of us and congratulate us after we won the championship because I know if I was in his position I’d be devastated to come that close after putting all that work in.”

This was, in fact, the second straight season that Richards outdueled a longtime advisor for the WoO LMS crown. Last year his victim was Steve Francis, a former driver of the Rocket Chassis house car that Richards now steers. Francis, 43, entered the 2009 World Finals with a four-point lead over Richards but ended the weekend 14 points behind his protégé, who, at 21, became the youngest champion of a national touring series in the history of dirt Late Model racing.

The experience of the pressure-packed ’09 points race obviously served Richards well in his run to back-to-back titles. He came to Charlotte this year more confident, more relaxed.

“I learned some things last year,” said Richards, who ended the 2010 season tied with Francis atop the WoO LMS career win list since 2004 (both have 28 victories). “I kind of proved to myself that I could do this. I realized that as far as decision-making and things for the car, you just gotta go with your gut.

“I guess over time you just mature and start to figure things out. There’s times when it seems like it’s never gonna come, but it does. Time fixes everything. If you just keep watching and learning and doing it, you just kind of move right along.”

Richards has become one of the biggest stars in dirt Late Model racing, a supreme talent who is viewed as a contender whenever his team’s hauler pulls through a pit gate. But he still lives at home with his father, mother Tina and younger sister Morgan, and he’s still coming to grips with his newfound status and position in life. He earned just shy of $300,000 on the WoO LMS in 2010 plus nearly another 100-grand off the circuit – even factoring in that he collected only a percentage of that total, “the amount of money he makes in a year right now is pretty unbelievable for a kid his age,” said Mark Richards – but anyone who knows him will tell you that his success hasn’t prompted him to walk with his chest puffed out or live the high life. He’s still modest, accessible and simply infatuated with racing.

“When I think of myself, I’m just Josh, you know?” summarized Richards, who was so steady night-in and night-out in 2010 that he ran just one WoO LMS B-Main all season and didn’t use a single provisional starting spot. “I don’t think of myself as a champion or anything. I’m just a racer who loves to race and have fun.

“It’s crazy how fast it’s happened, how I’ve gotten to this point. I remember when I was in Austin’s shoes (18-year-old WoO LMS Rookie of the Year Austin Hubbard), thinking how, Man, you just want to be up there and winning, but you know it’s gonna take some time. You just have to realize that you can do anything if you truly have the desire in your heart and put the effort into it. You can achieve anything.”

Richards paused, and then continued: “I decided a few years ago, when I graduated high school, that this is what I wanted to do – I wanted to be a race car driver. It wasn’t for the money, it wasn’t for the fame – none of that. It was to race. That’s what it’s all about. Yeah, when you win races and win championships, it definitely makes your living a lot easier, but it still takes every little piece to be able to do it. To do what we’ve done over the last couple years is incredible.

“The first couple years I raced, I always thought, If it doesn’t work out, I can always go back to college. But now, all my friends have graduated college and they’re moving on, and I’m in this. This is my life. But this has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.
 

Momentum For 2011: Francis Closes Frustrating Season Strong With Lucrative Victory In National 100

Momentum For 2011: Francis Closes Frustrating Season Strong With Lucrative Victory In National 100

World of Outlaws & Super DIRTcar Series Champions Set For Live Interviews On Sirius Channel 98 ‘RaceTime Radio’ Show Tonight (Nov. 9)

Richards Picks Up $100,000 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Title Check For Second Straight Year At Sunday’s Awards Banquet

CONCORD, NC - Nov. 8, 2010 - Josh Richards experienced a very rewarding case of déjà vu on Sunday night.

As the 22-year-old sensation from Shinnston, W.Va., accepted the $100,000 World of Outlaws Late Model Series championship check, trophy and keepsake ring for the second consecutive season during the national tour’s ‘Night of Champions’ Awards Banquet at the Great Wolf Lodge, he had to remind himself that the calendar had changed.

“If feels like we were just here last year,” Richards said when he began his address to the attendees of the evening’s gala. “It’s pretty cool to get to come up here again (so quickly).”

Richards stood before the gathering as the first driver to win two titles in the seven-year modern era of the WoO LMS, which was restarted after a 15-year-old layoff in 2004 under the World Racing Group banner. He clinched the prestigious crown 24 hours earlier just one mile away at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, where his fourth-place finish in the season-ending 50-lap A-Main during the Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals Presented by Bimbo Bakeries and Tom’s Snacks gave him a scant four-point margin over 2008 series champion Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky.

Over $400,000 in points-fund cash and special awards was handed out during Sunday’s affair, which for the second year in a row was held immediately after the Lowes Foods World Finals in conjunction with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series awards banquet. Awards ceremonies for each series were conducted simultaneously in separate rooms and then the evening concluded with teams and sponsors from both tours mingling at a post-banquet party.

Richards collected the lion’s share of the evening’s payouts, pushing his total earnings on the 2010 WoO LMS to just under $300,000. He won a series-leading eight A-Mains and recorded 26 top-five and 37 top-10 finishes in 44 events en route to his second straight championship – an achievement he was almost at a loss to describe.

“Last year was a feat in itself to win (the title) after a tight points battle with (Steve) Francis,” said Richards, who debuted on the WoO LMS as a 16-year-old in 2004 before winning the 2005 Rookie of the Year award in his first full touring season. “But to do it two years in a row with Lanigan putting up one heck of a fight – it’s an incredible feeling, an incredible accomplishment.

“It wouldn’t mean anything if you weren’t racing anybody,” he continued. “These (WoO regulars) are the best guys in the country, so to be able to come out on top for the second year in a row shows how strong our team really is. I feel like I’m one of the luckiest guys to get to drive this blue number one car.”

Richards hailed his long list of supporters, including his father Mark, who joined his son on stage to receive the champion car owner trophy, mother Tina and younger sister Morgan; Rocket Chassis co-owner Steve Baker and his wife Sherri; crewmen Matt Barnes, Jimmy Frye and Joey Pinkleton and the staff at Rocket Chassis in Shinnston, W.Va.; and sponsors Seubert Calf Ranches, Kentucky Fuel Corporation, the Will Kinzer Foundation, Cornett Racing Engines, ACE Metal Works, Ernie D’s Enterprises, Petroff Towing, Tony Stewart Racing, Ron Slavic, Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Racing Tire and Integra Racing Shocks.

In addition, Richards gave special recognition to Lanigan, the 40-year-old WoO LMS veteran who engaged Richards in a dramatic battle for the championship that wasn’t decided until the season’s final checkered flag. Lanigan finished third in Saturday night’s Lowes Foods World Finals finale, falling two positions shy of matching Richards’s points total.

“You guys put up one hell of a fight,” Richards said as he directed his gaze toward Lanigan’s table. “You definitely made us work harder for it, and you guys definitely deserve to be standing up here as champions just as much as we do.”

Lanigan, who, like Francis, has served as one of Richards’s racing mentors, made a gallant bid to claim the title during the Lowes Foods World Finals. He cut Richards’s edge from 22 to six points with a fourth-place finish in Saturday afternoon’s postponed 40-lap A-Main and charged forward from the 21st starting spot to place third in the nightcap.

“We were just a little short,” said Lanigan, who would have captured the championship if had been able to win Saturday night’s A-Main with Richards finishing third or worse. “We got all we could get and Josh did all he needed to do to win it.

“It’s hard to believe that you run the whole year and come up two cars short. It’s hard to take, but that’s how it ended up. We work close together (with Richards) and both our cars were good all year, but they just had a little bit better luck.”

Lanigan received a check worth $60,000 for his runner-up finish in the points standings, putting his 2010 earnings over $260,000. It was his third straight top-three finish on the WoO LMS, following his runaway championship season in 2008 and a third-place result in 2009.

Lanigan’s mechanical right-hand man, Randall Edwards, made his own appearance on stage as the winner of the 2010 WoO LMS Crew Chief of the Year award. Edwards, 36, earned the honor for the first time by vote of his fellow series crew chiefs and WoO LMS officials.

Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., who returned as a WoO LMS regular this season for the first time since his championship season in 2006, collected $40,000 for finishing third in the standings. He led the points race early in the season and battled with Richards and Lanigan throughout the summer before falling out of a serious contention late in the campaign.

Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., received $35,000 for finishing fourth in the points standings while Rick Eckert of York, Pa., pocketed $30,000 for his second consecutive fifth-place finish.

Rounding out the top 10 in the 2010 points standings was Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga. ($25,000); Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del. ($24,000); Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y. ($23,000); Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga. ($22,000); and Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa. ($21,000).

Hubbard added $10,000 to his banquet take-home pay for winning the 2010 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year award. The fast-rising 18-year-old star drove car owner Dale Beitler’s No. 19 to two A-Main victories on his way to easily outdistancing Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa, in the rookie standings, which were determined using drivers’ best 30 finishes on the tour.

“I gotta thank Dale, Candi (Dale’s daughter) and the whole Beitler family for being behind me all year,” said Hubbard, who came to the banquet dressed in snazzy rented all-white suit with a light-blue vest and tie (Beitler’s familiar colors!). “They gave me a chance and it was a blast. I can’t thank them enough.

“I’m just happy to be up here getting awards and money for what I love to do.”

George – the first female driver to attempt following the challenging WoO LMS as a regular – was also called to the stage to receive a $5,000 check for finishing second in the Rookie of the Year standings. She entered 37 of the season’s 44 events and finished 12th in the overall points race.

Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio, who finished 11th in the points standings, was the only driver who had perfect attendance on the 2010 tour but did not attend the awards banquet.

Rocket Chassis was recognized as the winner of the 2010 WoO LMS Chassis Builders’ Challenge – the seventh straight year that the company has earned the nod. Ten drivers won WoO LMS A-Mains using Rocket cars this season, giving the manufacturer 32 victories in 44 events.

Cornett ‘Thunder & Lightning’ Racing Engines in Somerset, Ky., was announced as the winner of the 2010 WoO LMS Engine Builders’ Challenge. It was the third consecutive honor for company owner Jack Cornett, whose engines were under the hood of the cars driven by Richards, Lanigan and Hubbard.

WRG President Tom Deery announced that the 2010 WoO LMS Promoter of the Year award was earned by Virginia Motor Speedway’s Bill Sawyer, whose top-notch facility has hosted a WoO LMS event annually since 2004 and this year stepped up by inaugurating the $25,000-to-win Commonwealth 100. The plaque was accepted by VMS announcer/marketing representative Dave Seay, who noted that the second annual Commonwealth 100 will return to the WoO LMS schedule on April 15-16, 2011.

VP Racing Fuels provided a pair of special awards, giving George, Doug Horton of Bruceton Mills, W.Va., and Tyler Reddick of Corning, Calif., certificates for 30 gallons of Late Model Plus fuel for winning the most VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs’ awards (a pair of fuel jugs to the fastest time-trialer who doesn’t qualify for each event) in 2010 and Richards $500 in cash as a bonus for capturing the championship.

Other special awards handed out during the banquet included:

* The Raye Vest Memorial Pill-Draw Award presented by McCarthy’s One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning. Fuller (lowest time-trial pill-draw average for the 2010 season) and McCreadie (highest average) each received a $500 check.

* The DirtonDirt.com Hard Charger Award, a $500 check that went to Frank for picking up the most positions in WoO LMS A-Mains this season. He advanced 170 spots, beating Fuller by 11 positions.

* The luck of the draw provided $1,000 cash prizes to McCreadie and Clint Smith courtesy of STP. McCreadie won the drawing among fulltime WoO LMS drivers who won A-Mains in 2010 while Smith had his name pulled from the group of regulars who did not reach Victory Lane this season.

Lanigan and Richards also earned a portion of the $15,000 LaCrosse Extreme Tough Challenge points fund, a unique 16-race program that featured WoO Late Model and Sprint Car drivers squaring off in a combined points battle. Lanigan earned $3,000 for finishing third in the final LaCrosse standings and Richards pocketed $1,000 for placing fifth.

Among the WRG officials who addressed those in attendance were Deery, Chief Executive Officer Brian Carter and Chief Marketing Officer Ben Geisler. WoO LMS director Tim Christman also gave a review of the 2010 season, thanked the tour’s hard-working road crew (race director Bret Emrick, announcer and banquet host Rick Eshelman, tech director Terry Watson, scorer Sandy Holt, pit steward Mark Coglianese and P.R. director Kevin Kovac) and looked ahead to the upcoming 2011 campaign.

Christman said the full 2011 WoO LMS schedule will likely be released next month, but the season is scheduled to kick off with two programs on Feb. 17 and 19 during the 40th Annual Florida DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

 

Owens Rolls To Victory Again In Lowes Foods World Finals Nightcap As Richards Clinches Second World of Outlaws Late Model Series Title

CONCORD, NC - Nov. 6, 2010 (evening) - Jimmy Owens closed the Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals Presented by Bimbo Bakeries and Tom’s Snacks with a victory for the second consecutive year on Saturday night at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

And for the second year in a row, the standout racer from Newport, Tenn., shared the post-race spotlight with Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who secured his second straight World of Outlaws Late Model Series championship with a fourth-place finish in the evening’s 50-lap A-Main.

Owens, 38, took note of the similar circumstances after rolling to a $10,000 triumph in front of a chilled sell-out crowd of over 14,000 and a national television audience on SPEED. He marched forward from the sixth starting spot to take the lead for good on lap 18 with a inside pass of Blairsville, Ga.’s Jonathan Davenport, who was bidding for an unprecedented clean sweep of the Lowes Foods World Finals after winning Friday’s postponed 40-lap A-Main earlier in the day.

“It’s kind of like déjà vu,” Owens said after his second WoO LMS win of 2010 and the fourth of his career. “Every time we win here, Josh wins something big here. He’s probably glad to see us win.”

Richards, 22, captured the weekend’s most important prize, outdueling Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., who made a furious charge from the 21st starting spot to finish third, in a dramatic season finale. The young sensation defeated his friendly rival by just four points – two finishing positions – to collect a $100,000 champion’s check and become the first repeat titlist of the national tour’s modern era (2004-present).

“To come out on top again and become the first back-to-back champion – words can’t really describe it,” said Richards, who started seventh and briefly peaked at second place following a lap-26 restart. “This means the world to me, all my family, my sponsors and my crew. It’s gonna take a little bit to settle in.”

Richards engaged in a down-to-the-wire thriller for the points crown with Lanigan, the 2008 champion who entered the World Finals trailing Richards by 22 points and put himself in a hole with poor qualifying times in both rounds of Thursday’s time trials. Lanigan came back strong on Saturday, however, finishing fourth – versus Richards’s quiet 12th-place run – in the matinee event to pull within six points entering the nightcap.

Lanigan, 40, was relegated to the 21st starting spot in Saturday night’s A-Main after winning a B-Main, but he tore through the field in his self-owned Rocket mount. He landed in fifth place behind Richards on lap 24 when he picked up several spots by escaping a scramble between turns three and four surrounding the spinning car of Carpentersville, Ill.’s Dennis Erb Jr., who lost control of his machine while battling for sixth place with Rick Eckert of York, Pa.

Shortly thereafter, on lap 32, Lanigan overtook Richards for third and immediately began to pressure Davenport for second. Lanigan knew he needed to beat Richards by at least four positions – or two if he was able to win the race – in order to steal the championship, but he was unable to climb higher while Richards calmly held the fourth spot to the checkered flag.

Lanigan crossed the finish line in third just over one second behind Davenport, who settled for second place after leading laps 15-17 in the Barry Wright house car. Richards was a half-second behind Lanigan in fourth and Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., advanced from the 25th starting spot to finish fifth and cap a season that saw him place third in the WoO LMS points standings.

“I still feeling like I’m trying to run away from that 29 car (of Lanigan),” a relieved Richards said after climbing from his father Mark’s Kentucky Fuel Corporation Rocket No. 1 and lifting the WoO LMS championship trophy in Victory Lane. “Darrell definitely made it tough this year. We went right down to the last lap and it came down to four points.

“Hat’s off to Darrell and his guys. They did a heckuva job this year and deserve to be up here as much we do.”

Owens also held his high after reaching the winner’s circle with his Reece Monuments Team Zero by Bloomquist car. He improved from an eighth-place finish in the afternoon A-Main.

“We were O.K. the first race, but we were just a little bit freer than we needed to be,” said Owens. “We came back (to the pits) and pretty much put last year’s setup on the car and it was good. I really felt my car getting better and better as the race went on. The harder we ran, the better it was.”

Preventing Davenport’s sweep of the Lowes Food World Finals – the 27-year-old driver also set fast time in both ends of Thursday’s qualifying session and won his two heat races – left Owens with a dose of satisfaction.

“He’s been pretty tough this weekend, so it feels good to beat him,” Owens said of Davenport. “We’re probably about the only one who passed him today. I’m kind of proud of that.”

Six caution flags slowed the event, all coming between laps 23 and 29. There were no serious incidents.

Chris Madden of Grey Court, S.C., finished sixth after briefly reaching fifth place. Steve Shaver of Vienna, W.Va., was seventh, followed by polesitter Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., who led laps 1-14 in the Warrior house car; Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., who placed fourth in the WoO LMS points standings; and Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga.

Heat winners were Davenport, Marlar, Erb, Eckert, Owens and John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va., who retired after spinning out of seventh place to bring out the first caution flag of the A-Main on lap 23. The B-Mains were captured by Vic Coffey of Caledonia, N.Y., Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., and Lanigan.

The 2010 WoO LMS campaign will be celebrated – and nearly $400,000 in points-fund cash will be distributed – on Sunday night (Nov. 7) during the tour’s awards banquet at the Great Wolf Lodge in Concord, N.C.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Results of WoO Late Model Series Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals Race No. 2 (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (6) Jimmy Owens/50 $10,000
2. (3) Jonathan Davenport/50 $5,000
3. (21) Darrell Lanigan/50 $3,000
4. (7) Josh Richards/50 $2,575
5. (25) Tim McCreadie/50 $2,000
6. (12) Chris Madden/50 $1,700
7. (11) Steve Shaver/50 $1,400
8. (2) Mike Marlar/50 $1,800
9. (13) Steve Francis/50 $1,200
10. (14) Clint Smith/50 $1,100
11. (23) Shane Clanton/50 $1,050
12. (22) Chris Brown/50 $1,000
13. (4) Rick Eckert/50 $950
14. (26) Austin Hubbard/50 $1,150
15. (19) Vic Coffey/50 $900
16. (24) Will Vaught/50 $800
17. (16) Gregg Satterlee/50 $770
18. (8) Ken Schrader/50 $750
19. (10) Jeff Rine/50 $730
20. (17) Scott Bloomquist/50 $700
21. (20) Earl Pearson Jr./50 $700
22. (15) Jeep VanWormer/50 $700
23. (1) Dennis Erb Jr./50 $750
24. (28) Tim Fuller/49 $725
25. (18) Jared Landers/49 $700
26. (29) Chub Frank/48 $0
27. (27) Tommy Kerr/48 $700
28. (9) Billy Decker/28 $700
29. (5) John Blankenship/22 $700

* Earnings include cash contingency award bonuses

Margin of Victory: 0.715 sec.
Yellow Flags: 6 (Laps 23, 24, 24, 25, 26, 29)
Lap Leaders: Marlar (1-14); Davenport (15-17); Owens (18-50)
Provisional Starters:, McCreadie, Hubbard, Frank (WoO); Kerr, Fuller (track)
Rookie of the Race: Hubbard ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Mike Marlar ($500)

Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Jonathan Davenport, 2. Josh Richards, 3. Steve Francis, 4. Jason Feger, 5. Chris Brown, 6. Shannon Babb, 7. Dennis Franklin, 8. Tyler Reddick, 9. Jacob Hawkins, 10. Bob Gordon, 11. Jill George, 12. Chuck Smith

Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Mike Marlar, 2. Ken Schrader, 3. Clint Smith, 4. Vic Coffey, 5. Ricky Weeks, 6. Johnny Pursley, 7. John Henderson, 8. Chris Ferguson, 9. Chuck Harper, 10. Phillip Pittman, 11. Justin Labonte (DNS) Brian Ledbetter

Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Dennis Erb Jr., 2. Billy Decker, 3. Jeep VanWormer, 4. Shane Clanton, 5. Earl Pearson Jr., 6. Russell King, 7. Tim Allen, 8. Dale McDowell, 9. Ricky Thornton, 10. Mark Byram, 11. Dan Schlieper, 12. Jon Gunther

Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Rick Eckert, 2. Jeff Rine, 3. Gregg Satterlee, 4. Ron Davies, 5. Eric Jacobsen, 6. Eddie Carrier Jr., 7. Tim McCreadie, 8. Tim Dohm, 9. Jason Montgomery, 10. Chad Hollenbeck, 11. Brian Nuttal Jr., 12. James O’Hara

Heat No. 5 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Jimmy Owens, 2. Steve Shaver, 3. Scott Bloomquist, 4. Tim Fuller, 5. Will Vaught, 6. Tommy Kerr, 7. Jared Hawkins, 8. Jay Sessoms, 9. Ricky Elliott, 10. Larry Wight, 11. Kerry King, 12. April Farmer

Heat No. 6 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. John Blankenship, 2. Chris Madden, 3. Jared Landers, 4. Darrell Lanigan, 5. Austin Hubbard, 6. Chub Frank, 7. Doug Drown, 8. John Lobb, 9. Kyle Pierce, 10. Zack Dohm, 11. Brad Neat

B-Main No. 1 (10 laps – Top 2 Transfer): 1. Vic Coffey, 2. Chris Brown, 3. Shannon Babb, 4. Johnny Pursley, 5. Tyler Reddick, 6. John Henderson, 7. Jacob Hawkins, 8. Chuck Harper, 9. Dennis Franklin, 10. Bob Gordon, 11. Chuck Smith, 12. Jill George, 13. Jason Feger, 14. Chris Ferguson, 15. Ricky Weeks (DNS) Phillip Pittman, Justin Labonte, Brian Ledbetter

B-Main No. 2 (10 laps – Top 2 Transfer): 1. Earl Pearson Jr., 2. Shane Clanton, 3. Eric Jacobsen, 4. Russell King, 5. Eddie Carrier Jr., 6. Ron Davies, 7. Tim Dohm, 8. Dale McDowell, 9. Tim Allen, 10. Ricky Thornton, 11. Jason Montgomery, 12. Mark Byram, 13. Brian Nuttal Jr., 14. Chad Hollenbeck, 15. James O’Hara, 16. Tim McCreadie, 17. Dan Schlieper (DNS) Jon Gunther

B-Main No. 3 (10 laps – Top 2 Transfer): 1. Darrell Lanigan, 2. Will Vaught, 3. Chub Frank, 4. Tim Fuller, 5. Doug Drown, 6. Jared Hawkins, 7. Tommy Kerr, 8. Austin Hubbard, 9. John Lobb, 10. Larry Wight, 11. Jay Sessoms, 12. April Farmer, 13. Kyle Pierce (DNS) Ricky Elliott, Zack Dohm, Kerry King, Brad Neat

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:

Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Steve Shaver
MSD Ignition ($75 cash award): Josh Richards
MSD Ignition ($25 cash award): Tim Fuller
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash award to fastest qualifier w/decal): Dennis Erb Jr.
Pink Carburetors ($100 product certificate): Rick Eckert
Pink Carburetors ($50 product certificate): Austin Hubbard
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate): Jonathan Davenport
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate): Tim McCreadie
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate): Vic Coffey
R2C Performance ($100 certificate): Darrell Lanigan
STP ($50 cash award): Vic Coffey
Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Jonathan Davenport

Final 2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Points Standings – after 44 A-Mains - (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):

1. Josh Richards 5908
2. Darrell Lanigan 5904 (-4)
3. Tim McCreadie 5790 (-118)
4. Steve Francis 5682 (-226)
5. Rick Eckert 5576 (-332)
6. Shane Clanton 5534 (-374)
7. Austin Hubbard 5464 (-444)
8. Tim Fuller 5368 (-540)
9. Clint Smith 5328 (-580)
10. Chub Frank 5294 (-614)
11. Russell King 4882 (-1026)
12. Jill George 3590 (-2318)
13. Brent Robinson 3470 (-2438)
14. Brady Smith 3226 (-2682)
15. Vic Coffey 1918 (-3990)

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.
 

Davenport Goes ‘Hard’ For First-Ever World of Outlaws Late Model Series Victory In Saturday Afternoon’s Postponed Lowes Foods World Finals A-Main

CONCORD, NC - Nov. 6, 2010 (afternoon) - A shrewd tire-compound choice propelled Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., to a convincing victory in Saturday afternoon’s postponed 40-lap World of Outlaws Late Model Series A-Main during the Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals Presented by Bimbo Bakeries and Tom’s Snacks at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

With a hard 70-compound Hoosier tire bolted on the right-rear corner of his Barry Wright Race Cars house car, Davenport was able to master the four-tenths-mile oval’s sun-baked afternoon surface. He surged forward from the sixth starting spot to pass Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., for the lead on lap 11 and never looked back en route to his first career WoO LMS triumph.

Davenport, who turned 27 on Oct. 31, also presented veteran car builder Barry Wright a first-ever triumph on the national tour.

“This is real exciting,” said Davenport, who earned $10,500 for bagging a checkered flag in the first half of a Lowes Foods World Finals doubleheader that attracted more than 14,000 fans. “You can’t get no bigger crowd than this, and I’ve always loved this place.”

Rick Eckert of York, Pa., who started from the outside pole, crossed the finish line 3.140 seconds behind Davenport after inheriting the runner-up spot on lap 37 when McCreadie slowed with a flat right-rear tire. McCreadie started from the pole position and led laps 1-10.

Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., advanced from the fifth starting spot to finish third, also behind the wheel of a car built by Wright. Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., started 12th but charged forward to place fourth and fourth-starter Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, Wis., completed the top five.

Lanigan’s run pulled him within just six points of WoO LMS points leader Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who struggled to a 12th-place finish. The two friendly rivals will conclude their dramatic battle for the tour’s $100,000 championship in Saturday night’s regularly-scheduled second half of the Lowes Foods World Finals.

“We’ve gone at it the same way all year and we’re gonna go out there tonight to try and win the race and see what we can come up with (in the points),” said Lanigan, who bolted softer-compound tires on his car for the afternoon event in an attempt to pick up spots during the early stages. “It’s unbelievable that we’ve run all season and the points are going to come down to just a couple positions.”

While Lanigan and Richards chase the WoO LMS crown in Saturday’s nightcap, Davenport will bid for an unprecedented clean sweep of the full-fender portion of the Lowes Foods World Finals. He set fast time in both rounds of qualifying on Thursday night and won a heat race during Saturday afternoon’s program, which was postponed by rain on Friday night.

Davenport expects the road to victory in the evening show to be a bit more difficult, however.

“Today we just put on the right tires,” said Davenport, who was briefly threatened by McCreadie late in the race before clearing lapped traffic and pulling away to a comfortable edge. “I thought it was a no-brainer (to go with a hard tire). Me and Barry looked at each other and we thought the exact same thing – we didn’t even say what tires we were gonna put on.

“Then we got up to the (starting) grid and nobody had them on, and we started thinking maybe we were wrong. But as soon as we took off, we knew we were right. Hoosier has great tires – this new 70 just fired right up.”

Three caution flags slowed the event, including one on lap nine for Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., who stopped with a broken rearend. Clanton, who used a provisional to start the A-Main after spinning during his heat, finished 25th and lost fifth place in the WoO LMS points standings to Eckert.

Finishing in positions 6-10 was Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill.; Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., who overtook early retiree Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., for ninth in the WoO LMS points standings; Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn.; John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va.; and Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., who had won all three previous Lowes Foods World Finals openers.

Heat winners were Davenport, McCreadie, Erb, Eckert, Francis and Schlieper. The B-Mains were captured by Jared Landers of Batesville, Ark., Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, Pa., and Dale McDowell of Chickamagua, Ga.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Results of WoO Late Model Series Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals Race No. 1 (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (6) Jonathan Davenport/40 $10,500
2. (2) Rick Eckert/40 $5,575
3. (5) Steve Francis/40 $3,600
4. (12) Darrell Lanigan/40 $3,100
5. (4) Dan Schlieper/40 $2,000
6. (3) Dennis Erb Jr./40 $1,700
7. (10) Clint Smith/40 $1,900
8. (8) Jimmy Owens/40 $1,300
9. (11) John Blankenship/40 $1,200
10. (17) Scott Bloomquist/40 $1,150
11. (27) Chris Madden/40 $1,050
12. (15) Josh Richards/40 $1,600
13. (19) Jared Landers/40 $950
14. (9) Vic Coffey/40 $900
15. (14) Tim Fuller/40 $1,350
16. (22) Jeep VanWormer/39 $800
17. (26) Russell King/39 $1,270
18. (23) Austin Hubbard/39 $1,550
19. (16) Zack Dohm/39 $730
20. (24) Johnny Pursley/39 $700
21. (20) Gregg Satterlee/39 $700
22. (18) Chris Brown/39 $700
23. (1) Tim McCreadie/36 $1,300
24. (7) Steve Shaver/17 $700
25. (13) Chub Frank/16 $1,200
26. (25) Shane Clanton/8 $1,225
27. (21) Dale McDowell/8 $700
28. (28) Jeff Rine/6 $700

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

Margin of Victory: 3.140 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 3 (Laps 9, 18, 37)
Lap Leaders: McCreadie (1-10); Davenport (11-40)
Provisional Starters: Clanton, King (WoO); Madden, Rine (track)
Rookie of the Race: Austin Hubbard ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Davenport ($500)

Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Jonathan Davenport, 2. Steve Shaver, 3. Chub Frank, 4. Jason Feger, 5. Earl Pearson Jr., 6. Russell King, 7. Eric Jacobsen, 8. Shane Clanton, 9. Chad Hollenbeck, 10. Ken Schrader, 11. Chuck Smith, 12. Ricky Thornton (DQ – light) Billy Decker

Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Tim McCreadie, 2. Jimmy Owens, 3. Tim Fuller, 4. Jeep VanWormer, 5. John Henderson, 6. Jared Landers, 7. Jason Montgomery, 8. Tim Allen, 9. Kerry King, 10. James O’Hara, 11. Eric Wells, 12. Mike Marlar, 13. Jay Sessoms

Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Dennis Erb Jr., 2. Vic Coffey, 3. Josh Richards, 4. Chris Ferguson, 5. Austin Hubbard, 6. Brad Neat, 7. Ricky Weeks, 8. April Farmer, 9. Dennis Franklin, 10. Larry Wight, 11. Mark Byram (DNS) Rick Delong, Dane Burns

Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Rick Eckert, 2. Clint Smith, 3. Zack Dohm, 4. Gregg Satterlee, 5. Ron Davies, 6. Jared Hawkins, 7. Tyler Reddick, 8. Justin Labonte, 9. Tim Dohm, 10. Kyle Pierce, 11. Tommy Kerr, 12. Chuck Harper

Heat No. 5 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Steve Francis, 2. John Blankenship, 3. Scott Bloomquist, 4. Dale McDowell, 5. Johnny Pursley, 6. Ricky Elliott, 7. Eddie Carrier Jr., 8. Jacob Hawkins, 9. Bob Gordon, 10. Kevin Scott, 11. Brian Ledbetter, 12. Doug Drown

Heat No. 6 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Dan Schlieper, 2. Darrell Lanigan, 3. Chris Brown, 4. Will Vaught, 5. Shannon Babb, 6. Chris Madden, 7. Jeff Rine, 8. John Lobb, 9. Jill George, 10. Phillip Pittman, 11. Jon Gunther, 12. Brian Nuttal Jr.

B-Main No. 1 (10 laps – Top 2 Transfer): 1. Jared Landers, 2. Jeep VanWormer, 3. Russell King, 4. Shane Clanton, 5. Jason Feger, 6. Jason Montgomery, 7. Ken Schrader, 8. Tim Allen, 9. John Henderson, 10. Eric Jacobsen, 11. Billy Decker, 12. Chad Hollenbeck, 13. Kerry King, 14. James O’Hara, 15. Chuck Smith, 16. Ricky Thornton, 17. Jay Sessoms (DNS) Earl Pearson Jr., Eric Wells, Mike Marlar

B-Main No. 2 (10 laps – Top 2 Transfer): 1. Gregg Satterlee, 2. Austin Hubbard, 3. Jared Hawkins, 4. Tim Dohm, 5. Tyler Reddick, 6. Ricky Weeks, 7. Dennis Franklin, 8. Justin Labonte, 9. April Farmer, 10. Tommy Kerr, 11. Chris Ferguson, 12. Larry Wight, 13. Mark Byram, 14. Kyle Pierce, 15. Ron Davies, 16. Brad Neat (DNS) Chuck Harper

B-Main No. 3 (10 laps – Top 2 Transfer): 1. Dale McDowell, 2. Johnny Pursley, 3. Chris Madden, 4. Ricky Elliott, 5. Eddie Carrier Jr., 6. Jacob Hawkins, 7. Jeff Rine, 8. John Lobb, 9. Jill George, 10. Jon Gunther, 11. Doug Drown, 12. Brian Nuttal Jr., 13. Kevin Scott, 14. Bob Gordon, 15. Shannon Babb, 16. Will Vaught, 17. Brian Ledbetter (DNS) Phillip Pittman

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:

Arizona Sports Shirts ($50 product certificate): Tyler Reddick/Jill George
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Dennis Erb Jr.
Eibach Springs (one free spring): Larry Wight/Johnny Pursley
MSD Ignition ($75 cash award): Rick Eckert
MSD Ignition ($25 cash award): Shane Clanton
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash award to fastest qualifier w/decal): Scott Bloomquist
Pink Carburetors ($100 product certificate): Rick Eckert
Pink Carburetors ($50 product certificate): Austin Hubbard
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate): Jonathan Davenport
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate): Dan Schlieper
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate): Johnny Pursley
R2C Performance ($100 cash): Rick Eckert
STP ($50 cash award): Shane Clanton
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (two five-gallon plastic fuel jugs to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main if decal is displayed): Mike Marlar
Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Jonathan Davenport

2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Nov. 6 (afternoon) – 43 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):

1. Josh Richards 5766
2. Darrell Lanigan 5760 (-6)
3. Tim McCreadie 5650 (-116)
4. Steve Francis 5550 (-216)
5. Rick Eckert 5452 (-314)
6. Shane Clanton 5406 (-360)
7. Austin Hubbard 5342 (-424)
8. Tim Fuller 5266 (-500)
9. Clint Smith 5198 (-568)
10. Chub Frank 5196 (-570)
11. Russell King 4794 (-972)
12. Jill George 3518 (-2248)

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

 

Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals Postponed; Friday’s Portion Of Event To Be Held Saturday

CONCORD, NC - Nov. 5, 2010 - Friday night’s portion of the Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals presented by Bimbo Bakeries and Tom's Snacks scheduled for The Dirt Track at Charlotte has been postponed until Saturday due to inclement weather.

“We have been monitoring the weather forecast and all indications are calling for rain throughout the evening hours,” said Christian Byrd, general manager of The Dirt Track at Charlotte. “With a weather forecast of this nature we feel the track surface would not be fit to race on until tomorrow morning. This decision has been made in the best interests of our fans and competitors. We appreciate our fans’ patience and look forward to a full day of racing tomorrow.”

The Dirt Track at Charlotte and World Racing Group officials will make every effort to make sure all scheduled racing events are fully completed so the fans will have the best possible racing experience this weekend.

The pit gate will open on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and spectator gates will open at 10 a.m. Racing is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.

Tickets purchased for Friday night’s action will be honored Saturday morning. Upon the completion of Friday’s scheduled portion of the event, there will be a break in racing action and the grandstand and pit area will be cleared to make room for those fans that have purchased Saturday-night tickets.

The only on-track action completed on Friday night between the periodic periods of rain was the C-Main and first B-Main for the Super DIRTcar Series big-block Modifieds. The heaviest burst of rain struck midway through the first B-Main, forcing officials to postpone the remainder of the program.

Action will pick up on Saturday morning with the second big-block Modified B-Main, followed by the complete programs for the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and Late Models.

Saturday's A-Mains will be run over the 50-lap distance for the Late Models, 40 laps for the big-block Modifieds and 30 laps for the Sprint Cars.

Fans with further questions should contact the Charlotte Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267).

Tickets for Saturday night's racing program are sold out, but standing-room-only tickets are still available for the nightcap and can be purchased for just $25. Tickets are still available for the postponed program that will kick off the busy Saturday at the four-tenths-mile oval.

Saturday night's racing program will be televised live in a four-hour special on the SPEED cable network starting at 8 p.m. ET.

For more information or to purchase tickets call the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267) or go online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.
 

Davenport Emerges As Star Of 76-Car Late Model Field With Two Fast-Time Honors During Thursday’s Lowes Foods World Finals Qualifying Night

CONCORD, NC - Nov. 4, 2010 - Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., was perfect of Thursday night, sweeping fast-time honors in the two rounds of time trials that kicked off the fourth annual Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals Presented by Bimbo Bakeries and Tom’s Snacks at The Dirt Track Charlotte.

A talent-laden field of 76 dirt Late Models jammed the pit area for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series event, which is part of a blockbuster season-ending tripleheader at the four-tenths-mile oval. The program also attracted 56 machines for the companion World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series meet and 52 entries for the Super DIRTcar Series big-block action.

Davenport, who turned 27 on Oct. 31, was spectacular in becoming the second driver to emerge with the quickest time in both rounds of Lowes Foods World Finals qualifying, duplicating the feat of Vienna, W.Va.’s Steve Shaver in 2007. He ripped off consecutive laps of 15.178 seconds and 15.130 seconds during the single session of WoO LMS qualifying.

With weather concerns prevailing after a wet overnight and morning in the Charlotte area, WoO LMS and Charlotte Motor Speedway officials decided to condense the traditional pair of World Finals Late Model qualifying legs into a single session. Drivers turned two laps – the first used to line up Friday night’s heat race, the second to align Saturday evening’s heats.

A 50-lap A-Main paying $10,000 to win will top the WoO LMS agenda each evening.

Davenport, who has never won a WoO LMS A-Main, will start from his Barry Wright Race Cars house car from the pole position in the first 10-lap heat race on both Friday and Saturday night. He will be seeking to erase memories of his last visit to The Dirt Track on Oct. 13, when he was forced to relinquish his pole starting spot in the 50-lap World of Outlaws Late Model Showdown because an incorrect rear quarter-panel height measurement during pre-race inspection prompted officials to penalize him to the rear of the field.

Davenport was the only driver to secure two pole starting spots in World Finals heat races. Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., Vic Coffey of Caledonia, N.Y., Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, Pa., Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., and Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, Wis., earned pole slots for Friday prelims, while NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader of Concord, N.C., Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., Rick Eckert of York, Pa., Tommy Kerr of Maryville, Tenn., and John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va., will start from the pole in Saturday heats.

Defending WoO LMS champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who enters the World Finals leading the national tour’s points standings by 22 points over 2008 titlist Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., timed 15th fastest in Friday’s qualifying round and 19th fastest in Saturday’s session. Richards got an early upper hand on Lanigan, who managed only the 48th and 42nd fastest laps during Thursday’s qualifying rounds and will have to work his way forward in both of his heats.

The World Finals continue on Friday and Saturday, with gates opening at 3 p.m. and hot laps scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. each night. Racing will immediately follow the completion of practice sessions for the WoO LMS, WoO Sprint Car Series and Super DIRTcar Series big-block Modifieds.

Saturday night’s World Finals program will be televised live by the SPEED cable network from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight ET.

For more information, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com or www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

Round 1 Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results For Fri., Nov. 5 Heat Races (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. 49-Jonathan Davenport/Blairsville, GA 15.178
2. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 15.212
3. 32c-Vic Coffey/Caledonia, NY 15.326
4. 22s-Gregg Satterlee/Rochester Mills, PA 15.345
5. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 15.365
6. s9-Dan Schlieper/Sullivan, WI 15.392
7. 6-Steve Shaver/Vienna, WV 15.393
8. 20-Jimmy Owens/Newport, TN 15.408
9. 28e-Dennis Erb Jr./Carpentersville, IL 15.410
10. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 15.422
11. 23-John Blankenship/Williamson, WV 15.490
12. 44M-Chris Madden/Grey Court, SC 15.539
13. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 15.569
14. 1GW-Eric Wells/Hazard, KY 15.616
15. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 15.639
16. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 15.657
17. 09-Johnny Pursley/Clover, SC 15.673
18. 2J-Jeff Rine/Danville, PA 15.675
19. 91-Billy Decker/Unadilla, NY 15.676
20. 17L-Jared Landers/Batesville, AR 15.677
21. 22F-Chris Ferguson/Mt. Holly, NC 15.677
22. 17z-Zach Dohm/Cross Lanes, WV 15.694
23. 0-Scott Bloomquist/Mooresburg, TN 15.700
24. 1V-Will Vaught/Crane, MO 15.704
25. 9K-Ken Schrader/Concord, NC 15.741
26. 1G-Mike Marlar/Winfield, TN 15.763
27. 14-April Farmer/Livingston, TN 15.774
28. 71d-Ron Davies/Warren, PA 15.793
29. 17M-Dale McDowell/Chickamauga, GA 15.798
30. 21b-Chris Brown/Cleveland, TX 15.801
31. 25F-Jason Feger/Bloomington, IL 15.810
32. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 15.811
33. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 15.843
34. 44L-Justin Labonte/Trinity, NC 15.866
35. 07-Brian Ledbetter/Dallas, NC 15.877
36. 1L-John Lobb/Frewsburg, NY 15.881
37. 5-Eric Jacobsen/Sea Cliff Beach, CA 15.892
38. 21M-Jason Montgomery/Jackson, OH 15.911
39. 41-Brad Neat/Dunnville, KY 15.916
40. 20J-Jared Hawkins/Fairmont, WV 15.919
41. 88-Ricky Elliott/Seaford, DE 15.941
42. 18b-Shannon Babb/Moweaqua, IL 15.953
43. 44P-Earl Pearson Jr./Jacksonville, FL 15.966
44. 17A-Tim Allen/Kannapolis, NC 15.983
45. 1W-Ricky Weeks/Rutherforton, NC 15.992
46. 4T-Tommy Kerr/Maryville, TN 16.041
47. 20H-Jacob Hawkins/Fairmont, WV 16.058
48. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 16.076
49. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 16.089
50. 55-Jeep VanWormer/Pinconning, MI 16.097
51.2F-Dennis Franklin/Gaffney, SC 16.106
52. 11-Tyler Reddick/Corning, CA 16.108
53. 28-Eddie Carrier Jr./Salt Rock, WV 16.130
54. 3P-Phillip Pittman/Vidalia, GA 16.191
55. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 16.222
56. 84-Jay Sessoms/Stanley, NC 16.241
57. 3d-Rick Delong/Whitehouse, OH 16.250
58. 00H-Chuck Harper/Beverly, WV 16.255
59. 12d-Doug Drown/Wooster, OH 16.478
60. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 16.482
61. 4ds-Chad Hollenbeck/Kingsley, PA 16.490
62. K&B-Kerry King/Delmar, DE 16.493
63. 45-Mark Byram/Georgetown, DE 16.731
64. 6T-Tim Dohm/Cross Lanes, WV 16.831
65. 12s-Kevin Scott Jr./Laurel, DE 16.878
66. 16-Brian Nuttal Jr./Claxton, GA 16.954
67. 1s-Chuck Smith/Sanford, NC 17.005
68. 2x-John Henderson/Aiken, SC 17.249
69. 10*-Dane Burns/New London, NC 17.426
70. 281-Kyle Pierce/Statesville, NC 17.617
71. 31-Bob Gordon/Keyser, WV 19.402
72. 18M-Jeff Smith/Dallas, NC N/T
73. 2G-Jon Gunther/Fayetteville, NC N/T
74. 180-Ricky Thornton/Chandler, AZ N/T
75. 44J-James O’Hara/Moscow, PA N/T
76. 99L-Larry Wight/Phoenix, NY N/T

Round 2 Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results For Sat., Nov. 6 Heat Races (Position/Driver/Best Lap):

1. Jonathan Davenport 15.130
2. Ken Schrader 15.347
3. Dennis Erb Jr. 15.406
4. Rick Eckert 15.419
5. Tommy Kerr 15.430
6. John Blankenship 15.434
7. Dennis Franklin 15.469
8. Mike Marlar 15.480
9. Billy Decker 15.489
10. Jason Montgomery 15.506
11. Jimmy Owens 15.544
12. Doug Drown 15.552
13. Jason Feger 15.553
14. Chris Ferguson 15.556
15. Earl Pearson Jr. 15.559
16. Jeff Rine 15.560
17. Steve Shaver 15.566
18. Chris Madden 15.573
19. Josh Richards 15.574
20. Ricky Weeks 15.606
21. Dan Schlieper 15.627
22. Ron Davies 15.638
23. Scott Bloomquist 15.640
24. Jared Landers 15.650
25. Steve Francis 15.653
26. Vic Coffey 15.661
27. Dale McDowell 15.673
28. Gregg Satterlee 15.688
29. Ricky Elliott 15.700
30. John Lobb 15.708
31. Chris Brown 15.724
32. Clint Smith 15.735
33. Shane Clanton 15.744
34. Eric Jacobsen 15.753
35. Tim Fuller 15.756
36. Zach Dohm 15.759
37. Shannon Babb 15.770
38. Johnny Pursley 15.786
39. Jeep VanWormer 15.799
40. Eddie Carrier Jr. 15.851
41. Will Vaught 15.870
42. Darrell Lanigan 15.921
43. Kevin Scott 15.986
44. Rick Delong 15.998
45. Jacob Hawkins 16.044
46. Dane Burns 16.049
47. Justin Labonte 16.067
48. Tim Allen 16.076
49. Tim Dohm 16.102
50. Jared Hawkins 16.114
51. Chub Frank 16.129
52. Eric Wells 16.181
53. Bob Gordon 16.229
54. Phillip Pittman 16.237
55. Mark Byram 16.394
56. Chad Hollenbeck 16.414
57. Kerry King 16.442
58. Austin Hubbard 16.496
59. Jill George 16.527
60. Chuck Harper 16.615
61. Jon Gunther 16.660
62. Tim McCreadie 16.702
63. Jay Sessoms 16.849
64. Kyle Pierce 16.986
65. Chuck Smith 17.088
66. Brian Ledbetter 17.227
67. Russell King 18.364
68. Brian Nuttal Jr. 20.378
69. April Farmer N/T
70. Jeff Smith N/T
71. Brad Neat N/T
72. Tyler Reddick N/T
73. John Henderson N/T
74. Ricky Thornton N/T
75. James O’Hara N/T
76. Larry Wight N/T

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

 

World of Outlaws Late Model Series News & Notes: Previewing The Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals At The Dirt Track At Charlotte

CONCORD, NC - Nov. 3, 2010 -

BUSY RACERS: This weekend’s Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals Presented by Bimbo Bakeries and Tom’s Snacks at The Dirt Track at Charlotte will for the first time bring together the World of Outlaws Late Model and Sprint Car Series with the Northeast’s Super DIRTcar Series big-block Modifieds in an epic tripleheader.

And the addition of the popular big-block Modifieds will mean double-duty for at least four New York drivers.

WoO LMS stars Tim McCreadie and Tim Fuller as well as Super DIRTcar Series regulars Billy Decker and Larry Wight have plans to compete in both the Late Model and big-block Modified action during the Lowes Foods World Finals, which kick off on Thursday night (Nov. 4) with two rounds of time trials for the Late Models and Sprint Cars and two sets of heats for the big-blocks. The programs on Friday (Nov. 5) and Saturday (Nov. 6) will feature 50-lap A-Mains for the Late Models, 40-lappers for the Modifieds and 30-lap contests for the Sprints.

McCreadie, 36, and Fuller, who turned 43 on Oct. 28, are returning to their big-block Modified roots at The Dirt Track. Both will drive their familiar Late Models in the full-fender action – McCreadie will run the Sweeteners Plus No. 39 and Fuller will go to the post in the Gypsum Express No. 19 – and steer big-block Mods for Empire State-based teams that they hook up with for selected events that fit their schedules. McCreadie’s Modified ride is the Vinnie Salerno-owned Four Star Racing mount – a machine he drove to a $20,000 victory on Oct. 24 in the unsanctioned Eastern States 200 at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, N.Y. – and Fuller will campaign the J&S Racing No. 74.

While McCreadie and Fuller have never won a WoO LMS event at Charlotte, both reached Victory Lane there in Super DIRTcar Series shows during their big-block Modified careers. McCreadie was triumphant on April 6, 2002, and Fuller hit paydirt on May 25, 2005.

McCreadie is certainly knocking on the door to the winner’s circle at The Dirt Track in WoO LMS competition, however, having finished second in his last two starts – last year’s World Finals finale and last month’s Showdown event. His runner-up outing at the 2009 World Finals followed a dismal 27th-place finish in the opener and runs of fourth and 11th in the 2008 doubleheader (he didn’t enter the 2007 edition).

Fuller, meanwhile, has only a single memorable run at the World Finals – a third-place finish from deep in the field in the finale of the 2007 twinbill. He failed to qualify for the first A-Main in 2007 and then scored finishes of 14th and 15th in 2008 and 17th and 13th in 2009.

Decker, a DIRTcar big-block Modified superstar who turns 46 on Nov. 21, and the 17-year-old Wight will focus their attention on big-block Modified racing this weekend but also continue their dirt Late Model moonlighting. The two drivers – teammates of Fuller’s on the Gypsum Express operation, which is fielded by Wight’s father John – have been entering selected full-fender events in recent years.

Decker, who has never won a Super DIRTcar Series feature at The Dirt Track, is coming off a third-place finish in the dirt Late Model portion of last weekend’s Octoberfest 350 at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway. Wight, who won a B-Main before finishing 19th in the Octoberfest dirt Late Model event, will make his first-ever start at Charlotte.

THE SCENARIO: Josh Richards can assure himself of a second consecutive WoO LMS championship one way this weekend – by finishing in the top five in both 50-lap A-Mains.

The 22-year-old sensation leads the points standings entering the Lowes Foods World Finals by 22 points over 2008 titlist Darrell Lanigan. He can’t be overtaken for the $100,000 crown if he finishes at least fifth in the features.

McCreadie remains mathematically alive for the championship, sitting third in the standings, 94 points behind Richards. But his hopes wrest on both Richards and Lanigan experiencing disastrous weekends – ie., back-to-back finishes of 24th or worse.

Is that possible? Well, nothing can be taken for granted at The Dirt Track, but the odds are against it considering both Richards and Lanigan have finished every WoO LMS A-Main this season on the lead lap except the USA Nationals at Wisconsin’s Cedar Lake Speedway, an event that offered only show-up points.

Richards has a formidable performance record in the World Finals, finishing outside the top 10 just once in six A-Main starts. He finished fifth and 11th in 2007; 10th and first in 2008; and fifth and seventh in 2009.

Lanigan has been quiet but steady in the World Finals, rolling up finishes of 11th and fifth in 2007; 11th and seventh in 2008; and a pair of fourths in 2009.

COMING BACK: Chub Frank didn’t compete in last year’s World Finals doubleheader – thanks, of course, to the fractured cheek and orbital bones he suffered on the eve of the event when an apparent clod of hard-packed clay struck him in the helmet during qualifying for the rescheduled Topless Showdown.

The 48-year-old driver from Bear Lake, Pa., is fully healed and hoping to erase his bad memories of The Dirt Track this weekend. His previous World Finals finishes include a 14th and 24th in 2007 and a 12th and sixth in 2008.

WILL HE ROLL ON?: Since late September Shane Clanton has been on a hot streak, accumulating one win, four runner-up finishes and a third in seven starts at seven different tracks in six states.

But Clanton’s one hiccup came on Oct. 13 in the Showdown at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. He finished 10th after qualifying problems forced him to use a provisional and start 26th.

Can the Georgia driver keep his successful stretch going in the World Finals? He’ll have to buck his history in the event; he’s been a contender in past visits but doesn’t have the results to show for it. He finished 10th and ninth in 2007; 25th and 18th in 2008; and 11th and 16th in 2009.

OUTLAWS AT THE WORLD FINALS: Other WoO LMS regulars and their World Finals finishing histories include:

* Steve Francis: fourth and second in 2007; 28th and fifth in 2008; ninth and 12th in 2009.

* Rick Eckert: sixth and 12th in 2007; 17th and 12th in 2008; third and eighth in 2009.

* Clint Smith: 26th and 23rd in 2007; 23rd and 17th in 2008; 13th and sixth in 2009.

* Austin Hubbard (2010 Rookie of the Year): entered the 2007, 2008 and 2009 programs but did not qualify for an A-Main.

* Russell King: 18th and 20th in 2009.

* Jill George: entered the event in 2008 but did not qualify for an A-Main.

WINNERS: No driver has enjoyed more success in the Lowes Foods World Finals than Scott Bloomquist, who has won the opening-night 50-lapper all three years of the event’s existence. He craves a Saturday-night triumph in front of the SPEED television cameras, however, and will return this weekend to take another crack at it.

Joining Bloomquist and Richards as World Finals A-Main winners are Donnie Moran (2007 finale) and Jimmy Owens (2009 finale). Moran and Owens are expected to be contenders again this weekend.

CARS, CARS, CARS: The Lowes Foods World Finals dirt Late Model field has averaged 80 cars in its three-year run – a record 82 in 2007, 78 in 2008 and 80 in 2009. Another huge turnout is expected to pack The Dirt Track’s pit area this weekend.

NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT: The Lowes Foods World Finals program on Saturday night (Nov. 6) will once again be broadcast live on the SPEED cable network – this year as a four-hour spectacle beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

The show – the first World of Outlaws race broadcast in high definition – will see popular SPEED personality Dave Despain serve as host for the fourth consecutive year. The broadcast team also includes Bobby Gerould and hall-of-famer Brad Doty calling the Sprint Car action; Shane Andrews and Dr. Dick Berggren covering the Late Models and big-blocks; and Sarah Jane Hunt and Tony Bokhoven providing reports from the pits.

EARLIER START: The Dirt Track at Charlotte officials announced on Tuesday a change in the schedule for the Lowes Foods World Finals, moving gate openings and hot laps up one hour ahead of their originally scheduled times on Friday and Saturday.

Spectator gates will open at 3 p.m. and practice laps will begin at 4 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday, with racing to immediately follow. On Thursday, meanwhile, gates will open at the originally scheduled time of 4 p.m., but hot laps will be moved up one hour to get the green flag at 5 p.m.

Questions about the schedule change can be directed to the Charlotte Motor Speedway events department at 704-455-3205.

TICKET INFO: With fans from 48 different states, all across Canada and even overseas (Australia, Great Britain, etc.) already purchasing tickets for the Lowes Foods World Finals, only a few three-day ticket packages remain. Thursday tickets start at only $20, while kids 12 and under get in for $10. Friday and Saturday adult single-day tickets start at only $39, while children 12 and under get in for $15.

Call 1-800-455-FANS (3267) to order tickets or go online to www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.
 

Bimbo Bakeries and Tom’s Snacks Hungry for Lowes Foods World Finals Presented by Bimbo and Tom's

Kevin Kovac, Public Relations

kkovac@dirtcar.com • 704-795-7223

Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals Featured On Sirius Channel 98 ‘RaceTime Radio’ Show Tonight (Nov. 2)

Austin Hubbard Set To Close Rookie of the Year Campaign In Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals Nov. 4-6 At The Dirt Track At Charlotte

Chris Dolack, VP Media/PR

cdolack@dirtcar.com • 704-795-7223

Lowes Foods World Finals Presented by Bimbo Bakeries & Tom's Snacks Marks First World of Outlaws Broadcast in High Definition

Four hours of coverage on SPEED begins 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 6

Who Has The Edge? Richards & Lanigan Ready To Conclude Points Battle At Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals On Nov. 4-6

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Raye Vest Memorial Pill Draw Awards Will Be Determined At World Finals

Chris Dolack, VP Media/PR

cdolack@dirtcar.com • 704-795-7223

World of Outlaws and DIRTcar Racing Go Primetime on SPEED for Three Consecutive Saturday Nights

Back On Top: Richards Regains Points Lead With World of Outlaws Late Model Showdown Victory At Charlotte

CONCORD, NC - Oct. 13, 2010 - Advantage, Josh Richards.

The 22-year-old sensation from Shinnston, W.Va., vaulted back on top of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series points standings on Wednesday night, holding off Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., to capture the 50-lap World of Outlaws Late Model Showdown at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

Richards turned a two-point deficit to Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., into a 22-point lead in the event that kicked off Bank of America 500 week at Charlotte Motor Speedway. As Richards raced off the outside pole starting spot to pace the entire distance of the A-Main, Lanigan was slowed by a right-front flat tire on lap 13 and managed only a 12th-place finish after restarting at the rear of the field.

The $100,000 WoO LMS championship prize will be determined with the season-ending pair of features during the World Finals on Nov. 4-6 at The Dirt Track, which boasted a fast, smooth surface on Wednesday night.

“It’s unfortunate that Lanigan had some bad luck tonight, but there’s still a long way to go,” said Richards, who earned $10,675 for his series-leading eighth triumph of 2010. “We gotta come back here for the Finals and race hard. You can lose a lot of points in one night, so we just gotta try to stay consistent and stay focused.”

Richards was on his game in the Showdown, keeping his Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket car in front of McCreadie to win the Showdown for the second straight year and score his third career triumph at the four-tenths-mile oval. It was his 28th career victory on the WoO LMS – tying him with Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., as the national tour’s winningest driver since 2004 – and moved him closer to a second consecutive Outlaw title.

McCreadie, 36, settled for second place in the Sweeteners Plus Rocket, crossing the finish line one car length behind Richards. Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., scored a career-best WoO LMS finish of third after starting seventh in Sanford Goddard’s Warrior house car, while sixth-starter Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., was fourth in the Bobby Labonte Motorsports MastersSbilt and Steve Shaver of Vienna, W.Va., charged forward from the 21st starting spot to place fifth in the K&L Rumley Rocket.

Richards put himself in position for his critical victory with a dramatic heat-race performance. He came on after a mid-race restart to win the second heat by inches with a last-turn pass of Dallas, N.C.’s Jeff Smith.

“We struggled in qualifying with some carburetor issues,” said Richards. “We got that fixed, though, and in the heat race the car was phenomenal. The Cornett power really worked well for us in the heat – we were able to stick around that bottom and get by those guys.

“I think that was the key to winning tonight – getting in the redraw and getting a good spot. We drew the outside pole and I knew it was pretty much our race to lose. We’ve run well here in the past, so I knew if we could get out front and get rolling we’d be in good shape.”

Richards had to withstand some serious pressure from McCreadie, whose advance from the ninth starting spot reached second place when he swept around the outside of both Marlar and Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., on a lap-13 restart. McCreadie had several high-groove bids to grab the lead thwarted by Richards, who built a 10 car-length edge on McCreadie following a restart on lap 22 but maintained a more modest edge after the race’s fifth and final caution flag flew on lap 42.

“It’s good to be leading, but you don’t know where anybody’s running,” said Richards, who has an opportunity to tie or beat the WoO LMS single-season win record of nine set in 2004 by Scott Bloomquist. “I kept watching the scoreboard, and once I saw McCreadie was second and I could kind of hear him on the outside I moved up (on the track).

“I ran the top of one and two and the bottom of three and four, just trying to keep my momentum up. I know (McCreadie) wasn’t very happy about it – he thought I was racing him dirty – but when you’re on a track like this and you’re running the bottom you don’t stay on the bottom because you gotta keep your momentum up.

“I knew he was there but I didn’t know how close, so I just tried to take his line away. It’s called racing.”

McCreadie drew close to Richards’s rear bumper during the final circuits but fell short. He was disappointed after absorbing his seventh runner-up finish of 2010.

“I gave it all I had,” said McCreadie. “At least we made that 1 car have to get wide the last 20 laps to hold on.”

Richards, meanwhile, wore a big smile after his triumph, which he credited to his well-oiled team.

“Everybody did an awesome job – my dad, Matt (Barnes), Jimmy (Frye),” said Richards. “Even (NASCAR star Tony) Stewart – he was in the pits scraping mud before the race and I guess he put the magic touch on it for us.”

Richards dedicated his win to the memory of the late Larry Daugherty, the 60-year-old father of Integra Racing Shocks rep Brian Daugherty. The elder Daugherty passed away unexpectedly last Friday morning.

Rick Eckert of York, Pa., advanced from the 11th starting spot to finish sixth. NASCAR Truck Series star Austin Dillon of Welcome, N.C. – the grandson of NASCAR team owner Richard Childress – placed seventh and McDowell slipped back to eighth after hitting a tractor tire lining the inside of turn four. Provisional starters Francis (25th) and Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga. (26th) rounded out the top 10.

Pearson was quickest in the 43-car Ohlins Shocks Time Trials session, turning a lap of 14.714 seconds for his second fast-time honor of 2010 on the WoO LMS.

Heat winners were Marlar, Richards, Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., and Lanigan. Shaver and Randy Weaver of Crossville, Tenn., captured the B-Mains.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Results of World of Outlaws Late Model Showdown (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (2) Josh Richards/50 $10,675
2. (9) Tim McCreadie/50 $5,600
3. (7) Mike Marlar/50 $3,500
4. (6) Earl Pearson Jr./50 $2,500
5. (21) Steve Shaver/50 $2,000
6. (11) Rick Eckert/50 $2,200
7. (10) Austin Dillon/50 $1,400
8. (5) Dale McDowell/50 $1,300
9. (26) Steve Francis/50 $1,800
10. (26) Shane Clanton/50 $1,600
11. (19) Chub Frank/50 $1,550
12. (8) Darrell Lanigan/50 $1,600
13. (23) Johnny Pursley/50 $1,000
14. (17) Clint Smith/50 $1,400
15. (15) Chris Madden/50 $900
16. (16) Tommy Kerr/50 $800
17. (1) Jonathan Davenport/42 $770
18. (13) Austin Hubbard/41 $1,500
19. (24) Luke Roffers/40 $730
20. (22) Randy Weaver/24 $700
21. (20) Ross Bailes/22 $700
22. (18) Russell King/21 $1,200
23. (27) Robbie Bailey/18 $700
24. (14) Chris Ferguson/13 $700
25. (4) Eddie Carrier Jr./13 $700
26. (3) Jeff Smith/6 $725
27. (12) Tim Fuller/5 $1,200
DNS: Kenny Compton Jr.

NOTE: Jonathan Davenport, Austin Hubbard and Chris Madden were penalized to starting spots at the rear of the field for failing a pre-race technical inspection of their car’s rear quarter-panel height

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

Yellow Flags: 5 (Laps 5, 11, 13, 22, 42)
Lap Leaders: Richards (1-50)
Provisional Starters: Francis
Rookie of the Race: Hubbard ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Marlar ($500)

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. 44-Earl Pearson Jr./Jacksonville, FL 14.714
2. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 14.764
3. 49-Jonathan Davenport/Blairsville, GA 14.777
4. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 14.841
5. 1G-Mike Marlar/Winfield, TN 14.907
6. 18M-Jeff Smith/Dallas, NC 14.926
7. 44M-Chris Madden/Grey Court, SC 14.975
8. 28-Eddie Carrier Jr./Salt Rock, WV 14.997
9. 6-Steve Shaver/Vienna, WV 15.022
10. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 15.034
11. 17M-Dale McDowell/Chickamauga, GA 15.049
12. 32c-Vic Coffey/Caledonia, NY 15.056
13. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 15.086
14. 3-Austin Dillon/Welcome, NC 15.097
15. 116-Randy Weaver/Crossville, TN 15.119
16. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 15.181
17. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 15.185
18. 22F-Chris Ferguson/Mt. Holly, NC 15.188
19. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 15.191
20. 87-Ross Bailes/Blacksburg, SC 15.211
21. 09-Johnny Pursley/Clover, SC 15.250
22. 10-Kenny Compton Jr./Bland, VA 15.261
23. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 15.283
24. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 15.305
25. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 15.328
26. 2-Brady Smith/Solon Springs, WI 15.475
27. 3C-Mike Collins/Carter Lake, IA 15.515
28. 21-Luke Roffers/Concord, NC 15.516
29. 93-Donald Bradsher/Burlington, NC 15.546
30. 17-Tim Allen/Kannapolis, NC 15.547
31. 92-Stephen Evans/Tyner, NC 15.550
32. 4T-Tommy Kerr/Maryville, TN 15.589
33. 00-Jay Sessoms/Stanley, NC 15.635
34. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 15.768
35. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 15.815
36. 2G-Jon Gunther/Fayetteville, NC 15.829
37. 21b-Chris Brown/Cleveland, TX 16.021
38. 07-Brian Ledbetter/Dallas, NC 16.494
39. 29P-Kyle Pierce/Statesville, NC 16.539
40. 72-Robbie Bailey/Mooresville, NC 16.548
41. 773-Mike Evock/Hope Mills, NC 16.909
42. 1s-Chuck Smith/Sanford, NC 17.128
43. B4-Travis Leake/Enoree, SC 17.493

Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 5 Transfer): Marlar, Pearson, McCreadie, Hubbard, Clint Smith, Shaver, Shaver, Pursley, Brown, Evock, Bradsher, Sessoms

Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 5 Transfer): Richards, J. Smith, Dillon, Ferguson, King, Francis, B. Smith, Compton, Ledbetter, Allen, Chuck Smith

Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 5 Transfer): Davenport, McDowell, Madden, Eckert, Weaver, Frank, Collins, George, Leake, Pierce, Evans

Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 5 Transfer): Lanigan, Carrier, Fuller, Kerr, Bailes, Bailey, Roffers, Gunther, Clanton, Coffey

B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): Shaver, Pursley, B. Smith, Francis, Ledbetter, Brown, Evock, Allen (DNS) Compton, Bradsher, Sessoms, Chuck Smith

B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): Weaver, Roffers, Collins, George, Pierce, Bailey, Gunther, Evans, Leake, Coffey, Clanton

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:

Arizona Sports Shirts ($50 product certificate): Brian Ledbetter, Stephen Evans
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Steve Shaver
Eibach Springs (one free spring): Johnny Pursley, Mike Collins
MSD Ignition ($75 cash award): Josh Richards
MSD Ignition ($25 cash award): Jeff Smith
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash award to fastest qualifier w/decal): Chris Madden
Pink Carburetors ($100 product certificate):
Pink Carburetors ($50 product certificate):
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate): Tim McCreadie
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate): Rick Eckert
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate): Chris Madden
R2C Performance ($100 certificate): Tim McCreadie
STP ($50 cash award): Johnny Pursley
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (two five-gallon plastic fuel jugs to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main if decal is displayed): Vic Coffey
Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Josh Richards

2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Oct. 13 – 42 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):

1. Josh Richards 5640
2. Darrell Lanigan 5618 (-22)
3. Tim McCreadie 5546 (-94)
4. Steve Francis 5406 (-234)
5. Shane Clanton 5308 (-332)
6. Rick Eckert 5306 (-334)
7. Austin Hubbard 5228 (-412)
8. Tim Fuller 5146 (-494)
9. Chub Frank 5096 (-544)
10. Clint Smith 5062 (-578)
11. Russell King 4678 (-962)
12. Brent Robinson 3470 (-2170)
13. Jill George 3436 (-2204)
14. Brady Smith 3226 (-2414)
15. Rick 'Boom' Briggs 1820 (-3820)

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.
 

World of Outlaws Late Model Series News & Notes: Clanton Carries Momentum To Wednesday’s Showdown At Charlotte; Bad Mod Luck For T-Mac & Fuller

CONCORD, NC - Oct. 12, 2010 -

HEATING UP: Shane Clanton will carry plenty of momentum into the World of Outlaws Late Model Showdown this Wednesday night (Oct. 13) at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series regular from Fayetteville, Ga., gained some serious steam last weekend, finishing first and second in a pair of dirt Late Model events in his home state. Add those outings to his runner-up finish on Sept. 25 in the unsanctioned Magnolia State 100 at Columbus (Miss.) Speedway, and it’s clear that Clanton is primed and ready to chase the $10,000 winner’s check on the line in the 50-lap full-fender Showdown that kicks off Bank of America 500 week at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

“We’ve worked real hard the last two months to find some stuff that works for us,” said Clanton, who has won three A-Mains on the 2010 WoO LMS and ranks fifth in the points standings. “We’re still working, but I feel real good about where we’re at right now. We’ve had an up-and-down year, but we’re coming on strong here at the end.”

Clanton, 35, hasn’t won a WoO LMS A-Main since July 3 at Tazewell (Tenn.) Speedway, sending him into Wednesday’s action riding a 17-race winless streak. But he’s gotten his groove back since the national tour’s last event on Sept. 18, capping his surge last weekend with a near-sweep of a Peach State doubleheader. He followed up a second-place finish in Saturday night’s Dixie Shootout at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, Ga., with a powerful triumph on Sunday evening in the Rome Showdown at Rome (Ga.) Speedway.

The victory at Rome was special for Clanton, who lives less than two hours from the track and turned plenty of laps there at the start of his racing career.

“It means a lot win to win a race in Georgia,” said Clanton. “I grew up racing at Rome. It seemed like I could never finish a race there, but I raced there a lot.

“We had a bunch of people we know at both tracks (over the weekend), so that was fun. (Ronnie) Dobbins (Clanton’s car owner) was there on Saturday night, but, unfortunately, he didn’t come on Sunday because he had to get up early for work on Monday morning. I called him and let him know we won.”

With his confidence soaring, Clanton has a good feeling about his chances in Wednesday night’s Showdown at The Dirt Track.

“I’m optimistic because our car has been so good the last few weeks,” said Clanton, who is back to running the familiar yellow colors on his RSD Enterprises No. 25 after sporting a limited-edition red-and-black Georgia Bulldogs-themed scheme in September’s World 100 at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway and the WoO LMS event at Missouri’s I-55 Raceway. “If we can keep doing what we’ve been doing, we should be right there with a shot to win.

“I love the racetrack,” he continued, speaking fondly of the state-of-the-art four-tenths-mile oval. “It’s fast, it’s big and it’s wide, so there’s always a groove somebody’s not in. You just go there and try to make a pass.”

Despite Clanton’s fondness for The Dirt Track, he hasn’t enjoyed much success there in WoO LMS competition. He’s scored just one top-five finish in 12 starts since 2007, placing a career-best fifth in the 2008 Showdown. Clanton also has four DNFs and failed to qualify for the 2008 Colossal 100.

“Probably the best I’ve run there was two years ago during the World Finals,” said Clanton, recalling the finale of the 2008 season-ending doubleheader at The Dirt Track. “I felt like we had a chance to win that one, but me and Earl (Pearson Jr.) got together (while battling for third on lap 37) and I went around (dropping to 18th in the finishing order).”

OPEN-WHEEL MISFORTUNE: WoO LMS stars Tim McCreadie and Tim Fuller returned to their DIRTcar big-block Modified roots last weekend to chase a $50,000 top prize in the division’s most prestigious event – Sunday afternoon’s SEF Small Engine Fuels 200, which culminated Super DIRT Week XXXIX at the famed New York State Fairgrounds one-mile oval in Syracuse, N.Y.

Unfortunately, luck – a prerequisite for success at the venerable track known as the ‘Moody Mile’ – wasn’t on either driver’s side.

Neither McCreadie nor Fuller was around at the finish of Sunday’s grueling 200-miler. Both racers from Watertown, N.Y., had promising runs dive-bombed by mechanical malfunctions.

McCreadie, 36, was the first to go down in the SEF 200. Driving a car from the same Sweeteners Plus Racing stable that fields his familiar No. 39 dirt Late Models, the 2006 WoO LMS champion was running 16th on a lap-75 restart when his machine’s left-front wheel flew off in turn two, leaving him disabled against the outside wall. He was towed off and scored 30th in the final rundown – his 10th DNF in 11 career SEF 200 starts. The only year he was around at the checkered flag of the event was in 2009 when he placed second.

“We just broke a (left-front) spindle,” said McCreadie, who started 14th and climbed into the top five before making a scheduled pit stop during the caution period that preceded his ill-fated restart. “I think we were fine. We had just passed arguably the fastest car here all week long on the restart like it was nothing. We were gonna pit again (for fuel), but I felt like we had a good enough car to race.

“That’s just the kind of luck we’ve had here...what are you gonna do?”

Fuller, who turns 43 on Oct. 28, lasted longer than McCreadie but left Syracuse in no better mood. He saw his day end on lap 142 when he backed into the outside wall in turn one, heavily damaging the J&S Racing No. 74 that he campaigns in selected big-block and 358-Modified events that fit outside his full-fender schedule.

“When I went into (turn) one the right-rear wheel was vibrating so I let off and then the wheel broke and sent me in the wall backward,” said Fuller, who was running in the top 10 and set to go the distance after making his pit stop on lap 77. “I didn’t hit it at full-song, but it still killed the car. I’m O.K. though – I knew I put that LaJoie seat in this year for a reason.”

Fuller, who started 15th, was credited with a 24th-place finish. It was the first time he failed to finish the SEF 200 since 2001 (40th place); his last eight event starts had featured finishes of first (2004), second (2007), third (2009) and fifth (2008) and no finish worse than 13th.

While Fuller also experienced a frustrating run in Saturday’s ‘Salute to the Troops’ 358-Modified 150 – he finished 24th after a dead battery shut off his car on lap 113 as he ran in the top five – McCreadie authored a performance that was the highlight of his week. He finished second to sometime-dirt Late Model driver Billy Decker of Unadilla, N.Y., earning $10,000 for his career-best outing in the small-block show.

The SEF 200 will be broadcast on SPEED on Sat., Oct. 30, at 8 p.m.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT: There have been 278 WoO LMS A-Mains contested to date since 2004 and Steve Francis has driven a Rocket Chassis car in every one of them.

But when the 2007 tour champion heads out on the track Wednesday night at Charlotte, he plans to be behind the wheel of his new car: a machine constructed by veteran chassis builder Barry Wright of Cowpens, S.C.

Ashland, Ky.’s Francis, who is fourth in the 2010 WoO LMS points standings but has managed only two victories, debuted the Barry Wright mount last weekend in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series events at Dixie and Rome. Despite going into the shows with only a handful of tests laps under his belt, the ‘Kentucky Colonel’ flashed the potential of his car, finishing sixth at Dixie (he said he cut his right-rear tire too much for the track conditions, causing the rubber to “chunk up” and hamper his effort) and a third at Rome (he fell just short of nipping Chris Madden at the line for second).

“We’re still in a learning curve with the car,” said Francis, who still has a Rocket car in his stable. “There’s things on it that are quite a bit different from what we’re used to, so it’ll take some time to figure it out. But we’re happy with it.”

Francis decided to go with a nostalgic look on his new car, which sports the same yellow-and-red colors that his No. 15 sported in 1999 when he won both the World 100 and Dirt Track World Championship events in the same season.

STAYING BUSY: While WoO LMS points leader Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., opted to take last weekend off, his challenger for the 2010 title, defending champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., went racing at Dixie and Rome.

Richards, who trails Lanigan by a mere two points with all three remaining events at The Dirt Track (including the World Finals doubleheader on Nov. 4-6), made his first career starts at the two Georgia ovals driving the Ernie Davis-owned No. 25 in which he makes most of his non-Outlaw appearances. The 22-year-old sensation registered finishes of 11th at Dixie (after starting 21st) and sixth at Rome.

WoO LMS travelers Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., and rookie Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa, also competed in the Dixie/Rome events. Smith finished 22nd at Dixie and failed to qualify at Rome (he suffered a flat tire in his heat), while George was on the DNQ list for both shows.

COMING BACK: Wednesday night’s Showdown marks the first time Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., will tackle The Dirt Track at Charlotte since he suffered a painful facial injury during qualifying for last year’s Showdown, which was rained out on its original mid-October date and rescheduled as a lead-in to the World Finals several weeks later.

Frank absorbed a hard blow to the front of his helmet from an apparent flying clod of thick, hard-packed clay early in his Showdown heat race last year. Though stunned, he managed to pull his car to the infield and was quickly attended to by safety personnel. He was transported to a local hospital and treated for injuries that included fractures in his right cheek and orbital bone, but after visiting a specialist upon his return home it was determined that he did not need surgery.

The injuries forced Frank to sit out last year’s World Finals, snapping his consecutive-start WoO LMS A-Main start streak at 227 races.

Frank heads to The Dirt Track coming off a second-place finish in the first of last Saturday night’s unsanctioned twin 50-lap ‘Billy Bob’ features at Brushcreek Motorsports Complex in Peebles, Ohio. He finished 20th in the nightcap, however; a complete invert of the cars still running at the end of the first A-Main left him with the 20th starting spot and he was involved in an early-race crash that ultimately led him to retire from the event.

STAR-STUDDED FIELD: The army of Outlaw regulars – in points standings order: Lanigan, Richards, McCreadie, Francis, Clanton, Rick Eckert of York, Pa., 2010 Rookie of the Year Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., Fuller, Frank, Smith, Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio, and George – will lead the charge to The Dirt Track at Charlotte for Wednesday night’s Showdown.

Dozens more well-known racers are expected to challenge the Outlaws, including Chris Madden of Grey Court, S.C., Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., Jeff Smith of Dallas, N.C., Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., and Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va.

Pit gates are scheduled to open at 1 p.m. and the grandstand gates will be unlocked at 5 p.m. A driver autograph session will take place under the main grandstand from 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., followed by WoO LMS hot laps at 6 p.m., time trials at 6:15 and racing at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children 12-and-under.

Ticket information on The Dirt Track At Charlotte’s World of Outlaws Late Model Showdown (Wed., Oct. 13) and the World Finals – the season-ending blockbuster weekend on Nov. 4-6 that also includes the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and, for the first time, the Super DIRTcar big-block Modified Series – can be obtained by logging on to www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or calling 1-800-455-FANS.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

World of Outlaws Late Model Series News & Notes: T-Mac & Fuller Ready For Marquee DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Event; Strong Outlaw Invasion Of Knoxville Led By Richards

CONCORD, NC - Oct. 5, 2010 -

MOD MEN: Tim Fuller already knows the joy of winning the country’s most prestigious DIRTcar big-block Modified event – and, of course, would love to do it again.

Tim McCreadie, meanwhile, is still trying to join his legendary father, ‘Barefoot’ Bob McCreadie, on the race’s elite list of winners.

Both former DIRTcar big-block Modified stars-turned-World of Outlaws Late Model Series regulars will again chase glory this Sunday afternoon (Oct. 10) in the SEF Small Engine Fuels 200 Presented by Ferris/Snapper/Simplicity Big-Block Modified Championship, returning to their roots in the Northeast’s well-known open-wheel division to compete in the $50,000-to-win spectacular that culminates Super DIRT Week XXXIX (Oct. 6-10) at the famed New York State Fairgrounds one-mile oval in Syracuse.

With the WoO LMS idle until Oct. 13 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C., Fuller and McCreadie will spend the next five days in the Salt City battling for over $75,000 in first-place cash during DIRTcar Racing’s autumn festival of speed. Their schedules include not only include the headline 200-mile big-block tilt but also the ‘Salute to the Troops 358-Modified 150’ on Sat., Oct. 9, and satellite Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Championship Series events on Thursday night (Oct. 7) at Brewerton (N.Y.) Speedway and Friday night (Oct. 8) at Rolling Wheels Raceway in Elbridge, N.Y.

Fuller, 42, of Watertown, N.Y., is continuing his tradition of making sure to fit Super DIRT Week into his annual itinerary since shifting his focus to dirt Late Models in 2007. While McCreadie didn’t compete at the Syracuse Mile from 2006 – the year he won the WoO LMS championship – through 2008, Fuller has been a Columbus Day weekend fixture at the venerable track.

“I enjoy going (to Super DIRT Week) because it’s still one of the premier events in the country,” said Fuller, who won the SEF Small Engine Fuels 200 in 2004 and 358-Modified 150 in 2005. “I really enjoy race day (of the 200) and the challenge of trying to win the race. I’ve always said that you haven’t made it in Modifieds until you’ve won it.”

Fuller, who has won twice on the 2010 WoO LMS and currently ranks eighth in the points standings, will make his Super DIRT Week assault for the second consecutive year in equipment fielded by the Smith Brothers Concrete team, a long-running big-block Modified operation from the Middletown, N.Y., area that is co-owned by Steve Hastings and Joe Knoth. Fuller joined the team last year to run selected big-block Modified events and has gotten very comfortable with the arrangement.

“It’s a great deal for me,” said Fuller, a former champion of the overall Mr. DIRTcar big-block Modified (2005) and Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified (2003 and 1993) points races. “I’m real fortunate that (Hastings and Knoth) provide me such great stuff to drive in Modified shows. They take care of everything and make it real easy on me. My uniform is even dry-cleaned and hanging in the trailer when I get there (for a Modified race).”

Fuller, who will run Teo-Pro No. 74 cars from the team’s stable in both big-block and 358-Modified action during Super DIRT Week, will attempt to improve on a 2009 Syracuse performance that was good but, with a few breaks, could potentially have been great. He won the pole position (for the second straight year) and finished third in the 200 but lost second place to McCreadie on a late-race restart, and in the 358-Modified 150 he had a certain runner-up finish snatched from his grasp when his car’s fuel tank ran dry on the final lap.

“That was a lot of money we had slip through our fingers last year,” said Fuller, who earned over $20,000 during last year’s Super DIRT Week (third-place in the 200 was worth $15,000) but lost 20-grand more thanks to his single position drop in the 200 (McCreadie pocketed $25,000 for finishing second) and heartbreaking ceding of a $10,000 second-place finish in the 150. “I hate to even think about it, but what’s done is done. We still made some money and hopefully we can make some more this year.”

Fuller’s performance record at Syracuse certainly bodes well for his chances in 2010. A 16-time starter in the 358-Modified 150 (every year since 1992 except ’96 and ’98) and 14-time competitor in the big-block 200 (he’s been in every race since 1996), Fuller has been especially solid in the marquee big-block event. He’s finished outside the top 20 just once (40th in 2001) and owns five top-five finishes, including his win in ’04; a second in 2007; thirds in 2009 and 1999; and a fifth in 2008.

McCreadie, 36, of Watertown, N.Y., hasn’t enjoyed quite the same level of success at the Moody Mile as his North Country buddy. Actually, Syracuse has been a house of horrors for McCreadie – until his second-place run last year in the 200, he had never even finished the big-block event in nine previous starts. Just look at McCreadie’s finishes in the 200 from 1997-2005: 26th, 25th, 40th, 38th, 38th, 33rd, 34th, 23rd, 23rd.

Super DIRT Week 2009 was a revelation for McCreadie, who finally left Syracuse with at least a modicum of satisfaction. While his frustration in the 358-Modified 150 continued – his 30th-place outing last year fit alongside his dismal previous finishes of 30th (’96), 35th (’97), 51st (’99), 48th (’00) and 26th (’03) – he not only was on the track to see the checkered flag of the SEF Small Engine Fuels 200 but also nearly won it.

McCreadie crossed the finish line last year 2.682 seconds behind winner Matt Sheppard of Waterloo, N.Y., but he felt the tables could have been turned if he hadn’t experienced one very tough break. He had moved up to fifth place from the 28th starting spot when every lead-lap car remaining on the track came down pit road on lap 121 to fulfill their mandatory post-lap 100 pit stop requirement, but he lost valuable track position because he got boxed in behind the car driven by New Jersey’s Ryan Godown. Thus T-Mac restarted 14th, forcing him to spend the remainder of the distance battling to get back into contention.

McCreadie returns to the ‘Cuse this year with the same big-block Modified he drove there in 2009. Fielded by the Sweeteners Plus team that also supplies his familiar No. 39 dirt Late Model equipment, the Bicknell car has a proven track record at the Mile. McCreadie was a contender for victory with the mount in both the 2004 and 2005 events before experiencing mechanical trouble, and his Sweeteners Plus teammate, 2008 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year Vic Coffey of Caledonia, N.Y., drove the machine to his second career SEF Small Engine Fuels 200 triumph in 2007. Coffey also ran the car in the 200 in 2008 (he dropped out early due to broken right-front spindle), but he decided to turn the mount over to McCreadie last year and prepare a new car for himself.

The car will be powered by the same Chuck Cici-built big-block engine that was under its hood last year – McCreadie and his chief mechanic, Al Stevens, picked up the freshened motor in Ohio on their way home from last month’s WoO LMS event at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo. – but there will be one noteworthy difference from the machine that McCreadie rolled onto the starting grid one year ago. The car now sports a completely reworked front clip – not the hastily-repaired, second-hand clip that was welded on it last year. After McCreadie hit a rut in the track during a pre-qualifying practice session and badly bent the car’s front clip, his team had to perform an amazing repair job just to get their only vehicle race-ready for time trials two-and-a-half hours later. They cut off the car’s damaged front clip and replaced it with a clip from a used Bicknell frame that was in a nearby racer’s shop. After doing some quick welding work and piecing the front end back together, McCreadie was on the track in his assigned qualifying spot – but of course, the car wasn’t exactly 100 percent for the remainder of the week.

McCreadie, who will drive Vinnie Salerno’s Four-Star Transmissions Motorports car in the 358-Modified 150 and the small-block satellite events at Brewerton and Rolling Wheels Raceway (McCreadie won last year’s Super DIRT Week at Brewerton), is hoping his time has come for a Syracuse celebration. He got a taste of posing in Victory Lane in front of the massive Fairgrounds grandstand when his father won the 200 in 1986 and yearns to get there himself, allowing him and his dad to join the late Toby Tobias Sr. and Richie Tobias as the only father-son combos to win the SEF Small Engine Fuels 200.

“It would be huge if I could win it,” said McCreadie, who has four WoO LMS wins this season and sits third in the points standings. “I grew up with Syracuse always being the big deal every year. All the major Modified guys over the years have won it, so it’s definitely one of the things I look at that I’d like to put on my resume.”

For Super DIRT Week ticket information, visit www.superdirtweekonline.com or contact DIRTcar Racing Northeast Headquarters at 315-834-6606. More information can also be found at www.superdirtcarseries.com and www.dirtcar.com.

OUTLAWS SHINE: Last weekend’s seventh annual Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals at the famed Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway was very good to the World of Outlaws Late Model Series regulars in attendance.

The final finishing order of Saturday night’s 100-lap, $40,000-to-win finale showed five WoO LMS drivers in the top 10 and six in the top 15, led by defending tour champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who placed second. Current series points leader Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., was third; Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., finished fourth after an early spin forced him to charge from the rear with a car that wasn’t handling well due to front-end damage; Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., was eighth; 2010 Rookie of the Year Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., took 10th in his first-ever visit to the historic track; and Rick Eckert of York, Pa., settled for a 15th-place finish.

Richards, 22, fell just short of capturing his coveted career-first big-money, crown-jewel dirt Late Model event – he was the Knoxville Late Model Nationals runner-up for the second time in the last three years – but he was the most consistently fast Outlaw over the three-day meet. He led both 25-lap preliminary features – a spring steel strap that broke off his car’s right-front nosepiece and got into the tire caused him to slip back to a seventh-place finish on Thursday night, and he finished third on Friday evening after his miscalculation passing a lapped car on the outside allowed Billy Moyer to grab the lead with just three laps remaining – and advanced from the 11th starting spot in the 100-lapper to briefly threaten Moyer before watching the former WoO LMS champion run away with an unprecedented sweep of the Nationals’ three A-Mains.

“I feel like we had a legitimate shot to win every night,” said Richards, who craves a crown-jewel triumph after scoring his first-ever 100-lap win last month in the WoO LMS ‘Battle At Eastern Door’ at New York’s Mohawk International Raceway. “I think we had the second-best car there – and, at times, maybe even the best car. We’re a little disappointed we didn’t get a win, but Billy’s really on a roll right now and just was a little better than us.”

A $20,000 bridesmaid finish was a decent consolation prize for Richards, who loves visiting Knoxville Raceway.

“That’s probably one of my favorite tracks to race at, especially when it’s in the condition it was on Saturday night,” said Richards, who trails Lanigan by just two points in the WoO LMS championship battle with just three events remaining on the 2010 schedule. “It gets so slippery you can race all over it. It’s so much fun to race like that.”

McCreadie had the best preliminary-night finishes, placing second on Thursday and fifth on Friday. Other prelim results: Lanigan (DNQ due to an engine malfunction on Thursday, fourth on Friday), Francis (24th, eighth), Hubbard (sixth, 10th) and Eckert (14th, 20th). Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa, who has followed most of the 2010 WoO LMS as a rookie, entered the Nationals but failed to qualify for a feature.

WEEKEND ACTION: WoO LMS veteran Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., picked up a ride to fill his racing schedule last weekend, driving a car from his sponsor Don Cliburn’s stable in a Mississippi State Championship Challenge Series event at Jackson Motor Speedway in Byram, Miss.

Smith, who also made the trip to discuss his 2011 sponsorship arrangement with Cliburn, won a B-Main and charged from the 22nd starting spot to finish second in the feature. He then topped his weekend by entering his own car in Sunday’s Alabama State Championship event at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, where he settled for an 18th-place finish because a tangle with a slower car knocked him out after he had moved from 23rd to fifth in just eight laps.

Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., meanwhile, traveled to Brushcreek Motorsports Complex in Peebles, Ohio, for the two-day ‘Billy Bob’ program. He finished second Friday-night preliminary feature and qualified through a heat race on Saturday night for the twin 75-lap, $7,500-to-win features, but rain forced officials to postpone the headline events to Sat., Oct. 9.

GET YOUR TICKETS: Ticket information on The Dirt Track At Charlotte’s World of Outlaws Late Model Showdown (Wed., Oct. 13) and the World Finals – the season-ending blockbuster weekend on Nov. 4-6 that also includes the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and, for the first time, the Super DIRTcar big-block Modified Series – can be obtained by logging on to www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or calling 1-800-455-FANS.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.
 

Chub Frank Leads DirtOnDirt.com Hard Charger Standings With Three Events Left On 2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Schedule
CONCORD, NC - Sept. 29, 2010 - Chub Frank’s 2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series campaign hasn’t lived up to his expectations, but he is in the driver’s seat for an award that could bring some consolation to his frustrating season.

Frank, 48, of Bear Lake, Pa., leads the DirtOnDirt.com Hard Charger standings, a first-year program designed to reward the driver who advances the most cumulative positions in A-Mains over the course of the national tour’s 2010 schedule. He is bidding for the $500 prize that will be presented to the winner of the award at season’s end by DirtOnDirt.com’s Michael Rigsby, the CEO and head of Media/Communications for the Web site that has become a popular destination on the net for fans and industry types seeking unique, in-depth coverage of dirt Late Model racing.

With just three events at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C., remaining on the 44-race WoO LMS schedule – the World of Outlaws Late Model Showdown on Oct. 13 and the World Finals on Nov. 4-6 – Frank holds an advantage of four gained positions (159-155) over Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., in the Hard Charger standings. Fuller saw his long run at the top of the Hard Charger battle end in the last WoO LMS event on Sept. 18 at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo., where Frank’s move from the 19th starting spot to a ninth-place finish vaulted him ahead.

Frank, who is ninth in the WoO LMS points standings and needs a victory in one of the three remaining 50-lap A-Mains at The Dirt Track at Charlotte to avoid his first winless season on the tour since becoming a regular in 2004, scored his biggest position pickup on Aug. 7 in the 100-lap USA Nationals at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis. After using a provisional to start 25th he finished third, advancing 22 spots to put himself in serious contention for the DirtOnDirt.com Hard Charger Award.

“Unfortunately, we’ve had a lot of opportunities to gain spots this year (in A-Mains) because there’s been too many nights where we haven’t qualified as well as I would’ve liked,” said Frank, whose qualifying struggles have forced him to run a B-Main in nearly a quarter of this season’s events (he’s won six). “I would much rather have been starting up front than coming from the back so much, but I appreciate DirtOnDirt giving us a chance to win some money for picking up spots in the features.”

Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga. (148 positions gained) and 2010 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del. (140 positions) are third and fourth, respectively, in the Hard Charger standings and would seem to be the most likely challengers to Frank and Fuller for the $500 check. Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., who made the season’s biggest single-race advance when he picked up 25 spots (28th-to-third) in the Feb. 13 event at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., is fifth in the standings with 121 positions gained.

Rounding out the Hard Charger top 10 is WoO LMS points leader Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky. (115 positions gained), Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga. (112), Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio (105), defending tour champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va. (97) and Rick Eckert of York, Pa. (92).

DirtonDirt.com is a Web site that provides news coverage, results and features on all types of dirt Late Model racing. Subscribers to the site have access to exclusive video highlights, interviews and stories produced by DoD’s experienced reporting team.

Ticket information on The Dirt Track at Charlotte’s World of Outlaws Late Model Showdown (Wed., Oct. 13) and World Finals – the season-ending blockbuster weekend on Nov. 4-6 that also includes the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and, for the first time, the Super DIRTcar big-block Modified Series – can be obtained by logging on to www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or calling 1-800-455-FANS.

Fans are reminded that have only have until this Thursday (Sept. 30) to take advantage of an attractive advance-ticket offer for the World Finals that provides a free pit pass with the purchase of every $69 weekend ticket.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

DirtOnDirt.com Hard Charger Award Standings (positions improved in 2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series A-Mains)

1. Chub Frank 159
2. Tim Fuller 155
3. Clint Smith 148
4. Austin Hubbard 140
5. Tim McCreadie 121
6. Darrell Lanigan 115
7. Shane Clanton 112
8. Russell King 105
9. Josh Richards 97
10. Rick Eckert 92
11. Brent Robinson 84
12. Steve Francis 76
13. Jill George 65
14. Billy Moyer 50
15. Vic Coffey 48

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

World of Outlaws Late Model Series News & Notes: Richards Adds To Win Total On Busy Off-Weekend For World of Outlaws Regulars
CONCORD, NC - Sept. 27, 2010 -

EVEN DOZEN: Josh Richards isn’t sitting still as he awaits his final showdown with Darrell Lanigan for the 2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series championship. He’s adding to his win total – and bank account.

Racing close to his Shinnston, W.Va., home on the first of three consecutive off-weekends from WoO LMS competition, Richards climbed behind the wheel of the Ernie D’s Enterprises Rocket No. 25 – his ride for most non-Outlaw events – last Saturday night and captured the 50-lap dirt Late Model portion of the unsanctioned Winchester 200 at Winchester (Va.) Speedway. The 22-year-old star pocketed $11,000 for his evening’s work, which included a $1,000 bonus for winning the 25-lap semi-feature that put him on the pole in the headliner.

The five-figure triumph was a perfect way to keep Richards’s mind off his impending points battle with Lanigan that concludes with three races at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C. – the World of Outlaws Late Model Showdown on Oct. 13 and the World Finals on Nov. 4-6. Richards, who is shooting for a second consecutive WoO LMS crown, is currently second in the points standings, just two points behind Lanigan, the 2008 series champ.

“I’m not even thinking about the points right now,” said Richards, who also scored a sixth-place finish in a 25-lap preliminary feature last Friday night at Winchester. “We’re working hard in the shop to make sure we have everything ready for Charlotte, but until we get there I’m just worrying about winning every race I can.”

Richards enjoyed himself immensely at Winchester, a three-eighths-mile bullring that his special-event team owner, Ernie Davis, has frequented throughout his years in the sport. The victory made him the first West Virginia driver to win the long-standing Winchester 200 and gave him 12 overall wins this season, moving him closer to his career-high total of 15 wins established in 2009.

“The car was phenomenal again,” Richards said of his Roush-Yates Ford-powered machine, which he has steered to four of his wins in 2010. “It was really fun to drive. We threw some things at it on Friday night and I knew it would be good (on Saturday night). Once the track slowed down we really shined.

“It’s cool to finally win the Winchester 200 – and it’s really awesome to win it for Ernie. I think it was the first time Ernie’s won that race, so, considering how long he’s been racing there, that’s a pretty big deal.”

Richards, whose seven WoO LMS victories this season has him tied with Lanigan for the top spot on the tour’s 2010 win list, was joined in Winchester’s field by fellow series regulars Rick Eckert of York, Pa., and Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del. After Richards, Eckert and Hubbard finished 6-8, respectively, in Friday’s preliminary feature, Eckert went on to place third in Saturday’s 50-lapper while the 18-year-old Hubbard failed to make the A-Main starting field after crashing in the semi-feature.

SETTLING FOR SECOND: Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., towed his red-and-black Georgia Bulldogs-themed car to Columbus (Miss.) Speedway for last weekend’s ‘Magnolia State 100’ and came close to winning the state’s biggest dirt Late Model event for the third time in four years.

The 35-year-old Clanton, who sits fifth in the WoO LMS points standings, set fast time and won a heat race last Friday night and paced the field early in Saturday night’s 100-lapper at the high-banked, one-third-mile oval. But after trading a pair of contact-filled slide-jobs with Mississippi’s David Breazeale on laps 15-16, Clanton was left with rear spoiler damage that caused him to cede the lead to eventual winner Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn. Clanton spent the remainder of the distance battling handling problems but gutted out a runner-up finish.

“We knew we had a good race car before the damage got done,” said Clanton, who craved the $25,010 first-place prize but still pocketed a $10,000 check. “We were holding on after that. Without a rear spoiler you get so loose getting in the corner.”

MORE MISFORTUNE: Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., who has been Clanton’s traveling partner down the highway for much of the 2010 WoO LMS campaign, handed his buddy second-place money at Columbus after experiencing some late-race heartbreak.

Francis, who passed Clanton for second on a lap-60 restart, was within striking distance of Marlar when his Valvoline-sponsored car slowed with just five laps remaining due to a broken engine crankshaft. The 2007 WoO LMS champion, who is fourth in the 2010 points standings, was credited with an 11th-place finish in the attrition-filled race.

“I feel like we had a pretty good shot at it,” Francis said of his chances of overtaking Marlar in the final circuits. “We had a great car, and I think we had a little more tire than him. His tires were worn pretty good and he was sliding up the racetrack.

“We just had no luck. That pretty much describes how our year has gone this year.”

Francis stayed on the road following his Columbus disappointment, heading to Nebraska for some warranty service on his S&S hauler. He planned to spend a couple days there working on the Rocket car he drove at Columbus; the machine will be re-skinned with new graphics and the No. 39 for NASCAR Sprint Cup star Ryan Newman, who is scheduled to drive it in the seventh annual Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals this weekend (Sept. 30-Oct. 2) at Knoxville (Ohio) Raceway. Francis will drive his crew chief Tim Logan’s car in the three-day event, which includes $7,000-to-win preliminary features on Thursday and Friday nights and a 100-lap finale on Saturday evening paying $40,000 to win.

Francis wasn’t the only Outlaw who experienced bad luck at Columbus. Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., also ran into trouble, suffering terminal engine trouble while holding fourth place on lap 39. The driver known as ‘Cat Daddy’ was scored 16th in the final rundown, dulling the momentum he had gained with four top-five finishes in his last five WoO LMS starts.

WESTERN PENNSY INVASION: A trio of WoO LMS regulars – Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio, and Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y. – entered last weekend’s Fall Classic at McKean County Raceway in East Smethport, Pa.

Alas, none of the series travelers had memorable visits to the one-third-mile track. Frank fared the best, battling forward from the 13th starting spot to finish seventh in Saturday night’s 50-lap Priority Care RaceFAN 50. Fuller, meanwhile, qualified through a B-Main and finished 12th in his first-ever start at MCR, while King, who last year joined Frank as a winner of the RaceFan 50, was credited with 24th after being eliminated in an opening-lap accident.

The sensation of the event was 17-year-old Larry Wight of Phoenix, N.Y., whose father, John, also fields Fuller’s Gypsum Express cars. A DIRTcar big-block and 358-Modified racer who has increased his dirt Late Model action this year with an eye on chasing the WoO LMS Rookie of the Year crown in the near future, Wight drove his No. 99L to a heat-race victory and career-best full-fender finish of third in Saturday night’s 50-lapper.

The $13,000 RaceFAN 50 winner’s prize was collected by Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., who followed the WoO LMS in 2009 and for the first half of the 2010 season.

OPEN-WHEEL ACTION: Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., used the break in the WoO LMS schedule to return to his roots, going big-block Modified racing at Fonda (N.Y.) Speedway.

McCreadie, who is third in the WoO LMS points standings, drove the Four Star Racing machine to finishes of third in Saturday night’s 40-lap feature and second in the 100-lap finale on Sunday.

BIG WEEKEND: Six WoO LMS travelers are entered in this weekend’s Knoxville Late Model Nationals, including Francis; Richards, whose Mark Richards Racing Enterprises Rocket team will also field a car for two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champ Tony Stewart; Lanigan (the only Outlaw regular who didn’t race last weekend); Eckert; Hubbard; and rookie Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa, whose plans to compete in the Liberty 100 at West Liberty (Iowa) Speedway were dashed by rain that postponed that postponed Saturday's headline action (she is scheduled to start sixth in a B-Main on Oct. 16).

GET YOUR TICKETS: Ticket information on The Dirt Track’s World of Outlaws Late Model Showdown (Wed., Oct. 13) and World Finals – the season-ending blockbuster weekend on Nov. 4-6 that also includes the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and, for the first time, the Super DIRTcar big-block Modified Series – can be obtained by logging on to www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or calling 1-800-455-FANS.

Fans are reminded that have only have until this Thursday (Sept. 30) to take advantage of an attractive advance-ticket offer for the World Finals that provides a free pit pass with the purchase of every $69 weekend ticket.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Time Running Out to Get Free Pit Pass for World of Outlaws World Finals in Charlotte

CONCORD, N.C. - Sept. 26, 2010 - The biggest names in dirt track racing will converge at the biggest event of the year, and fans can get in the pits for free.
Those fans need to act fast, though, because the free pit pass offer for the Nov. 4-6 World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte is good only until Thursday, Sept. 30.
For three nights they can be in the pits for free where they can see Steve Kinser, Donny Schatz and all of the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series drivers plus Josh Richards, Darrell Lanigan and the World of Outlaws Late Model Series competitors together with Brett Hearn, Matt Sheppard and the Big-Block Modified stars of the Super DIRTcar Series as they battle it out for their series championships.
Fans from 45 states, plus six Canadian provinces as well as Australia, New Zealand and England already have their tickets to see the title-clinching event for all three of the top series in dirt track racing. The points races are so close the leader seemingly changes after every event, adding to the suspense of this monstrous event.
To get a free pit pass to see all of the action, order the three-day package for only $69 by calling Charlotte Motor Speedway at 1-800-455-FANS, or order online at http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

World of Outlaws Late Model Series News & Notes: Pepsi Nationals Was A Classic
For Fans & Slump-Buster For Babb; Lanigan Goes Back On Top Of Points
CONCORD, NC - Sept. 21, 2010 -

THRILLER: For the fans in attendance, it was one of the most memorable A-Mains of the 2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series campaign.

For the driver who was at the center of the excitement and crossed the finish line first, it was an emotional slump-buster.

After the frenetic 55 laps of last Saturday night’s 28th annual Pepsi Nationals at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo., had virtually every witness wondering if they had ever seen a more thrilling race, Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., stood in Victory Lane wearing a smile that couldn’t have been brighter. He outdueled the red-hot Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., to provide himself a rare magical moment in what has been one of the most frustrating seasons of his standout career.

The $10,000 victory also ended Babb’s string of near-misses in WoO LMS competition at I-55 – a fifth-place finish in 2005 (after Moyer passed him for the lead late in the distance), a runner-up in 2007 (his cushion-hammering bid to overtake Clint Smith following a late restart fell just short) and a fifth-place run in 2008. But the 36-year-old was thinking more about his present-day struggles than his past losses at I-55 after finally hitting paydirt.

“We just need a win in general,” said Babb, who moved into contention in Saturday’s headliner with a rousing explosion from eighth to second in the span of one circuit following a lap-29 restart. “We have really good stuff, but we just don’t know how to use it. I’ve been making real bad decisions, so hopefully now we’re taking the right steps.”

A WoO LMS regular in 2008 when he finished sixth in the points standings driving for NASCAR star Clint Bowyer, Babb has maintained a more Midwest-concentrated schedule for the past two years with a self-owned effort backed by such sponsors as Petroff Towing and Donley Trucking. His overall 2010 performance has been lackluster, although in limited WoO LMS action he’s recorded five top-five finishes in seven starts.

Babb is hopeful that after flashing his vintage form at I-55 with a one-month-old Rocket car, better days just might be ahead.

“I knew the ‘ol girl had it in her,” said Babb, who experienced a scare earlier in Saturday’s program when his car lost power coming to the checkered flag in his heat due to a battery malfunction (he hung on to finish third). “This is a new (Rocket) car we brought out at the Topless (100 in Batesville, Ark., last month). Mark (Richards) built it and did a few new things to it for us that he thought we needed to do, and it’s really been working well. Besides the World (100 that he failed to qualify for), it’s been in the top-five every race.”

LEAP-FROG: The battle for the $100,000 WoO LMS championship remained razor-close after Saturday’s event, setting up a dramatic final three races at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C.

Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., used a fourth-place finish in the Pepsi Nationals to grab the points lead by a mere two markers – one finishing position – over sixth-place finisher Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va. It was the third time in the last four WoO LMS events that the two drivers have exchanged the top spot in the standings.

Lanigan was in the mix for the win for much of the distance, leading laps 15-25 and 27-41. But he settled for fourth after being unable to match the speed Babb, runner-up Moyer and third-place finisher Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., showed on the bottom of the track and slapping the wall between turns one and two twice in the final laps.

“I was trying to pick up the pace up there a little bit,” Lanigan said of his dangerously high slides. “I knew those guys were coming on the bottom, so I was trying harder and harder on the top. I just got in there a little hard and got in the cushion.”

Lanigan, 40, knew he was in trouble after the halfway point. That’s why he had one thought on his mind while setting the pace during the lap-29 caution period: “I was praying for rain.”

The approaching storms that prompted track and WoO LMS officials to move the feature up in the evening’s schedule of events held off until about a half-hour after the checkered flag – too late to keep Lanigan in front. But he still was able to grab the points lead from Richards, 22, who climbed as high as fourth but finished sixth – the same position he started.

So now everything will be decided at the four-tenths-mile oval Charlotte oval, which hosts the World of Outlaws Late Model Showdown on Wed., Oct. 13, and the season-ending World Finals on Nov. 4-6. The Showdown has offered only WoO LMS show-up points in the past, but this year it will follow the normal series format and carry full points.

While Lanigan has never won a WoO LMS A-Main at Charlotte and Richards has been victorious once in each of the last two years, neither driver expects to have an advantage there.

“Our program works good on big tracks so we should be comfortable there,” Lanigan said of Charlotte. “Me and Josh have both been running well, so whoever wins (the title), wins it.”

“I feel good about our chances,” said Richards, who entered last year’s World Finals trailing Steve Francis by four points in the WoO LMS standings but rallied to capture the title by a 14-point margin. “We want to win (the championship) real bad, but we’re gonna try to relax and go in there to Charlotte and win the races. Darrell’s been really strong all year and we just gotta try to beat him now at Charlotte.”

MISSED OPPORTUNITY: Sitting 92 points behind Lanigan in third in the WoO LMS points standings, Tim McCreadie isn’t mathematically eliminated from championship contention. But he knows it will take an unlikely turn of events for him to erase the deficit, so all he can do is swing for the fences for the remainder of the season.

McCreadie nearly hit a home run at I-55. Coming off a DIRTcar UMP-sanctioned victory the previous night at Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, Ill., the 2006 WoO LMS champion raced off the outside pole to lead laps 1-14 of the Pepsi Nationals. He fell back to third on lap 24 but regained second from Moyer on a lap-29 restart and appeared ready to mount a rally.

Then McCreadie’s Sweeteners Plus car slid sideways in turn four on lap 29 and came to rest with its nose against the inside wall. He had to restart at the rear of the field and was never a factor again, finishing eighth.

“I just missed the traction (on the inside of turn four),” said a sullen McCreadie, who received the $100 Chizmark Larson Hard Luck Award for his disappointing evening. “I screwed up.”

BUDDIES: Clint Smith and Tim Fuller – good friends and WoO LMS traveling partners – were teammates at I-55 Raceway.

With Fuller looking for a way to avoid hauling his Gypsum Express equipment 17 hours one-way from his shop in Edwards, N.Y., to Pevely, Mo., for a single race, Smith agreed to put Fuller in his backup car for the event. Fuller flew from Syracuse, N.Y., to St. Louis on Saturday morning and met up with Smith, whose trip to I-55 from Senoia, Ga., was just under 10 hours.

Fuller, who previously drove Smith’s second car in an October 2008 WoO LMS event at Fayetteville (N.C.) Motor Speedway, forgot to pack one important piece of clothing in his overnight bag: his racing uniform. He had to borrow a uniform from Richards.

It appeared that Clint Smith Racing was in line for a very good night when Fuller earned the seventh starting spot and Smith the 11th starting position for the Pepsi Nationals A-Main. But while Smith moved forward to finish a solid fifth – the fourth top-five run in the last five WoO LMS events for the suddenly resurgent ‘Cat Daddy’ – Fuller struggled with an incorrect tire choice and finished 13th.

PEPSI NATIONALS WARMUP: Chub Frank made a pre-race appearance Saturday on behalf of LaCrosse Footwear, displaying his green-and-black car and meeting a steady stream of casual and hard-core fans at Dunn’s Sporting Goods just a couple miles from the racetrack.

The two-hour event included a live radio-station remote broadcast (Frank and Richards, who also stopped by, did interviews), free LaCrosse Footwear giveaways and the LaCrosse Extreme Tough Challenge fan competition, which has been a popular intermission staple at all LaCrosse-sponsored races on this year’s WoO LMS and WoO Sprint Car Series.

The Pepsi Nationals was, of course, the seventh leg of the LaCrosse Extreme Tough Challenge, a unique mini-series that awards points to the top-five fulltime WoO LMS and Sprint Car Series drivers in 16 selected events – eight Late Model and eight Sprint Car – and will earn the champion of the combined standings a $5,000 bonus from a $15,000 points fund. Lanigan earned five points for being the highest-finishing WoO LMS regular, while Clint Smith (four), Richards (three), seventh-place finisher Steve Francis (two) and McCreadie (one) also collected points.

Lanigan and Richards ended the night tied for the lead in the LaCrosse Extreme Tough points standings with 19 points each, one point ahead of WoO Sprint Car star Donny Schatz. The WoO Sprint Car racers, however, have three LaCrosse events remaining while the Late Model contingent has just one, on Nov. 5 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

SHORT-HAIR GANG: Fans who visited I-55 Raceway’s pit area last Saturday night couldn’t help but notice the unusually high number of drivers sporting closely-cropped haircuts.

This wasn’t a style craze sweeping the dirt Late Model pits. It was the result of the ‘Brave The Shave’ initiative organized by Michigan racer Jeep VanWormer, who got nearly two dozen full-fender racers to shave the heads as a fundraiser for cancer research during the Sept. 10-11 World 100 weekend at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.

Six drivers who had their hair cut off as part of the ‘Brave The Shave’ competed at I-55, including Babb; Brady Smith; McCreadie, who said he’s had to get used to his head being “cold” since his long, flowing locks were shorn; Francis; Rick Eckert (finished 12th); and Shane Clanton (finished 15th driving the red-and-black, Georgia Bulldogs-themed car he debuted at the World 100).

Teenage sensation Austin Hubbard, meanwhile, also walked the pits with a shaved head. The 2010 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year wasn’t an official ‘Brave The Shave’ participant, but he decided to join in the fun by having his hair clipped off at Eldora as well.

GET YOUR TICKETS: Ticket information on The Dirt Track’s World of Outlaws Late Model Showdown and World Finals – the season-ending blockbuster weekend that also includes the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and, for the first time, the Super DIRTcar big-block Modified Series – can be obtained by logging on to www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or calling 1-800-455-FANS.

Fans are reminded that have only have until Sept. 30 to take advantage of an attractive advance-ticket offer for the World Finals that provides a free pit pass with the purchase of every $69 weekend ticket.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Babb Triumphs Over Moyer In Breathtaking ‘Pepsi Nationals’ Battle At I-55 Raceway
PEVELY, MO - Sept. 18, 2010 - Shannon Babb finally reached the Promised Land in a World of Outlaws Late Model Series event at I-55 Raceway.

And the 36-year-old star from Moweaqua, Ill., did it in breathtaking fashion, outdueling the red-hot Billy Moyer in a classic battle to capture Saturday night’s 28th annual Pepsi Nationals.

Turning around a moribund season with dramatic flair, Babb used the inside groove to vault from eighth to third on a lap-29 restart and went on to wrestle the lead from Batesville, Ark.’s Moyer on lap 48 of the 55-lap A-Main. The two-time DIRTcar Summer Nationals champion earned $10,000 for his 10th career victory on the WoO LMS but first since March 21, 2009, at Battleground Speedway in Highlands, Texas.

The triumph brought a joyful end to Babb’s string of close-but-no-cigar runs in WoO LMS competition at the one-third-mile, high-banked oval. He entered Saturday’s action as the only driver with a top-five finish in the national tour’s three previous visits to I-55 after placing a hard-charging second in 2007 and fifth in both 2005 (he lost the lead to eventual winner Moyer late in the distance) and 2008.

Adding even more significance to Babb’s breakthrough was his defeat of Moyer, who had been victorious in all three of his previous appearances this season at I-55 and was just one week removed from winning an unprecedented sixth career World 100 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.

“That was really cool,” Babb said of a race that ranked as one of the most memorable of the 2010 WoO LMS campaign. “That guy (Moyer) has been unbeatable all this year and I don’t even know when the last time was that I won a race – that’s why I’m so happy.”

Moyer, 52, settled for a second-place finish, 0.411 of a second behind his protégé at the checkered flag. He nosed ahead to lead laps 26 and 43 but couldn’t maintain command of the event, which featured six lead changes among four drivers.

Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., who started 13th, was closing on the leaders in the final circuits but had to be content with a third-place finish. Polesitter Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., slipped to fourth at the finish after leading laps 15-25 and 27-41 and Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., advanced from the 11th starting spot to place fifth, registering his fourth top-five run in the last five WoO LMS events.

Lanigan’s fourth-place finish moved him back into the WoO LMS points lead by two points over defending champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who started and finished sixth. Just three events remain in the chase for the tour’s $100,000 points title – all at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C., which hosts the World of Outlaws Late Model Shootout on Oct. 13 and the World Finals on Nov. 4-6.

Babb, who started ninth in a Donley Trucking/Petroff Towing Rocket car that he debuted one month ago, waited until just after the race’s halfway point to make his move. He had advanced just one position when two of the A-Main’s three caution flags flew on lap 29 – the first for the ambulance to leave the infield and the second for a slide-and-stop by outside polesitter Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., who led laps 1-14 and was still running second when he lost control of his car on the inside of turn four.

On the second restart, Babb found traction on the extreme inside of the track and passed five cars in the span of a lap. One circuit later he overtook Moyer for second and almost immediately began to challenge Lanigan for the lead.

“It surprised me,” Babb said of his sudden surge into contention. “Our car seemed to be good right from the start, but it was so competitive out there I didn’t know what I was gonna do at the beginning. I moved around top-to-bottom so I knew that bottom was there, but you can’t keep up when the top’s as good as it was.

“I had to wait for the middle and top to slow down. Once that happened, I moved down and the bottom was the place to be for the last 30 laps.”

Babb praised the I-55 racing surface, which produced three-wide racing for the lead – early with Lanigan, McCreadie and Moyer, and later with Babb replacing McCreadie in the pacesetting trio – that had the evening’s large crowd standing and cheering.

“(Ray) Marler and (Ken) Schrader (who co-own the speedway outside St. Louis) put an awesome racetrack together tonight,” said Babb. “They went the extra mile and worked the racetrack really good (just prior to the start of the A-Main). All the way to the end we were battling – that’s probably the best racing surface I’ve seen here.”

Moyer, who started third, thought he was in position to win the race several times during the frenetic late-race struggle but simply couldn’t get his Victory Circle chassis through lapped traffic well enough to beat Babb. The former WoO LMS champion nevertheless seemed energized by his race with Babb, who received a hearty congratulatory handshake from Moyer in Victory Lane.

“The fans had to love that race,” said Moyer, who over the past three months won Northeast All-Stars, Summer Nationals and MARS DIRTcar Series events at I-55. “That was fun. The fans saw a heck of a show.”

Finishing in positions 6-10 was Richards, who climbed as high as fourth; Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., who ran fifth for much of the race’s first half; a rallying McCreadie, who was presented the $100 Chizmark Larson Insurance Hard Luck Award; 19th-starter Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa.; and 2010 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del.

Wendell Wallace of Batesville, Ark., faded to an 11th-place finish after starting fourth and running in the top five until nearly the halfway mark, but he still earned the $500 ‘Bonus Bucks’ cash for being the highest-finishing driver who hasn’t won a WoO LMS A-Main and wasn’t ranked among the top 12 in the points standings.

The Pepsi Nationals served as the seventh leg of the LaCrosse Extreme Tough Challenge, a unique mini-series that awards points to the top-five fulltime WoO LMS and Sprint Car Series drivers in 16 selected events – eight Late Model and eight Sprint Car – and will earn the champion of the combined standings a $5,000 bonus from a $15,000 points fund. Lanigan earned five points for being the highest-finishing WoO LMS regular, while Clint Smith (four), Richards (three), Francis (two) and McCreadie (one) also collected points.

Lanigan and Richards ended the night tied for the lead in the LaCrosse Extreme Tough points standings with 19 points each, one point ahead of WoO Sprint Car star Donny Schatz. The WoO Sprint Car racers, however, have three LaCrosse events remaining while the Late Model contingent has just one, on Nov. 5 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

Francis was quickest in the 31-car Ohlins Shocks Time Trials session, ripping off a lap of 12.768 seconds for his fourth fast-time honor of 2010.

Heat winners were Francis, Richards and Moyer, and Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., topped the B-Main.

The A-Main was run under the threat of approaching thunderstorms, but while lightning danced in the sky throughout the 55-lapper the precipitation held off until nearly a half-hour after the checkered flag.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Results of WoO Late Model Series ‘Pepsi Nationals’ (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (9) Shannon Babb/55 $10,000
2. (3) Billy Moyer/55 $5,225
3. (13) Brady Smith/55 $3,000
4. (1) Darrell Lanigan/55 $3,600
5. (11) Clint Smith/55 $3,000
6. (6) Josh Richards/55 $2,800
7. (5) Steve Francis/55 $2,500
8. (2) Tim McCreadie/55 $2,000
9. (19) Chub Frank/55 $2,250
10. (10) Austin Hubbard/55 $2,350
11. (4) Wendell Wallace/55 $1,550
12. (8) Rick Eckert/55 $1,500
13. (7) Tim Fuller/55 $1,950
14. (14) Jason Feger/55 $900
15. (12) Shane Clanton/55 $1,850
16. (18) Ricky Frankel/54 $800
17. (20) Bobby Pierce/53 $770
18. (22) Chris Hall/53 $750
19. (23) Jill George/52 $730
20. (16) Russell King/36 $1,700
21. (17) Ken Schrader/22 $700
22. (21) Scott Weber/15 $700
23. (15) Matt Miller/13 $700
24. (24) April Farmer/12 $725

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

Time of Race: 23 Mins., 44.656 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 0.411 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 3 (Laps 29, 29, 38)
Lap Leaders: McCreadie (1-14); Lanigan (15-25); Moyer (26); Lanigan (27-41); Babb (42); Moyer (43); Babb (48-55)
Provisional Starters: George, Farmer
Rookie of the Race: Hubbard ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Wallace ($500)
Chizmark Larson Insurance Hard Luck Award ($100): McCreadie

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 12.768
2. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 12.773
3. 21-Billy Moyer/Batesville, AR 12.819
4. 88-Wendell Wallace/Batesville, AR 12.868
5. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 13.019
6. 18-Shannon Babb/Moweaqua, IL 13.142
7. 44F-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 13.161
8. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 13.167
9. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 13.224
10. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 13.298
11. 32-Bobby Pierce/Oakwood, IL 13.379
12. 7-Matt Miller/Waterville, OH 13.431
13. 99Jr.-Frank Heckenast Jr./Orland Park, IL 13.454
14. 25F-Jason Feger/Bloomington, IL 13.485
15. 33F-Ricky Frankel/Quincy, IL 13.507
16. 2-Brady Smith/Solon Springs, WI 13.515
17. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 13.526
18. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 13.542
19. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 13.628
20. 1HR-Ron McQuerry/St. Albans, MO 13.654
21. 6K-Michael Kloos/Trenton, IL 13.666
22. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 13.681
23. 9-Ken Schrader/Concord, NC 13.747
24. 00-Scott Weber/Festus, MO 13.859
25. 66-Chris Hall/Sikeston, MO 13.860
26. 13-Dewayne Keifer/St. Genevieve, MO 13.911
27. 8BALL-Brant Kehrer/Albers, IL 14.193
28. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 14.208
29. 14-April Farmer/Livingston, TN 14.226
30. 3d-Lou Driemeier/Valles Mines, MO 14.562
31. B1-Randy Bingham/Greenville, IL N/T

Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Francis, Wallace, Fuller, Hubbard, B. Smith, King, Frank, Hall, Heckenast, George (DNS) Bingham

Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Richards, Lanigan, Eckert, C. Smith, Feger, Schrader, Pierce, Farmer, Keifer, McQuerry

Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Moyer, McCreadie, Babb, Clanton, Miller, Frankel, Weber, Kloos, Driemeier, Kehrer

B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Frank, Pierce, Weber, Hall, Farmer, McQuerry, Keifer, Kloos, Heckenast, George, Driemeier, Kehrer (DNS) Bingham

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:

Arizona Sports Shirts ($50 product certificate): April Farmer
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Brady Smith
Eibach Springs (one free spring): April Farmer
MSD Ignition ($75 cash award): Billy Moyer
MSD Ignition ($25 cash award): April Farmer
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash award to fastest qualifier w/decal): Billy Moyer
Pink Carburetors ($100 product certificate): Rick Eckert
Pink Carburetors ($50 product certificate): April Farmer
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate): Billy Moyer
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate): Clint Smith
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate): Shane Clanton
R2C Performance ($100 certificate): Shannon Babb
STP ($50 cash award): Chub Frank
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (two five-gallon plastic fuel jugs to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main if decal is displayed): Frank Heckenast Jr.
Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Billy Moyer

2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Sept. 18 – 41 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):

1. Darrell Lanigan 5492
2. Josh Richards 5490 (-2)
3. Tim McCreadie 5400 (-92)
4. Steve Francis 5274 (-218)
5. Shane Clanton 5178 (-314)
6. Rick Eckert 5168 (-324)
7. Austin Hubbard 5114 (-378)
8. Tim Fuller 5050 (-442)
9. Chub Frank 4968 (-524)
10. Clint Smith 4940 (-552)
11. Russell King 4572 (-920)
12. Brent Robinson 3470 (-2022)
13. Jill George 3348 (-2144)
14. Brady Smith 3136 (-2356)
15. Rick 'Boom' Briggs 1820 (-3672)

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

World of Outlaws Late Model Series News & Notes: Previewing The ‘Pepsi Nationals’ On Saturday Night (Sept. 18) At I-55 Raceway
PEVELY, MO - Sept. 16, 2010 -

PIVOTAL RACE: Josh Richards and Darrell Lanigan know how much they have riding on the 28th annual Pepsi Nationals this Saturday night (Sept. 18) at I-55 Raceway.

With Richards leading the World of Outlaws Late Model Series standings by just two points over Lanigan entering the 55-lap, $10,000-to-win event at the action-packed track outside St. Louis, neither driver can afford the slightest misstep. A mere three races – all at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C. – will remain on the national tour’s 2010 schedule after Saturday’s program, ramping up the pressure to perform at I-55 for the friendly rivals chasing a $100,000 championship pot of gold.

The last two WoO LMS champions – Richards won his first title last year and Lanigan captured the crown in 2008 – head into this weekend’s competition with plenty of momentum. They are not only tied for winningest-driver status on this year’s series (both have won seven times) but are also the tour’s most recent victors – Richards scored his first-ever 100-lap triumph in the ‘Battle At Eastern Door’ on Sept. 1 at Mohawk International Raceway in Akwesasne, N.Y., and Lanigan topped the ‘Oil Region Labor Day Classic’ on Sept. 5 at Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Pa.

Neither driver has won at I-55 Raceway, a high-banked, one-third-mile oval that is set to host the WoO LMS for the fourth time in its history. Both have competed in the three previous events – and it’s Richards who has improved his performance with each start.

Richards, 22, of Shinnston, W.Va., finished 14th in I-55 Raceway’s 2005 WoO LMS A-Main during his rookie season as a fulltime traveler. He improved to 13th in 2007 and placed third in 2008, when he was in contention to win late in the distance.

The 40-year-old Lanigan, meanwhile, was the runner-up to Billy Moyer in the inaugural WoO LMS at I-55 in 2005, falling less than one second short of victory. The resident of Union, Ky., finished 11th in the 2007 and 2008 events, but he’s confident that he can turn around his most recent fortunes at the track.

“Pevely is a place I like so I feel like we’ll be O.K. there,” said Lanigan, who has won six of the last 12 WoO LMS A-Mains. “But really, the way we’re running right now, I feel good about going anywhere.”

DROUGHT-BUSTER?: WoO LMS regular Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., has fond memories of I-55 Raceway thanks to his victory in the track’s 2007 tour event. That triumph harkens him back to his best season ever on the series, a campaign that saw him win four times and finish a career-high third in the points standings.

Alas, Smith, 45, has won just one WoO LMS A-Main since then, on June 17, 2008, at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway. He brings a frustrating 110-race winless streak into Saturday night’s program, but with the ‘Cat Daddy’ seemingly rejuvenated of late – he has three top-five finishes, including two runner-up outings, in his last four WoO LMS starts – perhaps a return to I-55 is the tonic he needs to break back into Victory Lane.

Can Smith pull off his second career triumph in the Pepsi Nationals? He sure believes so.

“I go to every race thinking, This is the one (that ends the win drought),” said the confident Smith. “But really, I’m just happy to be running good again and getting some top-fives. I know if that we keep running in the top five, one of these nights we’re gonna get the breaks and get a win. Hopefully it will come on Saturday night.”

MEETING HIS PUBLIC: Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., who finished second in the 2008 Pepsi Nationals, hopes a return to I-55 will help him snap his own 48-race stretch without a win on the WoO LMS. He is trying to avoid his first winless season on the tour.

The 48-year-old veteran, who also has finishes of 11th (2005) and fourth (2007) in WoO LMS action at I-55, will give fans a sneak preview of the distinctive green-and-black Rocket No. 1* he’ll run on Saturday night during a pre-race appearance on behalf of LaCrosse Footwear outside the nearby Dunn’s Sporting Goods store in Pevely, Mo. He’ll be available for photos and autographs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Central Time.

Frank’s appearance at Dunn’s Sporting Goods, which is located at 8733 Commercial Blvd. in Pevely, Mo., will be accented by several activities sure to interest both diehard and casual race fans. The local country music station, J-98 The Boot, will do a live remote broadcast from the store; there will be free giveaways of tickets to Saturday night’s Pepsi Nationals as well as LaCrosse boots, t-shirts, hats and stickers; and the LaCrosse Extreme Tough Challenge fan competition will take place, giving customers a chance to test their strength and win prizes.

The Pepsi Nationals serves as the seventh leg of the WoO LMS LaCrosse Extreme Tough Challenge, a unique mini-series that awards points to the top-five fulltime WoO LMS and Sprint Car Series drivers in 16 selected events – eight Late Model and eight Sprint Car – and will earn the champion of the combined standings a $5,000 bonus from a $15,000 points fund split among the top-five drivers. WoO Sprint Car star Donny Schatz is the current points leader, but he has several full-fender Outlaws nipping as his heels.

PEACH STATE STAR: Shane Clanton of Senoia, Ga., won the last WoO LMS event at I-55 in 2008 and will be back to try to give Georgia drivers three straight Pepsi Nationals victories – and this time he’ll be behind the wheel of a car that showcases his home state.

The 35-year-old standout plans to race his distinctive ‘Georgia Bulldogs’ machine, which sports a red-and-black scheme featuring the University of Georgia’s logo that he debuted for last week’s DIRTcar UMP-sanctioned World 100 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. Clanton and graphics designer Ron Slavic received the DirtonDirt.com Best Appearing Car Award for their sharp, unique look.

THE INVADERS: Saturday’s field will include seven other WoO LMS travelers led by 2006 champion Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., who is third in the points standings but needs a great run – as well as poor finishes from Richards and Lanigan – to keep his flickering title hopes alive.

McCreadie, whose only previous WoO LMS start at I-55 resulted in a 12th-place finish in 2005, trails Richards by 86 points in the standings.

Other WoO chauffeurs and their best series finishes at I-55 include 2007 champion Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky. (fifth in ’07), Rick Eckert of York, Pa. (fourth in ’05) and Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y. (eighth in ’08). Outlaw followers looking to make their first-ever series A-Mains at I-55 include Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio, 2010 Rookie of the Year Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., and rookie Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa.

GIRL POWER: Saturday’s program will have a definite female theme with George and April Farmer of Livingston, Tenn., in the field.

Farmer, who last year became the first woman to start a WoO LMS A-Main, plans to make her first career appearance at I-55. She is coming off a victory in last week’s World 100 Non-Qualifiers’ Race that made her the first female to capture a dirt Late Model event at the famed Eldora Speedway.

PERFECT AT PEVELY: Dirt Late Model legend Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., has tentatively announced plans to enter Saturday’s event – one week after he won Eldora Speedway’s prestigious World 100 for an unprecedented sixth time in his Hall of Fame career.

Moyer, 52, will attempt to duplicate Clanton’s 2008 feat of winning the World 100 and Pepsi Nationals in consecutive weeks. The three-time WoO LMS champion will also bid to remain undefeated at I-55 this season following victories on June 5 (Northern All-Stars Late Model Series), July 3 (DIRTcar Summer Nationals) and Aug. 28 (MARS DIRTcar Series) – a hat trick that has already earned him $20,000.

TOUGH COMPETITION: A talented group of drivers from across the Midwest will join Moyer in challenging the Outlaws – none more notable than former DIRTcar Summer Nationals champion Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., the only racer with a top-five finish in all three previous WoO LMS events at I-55.

Babb has been flirting with a WoO LMS victory at I-55, finishing second in 2007 and fifth in both 2005 and 2008. He led the 2005 A-Main until Moyer passed him late in the distance and nearly pulled off a dramatic win in 2007.

Other drivers expected to enter Saturday’s action include reigning DIRTcar UMP Summer Nationals and national champion Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., who finished fourth in the 2008 Pepsi Nationals; former DIRTcar Summer Nationals and national titlist Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., who finished sixth in the 2008 event; Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill. (third in the 2005 WoO LMS A-Main); Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis.; Wendell Wallace of Batesville, Ark.; 2010 I-55 Raceway champion Mark Voigt of Marine, Ill.; ’10 I-55 runner-up Bryan Collins of Elsberry, Mo.; and Kevin Weaver of Gibson City, Ill.

THANKS, MOTHER NATURE: Ray Marler, who co-owns I-55 Raceway with NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader, couldn’t help smiling on Wednesday when he looked at the weather forecast for Saturday in Pevely, Mo.

After two years of rain-induced headaches, it appears that Marler and Schrader will at long last strike it rich with a postcard-perfect day for one of their track’s marquee events. Clear skies with high temperatures in the mid 80s and lows in the 60s are expected.

“This is our 15th season (at I-55),” said Marler. “We’ve had 13 decent seasons, but the last two we’ve gotten killed by the weather. We lost 14 races last year, and this year we’ve lost 10 – three to flood-outs (thanks to the nearby creek overflowing and making the road to the track impassable) and seven to rainouts.

“With the weather looking good for Saturday, it’s a big relief. I think it’s gonna bring out a lot of people to see the great racing we’ve been having this year.”

KENNY’S CAR: While Ken Schrader hasn’t decided if he will enter his dirt Late Model in Saturday night’s Pepsi Nationals, early-arriving fans can check out the nationally-known racer’s DIRTcar UMP Modified by stopping at the nearby Pevely Flea Market. Schrader’s machine will be on display at the popular business from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

CONSOLATION PRIZE: Mike Larson of Chizmark Larson Insurance will attend Saturday’s Pepsi Nationals and help raise a disappointed driver’s feelings by presenting a Hard Luck Award worth $100.

Larson will be available in the pit area throughout the evening to discuss insurance options with interested race teams.

PEPSI NATIONALS INFO: Saturday’s program, which also includes racing for the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, DIRTcar Extreme Sportsman Series and DIRTcar Pro 4 Stocks, is scheduled to kick off with practice at 6 p.m. WoO LMS time trials will begin at 6:30 p.m. and racing is set to get the green flag at 7 p.m.

Gates will open at 4 p.m.

Advance tickets to the Pepsi Nationals are still on sale for $28 (general admission) and $30 (reserved) and can be purchased by visiting www.WorldofOutlaws.com/tickets or by calling the track at 636-479-3219. Fans who buy their tickets in advance can also receive a FREE t-shirt from Pepsi while supplies last.

Another attractive offer available to attendees of the Pepsi Nationals is a FREE pit-pass upgrade to admission tickets for fans who recycle a Pepsi 20-ounce bottle on race day at the main gate.

Tickets on race day will be $30 (general) and $32 (reserved). Kids 12-and-under are admitted free to general admissions sections, and pit passes are $30 for DIRTcar members and $35 for non-members.

I-55 Raceway is located 30 minutes south of downtown St. Louis, off Pevely exits 180 and 178 of Interstate 55.

Additional info is available by logging on to www.i55raceway.com.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

World of Outlaws Fans,

Once again you guys and gals proved that we have the best fans in the world. The number of responses and how quickly you responded to Fan Committee #1 exceeded our expectations. We will go ahead and say thank-you for taking just a few minutes to complete #2.

We also thought that you might be interested to know a few things about your fellow dirt track fans. Would you have guessed that more WoO fans own Chevy Pick-ups than Ford, that for the most part everyone agreed that 12 and under should be free, and that Camping & Fishing tied as the most popular lesiure activities?

Please click on the link below to complete the survey, and remember that we will be drawing a new winner every time we issue a survey for any number of prizes. This week's prize will be your choice of a WoO Sprint Car or Late Model Series Hoodie in a size of your choice.

Take this survey
 

World of Outlaws Late Model Series News & Notes: Lanigan Is Top Outlaw In World 100 At Eldora Speedway
CONCORD, NC - Sept. 13, 2010 -

TOP OUTLAW: Darrell Lanigan spent the last quarter of Saturday night’s 40th annual World 100 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, battling with some familiar rivals.

Unfortunately for Lanigan and Co., they weren’t racing for the $43,000 winner’s prize in the dirt Late Model division’s most prestigious event.

Lanigan, 40, of Union, Ky., was the highest-finishing World of Outlaws Late Model Series regular in the 100-lapper, placing seventh after starting in the same position. He outdueled three of his fellow travelers on the national tour – Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., Rick Eckert of York, Pa., and Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va. – to earn the bragging rights.

“I felt like I was running an Outlaw race,” quipped Lanigan, who swapped positions with his WoO LMS brethren from lap 70 to the finish. “I just wish we were running for the lead.”

Lanigan briefly challenged for a spot in the top five early in the distance, but his Rocket car – a machine that sported a new white-dominated color scheme – wasn’t quite stout enough to keep him up front. He was hampered by an incorrect tire-compound choice.

“I know we were on the wrong tires,” said Lanigan, who doesn’t expect to run his white graphics package again. “We were too hard compared to what (eventual winner Billy) Moyer had on. I would’ve liked to come in and change tires. During that last caution (on lap 28) I told (his crew) to get some more tires ready, but we never had another caution.”

Lanigan’s seventh-place finish was his best in the World 100 since a third in 2007. The second-place driver in the current WoO LMS points standings (he trails Richards by just two markers) made his 17th career start in a World 100 A-Main since 1990 – only five drivers have qualified for the feature more – but is winless in the event.

The 35-year-old Clanton, meanwhile, owns a triumph in the 2008 World 100 and was considered a pre-race favorite to win again after making a run at victory in June’s Dream XVI at Eldora. But he was never a factor in Saturday’s headliner, settling for an eighth-place finish after starting 16th in his fourth career World 100 feature outing.

Clanton said he wasn’t setup well enough to run the inside groove with his Rocket car, which carried a unique Georgia Bulldogs theme. Red and black with his homestate university’s distinctive ‘G’ logo on the doors (his No. 25 was on the rear quarter-panels), the mount was voted the DirtonDirt.com Best Appearing Car. Clanton and graphics designer Ron Slavic split a $1,000 prize from DirtonDirt.

Eckert, 44, improved one spot from the 10th starting spot, placing ninth to earn his first top-10 finish in the World 100 since 2005.

“I could run at the top as fast as whoever was in front of me but I was a little too free to run the bottom and pass them,” said Eckert, who is winless in 12 career World 100 A-Main starts.

Richards, 22, entered the World 100 hyped as a good bet for victory after capturing his first-ever 100-lap WoO LMS event on Sept. 1 at Mohawk International Raceway in Akwesasne, N.Y., but he could only manage a 10th-place finish. He timed second-fastest in Friday night’s 134-car qualifying session, but he failed to qualify in the second heat and thus had to use his fast-time provisional to start 20th in the 100.

The defending WoO LMS champion, who started sixth in his heat but lost several spots at the initial green flag when he was shoved into the cushion that was still wet following an afternoon shower, climbed as high as seventh in the 100. He lost two spots on the final laps when he bounced over the cushion in turns one and two as he attempted to overtake Lanigan.

“We kind of threw a Hail Mary at it (for the feature) and it didn’t work out like we hoped,” said Richards, who made the World 100 starting field for the fifth time in his six career appearances. “We committed ourselves to running the top of the racetrack and we were O.K. at first, but once that top burnt off we were pretty much done. We were way too free to run the bottom like those guys up front did.”

FRUSTRATING WEEKEND: Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., who sits third in the WoO LMS points standings, started the World 100 A-Main for the fifth time in the last six years but didn’t enjoy himself.

McCreadie started 13th in the feature but immediately fell backward when the green flag flew. He never cracked the top 15 before finally retiring just after the halfway point, finishing 22nd.

The weekend actually started going sour for McCreadie during Friday night’s time trials. A timing malfunction forced him to run an extra qualifying lap – and unfortunately, he slapped the wall on that added circuit. Though McCreadie was able to patch up his black Sweeteners Plus car enough to turn the 19th-fastest lap in the second qualifying round, he wondered what might have been if he hadn’t damaged a machine that he thought was fast enough to time at least second-fastest.

NO MILESTONE: Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., failed to qualify for the event, preventing him from joining Scott Bloomquist, Donnie Moran and Billy Moyer on the elite list of drivers with at least 20 career starts in the World 100 A-Main.

A World 100 entrant since 1986, Francis, 42, won the race in 1999 and came into this year’s blockbuster having made the feature cut 19 times. His chances for a 20th career World 100 run looked bright after he timed third-fastest in Friday’s qualifying session, but his hopes were dashed after a backstretch scrape with another car on the first lap of the third heat popped his machine’s left-rear tire. His crew changed the tire after he slowed to draw a caution flag on lap four, but by the time he slithered through the crowded pit area and returned to the track he was a couple laps down.

“I thought we had a pretty good car,” said Francis, who was a World 100 non-qualifier for the first time since 2005. “But somebody got into my left-rear on the backstretch and pretty much ended our weekend right there. It pretty much describes what kind of year we’ve had.”

NO FUN: WoO LMS followers who fell short of the World 100 starting field included...

* Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., whose weekend began with a trip into the outside wall during time trials (he lost control after the nose of his green-and-black car folded under) and never got better. He was running two spots out of a transfer position on lap seven of the second B-Main when he was collected in Michael Asbury’s homestretch spin, forcing him to the pit area to change a flat tire and leaving him without enough time to climb higher than 10th at the finish.

* Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del. The WoO LMS rookie sensation timed 18th-fastest on Friday night in Dale Beitler’s No. 19, but he didn’t even complete a lap in the fifth heat because he got crossed up on the backstretch and was hit by Ray Cook.

* Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., retired midway through the fourth heat after his car developed a hole in its radiator, causing his engine temperature to rise.

* Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa, who was 124th-fastest in Friday’s qualifying and thus didn’t make the 120-driver cut for Saturday’s heat races. She entered the weekend action coming off a history-making outing on Sept. 6 at the IMCA Super Nationals in Boone, Iowa, where she became the first female driver to qualify for a feature event – in any class – during the annual week-long event. The 32-year-old George won an IMCA Late Model heat and finished ninth in the A-Main.

GET OUT THE RAZOR: WoO LMS regulars Clanton, Eckert, Francis and McCreadie were among a group of 17 drivers who had their heads shaved as part of the ‘Brave The Shave,’ a fundraiser for cancer research organized by Michigan’s Jeep VanWormer.

Eckert and Francis got their haircuts on Eldora’s stage on Friday night, while Clanton and McCreadie went under the razor prior to the start of Saturday’s action. WoO LMS announcer Rick Eshelman also participated, raising over $1,055 on his own in three hours on Friday and then getting his hair shaved off.

VanWormer said the ‘Brave The Shave’ raised nearly $40,000 that will be donated to the American Children’s Foundation, the American Cancer Society and American Cancer Research.

NEXT UP: The WoO LMS returns to action with the Pepsi Nationals this Saturday night (Sept. 18) at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo.

The Pepsi Nationals features a bonus offer of a FREE t-shirt from Pepsi (while supplies last) to fans who purchase tickets in advance at www.WorldofOutlaws.com/tickets or by calling the track at 636-479-3219. Another attractive offer available to attendees of the Pepsi Nationals is a FREE pit-pass upgrade to admission tickets for fans who recycle a Pepsi 20-ounce bottle on race day.

Pepsi Nationals advance tickets are $28 (general admission) and $30 (reserved), while tickets on race day will be $30 (general) and $32 (reserved). Pit passes are $30 for DIRTcar members and $35 for non-members.

Additional info is available by logging on to www.i55raceway.com.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

He’s Ready: Richards Looks To Add World 100 Victory To Growing Resume This Weekend At Eldora Speedway
ROSSBURG, OH - Sept. 9, 2010 - Josh Richards finally has a 100-lap win under his belt. Now he’d like to add a victory in dirt Late Model racing’s most prestigious 100-lapper to his ever-growing resume.

But even though Richards is just over one week removed from capturing his long-awaited first long-distance triumph, the pressure to break through in a crown-jewel event will remain when the 22-year-old sensation from Shinnston, W.Va., chases a $43,000 top prize this weekend (Sept. 10-11) in the 40th annual World 100 at Eldora Speedway.

“I don’t know if you can go into the World 100 with any less pressure on yourself just because you’ve won a 100-lapper,” said Richards, whose milestone century-grind win came in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Battle At Eastern Door’ on Sept. 1 at Mohawk International Raceway in Akwesasne, N.Y. “It’s the biggest race of the year and we haven’t won it yet, so you’re gonna have a lot of thoughts on your mind.

“There’s nothing like the World. The biggest thing is just getting in the (the A-Main). You need to start up front to put yourself in the best position possible, but as tough as qualifying and the heat races are, anything can happen. You need to have some luck on your side – and that’s what makes it so nerve-wracking.”

At least Richards, the defending WoO LMS champion and national tour’s current points leader, can enter the DIRTcar UMP-sanctioned World 100 activities for the first time with the confidence that yes, he can win a 100-lapper. After seven years and some frustrating near-misses – including one in the 2006 World 100, when Richards contended for victory in his second career start in the event – he got the job done.

“Everything fell into place at Mohawk,” said Richards, who arrived at Eldora on Thursday with his Mark Richards Racing Enterprises team for technical inspection. “The main thing in a 100-lap race is to get yourself in position where you can ride the laps down without killing your equipment, and that’s what we did. We were able to cruise around there at a fair pace, and then with 40 or 50 laps left we turned it up and the car really took off.”

Was Richards’s $20,000 Mohawk score a signal that he has uncovered the secret to long-distance success? He stopped short of making that type of outright declaration, but he conceded that finding the correct style and setup for 100-lappers has been an ongoing process for him and his crew.

“Everybody thinks that I drive too hard or whatever and that’s why we couldn’t win a 100-lapper,” said Richards, who launched his dirt Late Model driving career in 2004 and won the WoO LMS Rookie of the Year award in 2005. “Well, a lot of times I do drive hard – because running with the Outlaws, you have to. As a whole, I would say the Outlaw guys probably race harder than anybody in the country. It’s just the way it is – we run on open tires and we go to a lot of tracks that have a little bit of bite in them, and we just race hard for 50 laps.

“When we go to the big races, the 100-lappers,” he added, “we have to adjust a little bit differently.”

Mark Richards, Josh’s father and car owner, succinctly summed up the journey his son took to the big-race Promised Land: “With young guys, it takes them awhile to learn that in a 100-lap race you don’t have to be in a hurry. You have to take your time, and I think now that he’s won one he’s found that out.”

Josh actually learned one of his biggest lessons back in the 2006 World 100, when – just one year after he became the youngest driver ever to qualify for the event – he found himself in the middle of arguably the best multi-car duel for the lead in the history of the race. He briefly nosed into the lead late in the distance before settling for a fourth-place finish, which remains his career-best in four World 100 A-Main starts.

“He probably should’ve won it in ’06,” Mark Richards said of his son. “If he was where he is today, as far as knowing how to close the deal, he would’ve won it in ’06. But he was just a young kid then. He had only driven for two years, and he was running up front in the biggest race of the year.”

That was Josh’s best opportunity to win the World 100; his other appearances resulted in finishes of 25th (2005), 19th (2007), DNQ (2008) and sixth (2009). He feels he can recapture his ’06 magic and contend for victory again this weekend.

“I’m actually really looking forward to going back to Eldora,” said Richards, whose previous visit this season to the high-banked track resulted in a sixth-place finish in June’s 100-lap Dream XVI. “We took really good notes after the Dream, and I think if we can just get in the World (feature) we’ll be a lot better.”

A triumph in the World 100 would be an emotional moment for Richards as well as his father, who has attended the event every year since its second running in 1972.

“The World 100 is a whole different race of its own,” said Mark Richards, who nearly won the race as a car owner in 2000 when Davey Johnson finished third after losing a big lead to a late-race caution. “I’ve seen that race evolve since the second World 100 and grow into the marquee event of dirt Late Model racing. It’s not the biggest-paying, but it’s the benchmark for all the other crown jewels. It’s what set the standard.

“With the prestige of that race, the history that race has – it would mean a lot to us to win it, so we’re gonna try. If we can get in the race, maybe this will be Josh’s year.”

Josh sure hopes so. There’s no event that gets his blood flowing like the World 100.

“It’s just insane,” Josh said of the atmosphere surrounding the race. “I’ve been going to the World since 2002 when (Steve) Francis was driving for us, and still, to this day, when you go there you just get goose bumps because there’s so many cars and so many fans. It’s like, This is what dirt LM racing is all about.

“We’ve run well in the race, but to win that would definitely be a career-topper.”

Richards will be one of nine WoO LMS regulars in Eldora’s pit area for this weekend’s World 100, which begins with time trials on Friday night (Sept. 10) and continues with heat races, last-chance events and the A-Main on Saturday night (Sept. 11). The other Outlaws ready for battle include:

* Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., who won the World 100 in 1999 and will be looking to make his 20th career start in the feature event. He’s currently tied with Billy Moyer and Freddy Smith for third on the alltime World 100 A-Main starts list, behind only Scott Bloomquist and Donnie Moran (20 starts apiece).

* Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky. He’s made 16 World 100 A-Main starts since 1990 but is still searching for his first win. A second-place finish in 1999 is his best.

* Rick Eckert of York, Pa., has qualified for the World 100 a total of 11 times, with a fourth-place finish in 1999 his top outing.

* Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., who won the World 100 in 2004, will bid for his seventh career A-Main appearance.

* Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., has finished as high as fourth (2005) in his four career A-Main starts, but he’s failed to qualify for the last three years.

* Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., owns a top finish of fifth (2008) in his four previous A-Main runs.

* Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., has only made the World 100 starting field three times, but he owns a coveted globe trophy for his victory in 2008.

* WoO LMS rookie Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., became the second-youngest driver to qualify for the World 100 last year in his first stab at the event. He finished 19th driving his father Mike’s No. 11, but he returns this year behind the wheel of the No. 19 fielded by Maryland’s Dale Beitler, a former Dream winner with Steve Casebolt.

Ticket information on the World 100 is available by logging on to www.eldoraspeedway.com.

Fans unable to attend the World 100 on Saturday night can receive text-message updates directly to their phone throughout the night by joining the WoO LMS Twitter feed. To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

World of Outlaws Late Model Series News & Notes: Richards & Lanigan Separate Themselves; ‘Cat Daddy’ On The Upswing
CONCORD, NC - Sept. 8, 2010 -

DYNAMIC DUO: And then there were two.

A three-driver battle for the 2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series championship appears to have become a mano a mano showdown between Josh Richards and Darrell Lanigan, who separated themselves from Tim McCreadie after a pair of holiday-week events.

Richards, 22, and Lanigan, 40, shared victory laurels – Richards captured the 100-lap ‘Battle At Eastern Door’ on Sept. 1 at Mohawk International Raceway in Akwesasne, N.Y., and Lanigan won the 50-lap ‘Oil Region Labor Day Classic’ on Sept. 5 at Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Pa. – and ended the Northeast swing in a virtual dead-heat for the national tour’s $100,000 title. With just four points races remaining on the schedule, Richards leads Lanigan by a scant two-point margin.

The 36-year-old McCreadie, meanwhile, suffered a crushing DNF on Sunday night at Tri-City. He finished 22nd after retiring on lap 24 due to damage his car sustained in an early-race tangle, leaving him 86 points out of the lead – a deficit that he can only erase if both Richards and Lanigan experience epic bouts with bad luck during the stretch drive.

McCreadie entered Tri-City’s action with his hopes of repeating his 2006 WoO LMS championship flickering but still alive, trailing Richards by 48 points and Lanigan by 40 markers after finishing second in Mohawk’s 100-lapper. But he had nowhere to go on lap two of the A-Main when Robbie Blair and Ron Davies tangled between turns three and four while battling for second; T-Mac slid into the incident and limped to the pit area with a mangled front bumper on his car. He returned but couldn’t get up to speed due to the problematic bumper, a piece of which fell off and cut his right-front tire on lap 24 – five circuits after he was lapped – and forced him to retire.

Richards was also involved in the Blair/Davies accident, but he snuck through the scene without stopping and his car sustained only some left-side cosmetic damage. The near-miss was one of three key moments in the week’s two A-Mains for Richards, who also narrowly avoided a devastating crash during Mohawk’s 100 and pulled off a final-lap pass of Shane Clanton for third at Tri-City to keep himself atop the WoO LMS points standings.

The close call at Mohawk – he nearly slid into the turn-three wall when he took evasive action to avoid Clint Smith’s car as a caution flag flew on lap 60 – certainly caused Richards’s title aspirations to flash before his eyes. He had, after all, entered the 100 without the points lead for the first time in 25 races, so a night-ending wreck would have put his championship chase on life-support.

“Luck was definitely on our side,” Richards said after going on to bag a $20,000 triumph at Mohawk that was his long-awaited first-ever in a 100-lap event. “When the caution came out and Clint Smith went to pull off the racetrack, I was about three inches from destroying the car. I swerved around him, turned sideways and just barely missed the (wall) opening into (turn) three.

“I really thought we were done right there. I mean, if I was a little bit further into the corner we would’ve needed a new car.”

Alas, Richards survived the scare and shortly thereafter ended his slight slump with a milestone extra-distance victory that, ironically, came in the same state where he won his first career WoO LMS A-Main (on Aug. 15, 2005, at Lebanon Valley Speedway). He was presented $20,000 in cash from Mohawk co-owners John Lazore and Don Thompson and regained the points lead as well. A few days later at Tri-City he avoided falling into a tie for the top spot with Lanigan when he picked up two critical points with his dramatic final-turn pass of Clanton.

Lanigan shook his head when he was asked after winning at Tri-City about Richards’s last-lap move to preserve the points lead, but he accepted it as just another twist in what promises to be a thrilling struggle for the championship.

“It’s gonna go down to the end – that’s the bottom line,” said Lanigan, who won the title in 2008. “Josh is running good and we’re definitely running good, so we’ll see what we got.”

RIGHT DIRECTION: A miserable 2010 season has grown a bit brighter in recent weeks for Clint Smith, who has shown signs of snapping his frustrating two-year victory drought on the WoO LMS.

Smith, 45, has gone winless in 110 consecutive tour events since his last triumph on June 17, 2008, at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway, but he’s finished second twice in the last four WoO LMS A-Mains – on Aug. 23 at Quebec’s Autodrome Drummond and Sept. 5 at Tri-City Speedway. He was denied the elusive checkered flag in both 50-lappers by Lanigan.

“We’ve had a lot of motor problems this year, but we’ve been working on a lot of stuff trying to get it better,” said Smith, who has recorded three of his six overall top-five finishes this season in his last four starts and has pulled within 36 points of ninth-place Chub Frank in the WoO LMS standings. “We finally hit on something here. My motor man (RaceTek) has been switching us over to a new-style (cylinder) head and it’s given us a lot better program.”

BACK ON TRACK: Austin Hubbard has already clinched the 2010 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year award – on the strength, of course, of a sensational season for an 18-year-old, first-year tour regular.

But while the talented, uninhibited youngster has authored some spectacular flourishes driving Dale Beitler’s familiar No. 19 cars – including reaching Victory Lane for the first time in just the fourth race of the season and climbing as high as fifth in the points standings – he’s had his rookie struggles as well. Most of the summer, in fact, has been a slog for Hubbard, which is why his third-place finish in Mohawk International Raceway’s ‘Battle At Eastern Door’ was so satisfying.

Before Hubbard ran third in Mohawk’s 100-lapper – a race he had a shot at winning until his car’s right-front toe-in was knocked out of whack due to a scrape with Tim McCreadie as he was bidding for the lead on lap 68 – he hadn’t scored a top-five finish since ending the Wild West Tour with a rain-shortened victory on July 9 at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D., and a fifth on July 10 at Dakota State Fair Speedway in Huron, S.D. He had just four top-10 finishes over the ensuing 10-race span, prompting both Hubbard and his team to reassess their direction.

“We’ve been running pretty bad for the last month, so we figured we needed to do something to get better,” said Hubbard, who is currently seventh in the points standings. “During the week off (between New York’s Brewerton Speedway on Aug. 24 and Mohawk) we worked on the car hard and I rethought some of my driving. I kinda hung out for a weekend and cleared my mind, thought about what I need to do.”

The difference in Hubbard’s performance at Mohawk was impossible to ignore.

“The car was great,” said Hubbard, “and I’d like to think I drove it better than I had been.”

MORE TROUBLE: Tim Fuller added two more frustrating outings to his disappointing 2010 season, losing opportunities to contend at both Mohawk and Tri-City to bad luck.

Racing at a pair of tracks where he’s proven himself in the past – as a DIRTcar 358-Modified winner (Mohawk) and a WoO LMS victor last year (Tri-City) – the 42-year-old New Yorker settled for finishes of sixth at Mohawk (after a lap-40 spin forced him to rear of the field) and 23rd at Tri-City (retired on lap nine due to damage from his involvement in the Blair/Davies incident on lap two).

Fuller was almost at wit’s end as he loaded up his bent Gypsum Express No. 19 after Sunday’s A-Main at Tri-City. The inauspicious evening – as he tried to avoid spinning cars, the right side of his machine slammed into the large tire protecting the track’s turn-three wall – capped a four-race streak of absolutely horrible breaks for Fuller. After scoring his first top-five finish in nearly two months on Aug. 19 at Rolling Wheels Raceway in Elbridge, N.Y., Fuller proceeded to have a flat tire knock him out of second place on Aug. 23 at Autodrome Drummond (he finished eighth); get collected in a late-race tangle on Aug. 24 at Brewerton Speedway as he held fourth place; go spinning on a lap-40 restart at Mohawk while running second (he blamed the contact that sent him around on Hubbard, going as far as pulling in front of the young driver under caution to signal his displeasure); and see his Tri-City hopes evaporate before even having an opportunity to advance from the ninth starting spot.

With the exception of a two-race win streak in mid-June during the ‘Great Northern Tour,’ Fuller’s performance has fallen far short of his break-out 2009 season. Through 40 A-Mains this year he’s eighth in the points standings with two wins, six top-five and 19 top-10 finishes and $90,150 in earnings. Compare that to his statistics at the conclusion of the 40-race 2009 campaign: fourth in the points standings with seven wins, 17 top-five and 24 top-10 finishes and $137,150 in earnings (not including $35,000 in points-fund cash).

UNDER THE WEATHER: It’s been an uncharacteristically inconsistent season for Steve Francis – and after he battled to finish seventh on Sunday night at Tri-City, the 2007 WoO LMS champion was counting down the days to the end of the ’10 season.

“I’m looking forward to the year being over,” said Francis, who was hampered by flu-like symptoms throughout Sunday’s action and headed to the sanctity of his hauler moments after completing his 16th-to-seventh run. “I’ve never, ever said that before, but I’ve never had the ups-and-downs I’ve had this year.

“I don’t really know exactly why, but I’ve had runs this year like I’ve never, ever experienced in my life. At times my cars have been as good as I could ever ask for, and at times they’ve been as bad as I could ever ask for. We kinda want this year to get over with so we can work on building some new cars and getting everything right again.”

Francis is solidly fourth in the points standings, but his performance record has significantly sagged from 2009 when he was in the title battle until settling for second place on the final night of competition. This season he has two wins, 14 top-five and 31 top-10 finishes and $115,445 in earnings; last year he registered six wins, 25 top-five and 33 top-10 finishes and earned $167,885 (not including an additional $60,000 in points-fund cash).

TAKING ON THE WORLD: The WoO LMS is off this weekend, but nine of the top-11 drivers in the points standings are expected to enter the 40th annual World 100 on Sept. 10-11 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.

Only Fuller and Russell King do not have plans to compete in the prestigious DIRTcar UMP-sanctioned event, which carries a $43,000 top prize. Fuller will spend the weekend running big-block Modified shows in upstate New York while King has a Saturday-night date at Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex in Markleysburg, Pa., on his schedule.

At least five Outlaws will go to the post at Eldora with their cars sporting brand-new graphics and color schemes, including Lanigan (he only says his colors will be “different”); 2008 World 100 winner Shane Clanton (reportedly a red-and-black Georgia Bulldogs design); 2004 World 100 victor Chub Frank (green and black); Tim McCreadie (mostly black with white and florescent orange accents); and Clint Smith (some “slightly different colors” than he customarily displays).

LA SALLE OFF THE SKED: The WoO LMS event scheduled for Sun., Sept. 19, at La Salle (Ill.) Speedway has been canceled by event promoter Bob Sargent of Track Enterprises Inc., leaving four more points races on the 2010 schedule.

The WoO LMS stretch run features the Pepsi Nationals on Sat., Sept. 18, at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo., and then three events at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C. – the World of Outlaws Late Model Showdown on Wed., Oct. 13, and the World Finals on Nov. 4-6.

Advance tickets are available for all the remaining WoO LMS events. The Pepsi Nationals, in fact, features a bonus offer of a FREE t-shirt from Pepsi (while supplies last) to fans who purchase tickets in advance at www.WorldofOutlaws.com/tickets or by calling the track at 636-479-3219.

Another attractive offer available to attendees of the Pepsi Nationals is a FREE pit-pass upgrade to admission tickets for fans who recycle a Pepsi 20-ounce bottle on race day.

Ticket information on The Dirt Track’s World of Outlaws Late Model Showdown and World Finals – the season-ending blockbuster weekend that also includes the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and, for the first time, the Super DIRTcar big-block Modified Series – can be obtained by logging on to www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or calling 1-800-455-FANS.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Lanigan Ends Years Of Frustration At Tri-City Speedway With Convincing Victory In ‘Oil Region Labor Day Classic’
FRANKLIN, PA - Sept. 5, 2010 - Tri-City Speedway is no longer a thorn in Darrell Lanigan’s side.

The red-hot driver from Union, Ky., finally ended years of World of Outlaws Late Model Series frustration at the half-mile oval, driving to a convincing victory in Sunday night’s 50-lap Oil Region Labor Day Classic A-Main.

Lanigan, 40, roared off the outside pole to assume command at the initial green flag and never looked back in his GottaRace.com Rocket car. He controlled the entire distance, keeping Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., at bay en route to his seventh win of the season on the national tour and his long-awaited first-ever at Tri-City.

Smith, 45, settled for second place, steering his Rocket mount under the checkered flag 1.547 seconds behind Lanigan. Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., finished third in his Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket to maintain his WoO LMS points lead by a scant two points over Lanigan, Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., placed fourth in the RSD Enterprises Rocket and polesitter Jeremy Miller of Gettysburg, Pa., was fifth in his own MasterSbilt car.

“We’ve been good here and we’ve been close (to winning), but we’ve just had a lot of bad luck,” said Lanigan, whose bouts with misfortune at Tri-City include a last-lap tangle with a lapped car while leading in 2006 and a time-trial problem that prompted him to angrily pull out of the 2007 Classic finale without racing. “Tonight we had an awesome car and got ‘er done.”

Lanigan allowed himself no flashbacks to his especially heartbreaking loss in 2006 – even as he dealt with slower cars with the white flag flying.

“I was kinda concentrating out there,” said Lanigan, who earned $10,600 for his 19th career triumph on the WoO LMS. “I thought I felt Clint closer than he was, so I was just worrying about making my best lap at the end. I didn’t have any time to think about what happened in the past here.”

Smith never did, in fact, draw close enough to seriously challenge Lanigan. He stayed within sight of the leader and even cut the gap late in the race, but the veteran needed a bit more speed from his machine to end his long absence from Victory Lane.

“I made just one slight chassis adjustment wrong and it made me too tight across the middle (of the corners),” said Smith, whose winless streak on the WoO LMS reached 110 races since his last score, on June 17, 2008, at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway. “That’s where I was getting beat.

“At the end the track slicked up enough where I could charge in the corners and I came back to (Lanigan), but then those lapped cars came into play. I couldn’t get by them fast enough to make a run at him.”

The $5,500 outing didn’t disappoint Smith, however. It was his second runner-up finish in the last four WoO LMS events, pointing to an upswing in his program.

“We’re tickled to death with the way we’re running,” said Smith, who has three bridesmaid finishes this season. “We’re going in the right direction. We just have to keep at it.”

The 22-year-old Richards, meanwhile, escaped an early tangle and pulled off a dramatic final-lap pass to keep himself atop the WoO LMS points standings. He entered the weekend with an eight-point advantage over Lanigan after winning his first-ever 100-lap A-Main on Sept. 1 at Mohawk International Raceway in Akwesasne, N.Y.

Richards, who started eighth, nearly was swept up in a chain-reaction pileup on lap two that occurred after Ron Davies of Warren, Pa., and Robbie Blair of Titusville, Pa., tangled and spun between turns three and four while battling for fourth place. The defending WoO LMS champion managed to slither away from the accident scene and restarted in fourth place.

It appeared that Richards was headed toward a fourth-place finish that would have left him tied for the points lead with Lanigan, but he slid around the outside of Clanton rounding turns three and four on the last lap to steal the show position.

“There was a lapped car there and Clanton was on the bottom behind it (on the last circuit),” said Richards, who is once again tied for the 2010 WoO LMS win lead with Lanigan. “I decided to just banzai it in there on the outside and see if it would stick. It did, and I was able to roll around Clanton and beat him back to the flagstand.

“I’m just happy to get all I could get. Maybe I should have gone up there and tried that outside earlier.”

The lap-two incident that dive-bombed the efforts of Davies and Blair – both pitted after the accident and later dropped out – also brought an early end to the nights of Watertown, N.Y., drivers Tim Fuller and Tim McCreadie. Fuller, who slammed the right side of his car into the tractor tire in front of the turn-three wall, retired on lap nine while McCreadie, who couldn’t avoid Davies and Blair, was lapped on the 19th circuit and pulled out on lap 24 after blowing a right-front tire due to the mangled front bumper on his car.

McCreadie’s 22nd-place finish dealt a crushing blow to his WoO LMS championship hopes. He remained third in the points standings but fell 86 points behind Richards with just four events left on the 2010 schedule.

Nick Dickson of Lewistown, Pa., finished sixth, earning the $500 ‘Bonus Bucks’ cash for being the highest-finishing driver who hasn’t won a WoO LMS A-Main and wasn’t ranked among the top 12 in the points standings. Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., advanced from the 16th starting spot to place seventh; Rick Eckert of York, Pa., quietly moved up from the 12th starting position to finish eighth; 14th-starter Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, Pa., was ninth; and 17th-starter Jason Covert of York Haven, Pa., rounded out the top 10.

Blair was quickest of 34 cars in Ohlins Shocks Time Trials with a lap of 17.766 seconds. It was the second time he’s registered a WoO LMS fast-time honor during the Oil Region Labor Day Classic but first since 2006.

Heat winners were Blair, Lanigan, Smith and Davies. The B-Mains were captured by Covert and Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del.

The WoO LMS will be idle until traveling to the Midwest for the Pepsi Nationals on Sept. 18 at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Results of WoO Late Model Series ‘Oil Region Labor Day Classic’ (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (2) Darrell Lanigan/50 $10,600
2. (4) Clint Smith/50 $5,500
3. (8) Josh Richards/50 $3,600
4. (5) Shane Clanton/50 $3,000
5. (1) Jeremy Miller/50 $2,000
6. (11) Nick Dickson/50 $2,200
7. (16) Steve Francis/50 $2,000
8. (12) Rick Eckert/50 $1,800
9. (14) Gregg Satterlee/50 $1,200
10. (17) Jason Covert/50 $1,100
11. (13) Dan Stone/50 $1,050
12. (7) Russell King/50 $1,500
13. (20) Mike Knight/50 $950
14. (18) Austin Hubbard/50 $1,650
15. (24) Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/49 $850
16. (21) Chub Frank/48 $1,300
17. (22) John Garvin/48 $770
18. (23) Jill George/47 $750
19. (19) Jared Miley/46 $730
20. (6) Robbie Blair/34 $700
21. (15) Brent Rhebergen/30 $700
22. (10) Tim McCreadie/24 $1,300
23. (9) Tim Fuller/9 $1,200
24. (3) Ron Davies/7 $700

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

Time of Race: 29 Mins., 26.626 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 1.547 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 3 (Laps 2, 2, 26)
Lap Leaders: Lanigan (1-50)
Provisional Starters: George, Briggs
Rookie of the Race: Hubbard ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Nick Dickson ($500)

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. won11-Robbie Blair/Titusville, PA 17.766
2. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 17.931
3. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 18.001
4. 1M-Jeremy Miller/Gettysburg, PA 18.077
5. 21d-Dan Stone/Thompson, PA 18.132
6. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 18.152
7. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 18.223
8. 71d-Ron Davies/Warren, PA 18.224
9. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 18.256
10. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 18.261
11. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 18.287
12. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 18.326
13. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 18.379
14. 21L-Matt Lux/Franklin, PA 18.382
15. 56B-Denton Boyer/Punxsutawney, PA 18.398
16. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 18.476
17. 99B-Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/Bear Lake, PA 18.484
18. 33-Chris Hackett/Erie, PA 18.525
19. 07R-Brent Rhebergen/Clymer, NY 18.552
20. 9K-Mike Knight/Ripley, NY 18.554
21. 43A-Jason Covert/York Haven, PA 18.580
22. H1-Jared Miley/South Park, PA 18.598
23. 17-Nick Dickson/Lewistown, PA 18.654
24. 29x-Garrett Krummert/New Castle, PA 18.785
25. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 18.816
26. 22s-Gregg Satterlee/Rochester Mills, PA 18.854
27. 53-John Volpe/Lakewood, NY 18.868
28. J4-John Garvin/Sarver, PA 18.877
29. 16*-Dereck Frank/Jamestown, NY 19.110
30. 8L-Scott LeBarron/Dover, PA 19.198
31. 9G-Scott Gurdak/Bear Lake, PA 19.280
32. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 19.284
33. 03-Doug Eck/Corry, PA 19.293
34. J19-Jason Fosnaught/Creighton, PA 20.078

Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Blair, Clanton, Fuller, Stone, C. Frank, Covert, Eck, D. Frank, Briggs

Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Lanigan, Richards, McCreadie, Satterlee, Miley, Lux, Hackett, Fosnaught, LeBarron

Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Smith, King, Dickson, Rhebergen, Hubbard, Boyer, Volpe, Gurdak

Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Davies, Miller, Eckert, Francis, Knight, Garvin, George, Krummert

B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Covert, Miley, C. Frank, Lux, Briggs, Eck, D. Frank (DNS) Hacket, Fosnaught, LeBarron

B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Hubbard, Knight, Garvin, Boyer, Volpe, Krummert, Gurdak, George

2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Sept. 5 – 40 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):

1. Josh Richards 5352
2. Darrell Lanigan 5350 (-2)
3. Tim McCreadie 5266 (-86)
4. Steve Francis 5138 (-214)
5. Shane Clanton 5058 (-294)
6. Rick Eckert 5042 (-310)
7. Austin Hubbard 4984 (-368)
8. Tim Fuller 4926 (-426)
9. Chub Frank 4836 (-516)
10. Clint Smith 4800 (-552)
11. Russell King 4462 (-890)
12. Brent Robinson 3470 (-1882)
13. Jill George 3236 (-2116)
14. Brady Smith 2992 (-2360)
15. Rick 'Boom' Briggs 1820 (-3532)

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Rain Washes Out Opening Night Of Oil Region Labor Day Classic At Pennsylvania’s Tri-City Speedway
FRANKLIN, PA - Sept. 4, 2010 - Lingering showers forced the cancelation of Saturday night’s Oil Region Labor Day Classic opener at Tri-City Speedway.

All the regular World of Outlaws Late Model Series teams were already parked in the pit area and a talented array of regional and local competitors were in the process of joining them when Tri-City promoter Rich Hetrich made the decision to call off the night's planned action. A heavy burst of rain that fell shortly after noon left the grounds soggy and more waves of precipitation were forecast to strike the half-mile oval into the evening.

The second half of the Oil Region Labor Day Classic will continue as scheduled on Sunday (Sept. 5). A 50-lap WoO LMS A-Main paying $10,000 to win will highlight the program, which also includes the DIRTcar Challenge Sprint Car Series, the FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series and the United E-Mod Series. Gates will open at 3 p.m. and hot laps are set to begin at 5:15 p.m.

Saturday night’s event was the seventh rainout of 2010 for the WoO LMS but only the third that was not rescheduled.

The cancelation leaves five points races on the WoO LMS schedule, including the Pepsi Nationals on Sept. 18 at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo., and three events at The Dirt Track at Charlotte – the World of Outlaws Showdown on Oct. 13 and the World Finals on Nov. 4-6.

Defending champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., enters Sunday’s competition at Tri-City leading the WoO LMS standings by just eight points over Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., and 46 points over Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y.

Additional information on the Oil Region Labor Day Classic is available by logging on to www.tricityspeedway.com or calling 814-676-3000.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Robbie Blair Ready To Take Another Shot At Outlaws In ‘Oil Region Labor Day Classic’ This Weekend (Sept. 4-5) At PA’s Tri-City Speedway
FRANKLIN, PA - Sept. 3, 2010 - Most observers rank Robbie Blair as the western Pennsylvania driver most likely to upset the World of Outlaws Late Model Series stars in the sixth annual Oil Region Labor Day Classic presented by Armstrong Cable this Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 4-5) at Tri-City Speedway.

But does Blair have as much confidence in his chances of pulling off a career-first triumph on the national tour in one of the 50-lap, $10,000-to-win A-Mains that comprise the blockbuster doubleheader? Well...not quite.

Blair, 40, of Titusville, Pa., modestly downplays any suggestion that he can shoot down the big-name invaders at the half-mile oval located just a half-hour from his home – even though he’s a former dirt Late Model champion at Tri-City and has seriously contended for a WoO victory three times since the series began making annual visits to the track in 2005.

“Every time I think I have a shot to win an Outlaw show I end up being out to lunch, so I’m not getting my hopes up,” said the low-key Blair, who captured his Tri-City title in 1997 when full-blown dirt Late Models last ran regularly at the track. “Last year I won every Late Model show at Tri-City (three races) before the Outlaws came in so I thought I had a great shot, but I was terrible. And at Clearfield (Central PA Speedway) this year I thought I had my best shot ever at winning an Outlaw show (he entered the July 27 event undefeated in four starts there) and I was a turd.

“For some reason, I just haven’t run good lately in Outlaw shows. It’s not because all the (WoO) guys are there; my stuff just wasn’t as good for the Outlaw shows as it was when I won those races (at Tri-City and Central PA) earlier in the year.”

Indeed, Blair has struggled through disappointing runs in his most recent WoO LMS starts at tracks he knows well, finishing 15th (after starting fourth) and 14th in last year’s A-Mains at Tri-City and placing 11th in this year’s inaugural series event at Central PA. The reigning O’Reilly All-Star Late Model Series champion and current tour points leader needs a return to the form he flashed at Tri-City during the 2006 and 2007 Oil Region Labor Day Classics, when he registered a top-five finish in three of the four 50-lappers.

Blair came closest to a WoO LMS victory at Tri-City in the 2006 weekend’s wild finale, finishing second to Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., who survived a 360-degree spin on lap 39 and grabbed the lead after Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., tangled with a lapped car on the final circuit. It was a career-best tour finish for Blair, but to this day he feels like a win might have slipped through his fingers.

“It doesn’t matter now, but I think we could’ve won that one,” said Blair, who has seven overall feature wins this season. “If the yellow doesn’t come out (inadvertently) when Clanton spun (after contact while battling for the lead with Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa.), we could’ve been in the lead. Clanton was spun out and I was going by Chub, but the yellow came out and they put Clanton back in the lead (it was ruled he never stopped).”

Blair also enjoyed strong Oil Region Labor Day Classic runs in the opening-night A-Mains in 2006 (set fast time and finished third) and 2007 (finished fifth after starting from the outside pole and leading laps 1-11). But he has just one top-10 finish in the four features contested at Tri-City over the past two years, and he doesn’t have a single top-10 performance to his credit in the seven WoO LMS A-Main starts he’s made this season.

“Honestly, I think I’m a little behind,” conceded Blair, explaining the difficulties he’s experienced with his self-owned equipment in recent WoO LMS competition. “My stuff’s pretty much from 1932 compared to some of these guys – well, you know what I mean. I have one (Rocket) car that’s two years old and the rest are six or seven years old, and the newest motor I have (he runs Draime and Custom powerplants) is five years old.

“Running my own deal – and with my boy (19-year-old Max) racing now too – there’s no way I can update enough to be where we need to be. We just do what we can and try our best.

“I’m not getting down about it though,” he continued. “I’m still looking forward to (the Oil Region Labor Day Classic). I’m not saying I can’t win an Outlaw show, but I just know everything has to go right for me to do it.”

Those optimum conditions for Blair start with a slick track surface – as he says, “The more slippery it gets, the better chance I’ll have.” Give him that type of clay, a solid qualifying effort, a prime starting spot in an A-Main and a little local-favorite magic, and maybe, just maybe, Blair will be able to join Dan Stone of Thompson, Pa., who upset the national travelers with a stirring victory in the 2007 Oil Region Labor Day Classic finale, as a non-Outlaw winner at Tri-City.

And just what would Blair’s reaction be if he reaches Victory Lane this weekend?

“I’ve said that I think I’m gonna retire when I win an Outlaw show,” joked Blair, who has been racing since he was 14 and in the dirt Late Model division since 1996.

Blair leads a talented group of regional racers who figure to give the WoO LMS stars all they can handle this weekend at Tri-City. The challengers expected include Stone; Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa., who has qualified for all nine WoO LMS A-Mains that Tri-City has presented but owns only one top-10 finish (sixth in 2006); Jason Covert of York Haven, Pa. (top-five runs in both Classic features last year); former Outlaw winner Jeremy Miller of Gettysburg, Pa.; Ron Davies of Warren, Pa., who finished second in a WoO LMS event on Aug. 1 at Eriez Speedway in Hammett, Pa.; Matt Lux of Franklin, Pa.; Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, Pa.; and Mike Knight of Ripley, N.Y.

Defending WoO LMS champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., enters this weekend’s action riding high, leading the points standings after winning his first-ever 100-lap A-Main in Wednesday night’s ‘Battle At Eastern Door’ at Mohawk International Raceway in Akwesasne, N.Y. He has never won an Outlaw event at Tri-City, but he has finished second twice (2006 and 2009).

Richards’s pursuers in the dramatic WoO LMS points battle, 2008 champion Lanigan (-8 points) and 2006 titlist Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y. (-46 points), also will be searching for first career tour victories at Tri-City. Lanigan, of course, nearly won the 2006 finale and was the runner-up in last year’s second 50-lapper, while McCreadie has finished as high as fourth and never worse than eighth in his seven career Oil Region Labor Day Classic A-Main starts.

Other WoO LMS regulars headed for Tri-City included former Classic feature winners Clanton (2006 and 2008), Frank (2006), Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky. (2009 and 2008), Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y. (2009) and Rick Eckert of York, Pa. (2005), as well as Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio, rookie sensation Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., and rookie Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa.

This year’s Oil Region Labor Day Classic is bigger – and a bigger bargain for fans – than ever. The DIRTcar winged Sprint Cars have been added to both nights of racing for the first time, providing spectators four divisions of competition for an admission price that has been lowered from past years.

Two-day adult passes are available for $55 (grandstands) and $75 (pits). Weekend grandstand passes for students (ages 11-16) are $27, with kids 10-and-under admitted free.

One-day ticket adult prices are $29 (grandstands) and $45 (pits). Students (ages 11-16) will be charged $14 each day and kids 10-and-under will receive free admission.

The program on Sat., Sept. 4, features a full card for the WoO LMS plus a DIRTcar Sprint Car event paying $1,500 to win, a regular show for the FASTRAK crate Late Models and the United E-Mod Series presented by William Southwell & Son Oil.

On Sun., Sept. 5, the WoO LMS headlines another full evening of racing that includes a $2,000-to-win DIRTcar Challenge Sprint Car Series event, the FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series ($1,200 to win) and the United E-Mod Series in a program topped by a $1,000-to-win feature.

Blair is considering pulling double-duty and running the FASTRAK crate Late Model events as well, joining his son Max, who is competing for the organization’s regional and national titles. The elder Blair has run enough crate Late Model races this season to put him in position to earn some points-fund money.

Gates are scheduled to open on Saturday and Sunday at 4 p.m. and racing is set to begin at 7:30 p.m.

The Oil Region Labor Day Classic has developed into a true destination event, drawing a record total of more than 300 campers last year. A similar turnout is expected this weekend and Tri-City officials have plenty of off-track fun planned to keep the fans and race teams entertained, including the annual Labor Day Kick-Off Party presented by Engles Trucking Services & Rays Racing following a Test-and-Tune session on Friday night; a D.J. for dancing on Saturday night; a Corn Hole tournament in the parking lot; and special activities for kids. In addition, the Spears Golf Course, which sits just behind the speedway’s backstretch, is offering a special deal ($13 including cart and greens fees) for any Classic attendees who would like to play a round during the afternoon.

More info on the Oil Region Labor Day Classic is available by logging on to www.tricityspeedway.com or calling 814-676-3000.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Pepsi Rewards Fans with Pit Upgrade Sept. 18 at I-55 Raceway:
 Huge event near St. Louis will impact World of Outlaws Late Model Series title bout
PEVELY, MO - Sept. 3, 2010 - It's already a giant event. It features the biggest names in Dirt Late Model racing competing at the most exciting bullring in the Midwest. Now, Pepsi is making it even bigger. The World of Outlaws Late Model Series Pepsi Nationals on Saturday, Sept. 18, at I-55 Raceway just got super-sized.
Fans who recycle a Pepsi 20-ounce bottle on race day at I-55 Raceway's main entrance will receive a FREE fan pit pass upgrade to their ticket. An event ticket is required for gate admission and there is a limit of one per person, they are not exchangeable and there is no cash value to the upgrade.
In addition, Pepsi also will reward fans with a FREE t-shirt while supplies last if they purchase tickets in advance at http://www.WorldofOutlaws.com/tickets or by calling the track at 636-479-3219.
Only 48 points separate Josh Richards, Darrell Lanigan and Tim McCreadie in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series championship, but the most powerful late models on the planet must also deal with DIRTcar Racing superstars like Summer Nationals Hell Tour champion Jason Feger and three-time UMP National champion Dennis Erb Jr.
The unique event is 55 laps on the high-banked 1/3-mile oval just south of St. Louis. Plus, DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, DIRTcar UMP Sportsman and DIRTcar Pro-4 classes also will be featured, making for one massive night of horsepower and excitement.
Reserved seats are $30 in advance and $32 on Sept. 18. General admission is $28 in advance and $30 on Sept. 18. If you're going to the pits, pit passes are $35 for DIRTcar Members and $40 for non-members. To join DIRTcar, sign up at http://www.DIRTcarMembers.com.
To get your seat, order online at http://www.WorldofOutlaws.com/tickets, or call 636-479-3219.

Josh Richards Tops Mohawk 100-Lapper, Gains On Extreme Tough Challenge Title

CONCORD, NC - Sept. 2, 2010 - Josh Richards scored a major victory on Wednesday night in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series "Battle At Eastern Door" at Mohawk International Raceway.
For the first time in his career, the 22-year-old defending series champion won a 100-lap event and moved up the standings in the LaCrosse Footwear Extreme Tough Challenge.
"This was just one great night," said Richards, of Shinnston, W.Va. "It's an awesome feeling to finally win a 100-lap race after seven years of trying - and getting some more points for the LaCrosse Extreme Tough Challenge makes the night even better. We have a few more LaCrosse shows left to go and hopefully we'll run good in them to get to the top of the points standings."
Through five Extreme Tough Challenge events for the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and five events for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, Tony Stewart Racing's Donny Schatz, the four-time and defending World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion, remains the overall leader by four points over World of Outlaws Late Model Series star Shane Clanton. Through the 10 events, 19 different drivers have earned Extreme Tough Challenge points.
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series drivers are back in action this weekend in another LaCrosse Extreme Tough Challenge event at Tri-State Speedway in Franklin, Pa.
The Extreme Tough Challenge features 16 overall events - eight per series - where drivers who are competing full-time in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series or the World of Outlaws Late Model Series earn points toward the championship, which will be decided at the World of Outlaws World Finals in November at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. The top five finishers no matter the series will share a $15,000 point fund, and the winning driver will receive the Extreme Tough Challenge champion trophy.
Also, at each Extreme Tough Challenge event, LaCrosse will distribute keepsake posters as well as provide hat and t-shirt giveaways. Fans can get involved at every race through a unique Extreme Tough competition with the chance to win a pair of LaCrosse boots.
LaCrosse Footwear develops performance footwear and apparel designed to help users dominate their ground in work and recreation. LaCrosse boots, including the Extreme Tough™ line, can be found at premium retailers such as Bass Pro Shops and Gander Mountain.
Visit http://www.extremetoughchallenge.com for all of the up-to-date news and standings. For more information on LaCrosse Footwear, go to http://www.lacrossefootwear.com.
LACROSSE EXTREME TOUGH CHALLENGE STANDINGS (through Sept. 2)
Pos. Driver (Series) Points
1. Donny Schatz (WoO Sprint) 18
2. Shane Clanton (WoO LM) 14
3. Steve Kinser (WoO Sprint) 13
Josh Richards (WoO LM) 13
Joey Saldana (WoO Sprint) 13
6. Jason Meyers (WoO Sprint) 12
Steve Francis (WoO LM) 12
8. Tim McCreadie (WoO LM) 11
9. Darrell Lanigan (WoO LM) 9
10. Chub Frank (WoO LM) 7
11. Paul McMahan (WoO Sprint) 6
Jason Sides (WoO Sprint) 6
13. Craig Dollansky (WoO Sprint) 4
Austin Hubbard (WoO LM) 4
Lucas Wolfe (WoO Sprint) 4
Danny Lasoski (WoO Sprint) 4
17. Rick Eckert (WoO LM) 3
18. Clint Smith (WoO LM) 1
Tim Fuller (WoO LM) 1

LACROSSE EXTREME TOUGH CHALLENGE EVENTS
World of Outlaws Sprint Cars
May 28 - The Dirt Track at Charlotte, Concord, NC (Donny Schatz)
June 3 - Knoxville Raceway, Knoxville, IA (Jason Meyers)
July 16 - Eldora Speedway, Rossburg, OH (Joey Saldana)
July 23 - Williams Grove Speedway, Mechanicsburg, PA (Donny Schatz)
July 25 - Lebanon Valley Speedway, West Lebanon, NY (Steve Kinser)
Oct. 1 - Williams Grove Speedway, Mechanicsburg, PA
Oct. 9 - Rolling Wheels Raceway, Elbridge, NY
Nov. 5 - The Dirt Track at Charlotte, Concord, NC
World of Outlaws Late Models
May 30 - West Virginia Motor Speedway, Mineral Wells, WV (Shane Clanton)
June 26 - Lernerville Speedway, Sarver, PA (Josh Richards)
July 3 - Tazewell Speedway, Tazewell, TN (Shane Clanton)
Aug. 7 - Cedar Lake Speedway, New Richmond, WI (Chub Frank)
Aug. 20 - Mohawk International Raceway, Hogansburg, NY (Josh Richards)
Sept. 4 - Tri-City Speedway, Franklin, PA
Sept. 18 - I-55 Raceway, Pevely, MO
Nov. 5 - The Dirt Track at Charlotte, Concord, NC
About LaCrosse Footwear, Inc.
LaCrosse Footwear, Inc. is a leading developer and marketer of branded, premium and innovative footwear for expert work and outdoor users. The Company's trusted Danner(R) and LaCrosse brands are distributed domestically through a nationwide network of specialty retailers and distributors, and internationally through distributors and retailers in Asia, Europe and Canada. Work customers include people in law enforcement, agriculture, firefighting, construction, industry, military services and other occupations that need high-performance and protective footwear as a critical tool for the job. Outdoor customers include people active in hunting, outdoor cross training, hiking and other outdoor recreational activities. For more information about LaCrosse Footwear products, please visit www.lacrossefootwear.com.

Richards Registers First-Ever 100-Lap Victory In Mohawk International Raceway’s ‘Battle At Eastern Door’ On Wednesday Night
AKWESASNE, NY - Sept. 1, 2010 - Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., registered the biggest win of his career on Wednesday night, capturing the rescheduled World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Battle At Eastern Door’ at Mohawk International Raceway.

The triumph was important to the 22-year-old sensation for many reasons. It broke him out of a summer slump, brought him a personal-high feature-win payoff of $20,775, pushed him back into the WoO LMS points lead and, most notably, gave him his long-awaited first 100-lap A-Main checkered flag as a dirt Late Model driver.

“It feels great to finally win one of these 100-lappers,” said Richards, who earned his series-leading seventh victory of the 2010 season. “This isn’t a crown-jewel event, but it’s a 100-lapper and that’s all that matters. We finally got one under our belt after seven years of trying and hopefully we can win some more now.”

Richards authored a memorable march to his milestone extra-distance score, recovering from a slow start to steer his Mark Richards Racing Enterprises/Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket car forward from the 10th starting position to pass 2006 tour champion Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., for the lead on lap 79. The defending WoO LMS titlist dominated the remainder of the distance, crossing the finish line 3.314 seconds ahead of McCreadie’s Sweeteners Plus Racing Rocket mount.

WoO LMS rookie Austin Hubbard, 18, of Seaford, Del., settled for third place in Dale Beitler’s Rocket after running as high as second and briefly challenging McCreadie for the lead. Rick Eckert of York, Pa., improved one position from his fifth starting spot to place fourth in his Team Zero by Bloomquist car, and fifth place was claimed by 2008 series champ Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., who entered the event leading the points standings by two markers over Richards but ended it trailing his young rival by eight points.

Richards admitted after the race, which was postponed by rain on its original Aug. 21 date, that he had his doubts about reaching Victory Lane and regaining the points lead.

“The last time we were here (for qualifying on Aug. 20) I felt terrible,” said Richards, who timed 19th-fastest and finished fourth in a heat race. “When we went out tonight for hot laps I was way too tight, and in the second session I felt absolutely terrible. Then, with the way I felt early (in the 100), I figured we’d finish 10th or 15th because I wasn’t really going anywhere.

“But our car really came to us. Mid-race to late-race, it was just like a switch flipped. I could really catch the brown (moisture) off (turn) two and keep my speed up, and all of a sudden we started coming on.”

Richards surged into contention on a lap-40 restart, vaulting from sixth to third in the span of one circuit around the four-tenths-mile oval. He passed Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., who started from the pole position and led laps 1-26, for second on lap 45 and quickly ran down leader McCreadie, but before he could make a bid a caution flag flew on lap 60 and he lost the runner-up spot to Hubbard on the restart.

Richards moved back into second on lap 70 with a homestretch pass of Hubbard, whose car had become hampered by damage it sustained two laps earlier in a turn-four scrape with McCreadie. McCreadie’s 10 car length edge disappeared with alacrity and Richards sailed into the lead for good with an inside move on lap 79.

Once in command Richards experienced little trouble. He easily handled a lap-90 restart that followed the race’s seventh and final caution flag to reach the finish line without a challenge.

“We just had a phenomenal car for the feature,” said Richards, whose 27th career WoO LMS victory moved him within one score of Ashland, Ky.’s Steve Francis for the top spot on the tour’s win list since 2004. “I knew the race was a hundred laps so I just tried to stay smooth and stay straight – and actually, as fast as the track was, that was probably the smoothest and straightest I’ve run 100 laps.”

McCreadie, 36, was no match for Richards. He led laps 27-78 but had to be content with his fifth runner-up finish of the 2010 tour, keeping him third in the points standings, 48 points behind Richards.

“Maybe we went a little too hard on the left-rear tire,” said McCreadie, whose last start at Mohawk was in a DIRTcar 358-Modified event more than a decade ago. “Josh was several steps softer than I was, and I’d say he was better everywhere (on the track). He drove by us.

“It was an awesome track,” he added, hailing the speedway’s preparation. “You couldn’t hold the fastest car back tonight, that’s for sure.”

Hubbard, meanwhile, was satisfied with a third-place finish, but he felt he lost an opportunity for his first-ever 100-lap victory due to the lap-68 contact with McCreadie. They came together exiting turn four when Hubbard tried an inside move that intersected with the groove that McCreadie was running off the corner.

“Me and McCreadie were just running two different lines,” said Hubbard, who started eighth. “He would peel down later than I would and we just hit off of (turn) four. It knocked my right-front tow out and I was just kinda holding on from there.

“I definitely thought we had a shot at winning it. We ran (McCreadie) down, so I don’t see why we couldn’t have passed him. It’s just the situation that happened that ruined our chances.”

WoO LMS regulars Francis and Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., were among the drivers who ran into trouble during the 100.

Francis spun between turns one and two on a lap-27 restart – after apparent contact with Richards – and swept up Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., and Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., who slid off the track in turn two to bring out a caution flag. Francis, who was running sixth at the time, pitted to repair some bodywork damage and returned on the lead lap.

Fuller suffered an even tougher fate, spinning out of third place on a lap-40 restart after contact from Hubbard amid a scramble between turns one and two. Fuller restarted at the rear of the field and charged forward to salvage a sixth-place finish with a car he felt was capable of winning the 100.

Frank slipped to seventh at the finish. DIRTcar big-block and 358-Modified star Dale Planck of Homer, N.Y., who made his third dirt Late Model start in a week as a teammate to Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa., finished eighth after passing Vic Coffey of Caledonia, N.Y., on the final lap to collect the $500 ‘Bonus Bucks’ cash for being the highest-finishing driver who hasn’t won a WoO LMS A-Main and isn’t ranked among the top 12 in the points standings. Coffey settled for ninth and Francis rounded out the top 10.

Carey Terrance of Hogansburg, N.Y., who competes regularly in Mohawk’s DIRTcar 358-Modified division, drove Chub Frank’s backup car to victory in the 12-lap B-Main. He finished 12th in the 100, remaining on the lead lap until late in the distance.

The WoO LMS heads to Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Pa., for a big doubleheader on Saturday and Sunday nights (Sept. 4-5) – the sixth annual Oil Region Labor Day Classic presented by Armstrong Cable. A 50-lap A-Main paying $10,000 to win will top each evening’s program.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Results of WoO Late Model Series ‘Battle At Eastern Door’ (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (10) Josh Richards/100 $20,775
2. (4) Tim McCreadie/100 $10,600
3. (8) Austin Hubbard/100 $6,750
4. (5) Rick Eckert/100 $5,550
5. (6) Darrell Lanigan/100 $4,600
6. (3) Tim Fuller/100 $3,500
7. (1) Chub Frank/100 $3,250
8. (21) Dale Planck/100 $3,000
9. (12) Vic Coffey/100 $2,300
10. (7) Steve Francis/100 $2,700
11. (9) Billy Decker/100 $1,900
12. (18) Carey Terrance/99 $1,850
13. (13) Clint Smith/99 $2,200
14. (11) Shane Clanton/99 $2,150
15. (19) Peter Mantha Jr./81 $1,600
16. (17) Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/74 $1,580
17. (23) Jill George/59 $1,560
18. (2) Ricky Elliott/43 $1,540
19. (15) Roy Tarbell/42 $1,520
20. (14) Larry Wight/39 $1,500
21. (20) Dan Stone/27 $1,500
22. (16) Russell King/26 $2,000
23. (22) Alan Fink/5 $1,500
24. (24) Greg Oakes/3 $1,525
DNS: Ron Davies (did not return)

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

Time of Race: 57 Mins., 28.323 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 3.314 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 7 (Laps 21, 27, 27, 40, 40, 60, 90)
Lap Leaders: Frank (1-26); McCreadie (27-78); Richards (79-100)
Provisional Starters: George, Oakes
Rookie of the Race: Hubbard ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Planck ($500)

B-Main Finish (12 laps – Top 5 Transfer): 1. Carey Terrance, 2. Peter Mantha Jr., 3. Dan Stone, 4. Dale Planck, 5. Alan Fink, 6. Greg Oakes, 7. Jill George, 8. Michael Trapp (DNS) Jeff Isabell Sr.

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:

Arizona Sports Shirts ($50 product certificate): Alan Fink
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Dale Planck
Eibach Springs (one free spring): Greg Oakes
MSD Ignition ($75 cash award): Josh Richards
MSD Ignition ($25 cash award): Greg Oakes
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash award to fastest qualifier w/decal): Rick Eckert
Pink Carburetors ($100 product certificate): Rick Eckert
Pink Carburetors ($50 product certificate): Greg Oakes
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate): Tim McCreadie
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate): Tim Fuller
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate): Peter Mantha Jr.
R2C Performance ($100 cash): Josh Richards
STP ($50 cash award): Carey Terrance
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (54-gallon drum of fuel to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main if decal is displayed): Michael Trapp
Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Josh Richards

2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Sept. 1 – 39 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):

1. Josh Richards 5208
2. Darrell Lanigan 5200 (-8)
3. Tim McCreadie 5160 (-48)
4. Steve Francis 5002 (-206)
5. Shane Clanton 4916 (-292)
6. Rick Eckert 4908 (-300)
7. Austin Hubbard 4862 (-346)
8. Tim Fuller 4822 (-386)
9. Chub Frank 4718 (-490)
10. Clint Smith 4654 (-554)
11. Russell King 4336 (-872)
12. Brent Robinson 3470 (-1738)
13. Jill George 3122 (-2086)
14. Brady Smith 2992 (-2216)
15. Brian Birkhofer 1764 (-3444)

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Participate in the World of Outlaws Fan Committee Survey

World of Outlaws Fans,

Last month you completed a survey for us and said that you would be very interested in becoming part of the first-ever World of Outlaws Fan Committee. This Committee will help us continue to learn more about our fans and allow you to provide your point of view on some of the issues we all face together as dirt track racing fans. Before we get started, it would be an understatement to say that we were overwhelmed by the number of responses to the survey, a fact alone that has impressed several potential sponsors. We appreciate you joining the Fan Committee and look forward to seeing your thoughts.

As promised, the survey is 15 questions long and should take less than 5 minutes to complete. You should expect the next survey in two weeks on Monday, September 13th.

Please click on the link below to complete the survey, and remember that we will be drawing a new winner every time we issue a survey for any number of prizes. This week's prize will be two (2) tickets to any World of Outlaws event of your choice.

Take this survey


- World of Outlaws

Razor-Close Battle For $100,000 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Points Title Heads Down Homestretch
Former Champs Lanigan, Richards & McCreadie Ready For Dramatic Showdown

CONCORD, NC - Aug. 30, 2010 - Eight more races. Three former champions. One big prize.

The dramatic battle for the 2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series points title heads into its homestretch this week, visiting Mohawk International Raceway in Akwesasne, N.Y., on Wednesday night (Sept. 1) and Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Pa., on Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 4-5) for three events that will loom large in determining the driver who cashes the $100,000 champion’s check at season’s end.

Entering Mohawk’s rain-postponed 100-lap ‘Battle At Eastern Door,’ 2008 champ Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., leads the WoO LMS points standings by a scant two-point margin over defending titlist Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., with 38 of 46 scheduled events completed. Also still firmly in the hunt is 2006 champion Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., who sits 46 points behind Lanigan in third place.

The points race is shaping up as one of the closest in the history of the WoO LMS – a thrilling showdown between three full-fender superstars, each aiming to become the first driver to win a second title since the national tour was reincarnated in 2004 under the World Racing Group banner.

“It looks like the points are gonna go right down to the last night (the World Finals on Nov. 4-6 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte) again this year,” said Richards, the 22-year-old sensation who won last year’s championship by 14 points over Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky. “We’d much rather have a big, comfortable lead and just race the rest of the year not having to think about points, but this is what we’re facing. It’s gonna be nerve-racking for all of us, but it’ll be exciting for the fans.”

Lanigan, 40, is carrying the most momentum into this week’s critical swing, which includes the last extra-distance, $20,000-to-win event of 2010 and a pair of 50-lap A-Mains that comprise Tri-City’s sixth annual ‘Oil Region Labor Day Classic.’ He just grabbed the points lead for the first time this season in the tour’s last stop, using a fourth-place finish on Aug. 24 at Brewerton (N.Y.) Speedway to overtake Richards, who placed 11th after struggling with an incorrect tire-compound choice.

The change at the top of the WoO LMS standings came after an epic month-and-a-half-long run by Lanigan, who was on the verge of falling out of the title conversation when he found himself saddled with a 78-point deficit to Richards following the July 3 event at Tazewell (Tenn.) Speedway. Lanigan responded with an amazing comeback, accumulating five wins, four seconds, two thirds and a fourth-place finish over the next 14 A-Mains to hop past both McCreadie and Richards.

But even with his confidence soaring, the preternaturally low-key Lanigan refuses to discuss the WoO LMS points race in any detail. He’s just trying to go with the flow.

“We’re just gonna keep trying to win races,” said Lanigan, who has captured five of the last 10 A-Mains to run his 2010 checkered flag total to a single-season career-high total of six, tying him with Richards as this year’s winningest driver. “We’re thinking about the points, but we don’t want to worry about them. We’ve got our car working real good right now and we just want to keep rolling.”

Richards, of course, hasn’t blown the points lead; Lanigan has simply snatched it with an impeccable stretch of success. While Richards has won only once in the last 18 races after emerging victorious five times in the season’s first 20 A-Mains, he’s regularly finished among the top five during Lanigan’s hot streak.

“We’ve been running good, but Darrell’s been running better,” said Richards, who had led the points standings for 25 consecutive races before being supplanted by Lanigan. “We’re aggravated that we lost the lead, but at least we still have a shot. There’s time left. We just have to work harder and get our car better.”

There’s no panic in the cool, calm Richards. He’s been in this situation before – almost exactly one year ago, in fact, when a subpar outing in the finale of Tri-City’s ‘Oil Region Labor Day Classic’ cost him the points lead to Francis. The youngster proved his mettle by rallying to beat Francis for the title in the season-ending World Finals.

“After last year, we know it’s not over because we lost the lead,” said Richards, who has held at least a share of the points lead after 31 of this season’s 38 events. “Hey, Darrell may just run away with it the way he’s been running, but we’re not gonna give up. All of us have had our runs this year – Darrell, McCreadie, us. Hopefully we can get on another one to end the year strong.”

It’s been nearly two months since the 36-year-old McCreadie held hottest-driver status on the WoO LMS, so he needs to heat up – quickly – if he’s going to claim the championship in his first season as a tour regular since he captured the crown in 2006. Since capping a stretch of three wins in five starts with a ‘Gopher 50’ triumph on July 7 at Minnesota’s Deer Creek Speedway that pulled him within 16 points of Richards in the standings, McCreadie has gone winless and slipped 46 points behind.

McCreadie was especially frustrated at the end of last week’s WoO LMS Northeast swing, which was dotted with tracks where he ran well during his DIRTcar big-block and 358-Modified days. He registered a third-place finish on Aug. 23 at Quebec’s Autodrome Drummond but struggled in two other events, leaving him treading water rather than closing the gap in the points chase.

“We’re just not running good enough – we haven’t in awhile,” said McCreadie, who owns four victories in 2010 and has held at least a share of the points lead after five events (he was tied twice with Richards). “Somehow we’re still not out of it (the points battle), but we have to get better.”

McCreadie should be in position to make some headway on Wednesday night in Mohawk’s ‘Battle At Eastern Door.’ A second-place finish in a heat race on Aug. 20 will let him draw for a starting spot in the first three rows of the richest dirt Late Model event ever run in the state of New York. Lanigan will also draw for a top-spot starting slot (he won a heat on qualifying night), while Richards is already set to start 10th after finishing fourth in a prelim on Aug. 20.

As for the half-mile Tri-City Speedway, all three championship contenders will be shooting for their first career WoO LMS victory in one of the $10,000-to-win 50-lappers that are part of the ‘Oil Region Labor Day Classic.’ Lanigan has come closest to paydirt at Tri-City, leading the second A-Main in 2006 until tangling with a lapped car on the final lap and tumbling to an eighth-place finish; he also scored a runner-up finish in last year’s ‘Classic’ finale. Richards, meanwhile, has personal-best Tri-City finishes of second (2006 and 2009), while McCreadie has finished as high as fourth (2008) and never worse than eighth in seven career WoO LMS starts at the track.

For more information on Mohawk International Raceway and Tri-City Speedway:

* Mohawk International Raceway on Wed., Sept. 1: Visit www.MohawkInternationalRaceway.com or call 518-358-3225.

* Tri-City Speedway on Sat., Sept. 4, and Sun., Sept. 5: Visit www.tricityspeedway.com or call 814-676-3000.

Additional information on the WoO LMS is available by logging on to www.worldofoutlaws.com.

2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Aug. 24 – 38 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/events/A-Main starts/wins/top-5/top-10/points/deficit to leader):

1. Darrell Lanigan 38-38-6-24-30-$175,760-5060-0
2. Josh Richards 38-38-6-23-31-$149,685-5058-2
3. Tim McCreadie 38-38-4-19-33-$140,540-5014-46
4. Steve Francis 38-38-2-14-29-$110,745-4872-188
5. Shane Clanton 38-38-3-14-27-$125,375-4794-266
6. Rick Eckert 38-38-2-9-23-$95,710-4766-294
7. Austin Hubbard 38-38-2-10-21-$97,705-4718-342
8. Tim Fuller 38-38-2-6-18-$85,450-4684-376
9. Chub Frank 38-38-0-5-19-$73,142-4582-478
10. Clint Smith 38-38-0-5-12-$67,000-4530-530
11. Russell King 38-36-0-0-2-$44,497-4230-830
12. Brent Robinson 33-27-0-0-3-$32,815-3470-1590
13. Jill George 31-17-0-0-0-$14,037-3006-2054
14. Brady Smith 25-24-1-7-13-$56,217-2992-2068
15. Brian Birkhofer 16-13-0-3-7-$26,845-1764-3296

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

World of Outlaws Late Model Series News & Notes: Elliott Breaks Through With Unique
New Team & Other Memorable Moments From Northeast Swing
CONCORD, NC - Aug. 27, 2010 -

FINALLY: A unique new dirt Late Model team provided Ricky Elliott the magic he needed to end a long pursuit of victory on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series.

While earning a reputation as one of the top regional threats to win a WoO LMS A-Main since he began entering selected events late in the 2004 season, Elliott had continually fallen short – sometimes just short – of an Outlaw checkered flag driving for car owners such as Lou Johnson, Butch Warrington, Charles Jarvis, Joe Beyea, the late Jack Starrette and, this year, himself. But on Tuesday night at Brewerton (N.Y.) Speedway, the former DIRTcar big-block Modified regular from Seaford, Del., broke through for his first career WoO LMS triumph in his third start behind the wheel of the Super Deuce Racing Rocket.

Who could have predicted such a quick ascension to Victory Lane for Elliott, 44, and the Super Deuce team, an operation fielded by a consortium of four friends from the Indianapolis area and Beyea, who operates Beyea’s Custom Headers in Genoa, N.Y.? After all, it consists of just one 2007-vintage car, one Custom engine and a modest enclosed trailer and truck – and Elliott is basically a place-setter for the team, which wanted an experienced hand to shake down the No. 2 machine before former IRL and USAC star Andy Michener assumed its controls as planned.

But at least one person had little doubt about the team’s prospects for success: Elliott, who landed the ride thanks to his previous relationship with Beyea and Super Deuce crew chief Randy Kisacky, a well-known DIRTcar big-block Modified mechanic from Johnson City, N.Y., who has dabbled with dirt Late Model racing in recent years. Elliott felt a special chemistry around the team as soon as they debuted together in a WoO LMS event on June 20 at Cornwall (Ont.) Motor Speedway and it only grew stronger last week, when he returned to the seat for the Outlaws’ Northeast swing after the team sat idle for a two-month span during which Michener’s expected late-July debut didn’t materialize because he was busy starting a new job.

“The more we race, the better this team gets,” said Elliott, whose outings prior to Brewerton included a 14th at Cornwall, a third on Aug. 19 at Rolling Wheels Raceway in Elbridge, N.Y., and a second-place heat finish on Aug. 20 at Mohawk International Raceway in Akwesasne, N.Y. (Mohawk’s 100 ‘Battle At Eastern Door’ was postponed by rain to Wed., Sept. 1). “Randy Kisacky and Mark Zekalowski (a mechanic who helps Elliott) are working so well together to get this car dialed in. I don’t have to worry about thinking about setting the car up – I’m just giving them the feedback and they’re making engineering moves on it. It takes a lot of pressure off me and lets me concentrate on driving.”

The primary figure behind Super Deuce Racing is team manager/principal owner Leo Milus, a 52-year-old health care IT who grew up near Binghamton, N.Y., but has lived in Indianapolis since 1984. Milus got his start in dirt-track racing as a teenager in the early ‘70s when he befriended Kisacky, who maintained his uncle’s dirt Late Model for competition at tracks around New York’s Southern Tier. Kisacky would go on to become a successful big-block Modified car owner for such standout Binghamton-area drivers as Chuck Akulis and Charlie Castle, and Milus spent many weekends traveling to events with Kisacky and Kisacky’s brother-in-law Tom Boyd.

After a short stint in 1983 working for DIRTcar Racing (then DIRT Motorsports) as the assistant general manager of Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, N.Y., Milus relocated to the Midwest. In the early ‘90s he became the VP and general manager of Gaerte Race Engines, where he developed a close relationship with Michener, who was rising through the USAC national Midget ranks on his way to opportunities with IndyCar and NASCAR teams. Michener’s career was short-circuited nine years ago, however, by serious injuries he suffered in a NASCAR Nationwide Series test crash at Homestead-Miami Speedway and he drifted away from the sport – until the past year, that is, when one of his periodic conversations with Milus got the racing fires burning in both men once again.

With support from his wife Spencer, Milus decided to bring together several talented individuals and friends – including, of course, his old Binghamton buddies Kisacky and Boyd – to go dirt Late Model racing in what he called “a shared passion.” He spearheaded the creation of an ownership group that includes Bryan Barnhill, Kevin Kirby and Pete Simpson – three Midwesterners who have worked with Leo on different information technology ventures nationally and internationally – and Beyea, enlisted the mechanical and organizational expertise of Kisacky and Boyd and purchased a dirt Late Model from Steve Nuttall of Eden, Md., to serve as the centerpiece of Super Deuce Racing.

In almost storybook fashion, just two months after the team first hit the track Elliott had them in Victory Lane. Milus and his Indianapolis-based partners weren’t there to witness the memorable night at Brewerton, however, because they had to fly home for work commitments after Mohawk’s rainout on Aug. 21.

“Leo was texting me all night long,” said Kisacky, who currently maintains the Super Deuce dirt Late Model at his shop outside Binghamton. “He was in a bar in Indianapolis with the other owners and they had a computer and were listening to the race on DIRTVision. After we won Leo said they started partying it up.”

Milus and his partners will be back on the scene in person on Wednesday night (Sept. 1) when the WoO LMS returns to Mohawk International for the rescheduled $20,000-to-win ‘Battle At Eastern Door’ event. And Elliott, who will redraw for one of the top-six starting spots in the A-Main, will roll into that race riding sky-high after experiencing the biggest moment of his dirt Late Model racing career.

“Late Models have done a lot for me,” said Elliott, whose previous best WoO LMS finish was a second, on July 8, 2005, at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway and Nov. 2, 2007, at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. “They’ve breathed new life into me. I mean, I’m 44 years old. I’m pretty old for a driver, but these cars make me want to come to the track. I love Modified racing, but it just got to be stale for me. I needed a change of pace and these cars have provided it.”

CHANGE AT THE TOP: Another superb week on the WoO LMS for Darrell Lanigan – wins at Rolling Wheels and Quebec’s Autodrome Drummond on Aug. 23 and a fourth-place finish at Brewerton – pushed the 2008 tour champion into the points lead for the first time this season.

Lanigan, 40, moved a scant two points ahead of defending champ Josh Richards, who saw his run of 25 straight races atop the standing come to an end after an incorrect tire-compound choice contributed to his 11th-place finish at Brewerton. Just eight events remain in the chase for the $100,000 points crown.

There was one moment at Brewerton, however, that nearly cost Lanigan his shot at the points lead. With seven laps remaining in the ‘Dirt Demon 50’ he tangled in turn three with Dan Stone of Thompson, Pa., while battling for fourth place; Lanigan survived the contact and continued, but Stone saw his impressive charge from the 24th starting spot (he used a provisional to get in the A-Main) end with right-front suspension damage that sent him sliding across the track.

The normally mild-mannered Stone was enraged by the incident, which he clearly blamed on Lanigan. Stone, who was making an inside move on Lanigan when the cars came together, climbed out of his machine after it came to rest, walked to the middle of the track and motioned angrily toward Lanigan when the field passed under caution. The next lap Stone got Lanigan to stop his car on the inside of turns three and four, leaned into Lanigan’s window and let his feelings be known.

“He said I took him out,” Lanigan said of Stone. “Trust me, I’m not taking a chance of wrecking myself. That would be stupid with everything I have on the line.

“I didn’t even see him (come up the inside of the track). If I did I would’ve given him the spot. We’re in a points race and I can’t afford to get myself in trouble.”

PLENTY OF MANPOWER: For large portions of the past two years, Clint Smith has had one of the smallest crews on the WoO LMS – just one employee, Darrell (‘Don Vito’) Cooper.

On Tuesday night at Brewerton, however, Smith found himself with arguably the largest group of helpers in the pit area. He had four experienced mechanics scurrying around his car, including his normal fulltimers Cooper and Brian Imler; Jay Cardy, the Australian dirt Late Model racer who recently arrived in the States to spend several weeks helping Smith for the third straight summer; and Brad Baum, the 2007 WoO LMS Crew Chief of the Year who returned for his second stint as a Smith crewman this season after splitting with Russell King’s team the previous night at Autodrome Drummond.

Smith put together one of his best runs of the season at Brewerton, vaulting from the 18th starting spot to sixth place by lap 21 before settling for a fifth-place finish. It was his second consecutive top-five performance – he registered his second runner-up finish of 2010 at Drummond – but he wasn’t totally satisfied. Smith felt he had a shot at preventing his WoO LMS winless streak from reaching 108 straight races if, during a lap-21 caution period, series officials hadn’t slightly moved out two uke tires in turn one to stop cars from ducking too low and throwing water back on the track. After the tires were repositioned in the interest of safety, Smith couldn’t quite run the inside groove as he had en route to the front.

OPEN-WHEELS ADDITIONS: DIRTcar big-block and 358-Modified star Dale Planck of Homer, N.Y., went to Mohawk International Raceway last Friday night to compete in the companion 358-Mod action and provide some help to his car owner and teammate Carey Terrance, who had arranged his first career dirt Late Model start in WoO LMS veteran Chub Frank’s backup car.

Planck ended up winning Friday’s 358-Modified feature at Mohawk – and after spending some time at Terrance’s nearby shop following Saturday’s rainout with Frank and Frank’s cousin Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs, he also landed a dirt Late Model ride for Drummond and Brewerton in Briggs’s backup machine.

An accomplished 39-year-old driver known for his smooth driving style, Planck admitted before taking his first-ever dirt Late Model laps at Drummond that he “wasn’t this nervous the first time I tried driving a Sprint Car.” But he adapted quickly to the full-fender cars, scoring admirable lead-lap finishes of 12th at Drummond and 13th at Brewerton.

Planck’s WoO LMS debut impressed Briggs. “He’s a helluva driver,” said Briggs, who experienced problems and did not finish both A-Mains. “I wish I could have him drive one of my cars all the time.”

The two drivers did discuss the possibility of having Planck tag the back of a B-Main in Briggs’s backup car when the WoO LMS returns to Mohawk on Sept. 1.

STUCK AT THE CASINO: Following the postponement of last Saturday night’s ‘Battle At Eastern Door’ at Mohawk, virtually every WoO LMS team as well as Northeast-swing travelers Stone and Briggs parked their rigs at the nearby Akwesasne Mohawk Casino to wait out the wet weather that inundated the region. (Tim Fuller headed back to his shop in Edwards, N.Y., with Clint Smith and Russell King.) No one wanted to cross the border until receiving confirmation that Monday’s show at Autodrome Drummond would happen. (That word came on Monday morning, sending a caravan of haulers toward Drummondville, Que., 145 miles to the Northeast.)

With rain falling non-stop from Saturday evening through Monday morning, the teams kept their race cars locked up and spent their time watching movies in their rigs, eating at the casino buffet and gambling. There was ample opportunity for Outlaws to drop money at the tables and slot machines.

“We’ve had too much time on our hands,” quipped former WoO LMS champion Steve Francis. “I just gave all my money to Amanda (his wife) so I can’t go lose any more.”

ETCETERA:

* Elliott’s voice cracked in Victory Lane at Brewerton when he dedicated his win to Jack Starrette, a prolific dirt Late Model owner and sponsor from Augusta, Ga., who died on Aug. 19 at the age of 78 from severe injuries suffered when he fell from a front-end loader at the Starrette Trucking sand pit. Elliott received sponsorship support from Starrette and drove a Starrette-owned car several times over the past three years.

“I race with a heavy heart,” said Elliott. “I lost one of my best friends, Jack Starrette. I met him about seven years ago when I first started in Late Models. He started helping me about three years ago and I drove some cars for him. He was just the nicest man I ever met in my entire life. He was a very inspirational type of person, a family guy, and he helped everybody and never asked for anything in return.”

* Perhaps the most unexpected occurrence during Mohawk’s qualifying night came when Dan Stone had his time-trial lap wiped out because he was disqualified for weighing in 18 pounds light. It was the first time the burly driver had ever been penalized for failing to make weight.

“He hasn’t had a problem with being light since the first grade,” joked Stone’s father Warren. “He was too big for Pee-Wee football when they weighed him.”

* The Northeast swing appeared to be Tim McCreadie’s opportunity to make up ground in the WoO LMS points chase, but he only treaded water during the week. He managed just one top-five finish (third at Drummond) and remained third in the points standings, cutting his deficit to the leader by just two markers (48 to 46 points).

* Rick Eckert enjoyed one of his most solid swings of the season, finishing second at both Rolling Wheels and Brewerton and sixth at Drummond. His runner-up placings came in different Team Zero by Bloomquist cars; he switched rides for Brewerton, entering a machine with a smaller powerplant that proved perfect for the slick late-race track conditions.

* Clint Smith put Aussie Jay Cardy in his backup car at Drummond, allowing the 23-year-old native of West Perth, Australia, to make history as the first driver from Down Under to start a WoO LMS A-Main. He was an early retiree and finished 21st.

* There was a JIR Motorsports sighting during the Northeast swing. The Pennellville, N.Y.-based team that fielded cars on the 2008 WoO LMS for three Isabell family members – Joey, Jeff Jr. and team owner Jeff Sr. – as well as Danny Johnson and Sean Beardsley made a low-key return at Rolling Wheels with Jeff Isabell Sr. behind the wheel of a No. 5 Rocket car that was Tony Stewart’s Prelude to the Dream ride last year.

Isabell Sr., who finished 14th at the Rolling Wheels, also provided an engine to young central New York crate Late Model racer (and former JIR Motorsports crewman) Alan Fink, who recently purchased a car formerly driven by Ohio’s John Mason. The grandson of Brewerton Speedway general manager Harvey Fink finished 19th at Rolling Wheels and 18th at Brewerton.

NEXT UP: The WoO LMS returns to Mohawk International Raceway on Wednesday night (Sept. 1) to complete the ‘Battle At Eastern Door’ weekend. The richest dirt Late Model event ever run in the state of New York will draw to a close with a B-Main and 100-lap headliner.

The national tour then heads to Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Pa., for the sixth annual ‘Oil Region Labor Day Classic,’ a two-day extravaganza of speed set for Sept. 4-5. Complete shows topped by 50-lap, $10,000-to-win A-Mains will be contested on both Saturday and Sunday evenings.

For more information on the upcoming events, visit www.mohawkinternationalraceway.com and www.tricityspeedway.com.

Additional info on the WoO LMS is available by logging on to www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Ricky Elliott’s First-Ever World of Outlaws Late Model Series Victory Comes On Tuesday Night At Brewerton Speedway
BREWERTON, NY - Aug. 24, 2010 - Ricky Elliott is a winner on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series – finally.

The 44-year-old driver from Seaford, Del., made his long-awaited breakthrough on Tuesday night, ending his dogged pursuit of victory on the national tour with a dramatic win in the second annual ‘Dirt Demon 50’ at Brewerton Speedway.

Driving the Super Deuce Racing Rocket No. 2, Elliott outdueled WoO LMS stars Rick Eckert of York, Pa., Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., and Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., to join the elite group of racers with an Outlaw triumph on their resume. He secured the lead from Clanton lap 39 and held off Eckert’s late-race bid to bank a payday of $10,575, including the $500 ‘Bonus Bucks’ cash for being the highest-finishing driver who hadn’t previously won a series event and wasn’t ranked among the top 12 in the points standings.

“This is absolutely fantastic,” said Elliott, whose list of near-wins in limited WoO LMS appearances over the past six years included a previous personal-best finish of second on July 8, 2005, at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway. “Any time you win a race it’s great, but this is my first World of Outlaws win so for me it ranks right up there with winning the big-block (Modified Super DIRTcar Series event at The Dirt Track at) Charlotte (in 2004). It’s one of the biggest thrills of my racing career.”

Elliott dedicated his win to the memory of the late Jack Starrette, a prolific dirt Late Model owner and sponsor from Augusta, Ga., who died on Aug. 19 at the age of 78 from severe injuries suffered when he fell from a front-end loader at the Starrette Trucking sand pit. Elliott received sponsorship support from Starrette and drove a Starrette-owned car several times over the past three years.

Eckert, 44, crossed the finish line 0.548 of a second behind Elliott in second place, just a car length ahead of the charging Clanton. The 34-year-old Clanton, who advanced from the seventh starting spot to lead laps 19-36 and lap 38, settled for third place.

Lanigan started from the pole position and led the race’s first 18 laps, but he slipped to fourth at the finish. That was good enough, however, to push him into the WoO LMS points lead by two markers over defending champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who struggled to an 11th-place finish after an incorrect tire-compound choice caused him to tumble backward from the third starting spot and eventually pit for a tire change on lap 34.

Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., completed the top five, charging forward to finish fifth after starting 18th. It was his second consecutive top-five run.

Elliott’s triumph came in just his third WoO LMS A-Main start of 2010 behind the wheel of a car fielded by four partners from the Indianapolis area, including former Empire State resident Leo Milus, and currently maintained by veteran DIRTcar big-block Modified mechanic Randy Kisacky of Johnson City, N.Y. He steered the machine to a 14th-place finish on June 20 at Cornwall (Ont.) Motor Speedway and a third on Aug. 19 at Rolling Wheels Raceway in Elbridge, N.Y.

The Super Deuce Racing mount is slated to eventually be driven by former IndyCar and USAC star Andy Michener, but Elliott was commissioned to help the new team get headed in the right direction. He proved the Custom-powered car is more than capable with a virtually flawless performance at the one-third-mile, D-shaped Brewerton oval, sweeping the night by preceding his feature win with a fast-time award and heat-race victory.

“We had a great car tonight and that’s because we have some really good people working on it,” said Elliott, a former DIRTcar big-block Modified regular. “With Randy Kisacky – who knows this track because he comes here all the time (for Modified races) – and Mark Zekalowski – a buddy of mine from Charlotte, N.C., who’s come back up here to help me – putting their brain-power together, we have something going on.”

Elliott, who started fourth, kept his car glued to Brewerton’s inside groove to come out on top of an entertaining race slowed by five caution flags. His insistence on running the hub was the key to his success.

“I knew I had to hold the bottom,” said Elliott, who won using American Racer tires. “I wanted to move up bad when Shane passed me (for second on lap 14), but I said, ‘No, I’m just gonna hang out here on the bottom.’ It just got slicker and slicker and slicker and I got a good rhythm going, and that got me into the lead.

“Then I hit the (uke) tire down (on the inside of turn two) with two (laps) to go and I said, ‘Oh ----, I’m gonna give it away,’” he added. “Fortunately I held on to it and was able to stay ahead of Eckert and Clanton.”

Eckert, who started sixth in his Team Zero by Bloomquist car, couldn’t take advantage of Elliott’s misstep.

“Ricky and I looked like we had about equal cars,” said Eckert, who reached second place when he swept past Clanton on a lap-39 restart. “When he caught that uke tire off two with a couple laps to go I thought he was gonna try to give it to me. I was gonna wheel it out there and try to go around him, but he collected it right up.”

Eckert remained close to Elliott rounding turn four with the white flag flying, but Elliott snuck by the lapped car driven by Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa, on the homestretch to give himself just enough breathing room. Eckert cleared George between turns one and two but spent the remainder of the circuit primarily racing Clanton.

“I was right with (Elliott) off four on the last lap, but he caught Jill and knocked her out of the way on the frontstraightway and I got held up there behind her for a second,” said Eckert, who recorded his second runner-up finish during the three-race WoO LMS Northeast swing. “Then I turned in under her (in the first corner) and Clanton went around the pair of us on the top, so I had to fend him off for the last lap. It had to be pretty exciting for the fans.”

Clanton made his last-ditch effort with a Rocket car that was less than 100 percent.

“We had a pretty good race car,” said Clanton. “We got the lead and I thought I was O.K., but me and (Austin) Hubbard got together (as Clanton lapped Hubbard on lap 31) and it knocked the toe-in out a little bit. I guess it bent a spindle and it quit steering.”

DIRTcar big-block star Billy Decker of Unadilla, N.Y., finished sixth, running just outside the top five for virtually the entire distance. Vic Coffey of Caledonia, N.Y., salvaged a seventh-place finish after starting the night in a hole because a dead battery caused him to miss time trials, while John Lobb of Frewsburg, N.Y., placed a solid eighth. Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., struggled to a ninth-place finish after drawing a caution flag on lap 11 and then pitting to change a tire and Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., rounded out the top 10.

The most serious of the event’s five caution flags involved Lanigan and Dan Stone of Thompson, Pa., who used a provisional to start 24th but was making an inside-lane bid for fourth place on lap 43 when he tangled with Lanigan in turn three. Stone’s car sustained a broken right-front suspension from the contact with Lanigan, sending Stone straight across the track and causing Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., who had run in the top five for the entire race, to spin to avoid him. Fuller’s night ended moments later when the nose of his car was bent by a hit from Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio, who slid sideways into the pileup.

Elliott was quickest of the 29 cars that were signed in for Ohlins Shocks Time Trials, lapping the bullring in 14.619 seconds. It was his third career fast-time honor on the WoO LMS but first since 2005, when he topped qualifying on Feb. 17 at Volusia Speedway Park in Barbersville, Fla., and June 30 at Bridgeport (N.J.) Speedway.

Heat winners were Elliott, Richards and Lanigan, and Lobb captured the B-Main.

The WoO LMS will take a short break before returning to upstate New York on Wed., Sept. 1, for the postponed 100-lap ‘Battle At Eastern Door’ event at Mohawk International Raceway in Akwesasne, N.Y. The tour then heads to Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Pa., on Sept. 4-5 for a pair of 50-lap, $10,000-to-win programs that comprise the annual Oil Region Labor Day Classic.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Results of WoO Late Model Series (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (4) Ricky Elliott/50 $10,575
2. (6) Rick Eckert/50 $5,500
3. (7) Shane Clanton/50 $3,500
4. (1) Darrell Lanigan/50 $3,100
5. (18) Clint Smith/50 $2,500
6. (5) Billy Decker/50 $1,700
7. (17) Vic Coffey/50 $1,400
8. (19) John Lobb/50 $1,350
9. (10) Tim McCreadie/50 $1,800
10. (8) Chub Frank/50 $1,600
11. (3) Josh Richards/50 $1,650
12. (20) Larry Wight/50 $1,000
13. (9) Dale Planck/50 $950
14. (15) Greg Oakes/50 $900
15. (14) Steve Francis/50 $1,450
16. (11) Austin Hubbard/49 $1,550
17. (22) Dale Caswell/49 $770
18. (12) Alan Fink/49 $800
19. (16) Jill George/46 $730
20. (24) Dan Stone/42 $700
21. (2) Tim Fuller/42 $1,200
22. (21) Russell King/37 $1,200
23. (23) Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/32 $700
24. (13) Dave Zona/20 $725

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

Time of Race: 40 Mins., 33.514 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 0.548 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 5 (Laps 11, 21, 34, 39, 43)
Lap Leaders: Lanigan (1-18); Clanton (19-36); Elliott (37); Clanton (38); Elliott (39-50)
Provisional Starters: Briggs, Stone
Rookie of the Race: Hubbard ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Elliott ($500)

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. 2-Ricky Elliott/Seaford, DE 14.619
2. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 14.815
3. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 14.875
4. 91-Billy Decker/Unadilla, NY 14.964
5. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 14.978
6. 1L-John Lobb/Frewsburg, NY 14.987
7. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 15.027
8. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 15.047
9. 72-Alan Fink/Central Square, NY 15.085
10. 99z-Dave Zona/Montrose, PA 15.091
11. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 15.140
12. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 15.254
13. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 15.276
14. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 15.284
15. 99BX-Dale Planck/Homer, NY 15.299
16. 21d-Dan Stone/Thompson, PA 15.314
17. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 15.332
18. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 15.406
19. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 15.423
20. 99L-Larry Wight/Baldwinsville, NY 15.498
21. 22G-Greg Oakes/Franklinville, NY 15.546
22. 1*X-Peter Mantha Jr./Gatineau, QUE 15.619
23. 714-Gordy Button/Kirkville, NY 15.739
24. 99B-Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/Bear Lake, PA 15.821
25. R19-Dale Caswell/Central Square, NY 15.832
26. M7-Sean Beardsley/Central Square, NY 15.880
27. 13b-James Cornell/Harpersville, NY 16.416
28. 70-Michael Trapp/Gouverneur, NY 16.430
29. 32c-Vic Coffey/Caledonia, NY N/T

Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Elliott, Decker, Clanton, McCreadie, Zona, George, Stone, Mantha, Caswell, Trapp

Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Richards, Fuller, Frank, Hubbard, Francis, Coffey, King, Wight, Button, Beardsley

Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Lanigan, Eckert, Planck, Fink, Oakes, Smith, Lobb, Briggs, Cornell

B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Lobb, Wight, King, Caswell, Stone, Mantha, Button, Beardsley, Cornell, Trapp (DNS) Briggs

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:

Arizona Sports Shirts ($50 product certificate): Sean Beardsley
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Ricky Elliott
Eibach Springs (one free spring): Dale Caswell
MSD Ignition ($75 cash award): Ricky Elliott
MSD Ignition ($25 cash award): Dave Zona
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash award to fastest qualifier w/decal): Alan Fink
Pink Carburetors ($100 product certificate): Rick Eckert
Pink Carburetors ($50 product certificate): Dave Zona
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate): Ricky Elliott
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate): Clint Smith
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate): Austin Hubbard
R2C Performance ($100 certificate): Rick Eckert
STP ($50 cash award): John Lobb
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (two five-gallon plastic fuel jugs to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main if decal is displayed): Peter Mantha Jr.
Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Ricky Elliott

2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Aug. 24 – 38 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):

1. Darrell Lanigan 5060
2. Josh Richards 5058 (-2)
3. Tim McCreadie 5014 (-46)
4. Steve Francis 4872 (-188)
5. Shane Clanton 4794 (-266)
6. Rick Eckert 4766 (-294)
7. Austin Hubbard 4718 (-342)
8. Tim Fuller 4684 (-376)
9. Chub Frank 4582 (-478)
10. Clint Smith 4530 (-530)
11. Russell King 4230 (-830)
12. Brent Robinson 3470 (-1590)
13. Jill George 3006 (-2054)
14. Brady Smith 2992 (-2068)
15. Brian Birkhofer 1764 (-3296)

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Lanigan Storms To Sixth Victory Of Season On Monday Night At Quebec’s Autodrome Drummond
DRUMMONDVILLE, QUE - Aug. 23, 2010 - Darrell Lanigan’s spectacular 2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series campaign rolled on Monday night with a conquest north of the border.

The 40-year-old star from Union, Ky., stormed to victory in the tour’s rescheduled 50-lap A-Main at Autodrome Drummond, thrilling the French-Canadian fans with an impeccable performance that saw him master both the top and bottom grooves of the four-tenths-mile oval.

And on the strength of his second straight and sixth overall WoO LMS triumph of the season, Lanigan tied Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., as the tour’s winningest driver in 2010 and pulled within 12 points of the defending series champion in the chase for the $100,000 Outlaw title. Richards, who has held the points lead for 25 consecutive races, finished fourth.

Lanigan, who started fourth, used the inside lane to outduel Richards for third place on lap six and Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., for second on lap eight, then switched to the outside line to overtake race-long pacesetter Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., for the lead on lap 35. The 2008 WoO LMS champion survived two caution flags over the remaining distance to register his 18th career win on the series and first-ever on Canadian soil.

“The track was excellent tonight,” said Lanigan, who earned $10,600 for winning an event that was postponed by rain on its original June 19 date. “I want to congratulate (the track crew) on the job they did. I figured it was gonna rubber up and be one lane right in the middle, but man, you could race all over that thing.”

Smith, who started from the pole position, crossed the finish line 1.868 seconds behind Lanigan in the runner-up spot, nipping the late-charging Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., for the position by the length of a nosepiece. Richards settled for fourth after surviving homestretch contact with McCreadie on lap 47 and ninth-starter Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., who won the inaugural WoO LMS event at Drummond in 2007, placed fifth.

Fuller, who blasted off the outside pole to lead the race’s first 34 laps, slowed with a cut right-rear tire on lap 40 after tumbling from second to fourth immediately following a lap-38 restart. He returned after a pit stop and rallied to salvage an eighth-place finish.

Lanigan was able to run down Fuller and grab the lead before the former DIRTcar big-block Modified regular was hampered by the leaking tire. Lanigan faked a move to the inside and then put his GottaRace.com Rocket car against the outside berm to sweep in front.

“I got to Fuller and showed him my nose on the bottom,” said Lanigan, who also won on Thursday night at Rolling Wheels Raceway in Elbridge, N.Y. “I knew he was gonna drop down and block me, so I just went around the top.

“You couldn’t ask for a better car,” the WoO LMS stalwart added after his fifth win in the last nine tour events. “Everything’s just going right for us right now. It’s unbelievable.”

Smith, 45, took advantage of Fuller’s late-race misfortune to reach second place and then held the spot to the checkered flag. The runner-up matched the struggling racer’s best previous finish this season, on March 27 at Lone Star Speedway in Kilgore, Texas.

“I felt like I let one get away because I felt we had a good enough (Rocket) car to win,” said Smith, who is winless in his last 107 WoO LMS starts dating back to his last score, on June 17, 2008, at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway. “We just missed a little bit on setup. We should’ve put more gear back in it. I was struggling a little off the corner.”

The 36-year-old McCreadie, meanwhile, wasn’t very talkative after his last-lap bid to pass Smith fell short, leaving him with a solid but disappointing third-place finish. He started sixth but fell back to ninth by lap two, forcing him to come from behind.

“We were just a touch harder than everybody on tires,” said McCreadie, explaining his slow start. “It just took a little while to get going. That’s just about it I guess.”

McCreadie’s lap-47 pass of Richards to snare third gained him two points on the championship leader, but the third-place driver in the standings still faces a 48-point deficit to Richards with nine races remaining on the 2010 schedule.

Rick Eckert of York, Pa., who won Drummond’s 2008 WoO LMS event and finished second in 2007, placed sixth. Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., started and finished seventh, while Fuller was eighth, Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., improved one spot to finish ninth and eighth-starter Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., rounded out the top 10.

DIRTcar big-block and 358-Modified star Dale Planck of Homer, N.Y., made his dirt Late Model debut as a teammate to Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa., and finished on the lead lap in 12th place. He earned the $500 ‘Bonus Bucks’ cash for being the highest-finishing driver who hasn’t won a WoO LMS A-Main and isn’t ranked among the top 12 in the series points standings.

The race’s only caution flags flew on lap 38 for DIRTcar 358-Modified driver Carey Terrance of Hogansburg, N.Y., who spun Chub Frank’s backup car in turn one after coming together with Smith as he was being lapped, and on lap 40 for Fuller’s flat tire.

Richards earned his series-leading sixth fast-time honor of 2010, turning a lap of 17.188 seconds during the 24-car Ohlins Shocks Time Trials session. His clocking was well off the dirt Late Model track record of 15.884 seconds set in 2007 by Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill.

Heat winners were Richards, Smith and Eckert. No B-Main was contested.

The WoO LMS completes its late-summer Northeast swing on Tuesday night (Aug. 24) at Brewerton (N.Y.) Speedway, which hosts the second annual ‘Dirt Demon 50’ with a $10,000 top prize on the line. The race

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Results of WoO Late Model Series at Autodrome Drummond (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (4) Darrell Lanigan/50 $10,600
2. (1) Clint Smith/50 $5,575
3. (6) Tim McCreadie/50 $3,600
4. (3) Josh Richards/50 $3,100
5. (9) Steve Francis/50 $2,600
6. (5) Rick Eckert/50 $2,250
7. (7) Shane Clanton/50 $1,900
8. (2) Tim Fuller/50 $1,800
9. (10) Chub Frank/50 $1,700
10. (8) Austin Hubbard/50 $1,850
11. (12) Russell King/50 $1,550
12. (11) Dale Planck/50 $1,500
13. (18) Larry Wight/49 $950
14. (17) Jill George/47 $900
15. (24) Philip Potts/46 $850
16. (21) Michael Trapp/45 $800
17. (13) Dan Stone/44 $770
18. (15) Carey Terrance/36 $750
19. (16) Peter Mantha Jr./28 $730
20. (14) Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/15 $700
21. (19) Jay Cardy/8 $700
22. (20) Brant Hardin/2 $700
23. (22) Zach Frields/0 $725
24. (23) Derik Reese/0 $700

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

Time of Race: 21 Mins., 39.804 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 1.868 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 2 (Laps 38, 40)
Lap Leaders: Fuller (1-34); Lanigan (35-50)
Provisional Starters: None
Rookie of the Race: Hubbard ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Planck ($500)

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 17.188
2. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 17.250
3. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 17.285
4. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 17.334
5. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 17.359
6. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 17.432
7. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 17.473
8. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 17.474
9. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 17.557
10. 21d-Dan Stone/Thompson, PA 17.697
11. 99B-Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/Bear Lake, PA 17.727
12. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 17.772
13. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 17.791
14. 99x-Dale Planck/Homer, NY 17.817
15. 1*T-Carey Terrance/Hogansburg, NY 18.089
16. 1*X-Peter Mantha Jr./Gatineau, QUE 18.125
17. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 18.335
18. 29P-Philip Potts/Frankford, ONT 18.376
19. 44X-Jay Cardy/West Perth, Australia 18.513
20. 25x-Brant Hardin/McDonough, GA 18.892
21. 70-Michael Trapp/Gouverneur, NY 19.076
22. 24x-Zach Frields/Davenport, IA 19.989
23. 15x-Derik Reese/Flemingsburg, KY 20.342
24. 99L-Larry Wight/Baldwinsville, NY 17.982 (DQ – light)

Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 2 Redraw): Richards, Lanigan, Clanton, Frank, Stone, Mantha, Cardy (DNS) Frields

Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 2 Redraw): Smith, Fuller, Hubbard, Planck, Briggs, George (DNS) Hardin, Reese

Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 2 Redraw): Eckert, McCreadie, Francis, King, Terrance, Wight, Trapp, Potts

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:

Arizona Sports Shirts ($50 product certificate): None
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Dale Planck
Eibach Springs (one free spring): None
MSD Ignition ($75 cash award): Clint Smith
MSD Ignition ($25 cash award): Zach Frields
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash award to fastest qualifier w/decal): Rick Eckert
Pink Carburetors ($100 product certificate): Rick Eckert
Pink Carburetors ($50 product certificate): Zach Frields
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate): Clint Smith
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate): Rick Eckert
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate): Carey Terrance
R2C Performance ($100 certificate): Darrell Lanigan
STP ($50 cash award): None
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (two five-gallon plastic fuel jugs to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main if decal is displayed): None
Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to top A-Main finisher w/decal): Clint Smith

2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Aug. 23 – 37 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):

1. Josh Richards 4930
2. Darrell Lanigan 4918 (-12)
3. Tim McCreadie 4882 (-48)
4. Steve Francis 4752 (-178)
5. Shane Clanton 4650 (-280)
6. Rick Eckert 4620 (-310)
7. Austin Hubbard 4600 (-330)
8. Tim Fuller 4576 (-354)
9. Chub Frank 4452 (-478)
10. Clint Smith 4390 (-540)
11. Russell King 4124 (-806)
12. Brent Robinson 3470 (-1460)
13. Brady Smith 2992 (-1938)
14. Jill George 2894 (-2036)
15. Brian Birkhofer 1764 (-3166)

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Teenager Larry Wight Aims For Career-Best World of Outlaws Late Model Series Run On Tuesday (Aug. 24) At Brewerton Speedway
BREWERTON, NY - Aug. 22, 2010 - Larry Wight is a teenager with designs on becoming the next DIRTcar big-block Modified driver to follow the World of Outlaws Late Model Series.

And on Tuesday night (Aug. 24), the 17-year-old from Baldwinsville, N.Y., will have his best opportunity yet to pad his full-fender bona fides when the national tour visits the track he knows better than any other, Brewerton Speedway, for the second annual ‘Dirt Demon 50.’

Now in his fourth season of DIRTcar Modified racing and third entering selected dirt Late Model events, Wight feels the time has come for him to turn some heads with a solid run in a WoO LMS show. He knows the perfect place for a breakthrough is Brewerton, a one-third-mile, D-shaped oval that is not only his weekly Friday-night big-block Modified stop but also one of two central New York tracks owned and operated by his parents, John and Laura.

“We’re gonna try to use the hometrack advantage a little bit,” said Wight, who is currently ranked seventh in Brewerton’s DIRTcar big-block Modified points standings with two top-five and nine top-10 finishes in 15 starts. “You’re never gonna have much on these (WoO) guys – after hot laps, they’ll be right there (with setups) – but we’re hoping that knowing what the track does from hot laps to the feature will give us a chance to have a good night.

“My goal is to qualify well, get in (the A-Main) through a heat and maybe get a top 10 or 15 finish. That would be a big step for us.”

Wight, who races for his father’s Gypsum Express super team that includes WoO LMS star Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., and DIRTcar Modified veterans Billy Decker of Unadilla, N.Y., and Pat Ward of Genoa, N.Y., has annually increased his participation in Outlaw action since making his tour debut in 2008 at Canandaigua (N.Y.) Speedway. He entered one event in ’08, five in 2009 (qualifying for two A-Mains) and eight so far in 2010 (making the cut for seven A-Mains, including Saturday night’s 100-lap ‘Battle At Eastern Door’ at Mohawk International Raceway in Akwesasne, N.Y., that was postponed by rain to Sept. 1).

The youngster known as ‘Lightning Larry’ owns a modest career-best WoO LMS finish of 14th, on June 22, 2009, at Can-Am Motorsports Park in LaFargeville, N.Y. But dirt Late Model racing has only been a sideline to his concentration on DIRTcar big-block and 358-Modified competition – though this summer Wight has gotten a bit more serious about his full-fender pursuits by building up his team’s inventory and running July’s four-race ‘Wild West Tour’ through Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota to gain valuable experience.

“We’re still new to Late Models, but we’re coming along,” said Wight, who earlier this year won four crate Late Model features at his parents’ Brewerton and Fulton speedways earlier before backing off on weekly double-duty to focus on his DIRTcar Modified racing. “We’re definitely a lot more prepared now when we go Late Model racing than we were a couple years ago. We’ve got all the tires and rims we need, we have more spare parts in the trailer and we have a lot better motor program and cars.”

John Wight also just ordered a new Rocket car for his son, who currently runs a Rocket mount that Fuller drove less than a dozen times and uses the Gypsum team’s old ’04 machine as a backup. The new car is being added to Wight’s stable with an eye toward the 2011 WoO LMS, which Wight hopes to chase in search of the Rookie of the Year award. He could become the fifth driver with DIRTcar big-block Modified roots to win the top rookie honor since 2004, joining Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y. (’04), Fuller (’07), Vic Coffey of Caledonia, N.Y. (’08) and Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio (’09).

“I’d really like to run the series next year – that’s the goal,” said Wight, who is doing his points racing this year on the Super DIRTcar Series for big-block Modifieds and the Mr. DIRT 358-Modified Series. “I really like running the Late Model and the division is building, so I’d like to get aligned with what’s going on.”

That doesn’t mean Wight, who turns 18 on Oct. 21, plans to make racing his occupation, however. He still has his senior year of high school to complete, and then he’ll head off to college next fall – most likely at SUNY-Canton in upstate New York – to study mechanical engineering and business in preparation for a possible career working at his family’s successful trucking company.

“I’m gonna work on finishing high school early so maybe I can go down to Georgia and Florida (in February 2011) to get a bunch of Late Model races in and pick up some experience,” said Wight, who has grown about six inches and gained nearly 50 pounds since he began racing on dirt in the Sportsman division at the age of 14. “Then maybe we can think about running the series until college starts in the fall.”

Wight is ready for the challenge of the WoO LMS. He understands he has advantages that are the envy of other drivers – from his parents’ financial support to the technical assistance he’s received from such dirt Late Model stars as Fuller, Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., and Rick Eckert of York, Pa. – and won’t take any of it for granted.

“The help comes with the expectation of how you should be running,” said Wight, who did not qualify for last year’s ‘Dirt Demon 50.’ “Money doesn’t make you a great driver or anything, but it gives you a head start with the equipment. You have to work hard and use that to your advantage.”

Wight will battle a star-studded field of WoO LMS drivers at Brewerton on Tues., Aug. 24, including former champions McCreadie (a multiple-time DIRTcar big-block and 358-Modified winner there and sixth-place finisher in last year’s ‘Dirt Demon 50’), Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va. (eighth at Brewerton last year after pitting to change a flat tire), Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky. (seventh last year) and Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky. (12th last year).

The field will also include Outlaw regulars Fuller (a winner of 26 DIRTcar big-block features at Brewerton as well as last year’s ‘Dirt Demon 50), Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga. (10th in last year’s event after leading laps 1-12), Eckert (third), Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa. (fifth from 21st), King (13th), Smith (15th), rookie sensation Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del. (20th) and rookie Jill George of Cedar Lake, Iowa (first visit to Brewerton).

Drivers expected to challenge the Outlaws include Vic Coffey of Caledonia, N.Y., who finished second in last year’s ‘Dirt Demon 50’ after a late caution flag cost him the lead, Wight’s Gypsum Express teammate Billy Decker (ninth last year), Dan Stone of Thompson, Pa. (11th last year), Ricky Elliott of Seaford, Del., Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa., Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, Pa., and Greg Oakes of Franklinville, N.Y.

Advance tickets are on sale for Brewerton’s mid-week program, which also includes competition for the Mod Lite division. Reserved seats in the top three rows of sections A-P are priced at $35, while adult general admission tickets will sell for $30 each and children ages 14-and-under will be admitted for $10. All pit passes are $40 and will only be sold on race day.

No blankets will be allowed down in the grandstand to save seats until the gates open at 4:30 p.m. Hot laps are scheduled to start at 6:20 p.m., with WoO LMS time trials beginning at 6:40 p.m. and racing set for a 7:30 p.m. green flag.

More information on the ‘Dirt Demon 50’ is available by logging on to www.brewertonspeedway.com or calling the track office at 315-668-6906 or the speedway hotline at 315-668-RACE.

Brewerton Speedway is located at 60 U.S. Route 11 in Brewerton, N.Y., just off Interstate 81. Free parking and overnight camping will be offered.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum

Rain Forces Postponement Of Mohawk International Raceway’s ‘Battle At Eastern Door’ To Wed., Sept. 1
AKWESASNE, NY - Aug. 21, 2010 - Heavy rain swept over Mohawk International Raceway just as Saturday night’s racing program was beginning, forcing the postponement of the 100-lap World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Battle At Eastern Door’ to Wed., Sept. 1.

The MIR track crew was able to get the four-tenths-mile oval’s surface ready for action following a late-afternoon shower, but more precipitation arrived moments after the completion of hot laps for the competitors in Saturday evening’s B-Main. With the speedway saturated and forecasts calling for little pause in the rain for more than 24 hours, MIR and WoO LMS officials decided to reschedule the $20,000-to-win event for Sept. 1 as a grand lead-in to the national tour’s Labor Day holiday weekend doubleheader on Sept. 4-5 at Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Pa.

A B-Main and the 100-lap ‘Battle At Eastern Door’ will be contested on the mid-week date, which will also include a 50-lap Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Pro Stock Championship Series event.

Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., Rick Eckert of York, Pa., and Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., were heat winners during Friday night’s qualifying program.

The WoO LMS will look for clear skies on Monday evening (Aug. 23) when it heads across the border for a 50-lap, $10,000-to-win show at Autodrome Drummond in Drummondville, Que. The tour’s Northeast swing concludes on Tuesday night (Aug. 24) with a visit to Brewerton (N.Y.) Speedway for the second annual ‘Dirt Demon 50.’

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Frank Blasts To Fast Time & Heat Win On Opening Night Of Mohawk International Raceway’s ‘Battle At Eastern Door’
AKWESASNE, NY - Aug. 20, 2010 - Chub Frank wouldn’t use the word “confident” to describe his feelings about Saturday night’s $20,000-to-win ‘Battle At Eastern Door’ at Mohawk International Raceway after setting fast time and winning a 12-lap heat race during Friday’s qualifying program.

But the 48-year-old veteran from Bear Lake, Pa., certainly likes his chances in the inaugural 100-lap World of Outlaws Late Model Series spectacular.

“I’m optimistic,” said Frank, who earned his first fast-time honor (a track record of 15.764 seconds) and heat victory of the 2010 WoO LMS campaign. “If we can get the car right, we can win the race. If we don’t, somebody else will – that’s the bottom line.

“I wanna win it bad. I could use that 20-grand – and we’re due.”

Indeed, Frank is riding a 44-race winless streak on the WoO LMS that has reached almost exactly one year. His last triumph came on Aug. 22, 2009, at K-C Raceway in Alma, Ohio – ironically, in a 100-lap event that also paid $20,000 to win.

Frank, who has just five top-five finishes in 36 tour events this season and sits ninth in the points standings, will start Saturday’s 100-lap ‘Battle At Eastern Door’ from a position in the first three rows. He will join Rick Eckert of York, Pa., and Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky. – Friday’s other heat-race winners – and prelim runners-up Ricky Elliott of Seaford, Del., Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., and Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., in a redraw for the top-six spots on Saturday night.

“It’s going to be interesting,” Frank said of Saturday’s A-Main. “Nobody knows what to expect with a hundred laps here. Right now it feels like you can race all over (the circular four-tenths-mile track), but picking the right tire is gonna be the key.”

Frank does have a good feeling about his ride for the weekend – the same Rocket he flipped on July 30 at Attica (Ohio) Raceway Park. It’s a former Gregg Satterlee-driven machine that Frank purchased from western Pennsylvania racer Bob Close and brought out last month.

“The car really drives good,” said Frank, who repaired the damaged car during the recent break from WoO LMS action and bolted a freshened Custom engine in it on Tuesday. “I got in it last night (at New York’s Rolling Wheels Raceway) for the first time since we flipped it and it felt good (he finished seventh), so now it’s a matter of tuning on it a little more and getting it right.”

Frank’s pit stall was a beehive of activity throughout Friday’s program. There were three cars sporting his familiar No. 1* and colors, including his backup machine that was driven by Mohawk International Raceway DIRTcar 358-Modified regular Carey Terrance of Hogansburg, N.Y., and a third mount run by Peter Mantha Jr. of Gatineau, Que., who owns the car but allows Frank to maintain it and use it as another backup. Terrance and Mantha failed to qualify through the heats and will compete in Saturday’s B-Main.

Another DIRTcar 358-Modified driver at Mohawk, Roy Tarbell of Hogansburg, N.Y., finished fifth in the third heat to transfer to the A-Main in a car fielded by WoO LMS regular Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga.

Action will continue on Saturday night (Aug. 21) with the WoO LMS B-Main and the 100-lap ‘Battle at Eastern Door,’ which will boast a 24-car starting field and a total purse of nearly $100,000. A 50-lap Mr. DIRTcar Pro Stock Series event and Mohawk’s Bandit division will also be on Saturday night’s agenda.

General admission is $35 and $15 (children 12-and-under) for Saturday’s program. Reserved seats are an additional $10, while pit passes will be $40 (with a DIRTcar license) and $45 (without).

Race time is 7:45 p.m., but fans are invited to arrive early and meet all the WoO LMS drivers during an autograph session that begins at 4:30 p.m. behind the grandstand.

Mohawk International Raceway is located midway between the Seaway International Bridge to Cornwall, Ont., and the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino. It is just off Rt. 37 on Frogtown Road.

Additional info can be obtained by logging on to www.MohawkInternationalRaceway.com or calling 518-358-3225.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 15.764
2. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 15.823
3. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 15.961
4. 2-Ricky Elliott/Seaford, DE 16.002
5. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 16.007
6. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 16.057
7. 71d-Ron Davies/Erie, PA 16.085
8. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 16.121
9. 91-Billy Decker/Unadilla, NY 16.154
10. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 16.192
11. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 16.219
12. 32c-Vic Coffey/Caledonia, NY 16.255
13. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 16.394
14. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 16.463
15. 99b-Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/Bear Lake, PA 16.535
16. 22s-Gregg Satterlee/Rochester Mills, PA 16.544
17. 99L-Larry Wight/Baldwinsville, NY 16.638
18. 44x-Roy Tarbell/Hogansburg, NY 16.667
19. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 16.764
20. 1*X-Peter Mantha Jr./Gatineau, QUE 16.800
21. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 16.887
22. 1*T-Carey Terrance/Hogansburg, NY 17.123
23. 70-Michael Trapp/Gouverneur, NY 17.935
24. 72-Alan Fink/Central Square, NY N/T
25. 5-Jeff Isabell/Pennellville, NY N/T
26. 21d-Dan Stone/Thompson, PA 16.451 (DQ – light)

Heat No. 1 (12 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Frank, Elliott, Francis, Richards, C. Smith, Davies, Terrance, Satterlee (DNS) Isabell

Heat No. 2 (12 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Eckert, McCreadie, Hubbard, Clanton, Wight, King, Stone, Mantha, Trapp

Heat No. 3 (12 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Lanigan, Fuller, Decker, Coffey, Tarbell, Briggs, George (DNS) Fink

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Lanigan Sweeps Program In World of Outlaws Late Model Series Return To New York’s Rolling Wheels Raceway
ELBRIDGE, NY - Aug. 19, 2010 - Darrell Lanigan should have been handed a broom in Victory Lane after Thursday night’s 50-lap World of Outlaws Late Model Series A-Main at Rolling Wheels Raceway.

The 40-year-old star from Union, Ky., was simply perfect in the national tour’s first visit to the five-eighths-mile oval since 2005, sweeping the evening’s action to run his season win total to a career-high five and pull ever-closer to points leader Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., in the chase for the $100,000 World of Outlaws championship.

Lanigan set fast time, won a heat race and drew the pole position for the A-Main. Then he drove his GottaRace.com Rocket car to a $10,600 triumph, dominating the headliner after inheriting the lead when Vic Coffey of Caledonia, N.Y., ducked into the pit area during a lap-11 caution period to replace his car’s lost radiator cap.

No one seriously threatened Lanigan once he gained command – even with five of the race’s eight caution flags providing his rivals plenty of restart opportunities. He crossed the finish line 1.3 seconds ahead of York, Pa.’s Rick Eckert, who hustled forward from the ninth starting spot in his Team Zero by Bloomquist machine.

Ricky Elliott of Seaford, Del., finished third in his second start of 2010 behind the wheel of the Super Duece Racing Rocket car fielded by four partners from the Indianapolis area, including former Empire State resident Leo Milus, and currently maintained by veteran DIRTcar big-block Modified mechanic Randy Kisacky of Johnson City, N.Y. The 44-year-old driver earned the $500 ‘Bonus Bucks’ cash for being the highest finisher who hasn’t won a WoO LMS A-Main and wasn’t ranked among the top 12 in the points standings.

Placing fourth was 11th-starter Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., who registered his first top-five finish on the WoO LMS since June 20 at Cornwall (Ont.) Motor Speedway, and eighth-starter Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., was fifth.

The low-key Lanigan raved about his car and the Rolling Wheels track surface after his victory, which left him just 20 points behind Richards in his quest for a second WoO LMS title. Richards finished eighth after starting 22nd on a trying night that saw him hastily jump into his backup car for time trials after damaging the nose of his primary machine during hot laps and then drop out of his heat because he again bent his mount’s nosepiece.

“The car was awesome when we unloaded it tonight and it was awesome in the feature,” said Lanigan, who recorded his 17th career win on the WoO LMS. “You couldn’t ask for a better car. Vic got me there at the start, but I knew once we got in the front we’d be alright because I could run my line.

“It was an excellent track,” he added. “The track cleaned up for the feature and you could race all over it.”

Lanigan was confident that he had a car capable of overtaking Coffey for the lead if the 2008 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year hadn’t experienced a heartbreaking twist of fate after pacing laps 1-11 off the outside pole.

“We were kind of playing there a little bit (behind Coffey) early in the race,” said Lanigan, who pushed his series-leading 2010 earnings to over $160,000. “I guess I can’t say for sure if I would’ve got him, but I know I moved up to the top (groove) and the car was good there so I think we could’ve passed him if we had to.”

Coffey, 39, wasn’t going to go down without a fight, however. He dearly wanted his first career WoO LMS win to come at a track he’s frequented with his DIRTcar big-block Modified.

“I felt really, really good in the line I was running,” said Coffey, who realized his Sweeteners Plus car’s radiator cap had come off when steam began shooting onto his helmet shield during the lap-11 caution period. “A lot could have happened still, but I think we would’ve been O.K. I think it would’ve been hard for anybody to pass us.”

Coffey returned after his crew replaced his car’s radiator cap and he rallied to finish 10th.

Eckert, 44, came on strong during the race’s second half, passing Elliott for third on lap 36 and then inheriting the runner-up spot on lap 42 when Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., slowed with a broken right-rear brake caliper. But he was unable to mount a challenge on Lanigan after restarts on laps 42 and 46.

“To pass everybody I had to be patient around that bottom,” said Eckert. “But probably once I got to second and got a little room I should’ve moved up and tried that line (Lanigan) had.

“With about three (laps) to go, I charged into (turn) one too hard and slid up and made a better corner than I had the whole race. I think I could’ve made up some time on (Lanigan) in one and two if I had done that sooner.”

Elliott felt he had a second-place car – if not for his own slip that let Eckert get by. Nevertheless, he was happy with a third-place finish in a car that is actually slated to be driven by former IRL and USAC racer Andy Michener.

“I was using the brakes real hard early when I was trying to get by Clanton for second,” said Elliott, who started seventh. “I didn’t lose ‘em, but I overheated them and got some brake-pad fade. Then I was having to pump them, and when you’re trying to pump the brakes and hit that corner down (in turn one) perfect, it’s tough. I ended up overshooting it a couple times and Rick got me.

“It was driver error. The car would’ve run second if the driver didn’t mess up down there – it was real good, one of the best cars I’ve had in awhile. We kept adjusting and working on it and it came around in the feature.”

Dan Stone of Thompson, Pa., finished sixth, less than a second behind Francis at the checkered flag. Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., who won the 2005 WoO LMS event at Rolling Wheels, moved up from the 12th starting spot to finish seventh after slipping by Richards on lap 43. Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., started sixth at one of his DIRTcar big-block Modified hometracks but settled for a ninth-place finish after pitting on laps nine and 11 to change tires in hopes of improving his car’s performance, and McCreadie’s teammate Coffey rounded out the top 10.

Among the contenders who ran into trouble was DIRTcar big-block Modified star Billy Decker of Unadilla, N.Y., who relinquished fourth place on lap 15 when the right-rear tire blew on his Gypsum Express car. He returned after a pit stop but only managed a 12th-place finish.

Lanigan was fastest in the 24-car Ohlins Shocks Time Trials session, establishing a new track record of 19.450 seconds. He bested the standard of 20.883 seconds that Fuller had held since the only previous WoO LMS event at the Wheels five years ago.

Heat winners were Lanigan, McCreadie and Coffey. No B-Main was contested.

The WoO LMS continues its Northeast swing with a weekend invasion of Mohawk International Raceway in Akwesasne, N.Y., which hosts the inaugural $20,000-to-win ‘Battle At Eastern Door 100’ on Aug. 20-21. The tour will also visit Autodrome Drummond in Drummondville, Que., on Mon., Aug. 23, and Brewerton (N.Y.) Speedway on Tues., Aug. 24.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Results of WoO Late Model Series at Rolling Wheels Raceway (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (1) Darrell Lanigan/50 $10,600
2. (9) Rick Eckert/50 $5,575
3. (7) Ricky Elliott/50 $3,500
4. (11) Tim Fuller/50 $3,000
5. (8) Steve Francis/50 $2,600
6. (10) Dan Stone/50 $1,700
7. (12) Chub Frank/50 $1,900
8. (22) Josh Richards/50 $1,900
9. (6) Tim McCreadie/50 $1,800
10. (2) Vic Coffey/50 $1,100
11. (13) Austin Hubbard/50 $1,800
12. (5) Billy Decker/50 $1,000
13. (14) Ron Davies/50 $950
14. (18) Jeff Isabell Sr./49 $900
15. (3) Shane Clanton/41 $1,400
16. (4) Clint Smith/39 $1,300
17. (20) Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/32 $770
18. (17) Russell King/31 $1,250
19. (16) Alan Fink/21 $730
20. (24) Justin Wright/16 $700
21. (15) Gregg Satterlee/10 $700
22. (19) Larry Wight/6 $700
23. (23) Michael Trapp/5 $700
24. (21) Jill George/0 $725

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

Time of Race: 44 Mins., 51.476 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 1.300 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 8 (Laps 7, 9, 11, 15, 30, 33, 42, 46)
Lap Leaders: Coffey (1-11); Lanigan (12-50)
Provisional Starters: None
Rookie of the Race: Hubbard ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Elliott ($500)

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 19.450
2. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 19.717
3. 91-Billy Decker/Unadilla, NY 19.825
4. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 19.894
5. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 19.895
6. 32c-Vic Coffey/Caledonia, NY 19.909
7. 99L-Larry Wight/Baldwinsville, NY 19.923
8. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 19.978
9. 22s-Gregg Satterlee/Rochester Mills, PA 19.999
10. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 20.001
11. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 20.017
12. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 20.054
13. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 20.172
14. 71d-Ron Davies/Erie, PA 20.299
15. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 20.405
16. 21d-Dan Stone/Thompson, PA 20.471
17. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 20.526
18. 5-Jeff Isabell Sr./Pennellville, NY 20.596
19. 2-Ricky Elliott/Seaford, DE 20.624
20. 99B-Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/Bear Lake, PA 20.672
21. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 20.833
22. 72-Alan Fink/Central Square, NY 21.509
23. 70-Michael Trapp/Governeur, NY 22.388
24. 32x-Justin Wright/Linwood, NY 22.924

Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Lanigan, Clanton, Elliott, Stone, Hubbard, Fink, Wight, Richards

Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): McCreadie, C. Smith, Francis, Fuller, Davies, King, Briggs, Trapp

Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Coffey, Decker, Eckert, Frank, Satterlee, Isabell, George, Wright

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:

Arizona Sports Shirts ($50 product certificate): None
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Ricky Elliott
Eibach Springs (one free spring): None
MSD Ignition ($75 cash award): Rick Eckert
MSD Ignition ($25 cash award): Jill George
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash award to fastest qualifier w/decal): Shane Clanton
Pink Carburetors ($100 product certificate): Rick Eckert
Pink Carburetors ($50 product certificate): Jill George
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate): Rick Eckert
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate): Tim McCreadie
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate): Shane Clanton
R2C Performance ($100 certificate): Darrell Lanigan
STP ($50 cash award): None
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (two five-gallon plastic fuel jugs to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main if decal is displayed): None
Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Rick Eckert

2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Aug. 19 – 36 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):

1. Josh Richards 4788
2. Darrell Lanigan 4768 (-20)
3. Tim McCreadie 4738 (-50)
4. Steve Francis 4612 (-176)
5. Shane Clanton 4514 (-274)
6. Rick Eckert 4482 (-306)
7. Austin Hubbard 4470 (-318)
8. Tim Fuller 4442 (-346)
9. Chub Frank 4320 (-468)
10. Clint Smith 4244 (-544)
11. Russell King 3996 (-792)
12. Brent Robinson 3470 (-1318)
13. Brady Smith 2992 (-1796)
14. Jill George 2772 (-2016)
15. Brian Birkhofer 1764 (-3024)

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Rain Washes Out Wednesday Night’s World of Outlaws Late Model Series Event At Grandview Speedway
BECHTELSVILLE, PA - Aug. 18, 2010 - Late-afternoon rain forced the cancelation of Wednesday night’s World of Outlaws Late Model Series event at Grandview Speedway.

The highly-anticipated full-fender program will not be rescheduled this season, but Bob Miller, who promotes the one-third-mile track’s NAPA Thunder on the Hill Series, said the WoO LMS will return in 2011.

Wednesday’s rainout was the fifth of 2010 for the WoO LMS but just the second event that could not be rescheduled, joining Bedford (Pa.) Speedway.

Grandview, which hosted the WoO LMS for the first time in 2009, was to kick off a busy Northeastern swing for the national tour. The stretch of action will now begin on Thursday night (Aug. 19) at Rolling Wheels Raceway in Elbridge, N.Y., before moving on to Mohawk International Raceway in Akwesasne, N.Y., on Aug. 20-21 (the 100-lap ‘Battle At Eastern Door’ paying $20,000 to win); Autodrome Drummond in Drummondville, Que., on Aug. 23; and Brewerton (N.Y.) Speedway on Aug. 24.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Fuller Hopes World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Great Northern Tour’ Sequel Is Tonic For His Struggles
New Yorker Hasn’t Registered Top-Five Finish Since Series Visited His Home-Region Tracks In June

CONCORD, NC – Aug. 17, 2010 – A lot has happened to Tim Fuller since the World of Outlaws Late Model Series last visited the Northeastern tracks he’s most familiar with – just about all of it bad.

As the renowned full-fender series returns this week to Fuller’s home region for a swing of five races over a seven-day period – call it ‘Great Northern Tour II’ if you like – beginning on Wednesday night (Aug. 18) at Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Pa., the 42-year-old driver from Watertown, N.Y., is struggling to find himself. The racer who was red-hot two months ago has gone ice-cold.

“We’ve just been in a slump of all slumps,” said Fuller, who hasn’t registered a top-five finish in the 16 WoO LMS events contested since he scored two wins and a third during the original ‘Great Northern Tour’ in mid-June. “I thought we had it turned around after the wins (on June 15 at Can-Am Motorsports Park in Lafargeville, N.Y., and June 17 at Merrittville Speedway in Thorold, Ont.), but we’ve done nothing since then. It’s just been a miserable summer. Everything I’ve been doing is wrong – picking tires, setups, everything.

“I don’t know how we got into this funk,” he added, “but I’ve got to find a way out of it.”

Fuller is hopeful that this week’s ‘Great Northern Tour’ sequel will be the tonic for his struggles – just like June’s mini-series snapped him out of his early-season doldrums, albeit only fleetingly. He has, after all, been victorious at every track that is part of this season’s last extended stretch of WoO LMS racing.

Consider the facilities that will comprise this week’s swing and Fuller’s history of success at them:

* Grandview Speedway, a high-banked, one-third-mile oval that kicks off the trip with a 40-lap A-Main paying $8,000 to win. Fuller won a Super DIRTcar Series big-block Modified feature there in 2005 and also captured the track’s inaugural WoO LMS event last year.

* Rolling Wheels Raceway in Elbridge, N.Y., which hosts the WoO LMS for the first time since 2005 on Thursday night (Aug. 19). The five-eighths-mile specials-only oval has been very good to Fuller, who has won there seven times in big-block Modified competition (including his first-ever Super DIRTcar Series triumph in 2003) and three times in the DIRTcar 358-Modified ranks. He also holds the dirt Late Model track record after setting fast time for the Wheels’ 2005 WoO LMS show in what was just his second career start in the division.

* Mohawk International Raceway, a completely refurbished four-tenths-mile oval on the St. Regis Mohawk Indian Reservation in Akwesasne, N.Y., that will present the ‘Battle at Eastern Door’ weekend on Aug. 20-21. Fuller owns several DIRTcar 358-Modified victories at the former Frogtown International Speedway, which will gain national attention for the first time with a blockbuster two-day program topped by a 100-lap A-Main offering a $20,000 winner’s prize.

* Autodrome Drummond in Drummondville, Que., a four-tenths-mile oval that puts the WoO LMS in front of the rabid French-Canadian fans on Mon., Aug. 23, after its date on June 19 during the original ‘Great Northern Tour’ was rained out. Fuller has been triumphant there in Super DIRTcar Series big-block Modified action.

* Brewerton (N.Y.) Speedway, a one-third-mile, D-shaped track that hosts the series in a 50-lap, $10,000-to-win showdown on Tues., Aug. 24. Operated by Fuller’s Gypsum Express Racing team owner John Wight, Brewerton was Fuller’s Friday-night big-block Modified home for a decade. He has 26 career Modified wins there and also emerged triumphant in last year’s inaugural WoO LMS event.

Of course, Fuller understands that it will take more than his knowledge of the tour’s upcoming tracks to change his fortunes. He needs to get his team’s complete package in synch, including Gypsum Express Racing’s new in-house engine program that remains a work in progress.

“The tracks are close to home for me, but I don’t buy that familiarity deal being a big advantage for me,” said Fuller, who won a career-high seven WoO LMS A-Mains in 2009, including a record-tying four in a row. “Yeah, I won at my hometrack (Can-Am) this year and we know the tracks we’ll be going to. But these Outlaw guys are no dummies. I mean, the competition level in the top 10 is so good, anybody can win. There might be an edge there when you go to tracks you know more than (the other WoO LMS regulars), but it’s so slight it doesn’t really matter.”

Fuller also concedes that the hometrack advantage doesn’t mean much if you’re struggling. After following up his back-to-back victories with a third-place finish on June 20 at Cornwall (Ont.) Motor Speedway, Fuller went without a top-10 run for 12 straight races. He’s recorded top-10 finishes in three of the last five series A-Mains, but an eighth was his best (on Aug. 1 at Eriez Speedway in Hammett, Pa.) and he’s tumbled from fifth in the points standings (84 points out of the lead) after Cornwall to a dismal eighth (354 points behind) heading into this week’s action.

“This is about as rough as it gets,” said Fuller, whose slump was exacerbated by the emergency appendectomy he underwent on July 5 (the surgery left him too sore to race competitively in the four-race ‘Wild West Tour’ that ran from July 7-10). “I can’t think of a year like this since 1994, when I won only two races. It’s gotten so bad that I’ve contemplated going to church – grasp that one.”

Fuller did gain a sliver of confidence for this week’s swing – not to mention some money for his lagging bank account – when he swept a pair of O’Reilly All-Star Late Model Series events at Quebec’s Autodrome Granby (Aug. 11) and Brockville (Ont.) Motor Speedway (Aug. 12). But that positive development will mean nothing to him if he can’t carry the momentum onto the WoO LMS – especially the ‘Battle At Eastern Door’ at Mohawk International Raceway, a track that is co-owned by Fuller’s former sponsor, St. Regis Mohawk businessman and DIRTcar 358-Modified racer John Lazore.

“Winning that one would help us erase a lot of the struggles we’ve had this year – not all of them, but a lot,” said Fuller, whose best finish in a 100-lap dirt Late Model event during his four years as a full-timer in the division is a second in the 2009 USA Nationals at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis. “I’m looking at that $20,000 – that’s all I care about. My half of that money would pay a lot of bills right now.”

Fuller, who tested his dirt Late Model at Mohawk during an off night of June’s ‘Great Northern Tour’ when he participated in an exhibition event that also included defending WoO LMS champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., and rookie Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa, sees the ‘Battle At Eastern Door’ as the highlight of an exciting Northeastern swing to close out a busy summer.

“I can tell you that (Mohawk) is gonna be jammed for that race,” said Fuller. “John Lazore and Don Thompson have sunk a lot of money into rebuilding that place and they’re pumped for this race. They could’ve done two $10,000-to-win shows, but they wanted to have the biggest dirt Late Model race ever run in New York – and I don’t blame them.

“I just hope I can take that 20-grand from them.”

For more information on the WoO LMS Northeastern swing:

* Grandview Speedway on Wed., Aug. 18: Visit www.thunderonthehillracingseries.com and www.grandviewspeedway.com or call 610-754-7688.

* Rolling Wheels Raceway on Thurs., Aug. 19: Visit www.rollingwheelsraceway.com or call 315-834-6606.

* Mohawk International Raceway on Fri., Aug. 20, and Sat., Aug. 21: Visit www.MohawkInternationalRaceway.com or call 518-358-3225.

* Autodrome Drummond on Mon., Aug. 23: Visit www.autodrome-drummond.com or call the track office at 819-474-2222.

* Brewerton Speedway on Tues., Aug. 24: Visit www.brewertonspeedway.com or call the track office at 315-668-6906 or the speedway hotline at 315-668-RACE.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Huge Inaugural World of Outlaws Late Model Series Weekend Set For Aug. 20-21 At Refurbished Mohawk International Raceway

‘Battle At Eastern Door’ Will Be Topped By 100-Lap A-Main Paying $20,000 To Win

AKWESASNE, NY – Aug. 13, 2010 – John Lazore and Don Thompson wanted to make a big splash with the inaugural World of Outlaws Late Model Series event at their Mohawk International Raceway.

Well, is the richest dirt Late Model show ever held at a short track in the state of New York big enough for you?

The homegrown co-owners of the refurbished North Country facility are going all out with the ‘Battle at Eastern Door,’ a historic two-day WoO LMS extravaganza on Aug. 20-21 that will be topped by a 100-lap A-Main paying $20,000 to win.

“We want to do something special – something that’s never been done before around here,” said Lazore, a DIRTcar 358-Modified driver who is partnered with Thompson in several businesses on the St. Regis Mohawk Indian Reservation where the speedway is located. “Bringing the World of Outlaws Late Model Series in for a huge weekend is creating a lot of interest and excitement that’s going to help us bring more attention to what we’ve done with the racetrack.”

Lazore and Thompson have worked wonders since purchasing the former Frogtown International Speedway prior to the 2009 season. They took a rundown facility that opened in 1988 and – with an investment of an estimated $2 million – turned it into a showplace.

“It’s as nice a dirt track as you’ll go to,” said WoO LMS regular Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., who has won DIRTcar 358-Modified features at the track and carried sponsorship from Lazore in the past. “Anybody who hasn’t been there in a couple years and walks in now, what they see will blow their mind.”

For all intents and purposes, the only part of the speedway that Lazore and Thompson haven’t changed is the racetrack layout itself, a circular four-tenths-mile oval that has traditionally produced a fast, unique brand of action. Work crews razed the wooden grandstands and associated spectator and pit area buildings and put up brand-new structures – aluminum bleachers, modern VIP booths, concession stands, restrooms. MIR was also revitalized with a new homestretch wall, new safety and perimeter fencing, an enlarged pit area and the installation of a bright Musco stadium lighting system; a fire destroyed the track’s new ticket building and clubhouse earlier this year, but it has already been completely rebuilt and will be operational for the WoO LMS weekend.

A stalwart DIRTcar-sanctioned track since its birth, Mohawk International headlines the 358-Modified division on Friday nights. But Lazore’s association with Fuller’s dirt Late Model efforts – as well as the overwhelming success in recent years of WoO LMS events in upstate New York, Ontario and Quebec – prompted Lazore and Thompson to plan a blockbuster full-fender weekend for their ever-growing fanbase.

“Our fans are really buzzing about this World of Outlaws show,” said Lazore, who drives a 358-Modified as a sidelight to his varied business interests on the St. Regis Mohawk Indian Reservation. “We’re anticipating that it will be the biggest event in the history of the track.”

The WoO LMS will debut at Mohawk International on Fri., Aug. 20, as part of the track’s regular weekly program, including the DIRTcar 358-Modified class, which just might see Fuller and some other moonlighting Outlaw stars join the field to add some excitement. Friday’s WoO LMS competition will feature Ohlins Shocks Time Trials and heat races.

Action will continue on Sat., Aug. 21, with WoO LMS B-Mains and the 100-lap ‘Battle at Eastern Door,’ which will boast a 24-car starting field and a total purse of nearly $100,000. A 50-lap Mr. DIRTcar Pro Stock Series event and Mohawk’s Bandit division will also be on Saturday night’s agenda.

The name of MIR’s WoO LMS event draws upon the tribal history of the Mohawk people, who are known as the traditional “Keepers of the Eastern Door” of the Iroquois Confederacy.

Fuller and his fellow former DIRTcar big-block Modified regular and North Country native, 2006 WoO LMS champion Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., will headline the field for the ‘Battle at Eastern Door.’ Fuller has two wins on this season’s tour – both at tracks in the Northeast during a June swing – while McCreadie owns four victories and is in a tight battle for the $100,000 World of Outlaws points title with defending champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., and 2008 champ Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky.

The roster of WoO LMS travelers at MIR will also include 2007 champion Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., Rick Eckert of York, Pa., Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio, rookie sensation Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va., and rookie Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Mohawk’s fans will see several recognizable names from the DIRTcar Modified ranks behind the wheel of dirt Late Models on Aug. 20-21, including Billy Decker of Unadilla, N.Y., 2008 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year Vic Coffey of Caledonia, N.Y., teenager Larry Wight of Baldwinsville, N.Y., and Peter Mantha Jr. of Gatineau, Que. A talented array of regional standouts is also expected to compete, including reigning O’Reilly All-Star Late Model Series champion Robbie Blair of Titusville, Pa., Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa., Ron Davies of Erie, Pa., Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, Pa., and Dan Stone of Thompson, Pa.

Reserved seats are available for the ‘Battle at Eastern Door’ by calling the MIR office at 518-358-3225.

General admission is $25 and $10 (children 12-and-under) on Friday, and $35 and $15 (children 12-and-under) on Saturday. Two-day general admission passes are priced at $50 and $20 (children 12-and-under), while reserved seats are $10 additional per day or $65 for the weekend.

Pit passes will be $30 (with license) and $35 (without license) on Friday and $40 (with) and $45 (without) on Saturday.

Race time is 7:45 p.m. each day.

Mohawk International Raceway is located midway between the Seaway International Bridge to Cornwall, Ont., and the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino. It is just off Rt. 37 on Frogtown Road.

Additional info can be obtained by logging on to www.MohawkInternationalRaceway.com.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.
 

PEVELY, MO - Aug. 13, 2010 - The Pepsi Nationals is traditionally a massive one-day Dirt Late Model event, and I-55 Raceway and the World of Outlaws Late Model Series are excited to carry on that tradition on Saturday, Sept. 18.

The star-studded, $10,000-to-win, 55-lap Pepsi Nationals will cap a night of time trials, heat races and Last Chance Showdowns on I-55 Raceway's exciting high-banked 1/3-mile oval. The event will play a major role in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series championship battle, with less than 50 points separating Josh Richards, Darrell Lanigan and Tim McCreadie.

In addition, the exciting DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, DIRTcar UMP Sportsman and DIRTcar Pro-4 classes will all be featured, making for a huge night of action.

The event was originally scheduled to kick off on Friday, Sept. 17, but with weekday congestion and traffic issues from on-going road construction associated with the widening of Interstate 55, it's almost impossible for fans and teams to arrive in a timely manner on a week night, especially the local and regional competitors. To ensure everybody has a memorable event, officials determined it would be best to consolidate the entire program on Saturday, Sept. 18.

For tickets to this big night, order online at www.worldofoutlaws.com/tickets or call the World of Outlaws at 704-795-7223 or I-55 Raceway at 636-479-3219. Reserved seats are only $30 in advance and $32 on Sept. 18. General admission is $28 in advance and $30 on Sept. 18. If you're going to the pits, pit passes are $35 for DIRTcar Members and $40 for non-members. To join DIRTcar, sign up at http://www.dirtcarmembers.com.

Plus, for a special event promotion from Pepsi to be announced soon, make sure to keep an eye on www.worldofoutlaws.com and www.i55raceway.com.

New York’s Rolling Wheels Raceway Is A Special Place For McCreadie & Fuller

Former DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Regulars Will Chase World of Outlaws Late Model Series Score At ‘The Fast Track’ On Thurs., Aug. 19

ELBRIDGE, NY – Aug. 10, 2010 – There’s no debating this point: Tim McCreadie and Tim Fuller will be the odds-on favorites for victory on Thurs., Aug. 19, when the World of Outlaws Late Model Series returns to Rolling Wheels Raceway for the first time in five years.

The two former DIRTcar big-block Modified regulars-turned-WoO LMS stars simply have too much knowledge of – and history at – the five-eighths-mile central New York track to be considered anything but the likely candidates to capture the 50-lap, $10,000-to-win full-fender A-Main.

Rolling Wheels, which hosted its only previous WoO LMS event in 2005, holds a special place in the hearts of McCreadie and Fuller. The longtime DIRTcar-sanctioned facility happens to be the track where both Watertown, N.Y., drivers won their first career Super DIRTcar Series big-block Modified features – undoubtedly important milestones in each racer’s rise to national prominence.

McCreadie, 36, was the first to break through in Super DIRTcar Series action at Rolling Wheels, winning the track’s annual fall 200-lapper on Sept. 26, 1999. It’s a day he still remembers clearly.

“That was one of the big moments of my career,” said McCreadie, who was in just his third full season of big-block Modified competition in 1999. “There were probably five big 200s for Modifieds back then and Rolling Wheels was one of them, and I won it in my own car while I was still working a regular job (as a combat helicopter mechanic at Watertown’s Fort Drum military base). It was probably a big upset.”

McCreadie went on to roll up 18 Super DIRTcar Series triumphs over the next five years, but none felt quite as good as that first one. After all, the longtime specials-only track – the Wheels hasn’t operated on a weekly basis in nearly three decades – ranks as one of McCreadie’s favorites.

“I’ve always loved that place,” said McCreadie, who began accompanying his legendary father, ‘Barefoot’ Bob McCreadie (a winner of 32 career big-block features at the Wheels), to the track as a teenager. “I remember going there as a kid with my dad and seeing every big-name Modified driver race there. That was the place – if you won at the Wheels, you were definitely something special.”

The 42-year-old Fuller, meanwhile, also registered his first career Super DIRTcar Series win in the Rolling Wheels 200, on Sept. 21, 2003. It came in dramatic fashion by mere inches over...McCreadie.

“That was a close one,” recalled Fuller, who was driving for Pennsylvania car owner Bob Faust at the time. “Timmy pitted for tires with like 40 or 50 laps to go and was running me down at the end, and finally, on the last lap, he just whaled it down in there (in turns three and four) and got alongside me. I remember coming off turn four and saying, ‘Holy ----!’ when I saw somebody outside of me.

“He almost had me. There’s a picture of us coming under the checkered flag where you can’t barely see his car on the outside of me. We were that close.”

Fuller’s Wheels 200 triumph ended his frustrating eight-year, 160-plus-race pursuit of a victory on the Super DIRTcar Series. It effectively catapulted him to stardom on the circuit – he now owns 18 career wins on the big-block tour and captured the 2005 Mr. DIRTcar Modified championship – and ultimately a shot at dirt Late Model racing.

“What a relief it was to finally get over that hump and win a Series race,” said Fuller, who fielded his own big-block Modified equipment until hooking up with Faust late in the 1999 season. “After that, everything took off.”

Fuller also enjoyed his first big moment behind the wheel of a dirt Late Model at Rolling Wheels when he set fast time and won a heat race during the track’s inaugural WoO LMS event, on Aug. 16, 2005. He had made his dirt Late Model debut with John Wight’s Gypsum Express team the previous night at Lebanon Valley Speedway in West Lebanon, N.Y.

“I felt pretty good going in there and setting fast time my second night out in a Late Model,” said Fuller. “When we also won our heat race I was like, ‘This isn’t too hard.’ Then (eventual winner) Chub (Frank) lapped us twice in the feature and we came back to reality.”

Fuller, who finished 13th in the 2005 WoO LMS event at the Wheels, returns to the track on Aug. 19 with his dirt Late Model resume showing the tour’s 2007 Rookie of the Year award and 12 career victories. He’s struggled on the series for the past month, but he’s confident that he can get his program on track on familiar turf.

“It’ll be good going in there now and knowing more about Late Model racing than we did back in 2005,” said Fuller, who has won seven big-block features and three 358-Modified headliners at Rolling Wheels in his career. “We didn’t even have the cars in our possession when we ran that race – Scott (Jeffery of the Gypsum Express team) was working on them and I just showed up and drove.

“The Wheels has been a good track for me – at one time we actually had the track record in the big-blocks, small-blocks and Late Models at the same time. I like the place because it’s more of what we’re used to running. Some of these places we’ve gone with the Late Model – like (the high-banked) Tazewell (Tenn.) – we’re just not used to that kind of track like some of the southern guys are. Rolling Wheels is more my speed and that’s why I think we’ll have a chance there (on Aug. 19)."

McCreadie has a similar feeling about running his Sweeteners Plus Racing machinery at the Wheels. He finished eighth in the 2005 WoO LMS A-Main after recovering from a broken right-rear wheel that forced him pitside while leading on the fourth lap.

“It’s an awesome place and I can’t wait to go back,” McCreadie said of the Wheels, where he’s won three career big-block Modified features. “It’s unique, it’s big, and you can race all over it. Usually the fans are treated to a good show there and I don’t see why this Outlaw race will be any different.

“The last time we were there (with the WoO LMS) there was a great crowd and a great atmosphere. I think it’ll be an even bigger show this time because Late Model racing has gotten so much bigger up in New York in the last five years.”

McCreadie, who sits third in the current WoO LMS points as he bids to repeat his 2006 championship season, and Fuller (eighth in the points standings) will do battle with a star-studded roster of tour regulars at the Wheels.

Defending champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va. (finished 10th in the 2005 event at the Wheels) leads the WoO LMS points standings. He’s being chased by such talents as Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky. (15th in ’05 at the Wheels), Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky. (fourth), Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga. (ninth), Rick Eckert of York, Pa. (second), Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa. (runaway winner in ’05), Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga. (17th), Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio, rookie Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va., and rookie Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Other drivers expected to take on the Outlaws at Rolling Wheels include 2008 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year Vic Coffey of Caledonia, N.Y.; DIRTcar Modified stars Billy Decker of Unadilla, N.Y., and Larry Wight of Baldwinsville, N.Y.; defending All-Star Late Model Series champion Robbie Blair of Titusville, Pa.; Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa.; Dan Stone of Thompson, Pa.; Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, Pa.; Ron Davies of Erie, Pa.; and Mike Knight of Ripley, N.Y.

The Aug. 19 program, which also includes a full show for the DIRTcar Sportsman division, is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.

Adult reserved seating is available for $30. General admission grandstands tickets are $28 each, with students (ages 10-18) $10 and children 9-and-under admitted free of charge.

A special VIP upgrade ticket is available for $60, including food and beverage throughout the race along with special air-conditioned seating and access to the ever-popular viewing roof atop the tower.

For more information or to purchase reserved seats contact the DIRTcar Northeast offices at 315-834-6606 or visit www.dirtcar.com/tickets.

General admission tickets and pit passes will be available at the gate on race day.

For more information call the DIRTcar Northeast office at 315-834-6606 or go online at rollingwheelsraceway.com.

Additional information on the WoO LMS is available by logging on to www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum

Richards Excited To Go Racing In Northeast Modified Country Again On Wed., Aug. 18, At Pennsylvania’s Grandview Speedway

Defending World of Outlaws Late Model Series Champion Has Seen Interest In Tour Explode Among Modified Fans

BECHTELSVILLE, PA – Aug. 9, 2010 – Josh Richards remembers how he and his full-fender brethren were viewed by the locals when the World of Outlaws Late Model Series started visiting tracks in the heart of DIRTcar Northeast Modified country.

“The first couple times we ran up there everybody kind of looked at us as the outsiders, the strangers,” said Richards, who was a 16-year-old in his first year behind the wheel of a dirt Late Model when the national tour began penetrating big-block and 358-Modified facilities in 2004. “The Modified fans weren’t too familiar with us.”

Now it’s a completely different story each time the WoO LMS pulls into a Modified track – a track like Grandview Speedway, a stalwart 358-Modified oval in eastern Pennsylvania that will host the tour for the second straight year on Wed., Aug. 18. A 40-lap A-Main paying $8,000 to win will top Grandview’s NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series program, which also includes a 30-lap feature for the 358-Modified class.

“It seems like when we go to Modified tracks the fans know about what we’ve done and where we come from,” said Richards, a resident of Shinnston, W.Va., who has become one of the country’s top dirt Late Model stars at the ripe age of 22. “More and more fans come up and say, ‘Hey, we watched you last year and we’ve been looking forward to you guys coming back.’”

The popularity of the WoO LMS is soaring at Modified hotbeds such as Grandview, a high-banked, one-third-mile bullring that drew 41 cars and a big crowd for its inaugural tour event last year. Richards attributes the surge to the success DIRTcar big-block Modified superstars like Tim McCreadie and Tim Fuller, among others, have enjoyed on the national dirt Late Model stage since they shifted their focus to the division in recent seasons.

McCreadie debuted on the WoO LMS in 2004 and was its champion just two years later, while Fuller captured the tour’s Rookie of the Year title in 2007 and developed into a seven-time series winner in 2009. The two drivers from Watertown, N.Y., head a growing list of Modified racers who have infiltrated the dirt Late Models ranks, including Billy Decker of Unadilla, N.Y. (a DIRTcar big-block standout who runs selected Late Model shows as Fuller’s Gypsum Racing teammate), Vic Coffey of Caledonia, N.Y. (2008 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year), Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio (the tour’s top rookie in 2009), Ricky Elliott of Seaford, Del. (a perennial contender in regional events) and teenager Larry Wight of Baldwinsville, N.Y. (the son of Gypsum Racing owner John Wight).

McCreadie, Fuller and King are regulars on this year’s WoO LMS, and Decker, Coffey, Elliott and Wight are likely to join them in Grandview’s field. Both McCreadie and Fuller have celebrated Super DIRTcar Series big-block Modified wins at Grandview; Fuller was also unstoppable in winning last year’s inaugural WoO LMS A-Main there, while McCreadie did not enter Grandview’s ’09 Outlaw program.

“There’s definitely been way more Modified fans who have become Late Model fans because of guys like McCreadie and Fuller especially,” said Richards, who acknowledged that the arrival of the Modified drivers has, in turn, made him more aware of Modified racing (“Being honest, before 2004 I didn’t even know who Tim McCreadie was”). “They’ve made more Modified fans start paying more attention to Late Model racing and that’s helped create fans in new areas for us. They’ve helped expand our fanbase.”

Richards’s Q-rating has certainly benefitted from the increased interest in dirt Late Model racing among Modified fans. His name regularly appears in the headlines of stories about the division, and he’s impressed many Modified fans in person by winning WoO LMS A-Mains at Modified tracks such as Lebanon Valley Speedway in West Lebanon, N.Y. (his first career tour win in 2005), Cornwall (Ont.) Motor Speedway, Canandaigua (N.Y.) Speedway and Big Diamond Raceway in Minersville, Pa.

A victory on Aug. 18 at Grandview – a track known for its rabid fans – would help him put even more of his ‘Rocket Man’ t-shirts on the backs of Modified aficionados. He’s hoping to improve upon his performance in last year’s WoO LMS event, which began positively when he set fast time in qualifying but ended with a quiet sixth-place finish that cost him the points lead to Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky. – though he did, of course, rally to win his first points crown.

“It’s a cool track,” Richards said of Grandview. “We missed (the setup) a little bit in the feature last year so I’m looking forward to going back. I enjoy racing at different types of tracks and Grandview is definitely different, which is what makes it fun.

“And I noticed last year that there were some real hard-core fans there, fans that really get into the races. That’s the kind of place you like to go to as a driver.”

Richards will carry the WoO LMS points lead into Grandview action for the second consecutive year. He leads 2008 champ Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., who finished eighth last year at Grandview, by 36 points and McCreadie by 48 after 35 of 47 events. Richards is also the tour’s winningest driver this season, with six victories to his credit.

Grandview’s Wednesday-night show kicks off a flurry of late-summer activity for the tour – a total of five races in seven nights spanning Pennsylvania, upstate New York and the Canadian province of Quebec. Richards and his father Mark’s Seubert Calf Ranches/Rocket Chassis team have not raced since the USA Nationals on Aug. 7 at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis., to make sure they’re primed and ready for the beginning of the stretch run to the $100,000 points crown.

“We (took time off) to get our stuff together and gear up for the (Northeast) swing,” said Richards. “This is last big week of racing we’ll have so want to be prepared as we can be. Darrell’s been good and Timmy’s been good, so we gotta do everything we can to stay ahead of them.”

The star-studded roster of WoO LMS drivers that will join the championship contenders and defending race winner Fuller at Grandview includes Francis (finished second in last year’s event), Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga. (third), rookie Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del. (fifth), Rick Eckert of York, Pa. (seventh), Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga. (11th), Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa. (12th), King (19th), Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va. (20th) and rookie Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa (first Grandview appearance).

Other drivers expected to take on the Outlaws at Grandview include D.J. Myers of Greencastle, Pa., who scored a career-best WoO LMS finish of fourth in last year’s event, Jeremy Miller of Gettysburg, Pa., Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa., Dan Stone of Thompson, Pa., Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, Pa., Scott Haus of Hamburg, Pa., and Grandview regular Chuck Schutz of Pottstown, Pa.

Gates are scheduled to open on Wed., Aug. 18, at 5 p.m. with racing getting the green flag at 7:30 p.m.

Advance tickets are now on sale at a cost of $30 for adults. Tickets for children 6-11 are $10 and kids under the age of six will be admitted free of charge, and pit passes will cost $35.

Advance ticket-holders may enter the grandstand at 4:30 p.m. to reserve their seats for the evening’s action.

More information is available by logging on to www.thunderonthehillracingseries.com and www.grandviewspeedway.com or calling 610-754-7688.

Following Wednesday’s action the WoO LMS will continue barnstorming the Northeast with events on Thurs., Aug. 19, at Rolling Wheels Raceway in Elbridge, N.Y.; Aug. 20-21 at Mohawk International Raceway in Hogansburg, N.Y. (the 100-lap, $20,000-to-win ‘Battle at Eastern Door’); Aug. 23 at Autodrome Drummond in Drummondville, Que.; and Aug. 24 at Brewerton (N.Y.) Speedway.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

The Survivor: Bloomquist Fights Through All Obstacles To Win Record-Tying Fifth USA Nationals 100 At Cedar Lake Speedway

NEW RICHMOND, WI - Aug. 7, 2010 - Scott Bloomquist fought through all obstacles to win a record-tying fifth USA Nationals trophy on Saturday night at Cedar Lake Speedway.

Nothing could stop the superstar driver from Mooresburg, Tenn., from pocketing the $50,000 top prize in the 23rd annual event presented by the U.S. Steel Corporation. He came back from an early spin, a late-race pit stop and a penalty for moving during a red flag to outduel fellow dirt Late Model legend Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., for the lead on lap 96 of the 100-lap World of Outlaws Late Model Series A-Main.

Bloomquist, 46, proved to be a survivor, reaching the checkered flag first in a rough-and-tumble race that saw just five cars finish on the lead lap and eight cars still running at the end. The century grind was slowed by 13 caution flags and one red flag and lasted one hour, 18 minutes.

“The track was real demanding,” Bloomquist said of the heavy, high-speed surface conditions that prevailed on the three-eighths-mile oval. “We definitely showed you have to have a strong, tough race car to make it through this thing – and we build some good cars.”

Driving his familiar Team Zero by Bloomquist No. 0, the 2004 WoO LMS champion joined Moyer as a five-time winner of the USA Nationals. He came from the 19th starting spot to score his first win of 2010 and his 19th since 2004 on the WoO LMS.

Moyer, 52, settled for a runner-up placing worth $20,000 in his Victory Circle machine after leading laps 60-95, crossing the finish line 1.377 seconds behind Bloomquist. He started last in the 26-car field after gaining entry to the USA Nationals thanks to a provisional spot for being the highest-finishing driver in Thursday night’s 40-lap DIRTcar UMP A-Main who didn’t qualify.

Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., finished third in his Rocket car after using a WoO LMS provisional to start 25th. He quietly advanced with help from the race’s heavy attrition, climbing high enough to earn a season-high paycheck of $10,000.

Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., who started 16th, finished fourth in the Barry Wright house car and 20th-starter Will Vaught of Crane, Mo., placed fifth in a Warrior machine. Both young racers persevered through several pit stops to end the event as the final drivers on the lead lap.

Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., finished one lap down in sixth. He lost a circuit after pitting to replace the broken right-rear wheel that flew off his car as he ran fourth on lap 59.

The only other drivers still in action at the finish were Chris Simpson of Oxford, Iowa, who finished seventh despite losing five laps when he pitted on lap 82 while holding third place, and Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., who returned to the track 10 laps down after running into early problems and salvaged an eighth-place finish.

Bloomquist experienced trouble of his own just five laps into the USA Nationals when contact back in the pack sent him spinning into the infield off turn four to bring out the marathon race’s first caution flag. He recovered nicely to reach third place by the 100’s three-quarter mark, but then an overheating engine prompted him to pit during a lap-75 caution period and he returned to the track just in time to avoid being lapped.

With so many competitors already retired from action, however, Bloomquist sat in eighth place when a caution flag flew on lap 78. He hustled forward to put himself in a battle for second with Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., when a red flag was necessary on lap 89 for Babb, who overran the thick cushion in turn two and barrel-rolled twice but escaped injury in the wild wreck.

Bloomquist was set to restart second behind Moyer, but WoO LMS officials penalized him for moving illegally under red-flag conditions. He was put back to the tail end of the lead-lap cars – fifth place – for the restart.

The penalty barely hampered Bloomquist, who immediately slid back to second when the green flag flew. He then spent several laps in a thrilling, side-by-side race for the lead with Moyer before surging ahead as lap 96 was scored to end the clash of dirt Late Model titans.

“Billy did a good job,” said Bloomquist, “but we just had a little bit better combination or the bottom.”

Moyer, who won a WoO LMS A-Main on Wednesday night at Shawano (Wis.) Speedway, graciously accepted the late-race loss to his longtime rival.

“At the beginning of the race I would’ve never thought it would happen that way,” said Moyer, who was shooting for his first USA Nationals victory since 1993. “At the end we just weren’t quite good enough. We almost done it I guess.”

The 48-year-old Frank, meanwhile, couldn’t keep pace with the leaders over the final 11 circuits, but a third-place finish was much more than he could have envisioned after nearly missing the starting field. He had to rely on a provisional after a bad battery ground wire prevented him from using his pole starting spot in the Last Chance Race.

“We got lucky tonight,” said Frank, who pitted during a lap-19 caution period to raise the ride height of his car. “Sometimes you just gotta use your head. I wish the car would’ve been a little bit better, but it was too tight so I just tried to stay out of trouble and finish the race.”

Many other drivers weren’t as fortunate as Frank. Among the contenders who fell by the wayside early were:

* Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., who steered Larry Moring’s car into the lead on lap two and stayed there until mechanical woes forced him to retire from the race during a lap-19 caution period.

* Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., who started from the pole position and led lap one and laps 20-31. He was plagued by an overheating engine, however, and on lap 75 his powerplant seized up, forcing him to stop on the homestretch while running third.

* Defending USA Nationals champion Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., who roared from the eighth starting spot to the lead by lap 32 but couldn’t stay there. He suddenly headed pitside with mechanical trouble during a lap-59 caution period.

* Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., who won Thursday night’s DIRTcar UMP-sanctioned feature. He started fifth and got up to second on a lap-23 restart before slipping back to fourth, where he was running when a flat right-rear tire caused him to pit during a lap-44 caution period. He was back up to fourth when an overheating powerplant forced him to the infield on lap 71.

* Defending WoO LMS champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who suffered a rare DNF when an engine problem caused him to slow while running second on lap 18.

* Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., who climbed as high as second from the seventh starting spot before an overheating motor forced him out on lap 44.

* Rookie Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., who was running second on lap 60 in his first-ever start at Cedar Lake when his Beitler Motorsports car tossed a right-rear wheel and slammed into the wall between turns three and four.

The USA Nationals served as the fourth leg of the LaCrosse Extreme Tough Challenge, a unique mini-series that awards points to the top-five fulltime WoO LMS and Sprint Car Series drivers in 16 selected events – eight Late Model and eight Sprint Car – and will earn the champion of the combined standings a $5,000 bonus from a $15,000 points fund. Frank earned five points for being the highest-finishing WoO LMS regular in the 100-lapper, with Francis (four), Lanigan (three), McCreadie (two) and Hubbard (one) also picking up points.

Saturday’s action kicked off with a pair of 15-lap B-Mains won by Matt Miller of Waterville, Ohio, and Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa.

WoO LMS regular Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., captured the 12-lap Last Chance Race, which also sent runner-up Matt Lux of Franklin, Pa., to the USA Nationals.

The WoO LMS will be idle until kicking off a five-race swing through the Northeast on Aug. 18 at Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Pa. The tour also has dates on Aug. 19 at Rolling Wheels Raceway in Elbridge, N.Y.; Aug. 20-21 at Mohawk International Raceway in Hogansburg, N.Y. (the $20,000-to-win ‘Battle at Eastern Door’); Aug. 23 at Autodrome Drummond in Drummondville, Que.; and Aug. 24 at Brewerton (N.Y.) Speedway.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Results of WoO Late Model Series ‘USA Nationals presented by U.S. Steel Corp.’ (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (19) Scott Bloomquist/100 $50,075
2. (26) Billy Moyer/100 $20,000
3. (25) Chub Frank/100 $10,000
4. (16) Jonathan Davenport/100 $6,000
5. (20) Will Vaught/100 $5,000
6. (4) Steve Francis/99 $4,500
7. (15) Chris Simpson/95 $4,250
8. (13) Earl Pearson Jr./90 $4,000
9. (21) Shannon Babb/88 $3,750
10. (22) Dennis Erb Jr./84 $3,500
11. (1) Darrell Lanigan/75 $3,250
12. (5) Tim McCreadie/71 $3,000
13. (11) Austin Hubbard/60 $2,800
14. (8) Jimmy Mars/59 $2,650
15. (14) Jason Feger/54 $2,500
16. (7) Shane Clanton/43 $2,400
17. (23) Tim Fuller/38 $2,350
18. (18) Brian Birkhofer/33 $2,200
19. (17) Matt Miller/33 $2,100
20. (10) Rick Eckert/33 $2,075
21. (12) Jimmy Owens/27 $2,050
22. (3) Don O’Neal/19 $2,075
23. (2) Josh Richards/19 $2,010
24. (9) Chad Simpson/14 $2,000
25. (24) Matt Lux/14 $2,000
26. (6) Clint Smith/6 $2,025

* Earnings include cash contingency award bonuses

Time of Race: 1 Hour, 18 Mins., 30.031 Secs.
Margin of Victory: Secs.
Yellow Flags: 13 (Laps 5, 6, 19, 19, 23, 34, 39, 44, 59, 60, 75, 78, 82)
Red Flag: 1 (Lap 89)
Lap Leaders: Lanigan (1); O’Neal (2-19); Lanigan (20-31); Mars (32-59); Moyer (60-95); Bloomquist (96-100)
Provisional Starters: Davenport (time trials); Fuller (WoO); Moyer (Thursday night feature)

B-Main No. 1 (15 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Matt Miller, 2. Scott Bloomquist, 3. Shannon Babb, 4. Chub Frank, 5. Tim Fuller, 6. Pat Doar, 7. Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, 8. Keith Foss, 9. Zach Johnson, 10. Kevin Sather, 11. Gregg Hill, 12. Kerry Hansen, 13. Ashley Anderson, 14. Jill George, 15. Billy Moyer, 16. Brian Shirley, 17. Brady Smith

B-Main No. 2 (15 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Brian Birkhofer, 2. Will Vaught, 3. Dennis Erb Jr., 4. Justin Fegers, 5. Matt Lux, 6. Josh McGuire, 7. Dan Schlieper, 8. Lance Matthees, 9. Eric Pember, 10. Andrew McKay, 11. Brian Harris, 12. Even Hubert, 13. Dustin Hapka, 14. Russell King, 15. Bub McCool, 16. John Winge, 17. Darren Friedman

Last-Chance Race (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): 1. Tim Fuller, 2. Matt Lux, 3. Pat Doar, 4. Josh McGuire, 5. Keith Foss, 6. Lance Matthees, 7. Russell King, 8. Zach Johnson, 9. Andrew McKay, 10. Kevin Sather, 11. Eric Pember, 12. Kerry Hansen, 13. Justin Fegers, 14. Dan Schlieper (DNS) Chub Frank, Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, Brian Harris, Darren Friedman

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:

Arizona Sports Shirts ($50 product certificate): Scott Bloomquist/Eric Pember
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Dennis Erb Jr.
Eibach Springs (one free spring): Pat Doar/Matt Lux
MSD Ignition ($75 cash award): Scott Bloomquist
MSD Ignition ($25 cash award): Clint Smith
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash award to fastest qualifier w/decal): Don O’Neal
Pink Carburetors ($100 product certificate): Steve Francis
Pink Carburetors ($50 product certificate): Dennis Erb Jr.
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate): Jonathan Davenport
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate): Dennis Erb Jr.
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate): Shane Clanton
R2C Performance ($100 certificate): Chub Frank
STP ($50 cash award): Tim Fuller
U-Coat-It: Scott Bloomquist/Dennis Erb Jr./Pat Doar
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (54-gallon drum of fuel to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main if decal is displayed): Darren Friedman
Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Scott Bloomquist

2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Aug. 7 – 35 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):

1. Josh Richards 4654
2. Darrell Lanigan 4618 (-36)
3. Tim McCreadie 4606 (-48)
4. Steve Francis 4472 (-182)
5. Shane Clanton 4394 (-260)
6. Austin Hubbard 4342 (-312)
7. Rick Eckert 4336 (-318)
8. Tim Fuller 4300 (-354)
9. Chub Frank 4184 (-470)
10. Clint Smith 4126 (-528)
11. Russell King 3882 (-772)
12. Brent Robinson 3470 (-1184)
13. Brady Smith 2992 (-1662)
14. Jill George 2670 (-1984)
15. Brian Birkhofer 1764 (-2890)

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.
 

Lanigan Earns Pole For USA Nationals 100 With Strong Qualifying Effort Friday At Cedar Lake Speedway

Twenty-One Years Later: Moyer Sweeps Show In World of Outlaws Late Model Series Return To Shawano Speedway

SHAWANO, WI - Aug. 4, 2010 - Billy Moyer was perfect in Wednesday night’s blockbuster World of Outlaws Late Model Series event at Shawano Speedway.

Twenty-one years after falling short of victory in the national tour’s only previous appearance at the half-mile fairgrounds oval, the three-time WoO LMS champion from Batesville, Ark., capped a sweep of the evening’s action with a convincing win in the 50-lap A-Main that was run before a capacity crowd.

“To come out and set a track record (in time trials), win the heat and win the main – you can’t do no better than that,” said the 52-year-old Moyer, who dominated the first incarnation of the WoO LMS (1988-89) run under late WoO Sprint Car Series founder Ted Johnson but experienced a rare finish outside the top five in the tour’s stop on June 5, 1989, at Shawano. “That’s a storybook deal right there.”

Moyer, who started second in his Victory Circle car, outran polesitter Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., to turn one at the initial green flag and never relinquished the lead. He raced unchallenged for the entire distance, beating Smith to the finish line by a margin of 4.991 seconds – nearly a full straightaway – in a race that was slowed by a single caution flag on lap 23.

Smith, 33, held off repeated challenges from fourth-starter Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., to secure the runner-up payoff in his Team Zero by Bloomquist mount. Mars settled for third place in his MB Customs machine, followed by defending WoO LMS champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., and Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., both in Rocket cars. Richards slipped by Clanton for fourth with an outside move off turn four on lap 41 but didn’t have enough time to catch Smith and Mars.

Moyer, who won a DIRTcar Summer Nationals event at Shawano in 2002, pushed his WoO LMS alltime-best career win total to 37 with his runaway triumph. He has registered 15 of his victories since 2004, when the tour was restarted under the World Racing Group banner following a 15-year hiatus.

“It was a lot fun there tonight,” said Moyer, who earned $10,225 for his second win in nine WoO LMS starts this season. “When the car’s working that good it’s always a lot more fun than when you gotta work your butt off to get to the end.

“There were little flaws (in the car) there at times – it can always be better – but it got the job done. I’m real happy with the car and (Clements) engine combination we have right now.”

With Moyer racing alone at the head of the pack, he had only a brief moment of trepidation while lapping WoO LMS rookie Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., on lap 44. The two cars got close enough in turn one to make Moyer’s heart skip a beat.

“He changed his line just about the time I got behind him,” Moyer said of Hubbard. “It wasn’t a big deal. It seemed like my tires were a little bit better cold and the longer we ran we equaled out, so I didn’t want to waste any time there (lapping Hubbard) because I felt like the tires were fading. I forced the issue a little bit to get going.”

Moyer, whose other WoO LMS win in 2010 came in April’s ‘Illini 100’ at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway, got himself some momentum to take into this weekend’s 23rd annual USA Nationals presented by United States Steel Corporation at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis. He is a five-time winner of the $50,000-to-win event, which this year is part of the WoO LMS for the first time since 2005.

Both Smith and Mars, 38, hailed Moyer’s performance. They spent the race in a personal battle for second place – not to mention the honor of their home state’s fans.

“We didn’t have nothing for Billy,” said Smith, who had never before raced at Shawano. “He was just better than we were. I couldn’t keep up with him.

“Jimmy and I raced our butts off for second and we’re just glad we held him off. I just tried to hold my line, be smooth and not make a mistake.”

Mars, who won the last WoO LMS event held in Wisconsin on July 8 at Superior Speedway, thought he might have had a faster car than Smith but simply couldn’t find a way to sneak by his Badger State rival.

“I would’ve liked to have gotten into second and seen if we had anything for (Moyer),” said Mars. “But Brady did a good job. We had a couple shots there, but he did what he needed to do to hold me off.”

Smith’s second runner-up finish of the 2010 WoO LMS left him one spot short of a heartwarming victory. He was in search of a win for Reed Leupke of Bonduel, Wis., a 4-year-old Brady Smith fan who is battling leukemia. Leupke attended Wednesday’s race with his parents and picked the pole position in the pre-feature draw for Smith, who earlier this year gave Leupke a tour of his race shop.

Brian Birkhofer of Musatine, Iowa, started and finished sixth after his mid-race attempts to overtake Richards were rebuffed. Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., made a solid charge from the 16th starting spot to place seventh after finding a unique line around the tricky track that allowed him to pick up four spots during the race’s second half. Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., saw his streak of nine consecutive top-three finishes snapped with a quiet eighth-place run, while Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., and Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., rounded out the top 10.

Shawano standout Nick Anvelink of Navarino, Wis., finished 12th, earning the $500 ‘Bonus Bucks’ cash for being the highest-finishing driver who hasn’t won a WoO LMS A-Main and wasn’t ranked among the top 12 in the points standings.

The race’s lone caution flag, on lap 23, was put out after Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., slowed with oil-pressure problems in his new engine. He retired to the pit area, finishing 22nd.

Moyer established a new track record during the 32-car Ohlins Shocks Time Trials session, lapping the big track in 19.630 seconds to overtake the standard of 19.800 seconds held since 2003 by Darren Miller. It was Moyer’s first fast-time on the tour this season – and ironically, he was also the fast-timer for the only previous WoO LMS event run at Shawano in 1989.

Heat winners were Moyer, Richards, Brady Smith and Mars. The B-Mains were captured by A.J. Diemel of Bonduel, Wis., and Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., who fell from a heat-race transfer spot when his car’s left-front suspension broke with two laps remaining.

The WoO LMS moves to the western side of Wisconsin for the remainder of the week to headline the 23rd annual USA Nationals presented by U.S. Steel on Aug. 5-7 at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond. A $50,000 top prize will be on the line in Saturday night’s 100-lap event, which carries a purse of over a quarter-million dollars.

Details and ticket information on the USA Nationals is available by logging on to www.cedarlakespeedway.com.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Results of WoO Late Model Series at Shawano Speedway (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (2) Billy Moyer/50 $10,225
2. (1) Brady Smith/50 $5,000
3. (4) Jimmy Mars/50 $3,000
4. (3) Josh Richards/50 $3,100
5. (5) Shane Clanton/50 $2,500
6. (6) Brian Birkhofer/50 $1,700
7. (16) Tim McCreadie/50 $2,000
8. (12) Darrell Lanigan/50 $1,900
9. (8) Steve Francis/50 $1,800
10. (10) Tim Fuller/50 $1,600
11. (7) Rick Eckert/50 $1,550
12. (13) Nick Anvelink/50 $1,500
13. (18) Chub Frank/50 $1,450
14. (19) Terry Anvelink/50 $950
15. (14) Don O’Neal/50 $850
16. (9) Dennis Erb Jr./50 $800
17. (15) Austin Hubbard/49 $1,520
18. (17) A.J. Diemel/49 $750
19. (24) Jill George/29 $730
20. (22) Chris Oertel/24 $700
21. (23) Brent Robinson/23 $1,200
22. (11) Clint Smith/22 $1,225
23. (20) Ronny Lee Hollingsworth/22 $700
24. (21) Russell King/11 $1,200

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

Time of Race: 22 Mins., 03.638 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 4.991 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 1 (Lap 23)
Lap Leaders: Moyer (1-50)
Provisional Starters: Robinson, George
Rookie of the Race: Hubbard ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: N. Anvelink ($500)

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. 21-Billy Moyer/Batesville, AR 19.630
2. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 19.631
3. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 19.634
4. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 19.646
5. 15b-Brian Birkhofer/Muscatine, IA 19.694
6. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 19.876
7. 18-Ronny Lee Hollingsworth/Northport, AL 19.893
8. 28M-Jimmy Mars/Menomonie, WI 20.053
9. 28E-Dennis Erb Jr./Carpentersville, IL 20.099
10. 1d-Don O’Neal/Martinsville, IN 20.110
11. 2-Brady Smith/Solon Springs, WI 20.115
12. 3-Brent Robinson/Smithfield, VA 20.158
13. 58-A.J. Diemel/Bonduel, WI 20.224
14. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 20.266
15. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 20.357
16. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 20.368
17. 15A-Nick Anvelink/Navarino, WI 20.376
18. 25H-Kerry Hansen/Spencer, WI 20.397
19. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 20.414
20. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 20.426
21. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 20.451
22. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 20.572
23. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 20.905
24. 51-Chris Oertel/Marshfield, WI 20.945
25. 8-Robert Cullen/Chilton, WI 21.084
26. 66-Ron Berna/Abrams, WI 21.156
27. 57-Mark Mitchell/Bonduel, WI 21.171
28. 1b-Doug Blashe/Marion, WI 21.368
29. 32-Terry Anvelink/Navarino, WI 21.399
30. 21F-Todd Frank/Seymour, WI 21.447
31. 24N-Gary Nelson/Shawano, WI 21.724
32. 42-Todd Casper/Gresham, WI 22.296

Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Moyer, Birkhofer, Erb, N. Anvelink, Diemel, T. Anvelink, Cullen, George

Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Richards, Eckert, Fuller, O’Neal, Berna, Hansen, T. Frank, King

Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): B. Smith, Francis, C. Smith, Hubbard, C. Frank, Hollingsworth, Mitchell, Nelson

Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Mars, Clanton, Lanigan, McCreadie, Oertel, Robinson, Blashe, Casper

B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Diemel, T. Anvelink, King, Berna, George, Cullen, Hansen (DNS) T. Frank

B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): C. Frank, Hollingsworth, Oertel, Robinson, Mitchell, Blashe, Nelson, Casper

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:

Arizona Sports Shirts ($50 product certificate): Brent Robinson/Terry Anvelink
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Jimmy Mars
Eibach Springs (one free spring): Brent Robinson/Terry Anvelink
MSD Ignition ($75 cash award): Billy Moyer
MSD Ignition ($25 cash award): Clint Smith
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash award to fastest qualifier w/decal): Billy Moyer
Pink Carburetors ($100 product certificate): Austin Hubbard
Pink Carburetors ($50 product certificate): Jill George
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate): Shane Clanton
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate): Brian Birkhofer
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate): Dennis Erb Jr.
R2C Performance ($100 certificate): Billy Moyer
STP ($50 cash award): Terry Anvelink
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (two five-gallon plastic fuel jugs to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main if decal is displayed): Kerry Hansen
Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Brady Smith

2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Aug. 4 – 34 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):

1. Josh Richards 4594
2. Darrell Lanigan 4558 (-36)
3. Tim McCreadie 4546 (-48)
4. Steve Francis 4412 (-182)
5. Shane Clanton 4334 (-260)
6. Austin Hubbard 4282 (-312)
7. Rick Eckert 4276 (-318)
8. Tim Fuller 4240 (-354)
9. Chub Frank 4124 (-470)
10. Clint Smith 4066 (-528)
11. Russell King 3822 (-772)
12. Brent Robinson 3470 (-1124)
13. Brady Smith 2932 (-1662)
14. Jill George 2610 (-1984)
15. Brian Birkhofer 1704 (-2890)

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.
 

World of Outlaws Late Model Series News & Notes: Previewing The USA Nationals On Aug. 5-7 At Cedar Lake Speedway

NEW RICHMOND, WI - Aug. 4, 2010 -

HE’S BACK: Cedar Lake Speedway has been very, very good to Rick Eckert.

His memories of past success at the three-eighths-mile oval will come flooding back this week when he returns with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series to compete in the track’s 23rd annual USA Nationals presented by United States Steel Corporation, a $50,000-to-win spectacular that runs from Aug. 5-7.

Eckert, 42, of York, Pa., hasn’t visited Cedar Lake since 2005 – the last time the USA Nationals was part of the WoO LMS – but he has made eight career starts in the prestigious event. He won the 2002 edition of the race to earn himself a huge payoff of $140,000 – a $40,000 check for the 100-lapper plus the $100,000 UDTRA ‘Great Northern Challenge’ bonus for capturing three of five specified events on that year’s UDTRA tour schedule.

“We’ve made some money at that place,” said Eckert, who also won Cedar’s UDTRA-sanctioned ‘Masters’ event in June 2002 to put him on track for the Great Northern Challenge bonus. “Hopefully we’ll have the same kind of success when we go back.”

Eckert will be bringing some momentum into this weekend’s action, which features time trials, heat races and a dash on Fri., Aug. 6, and B-Mains and the 100-lap feature on Sat., Aug. 7, as well as a complete DIRTcar Racing UMP-sanctioned Late Model program on Thurs., Aug. 5, that boasts a $5,000 top prize. He won his second WoO LMS A-Main of the season in dramatic fashion last Friday night at Attica (Ohio) Raceway Park, coming back from a blown engine during time trials that forced him into a backup car and a mid-race pit stop to change his car’s radiator to take the lead late in the distance.

“I don’t know if one win will get you back,” said Eckert, who has struggled to ring up victories on the WoO LMS since leading the tour in checkered flags in 2006. “But we’re hoping it wasn’t a one-race deal and we can keep running good. Maybe we can build on it.”

OUTLAW CONNECTION: This year’s USA Nationals carries presenting sponsorship from the United States Steel Corporation, which will be represented at Cedar Lake by Scott Coleman, a big dirt Late Model fan who serves as the general manager of the Pittsburgh, Pa.-based company’s Minnesota Ore Operations.

Coleman also has ties to the family of 2009 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year Russell King. Before relocating to the Upper Midwest Coleman lived in eastern Ohio near the King family and frequented Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio, the three-eighths-mile oval where Russell, his father Rex Sr. and his younger brother Rex Jr. have run big-block Modifieds regularly.

The 21-year-old King will make his first-ever start at Cedar Lake this weekend, one week removed from the best WoO LMS performance of his young career. He won his first heat race on the tour and led laps 1-11 of the 50-lap A-Main last Friday night at Attica, though he settled for a disappointing 13th-place finish due to some bad breaks.

King’s storybook run at Attica went downhill on lap 11 when he spun in turn two trying to avoid a lapped car that swerved to miss Mike Knight’s disabled machine. While King restarted in the lead because the caution flag was for Knight, his car’s steering had been knocked off-center and he lost the top spot to Josh Richards when the green flag flew. King hung with Richards until sliding high in turn two on lap 22, and one circuit later he tangled with Matt Miller while battling for fourth and slid off the backstretch to draw a caution flag.

“I feel good because we had a fast car and I’m happy that my dad got to see us run good,” King said of his Attica performance. “But I just feel like I screwed up our best chances to win one of these things (WoO races). It ain’t too often you unload and you’re stuff’s as good as ours was. I’m not afraid to say we had the fastest car (at Attica), if not the second-fastest.”

DRIVER TO WATCH: No current WoO LMS regular has made more USA Nationals starts than Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., who has qualified for the A-Main 11 times and never finished outside the top 10.

Francis, 42, made his first USA Nationals appearance way back in 1989 when he was a WoO LMS regular during the second year of the tour’s first incarnation under the direction of late WoO Sprint Car Series founder Ted Johnson. A seventh-place finisher in 1989, Francis counts three third-place finishes (2005, 2002, 1998) among his six career top-five runs in the Cedar Lake’s headline event. He hasn’t visited Cedar Lake since 2005.

EMPIRE STATE STARS: Last year’s USA Nationals had a definite New York tinge to it thanks to Tim Fuller and Tim McCreadie, a pair of DIRTcar big-block Modified greats-turned-dirt Late Model standouts from Watertown, N.Y. Fuller won the Thursday-night preliminary feature (sanctioned last year by the World Dirt Racing League) and led half of the 100-lapper before finishing second, while McCreadie chased Fuller across the finish line in both events.

The New Yorkers return to Cedar Lake this weekend as WoO LMS regulars. McCreadie, who currently sits third in the points standings in his first season following the tour since he won the title in 2006, will make his fifth USA Nationals appearance; his third-place run last year is his best, but he also placed fourth in 2005 and 2007 (he was 20th in 2008 but was a contender before experiencing bad luck). Fuller, meanwhile, is trying to get back in rhythm after being slowed last month when he underwent an emergency appendectomy; he’ll make his second visit to Cedar Lake.

THE OUTLAWS: Defending WoO LMS champion and current points leader Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., has made only USA Nationals start in his young but very successful career, finishing 12th in 2005.

Other 2010 World of Outlaws regulars with USA Nationals experience include Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga. (four starts, top finish of seventh in 1997); Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky. (two, 10th in 1995); Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga. (two, ninth in both 2005 and 2004); and Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa. (one, 15th in 2005). Travelers who hope to make the USA Nationals A-Main cut for the first time are rookie sensation Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va., and rookie Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa.

FAMILIAR FACES: Eckert is among a group of six former USA Nationals winners expected to participate in this weekend’s festivities, joining five-time victor Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn. (four-time victor), Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa (2007 and 2004 winner), Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis. (2009 and 1996) and Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga. (2005).

Birkhofer has arguably the most consistent USA Nationals performance record of any driver, finishing outside the top five just once in 10 career A-Main starts. His finishes are remarkably steady: 10th (’99), fifth (’01), fourth (’02), second (’03), first (’04), fifth (’05), second (’06), first (’07), third (’08) and fourth (’09).

BIG NAMES: Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., will make the USA Nationals his first appearance in a high-profile event since he clinched the 2010 DIRTcar Summer Nationals championship last month. He will try to improve on his eighth-place finish in his USA Nationals debut last year.

Other well-known racers expected to enter the USA Nationals include Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., who saw his streak of three straight Summer Nationals title snapped by Feger; former World 100 and Dream winner Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn.; Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla.; Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill.; Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis.; Chris Madden of Grey Court, S.C.; Jeep VanWormer of Pinconning, Mich.; Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, Wis.; Josh McGuire of Grayson, Ky.; Will Vaught of Crane, Mo.; Adam Hensel of Barron, Wis.; Pat Doar of New Richmond, Wis.; and Chad Simpson of Mt. Vernon, Iowa.

Several drivers also have a chance to receive travel money for making the trip to Cedar Lake thanks to the FansFund, a unique program in which fans donate cash and vote for the drivers they would like to see compete in the USA Nationals. The competitors eligible for the FansFund this year are Brian Harris of Davenport, Iowa, Ronny Lee Hollingsworth of Northport, Ala., Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., Chris Ferguson of Mount Holly, N.C., Robbie Blair of Titusville, Pa., Matt Lux of Franklin, Pa., Daren Friedman of Forrest, Ill., and Bub McCool of Vicksburg, Miss.

INFORMATION: Advance reserved tickets for the USA Nationals are no longer available online. All remaining seats are now general admission and will be sold the day of the event at the gate only.

Thurs., Aug. 5 – DIRTcar UMP Late Model program paying $5,000 to win along with Winged Modifieds. The grandstands open at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 6:30 p.m.

Fri., Aug. 6 – USA Nationals time trials, heats and dash along with complete show for Cedar Lake’s weekly NASCAR Late Models. Admission is $25 for adults, $12 for students 6-16 and free for kids 5-and-under. The grandstands open at 4:30 p.m. and racing starts at 6:30 p.m.

Sat., Aug. 7 - B-Mains, last-chance race and the 100-lap, $50,000-to-win USA Nationals along with complete show of NASCAR Late Models. Admission is $30 for adults, $15 for students 6-16 and free for kids 5-and-under. The grandstands open at 4 p.m. and racing begins at 6:30 p.m.

Cedar Lake officials will once again accent the racing with an exciting array of pre- and post-race entertainment, including a Saturday-morning golf scramble at the nearby Pine Meadows Golf Course; a Ladder Ball competition at 12 noon on Friday; the popular Apple River Tubing expeditions on Friday and Saturday afternoons; a luncheon on Saturday afternoon that allows ‘FansFund’ contributors an opportunity to meet the drivers they helped bring to the USA Nationals; a driver autograph/meet-and-greet session prior to Saturday night’s first green flag; go-karts in the backstretch parking lot; and the ‘Party in the Pits’ under the Big White Tent following the Thursday and Friday programs.

Advanced tickets for the USA Nationals are available by calling 612-363-0479 or by visiting www.cedarlakespeedway.com.

Fans who can’t make the trip to Cedar Lake can still catch all the action through a live pay-per-view broadcast of the event over the web produced by DirtonDirt.com. Log on to www.dirtondirt.com for details.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Mars Guns For Another Home-State Triumph When World of Outlaws Late Model Series Invades Shawano Speedway On Wednesday (Aug. 4)

HAMMETT, PA - Aug. 2, 2010 - When the World of Outlaws Late Model Series last visited Wisconsin one month ago, Jimmy Mars made his home-state fans proud with a powerful victory.

Can the superstar racer from Menomonie, Wis., shoot down the traveling invaders again when the national tour returns to the Badger State on Wednesday night (Aug. 4) for a much-anticipated 50-lap, $10,000-to-win event at Shawano Speedway? Mars sure hopes so.

“Anytime you can win a race it’s exciting, but if you can win a big one in your home state it’s more special,” said Mars, who dominated the first-ever WoO LMS show at Superior (Wis.) Speedway on July 8. “Winning in front of the people who know you a little more is pretty cool.”

Mars, 38, drew a loud ovation from Superior’s crowd when he downed the Outlaws last month and he’ll certainly earn a similar reaction if he’s triumphant at Shawano. But he conceded that he’ll have to work extra hard to go two-for-two in Wisconsin WoO LMS action this season because he’s not quite as familiar with Shawano’s sprawling half-mile oval as he is with Superior’s tighter three-eighths-mile layout.

“I’ve never had a chance to run at that place much in my career,” Mars said of Shawano, a venerable fairgrounds track located about 170 miles east of his home. “I’ve run at Superior at least once or twice a year for quite awhile so I had a pretty good idea of what I needed for the Outlaw show there and used that to my advantage, but I’ve only been to Shawano maybe two or three times.”

Mars made his last start at Shawano on May 17, 2008 – and it was a good one. With his then three-month-old son Taylor in the hospital battling a serious case of bacterial meningitis, Mars stayed close to home for a WISSOTA Rumble Series special at Shawano and road off with a convincing $10,000 victory.

“We had a pretty good car that night,” said Mars, who also remembers finishing fifth in a Hav-A-Tampa/UDTRA Series event in 2001 at Shawano. “I like racing on half-miles and the stuff we do with our (MB Custom) cars on half-miles has been working pretty well, so hopefully we can have another good night there. I’m looking forward to it.”

Mars will be well rested and his equipment fresh when he enters Wednesday night’s action at Shawano, which hosts the WoO LMS for the first time since the World Racing Group restarted the tour in 2004 after a 15-year hiatus. The series did visit Shawano during its short-lived first-incarnation (1988-1989) under late WoO Sprint Car Series founder Ted Johnson, running an event on June 5, 1989, that was won by Minnesota’s Rick Egersdorf.

Since Mars won two of the four A-Mains that made up last month’s WoO LMS ‘Wild West Tour’ (he followed his Superior victory with a score on July 10 at Dakota State Fair Speedway in Huron, S.D.), he has competed in just three events. He last raced on July 23, finishing second in a weekly program at his hometown Red Cedar Speedway.

Mars has spent his off time gearing up for Shawano and the 23rd annual USA Nationals on Aug. 5-7 at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis., a $50,000-to-win spectacular that is sanctioned this season by the WoO LMS. He’s also enjoyed going racing with his six-year-old son Sam, who registered the best finish of his young career with a second-place run in a winged caged go-kart race on Saturday night (July 31).

“We stripped our cars completely down and went through them with a fine-tooth comb over the last two weeks,” said Mars, who has five top-five and six top-10 finishes in nine WoO LMS starts this season. “We want to make sure we’re ready to be game-on for Shawano and Cedar Lake. It’s going to be a big weekend of dirt Late Model racing in my home state and I’m excited about it.”

Mars, who is the defending champion of the USA Nationals, will face off on Wednesday night with arguably the most talented field of dirt Late Model drivers ever to grace Shawano Speedway. His rivals will include former WoO LMS champions Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., who competed in the tour’s 1989 event at Shawano as an up-and-coming young driver and returned for the 2001 Hav-A-Tampa-UDTRA show, Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., and Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky.

The roster of Outlaw regulars also features Rick Eckert of York, Pa. (an entrant in Shawano’s ’01 Hav-A-Tampa/UDTRA event), Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio, rookie sensation Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va., and rookie Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Other well-known drivers expected to enter Wednesday’s program include three-time WoO LMS champion Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., who set fast time for Shawano’s 1989 WoO event but ran into problems in the A-Main, Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., and Jeep VanWormer of Pinconning, Mich., as well as locals such as Nick Anvelink, A.J. Diemel and Pete Parker.

Wednesday’s program, which also includes a $2,000-to-win feature for the IMCA Modifieds, is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $25 for ages 12-and-over, with children 11-and-under admitted free of charge. Seats can be reserved in advance by calling Shawano Speedway at 715-526-7069. Pit passes will be $40.

Shawano Speedway is located about 45 minutes northwest of Green Bay and three-and-a-half hours east of Cedar Lake Speedway, where the WoO LMS heads for the USA Nationals immediately after Wednesday night’s final checkered flag.

Additional information about Shawano Speedway is available by visiting www.shawanospeedway.net.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Richards Ends Month-Long Victory Drought With Runaway Victory In Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek Finale At Eriez Speedway

HAMMETT, PA - Aug. 1, 2010 - Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., snapped a month-long victory drought on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, romping to a convincing win in Sunday night’s 50-lap ‘Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek’ finale at Eriez Speedway.

The national tour’s defending champion and current points leader authored one of the season’s most dominating performances, running away from the field after passing Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, Pa., for the lead on lap 11. He had little trouble negotiating lapped traffic on his way to a winning margin of 8.039 seconds – roughly half a lap – over distant runner-up Ron Davies of Erie, Pa.

It was the series-leading sixth win of 2010 for Richards, who had been winless since capturing the first Firecracker 100 preliminary A-Main on June 24 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa. He pocketed $10,675 for his flawless effort in a race that ran caution-free – the second consecutive WoO LMS event to go non-stop from start-to-finish.

“It was an awesome night,” said Richards, who registered his 26th career win on the WoO LMS. “We’ve had a fast car this whole trip but had some bad redraws (for A-Main starting spots), so tonight we finally started up front (the pole position) and really got to show what we had. The car was just phenomenal.”

Richards, 22, was outgunned for the top spot at the initial green flag by Satterlee, but once he worked his Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket machine into the lead he was never threatened. He lapped up to the 13th-place finisher and took the checkered flag just a few car lengths behind the back of a tight pack of cars that were all within striking distance of fourth place.

“I knew we were pretty good because of the way we could move around in the lapped cars,” said Richards, who also won at Eriez when the tour visited Bobby Rohrer’s facility for the first time in 2007. “But I didn’t know how far ahead we were.

“I got up under Clint (Smith) to try to lap him with a couple laps to go and afterward I asked him where he finished,” he added. “He said he was like ninth (actually 11th), and I was like, ‘Wow!’ I knew we passed a few cars, but I didn’t know we had gotten that far up through the pack.”

Davies, 52, might have been the only driver who appeared capable of making Richards sweat after he swept into second place on lap 20 and cut into Richards’s edge over the next six laps, but his struggles to dispose of lapped cars left him well behind the leader. He settled for a career-best WoO LMS finish and earned the $500 ‘Bonus Bucks’ cash for being the highest-finishing driver who hasn’t won a series A-Main and wasn’t ranked among the top 12 in the points standings.

The red-hot Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., finished third after starting sixth, extending his unprecedented streak of consecutive top-three finishes to nine. He won three of the five Ohio-Pennsylvania events and ended the swing second in the WoO LMS points standings, 28 points behind Richards.

Chris Hackett of Erie, Pa., a regular at the one-third-mile oval, recorded a career-best WoO LMS finish of fourth after starting 11th and making a late-race surge into the top five, and 10th-starter Rick Eckert of York, Pa., placed fifth after Satterlee ceded the position on the final lap by sliding high off turn two and tumbling all the way to 12th in the final rundown.

Richards said following the race that the end of his rare 12-race losing streak in WoO LMS competition came with some help from the same source of good fortune that Lanigan hailed for his turnaround. His left wrist sported several lucky Silly Bandz that he received from the young son of Lanigan’s fiancée, Erin.

Lanigan, of course, credited his improved luck to wearing the Silly Bandz that his fiancee’s boy, Gavin, gave to him before heading off to Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek. The 2008 champion didn’t know that Gavin also gave Richards a few of the colorful rubber bracelets when he attended Saturday night’s event at Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, Ohio.

“Darrell was up there at the (A-Main) draw and he said, ‘I feel like you’re gonna get the eight and I’m gonna get the pole,’” commented Richards. “I’m like, ‘OK.’ Well, I picked the pole and he got a six, and he was, like, shaking his head.

“Then I showed him those Bandz,” Richards continued with a smile on his face, “and he was trying to rip ‘em off me.”

Lanigan, 40, playfully tried to keep the suddenly in-demand lucky charm to himself, but he understood that Richards’s performance was more than a product of good fortune.

“Josh was in a class of his own tonight,” said Lanigan, who ran fifth for most of the distance before slipping by Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., for fourth on lap 41 and Satterlee for third on lap 42. “I’m just happy to get a third. I said if we can come out of here with a top five we’d be doing real good, because I haven’t been real good up at this track.”

Davies, meanwhile, does have a strong track record at Eriez and proved his knowledge of the bullring against the World of Outlaws stars. He fell from the third starting spot to fifth early in the A-Main, but he picked up the pace with his MasterSbilt by Mars car and drove by Fuller, Lanigan and Satterlee in a three-lap span to reach second on lap 20.

“My tires finally fired when we got by Darrell and those guys, and I thought, Well, maybe we got a shot at winning this thing,” said Davies. “But lapped traffic was a factor – the lapped cars just weren’t getting out of the way. We dinged up some quarter-panels trying to get past them.

“If we had gotten some cautions, I think it would’ve been a good race. I think we had a shot at it if we had a clear racetrack. We were pretty good in one and two; we were slipping a little bit in three and four, but I could see we were catching (Richards) at one point (before entering lapped traffic).”

Despite falling short of an upset win, Davies wore a big smile after the race. It was definitely the highlight of his otherwise quiet 2010 season. Between works commitments and the left thumb injury he suffered in late June (he cut tendons and is still not fully healed), he’s made less than a dozen starts this year.

“Congrats to Kid Rocket and those guys. They’re a great team,” said Davies, whose daughter, Michelle, is dating WoO LMS regular Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga. “I’m just a little guy here, but we had a lot of fun. We run second – that’s almost like a win for us.

“These guys race for a living and I race for a hobby, so it’s great to go race with them because they’re all clean racers. I raced three nights with them this weekend and I had a great time.”

Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., finished sixth, missing out on a top-five finish by less a car length after being in the middle of a wild late-race scrum for fourth place and back. Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., who started eighth, cracked the top five on lap 45 but was shuffled back to seventh at the finish, while Fuller settled for eighth after running in the top five for virtually the entire distance. Clanton advanced from the 15th starting spot to finish ninth and Eriez standout Mike Knight of Ripley, N.Y., rounded out the top 10, salvaging a night that began with him spinning into the infield during time trials due to a broken steering shaft.

Ron Davies earned his first career WoO LMS fast-time honor with a lap of 15.586 seconds during Ohlins Shocks Time Trials.

Heat winners were Ron Davies, Lanigan, Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa., and Satterlee. The B-Mains were captured by Scott Johnson of Wattsburg, Pa., and Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa.

The WoO LMS will have two days off before returning to action in the Upper Midwest on Wednesday night (Aug. 4) for a date at Shawano (Wis.) Speedway. The tour will remain in the Badger State for the 23rd annual USA Nationals presented by United States Steel Corporation on Aug. 5-7 at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis., a $50,000-to-win spectacular that is sanctioned by the WoO LMS for the first time since 2005.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Results of WoO Late Model Series at Eriez Speedway (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (1) Josh Richards/50 $10,675
2. (3) Ron Davies/50 $5,550
3. (6) Darrell Lanigan/50 $3,600
4. (11) Chris Hackett/50 $2,500
5. (10) Rick Eckert/50 $2,500
6. (9) Steve Francis/50 $2,300
7. (8) Tim McCreadie/50 $2,000
8. (4) Tim Fuller/50 $1,800
9. (15) Shane Clanton/50 $1,700
10. (13) Mike Knight/50 $1,100
11. (16) Clint Smith/50 $1,550
12. (2) Gregg Satterlee/50 $1,000
13. (17) Scott Johnson/49 $950
14. (7) Robbie Blair/49 $900
15. (12) Russell King/49 $1,350
16. (23) Austin Hubbard/49 $1,550
17. (5) Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/49 $770
18. (21) Dave Hess Jr./49 $750
19. (18) Chub Frank/49 $1,230
20. (19) John Lobb/49 $750
21. (25) Jason Morell/48 $700
22. (22) Andy Boozel/21 $700
23. (14) Dutch Davies/17 $700
24. (24) Brent Robinson/16 $1,225
25. (20) Vic Coffey/15 $700

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

Time of Race: 14 Mins., 22.070 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 8.039 Secs.
Yellow Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Satterlee (1-10); Richards (11-50)
Provisional Starters: Hubbard, Robinson (WoO); Morell (track)
Rookie of the Race: Hubbard ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Davies ($500)

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. 71d-Ron Davies/Erie, PA 15.586
2. won11-Robbie Blair/Titusville, PA 15.595
3. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 15.670
4. B22-Bump Hedman/Sugar Grove, PA 15.674
5. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 15.718
6. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 15.722
7. 99B-Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/Bear Lake, PA 15.733
8. 22s-Gregg Satterlee/Rochester Mills, PA 15.734
9. 3-Brent Robinson/Smithfield, VA 15.749
10. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 15.752
11. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 15.761
12. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 15.780
13. 11-Tyler Reddick/Corning, CA 15.828
14. 26G-Dutch Davies/Warren, PA 15.867
15. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 15.897
16. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 15.932
17. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 15.944
18. 1L-John Lobb/Frewsburg, NY 15.976
19. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 15.987
20. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 16.069
21. 14B-Dick Barton/Ashville, NY 16.085
22. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 16.086
23. 32c-Vic Coffey/Caledonia, NY 16.110
24. 22B-Darrell Bossard/Centerville, PA 16.152
25. 2J-Scott Johnson/Wattsburg, PA 16.154
26. 8-Jason Morell/Northeast, PA 16.192
27. 33-Chris Hackett/Erie, PA 16.220
28. 03-Doug Eck/Corry, PA 16.237
29. 44H-Dave Hess Jr./Waterford, PA 16.262
30. 53-John Volpe/Lakeland, NY 16.371
31. 76-Andy Kania/Waterford, PA 16.413
32. 28L-Randy Lobb/Jamestown, NY 16.450
33. 55H-David Lyon/Corry, PA 16.467
34. 16*-Dereck Frank/Jamestown, NY 16.559
35. 12B-Andy Boozel/Clymer, NY 16.581
36. 07-Kevin Decker/Erie, PA 17.124
37. 9k-Mike Knight/Ripley, NY 17.169
38. 9-Scott Gurdak/Bear Lake, PA N/T

Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): R. Davies, Richards, Francis, Knight, Robinson, S. Johnson, Hess, Reddick, Lyon, Barton

Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Lanigan, Blair, Eckert, D. Davies, J. Lobb, Morell, D. Frank, Volpe, George

Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Briggs, Fuller, Hackett, Clanton, C. Frank, Boozel, Hubbard, Coffey, Kania

Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Satterlee, McCreadie, King, C. Smith, R. Lobb, Hedman, Eck, Bossard, Decker

B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): S. Johnson, J. Lobb, Hess, Volpe, Morell, Lyon, D. Frank, George, Reddick, Robinson (DNS) Barton, Gurdak

B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): C. Frank, Coffey, Boozel, Hedman, Kania, Decker, Bossard, R. Lobb, Eck (DNS) Hubbard

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:

Arizona Sports Shirts ($50 product certificate): David Lyon, Andy Kania
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Gregg Satterlee
Eibach Springs (one free spring): David Lyon, Andy Kania
MSD Ignition ($75 cash award): Josh Richards
MSD Ignition ($25 cash award): Brent Robinson
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash award to fastest qualifier w/decal): Ron Davies
Pink Carburetors ($100 product certificate): None
Pink Carburetors ($50 product certificate): None
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate): Ron Davies
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate): Rick Eckert
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate): Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs
R2C Performance ($100 certificat): Ron Davies
STP ($50 cash award): John Lobb
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (two five-gallon plastic fuel jugs to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main if decal is displayed): Tyler Reddick
Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Ron Davies

2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Aug. 1 – 33 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):

1. Josh Richards 4452
2. Darrell Lanigan 4424 (-28)
3. Tim McCreadie 4410 (-42)
4. Steve Francis 4280 (-172)
5. Shane Clanton 4194 (-258)
6. Austin Hubbard 4166 (-286)
7. Rick Eckert 4148 (-304)
8. Tim Fuller 4110 (-342)
9. Chub Frank 4000 (-452)
10. Clint Smith 3960 (-492)
11. Russell King 3720 (-732)
12. Brent Robinson 3362 (-1090)
13. Brady Smith 2786 (-1666)
14. Jill George 2498 (-1954)
15. Brian Birkhofer 1566 (-2886)

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum

Three-For-Four: Lanigan Back To Winning Ways With Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek Score At Muskingum County Speedway

ZANESVILLE, OH - July 31, 2010 - Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., returned to his winning ways on Saturday night at Muskingum County Speedway, dominating the ‘Pepsi 50’ for his third win in four starts during the World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek.’

The 2008 WoO LMS champion was flawless before a big crowd in the national tour’s fourth annual event at Ronnie Moran’s three-eighths-mile oval. He raced off the outside pole to grab the lead at the start and controlled the remainder of the distance, turning back an early challenge from Steve Shaver of Vienna, W.Va., and then keeping his rivals at arm’s length in an A-Main that was run without a caution flag.

Despite facing heavy lapped traffic late in the frenetic race, Lanigan’s hold on the top spot was never seriously threatened. He kept his GottaRace.com Rocket glued to the inside groove and negotiated the slower cars with aplomb.

“I kinda committed to (running) the bottom,” said Lanigan, who earned $10,750 for his fourth World of Outlaws victory of 2010. “I wasn’t moving. You weren’t gonna get me off the bottom even when it got a little tricky around those lapped cars.

“If anybody was gonna pass me, they were gonna have to go to the outside.”

Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., and Bart Hartman of Zanesville, Ohio, spent the last five laps battling for the runner-up spot without drawing close enough to make a move on Lanigan. McCreadie nipped Hartman by 0.050 of a second at the finish line to place second in the Sweeteners Plus Rocket car, but the 2006 WoO LMS titlist was 1.304 seconds behind Lanigan.

Shaver, who started from the pole position in a new K&L Rumley machine, nearly nosed ahead of Lanigan for the lead twice in the first four laps but ultimately slipped to fourth in the final rundown. Defending WoO LMS champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who started eighth, reached fifth on lap 29 and stayed there to the checkered flag.

Lanigan, 40, continued his torrid month on the WoO LMS with his first-ever triumph at Muskingum County. He has compiled eight consecutive top-three finishes – a streak that has allowed him to cut his points deficit to Richards from 78 to 22 points and move from third to second in the standings.

“Things have definitely turned around here lately,” said Lanigan, who entered Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek coming off four straight bridesmaid finishes during the ‘Wild West Tour.’ “I have no idea what the key to this (roll) has been, but we’re doing something right.”

Lanigan and his Randall Edwards-led crew made the right decisions once again on Saturday, turning their Cornett-powered machine into the class of the A-Main field after struggling to a second-place finish in the first heat.

“We were terrible in the heat race, so we threw a couple things at it for the feature and gambled a little bit on tires (softer compound) and everything came out O.K.,” said Lanigan, who recorded his 16th career win on the WoO LMS. “You couldn’t ask for a better car. This thing has been excellent everywhere we’ve gone lately.

“I think this car is finally getting worked in. I guess that sometimes you gotta run ‘em a little while to make ‘em good.”

There also might be a less tangible reason for Lanigan’s Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek victory explosion. His fortunes took a major turn for the better when he began wearing two Silly Bandz on his left wrist.

“This is my lucky charm right here,” Lanigan said after the race while displaying the two colorful rubber bracelets he received from his fiancée Erin’s young son Gavin. “(Gavin) gave me Silly Bandz before I left for this trip and said, ‘Don’t take ‘em off, they’ll bring you good luck.’

“They’ve been pretty good. Josh (Richards) has been trying to rip ‘em off me, but we’ll keep ‘em on.”

Both McCreadie and Richards – Lanigan’s primary competition for the $100,000 WoO LMS championship – also wore Silly Bandz on Saturday that were given to them by Gavin, who was on hand for the first time during Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek and celebrated with Lanigan in Victory Lane. But neither driver got quite the boost in fortune that the Bandz have provided to Lanigan.

McCreadie, 36, had to be content with his fifth runner-up finish on the 2010 tour after moving forward from the sixth starting spot. It was his first-ever start at Muskingum County.

“We were good from the green, but I just couldn’t get by Donnie (Moran) real quick (for fourth) and didn’t have enough time to get close to Darrell,” said McCreadie, who finally overtook Moran on lap 22 and then spent the next 14 laps erasing a straightaway deficit to Hartman and Shaver. “I would’ve liked to see a yellow to tighten the field, but who knows what would’ve happened on the restart. I might’ve lost some spots, so we’ll take second.”

The 41-year-old Hartman fell short in his bid for victory at his hometown track, but he was in good spirits after the race.

“We went a little harder on tires than these guys and we thought it would pay off in the end,” said Hartman, who grabbed second from Shaver with an outside pass on the backstretch on lap 36 but couldn’t repel McCreadie’s late pressure. “Actually, I thought with the straight (green-flag) running we’d be better off with the harder right-rear, but it seemed like I abused the left-rear until the right rear got going and then I didn’t have any drive.”

Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va., finished second, earning the $500 ‘Bonus Bucks’ cash for being the highest-finishing driver who hasn’t won a WoO LMS A-Main and wasn’t ranked among the top 12 in the points standings. Rookie Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., moved up two spots to finish seventh, while Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., who used a provisional to start the A-Main, rallied from the 23rd starting spot to place eighth. Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, Pa., and fifth-starter Ron Davies of Erie, Pa., rounded out the top 10.

Lanigan was quickest in the 33-car Ohlins Shocks Time Trials session, earning his third fast-time honor of 2010 with a lap of 15.699 seconds.

Heat winners were Shaver, Richards, Carrier and Hartman. The B-Mains were captured by Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa., and Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio.

The WoO LMS Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek concludes on Sunday night (Aug. 1) at Eriez Speedway in Hammett, Pa. A 50-lap A-Main paying $10,000 will top the evening’s agenda.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Results of WoO Late Model Series ‘Pepsi 50’ (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (2) Darrell Lanigan/50 $10,750
2. (6) Tim McCreadie/50 $5,675
3. (4) Bart Hartman/50 $3,000
4. (1) Steve Shaver/50 $2,500
5. (8) Josh Richards/50 $2,600
6. (7) Eddie Carrier Jr./50 $2,200
7. (9) Austin Hubbard/50 $2,150
8. (23) Shane Clanton/50 $1,800
9. (12) Gregg Satterlee/50 $1,200
10. (5) Ron Davies/50 $1,100
11. (14) Clint Smith/50 $1,550
12. (24) Brent Robinson/50 $1,550
13. (3) Donnie Moran/50 $950
14. (10) Tim Fuller/49 $1,400
15. (16) Robbie Blair/49 $850
16. (13) Rick Eckert/49 $1,325
17. (17) Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/49 $770
18. (20) Devin Moran/49 $750
19. (19) Chub Frank/49 $1,230
20. (11) Steve Francis/49 $1,300
21. (15) Rick Aukland/49 $700
22. (22) John Mason/49 $700
23. (18) Russell King/31 $1,200
24. (21) Cody Parker/27 $700
25. (25) Kyle Bates/8 $700

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

Time of Race: 14 Mins., 36.634 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 1.304 Secs.
Yellow Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Lanigan (1-50)
Provisional Starters: Clanton, Robinson (WoO); Bates (track)
Rookie of the Race: Hubbard ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Carrier ($500)

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 15.699
2. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 15.792
3. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 15.917
4. 22s-Gregg Satterlee/Rochester Mills, PA 15.957
5. 6-Steve Shaver/Vienna, WV 15.978
6. 99-Donnie Moran/Dresden, OH 15.979
7. 28-Eddie Carrier Jr./Salt Rock, WV 15.988
8. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 15.990
9. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 15.999
10. 11-Kyle Bates/Kimbolton, OH 16.075
11. 71d-Ron Davies/Erie, PA 16.094
12. 75-Bart Hartman/Zanesville, OH 16.169
13. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 16.220
14. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 16.221
15. 12-Rick Aukland/Zanesville, OH 16.259
16. won11-Robbie Blair/Titusville, PA 16.282
17. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 16.293
18. 99B-Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/Bear Lake, PA 16.305
19. 99M-Devin Moran/Dresden, OH 16.370
20. 17e-Lance Elson/Wellsburg, WV 16.396
21. 63-Cody Parker/Zanesville, OH 16.403
22. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 16.417
23. 72M-John Mason/Millersburg, OH 16.494
24. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 16.511
25. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 16.530
26. 12d-Doug Dodd/Cambridge, OH 16.627
27. T8-Mark Banal/St. Clairsville, OH 16.762
28. 72c-Carri Mason/Millersburg, OH 16.781
29. L19-Larry Holbrook/Heath, OH 16.817
30. 3-Brent Robinson/Smithfield, VA 16.846
31. 22B-Paul Beaschler/Zanesville, OH 16.923
32. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 16.968
33. ½-Rodney Kimes/Zanesville, OH 17.116

Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Shaver, Lanigan, Hubbard, Eckert, Frank, Clanton, Parker, Kimes, Holbrook

Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Richards, Donnie Moran, Fuller, Smith, Briggs, Robinson, Dodd, Bates

Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Carrier, Davies, Francis, Aukland, Banal, J. Mason, Devin Moran, Beaschler

Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Hartman, McCreadie, Satterlee, Blair, King, Elson, C. Mason, George

B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Briggs, Frank, Parker, Robinson, Bates, Kimes, Clanton, Dodd, Holbrook

B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): King, Devin Moran, J. Mason, Banal, C. Mason, Beaschler, Elson, George

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:

Arizona Sports Shirts ($50 product certificate): Doug Dodd/Jill George
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Gregg Satterlee
Eibach Springs (one free spring): Brent Robinson/Jill George
MSD Ignition ($75 cash award): Tim McCreadie
MSD Ignition ($25 cash award): Rick Eckert
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash award to fastest qualifier w/decal): Darrell Lanigan
Pink Carburetors ($100 product certificate): Rick Eckert
Pink Carburetors ($50 product certificate): John Mason
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate): Tim McCreadie
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate): Shane Clanton
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate): Rick Eckert
R2C Performance ($100 certificate): Tim McCreadie
STP ($50 cash award): Brent Robinson
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (two five-gallon plastic fuel jugs to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main if decal is displayed): Jill George
Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Tim McCreadie

2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of July 31 – 32 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):

1. Josh Richards 4302
2. Darrell Lanigan 4280 (-22)
3. Tim McCreadie 4274 (-28)
4. Steve Francis 4142 (-160)
5. Shane Clanton 4062 (-240)
6. Austin Hubbard 4048 (-254)
7. Rick Eckert 4008 (-294)
8. Tim Fuller 3976 (-326)
9. Chub Frank 3888 (-414)
10. Clint Smith 3832 (-470)
11. Russell King 3600 (-702)
12. Brent Robinson 3260 (-1042)
13. Brady Smith 2786 (-1516)
14. Jill George 2414 (-1888)
15. Brian Birkhofer 1566 (-2736)

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.
 

Rags To Riches: Eckert Thrills Crowd With Come-From-Behind Victory In Backup Car At Attica Raceway Park

ATTICA, OH - July 30, 2010 - Rick Eckert went from rags to riches in the course of one memorable evening at Attica Raceway Park.

Just hours after a blown engine during time trials left him contemplating his immediate future on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, Eckert drove his backup car to a thrilling come-from-behind victory in the national tour’s 50-lap Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek A-Main on Friday night at the one-third-mile oval.

Eckert, 44, of York, Pa., overcame a host of obstacles to post his second WoO LMS triumph of 2010, including a starting spot deep in the pack (18th); a massive mid-race crash that involved more than half the field; a hasty in-race radiator replacement; and, finally, two former series champions who stood between him and an improbable win.

The veteran driver’s stirring rally reached its zenith on lap 47 when he surged ahead of Shinnston, W.Va.’s Josh Richards to take the lead, clinching a $10,575 score that prompted Attica’s big crowd to give Eckert a standing ovation upon his arrival in Victory Lane.

Richards settled for second place after leading laps 12-46, good enough to slightly pad his points lead as he chases a second consecutive WoO LMS title. Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., finished third to end the night second in the points standings, while 12th-starter Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., placed fourth and Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., took fifth to register his third top-five finish of 2010.

“Bad luck, good luck – we experienced it all tonight,” said Eckert, whose 21st career WoO LMS victory was his first since March 26 at Battleground Speedway in Highlands, Texas. “I was ready to go home after we blew the motor (moments after clicking off what would stand as the night’s fourth-fastest qualifying lap). I was about to call it off – I said, ‘We should just load up.’ But we decided to stick it out and now I’m sure glad we did.”

Eckert, who is one of only two drivers to start every WoO LMS A-Main contested since 2004, fell one spot short of transferring to the headline event through a heat race before punching his ticket with a victory in the second B-Main. He made his presence known in the feature by moving up to eighth place by lap 23, but then his night took another unexpected turn.

After Eckert somehow escaped a lap-23 restart accident that sent Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., into a barrel-roll and left more than a dozen cars scattered across the homestretch (“A hole opened and I just drove right through it,” he said), his apparent change in fortune was quickly tempered by the problem his crew discovered when he stopped in turn four under red-flag conditions.

“We were in eighth and three guys ahead of me were in the wreck, so I was thinking, We might have a shot to win this thing,” recalled Eckert. “Then my crew guy, Bob, said, ‘Did you park in a water puddle?’ I said, ‘Nah, I don’t think so. Shove me front and let’s see.’ They pushed me and there was water coming from my car, so we took the hood off and saw there was a hole in the radiator core. I was like, ‘Well, that’s just the way the night’s going.’

“I can’t afford to break another motor, so I said, ‘Let’s go in and fix it right. We’ll change the radiator, and if we don’t get out in time, we don’t get out in time.’”

With some help from western Pennsylvania racer Ron Davies and his crew as well as an assortment of other people nearby, Eckert was back on the racetrack well before the field began rolling toward a restart. He proceeded to take full advantage of his new lease on life, using the extreme inside groove around the track to move into contention.

Eckert was sixth on lap 35 when a caution flag flew for the stopped car driven by 2009 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio, who was the race’s early story while leading laps 1-11. Two laps after the restart Eckert was third, and, after finally disposing of Lanigan to grab second on lap 42, he quickly ran down Richards.

Keeping his Team Zero by Bloomquist car on the inside hub, Eckert slid ahead of Richards exiting turn two on lap 46 and officially assumed command for good as lap 47 was scored.

“I just got a good rhythm around the bottom and got to where I could drive up off the corner really hard,” said Eckert. “But when I got to third I had to race Darrell really hard because he changed his line and wouldn’t let me get out on entry like I had been. When I finally got him cleared I could get back to the way I was running and I caught Josh real fast. I showed myself to Josh on the bottom and he did what anybody would do with a couple (laps) to go – he moved down to the bottom into (turn) one, but he got himself loose and skated up the track and left me the opportunity to pass him.

“I still wasn’t sure he wouldn’t get up on that cushion and beat it harder. When a guy’s leading he’s not necessarily always running as hard as he can, so I thought he’d maybe gas it back up and I’d have to fend him off.”

“That’s the best kind of win – when you come from the back,” added Eckert, who was greeted after the race by his ecstatic wife Kristal. “After everything that happened to us tonight, pulling off a win like this is really exciting.”

Richards, 22, was powerless to stop Eckert’s late-race charge to a storybook triumph.

“He was able to stick around the bottom and make it work,” Richards said of Eckert. “I don’t know if I could’ve putted around down there and stayed ahead of him or not, but I was more comfortable just carrying my speed and trying to keep my momentum up around the top.

“Rick and his guys just did a heck of a job tonight. He just had the better car tonight.”

Early in the race, however, it appeared that the 21-year-old King had the car to beat. He powered around the track as the leader for the first 11 laps – and then his night went from bad to worse.

First, King spun in turn two on lap 11 to avoid the slowing Mike Knight of Ripley, N.Y. Though King remained in the lead for the ensuing restart because officials ruled that Knight was the reason for the caution, his car’s steering was damaged and he ceded the top spot to Richards. He held on to second until sliding high in turn two on lap 22, and one lap later a scrape with Matt Miller of Waterville, Ohio, sent both drivers sliding off the backstretch and triggered another caution period.

King took the lap-23 restart at the rear of the field and was then marginally involved in the race’s biggest incident. Miller, who restarted in third place, made contact with Richards exiting turn four and ended up turned around in front of the field, setting off a tangle that saw Frank flip after overrunning Miller’s machine.

There were no injuries in the accident, but Frank and Miller joined Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, Pa., who was fourth at the time, Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va., and Devin Shiels of Britton, Mich., as casualties of the wreck.

King continued, but he was never a factor. After stopping on lap 35 to bring out the race’s third and final caution flag, he limped to a 13th-place finish.

Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., finished sixth – a disappointing result because he was up to second and ready to pressure Richards for the lead on lap 32 when he slid over the track’s bank between turns three and four, causing him to fall to eighth before he recovered. Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., started third but was involved in the lap-23 accident and fell to seventh in the final rundown, ahead of rookie Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., who also got a piece of the crash; 23rd-starter Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., who used a provisional after his car was eliminated from heat action by left-front suspension damage; and Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa., who earned the $500 ‘Bonus Bucks’ cash for being the highest-finishing driver who hasn’t won a WoO LMS A-Main and isn’t ranked among the top 12 in the series points standings.

Francis blistered the track in Ohlins Shocks Time Trials, setting a new track record with a lap of 14.303 seconds. His circuit bettered the existing standard of 14.345 seconds held since 2004 by Matt Miller, who also broke his old record en route to the second-fastest lap of the 45-car qualifying session.

Heat winners were Francis, Miller, Lanigan and King, who registered his first-ever victory in a WoO LMS heat race. The B-Mains were captured by Bump Hedman of Sugar Grove, Pa., and Eckert.

Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek rolls on for two more nights, visiting Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, Ohio, on Saturday (July 31) and Eriez Speedway in Hammett, Pa., on Sunday (Aug. 1). Both events feature 50-lap A-Mains paying $10,000 to win.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Results of WoO Late Model Series at Attica Raceway Park (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (18) Rick Eckert/50 $10,575
2. (6) Josh Richards/50 $5,600
3. (8) Darrell Lanigan/50 $3,600
4. (12) Shane Clanton/50 $3,000
5. (7) Clint Smith/50 $2,500
6. (5) Steve Francis/50 $2,350
7. (3) Tim McCreadie/50 $2,000
8. (10) Austin Hubbard/50 $2,050
9. (23) Tim Fuller/50 $1,700
10. (21) Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/50 $1,600
11. (16) Donnie Moran/50 $1,050
12. (15) Robbie Blair/50 $1,000
13. (2) Russell King/50 $1,450
14. (14) John Mason/50 $900
15. (17) Bump Hedman/50 $900
16. (20) Doug Drown/48 $800
17. (24) Jill George/48 $770
18. (11) Jon Henry/24 $750
19. (4) Matt Miller/23 $730
20. (1) Gregg Satterlee/23 $700
21. (9) Chub Frank/23 $1,200
22. (19) Brent Robinson/23 $1,200
23. (22) Devin Shiels/23 $700
24. (13) Mike Knight/11 $725

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

Yellow Flags: 3 (Laps 11, 23, 35); 1 Red Flag (Lap 23)
Lap Leaders: King (1-11); Richards (12-46); Eckert (47-50)
Provisional Starters: Fuller, George
Rookie of the Race: Hubbard ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Briggs ($500)

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 14.303 (NTR)
2. 7-Matt Miller/Waterville, OH 14.315
3. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 14.355
4. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 14.423
5. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 14.470
6. 71d-Ron Davies/Erie, PA 14.526
7. 22-Gregg Satterlee/Rochester Mills, PA 14.589
8. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 14.610
9. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 15.611
10. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 14.636
11. 15H-Jon Henry/Ada, OH 14.649
12. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 14.683
13. 9K-Mike Knight/Ripley, NY 14.684
14. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 14.770
15. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 14.805
16. 99-Donnie Moran/Dresden, OH 14.830
17. 99B-Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/Bear Lake, PA 14.868
18. 72-John Mason/Millersburg, OH 14.871
19. won11-Robbie Blair/Titusville, PA 14.901
20. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 15.066
21. 8-Craig Vosbergen/Perth, Australia 15.069
22. 50Y-Ryan Missler/Bellevue, OH 15.081
23. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 15.116
24. 29R-Rocky Owens/Mansfield, OH 15.151
25. 3-Brent Robinson/Smithfield, VA 15.203
26. 15B-Mike Bores/Bellevue, OH 15.235
27. 51-Devin Shiels/Britton, MI 15.261
28. 21-Larry Kingseed/Castalia, OH 15.309
29. 23c-Jeremy Canada/Barberton, OH 15.368
30. B22-Bump Hedman/Sugar Grove, PA 15.381
31. x3-Daniel Wallace/Toledo, OH 15.440
32. 1N-Casey Noonan/Sylvania, OH 15.456
33. 93T-Jeff Esbenshade/Ashland, OH 15.515
34. 40-Wayne Maffett Jr./Mansfield, OH 15.527
35. 27-Ken Hahn/Gibsonburg, OH 15.532
36. 1B-Jeff Babcock/Wayne, OH 15.692
37. 2d-Curtis Deisenroth/Oak Harbor, OH 15.751
38. 83-Bill Hahn/Gibsonburg, OH 15.793
39. 36-Matt Irey/Mansfield, OH 15.859
40. 48-John Bores/Bellevue, OH 16.333
41. 12-Michael Stiltner/Green Springs, OH 16.454
42. 06-Kyle Perry/Perrysburg, OH 16.816
43. 22M-Bobby Michaels/Republic, OH 16.854
44. 1DJ-Doug Drown/Wooster, OH N/T
45. 5H-Ernie Haynes/Rising Sun, MD N/T

Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Francis, McCreadie, Frank, Knight, Robinson, Canada, Esbenshade, Deisenroth, Haynes, Stiltner, Briggs, Vosbergen

Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Miller, Richards, Hubbard, Mason, Missler, M. Bores, Hedman, Davies, Maffett, B. Hahn, Perry

Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Lanigan, Satterlee, Henry, Blair, George, Wallace, K. Hahn, Irey, Shiels, Fuller, Michaels

Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): King, C. Smith, Clanton, Moran, Eckert, Drown, Owens, Kingseed, Noonan, J. Bores, Babcock

B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Hedman, Robinson, Briggs, Davies, Missler, Maffett, Haynes, Deisenroth, B. Hahn, Perry, Stiltner, Canada, Esbenshade, M. Bores (DNS) Vosbergen

B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Eckert, Drown, Shiels, K. Hahn, Kingseed, Wallace, George, Irey, J. Bores, Michaels, Noonan, Babcock, Owens (DNS) Fuller

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:

Arizona Sports Shirts ($50 product certificate): Wayne Maffett Jr./Jill George
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Bump Hedman
Eibach Springs (one free spring): Bump Hedman
MSD Ignition ($75 cash award): Rick Eckert
MSD Ignition ($25 cash award): Mike Knight
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash award to fastest qualifier w/decal): Steve Francis
Pink Carburetors ($100 product certificate): Rick Eckert
Pink Carburetors ($50 product certificate): Jill George
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate): Rick Eckert
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate): Tim McCreadie
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate): Bump Hedman
R2C Performance ($100 certificate): Rick Eckert
STP ($50 cash award): Bump Hedman
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (two five-gallon plastic fuel jugs to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main if decal is displayed): Craig Vosbergen
Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Rick Eckert

2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of July 30 – 31 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):

1. Josh Richards 4162
2. Darrell Lanigan 4130 (-32)
3. Tim McCreadie 4128 (-34)
4. Steve Francis 4032 (-130)
5. Shane Clanton 3928 (-234)
6. Austin Hubbard 3912 (-250)
7. Rick Eckert 3890 (-272)
8. Tim Fuller 3854 (-308)
9. Chub Frank 3776 (-386)
10. Clint Smith 3704 (-458)
11. Russell King 3496 (-666)
12. Brent Robinson 3134 (-1028)
13. Brady Smith 2786 (-1376)
14. Jill George 2332 (-1830)
15. Brian Birkhofer 1566 (-2596)

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.
 

Mike Knight Ready To Defend His Turf In World of Outlaws Late Model Series Show On Sunday Night (Aug. 1) At Eriez Speedway

HAMMETT, PA - July 30, 2010 - Mike Knight has been fast – but not fast enough – in the three World of Outlaws Late Model Series events that have been contested at Eriez Speedway.

So the rising young star from Ripley, N.Y., is planning to take a slightly different approach when the national tour returns to his home track for a 50-lap, $10,000-to-win A-Main on Sunday night (Aug. 1).

“Every time we have the Outlaws (at Eriez) I try to over-think it instead of just running it like it was a regular race,” said the 23-year-old Knight, who won the 2007 dirt Late Model championship at Eriez in 2007 and enters Sunday’s action ranked second in this season’s points standings despite missing one event. “I’m gonna do what I can not to do that this year. I just want to try to be smart about it and run my race.

“I’ve had a good car all year at Eriez, so I feel like I have a shot at winning if I don’t overreact and make the wrong decisions.”

Knight has become a familiar addition to the fields of WoO LMS events held throughout the Northeast in recent years and has enjoyed several encouraging runs during his travels, but he knows that the place where he has his best chance of upsetting the touring stars is Eriez. It takes special finesse to negotiate the largely flat, one-third-mile oval promoted by Bob Rohrer, and Knight has figured out the secret to success.

“It’s one of those tracks the Outlaw guys just can’t come in and dominate because it’s a little different shape,” said Knight, who leads the Eriez dirt Late Model division with three feature wins this season and has won more than a dozen times there over the past five years. “There’s lines you can run there that you don’t think you can run, which helps the guys who are regulars like me.

“One of these years we’re gonna use what we know about the place and win an Outlaw race there,” he confidently added. “I told these guys (his crew), ‘Our stuff’s rolling pretty good right now, so if we catch the right breaks we can win it (on Sunday).’”

Knight recorded his career-best WoO LMS finish in the tour’s 2008 A-Main at Eriez, placing fifth. But that was a slight letdown for him after he timed third-fastest, won a heat race and started third in the headliner – and was passed for fourth on the last lap by 2006 WoO LMS champion Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y. In his other World of Outlaws starts at Eriez, Knight finished 10th in 2007 (after qualifying 10th-fastest and finishing fourth in a heat) and 11th in 2009 (after again timing third-fastest, winning a heat and starting fifth in the A-Main).

“We’ve set ourselves up in the right spot twice with by qualifying good and getting in the redraw,” said Knight. “I’ve started in the top eight, but we gotta ‘feature’ better than we have. It’s just a matter of getting the right combo – and that’s the challenge.

“These Outlaw guys run 40-, 50-, 75-lap features all the time, and we run usually run 25 laps. Getting your car to be good those last 20 laps is the key – that’s where the race is won at, and that’s the only thing we lack. If you’re a little bit off with these guys, you’re way off.

“It’s just a matter of getting more experience and doing more research,” he concluded. “Hopefully we’ve learned some lessons from running with these guys and can use them this year.”

Knight has two family-owned cars – an 2009 Rocket machine more suitable for fast, heavy conditions and an ’08 Rocket that likes slick tracks – to choose between on Sunday. He’s won at Eriez with both mounts and enters Sunday’s event having driven the newer car to a solid ninth-place finish in the Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek show on Thursday night at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio.

A personable racer known as ‘Hollywood,’ Knight currently makes his living overseeing Knight Operating Services, an excavating company he launched last year, and assisting at his family’s 450-acre grape farm off Interstate 90. But he would love to use a WoO LMS victory at Eriez as a springboard to a fulltime assault on the tour in the near future.

“It would be the highlight of my career if I could win it,” said Knight, “and I think it would be a step forward if we could do it. I’m hoping to someday run fulltime with the Outlaws but it’s a matter of getting the money right, so a win might help us turn some heads and slap my foot in the right door.”

Knight will lead a strong local contingent against the star-studded field of WoO LMS regulars, which includes Knight’s mentor Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., who counts Eriez as one of the tracks that launched his spectacular career. The Outlaw roster also features former champions McCreadie, Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va. (2007 winner at Eriez), Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky. (2008 victor at Eriez) and Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., as well as Rick Eckert of York, Pa. (last year’s Eriez winner), Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio, rookie sensation Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va., and rookie Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Gates are scheduled to open at 4:30 p.m. and on-track action is set to begin at 6 p.m. on Sunday.

General admission is $30 for adults and $15 for kids, and pit passes will be $35.

For more information, visit www.eriez-speedway.com or call 814-434-4370 or 814-440-2859.

Additional info on the WoO LMS is available by logging on to www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum

Two In A Row: Lanigan Steals Victory In Thursday Night’s Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek Stop At Sharon Speedway

HARTFORD, OH - July 29, 2010 - Darrell Lanigan felt like he stole one on Thursday night at Sharon Speedway.

“We got a little lucky tonight,” Lanigan said after making the 50-lap ‘Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek’ event his second straight victory on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. “I was figuring we’d run third, but we got some lucky breaks there late in the race.”

The first came on lap 43 when Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., slipped high in turns three and four while bidding for the lead, allowing Union, Ky.’s Lanigan to grab second.

Shortly thereafter, on lap 46, Lanigan vaulted into the top spot when race-long pacesetter Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., got momentarily hung up in turn two attempting to lap Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio, who was sent into a 360-degree spin by contact from McCreadie but continued without bringing out a caution flag.

Lanigan, 40, assumed command as lap 47 was scored and stayed there to the finish, holding off McCreadie’s frantic comeback bid to become the seventh different winner in the annual WoO LMS events held since 2004 at the three-eighths-mile oval. The $10,600 triumph backed up his score in Tuesday night’s Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek opener at Central PA Speedway in Clearfield, Pa., where he snapped his frustrating streak of four consecutive runner-up finishes on the national tour.

McCreadie, 36, settled for second place after starting from the pole position, crossing the finish line 0.240 of a second behind Lanigan. Richards finished third, followed by Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, Pa., who earned the $500 ‘Bonus Bucks’ cash for being the highest-finishing driver who has never won a WoO LMS A-Main and wasn’t ranked among the top 12 in the points standings, and outside-polesitter Matt Miller of Waterville, Ohio.

The quiet, low-key Lanigan was almost apologetic after capturing his 15th career win on the WoO LMS.

“We had a good car – good enough to run in the top three – but Timmy had the best car here,” said Lanigan, who started fourth in his Rocket mount. “We just were lucky and got the positions to win. Josh slipped up there and I got under him, and then Timmy got into the 56 car and handed me the lead.”

Lanigan also was fortunate that King’s twirl didn’t result in a caution flag.

“If there was a caution I would’ve had to pull in,” said Lanigan, whose third victory of 2010 gave him a single-season career high win total on the WoO LMS. “My right-rear (tire) would’ve been flat. It was leaking air. I could feel the car getting looser and looser, so I was just holding on at the end.”

Lanigan’s Hoosier right-rear deflated as he celebrated with his crew in Victory Lane – the final clear-cut signal that his luck has turned for the better. The 2008 WoO LMS champion said afterward that he might know the reason for his change in fortune.

“I give the credit to little Gavin,” Lanigan said of his fiancée Erin’s young son. “Before I left the house he gave me a couple Silly Bandz to wear as good-luck charms and said, ‘Don’t take them off.’ I’ve had them on my wrist all week and evidently they’re working.”

McCreadie, meanwhile, was gracious in defeat. He accepted the blame for initiating the race-deciding contact with King.

“I just went in there like a rookie and made a bonehead move,” said McCreadie, who drove his Sweeteners Plus Rocket car to a lead of as much as a full straightaway during the event. “Russ wasn’t doing anything wrong. I apologize to him. I just got a little flustered and forced the issue because I thought those guys (Lanigan and Richards) were right up behind me. I didn’t know I had enough of a lead where I didn’t have to try and get by (King).

“I saw Lanigan come up on the (score) board when he passed Richards (for second) and thought, ‘Oh man, he must’ve found a different part of the racetrack,’ because it wasn’t like (the surface) had laid enough rubber to make just one groove. It was multiple grooves and you could move around, so I thought, ‘I gotta go or he’s gonna roll me on the outside because he’s got nothing to lose.’”

McCreadie, who won a WoO LMS event at Sharon in 2005, registered his fourth runner-up finish of this year’s tour. The 2006 series champion remained second in the points standings, 24 points behind Richards, but Lanigan is now breathing down his neck, sitting just six points back in third after 30 events.

Richards, 22, also lost a position as a result of his aggressiveness. He ducked inside McCreadie a couple times while racing amid lapped traffic before going for it all on lap 43.

“I was just trying to go for the win,” Richards said of his slide-for-life through the high-side marbles in turns three and four. “I slipped up out of the rubber a little bit and I was like...whoa! I thought we were gonna (hit the wall) and need a clip, but I was able to get back down in the groove and run third.

“I probably could’ve just stayed behind Timmy and run second, but I feel like we were definitely good enough to win – and I was hungry for a win – so I went for it.”

Donnie Moran of Dresden, Ohio, who won the 2008 WoO LMS event at Sharon, finished sixth after being passed by Miller midway through the race. Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa., advanced from the 10th starting spot to place seventh and Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., marched forward from 14th to secure eighth. Mike Knight of Ripley, N.Y., and eighth-starter Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., completed the top 10.

Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., who outran Lanigan to win last year’s WoO LMS 50-lapper at Sharon, managed only an 11th-place finish. He has gone 11 consecutive races without a top-10 finish since his run of two wins and a third during last month’s ‘Great Northern Tour.’

Three caution flags slowed the A-Main, all during the first 10 laps. Rookie Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., brought out the first yellow on lap seven when he stopped in turn two with a broken driveshaft – the second driveshaft to strike his Beitler Motorsports mount, which was also knocked out of heat competition. Subsequent cautions were caused by a lap-eight tangle that left Bump Hedman of Sugar Grove, Pa., sitting between turns one and two and Corey Conley of Wellsburg, W.Va., who stopped in turn two on lap 10.

Richards was quickest in the 34-car Ohlins Shocks Time Trials session with a lap of 16.445 seconds. It was his second consecutive fast-time honor and series-leading fifth of the 2010 season.

Heat winners were Richards, Miller, Moran and McCreadie. The B-Mains were captured by Rick Eckert of York, Pa., and Brent Rhebergen of Clymer, N.Y.

Ohio-Pennsylvania Late Model Speedweek continues on Friday night (July 30) at Attica (Ohio) Raceway Park before moving on to Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, Ohio, on Saturday (July 31) and Eriez Speedway in Hammett, Pa., on Sunday (Aug. 1). Each program will be topped by a 50-lap A-Main paying $10,000 to win.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Results of WoO Late Model Series at Sharon Speedway (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (4) Darrell Lanigan/50 $10,600
2. (1) Tim McCreadie/50 $5,675
3. (6) Josh Richards/50 $3,650
4. (3) Gregg Satterlee/50 $3,000
5. (2) Matt Miller/50 $2,000
6. (5) Donnie Moran/50 $1,700
7. (8) Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/50 $1,400
8. (14) Steve Francis/50 $1,900
9. (10) Mike Knight/50 $1,200
10. (7) Chub Frank/50 $1,600
11. (9) Tim Fuller/50 $1,550
12. (11) Robbie Blair/50 $1,000
13. (17) Rick Eckert/50 $1,500
14. (12) Davey Johnson/50 $900
15. (13) Shane Clanton/50 $1,350
16. (19) Clint Smith/49 $1,300
17. (24) Brent Robinson/49 $1,270
18. (15) Jim Rasey/49 $750
19. (21) Russell King/49 $1,230
20. (18) Brent Rhebergen/49 $700
21. (22) Dennis Lunger/49 $700
22. (16) Bump Hedman/39 $700
23. (20) Corey Conley/9 $700
24. (23) Austin Hubbard/6 $1,475

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

Time of Race: 21 Mins., 13.913 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 0.240 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 3 (Laps 7, 8, 10)
Lap Leaders: McCreadie (1-46); Lanigan (47-50)
Provisional Starters: Hubbard, Robinson
Rookie of the Race: Hubbard ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Satterlee ($500)

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 16.445
2. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 16.450
3. 99-Donnie Moran/Dresden, OH 16.484
4. 99B-Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/Bear Lake, PA 16.496
5. 22s-Gregg Satterlee/Rochester Mills, PA 16.530
6. 7-Matt Miller/Waterville, OH 16.549
7. 32-Jim Rasey/Warren, OH 16.553
8. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 16.555
9. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 16.608
10. 9K-Mike Knight/Ripley, NY 16.622
11. won11-Robbie Blair/Titusville, PA 16.641
12. 1J-Davey Johnson/Latrobe, PA 16.672
13. 46-Doug Horton/Bruceton Mills, WV 16.702
14. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 16.706
15. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 16.707
16. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 16.727
17. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 16.745
18. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 16.769
19. 14-Corey Conley/Wellsburg, WV 16.836
20. 07R-Brent Rhebergen/Clymer, NY 16.879
21. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 16.897
22. 44H-Dave Hess Jr./Waterford, PA 16.908
23. 1L-John Lobb/Frewsburg, NY 16.912
24. B22-Bump Hedman/Sugar Grove, PA 16.968
25. 3-Brent Robinson/Smithfield, VA 17.028
26. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 17.036
27. 8-Craig Vosbergen/Perth, Australia 17.164
28. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 17.244
29. 14B-Dick Barton/Ashville, NY 17.305
30. 16*-Dereck Frank/Jamestown, NY 17.341
31. 17L-Dennis Lunger/Cherry Hill, PA 17.375
32. 67-Charles Supplee/Rock Creek, OH 17.554
33. 16B-Rusty Wheeler/Dorsett, OH 17.955
34. 38R-Corey Ruffo/Mercer, PA 18.047

Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Richards, Satterlee, Fuller, Clanton, C. Smith, Horton, Robinson, Barton, Wheeler

Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Miller, Lanigan, Knight, Francis, Eckert, King, Hess, D. Frank, Ruffo

Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Moran, C. Frank, Blair, Rasey, Vosbergen, Conley, Lunger, Lobb

Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): McCreadie, Briggs, Johnson, Hedman, Rhebergen, George, Supplee, Hubbard

B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Eckert, C. Smith, King, Horton, Hess, Robinson, Barton, D. Frank, Ruffo, Wheeler

B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Rhebergen, Conley, Lunger, George, Supplee (DQ) Vosbergen (DNS) Lobb, Hubbard

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:

Arizona Sports Shirts ($50 product certificate): Rick Eckert/Dennis Lunger
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal):
Eibach Springs (one free spring): Brent Robinson/Dennis Lunger
MSD Ignition ($75 cash award): Tim McCreadie
MSD Ignition ($25 cash award): Austin Hubbard
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash award to fastest qualifier w/decal): Josh Richards
Pink Carburetors ($100 product certificate): Rick Eckert
Pink Carburetors ($50 product certificate): Davey Johnson
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate): Tim McCreadie
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate): Rick Eckert
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate): Shane Clanton
RTC Performance ($100 certificate): Tim McCreadie
STP ($50 cash award): Rick Eckert
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (two five-gallon plastic fuel jugs to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main if decal is displayed): Doug Horton
Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Tim McCreadie

2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of July 29 – 30 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):

1. Josh Richards 4016
2. Tim McCreadie 3992 (-24)
3. Darrell Lanigan 3986 (-30)
4. Steve Francis 3894 (-122)
5. Shane Clanton 3786 (-230)
6. Austin Hubbard 3778 (-238)
7. Rick Eckert 3740 (-276)
8. Tim Fuller 3722 (-294)
9. Chub Frank 3668 (-348)
10. Clint Smith 3564 (-452)
11. Russell King 3372 (-644)
12. Brent Robinson 3028 (-988)
13. Brady Smith 2786 (-1230)
14. Jill George 2216 (-1800)
15. Brian Birkhofer 1566 (-2450)

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum

USA Nationals At Cedar Lake Speedway Is More Than Just A Crown-Jewel Dirt Late Model Event

Myriad Pre- And Post-Race Activities Make Aug. 5-7 Weekend A Race Fan’s Paradise

NEW RICHMOND, WI – July 29, 2010 – The 23rd annual USA Nationals presented by United States Steel Corporation at Cedar Lake Speedway is more – much more – than just a crown-jewel dirt Late Model event.

Just take one look at the long list of pre- and post-race activities scheduled throughout the blockbuster $250,000-plus weekend – which runs from Aug. 5-7 and is part of the nationally-renowned World of Outlaws Late Model Series for the first time since 2005 – and it’s clear that fans won’t experience a dull moment.

Even when the best drivers in the country aren’t flying around the three-eighths-mile oval in pursuit of the $50,000 prize that goes to the winner of the USA Nationals, there will be action somewhere on – or near – the grounds of the spic-and-span facility in western Wisconsin.

“The USA Nationals have always been known for being a true event, not just a race,” said Bob Kaufman, who co-owns the high-banked speedway with his brothers Chuck and Steve as well as Brad Both. “Ever since we took over the track 10 years ago we have constantly focused on that tradition and worked to add even more fun, enjoyable fan-oriented activities to the weekend.

“There’s probably a dozen major races around the country and it’s our goal to make the USA Nationals one of the top destination events for fans and racers. We hope the slate of activities we’re offering this year makes the weekend memorable for everyone who attends.”

The list of the ‘Fun Things To Do During The USA Nationals’ includes:

* The sixth annual USA Nationals Golf Scramble on Sat., Aug. 7, at 10:30 a.m. Held at the New Richmond Links Golf Course just a few miles from the track, the nine-hole, four-person blind draw scramble still has openings. The entry fee is $5 per person and greens fees are only $13. Anyone interested in participating in the event, which includes cash and door prizes, should e-mail [email protected] for more information.

* A Ladder Ball competition on Fri., Aug. 6, at 12 noon in the track’s wooded camping area. Similar in many ways to horseshoes, Ladder Ball is played with ‘bolas’ (two golf balls attached by a nylon rope) that players toss in an attempt to wrap them around the steps of a ladder. Part of the USA Nationals festivities for the second time, the tournament is open to everyone and offers prizes.

* Tubing on the famous Apple River, a relaxing outdoor activity that has become a popular added side-trip for many USA Nationals attendees. On both Fri., Aug. 6, and Sat., Aug. 7, buses leave Cedar Lake Speedway between 11 a.m. and 12 noon and drop off fans and race team members at the nearby Float-Rite park, where they pick up an inner tube (included in the $10 excursion price) to enjoy a ride down the river with thousands of other revelers. The buses return everyone to the track before the start of hot laps each night.

* The FansFund Luncheon, an exclusive meet-and-greet on Saturday afternoon in the track’s restaurant for the fans who donated money to the unique program that provides travel money to a select group of USA Nationals participants. All the drivers who come to the USA Nationals thanks to the FansFund will be at the luncheon.

* A driver autograph session and Q&A on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. All drivers with merchandise trailers, WoO LMS stars and other standout racers from the across the country will spend time in Souvenir Alley visiting with fans before the start of the final night of the USA Nationals.

* Go-kart racing on a temporary track set up in the facility’s paved backstretch parking lot. Priced at just $5 per ride, the small-car action will be hot-and-heavy all three days of the USA Nationals.

* The USA Nationals ‘Party in the Pits,’ which serves as the centerpiece of the event’s famed post-race nightlife. A band set up underneath the Big White Tent in the pit area will rock the house after the final checkered flag falls on both Thurs., Aug. 5, and Fri., Aug. 6, giving competitors and fans a chance to mingle and throw back some drinks.

* The USA Nationals pre-race pageantry, which features a stirring introduction of the 26 drivers who will start the 100-lap finale on Saturday night. Each starter will blast onto the racetrack through a cloud of smoke and fireworks will fill the air as the field prepares for the green flag.

Tickets are still available but dwindling fast for the USA Nationals, which kicks off on Thurs., Aug. 5, with a $5,000-to-win dirt Late Model event sanctioned by DIRTcar Racing’s UMP circuit. Friday’s program includes time trials, heat races and a dash for the USA Nationals, and B-Mains and the 100-lap, $50,000-to-win headliner top the docket on Saturday evening.

Cedar Lake’s weekly NASCAR Late Models will also contest full shows on both Friday and Saturday nights.

The USA Nationals field will include such talents as former WoO LMS champions Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., and Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., past USA Nationals winners Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., and WoO LMS regular Rick Eckert of York, Pa., and a host of other national, regional and local standouts.

Hot laps are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. and on-track action at 6:30 p.m. each day.

Advanced tickets for the USA Nationals are available by calling 612-363-0479 or by visiting www.cedarlakespeedway.com. Regular camping is sold out, but additional spots have been added and can be purchased by calling the office number.

Fans who can’t make the trip to Cedar Lake can still catch all the action through a live pay-per-view broadcast of the event over the web produced by DirtonDirt.com. Log on to www.dirtondirt.com for details.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.
 

Deluge Of Rain After Time Trials Postpones Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek Stop At Sharon Speedway To Thursday Night (July 29)

HARTFORD, OH - July 28, 2010 - Rain deluged Sharon Speedway after time trials, forcing the postponement of Wednesday night’s World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek’ program.

Track and WoO LMS officials rescheduled the three-eighths-mile oval’s seventh annual tour event to Thursday night (July 29). The racing action will start from scratch with a new set of Ohlins Shocks Time Trials, and all rainchecks will be accepted for admission.

Rain began falling moments after the event’s 34-car qualifying session was completed and soon intensified, swamping the racetrack and infield in short order. With more heavy storms threatening, the decision to push the action to Thursday night was made less than an hour later.

Donnie Moran of Dresden, Ohio, set fast time with a lap of 16.052 seconds, but his effort was wiped off the books by the postponement. WoO LMS rules stipulate that a new program will be contested if an event is rescheduled before heat races are run.

The postponement was a godsend for the WoO LMS regulars. Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., was the lone Outlaw to time among the top 10, qualifying ninth-fastest.

Thursday’s card will follow the same schedule as was planned on Wednesday. Gates will open at 3 p.m., with hot laps set to get the green flag at 6:30 p.m. and time trials at 7 p.m. The FastTrack Touring crate Late Model division will also be part of the evening’s action.

Fans unable to attend on Wednesday are invited to join the crowd on Thursday night. General admission is $27, with kids ages 9-13 admitted for $12 and those 8-and-under free of charge. Pit passes are $38.

Additional information is available by logging on to www.sharonspeedway.com.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. 99-Donnie Moran/Dresden, OH 16.052
2. won11-Robbie Blair/Titusville, PA 16.203
3. 22s-Gregg Satterlee/Rochester Mills, PA 16.259
4. 46-Doug Horton/Bruceton Mills, WV 16.308
5. 7-Matt Miller/Waterville, OH 16.398
6. 32-Jim Rasey/Warren, OH 16.408
7. 1J-Davey Johnson/Latrobe, PA 16.419
8. 99B-Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/Bear Lake, PA 16.483
9. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 16.485
10. 9K-Mike Knight/Ripley, NY 16.497
11. 07R-Brent Rhebergen/Clymer, NY 16.508
12. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 16.558
13. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 16.592
14. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 16.600
15. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 16.603
16. 1-John Lobb/Frewsburg, NY 16.608
17. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 16.651
18. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 16.655
19. 44H-Dave Hess Jr./Waterford, PA 16.656
20. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 16.681
21. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 16.684
22. 8-Craig Vosbergen/Perth, Australia 16.768
23. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 16.781
24. 14B-Dick Barton/Ashville, NY 16.793
25. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 16.799
26. B22-Bump Hedman/Sugar Grove, PA 16.830
27. 17L-Dennis Lunger/Cherry Hill, PA 16.988
28. 1L-Dane Laraway/Irwin, PA 17.016
29. 16*-Dereck Frank/Jamestown, NY 17.031
30. 3-Brent Robinson/Smithfield, VA 17.238
31. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 17.343
32. 67-Charles Supplee/Rock Creek, OH 17.648
33. 38R-Corey Ruffo/Mercer, PA 17.835 (DQ)

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Chub Frank Shoots For Another Turnaround Victory At Muskingum County Speedway This Saturday Night (July 31)

ZANESVILLE, OH - July 28, 2010 - Can lightning strike twice for Chub Frank at Muskingum County Speedway?

That’s what the veteran driver from Bear Lake, Pa., will be hoping for this Saturday night (July 31) when the World of Outlaws Late Model Series returns to Ronnie Moran’s three-eighths-mile oval in central Ohio.

Frank, 48, was the winner – a very happy and relieved winner – of last year’s WoO LMS stop at the semi-banked track. He snapped a frustrating 15-month, 62-race winless streak with the victory, which also marked his first-ever triumph in more than a decade of special-event appearances at Muskingum County.

“We needed that win (at MCR) last year more than anybody can believe,” said Frank, fondly recalling the track’s 2009 WoO LMS event that was run on Aug. 20 after being postponed one month by rain. “We were really struggling, and when you struggle your confidence gets down and you just keep falling behind. You need wins to make everybody feel better and put some money in the bank account, which we definitely needed last year – and still need right now.”

Indeed, Frank rolls back to Muskingum County in search of another slump-busting score in the $10,000-to-win ‘Pepsi 50.’ He won the WoO LMS ‘Buckeye 100’ at Ohio’s K-C Raceway that immediately followed last year’s event at MCR but hasn’t reached Victory Lane since, saddling him with a losing streak that reached 37 races after he finished seventh in the opening night of Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek on Tuesday (July 27) at Central PA Speedway in Clearfield, Pa.

Frank hit paydirt in last year’s WoO LMS show at Muskingum after going back to basics by ‘borrowing’ a 2005-vintage Rocket chassis from western Pennsylvania racer Chad Valone and assembling it with his own parts. He’s not exactly duplicating that plan of attack this year, but he has brought out a new car – well, a car new to him – for Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek in hopes of shaking him out of his doldrums. Frank recently purchased a 2009 Rocket chassis from Pennsylvanian Bob Close that was driven successfully last season by young talent Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, Pa., and plans to enter it in all of this week’s Outlaw events.

“When I found out Close didn’t want (the car) I said, ‘I’ll take it,’” said Frank, who assumed ownership of Valone’s ’05 machine after his win outburst last year and just sold it this month to an upstate New York crate Late Model racer. “I knew it was a good car – Satterlee won a lot of races and ran good in some Outlaw shows with it – so I figured we’d put it together and try it.”

Frank won a weekly dirt Late Model feature on July 23 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., in his first start with the former Satterlee mount, and on Tuesday night at Central PA he started from the pole position and led the first five laps of the 40-lap A-Main before fading. He thinks he has a potential winner under him, but the hard-nosed owner-operator knows he also needs some breaks to go his way like in his big Muskingum County moment 11 months ago.

“The car was good last year (at MCR) and we did everything right to get in position to win – we drew the right time-trial number, qualified good and redrew the outside pole for the feature,” said Frank. “But my tires were probably a factor in how we ran – and really, we picked them by mistake. We didn’t have the tires we wanted to run ready, so we put a different tire on than everybody else. We were softer (on compound choice) and it made a big difference.

“It just goes to show you that everything’s got to go your way to win these things.”

Frank controlled last year’s 40-lap A-Main at MCR, a track that had always proved problematic for him. He concedes that he didn’t sign in that evening with an especially good feeling that his fortunes were about to turn around.

“I’ve never really run all that good at Muskingum, so when we won it was kind of a surprise,” said Frank, who through 29 WoO LMS events this season was ranked ninth in the points standings with four top-five and 14 top-10 finishes. “I don’t dislike Muskingum; I ran there quite a bit with the STARS (Renegade) Series for a bunch of years, and it’s always been a pretty racy place. But it’s just been one of those tracks that we couldn’t get a handle on – until last year.

“I’m just hoping we can run the same way there (this Saturday night) and get on the same kind of roll again.”

Frank is part of the powerful traveling WoO LMS band that will invade Muskingum for the third consecutive season. He’ll be joined by former champions Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., who won the tour’s 2008 event at MCR, Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., and Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., as well as Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., Rick Eckert of York, Pa., Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio, rookie sensation Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va., and rookie Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Muskingum’s talented field is also expected to include the track owner’s son and grandson – dirt Late Model superstar Donnie Moran of Dresden, Ohio, and his 15-year-old son Devin, who was victorious recently at the oval. Others with plans to compete include Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa., Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, Pa., Bart Hartman of Zanesville, Ohio, Robbie Blair of Titusville, Pa., Doug Drown of Wooster, Ohio, and Doug Dodd of Cambridge, Ohio.

Saturday’s program will see pit gates open at 2 p.m. and the spectator gates unlocked at 4 p.m. Racing is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

General admission is $25, with kids 6-11 admitted for $5 and children 5-and-under free of charge. Reserved seats are available in the top two rows of the grandstand for an additional $5, and pit passes will be $40.

Further information is available by logging on to www.themuskingumcountyspeedway.com or calling 740-403-6298.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Bridesmaid No More: Lanigan Opens Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek With Victory At Central PA Speedway

CLEARFIELD, PA - July 27, 2010 - Don’t call Darrell Lanigan the ‘Bluegrass Bridesmaid’ any longer.

Snapping his unprecedented streak of four consecutive runner-up finishes on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, Lanigan kicked off the national tour’s Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek on Tuesday night with a victory in the ‘Fear The Bear 40’ at Central PA Speedway.

Lanigan, 40, of Union, Ky., advanced from the third starting spot to take the lead from Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., on lap six and never looked back. Racing in front of a standing-room-only crowd that turned out for the first-ever WoO LMS event at Tim Bainey Sr.’s four-tenths-mile oval, the 2008 tour champion survived four caution flags and an early threat from Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., to register his long-awaited second series win of 2010.

Clanton settled for second place in his RSD Enterprises Rocket car, a distant 2.308 seconds behind Lanigan’s GottaRace.com Rocket at the finish. Fifth-starter Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., was several car lengths farther back in third at the checkered flag in his Valvoline Rocket, Rick Eckert of York, Pa., placed fourth after running as high as second in his Team Zero by Bloomquist mount and defending WoO LMS champion and current points leader Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., completed the top five with a steady-but-quiet run in his Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket.

“It feels great to get that second-place jinx off us,” said Lanigan, who finished second in all four A-Mains contested during the recent ‘Wild West Tour.’ “Our car’s been good, but we just needed a little luck. Maybe things changed a little bit for the better tonight.”

Lanigan earned $8,600 for his 14th career WoO LMS victory and first since March 19 at Ocala (Fla.) Speedway. He scored nine runner-up finishes between his two wins this season, including six in the 10 races prior to Tuesday’s stop at Central PA.

Lanigan’s post-race prizes also included one of the track’s trademark three-foot-tall wooden ‘Big Bear’ carvings and a fresh six-pound cheeseburger from Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub, the local restaurant that has earned national attention for its menu featuring out-sized burgers.

Now a winner of two A-Mains in each WoO LMS campaign since 2004, Lanigan felt very comfortable circling Central PA Speedway for the first time in his career.

“This track kind of fit our program pretty good – big track with sweeping, wide corners,” Lanigan said of Central PA, which operated with a paved surface for 20 years until being covered by dirt prior to the 2006 season. “The setup we’ve been running lately works good on a place like this. I could just run through the middle without a problem.”

Lanigan was only briefly challenged by Clanton, who needed just six laps to hustle from the ninth starting spot to second. He vaulted from fifth to second in a single lap following a lap-six restart and nearly ran into the rear bumper of Lanigan’s car when he charged hard off the outside of turn four on lap 13, but that was as close as he got to the lead.

Clanton, 34, lost second to Eckert on a lap-15 restart. He regained the position on lap 21 and stayed there to the finish, but he couldn’t summon the speed to compete with Lanigan.

“He went a little harder on right-rear tire than I did,” Clanton said of Lanigan. “I knew where we were starting we had to go at the beginning. I thought I could get (past Lanigan) and then just ride, but I didn’t – and then at the end I just had to ride behind him.”

Lanigan’s victory moved him within 36 points of Richards in the WoO LMS points standings after 29 of a scheduled 47 events. Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., was left 26 points behind Richards in second after settling for a ninth-place finish.

Rookie Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., finished sixth, slipping forward from the 11th starting spot. Frank faded to a seventh-place finish after starting on the pole and leading laps 1-5, while his cousin, Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs, also of Bear Lake, Pa., was eighth to earn the $500 ‘Bonus Bucks’ cash for being the highest-finishing driver who has never won a WoO LMS A-Main and wasn’t among the top 12 in the points standings. McCreadie moved up just one spot to finish ninth and 17th-starter Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., rounded out the top 10.

There were no serious incidents during the race. Cautions were caused by Todd Snook of Mifflin, Pa., who slid off the track on lap six; D.J. Myers of Greencastle, Pa., who stopped in turn two on lap 15; and Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, Pa., who lost a wheel on laps 20 and 34.

Richards was quickest in Ohlins Shocks Time Trials, earning his series-leading fourth fast-time honor of 2010 with a lap of 16.242 seconds.

Heat winners were Richards, Lanigan, Mike Knight of Ripley, N.Y., and Eckert, and the B-Mains were captured by Clint Smith and Satterlee.

The WoO LMS Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek continues on Wednesday night (July 28) at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio. After an off-day on Thursday, the swing visits Attica (Ohio) Raceway Park on Fri., July 30; Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, Ohio, on Sat., July 31; and Eriez Speedway in Hammett, Pa., on Sun., Aug. 1.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Results of WoO Late Model Series ‘Fear The Bear 40’ (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (3) Darrell Lanigan/40 $8,600
2. (9) Shane Clanton/40 $4,575
3. (5) Steve Francis/40 $3,300
4. (2) Rick Eckert/40 $2,800
5. (4) Josh Richards/40 $2,650
6. (11) Austin Hubbard/40 $2,350
7. (1) Chub Frank/40 $1,900
8. (7) Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/40 $1,800
9. (10) Tim McCreadie/40 $1,800
10. (17) Clint Smith/40 $1,600
11. (14) Robbie Blair/40 $1,000
12. (13) Tim Fuller/40 $1,400
13. (6) Mike Knight/40 $850
14. (12) Russell King/40 $1,300
15. (15) Greg Oakes/40 $750
16. (19) Dylan Yoder/40 $750
17. (22) Brent Robinson/39 $1,160
18. (23) Chris Farrell/39 $640
19. (20) Chris Casner/39 $620
20. (18) Gregg Satterlee/32 $610
21. (8) D.J. Myers/14 $600
22. (21) Todd Snook/5 $600
23. (24) Bump Hedman/1 $600
24. (16) Billy Dickson/1 $625

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

Time of Race: 22 Mins., 52.806 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 2.308 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 4 (Laps 6, 15, 20, 34)
Lap Leaders: Frank (1-5); Lanigan (6-40)
Provisional Starters: Chris Farrell, Hedman
Rookie of the Race: Hubbard ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Briggs ($500)

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. 1- Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 16.242
2. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 16.334
3. 9K-Mike Knight/Ripley, NY 16.529
4. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 16.547
5. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 16.563
6. 99B-Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/Bear Lake, PA 16.605
7. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 16.649
8. 70J-D.J. Myers/Greencastle, PA 16.684
9. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 16.737
10. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 16.796
11. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 16.867
12. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 17.015
13. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 17.144
14. won11-Robbie Blair/Titusville, PA 17.244
15. 22-Gregg Satterlee/Rochester Mills, PA 17.301
16. 32-Billy Dickson/W. Decatur, PA 17.307
17. 32Y-Dylan Yoder/Selinsgrove, PA 17.320
18. 53-Chris Farrell/Clearfield, PA 17.436
19. 3-Brent Robinson/Smithfield, VA 17.514
20. B22-Bump Hedman/Sugar Grove, PA 17.548
21. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 17.591
22. 23-Todd Snook/Mifflin, PA 17.631
23. 22G-Greg Oakes/Franklinville, NY 17.782
24. c33-Chris Casner/Mifflintown, PA 17.784
25. 1L-Dane Laraway/Irwin, PA 17.836
26. 55-Denny Fenton/Clearfield, PA 17.975
27. 53R-Ray Farrell/Clearfield, PA 18.038
28. 773-Mike Evock/Hope Mills, NC 18.056
29. 82G-Ted Gallaher/Irvona, PA 18.535
30. 27-Bobby Stokes/Milton, PA 18.665
31. 55B-Jeramey Ohl/Jersey Shore, PA 18.947
32. 11-Greg Kent/Morrisdale, PA 19.126
33. 12-Doug Drown/Wooster, OH N/T
34. 8-Craig Vosbergen/Perth, Australia DQ

Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Richards, Francis, Clanton, Fuller, C. Smith, Yoder, Gallaher, Laraway (DNS) Drown

Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Lanigan, Briggs, McCreadie, Blair, C. Farrell, Snook, Stokes, Vosbergen, Fenton

Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Knight, Frank, Hubbard, Oakes, Satterlee, Ohl, R. Farrell, Robinson

Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Eckert, Myers, King, Dickson, Hedman, Casner, Evock, Kent

B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): C. Smith, Yoder, Snook, Laraway, Stokes, Fenton, Vosbergen, Gallaher, C. Farrell (DNS) Drown

B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Satterlee, Casner, Robinson, Ohl, R. Farrell, Kent, Hedman, Evock

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:

Arizona Sports Shirts ($50 product certificate): Ted Gallaher/Ray Farrell
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Gregg Satterlee
Eibach Springs (one free spring): Dylan Yoder/Chris Casner
MSD Ignition ($75 cash award): Shane Clanton
MSD Ignition ($25 cash award): Billy Dickson
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash award to fastest qualifier w/decal): Josh Richards
Pink Carburetors ($100 product certificate): Rick Eckert
Pink Carburetors ($50 product certificate): Dylan Yoder
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate): Shane Clanton
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate): Tim McCreadie
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate): Greg Oakes
R2C Performance ($100 certificate): Shane Clanton
STP ($50 cash award): Dylan Yoder
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (two five-gallon plastic fuel jugs to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main if decal is displayed): Ray Farrell
Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Shane Clanton

2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of July 27 – 29 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/wins/top-5s/top-10s/earnings/points/deficit to leader):

1. Josh Richards 3872
2. Tim McCreadie 3846 (-26)
3. Darrell Lanigan 3836 (-36)
4. Steve Francis 3760 (-112)
5. Austin Hubbard 3676 (-196)
6. Shane Clanton 3666 (-206)
7. Rick Eckert 3616 (-256)
8. Tim Fuller 3594 (-278)
9. Chub Frank 3538 (-334)
10. Clint Smith 3446 (-426)
11. Russell King 3260 (-612)
12. Brent Robinson 2912 (-960)
13. Brady Smith 2786 (-1086)
14. Jill George 2126 (-1746)
15. Brian Birkhofer 1566 (-2306)

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via the Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark & Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Ohio’s Drown Dreams Of Upset Victory In World of Outlaws Late Model Series Event Friday (July 30) At Attica Raceway Park

ATTICA, OH - July 27, 2010 - Doug Drown has a pretty good idea how he would feel if he were able to pull off an upset victory this Friday night (July 30) in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series event at Attica Raceway Park.

“I would probably be speechless,” said the 28-year-old driver from Wooster, Ohio. “Winning a World of Outlaws race would put us in a different group of regional racers. It would be unreal.”

Drown, of course, also happens to have a pretty good idea of how difficult it is to reach the finish line first in a WoO LMS A-Main. A driver has absolutely no room for error – a fact he learned first-hand when the national tour visited the one-third-mile Attica oval last year.

The talented young Buckeye State racer had an impressive night going during the 2009 program, qualifying second-fastest in time trials and finishing second in his heat to earn a berth in the feature redraw. But a critical mistake cost him dearly: he reported late to the A-Main lineup, forcing officials to demote him from the eighth starting spot to the rear of the field. His promising evening ended with a 23rd-place finish after he retired on lap 10 of the 50-lapper.

“That was real disappointing,” recalled Drown. “I was in the car and ready to go in the pits, but my guys had the car jacked up to change all four tires at the last minute and we ended up being late (to staging). In the end, it was the wrong decision too – we were too hard (with tire compound) and were absolutely horrible, and I just pulled off.

“If we had just left on (the tires) we were originally going to run, I think we could’ve at least run top-five. What we had on originally was what most of the top guys had on.”

Drown is hoping to avoid such hiccups in Friday’s WoO LMS show, which is topped by a 50-lap A-Main paying $10,000 to win. He enters the action confident that he can be a contender, having already won two weekly DIRTcar-sanctioned features this season at Attica and run well in his recent travels to WoO LMS and DIRTcar Summer Nationals shows.

“We’ve had a pretty good year – better than I ever expected it to be actually,” said Drown, who campaigns family-owned equipment. “We struggled a lot last year, so I didn’t come into this season with any expectations. But we’ve been running good almost everywhere we go and I’m looking forward to racing with the Outlaws.”

Drown is carving out a successful 2010 season with a relatively bare-bones effort. He has just a single ’09 Bernheisel Lazer Chassis and one engine at his disposal – and he hurt his Malcuit 430 cubic inch Ford powerplant in last month’s Firecracker 100 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., forcing him to borrow motors to keep racing until he gets his repaired piece back. Fellow racer D.J. Myers loaned him an engine to use during his recent two-week excursion on the DIRTcar Summer Nationals trail and he’s secured a 415 Ford motor from builder Brad Malcuit for this week’s WoO LMS Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek events.

“A lot of people think we have more (equipment) than we do,” said Drown, who also plans to enter Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek shows on July 27 at Central PA Speedway in Clearfield, Pa., July 28 at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio, and July 31 at Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, Ohio (where he’s won in the past). “We don’t have a lot, so we gotta take care of what we have to make it last.”

Drown does a pretty good job of that – and he has to since he’s effectively a fulltime race car driver this year. Back home living with his parents after a recent divorce and just 11 months removed from the fire that destroyed the Wooster restaurant he had been operating, Drown has demonstrated a renewed concentration on racing.

“I decided to take a couple years and focus on the goal of doing this racing deal fulltime,” said Drown, who is still waiting for help from his insurance company to rebuild his Country Harvest Restaurant. “If we can get some more support next year we’d like to branch out and run a series regularly.”

Drown’s best opportunity to attract some major attention for his future endeavors is with Friday’s WoO LMS event at Attica, a track that’s rapidly become one of his favorites. His first start there came in May 2008 when the facility hosted the full-fender Outlaws for the first time and Drown recorded a career-best WoO LMS finish of sixth.

“I kind of fell in love with the place that night,” said Drown, whose top WoO LMS finish in five A-Main starts this year is a ninth in both of last month’s Firecracker 100 preliminary features at Lernerville. “It’s a great track for drivers and for fans. There’s usually a couple grooves, so you can start at the tail of a heat and still get up to the front.”

Drown will lead the army of regional and local racers against a star-studded field of Outlaws at Attica, including former WoO LMS champions Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who won the tour’s 2008 A-Main at Attica, Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., and Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky.

The traveling WoO LMS roster also includes Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., Rick Eckert of York, Pa., Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio, rookie sensation Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va., and rookie Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Friday program, which also includes a $3,000-to-win feature for Attica’s weekly 410 Sprint Car division, is scheduled begin with hot laps shortly after 6 p.m. Gates are set to open at 4 p.m. and race time is 7:45 p.m.

Adult general admission is $30, ages 11-15 are $15 and kids 10-and-under will be admitted free of charge. Pit passes are $35.

Additional information on Attica Raceway Park can be obtained by logging on to www.atticaracewaypark.com or calling 419-680-5606.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Tony Stewart Racing’s Schatz, Kinser Surge in LaCrosse Extreme Tough Challenge

World of Outlaws Late Model Stars Francis & Hubbard To Appear At Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub In Clearfield, Pa., From 11-1 On Tuesday (July 27)

Drivers Will Sample Eatery’s World Famous Giant Hamburgers Before Central PA Speedway’s First-Ever WoO LMS Event On Tuesday Night

CLEARFIELD, PA – July 26, 2010 – Former World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion Steve Francis and rookie sensation Austin Hubbard will appear with their race cars this Tuesday (July 27) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the famed Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub in Clearfield, Pa.

Nationally known as the home of the ‘World’s Largest Hamburger Challenges,’ Denny’s will host the touring superstars in advance of Tuesday night’s first-ever WoO LMS event at Central PA Speedway. The four-tenths-mile oval, which is presenting a 40-lap A-Main paying $8,000 to win, is located just six miles from the popular restaurant.

Francis and Hubbard will display their cars outside the eatery, sign autographs for fans who stop by and, of course, sample the huge burgers that have brought Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub so much attention.

Francis, 42, of Ashland, Ky., won the WoO LMS title in 2007 and has captured more series A-Mains than any other driver since 2004. Seaford, Del.’s Hubbard is one of the country’s hottest young dirt Late Model talents, an 18-year-old who has already won twice this season in his first tour as an Outlaw regular driving the Dale Beitler-owned No. 19 that Francis campaigned in 2008-2009.

Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub has been a Clearfield staple since 1977, but in the late ‘90s it exploded into the national consciousness when owner Denny Liegey began making giant hamburgers and selling them with a dare: “If you can eat it, we’ll pay for it.” The bread-and-meat monstrosities – two-pounders, three-pounders, six-pounders, 15-pounders, even 25- and 50-pounders for special events – led television crews and, not surprisingly, more customers to find Denny’s rural location.

The restaurant, which features one wall with Polaroid photos of the hearty soles who have attempted to eat over-sized burgers, has been featured in segments on the Food Network, the Travel Channel, Good Morning America, the Today show, David Letterman's Top 10 List, the Tony Danza Show and Country Fried Home Videos on the Country Music Channel.

Fans headed for Central PA Speedway’s inaugural WoO LMS event on Tues., July 27, are invited to visit with Francis and Hubbard and have lunch at Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub, which is located at 1452 Woodland Rd. in Clearfield, Pa.

Additional info on Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub is available by logging on to www.dennysbeerbarrelpub.com. Details on the WoO LMS can be obtained by visiting www.thebigtrack.com.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.
 

Russell King Makes Home Track Stop At Sharon Speedway On Wednesday Night (July 28)

2009 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Rookie of the Year Looks To Shake Sophomore Struggles In Tour’s Annual Visit To Ohio Oval

HARTFORD, OH – July 25, 2010 – In a perfect world, Russell King would enter the seventh annual World of Outlaws Late Model Series event at Sharon Speedway this Wednesday night (July 28) brimming with the confidence of a young driver enjoying a breakout season.

But as King, 21, of Bristolville, Ohio, knows all too well, the learning curve in professional dirt Late Model racing is a steep one. So it is that the 2009 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year will head out on his home track’s three-eighths-mile surface for Wednesday night’s 50-lap, $10,000-to-win Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek show hoping that some familiar surroundings will help him shake his sophomore struggles on the national tour.

“After you do the whole World of Outlaws schedule for a season you naturally think it’s going to get easier,” said King, the scion of a family with a rich dirt-track racing history in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. “But the reality is that it just gets harder. Just because you have a year of experience doesn’t mean a thing.”

King’s second year as a regular on the grueling WoO LMS, which in 2010 is scheduled to contest 47 races at 40 tracks in 19 states and two Canadian provinces, has been a humbling test of his personal mettle. After making a giant leap in ’09 to follow the series with his family-owned team – a DIRTcar big-block Modified competitor since the age of 15, he had less than two-dozen dirt Late Model starts under his belt when he became an Outlaw traveler – he registered eight top-10 finishes en route to the rookie title and a 10th-place finish in the points standings. King was expecting improved results this season; instead, he’s experienced nothing but frustration, managing just two top-10 finishes while using 14 provisional spots to start A-Mains through 28 events.

A burly, hard-nosed competitor who wears his emotions on his sleeve, King got off to an extremely disappointing start this season – he relied on a provisional to gain entry in 11 of the first 16 A-Mains, including the first four – that sunk his morale.

“It’s been real tough to keep my mood and confidence up with the way we’ve been running,” said King, whose top finish of 2010 is a 10th on May 13 at Delaware International Speedway and June 15 at Can-Am Motorsports Park in Lafargeville, N.Y. “Every day this is what I do. I don’t drive trucks or pour concrete (for his family’s business). I work on race cars – my cars, and the (big-block) Modifieds that my father (Rex Sr.) and brother (Rex Jr., aka ‘Cooter’) run – so when we’re running bad it’s all I think about. I don’t even get that mental break of doing something else during the day to take my mind off it all.

“I’m lucky enough to be able to do this fulltime, but you can get yourself in a bad circle when you’re young and you’re struggling like we’ve been. You run bad and all week you’re in a bad mood and hate yourself, and then you think, ‘I’ve got to get in the shop to get better,’ so you work even harder and when you still don’t get the results it makes you feel even worse.

“It takes a lot to get out of the rut,” he added. “You can really beat yourself up, so I’ve tried to listen to what veteran guys like Chub (Frank) tell me. He’s been in it long enough and says, ‘Don’t let yourself get down too much or over-think the situation. Just keep working and one day it’ll just turn around. Something will go your way.’”

King has seen an uptick in his performance recently, qualifying five times through a heat and once through a B-Main (which he won) in the six WoO LMS events run so far in July. He recorded consecutive 11th-place finishes at Wartburg (Tenn.) Speedway, Tazewell (Tenn.) Speedway and Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., and during the four-race ‘Wild West Tour’ he turned heads with season-best time-trial efforts of fourth at Deer Creek and second at Dakota State Fair Speedway in Huron, S.D., where he also nearly won the first heat race of his WoO LMS career.

“It’s better lately – at least I don’t want to hang myself,” cracked King, who recently obtained the services of former Chub Frank and Clint Smith mechanic Brad Baum to enhance his existing crew that includes fulltimer Craig (‘Snowman’) McCrimmon and loyal volunteer Bobby Bachman. “We decided to just stick with our blue front-end (Rocket) car and get on the same page with more guys and we’ve had some better results.

“But even though we’ve qualified better, we’re not running good for 50 laps. We’ve run in the top 10 for most of the race a few times, but we’re falling apart at the end and finishing 11th or worse. We have to figure out how to maintain until the end.”

King would certainly like to put together his best outing of the season on Wednesday at Sharon, the top-notch facility co-owned by NASCAR Sprint Cup veteran and former WoO Sprint Car Series champion Dave Blaney. He brings in a little momentum after authoring several solid runs during his mid-summer break from the WoO LMS, including 10th-place DIRTcar Summer Nationals finishes on July 16 at Attica (Ohio) Raceway Park and July 17 at Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon, Ohio, and a fifth-place performance in a weekly show on July 18 at Eriez Speedway in Hammett, Pa.

With his shop less than a 20-minute drive from Sharon, King will have the support of a large group of family and friends. He’s hoping to give them a good show at the track where he won his first big-block Modified feature in 2005.

“I’m excited about it,” said King, whose previous WoO LMS finishes at Sharon are 14th (2009) and 21st (2008). “We were sixth-quick at an All-Star (Late Model Series) show there last month (he didn’t start the feature due to mechanical trouble) and tested there after that, so I feel like we have a general idea about what we need to do. I don’t have to worry about figuring out how to get around the track.

“I’m not saying we’re gonna be an upset winner, but I would like to finish top-five at my home track.”

King will face an all-star cast of characters at Sharon, one of three tracks to host a WoO LMS event every year since the tour’s reincarnation in 2004 under the World Racing Group banner.

The roster of Outlaws regulars includes former champions Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y. (2005 tour winner at Sharon), Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., and Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., as well as Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y. (2009 tour winner at Sharon), Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa. (2007), Rick Eckert of York, Pa. (2006), Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., rookie sensation Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va., and rookie Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Regional talents expected to challenge the WoO LMS regulars include defending O’Reilly All-Star Late Model Series champion Robbie Blair of Titusville, Pa., Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa., who won Sharon’s All-Star event on June 8, Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, Pa., Mike Knight of Ripley, N.Y., and Matt Lux of Franklin, Pa.

Sharon’s Wednesday-night WoO LMS program, which is scheduled for a midweek date after running on Saturday for the past four years, is set to begin with hot laps at 6:30 p.m. and time trials at 7 p.m. The FastTrack Touring crate Late Model division will also be part of the evening’s action.

General admission is $27, with kids ages 9-13 admitted for $12 and those 8-and-under free of charge. Pit passes will be $38.

Additional info on the event is available by logging on to www.sharonspeedway.com or calling 330-772-5481 (info) or 330-772-1186 (tickets).

In addition to Wednesday’s show at Sharon, the WoO LMS Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek also competes on Tues., July 27, at Central PA Speedway in Clearfield, Pa.; Fri., July 30, at Attica (Ohio) Raceway Park; Sat., July 31, at Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, Ohio; and Sun., Aug. 1, at Eriez Speedway in Hammett, Pa.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Stars Will Chase Central PA Speedway’s Trademark Trophy On Tues., July 27

Carved Wooden ‘Big Bear’ Provides Unique Prize For National Tour’s First-Ever Visit To Tim Bainey Sr.’s Track

CLEARFIELD, PA - July 22, 2010 - Tim Bainey Sr. and his son, Dan, are ready to welcome the World of Outlaws Late Model Series to their Central PA Speedway for the first time on Tues., July 27.

And to pique the interest of the national tour’s superstar invaders, the father-and-son team will put more on the line than just the $8,000 top prize for the evening’s 40-lap A-Main that kicks off the five-race Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek.

Now in their third season at the helm of the four-tenths-mile oval, the Baineys have turned a unique trophy presentation begun by their promotional predecessors into a post-race tradition. Every feature winner at the track receives a distinctive three-foot-tall, 50-pound wooden bear created for CPS by a local carver – a fact that all the drivers in the historic WoO LMS event’s field will be well aware of when the green flag drops.

Pocketing the first-place cash is always a racer’s primary objective, but earning a special keepsake trophy allows the sweet memory of a victory to linger on. Just ask Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., the lone WoO LMS regular who owns a Central PA Speedway ‘Big Bear’ thanks to his triumph in the track’s unsanctioned 2006 Yankee Doodle 50.

“I have it sitting in the living room of the house,” said Clanton, a three-time winner on this year’s WoO LMS. “It’s right there next to my trophies from the World (100 at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway) and the Firecracker (100 at Pennsylvania’s Lernerville Speedway).”

Clanton, 34, will be part of a star-studded group of WoO LMS travelers hoping to hoist the wooden bear after Tuesday night’s program, arguably the biggest dirt Late Model event in Central PA’s modern dirt-racing era. Built in 1969 as a dirt track, the speedway was paved in 1986 and operated under several promoters until being shortened slightly from its half-mile size and covered with clay prior to the 2006 season.

Tim Bainey Sr., a 52-year-old who owns a Philipsburg, Pa.-based trucking company and has a long history as both a driver and car owner in local, regional and national racing levels, purchased the track before the start of the 2008 campaign. He installed his son, Dan, 29, as the speedway’s director of operations and the two have combined to present a successful series of special events that will reach its zenith with the arrival of the WoO LMS.

The elder Bainey’s racing background is primarily with the pavement scene – he raced Late Models on Central PA Speedway’s asphalt, competed in ARCA Racing Series events at such famed tracks as Daytona, Pocono and Atlanta and in recent years fielded vehicles that his son, Tim Jr., drove in USAR ProCup Series and NASCAR Truck Series action – but he recognized the stature of the World of Outlaws brand name in the dirt-track world when Dan Bainey suggested it was time to host a show for the renowned series.

“I thought a World of Outlaws race could be huge for us and I asked my dad what he thought,” said Dan Bainey, who has served as crew chief for his father and older brother’s USAR and Truck Series racing efforts over the past decade. “He was all for it. The World of Outlaws is pretty much the NASCAR of dirt, so it’s a big deal to bring the series to our track.

“Ever since we announced the World of Outlaws date, it’s been the talk around here. We’re expected a huge crowd to come out.”

There’s plenty of room for spectators at Central PA, which has a long, high set of bleachers running the length of its homestretch and a hillside drive-in section that stretches around most of the remainder of the track. The drive-in is extremely popular for its scenic view of the action, prompting “fans to start lining up in their cars early in the morning every time we have a race,” said Dan Bainey.

The racetrack, meanwhile, is “big and fast,” described Clanton. “It has a little bit of everything to make it an exciting place.”

Clanton is one of five WoO LMS regulars with experience circling Central PA Speedway’s ribbon of dirt. He’s joined by Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa. (finished second in a 2008 event after going to rear twice), Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga. (fifth in 2006 Yankee Doodle 50), 2006 tour champion Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y. (17th in 2009 Yankee Doodle 50 but had to change a blown engine after a heat win) and 2009 Rookie of the Year Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio, who hasn’t run a dirt Late Model at the track but does have two big-block Modified starts there.

Outlaws who will be seeing Central PA for the first time, meanwhile, are defending champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., Rick Eckert of York, Pa., rookie sensation Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., and Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va. Rookie Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa, expects to miss the event because she has been invited to participate in a Roush-Fenway test/tryout.

The WoO LMS standouts will face a tough array of regional talent – none tougher than defending O’Reilly All-Star Late Model Series champion Robbie Blair of Titusville, Pa., who is undefeated in four 2010 appearances at Central PA. He owns victories in All-Star events on May 30, July 2 and July 3 as well as an unsanctioned event on June 20.

Other drivers expected to enter Tuesday’s action include Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa., who has a pair of top-five finishes this season in All-Star competition at Central PA; Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, Pa., who finished third in the May 30 All-Star event; and Mike Knight of Ripley, N.Y.

Pit gates are scheduled to open at 3 p.m. and spectator gates at 3:30 p.m. on Tues., July 27. On-track action is set to get the green flag at 7 p.m. and will include racing for the four-cylinder division.

General admission is $26 and $12 for ages 11-15, with kids 10-and-under admitted free of charge. Pit passes will be $35.

Central PA Speedway is located just west of Clearfield, Pa., off Interstate 80.

Additional info on Central PA Speedway is available by logging on to www.thebigtrack.com or calling 814-768-FLAG.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.
 

Tim Fuller Returns To Cedar Lake Speedway On Aug. 5-7 Seeking $50,000 USA Nationals Victory

NEW RICHMOND, WI - July 20, 2010 - Tim Fuller made quite an impression on Cedar Lake Speedway’s fans during his first-ever visit to the Badger State track one year ago.

The resident of Watertown, N.Y., is hoping to earn even more attention from the three-eighths-mile oval’s faithful when he returns on Aug. 5-7 for the 23rd annual USA Nationals presented by United States Steel Corporation, which this season is part of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series that Fuller follows on a fulltime basis.

“We had a great time at Cedar Lake last year,” said Fuller, a superstar in the Northeast’s DIRTcar big-block Modified ranks before switching his focus to the dirt Late Model division in 2007. “I really liked the place and the whole atmosphere of the event – they host a very good party. I would love to go back there this year and win the big one.”

Fuller, 42, sparkled in his 2009 Cedar Lake debut, winning the traditional Thursday-night tune-up event that was then run under the World Dirt Racing League banner (this year’s $5,000-to-win preliminary show, on Thurs., Aug. 5, will be sanctioned by DIRTcar Racing’s UMP circuit) and finishing second in Saturday’s 100-lap USA Nationals finale. He led 54 of the first 56 laps in the headliner before being overtaken by Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., who went on to capture the prestigious race’s $50,000 top prize for the second time in his career but first since 1996.

Last year’s assault on the unsanctioned USA Nationals was a last-minute decision for Fuller, who headed to the Upper Midwest just days after he snapped a 46-race winless streak on the WoO LMS with a triumph at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio. He sure was glad he made the trip after pocketing $25,000 for his weekend of work, including a $20,000 runner-up check from the USA Nationals’ industry-leading $250,000-plus purse.

That lucrative take-home pay left Fuller feeling very good despite falling one position short of the first crown-jewel event victory in his short dirt Late Model career.

“You don’t see me get passed for the lead and finish second and still smile,” an upbeat Fuller told DirtonDirt.com after last year’s USA Nationals. “I got beat by a guy that had the better car.”

Fuller, who started second in the USA Nationals, conceded that he simply wasn’t strong enough to repel Mars once the track surface changed midway through last year’s event.

“We were really good on Thursday night and we were rolling for the first half of the 100-lapper,” said Fuller, who followed up his ’09 USA Nationals performance with a record-tying four-race win streak on the WoO LMS. “But we weren’t as good in the (hard) condition as Mars was. I had to slow down so much in the corners to stay on the bottom, and he was free enough to draw up on the outside and roll by me.

“I would’ve loved to win that race, but hey – it was our first time there and Mars was really going good at the time, so I couldn’t be disappointed. We’ll just go back and hope what we learned last year will help make us better.”

Of course, Fuller would like to bring his Gypsum Express Rocket car to Cedar Lake with the type of momentum he carried into last year’s USA Nationals – and at the moment he doesn’t have any. The good vibes of his back-to-back WoO LMS events on June 15 at New York’s Can-Am Motorsports Park and June 17 at Ontario’s Merrittville Speedway have long disappeared; he’s gone without a top-10 finish in his last 10 starts on the national tour, dropping him from fifth in the points standings (84 points out of the lead) to a dismal eighth (264 points behind).

Fuller ended the month of June with a struggled-filled ‘Firecracker 100’ weekend at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., and has been “terrible, just terrible” ever since. Exacerbating his slump was the emergency appendectomy he underwent on July 5 – surgery that left him too sore to race competitively in the four-race ‘Wild West Tour’ that ran from July 7-10.

“I wrote the Tennessee trip (on July 2-3) off because I’m not usually good on tracks with really big banks and then the western trip was a big nothing because of the appendicitis,” said Fuller, who finally felt back to normal physically when he returned to his DIRTcar big-block Modified roots for three nights of action in upstate New York last weekend. “Hopefully after we go to some tracks we were good at last year (as part of the five-race WoO LMS Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek that runs from July 27-Aug. 1) we’ll be back on track (for Cedar Lake).”

Fuller will be looking to join a star-studded group of former USA Nationals winners who are expected to participate in this year’s edition of the event, including Mars, five-time winner and three-time WoO LMS titlist Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn. (four-time victor and 2004 WoO LMS titlist), Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa (2007 and 2004 winner), Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga. (2005) and WoO LMS regular Rick Eckert of York, Pa. (2002).

The field will also include such talents as former WoO LMS champions Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky. (top Nationals finish of third in 2005, 2002 and 1998), Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y. (top USA Nationals finish of third in 2009), Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky. (two previous Nationals starts: 10th in 1995 and 13th in 2005) and Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va. (one previous Nationals start: 12th in 2005), plus a host of other national, regional and local standouts.

Three nights of action will comprise the 23rd annual USA Nationals presented by United States Steel Corporation, beginning with a full DIRTcar Racing UMP-sanctioned program on Thurs., Aug. 5, topped by a 40-lap A-Main. Time Trials, heat races and a dash for the USA Nationals are scheduled for Fri., Aug. 6, and B-Mains and the 100-lap finale are set for Sat., Aug. 7.

Cedar Lake’s weekly NASCAR Late Models will also contest full shows on both Friday and Saturday nights.

Hot laps are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. and on-track action at 6:30 p.m. each day.

Cedar Lake officials will once again accent the racing with an exciting array of pre- and post-race entertainment, including a Saturday-morning golf scramble at the nearby Pine Meadows Golf Course; a Ladder Ball competition at 12 noon on Saturday; the popular Apple River Tubing expedition; a luncheon on Saturday afternoon that allows ‘FansFund’ contributors an opportunity to meet the drivers they helped bring to the USA Nationals; a driver autograph/meet-and-greet session prior to Saturday night’s first green flag; go-karts in the backstretch parking lot; and the ‘Party in the Pits’ under the Big White Tent following the Thursday and Friday programs.

Advanced tickets for the USA Nationals are available by calling 612-363-0479 or by visiting www.cedarlakespeedway.com. Regular camping is sold out, but additional spots have been added and can be purchased by calling the office number.

Fans who can’t make the trip to Cedar Lake can still catch all the action through a live pay-per-view broadcast of the event over the web produced by DirtonDirt.com. Log on to www.dirtondirt.com for details.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek Looms As Crucial Point In 2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Points Battle

Five-Race, Six-Night Swing Kicks Off On Tues., July 27, At Central PA Speedway

CONCORD, NC – July 19, 2010 – The stars of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series will be rested and ready when the national tour ends a two-and-a-half-week mid-summer break on Tues., July 27, with a first-ever visit to Central PA Speedway.

And they know they better be – because when the green flag flies at Tim Bainey Sr.’s four-tenths-mile oval in Clearfield, Pa., the series will commence a busy stretch of five races in six nights that figures to loom large in the 2010 points battle.

Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek – a late-July staple of the WoO LMS since 2007 – will begin pushing the tour down its homestretch. Just 14 of the season’s 47 scheduled A-Main will remain on the series slate after the flurry of activity in the Buckeye and Keystone states.

Defending WoO LMS champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., leads the points standings entering Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek – a position he’s held outright after the last 16 events. But he hasn’t added to his series-leading win total of five since June 24 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., and his season-high edge of 56 points (after race No. 14) has dwindled to just 18 points over Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., and 46 points over Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., so he knows he needs to be at the top of his game when he returns to Outlaw grind.

“We struggled a little bit (on the recent ‘Wild West Tour’), but there’s still a long way to go,” said Richards, who has had at least a share of the points lead after 24 of this season’s 28 A-Mains completed to date. “Timmy and Darrell have been tough, so I guess we just have to get back up on the wheel. We’re gonna use our two weeks off to regroup and try to hold them off.”

McCreadie and Lanigan have materialized into the prime challengers for the 22-year-old Richards. And both former champions will roll into Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek with more momentum than Richards. McCreadie, 36, has won three of the last eight WoO LMS events, while Lanigan, 40, has finished second in six of the last 10 A-Mains, including the last four in a row.

Lanigan is actually in the midst of a streak unprecedented in the annals of the WoO LMS, though it’s one that has the 2008 titlist shaking his head in frustration. With his four consecutive runner-up finishes during the ‘Wild West Tour,’ he became the first driver in tour history to place second in more than three straight A-Mains.

The only other driver who appears to still have a shot at upstaging Richards, McCreadie and Lanigan for the WoO LMS championship is 2007 titlist Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., who sits fourth in the points standings, 116 points behind Richards. His hopes for the $100,000 crown wrest on making up ground during Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek, which features events at:

* Central PA Speedway, a specials-only track that will play host to the richest dirt Late Model race in its history when the WoO LMS arrives on Tues., July 27, for a 40-lap, $8,000-to-win A-Main. The speedway, which had its paved surface covered with clay prior to the 2006 season, is in its third season under the stewardship of former racer and asphalt stock team owner Tim Bainey Sr. The only WoO LMS regular who has won on Central PA’s dirt is Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., who invaded the track in 2007 to win the ‘Yankee Doodle 50.’

* Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio, the three-eighths-mile oval co-owned by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series veteran and former WoO Sprint Car Series champion Dave Blaney. One of three tracks that has presented a WoO LMS event every year since the tour was reincarnated in 2004 under the World Racing Group banner, Sharon is shifting its 50-lap, $10,000-to-win Outlaw show to a mid-week date – on Wed., July 28 – after hosting Saturday-night events for the last four years. Sharon’s past WoO LMS winners include current regulars McCreadie (2005), Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa. (2007) and Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y. (2009) as well as Donnie Moran of Dresden, Ohio (2008) and Davey Johnson of Latrobe, Pa. (2004).

* Attica (Ohio) Raceway Park, which returns to the WoO LMS schedule for the third straight season on Fri., July 30, with a 50-lap A-Main paying $10,000 to win. Previous winners include Richards (2008) and Steve Shaver of Vienna, W.Va., who won the 2009 event that was highlighted by a titanic, three-wide battle for second place just behind Shaver between championship contenders Richards, Francis and Lanigan.

* Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, Ohio, a three-eighths-mile oval owned by Ronnie Moran – the father of dirt Late Model superstar Donnie Moran – that will welcome the WoO LMS on Sat., July 31. The 50-lap, $10,000-to-win program will mark the first time that the Outlaws pay a Saturday-night visit to the semi-banked track, which previously presented mid-week shows won by Frank (2009) and Francis (2008).

* Eriez Speedway in Hammett, Pa., the Bob Rohrer-promoted facility near Lake Erie that will be rocked by the WoO LMS for the fourth consecutive year on Sun., Aug. 1. There has yet to be a repeat winner in the one-third-mile oval’s three tour events, which were captured by Richards (2007), Francis (2008) and current series traveler Rick Eckert of York, Pa., who topped last year’s A-Main after it was finally completed on Sept. 1 following two rainouts.

Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek will pit the WoO LMS standouts – a group that also includes Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio, rookie sensation Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va., and rookie Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa – against some of the toughest regional and local competition they’ll face all season.

For more information on Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek:

* Central PA Speedway on Tues., July 27: Visit www.thebigtrack.com or call 814-768-3524.

* Sharon Speedway on Wed., July 28: Visit www.sharonspeedway.com or call 330-772-5481 (info) or 330-772-1186 (tickets).

* Attica Raceway Park on Fri., July 30: Visit www.atticaracewaypark.com or call 419-680-5606.

* Muskingum County Speedway on Sat., July 31: Visit www.themuskingumcountyspeedway.com or call 740-754-9199.

* Eriez Speedway on Sun., Aug. 1: Visit www.eriez-speedway.com or call 814-434-4370 or 814-440-2859.

Additional information on the WoO LMS is available by logging on to www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.
 

Joey Saldana Scores First LaCrosse Footwear Extreme Tough Challenge Victory at Eldora Speedway

Lernerville Speedway’s Firecracker 100 Set For Multi-Hour SPEED Broadcast This Saturday (July 17) At 5 P.M. ET

CONCORD, NC - July 15, 2010 - Millions of viewers will have the opportunity to relive the action and drama of the fourth annual World of Outlaws Late Model Series Firecracker 100 presented by GottaRace.com on Sat., July 17, at 5 p.m. Eastern Time on SPEED.

The $170,000-plus event contested at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., will be featured in a special two-and-a-half-hour television broadcast, bringing comprehensive coverage of the blockbuster weekend’s color and competition to the more than 80 million homes reached by the SPEED cable network.

Announcers Shane Andrews and Steve Post will call all the action of the Firecracker 100, which continued its ascension into the national spotlight this year by expanding to three full nights of racing. Sarah Jane Hunt is also part of the broadcast team, reporting from the pit area to keep fans abreast of all the news that made the 2010 Firecracker 100 such a memorable event.

SPEED’s broadcast will not only include in-depth coverage of the intense battle for the $30,000 Firecracker 100 winner’s prize, but also highlights of the preliminary-night programs and qualifying events leading up to the extra-distance spectacular on the smooth, multi-grooved four-tenths-mile oval. In addition, the show features special segments with defending WoO LMS champion and current points leader Josh Richards and rookie sensation Austin Hubbard, who will provide viewers a unique behind-the-scenes look at the pre- and post-race entertainment that has become a signature of the Firecracker 100 weekend experience.

Saturday’s Firecracker 100 program marks the first featured appearance of 2010 on SPEED for the WoO LMS, the nation’s premier dirt Late Model tour. The broadcast will run from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com. Additional info on SPEED is available by logging on to www.SPEED.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.
 

Cedar Lake Speedway’s Deep History With World of Outlaws Late Model Series Has Billy Moyer’s Name All Over It

Can Hall of Famer Duplicate Past Glory At Wisconsin Track When National Tour Sanctions USA Nationals On Aug. 5-7 For First Time Since 2005?

NEW RICHMOND, WI – July 14, 2010 – Cedar Lake Speedway’s deep history with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series will be rekindled when the national tour returns to the Badger State track to sanction the 23rd annual USA Nationals presented by United States Steel Corporation on Aug. 5-7.

And if Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Billy Moyer ends up battling for the 100-lap event’s $50,000 top prize, it will seem just like old times at the high-banked, one-third-mile oval.

Moyer, 52, of Batesville, Ark., owns a spectacular performance record in WoO LMS competition at Cedar Lake, winning seven times and never finishing worse than fifth in the 10 tour A-Mains that have been contested there. All of his victories came in 1988 and 1989 during the short-lived first incarnation of the series run under the direction of late WoO Sprint Car Series founder Ted Johnson, but he was close to another checkered flag in the only Cedar Lake event of the WoO LMS’s modern era (2004-present), finishing second in the 2005 USA Nationals.

A three-time WoO LMS champion (1988-89, 2005), Moyer fondly, albeit a bit vaguely, recalls his amazing run of Outlaw success at Cedar Lake some two decades ago. He was beaten just once in five events in 1988 (by current Cedar Lake regular and perennial titlist Rick Egersdorf of Lake Elmo, Minn.) and once in four events in 1989 (by Donnie Moran of Dresden, Ohio). Moyer capped both years with triumphs in the first two USA Nationals – then 50-lap features worth $12,000 to win in ’88 and $14,000 in ’89 – on his way to an alltime event-record five victories.

“It seemed like we had a handle on the place back in the day,” said Moyer, who also won the USA Nationals in 1990, 1992 and 1993 when it carried sanctioning from DIRTcar Racing’s UMP circuit. “There were a lot of good racers from out that way back then that everybody might not have heard of – guys like Willy Kraft – but I think we were a step ahead of a lot of them with how we done our tires and our chassis.

“You could keep an advantage a little longer in those days, and I guess I just had some things I understood about the car that I kept to myself. Today, with all the chassis builders involved, they pass all this information on to all their customers and it’s harder to hold on to an edge like we did when we were winning all those races every year (at Cedar Lake).”

Moyer’s Cedar Lake strength in 1988-89 was an extension of the superiority he demonstrated during the original WoO LMS campaigns. He won 22 of the 41 A-Mains that were run those two years, a lofty win percentage that he would have loved to pad in successive seasons. Unfortunately, Johnson discontinued the series after the 1989 season to focus on his Sprint Car endeavors and it sat idle until resuming in 2004 under the World Racing Group banner.

“I was really surprised when (Johnson) decided to pull the plug,” said Moyer. “I honestly think that if he just held on one more year it would probably be right there where the (WoO) Sprint Cars are right now instead of still growing. Right when he quit doing it there were just a few professional-type racers doing it for a living, but there were getting to be more and more and that would have kept the deal growing without that little empty spot (of 15 years) in there.”

Today the WoO LMS is getting stronger each year, well on its way to realizing the full potential that Moyer saw in it over 20 years ago. The tour’s return to Cedar Lake for the USA Nationals – a crown-jewel event that, with its $250,000-plus purse, ranks as the country’s highest-paying dirt Late Model race – adds more prestige to a 2010 schedule that currently lists 47 events at 40 tracks in 19 states and two Canadian provinces.

Moyer is expected to enter the blockbuster event as a favorite – not very shocking, of course, considering he’s tearing up the dirt Late Model world this season like it’s 1989. With 16 overall feature wins through mid-July, Moyer is proving that he hasn’t lost anything off the fastball that he flashed at Cedar Lake during the early years of the USA Nationals.

One of Moyer’s victories this season came at Cedar Lake, on June 18 in the first half of the ‘Masters’ weekend doubleheader that was part of the DIRTcar Racing Summer Nationals. That outing made him realize once again how much he likes the speedway.

“The racetrack has always been fun,” said Moyer, who owns 100-lap victories this season in the Dream XVI at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway (worth $100,000) and the WoO LMS ‘Illini 100’ at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway ($20,000). “I think it’s sort of the right size for me. I just think a smaller place is a better show for the fans, and it’s been one of those places where you have to chase the racetrack around. I like that quality in a racetrack.”

Moyer towed his Victory Circle Chassis to last year’s USA Nationals but failed to qualify for the headliner after a B-Main scrape cost him too much valuable ground to make up. He felt he was more a victim of circumstance than performance, however, fueling his desire to return to the Upper Midwest in search of his first USA Nationals victory in 17 years.

“Do we have to run better last year? Yeah,” said Moyer, whose USA Nationals ledger shows only two top-five (second in 2005, fourth in 2008) and four top-10 finishes since his last triumph in the event. “But we were right there with the car last year. We had some crazy stuff happen trying to get in the race, but I think we could’ve raced OK once we got in the 100 lapper.”

Moyer is among a star-studded group of former USA Nationals winners expected to enter this year’s edition, joining Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn. (four-time victor and 2004 WoO LMS titlist), Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis. (1996 and 2009), Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa (2004 and 2007), WoO LMS regular Rick Eckert of York, Pa. (2002) and Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga. (2005).

The field will also include such talents as former WoO LMS champions Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., and Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., and a host of other national, regional and local standouts.

Three nights of action will comprise the 23rd annual USA Nationals presented by United States Steel Corporation, beginning with a full DIRTcar Racing UMP-sanctioned program on Thurs., Aug. 5, topped by a 50-lap A-Main paying $5,000 to win. Time Trials, heat races and a dash for the USA Nationals are scheduled for Fri., Aug. 6, and B-Mains and the 100-lap finale are set for Sat., Aug. 7.

Cedar Lake’s weekly NASCAR Late Models will also contest full shows on both Friday and Saturday nights.

Hot laps are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. and on-track action at 6:30 p.m. each day.

Cedar Lake officials will once again accent the racing with an exciting array of pre- and post-race entertainment, including a Saturday-morning golf scramble at the nearby Pine Meadows Golf Course; a Ladder Ball competition at 12 noon on Saturday; the popular Apple River Tubing expedition; a luncheon on Saturday afternoon that allows ‘FansFund’ contributors an opportunity to meet the drivers they helped bring to the USA Nationals; a driver autograph/meet-and-greet session prior to Saturday night’s first green flag; go-karts in the backstretch parking lot; and the ‘Party in the Pits’ under the Big White Tent following the Thursday and Friday programs.

Advanced tickets for the USA Nationals are available by calling 612-363-0479 or by visiting www.cedarlakespeedway.com. Regular camping is sold out, but additional spots have been added and can be purchased by calling the office number.

Fans who can’t make the trip to Cedar Lake can still catch all the action through a live pay-per-view broadcast of the event over the web produced by DirtonDirt.com. Log on to www.dirtondirt.com for details.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Late Caution Flag Helps Mars Hold On For Victory In ‘Great Plains 50’ At Dakota State Fair Speedway

HURON, SD - July 10, 2010 - The lone caution flag of Saturday night’s ‘Great Plains 50’ came at just the right time for Jimmy Mars.

Mars, 38, of Menomonie, Wis., was about to receive a challenge for the lead from Brady Smith and Darrell Lanigan when the yellow lights blinked on with three laps remaining, setting Mars free from lapped traffic and propelling him to victory in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series event at Dakota State Fair Speedway.

The $10,000 triumph was Mars’s second on the four-race ‘Wild West Tour,’ which concluded with Saturday night’s rain-threatened program at DSFS. He also won on Thursday night in a dominant performance at his home state’s Superior Speedway.

“You have your peaks and valleys with this deal,” said Mars, who pushed his career WoO LMS win total to three. “The beginning of the season was absolutely terrible for us, but we’ve worked hard and got our deal back in synch. We’re just kind of on top of the peak right now and we’re gonna enjoy it.”

Mars, who started second, drove his Deppe Enterprises MB Customs car by polesitter Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., for the lead on lap two and was never headed. He led by as much as a full straightaway until being run down in the closing laps by Solon Springs, Wis.’s Smith and Union, Ky.’s Lanigan.

Smith and Lanigan were directly behind Mars and ready to bid for the lead when Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa, stopped between turns one and two on lap 47, causing the only break in the fast-paced race’s action. Mars then easily glided away from the pack on the ensuing restart to reach the checkered flag first.

Lanigan, 40, overtook Smith for second on the restart but couldn’t catch Mars, leaving the 2008 WoO LMS champion with his fourth consecutive runner-up finish on the ‘Wild West Tour.’ He charged forward from the 11th starting spot to continue his profitable-but-frustrating run of second-best outings with his GottaRace.com Rocket car.

Francis also slipped by Smith on the final restart and finished third driving his crew chief Tim Logan’s Rocket car. Smith settled for fourth place after nearly guiding his Team Zero by Bloomquist mount from the 12th starting spot to the lead, and 18-year-old WoO LMS rookie Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., overtook Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., on the restart to place fifth in Dale Beitler’s Rocket car.

Mars said he didn’t know that Smith and Lanigan had run him down, but he felt he had some speed in reserve to turn them back. He proved that point when he ran away on the restart.

“I wasn’t pushing it as hard as I needed to,” Mars said of his late-race pace. “When you’re leading and trying to pass lapped cars, you can be kind of the sitting duck. I thought if I slowed down for that lapped car (on lap 47) it was gonna be tough for anybody to get a run on the outside, but I guess those guys got pretty close to me.

“I had a lot left in the car. When I was on open track I could really haul the mail, but if I would’ve heard them I could’ve stepped the wick up.

“The caution definitely helped us,” he added, “but we’ll take the win however we can get it. Whether I take it by an inch or a half a lap, it’s a win.”

Lanigan, meanwhile, was surprisingly upbeat after falling one position short of victory for the fourth night in a row. He was the first driver to make the four-tenths-mile track’s outside groove work, running high through the corners to march from eighth place to second in a 10-lap span from laps 25-35. Smith mirrored Lanigan’s moves and actually slipped by him for second on lap 46, but Lanigan regained the position on the final restart.

“For where we started we did pretty good to get where we did,” said Lanigan, who has one win this season. “I didn’t need that caution there at the end. They (Mars and Smith) had kinda got bunched up (behind the lapped cars) and I thought maybe I had something on the outside.

“Our car’s been good enough to win, but we’re falling short.”

Smith, 33, stood dejectedly in the pit area after seeing his hopes for a slump-busting victory evaporate with the late caution flag. He went from being in position to bid for the lead to losing traction off turn two on the restart and falling to fourth.

“I had just gotten to (Mars) the lap the caution came out,” said Smith, who last month dropped off the WoO LMS as a regular to regroup his self-owned team. “I was going to make my move the next lap, but I never got the chance.

“We were done after the caution. I used my stuff up really bad to get where I was, so my tires were totally bald. I just couldn’t grip the track anymore.”

Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, finished sixth after starting fourth and running in the top five for much of the distance. McCreadie’s attempt to pick up positions with an outside charge on the final restart caused him to fall to seventh at the finish. Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., finished eighth after running as high as fourth, defending WoO LMS champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., placed a quiet ninth and fifth-starter Rick Eckert of York, Pa., faded to 10th.

Richards ended the ‘Wild West Tour’ leading the WoO LMS points standings by 18 points over McCreadie and 46 over Lanigan.

Richards earned his third fast-time award of 2010 with a lap of 18.621 seconds during Ohlins Shocks Time Trials.

Heat winners were McCreadie, Birkhofer, Eckert and Francis. The B-Mains were captured by Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., and Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y.

The WoO LMS is idle until kicking off the five-race Ohio-Pennsylvania Speedweek on Tues., July 27, at Central PA Speedway in Clearfield, Pa.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Results of WoO Late Model Series ‘Great Plains 50’ (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (2) Jimmy Mars/50 $10,000
2. (11) Darrell Lanigan/50 $5,600
3. (1) Steve Francis/50 $3,675
4. (12) Brady Smith/50 $2,500
5. (7) Austin Hubbard/50 $2,750
6. (4) Brian Birkhofer/50 $1,700
7. (3) Tim McCreadie/50 $2,000
8. (10) Shane Clanton/50 $1,800
9. (6) Josh Richards/50 $1,850
10. (5) Rick Eckert/50 $1,600
11. (9) Pat Doar/50 $1,550
12. (13) Chub Frank/50 $1,500
13. (17) Clint Smith/50 $1,500
14. (18) Tim Fuller/50 $1,400
15. (8) Russell King/48 $1,350
16. (24) Jill George/47 $800
17. (21) Larry Wight/47 $770
18. (16) Keith Foss/21 $750
19. (15) Eric Mass/19 $730
20. (22) Dustin Hapka/15 $700
21. (14) Brad Seng/12 $700
22. (19) Brian Diede/9 $700
23. (20) Lance Mathees/7 $700
24. (23) Brent Robinson/1 $1,225

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

Yellow Flags: 1 (Lap 47)
Lap Leaders: Francis (1); Mars (2-50)
Provisional Starters: Robinson, George
Rookie of the Race: Hubbard ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Doar ($500)

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 18.621
2. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 18.690
3. 90-Lance Mathees/Winona, MN 18.723
4. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 18.757
5. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 18.882
6. 12s-Brad Seng/Grand Forks, ND 18.933
7. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 18.933
8. 12H-Jason Hughes/Westfield, OK 18.936
9. 11-Pat Doar/New Richmond, WI 18.959
10. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 19.046
11. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 19.052
12. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 19.064
13. 3-Brent Robinson/Smithfield, VA 19.119
14. 15b-Brian Birkhofer/Muscatine, IA 19.125
15. 44M-Eric Mass/Rapid City, SD 19.313
16. 28-Jimmy Mars/Menomonie, WI 19.314
17. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 19.340
18. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 19.419
19. 18-Dustin Hapka/Grand Forks, ND 19.432
20. 95-Keith Foss/Winona, MN 19.518
21. 1QT-Brian Diede/Huron, SD 19.582
22. 11c-Curt Gelling/Aberdeen, SD 19.582
23. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 19.698
24. 2-Brady Smith/Solon Springs, WI 19.782
25. 7-Chad Chenoweth/Huron, SD 19.869
26. 99L-Larry Wight/Baldwinsville, NY 19.907
27. 17J-John Winge/Ringgold, GA 19.986
28. 11M-Paul Mueller/Bismarck, ND 20.084
29. 57-Chad Williamson/Watertown, SD 20.093
30. 52x-David McDonald/Huron, SD 20.130
31. 20F-Jason Fritzsche/Huron, SD 20.166
32. 82-John Bey/Sturgis, SD 20.325
33. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 20.462
34. 9-Kent Arment/Aberdeen, SD 20.568

Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): McCreadie, Richards, Doar, Frank, Robinson, Diede, Chenoweth, Williamson, George

Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Birkhofer, King, Clanton, Seng, C. Smith, Wight, McDonald, Gelling, Arment

Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Eckert, Hubbard, Lanigan, Mass, Mathees, Hapka, Fritzsche, Winge

Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Francis, Mars, B. Smith, Foss, Fuller, Hughes, Bey, Mueller

B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): C. Smith, Diede, Wight, Gelling, McDonald, Arment, George, Williamson, Chenoweth (DNS) Robinson

B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Fuller, Mathees, Hapka, Hughes, Mueller, Winge, Bey, Fritzsche

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:

Arizona Sports Shirts ($50 product certificate): Clint Smith/Tim Fuller
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Pat Doar
Eibach Springs (one free spring): Jill George/Dustin Hapka
MSD Ignition ($75 cash award): Steve Francis
MSD Ignition ($25 cash award): Brent Robinson
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash award to fastest qualifier w/decal): Josh Richards
Pink Carburetors ($100 product certificate): Austin Hubbard
Pink Carburetors ($50 product certificate): Brad Seng
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate): Rick Eckert
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate): Clint Smith
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate): Tim Fuller
R2C Performance ($100 certificate): Steve Francis
STP ($50 cash award): Clint Smith
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (two five-gallon plastic fuel jugs to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main if decal is displayed): Curt Gelling
Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal):

2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of July 10 – 28 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):

1. Josh Richards 3732
2. Tim McCreadie 3714 (-18)
3. Darrell Lanigan 3686 (-46)
4. Steve Francis 3616 (-116)
5. Austin Hubbard 3538 (-194)
6. Shane Clanton 3520 (-212)
7. Rick Eckert 3474 (-258)
8. Tim Fuller 3468 (-264)
9. Chub Frank 3402 (-330)
10. Clint Smith 3316 (-416)
11. Russell King 3138 (-594)
12. Brent Robinson 2796 (-936)
13. Brady Smith 2786 (-946)
14. Jill George 2126 (-1606)
15. Brian Birkhofer 1566 (-2166)

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Hubbard Declared Winner After Rain Brings Early End To ‘Wild West Tour’ A-Main At River Cities Speedway

GRAND FORKS, ND - July 9, 2010 - Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., was declared the winner of Friday night’s World of Outlaws Late Model Series A-Main at River Cities Speedway after rain forced officials to call the event complete short of its scheduled 50-lap distance.

The 18-year-old rookie sensation didn’t perform his trademark post-race Ricky Bobby celebratory run in front of the crowd, however, because the race was checkered with the field of cars sitting in the pit area and a Victory Lane ceremony was not conducted due to the wet conditions. He had to be content receiving a trophy for the second WoO LMS win of his young career while dressed in street clothes near his Beitler Motorsports team’s hauler.

“I like to celebrate (after a win) with all the fans out on the homestretch, but I couldn’t do that tonight,” said Hubbard, who stripped down to his fireproof long underwear after capturing his first WoO LMS A-Main on March 20 at Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Ga. “Maybe we can come back and show ‘em some skin next year.”

Hubbard, who started from the pole position in Dale Beitler’s Reliable Painting Rocket car, had led from the initial green flag when intensifying rain slickened the quarter-mile oval’s surface enough to prevent the race from restarting on lap 21. The field was sent to the pit area to wait out the weather, but nearly an hour of steady rain left the track too soaked for officials to dry it in time to beat the impending curfew.

While WoO LMS rules stipulate that an A-Main must reach the halfway point to be considered an official race, tour director Tim Christman made the decision to declare the event complete at 21 laps because the series can’t return to the North Dakota facility this season due to travel logistics. He also announced that the race would offer only 60 show-up points to all drivers regardless of their finish.

In a related agreement reached between WoO LMS and River Cities officials, all drivers who competed in the shortened A-Main were paid 75 percent of the regular posted purse for each finishing position.

“It’s unfortunate that we weren’t able to run the A-Main to its scheduled conclusion because of the weather,” said Christman. “The feature was definitely building toward another great finish at River Cities for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, but all we can do now is look forward to returning next year.”

Hubbard was chased throughout the race’s 21 laps by 2008 WoO LMS champion Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., who started from the outside pole. Lanigan, 40, had yet to offer Hubbard a serious challenge when the event reached its early end, leaving him with a runner-up finish for the third time in as many ‘Wild West Tour’ starts.

Defending Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., was the biggest mover in the event, advancing from the 10th starting spot to finish third. He passed Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., for third on a lap-14 restart and was threatening Lanigan when the race was slowed for the final time on lap 21 for the spinning car driven by Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa, who also spun on lap 14 to bring out a caution flag.

McCreadie settled for a fourth-place finish after starting third and Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., who won the previous night at Superior (Wis.) Speedway, gained one position to finish fifth.

Hubbard happily accepted the abbreviated victory, relating that he felt confident that he would have been able to stay at the front of the pack for the full 50 laps.

“I think if that rain never came we could’ve held ‘em off,” said Hubbard, who earned $8,250 for his night’s work. “The car was great all night. We had a good qualifying run (eighth-fastest time), the last-lap pass (of Mars) to win the heat helped set us up to pull the number one pill (for the A-Mains), and we were real fast in the feature. The car was a little tight in (the corners), but as soon as I could get the right-rear hooked on the (outside) lip it would just go right around there.

“It’s always nice to get the whole 50 in, but I’ll take it either way. There’s nothing like winning, and winning two races in our rookie season – being the first rookie to win two races – is more than I could ask for.”

The A-Main was marred by a wild crash on lap 12 involving Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, whose car slipped over the turn-two berm and rolled once as he battle for fifth place. His machine landed on its wheels and he quickly climbed out uninjured.

Finishing in positions 6-10 were Rick Eckert of York, Pa., Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., and Pat Doar of New Richmond, Wis., who for the second straight night earned the $500 ‘Bonus Bucks’ cash for being the highest-finishing driver who hasn’t won a tour A-Main and wasn’t ranked among the top 12 in the points standings.

Lanigan was quickest in the 37-car Ohlins Shocks Time Trials session, rounding the track in 11.842 seconds. It was his second fast-time honor of 2010.

Heat winners were Lanigan, McCreadie, Francis and Hubbard. The B-Mains were captured by Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va., and Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio.

The WoO LMS ‘Wild West Tour’ concludes on Saturday night (July10) with the ‘Great Plains 50’ at Dakota State Fair Speedway in Huron, S.D. A $10,000 top prize will be on the line in the third alltime series event held at the four-tenths-mile oval promoted by Orville Chenoweth.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Results of WoO Late Model Series at River Cities Speedway (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (1) Austin Hubbard/21 $8,250
2. (2) Darrell Lanigan/21 $4,350
3. (10) Josh Richards/21 $2,850
4. (3) Tim McCreadie/21 $2,475
5. (6) Jimmy Mars/21 $1,500
6. (4) Rick Eckert/21 $1,775
7. (9) Clint Smith/21 $1,550
8. (8) Shane Clanton/21 $1,475
9. (7) Steve Francis/21 $1,500
10. (16) Pat Doar/21 $1,325
11. (11) Chub Frank/21 $1,287
12. (17) Brent Robinson/21 $1,250
13. (12) Brady Smith/21 $712
14. (14) Brad Seng/21 $675
15. (15) Zach Johnson/21 $637
16. (13) Tim Fuller/21 $1,100
17. (18) Russell King/21 $1,077
18. (21) Eric Mass/20 $562
19. (23) Jill George/19 $547
20. (19) Jason Hughes/14 $525
21. (5) Brian Birkhofer/12 $525
22. (24) Larry Wight/10 $525
23. (20) Keith Foss/6 $525
24. (25) Mike Balcaen/6 $525
25. (22) Joey Pederson/1 $525

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

Time of Race: 13 Mins., 10.789 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 1.496 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 3 (Laps 11, 14, 21)
Red Flags: 1 (Lap 14)
Lap Leaders: Hubbard (1-21)
Provisional Starters: George, Wight (WoO); Balcaen (track)
Rookie of the Race: Hubbard ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Doar ($500)

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 11.842
2. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 11.854
3. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 11.938
4. 28-Jimmy Mars/Menomonie, WI 12.017
5. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 12.061
6. 15b-Brian Birkhofer/Muscatine, IA 12.077
7. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 12.083
8. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 12.107
9. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 12.148
10. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 12.190
11. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 12.190
12. 2-Brady Smith/Solon Springs, WI 12.193
13. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 12.198
14. 12s-Brad Seng/Grand Forks, ND 12.209
15. 73-Zach Johnson/Kensington, MN 12.224
16. 11-Pat Doar/New Richmond, WI 12.282
17. 3-Brent Robinson/Smithfield, VA 12.283
18. 12H-Jason Hughes/Westfield, OK 12.296
19. 95-Keith Foss/Winona, MN 12.415
20. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 12.436
21. 10-Mike Balcaen/Winnipeg, MAN 12.474
22. T1-Tommy Corcoran/E. Grand Forks, MN 12.735
23. 17J-John Winge/Ringgold, GA 12.756
24. 18-Dustin Hapka/Grand Forks, ND 12.867
25. 8-Gregg Hill/Eveleth, MN 12.871
26. 99E-Doyle Erickson/Baglen, MN 12.882
27. 7p-Joey Pederson/E. Grand Forks, MN 12.946
28. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 12.956
29. 44M-Eric Mass/Rapid City, SD 12.958
30. 2W-Darryn Waldo/Billings, MT 13.089
31. 71-Todd Truedson/Kennedy, MN 13.125
32. 99L-Larry Wight/Baldwinsville, NY 13.129
33. 13-Bryan LePier/Bemidji, MN 13.381
34. 14-Bruce Hart/Larimore, ND 13.769
35. 96-Justin Osowski/Kennedy, MN 13.924
36. 9-Steve Anderson/Grand Forks, ND 12.928 (DQ)
37. F9-Brandon Fuller/Grand Forks, ND 13.150 (DQ)

Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Lanigan, Eckert, C. Smith, T. Fuller, Robinson, Mass, Hill, B. Fuller, LePier

Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): McCreadie, Birkhofer, Richards, Seng, Hughes, Corcoran, Erickson, Waldo, Hart

Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Francis, Clanton, Frank, Johnson, Foss, Pederson, Truedson, Winge, Osowski

Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Hubbard, Mars, B. Smith, Doar, King, Wight, Hapka, Anderson, George

B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Robinson, Hughes, Mass, Balcaen, Corcoran, Hill, Waldo, Erickson, B. Fuller, LePier, Hart

B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): King, Foss, Pederson, Hapka, Winge, Anderson, George, Osowski, Truedson, Wight

2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of July 9 – 27 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):

1. Josh Richards 3600
2. Tim McCreadie 3578 (-22)
3. Darrell Lanigan 3540 (-60)
4. Steve Francis 3472 (-128)
5. Austin Hubbard 3398 (-202)
6. Shane Clanton 3386 (-214)
7. Tim Fuller 3346 (-254)
8. Rick Eckert 3344 (-256)
9. Chub Frank 3276 (-324)
10. Clint Smith 3192 (-408)
11. Russell King 3018 (-582)
12. Brent Robinson 2694 (-906)
13. Brady Smith 2644 (-956)
14. Jill George 2008 (-1592)
15. Brian Birkhofer 1428 (-2172)

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Home State Hero: Mars Runs Away With World of Outlaws Late Model Series Debut At Superior Speedway

SUPERIOR, WI - July 8, 2010 - Jimmy Mars left no doubt on Thursday night that he has Superior Speedway figured out.

Continuing his recent mastery of special events at the three-eighths-mile oval in his home state, Mars rocketed from the fourth starting spot to the lead on the opening lap and never looked back en route to a convincing victory in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Mid-States Hydraulics 50.’

Mars, 38, of Menomonie, Wis., earned $10,100 for his second career win on the WoO LMS, which stopped at Superior for the first time and attracted a standing-room-only crowd to the fairgrounds track. His previous triumph on the national tour came in the 2009 Firecracker 100 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa.

After winning at least one World Dirt Racing League (WDRL) series event at Superior in each of the last four years, Mars surprised no one with a performance that saw him steer his Deppe Enterprises MB Customs car around the red-clay surface virtually unchallenged from start-to-finish.

“Experience here doesn’t hurt by any means,” said Mars, who lives just under 150 miles south of the track. “These (WoO LMS) guys travel all over the country and are so good, I thought, ‘If I can have any advantage on them at all at a track, this might be one where I did.’

“We kind of had an idea of what to do. I said, ‘Let’s just go back and get on the hard tires and get back to what we’ve done here in the past.’ Basically our setup for the feature was identical to what we’ve had success with here.”

Mars put his Superior Speedway knowledge to work with his tire choice, picking harder compound Hoosier rubber that propelled him to a runaway win. He spent most of the distance with a commanding straightaway edge over polesitter Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., who kept his Rocket car solidly in second place for the entire 50-lap A-Main and finished 2.793 seconds behind Mars.

Defending WoO LMS champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who started from the outside pole, padded his tour points lead with a quiet third-place finish in his father Mark’s Rocket house car. Fifth-starter Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis. – a former regular at Superior who lives about 30 miles from the facility – finished fourth in his Team Zero by Bloomquist mount after outdueling Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, who settled for fifth in his MB Customs machine after starting seventh.

Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., finished sixth, salvaging a decent run on a night that he struggled with his setup. He lost only six points to Richards, sending him to the next ‘Wild West Tour’ event with a manageable 22-point deficit in the standings.

Mars didn’t exactly snooker his competition, but he did use his outsider status as a reason to roll the dice a bit with his tire-compound selection.

“I’m not running for points so I got a little bit of an advantage,” said Mars. “I could gamble a little bit more. We can ‘go big or go home’ a little bit, where those guys running for points kinda have to be on the same tires because they’re racing each other for the championship.

“Before the race Darrell (Lanigan) and I were just joking about my tire choice. I said, ‘Hey, if we suck, the beer’s still cold after the race.’ The hard tires worked, though, so I guess we get to drink in celebration tonight instead of in sorrow.”

Mars knew he had made the right decision even before taking the initial green flag.

“I fired up (the car) before the start and it felt real good on the straightaway traction,” said Mars. “They threw the green and I was like, ‘We got a pretty good piece here,’ but then we ran down into turn one and I said, ‘Whoa.’ The right-rear wasn’t quite hot enough yet, so I slid up up the track a little bit. Then it instantly got warmed up and I was able to run down into three and four and pass Darrell there for the lead.”

That opening-lap move by Mars was, for all intents and purposes, the story of the race. No driver understood that more than the 40-year-old Lanigan, who used a more conservative “medium” tire-compound combination and simply couldn’t keep pace with Mars.

“I knew he had on harder tires than us, so when he took off like that (at the start) I said, ‘Oh man, this is gonna get ugly,’” said Lanigan, who registered his second runner-up finish in as many nights after falling short of victory by a nose to McCreadie in Wednesday night’s Gopher 50 at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn. “If he was that good at the start, I knew it was gonna be tough to beat him. All we could do was run second again.”

Finishing in positions 7-10 were Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., who lost sixth to McCreadie on lap 24; Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., who climbed forward from the 17th starting spot; Pat Doar of New Richmond, Wis., who earned the $500 ‘Bonus Bucks’ cash for being the highest-finishing driver who hasn’t won a WoO LMS A-Main and isn’t ranked among the top 12 in the tour points standings; and Rick Eckert of York, Pa., who rallied after drawing a caution flag on lap 16 and pitting to bolt two harder tires on his car.

In a race slowed by just two caution flags on lap 16, the most significant incident was the second yellow that circuit. Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., went spinning in turn four while battling for sixth with rookie Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del.; while he twirled 360 degrees and continued without stopping, a caution was displayed and Francis pitted moments later to change a flat left-rear tire.

Francis, who went on to finish one lap down in 12th place, began his night by recording the fastest lap in Ohlins Shocks Time Trials for the second straight event. He turned a circuit of 17.005 seconds to pace the 28-car qualifying session.

Heat winners were Lanigan, Richards and Hubbard, and Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., captured the B-Main.

WoO LMS regular Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., once again used a provisional starting spot to gain entry to the A-Main as he continues recovering from the emergency appendectomy he underwent on Monday afternoon. But this time he felt strong enough to at least attempt to race, running 15 laps before deciding to pull in.

The WoO LMS continues the ‘Wild West Tour’ on Friday (July 9) at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D., and Saturday (July 10) at Dakota State Fair Speedway in Huron, S.D.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Results of WoO Late Model Series ‘Mid-States Hydraulics 50’ (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (4) Jimmy Mars/50 $10,100
2. (1) Darrell Lanigan/50 $5,600
3. (2) Josh Richards/50 $3,675
4. (5) Brady Smith/50 $2,500
5. (7) Brian Birkhofer/50 $2,000
6. (9) Tim McCreadie/50 $2,300
7. (6) Chub Frank/50 $1,900
8. (17) Shane Clanton/50 $1,800
9. (12) Pat Doar/50 $1,700
10. (16) Rick Eckert/50 $1,600
11. (3) Austin Hubbard/49 $1,800
12. (10) Steve Francis/49 $1,650
13. (13) Jason Hughes/49 $950
14. (19) Clint Smith/49 $1,450
15. (11) Russell King/49 $1,350
16. (8) Brent Robinson/49 $1,300
17. (15) Keith Foss/49 $770
18. (18) Eric Mass/49 $750
19. (14) Zach Johnson/48 $730
20. (21) Larry Wight/48 $700
21. (24) Jill George/47 $700
22. (20) Aaron Lillo/32 $700
23. (22) Adam Hensel/31 $725
24. (23) Tim Fuller/15 $1,200

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

Time of Race: 23 Mins., 31.959 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 2.793 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 2 (Laps 16, 16)
Lap Leaders: Mars (1-50)
Provisional Starters: Fuller, George
Rookie of the Race: Hubbard ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Doar ($500)

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 17.005
2. 3-Brent Robinson/Smithfield, VA 17.079
3. 2-Brady Smith/Solon Springs, WI 17.091
4. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 17.124
5. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 17.138
6. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 17.174
7. 28-Jimmy Mars/Menomonie, WI 17.237
8. 73-Zach Johnson/Kensington, MN 17.287
9. 44M-Eric Mass/Rapid City, SD 17.370
10. 15b-Brian Birkhofer/Muscatine, IA 17.418
11. 8-Gregg Hill/Eveleth, MN 17.456
12. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 17.467
13. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 17.566
14. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 17.646
15. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 17.659
16. 99L-Larry Wight/Baldwinsville, NY 17.773
17. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 17.799
18. 95-Keith Foss/Winona, MN 17.903
19. 44H-Adam Hensel/Barron, WI 17.932
20. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 17.943
21. 18-Chris Olson/Hibbing, MN 17.954
22. 12-Jason Hughes/Westfield, OK 17.963
23. 17J-John Winge/Ringgold, GA 17.972
24. 11-Pat Doar/New Richmond, WI 18.035
25. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 18.067
26. 24A-Aaron Lillo/Duluth, MN 18.221
27. 2w-Darryn Waldo/Billings, MT 18.301
28. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY N/T

Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Lanigan, Mars, Birkhofer, Francis, Hughes, Eckert, C. Smith, Wight, Hensel

Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Richards, Frank, Robinson, King, Johnson, Clanton, Lillo, Hill, Winge

Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Hubbard, B. Smith, McCreadie, Doar, Foss, Mass, George, Olson, Waldo

B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 4 Transfer): C. Smith, Lillo, Wight, Hensel, George, Hill, Fuller, Waldo, Winge, Olson

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:

Arizona Sports Shirts ($50 product certificate): Jill George
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Pat Doar
Eibach Springs (one free spring): Larry Wight
MSD Ignition ($75 cash award): Josh Richards
MSD Ignition ($25 cash award): Adam Hensel
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash award to fastest qualifier w/decal): Steve Francis
Pink Carburetors ($100 product certificate): Pat Doar
Pink Carburetors ($50 product certificate): Adam Hensel
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate): Shane Clanton
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate): Pat Doar
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate): Zach Johnson
R2C Performance ($100 cash): Jimmy Mars
STP ($50 cash award): Clint Smith
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (two five-gallon plastic fuel jugs to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main if decal is displayed): None
Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Josh Richards

2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of July 8 – 26 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):

1. Josh Richards 3540
2. Tim McCreadie 3518 (-22)
3. Darrell Lanigan 3480 (-60)
4. Steve Francis 3412 (-128)
5. Austin Hubbard 3338 (-202)
6. Shane Clanton 3326 (-214)
7. Tim Fuller 3286 (-254)
8. Rick Eckert 3284 (-256)
9. Chub Frank 3216 (-324)
10. Clint Smith 3132 (-408)
11. Russell King 2958 (-582)
12. Brent Robinson 2634 (-906)
13. Brady Smith 2584 (-956)
14. Jill George 1948 (-1592)
15. Brian Birkhofer 1368 (-2172)

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.
 

‘Great Plains 50’ On Saturday (July 10) At Dakota State Fair Speedway Brings McCreadie Back To Site Of His Historic Victory

HURON, SD - July 8, 2010 - Delightful memories will flood Tim McCreadie’s mind when he pulls through the pit gate of Dakota State Fair Speedway on Saturday night (July 10) for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Great Plains 50.’

The last time the native of Watertown, N.Y., visited the four-tenths-mile oval, after all, he made history with the renowned national tour.

McCreadie, 36, was an up-and-coming, second-year WoO LMS follower when he put on a breathtaking show on June 5, 2005, at DSFS, becoming the first – and still only – driver to win a series A-Main from the last starting spot. It was a performance for the ages by the former DIRTcar big-block Modified regular who would go on to win the WoO LMS championship in 2006.

“That was probably our most exciting win ever in a Late Model,” said McCreadie, who has become of dirt Late Model racing’s most popular drivers. “It’s tough to beat the feeling you get when you win a race from last – especially when you do it against the best guys in the country. It was definitely one of those races you remember for a long time.”

With McCreadie back as a WoO LMS traveler this season for the first time since his title-winning ’06 campaign, he’s anxious for the opportunity to return to his personal hallowed ground in South Dakota. He didn’t compete in last year’s tour event at DSFS, which was won by defending WoO LMS champ Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., and came just a couple weeks after McCreadie made his comeback from a serious back injury that had sidelined him for five months.

McCreadie can’t believe it’s been five years since his spectacular evening at DSFS, which was set up by his bad luck midway through the program. He set fast time and won a heat race to stamp him as the racer to watch, but a blown engine during the dash – an event no longer used to determine starting positions in WoO LMS A-Mains – forced him to park his fleet machine and hastily pull out a backup. Switching cars, of course, meant he had to start last in the 50-lap headliner.

“We didn’t get any (practice) laps on the car at all,” recalled McCreadie, the son of DIRTcar big-block Modified legend ‘Barefoot’ Bob McCreadie. “We just unloaded the car, took a guess on setup and tires, and went out there. We were just hoping to salvage the night, but I think I passed like seven or eight cars in the first 10 laps and I thought, Well, we’re gonna be alright.”

But did McCreadie actually think he could pull off a worst-to-first run? Not really – until his fortunes turned around for the better when a caution flag flew with just three laps remaining.

“Eventually I got to third and the yellow came out, and I said, ‘We might have a shot at this,’” said McCreadie. “We’d been running (leader Darrell) Lanigan and (second-place Rick) Eckert down, so during that caution I was just hoping that they didn’t know there was an outside (groove).

“The track was in really good shape. It rained for like three days straight (the event was, in fact, postponed one day by the wet weather) so the track was really wet and had a big cushion, and that’s where I was running. Nobody else was really running up there – and on the (final) restart those guys stayed on the bottom instead of moving up, so I went to the top and passed ‘em. We just got lucky.”

The victory effectively thrust McCreadie into the national dirt Late Model conversation. It was just his second WoO LMS win of the season and his career, but he went on to lead the tour with eight triumphs in 2005 and finished a head-turning third in the points standings. The 2004 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year then closed the deal the following season by winning the points crown.

“A lot of people in dirt Late Model racing didn’t even know who we were yet – especially people in South Dakota – when we won that race (in 2005),” said McCreadie. “That made it nice to win a race like that.”

McCreadie hopes he won’t need to go to such extremes to win again at DSFS this Saturday night. Considering the momentum he’s carrying into the finale of the four-race ‘Wild West Tour,’ he just might take a much smoother route to a $10,000 victory.

The driver known as ‘T-Mac’ is one of the hottest drivers on the WoO LMS, with three wins in his last five starts after kicking off the ‘Wild West Tour’ on Wednesday night with a triumph in the NAPA Auto Parts ‘Gopher 50’ at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn. He left Deer Creek ranked second in the points standings – just 16 points behind leader Richards – and on an emotional high after becoming a father for the first time with the July 5 birth of his son Gavin Chase.

McCreadie will face tough competition at DSFS from his WoO LMS rivals, including his fellow former tour champions Richards (DSFS Outlaw finishes of eighth in ’05, first in ’09), Union, Ky.’s Lanigan (second, seventh) and Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky. (seventh, second).

Other WoO LMS regulars (and their previous finishes at DSFS) include York, Pa.’s Eckert (third, fourth), Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga. (fourth, fifth), Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa. (13th, sixth), Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y. (third in ’09), Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga. (eighth in ’09), Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio (10th in ’09), Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va. (18th in ’09) and Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa, who finished 20th in ’09 when she became the first female driver to qualify for a WoO LMS A-Main through a heat race. Rookie sensation Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., is this year’s only Outlaw traveler who will make his first career start at DSFS on Saturday night.

Saturday night’s program, which is sponsored by KOKK Radio and Sturdevent’s Auto Parts, will also include racing for the WISSOTA Super Stocks and Midwest Mods.

Pit gates are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. and the grandstands will be unlocked at 6 p.m. Hot laps are scheduled for 6:45 p.m. with WoO LMS time trials to immediately follow.

Adult general admission is $25 on race day, with juniors (youngsters 50 inches in height to 16 years of age) charged $12 and kids under 50 inches admitted free.

A raindate of Sun., July 11, has been established for the event.

Additional information is available at www.dakotapromotions.com or by calling 605-352-4848.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.
 

What A Dad: McCreadie Celebrates Birth Of Son With Thrilling Victory Over Lanigan In NAPA ‘Gopher 50’ At Deer Creek Speedway

SPRING VALLEY, MN - July 7, 2010 - Tim McCreadie celebrated the arrival of his first child the best way possible – with a thrilling victory.

Just two days after McCreadie’s girlfriend Karen gave birth to his son Gavin Chase, the 36-year-old star from Watertown, N.Y., flew halfway across the country and held off a furious late-race challenge from Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., to win Wednesday night’s 31st annual NAPA Auto Parts ‘Gopher 50’ at Deer Creek Speedway.

The triumph – worth $11,875, including a $1,000 bonus from NAPA – was McCreadie’s fourth of the 2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series and third in the last five tour events.

“It couldn’t have been a better week,” pronounced a beaming McCreadie, whose 7-pound, 7-ounce baby boy was born at 2:39 a.m. on July 5. “I came home (from the WoO LMS holiday-weekend doubleheader in Tennessee) in time to make it for my son’s delivery. That was an experience in itself, but to top it off with a win in my first race since he was born – man, it’s too cool.”

McCreadie roared off the outside pole to lead every lap of the A-Main in his Sweeteners Plus Rocket car, but he barely beat Lanigan to the finish line in a showdown of former World of Outlaws Late Model Series champions. Lanigan erased McCreadie’s full straightaway advantage during the 30-lap stretch of green-flag racing that closed the event but couldn’t complete a pass in the final frenetic circuits, falling short by a scant 0.047 of a second behind the wheel of his GottaRace.com Rocket.

Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., who started 11th, steered his MB Customs mount into third place on lap 34 and stayed there to the finish, running just a few car lengths behind Lanigan down the stretch. Polesitter Rick Eckert of York, Pa., settled for fourth place with a Team Zero by Bloomquist car that he said became “too tight,” and fourth-starter Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., completed the top five in the RSD Enterprises Rocket after climbing as high as second early in the event.

In a race that was slowed by seven cautions – all coming during the first 20 laps – McCreadie appeared headed toward a convincing victory. He held a commanding lead shortly after the halfway point was passed.

But Lanigan, who started third but fell to fifth during the race’s early stages, fought back to reach second place with a pass of Eckert on lap 32. He chased down McCreadie without the benefit of a caution flag and spent the last three circuits bidding for the lead all around the three-eighths-mile oval.

Lanigan clearly had the faster car at the end of the event. McCreadie, however, was savvy enough to turn back the challenge.

“I know we pulled away a little over the mid-stretch, but from like lap 30 on I didn’t feel that good,” said McCreadie. “I don’t know if we overheated the right-rear tire, but I just felt like I was hanging in the center of the corners and fading.

“I saw (Lanigan) get under me with a few laps to go, but I couldn’t get down there right to run as low as he was. At that point I’d run 45 some odd laps up on the cushion, so what do you do? You can’t just try to do something different.”

McCreadie did direct his car to the inside groove rounding turns three and four on the final lap – a strategy that likely paid off.

“I just figured that on the last lap I better go to where he is (on the bottom) because if I stayed way wide getting into three I probably would’ve gotten slid,” said McCreadie, who registered his 16th career win on the WoO LMS. “It was the last lap, you know, and it’s 10-grand on the line, so I knew that if I went (into three) where I had been the last three laps, (Lanigan) would’ve done what he had to do and cleared me. He almost had me cleared with one (lap) to go, but he gave me just enough room to get by.”

McCreadie lauded Lanigan’s gentlemanly manner during the race-deciding battle: “He raced me good through three and four. He could’ve slid me twice, and he didn’t. That’s just a professional way to race. I caught him before he left (Victory Lane) and told him I appreciated the way he raced me and I’ll race him the same way in the future. I’ll try to give him every professional courtesy I can.”

Lanigan, a two-time Gopher 50 winner, wasn’t interested in talking about the respect he demonstrated toward McCreadie. He actually wasn’t much interested in talking about the race at all.

Sitting dejectedly in the window of his car just beyond McCreadie’s post-race celebration, Lanigan was asked to describe the final laps. He said only that they were “close,” and when asked whether he would have done anything different if he could re-run the race, he tersely responded, “Nope.”

“We just can’t get a win,” said Lanigan, who has fallen short several times since his lone WoO LMS victory this season, on March 19 at Ocala (Fla.) Speedway. “We were coming, but (McCreadie) moved to the bottom to block me. That’s what you’re supposed to do when you’re leading the race. I’d would’ve done the same thing.”

Finishing in positions 6-10 was 17th-starter Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa; Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., who ran in the top five for the race’s first 17 laps; Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa.; rookie Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., who pitted on lap seven after being collected when Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., spun into the inside berm in turn four; and defending WoO LMS champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who started fifth but struggled throughout the race.

Richards saw his points lead shrink to 16 points over McCreadie, who shaved 20 markers off the deficit he faced entering the opening event of the four-race ‘Wild West Tour.’

Chad Simpson of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, finished 12th, earning himself the $500 WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ cash for being the highest-finishing driver who has never won a tour A-Main and wasn’t ranked among the top 12 in the points standings.

A field of 38 cars was signed in for the Gopher 50, which was part of the WoO LMS for the sixth consecutive year. A big crowd turned out despite a threat of thunderstorms.

Francis was the fastest qualifier during the Ohlins Shocks Time Trials with a lap of 14.949 seconds. It was his first fast-time honor of the 2010 season.

Heat winners were Francis, Richards, McCreadie and Eckert, each of whom earned $100 bonuses from NAPA for their efforts. The B-Mains were captured by Birkhofer and Andrew McKay of Edina, Minn.

WoO LMS regular Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., entered the evening’s action just two days after undergoing an emergency appendectomy, but he was too sore to race competitively. He gained entry to the A-Main with a provisional spot but only circled the track during the pace laps to collect last-place points.

The WoO LMS ‘Wild West Tour’ continues on Thursday night (July 8) at Superior (Wis.) Speedway before heading to River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D., on Fri., July 9, and Dakota State Fair Speedway in Huron, S.D., on Sat., July 10.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Results of WoO Late Model Series NAPA Auto Parts ‘Gopher 50’ (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (2) Tim McCreadie/50 $11,875
2. (3) Darrell Lanigan/50 $5,600
3. (11) Jimmy Mars/50 $3,000
4. (1) Rick Eckert/50 $3,100
5. (4) Shane Clanton/50 $2,500
6. (17) Brian Birkhofer/50 $1,700
7. (6) Steve Francis/50 $2,150
8. (7) Chub Frank/50 $1,800
9. (13) Austin Hubbard/50 $1,950
10. (5) Josh Richards/50 $1,800
11. (12) Russell King/50 $1,550
12. (19) Chad Simpson/50 $1,500
13. (24) Clint Smith/50 $1,450
14. (22) Jason Hughes/50 $900
15. (18) Andrew McKay/49 $850
16. (15) Pat Doar/49 $850
17. (8) Brent Robinson/49 $1,270
18. (21) Tyler Breuning/49 $750
19. (20) Zach Johnson/49 $730
20. (16) Adam Hensel/30 $700
21. (25) Joe Ludemann/24 $700
22. (10) Keith Foss/8 $700
23. (9) Brady Smith/6 $700
24. (14) Jason Rauen/2 $700
25. (23) Tim Fuller/0 $1,200

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

Time of Race: 31 Mins., 21.209 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 0.047 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 7 (Laps 1, 3, 6, 7, 9, 12, 20)
Lap Leaders: McCreadie (1-50)
Provisional Starters: Fuller. C. Smith
Rookie of the Race: Hubbard ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Simpson ($500)

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 14.949
2. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 14.950
3. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 14.980
4. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 14.991
5. 3-Brent Robinson/Smithfield, VA 15.028
6. 95-Keith Foss/Winona, MN 15.037
7. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 15.069
8. 44H-Adam Hensel/Barron, WI 15.070
9. 15b-Brian Birkhofer/Muscatine, IA 15.100
10. 2W-Darryn Waldo/Billings, MT 15.220
11. 28-Jimmy Mars/Menomonie, WI 15.221
12. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 15.244
13. 2-Brady Smith/Solon Springs, WI 15.249
14. 98-Jason Rauen/Farley, IA 15.274
15. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 15.326
16. 17J-John Winge/Rinngold, GA 15.381
17. 25s-Chad Simpson/Mt. Vernon, IA 15.456
18. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 15.465
19. 11-Pat Doar/New Richmond, WI 15.474
20. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 15.578
21. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 15.604
22. 16-Tyler Breuning/Decorah, IA 15.608
23. 73-Zach Johnson/Kensington, MN 15.671
24. 18-Dustin Hapka/Grand Forks, ND 15.706
25. 33-Joe Ludemann/Grand Meadow, MN 15.774
26. 99L-Larry Wight/Baldwinsville, NY 15.785
27. 44M-Eric Mass/Rapid City, SD 15.815
28. 6-Nick Herrick/Kenyon, MN 15.926
29. 77-Jordan Yaggy/Rochester, MN 15.940
30. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 15.983
31. 71-Andrew McKay/Edina, MN 16.028
32. 40-Nick Kramer/Pine Island, MN 16.417
33. 7-Dennis Hillson/Blooming Prairie, MN 16.577
34. 2P-Lucas Peterson/Grand Meadow, MN 16.603
35. 35-Jerry Bloom/Grand Meadow, MN 16.681
36. 12-Jason Hughes/Westfield, OK N/T
37. 7E-Neal Eckhart/Rochester, MN N/T
38. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY N/T

Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Francis, Robinson, B. Smith, Hubbard, Simpson, Yaggy, Hillson, Ludemann, Birkhofer (DNS) Eckhart

Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Richards, Lanigan, Foss, Rauen, Breuning, Wight, Waldo, Peterson, George (DNS) Fuller

Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): McCreadie, Clanton, Mars, Doar, C. Smith, Johnson, McKay, Mass, Bloom

Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Eckert, Frank, King, Hensel, Hughes, Hapka, Winge, Herrick, Kramer

B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Birkhofer, Simpson, Breuning, Wight, Ludemann, Peterson, Hillson, George, Waldo, Yaggy, Eckhart (DNS) Fuller

B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): McKay, Johnson, Hughes, Hapka, C. Smith, Bloom, Winge, Mass, Kramer (DNS) Herrick

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:

Arizona Sports Shirts ($50 product certificate): Dennis Hillson
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Chad Simpson
Eibach Springs (one free spring): Larry Wight/Zack Johnson
MSD Ignition ($75 cash award): Tim McCreadie
MSD Ignition ($25 cash award): Brent Robinson
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash award to fastest qualifier w/decal): Steve Francis
Pink Carburetors ($100 product certificate): Rick Eckert
Pink Carburetors ($50 product certificate): Pat Doar
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate): Rick Eckert
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate): Shane Clanton
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate): Pat Doar
R2C Performance ($100 cash): Tim McCreadie
STP ($50 cash award): Larry Wight
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (two five-gallon plastic fuel jugs to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main if decal is displayed): Larry Wight
Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Tim McCreadie

2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of July 7 – 25 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):

1. Josh Richards 3396
2. Tim McCreadie 3380 (-16)
3. Darrell Lanigan 3334 (-62)
4. Steve Francis 3286 (-110)
5. Austin Hubbard 3210 (-186)
6. Shane Clanton 3192 (-204)
7. Tim Fuller 3184 (-212)
8. Rick Eckert 3154 (-242)
9. Chub Frank 3080 (-316)
10. Clint Smith 3010 (-386)
11. Russell King 2838 (-558)
12. Brent Robinson 2516 (-880)
13. Brady Smith 2442 (-954)
14. Jill George 1840 (-1556)
15. Brian Birkhofer 1228 (-2168)

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.
 

River Cities Speedway Fans Ready For Another World of Outlaws Late Model Series Thriller On Friday Night (July 9)

Tim Fuller’s Status For ‘Wild West Tour’ Uncertain After Emergency Appendectomy

CONCORD, NC - July 6, 2010 - Tim Fuller’s status for this week’s World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Wild West Tour’ is uncertain after he underwent an emergency appendectomy on Monday afternoon.

Fuller, 42, of Watertown, N.Y., was in his hauler Tuesday afternoon and headed to Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., for the opening event of the four-race swing on Wednesday night (July 7), but he said he would have to wait until race time to determine his ability to compete.

“Right now I’m not even sure I can make a lap (for last-place points),” said Fuller, who was still extremely sore 24 hours after the surgery. “My doctor said he wouldn’t recommend racing for a couple weeks, but he said, ‘You most likely aren’t gonna reinjure yourself, so it’s more a matter of if you can take the pain.’

“They only made three small cuts on me and went in with a scope (to remove the appendix), but they’re still moving your guts around so it’s painful. I’ll have to see how I feel (on Wednesday night) and then decide what I’m gonna do.”

Fuller began to experience pain on Sunday afternoon while at racer April Farmer’s shop in Livingston, Tenn., where Fuller and Shane Clanton headed to spend a couple days working on their equipment after Saturday night’s WoO LMS event at nearby Tazewell (Tenn.) Speedway. He initially thought he was suffering from a case of food poisoning, but after spending a sleepless night doubled over in pain he asked Farmer and her husband, Chris, to take him to a local doctor’s office on Monday morning to find out if his problem was something more serious. Tests revealed that his appendix was inflamed and in danger of bursting, so he was told to immediately report to a nearby hospital and by 2 p.m. he was on an operating table undergoing an emergency appendectomy.

The surgery went well and doctors allowed Fuller to check himself out of the hospital at 8:30 on Monday night. He was able sleep in reasonable comfort in his hauler and left Farmer’s shop on Tuesday afternoon, bound for Minnesota with his crew and Clanton’s team.

“I guess I’m fortunate that this happened while we were at April’s place rather than somewhere on the road where we don’t know anybody,” said Fuller. “April and Chris were great shuttling me back-and-forth to the doctor and the hospital, and Shane and his girlfriend Michelle were at the hospital with me.

“Now all I can do is go to Deer Creek and play it by ear. Hopefully I’ll be able to race.”

Fuller currently ranks fifth in the WoO LMS points standings, 182 points behind leader Josh Richards and just six points ahead of sixth-place Austin Hubbard. He won twice and finished third in the first three events of the recent ‘Great Northern Tour’ to pull within 84 points of Richards, but in the five A-Mains since then he’s finished no better than 12th and lost 98 points in the standings.

The ‘Wild West Tour’ kicks off on Wednesday at Deer Creek and then visits Superior (Wis.) Speedway on Thurs., July 8; River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D., on Fri., July 9; and Dakota State Fair Speedway in Huron, S.D., on Sat., July 10. Fuller earned his first career WoO LMS A-Main victory at River Cities in 2007.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Wisconsin’s Brady Smith Looks Forward To World of Outlaws Late Model Series Stop At Superior Speedway On Thursday Night (July 8)

No Longer An Outlaw Regular, Smith Hopes Race At Home Track Shakes Him Out Of Slump

SUPERIOR, WI – July 6, 2010 – The day that Brady Smith circled on his calendar months ago has finally arrived.

On Thursday night (July 8), the World of Outlaws Late Model Series makes an inaugural stop in his backyard, visiting his former hometrack, Superior Speedway, for the ‘Mid-States Hydraulics 50’ that is part of the circuit’s annual ‘Wild West Tour.’

But while the 33-year-old from Solon Springs, Wis., is certainly pleased to be running a $10,000-to-win dirt Late Model special at a track located just over 30 miles northwest of his doorstep, he enters the biggest event in the history of the three-eighths-mile oval sitting in a far different position that he had hoped. Smith is mired in a season-long slump – struggles that recently forced him to stop following the WoO LMS schedule, short-circuiting his dreams of returning to Superior Speedway as a contender for the national tour’s $100,000 points championship.

“I hated to do it,” Smith said of his difficult decision to drop off the World of Outlaws trail before last month’s ‘Great Northern Tour’ through upstate New York, Canada and western Pennsylvania. “I thought about it for a long time. I tried to make things happen so I didn’t have to do it, but unfortunately it was a decision that was inevitable for us the way our season has been going.”

What’s so frustrating for Smith, of course, is that his 2010 campaign began with such promise. After turning heads during his first season as a WoO LMS regular in 2009 – he didn’t win an A-Main and finished eighth in the points standings, but he ranked sixth among tour drivers with 12 top-five finishes – he had great expectations for his sophomore year. He burst out of the starting gate with a third-place finish and victory in February’s season-opening events at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., to grab the points lead for the first time in his career, but he simply couldn’t maintain that level of performance. Smith registered just one top-five finish (second place on May 13 at Delaware International Speedway) over the next 14 A-Mains and plummeted to eighth in the points race.

Facing a 214-point deficit to WoO LMS points leader (and defending champion) Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., by the end of May and struggling to keep his self-owned racing program afloat, Smith reluctantly called tour director Tim Christman before the ‘Great Northern Tour’ to relay the news that he would be pulling back on his travel schedule to regroup.

“All things were pointed in the right direction for us when the season started,” said Smith, who has three career WoO LMS victories, including back-to-back wins during the 2008 ‘Wild West Tour’ at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D., and Estevan (Sask.) Motor Speedway. “We worked hard over the winter and ran well at Volusia. We left there with the points lead – it couldn’t have worked out any better.

“Then...God, things just went to hell in a hand basket. We couldn’t seem to do anything right. We had fast race cars and were qualifying real well (three fast-time awards in the season’s first nine events), but then either we’d make the wrong decisions on tires or have something stupid happen, like a lapped car would spin out in front of me and I’d have to spin out of third place to avoid him.

“West Virginia (Motor Speedway over Memorial Day weekend) was almost the straw that broke the camel’s back,” he continued, recalling a hard crash during time trials that left his Team Zero by Bloomquist machine badly damaged and his body sore. “We didn’t just wreck, we destroyed a car. It was junk. That really set our program back – and then I had a crew guy leave on top of it, so I just lost half my workforce.”

The cool, calm Smith paused. He clenched his fists and let out an exasperated, “Ugh!” before commenting, “I’m not making excuses, but it was just a downward spiral. We were just totally going in the wrong direction, and before I hit rock bottom I had to do something different.”

Racing with the assistance of several valued sponsors but without the backing of a major company since his four-year run with Amsoil ended following the 2008 season, Smith doesn’t have the wiggle room with his finances to weather lean stretches like he once did. His geographic location – he lives in northwestern Wisconsin, so it takes him four hours just to get out of the Badger State – also adds a degree of difficulty to his attempts to chase a grueling national schedule.

“I enjoy racing with the World of Outlaws and I really feel like it’s the right thing to do for our program to make us better,” said Smith, who estimated that he put over 50,000 miles on his hauler traveling to races last year. “But we need to scale back right now and change some things to get back going in the right direction.

“We’re not gonna quit. We’re just gonna try to be as prepared as we can for all the races we do, and hopefully in the future we can get ourselves in the right position to run (regularly) with the World of Outlaws again.”

Smith will be back on the WoO LMS trail this week, albeit just for the four-race ‘Wild West Tour’ through Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota that doesn’t hit a track more than eight hours from his residence. He hasn’t raced since traveling to Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., for the WoO LMS ‘Firecracker 100’ from June 24-26 (he finished third in a 30-lap preliminary A-Main and 10th in the 100-lap headliner after leading laps 1-19), so he’s rested and ready for the challenge of racing the Outlaw stars he knows so well on his home turf.

The driver known as the ‘Prodigy’ should definitely feel comfortable at Superior, a track he ran regularly early in his career. He competed there for one year in a Street Stock, four years in a Super Stock and parts of two seasons in a WISSOTA spec-motor Late Model before he began branching out to enter full-blown Late Model events in the early to mid 2000s.

“We’re looking forward to getting back there to Superior for a big show,” said Smith, who won multiple features and championships during his years as a regular at the track. “After always traveling so far to race, it will be nice to race in front of my hometown fans and family. We’ll have a bunch of family there – parents, aunts, uncles, cousins.”

Smith, who said he’s raced at Superior “maybe 10 times” over the past five years, will be shooting for his first-ever full-blown Late Model victory at the facility. His last triumph there came in a 2005 WISSOTA Late Model event; the closest he’s come to a full-blown Late Model victory at Superior is a second-place finish on July 29, 2009, in a race sanctioned by the defunct World Dirt Racing League (WDRL).

“I don’t feel like I’m gonna have a big advantage, but at least I have more of an idea of what to expect than most guys,” said Smith. “If it’s typical Superior, it’ll be really slick and smooth and you’ll have to be smooth and patient and have your car set up right.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to run up front,” he added. “After the season we’ve had, a win would just be awesome. It would boost everyone’s morale and definitely help the bank account.”

Smith will face plenty of tough competition from the WoO LMS travelers, including former champions Richards, Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., and Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky. The tour’s roster also features the red-hot Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga. (two wins in the last three events, including the Firecracker 100), Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., Rick Eckert of York, Pa., Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio, rookie sensation Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va., and Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa.

A talented group of drivers from the Upper Midwest is also expected to enter the event, including Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., who has won at least one WDRL feature at Superior in each of the last four years; Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, who captured a Hav-A-Tampa/Xtreme series event at the track in 2003; Adam Hensel of Barron, Wis., who won a feature at Superior on May 21; Pat Doar of New Richmond, Wis., who was victorious at Superior on May 28; two-time WDRL champion Chad Simpson of Mt. Vernon, Iowa; and former WISSOTA national titlist Zach Johnson of Kensington, Minn.

Hot laps are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. and time trials will get the green flag at 7 p.m. on Thurs., July 8, at Superior Speedway. Pure Stocks and MW Mods will also be part of the program.

Tickets are $30 for ages 16-and-up, $10 for ages 6-15 and free for children 6-and-under with a paid adult. Pit passes will cost $40.

Superior Speedway is located two miles south of U.S. 2 on State Road 35, close to the shores of Lake Superior.

More information on Superior Speedway can be obtained by logging on to www.superiorracetrack.com or calling 715-394-RACE.

The Mid-States Hydraulics 50 is the second stop on the WoO LMS ‘Wild West Tour,’ which kicks off on July 7 at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., and also includes events on July 9 at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D., and July 10 at Dakota State Fair Speedway.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.
 

Deer Creek Speedway’s ‘Gopher 50’ On Wednesday Night (July 7) Has Become Big Part Of World of Outlaws Late Model Series

Unique Charity Event Earned Organizers Recognition As National Tour’s 2009 Promoters Of The Year

SPRING VALLEY, MN – July 5, 2010 – The NAPA Auto Parts ‘Gopher 50’ Charity Late Model Race sure has come a long way.

With the event ready to celebrate its 31st annual running on Wednesday night (July 7) at Deer Creek Speedway, the ‘Gopher’ is entrenched as one of the most prestigious and unique dirt Late Model races in the country. It stands out from the crowd so much, in fact, that it earned its organizers coveted recognition as the 2009 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Promoters of the Year.

Collaboratively promoted by the Blooming Prairie (Minn.) Lions Club and management of Deer Creek Speedway, the Gopher 50’s alltime winners’ list is dotted with some of the biggest names in the racing business. More importantly, over $300,000 for Jaycee and Lions projects has been raised over the lifetime of the Gopher 50, which was contested at Chateau Speedway in Austin, Minn. (1980-1981) and the Steele County Fairgrounds in Owatanna, Minn. (1982-2004) before settling at Deer Creek in 2005 and soaring to new heights.

The Gopher 50 has been part of the WoO LMS for its entire run at Deer Creek, gaining more prominence on the schedule with each passing season. Anyone still unfamiliar with the event received a reminder of its status when the announcement of its organizers’ WoO LMS promotional award was made during the national tour’s awards banquet last November.

“We’re honored to receive an award from such a prestigious group like the World of Outlaws,” said Jerry Ingvalson, the Blooming Prairie Lions Club member who has overseen all aspects of the Charity Race since its inception in 1980. “It definitely shows how much the Gopher has grown. It’s become one of the events in the dirt Late Model world that people want to see.”

“We couldn’t believe it when Tim (Christman, the WoO LMS director) called and said little Deer Creek Speedway and the Gopher 50 won the award,” said Deer Creek’s P.R. and marketing director Ryan Queensland, whose family operates the finely-manicured, three-eighths-mile oval. “We’re humbled that a national touring series would recognize our track and event, considering some of the crown-jewel races and well-known tracks that are part of the series.

“Winning an award like this puts you in a very elite crowd. It’s a helluva honor, and it drives us to go out and continue putting on great events.”

Ingvalson and the Queensland family celebrated last year’s milestone 30th edition of the Gopher 50 with a promotion that certainly couldn’t be ignored by WoO LMS officials and teams. The event headlined the 17 former Gopher 50 winners, gave fans a shot at a cash prize and featured a $10,000 bonus for a past event champion to win the race – a check that 2008 WoO LMS titlist Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., claimed to push his booty for capturing the A-Main to a whopping $20,000.

“The Gopher obviously has been a huge event around here for years, so we were thrilled when (the Blooming Prairie Lions Club) asked us to host it,” said Ryan Queensland, the P.R. and marketing director of Deer Creek Speedway. “One of the things we talked about with Jerry and the Lions Club was doing something really special for the 30th anniversary of the Gopher. We came up with the Past Champions’ Fund and some fan-oriented promotions and I think it all went off great.

“A lot of people came up to us last year and said the Gopher was one of the most memorable races they’ve ever attended and already had it on their calendars to come back to Deer Creek.”

Thousands of fans are expected to pack Deer Creek’s grandstands again on Wednesday night for another installment of the Gopher 50, which this year combines some new wrinkles and popular annual traditions. The biggest incentive for the drivers is the bonus money posted by NAPA – an extra $1,000 on top of the A-Main’s $10,000 top prize and $100 for each heat victor, contingent upon display of a NAPA decal on the right side of the car.

What’s more, Fastshafts of Des Moines, Iowa, is sponsoring a Gopher 50 Hard Charger award that will award the race’s mover-and-shaker a complete aluminum driveshaft with slip yoke (retail value $330) or a certificate towards the purchase of a new carbon-fiber driveshaft with yoke worth $650. Receipt of the prize is also contingent upon display of the company’s sticker.

Continuing as part of the Gopher 50, of course, is the pre-race ‘feed’ – a full Windsor Chops meal held under a tent in the Deer Creek parking lot that is open to all competing drivers and their crews – and the Team Sponsorship Program that pays the event entry fee for the top 20 drivers in Deer Creek’s Late Model points standings and the top 10 racers in regional touring series standings thanks to support from a long list of local businesses and individuals.

In addition, sometime during Wednesday night’s program WoO LMS director Tim Christman will formally present the tour’s 2009 Promoters of the Year award to members of the Blooming Prairie Lions Club and the Queensland family.

“They weren’t able to attend our banquet in November so we’ll give them their World of Outlaws award in front of all the fans who have made their Gopher 50 promotion so successful,” said Christman. “The Blooming Prairie Lions Club and Queensland family are well-deserved recipients of our Promoters of the Year award and I’m excited to finally get a chance to congratulate them in person.”

A star-studded field will fill the Deer Creek pit area, led by former WoO LMS champions Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who leads the 2010 points standings entering Wednesday night’s ‘Wild West Tour’ lidlifter; Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., who will make his first appearance at Deer Creek since his title-winning season in 2006; Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky.; and Lanigan, one of seven drivers who has won the Gopher 50 multiple times.

The WoO LMS traveling roster also includes Rick Eckert of York, Pa. (2006 Gopher 50 winner), Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa. (2007 winner), Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga. (winner of two of last three WoO LMS A-Mains, including $30,000-plus Firecracker 100 on June 26 at Pennsylvania’s Lernerville Speedway), Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga. (an ’06 winner at Deer Creek), Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio, rookie Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va., and Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Other drivers expected to compete on Wednesday include two-time Gopher 50 winner Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., Adam Hensel of Barron, Wis., Chris Simpson of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, and a host of Deer Creek regulars led by points leader Nick Herrick of West Concord, Minn.

Wednesday night’s program will also include Deer Creek’s USRA Modified division, which will boast an added attraction of its own. Budding ARCA and NASCAR Nationwide Series star Steve Arpin of Fort Frances, Ont., will make his return to the open-wheel division driving a car carrying sponsorship from Mike’s Hard Lemonade, the primary backer of the Venturini Motorsports No. 55 that he’s steered to three ARCA victories this season.

Arpin, who has also run four Nationwide Series events in 2010 for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s team, will have his Mike’s Hard Lemonade ARCA stocker on display for fans on Wednesday night. He’ll also participate in a question-and-answer session and sign autographs from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Deer Creek’s pit and grandstand gates are scheduled to open at 3 p.m. on Wed., July 7. Time trials are set to begin at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets will be $30 on race day for ages 13-and-up and $15 for children 12-and-under. Pre-sale tickets are available for $25 until 5 p.m. on July 5, and pit passes will be $35.

Reserved seats are available on-line at www.deercreekspeedway.com or by calling 877-DCS-RACE or 507-754-6107.

Deer Creek Speedway is located 15 miles south of Rochester, Minn., on Highway 63.

The Gopher 50 kicks off the four-race WoO LMS ‘Wild West Tour,’ which also visits Superior (Wis.) Speedway on July 8; River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D., on July 9; and Dakota State Fair Speedway on July 10.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Alltime ‘Gopher 50’ Event Winners (1980-81 at Chateau Speedway in Austin, Minn.; 1982-2004 at Steele County Fairgrounds in Owatanna, Minn.; 2005-present at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn.):

1980 – Leon Plank
1981 – Steve Kosiski
1982 – Steve Kosiski
1983 – Joe Kosiski
1984 – Willy Kraft
1985 – Leon Plank
1986 – Tom Steuding
1987 – Willy Kraft
1988 – Steve Kosiski
1989 – Billy Moyer
1990 – Scott Bloomquist
1991 – Rick Egersdorf
1992 – Bob Hill
1993 – Billy Moyer
1994 – Willy Kraft
1995 – Bill Frye
1996 – Billy Moyer
1997 – Rick Aukland
1998 – Jay Johnson
1999 – Scott Bloomquist
2000 – Billy Moyer
2001 – Billy Moyer
2002 – Shannon Babb
2003 – Scott Bloomquist
2004 – Brian Birkhofer
2005 – Darrell Lanigan (WoO LMS)
2006 – Rick Eckert (WoO LMS)
2007 – Chub Frank (WoO LMS)
2008 – Brian Birkhofer (WoO LMS)
2009 – Darrell Lanigan (WoO LMS)

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.

Shane Clanton Captures His Second LaCrosse Footwear Extreme Tough Challenge Event

On A Roll: Clanton Holds Off Francis For World of Outlaws Late Model Series Victory At Tazewell Speedway

TAZEWELL, TN - July 3, 2010 - Shane Clanton didn’t let a pole position start slip through his fingers for the second time in 24 hours.

The 34-year-old who now calls Fayetteville, Ga., home took full advantage of the opportunity presented to him on Saturday night, continuing his early-summer hot streak with a decisive victory in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Coca-Cola 50’ at Tazewell Speedway.

Clanton, who also started from the pole on Friday night at Wartburg (Tenn.) Speedway but settled for a runner-up finish in the 50-lap A-Main, led the entire distance on Saturday evening before a near-capacity crowd that turned out for the national tour’s first-ever visit to the high-banked, one-third-mile oval. He repelled several challenges from Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., and barely escaped two incidents en route to his third WoO LMS triumph of 2010 and the 14th of his career.

“I let two races go this year (failed to win after starting from the pole) so I wasn’t gonna lose another one,” said Clanton, who earned $10,500. “After Michelle (Davies, his girlfriend and designated position drawer) picked me the pole, I told her, ‘If you do your job, I’ll do mine.’”

Clanton mastered the wicked-fast bullring, keeping his Malcuit-powered RSD Enterprises Rocket car out front in a rough-and-tumble event that was slowed by seven caution flags and one red and lasted just over 47 minutes. He crossed the finish line 1.053 seconds ahead of Francis, who started fourth but chased Clanton from the second spot for the final 35 laps in his Valvoline Rocket machine.

Defending WoO LMS champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., calmly moved forward from the sixth starting spot to finish third despite running the last 15 circuits on seven cylinders because an engine lifter apparently broke in his father Mark’s Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket. He doubled his tour points lead to 36 markers over Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., who finished 12th after pitting on lap 20 to change a flat left-rear tire.

Tommy Kerr of Maryville, Tenn., advanced from the 12th starting spot to finish a WoO LMS career-best fourth in his Rocket car, earning him the $500 ‘Bonus Bucks’ cash for being the highest-finishing driver who hadn’t won a series A-Main and wasn’t ranked among the top 12 in the points standings. Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., placed fifth in his Corry Rubber/Hino Toyota Rocket, surviving an overheating engine to register his second straight top-five finish.

“I knew we had a good car, but we made some more changes right before the feature and it made it a lot better,” said Clanton, whose victory gave him two wins (including a $30,000-plus score on June 26 in the Firecracker 100 at Pennsylvania’s Lernerville Speedway) and two runner-up finishes in his last five WoO LMS starts. “We tightened the car up and it made a world of difference.”

Clanton was fast enough to hold off Francis, who ran within striking distance but couldn’t pull off a pass.

“I thought I heard him under me a couple times,” Clanton said of Francis, “but the bottom of (turns) one and two got so rough I said, ‘If he passes me down there, he’s gonna have to make a perfect line.’ I thought I was gonna break something in the race car if I ran down there, so I just married myself to the top and said, ‘If he beats me, he beats me.’”

Francis, 42, was satisfied with $5,600 in second-place money.

“I think I was more maneuverable, but he could run a faster lane in the open every lap,” Francis said of Clanton. “There wasn’t enough off of (turn) four to really pass. He was gonna have to make a mistake for me to get by him.

“We ran first and second, though, so I’m happy. Me and Shane have been working on a lot of stuff together, so it was a good race for both of us.”

Clanton experienced a couple very anxious moments, however, while pacing the field. The first came on lap 15 when Rick Rogers of Knoxville, Tenn., came off the turn-four wall and rolled his car in front of Clanton and several of his pursuers; later, on lap 48, Mike Collins of Carter Lake, Iowa, spun directly ahead of Clanton.

“As that guy was flipping he came right over my nose,” said Clanton. “It scraped the nose of my car all the way up to the air filter. I was lucky it didn’t knock the carburetor off.

“When I got to him I just gassed it up – I said, ‘I’m not stopping here.’ I guess I got him up in the air and he landed on the ‘1’ car (then second-place runner Vic Hill of Morristown, Tenn.) behind me.

“Then with Collins – his eyes looked about the size of quarters when I seen him spinning in front of me,” added Clanton. “I thought I was gonna t-bone him, but he gassed it up and got out of the way just in time. The green stayed out and we made it to the finish.”

Rogers’s series of flips provided the most spectacular accident of the event. His car landed upside down after it slammed into the right side of the machine driven by Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va., and also collected Hill, whose strong run came to an abrupt end due to damage his car sustained in the altercation.

Rogers, who started third but was relegated to the rear of the field after spinning out of fourth place on lap 10, escaped the crash without injury.

Finishing in positions 6-10 was Rick Eckert of York, Pa.; Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., who started 13th; 11th-starter Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky.; Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., who rallied from a pit stop on lap two to change a flat right-rear tire; and Eric Jacobsen of Sea Cliff Beach, Calif., who spun wildly in turn three late in the distance but continued without causing a caution flag.

Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., had a rough night, finishing 15th after retiring on lap 33 with right-front suspension woes. His hopes were dashed after he crushed the right-front nose of his car and slowed to bring out a caution flag on lap five.

The A-Main served as the third leg of the LaCrosse Extreme Tough Challenge, a unique mini-series that awards points to the top-five fulltime WoO LMS and Sprint Car Series drivers in 16 selected events – eight Late Model and eight Sprint Car – and will earn the champion of the combined standings a $5,000 bonus from a $15,000 points fund. Clanton earned five points for being the highest-finishing WoO LMS regular, boosting his overall lead in the standings. Also earning points were Francis (four), Richards (three), Frank (two) and Eckert (one).


Richards registered his second fast-time honor of 2010, blazing around the track in 11.189 seconds during the 27-car Ohlins Shocks Time Trials session.

Heat winners were Richards, Hill and Rogers, and Clint Smith captured the B-Main.

The WoO LMS will be idle for three days before commencing the four-race ‘Wild West Tour’ on Wed., July 7, with the ‘Gopher 50’ at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn. The swing also features events on Thurs., July 8, at Superior (Wis.) Speedway; Fri., July 9, at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D.; and Sat., July 10, at Dakota State Fair Speedway in Huron, S.D.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Results of WoO Late Model Series ‘Coca-Cola 50’ (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (1) Shane Clanton/50 $10,500
2. (4) Steve Francis/50 $5,600
3. (6) Josh Richards/50 $3,725
4. (12) Tommy Kerr/50 $3,000
5. (7) Chub Frank/50 $2,500
6. (8) Rick Eckert/50 $2,200
7. (13) Austin Hubbard/50 $2,150
8. (11) Darrell Lanigan/50 $1,900
9. (19) Clint Smith/50 $1,750
10. (10) Eric Jacobsen/50 $1,100
11. (17) Russell King/50 $1,550
12. (14) Tim McCreadie/50 $1,600
13. (20) Mike Collins/47 $950
14. (21) Bryan Hendrix/32 $900
15. (9) Tim Fuller/32 $1,350
16. (16) Randy Weaver/24 $800
17. (5) Mike Marlar/19 $770
18. (15) Brian Smith/18 $750
19. (2) Vic Hill/15 $730
20. (3) Rick Rogers/14 $700
21. (23) Brent Robinson/14 $700
22. (18) Steve Smith/10 $700
23. (22) Chad Ogle/10 $700
24. (24) Jill George/0 $725

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

Time of Race: 47 Mins., 48.789 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 1.053 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 7 (Laps 2, 5, 10, 19, 20, 26, 33)
Red Flag: Lap 15
Lap Leaders: Clanton (1-50)
Provisional Starters: Robinson, George
Rookie of the Race: Hubbard ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Kerr ($500)

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 11.189
2. 1H-Vic Hill/Morristown, TN 11.227
3. 44R-Rick Rogers/Knoxville, TN 11.289
4. 25-Shane Clanton/Locust Grove, GA 11.290
5. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 11.317
6. 7-Brian Smith/Gray, KY 11.400
7. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 11.429
8. 157-Mike Marlar/Winfield, TN 11.457
9. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 11.497
10. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 11.522
11. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 11.540
12. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 11.557
13. 5-Eric Jacobsen/Sea Cliff Beach, CA 11.567
14. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 11.572
15. 4T-Tommy Kerr/Maryville, TN 11.576
16. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 11.619
17. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 11.714
18. 3s-Steve Smith/Powell, TN 11.738
19. 116-Randy Weaver/Crossville, TN 11.783
20. 3c-Mike Collins/Carter Lake, IA 11.796
21. 5H-Bryan Hendrix/Knoxville, TN 11.895
22. 7c-Marty Calloway/Maynardville, TN 11.960
23. 10-Chad Ogle/Sevierville, TN 12.002
24. 14-April Farmer/Livingston, TN 12.018
25. 3-Brent Robinson/Smithfield, VA 12.149
26. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 12.801
27. 201-Billy Ogle Jr./Harriman, TN N/T

Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Richards, Clanton, Frank, Jacobsen, Hubbard, Weaver, C. Smith, Robinson, Calloway

Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Hill, Marlar, Eckert, Lanigan, McCreadie, King, Collins, C. Ogle, George

Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Rogers, Francis, Fuller, Kerr, B. Smith, S. Smith, Hendrix, Farmer (DNS) B. Ogle

B-Main (12 laps – Top 4 Transfer): C. Smith, Collins, Hendrix, C. Ogle, Robinson, Calloway, George, Farmer (DNS) B. Ogle

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:

Arizona Sports Shirts ($50 product certificate): Jill George
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Brian Smith
Eibach Springs (one free spring): Brent Robinson
MSD Ignition ($75 cash award): Josh Richards
MSD Ignition ($25 cash award): Jill George
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash award to fastest qualifier w/decal): Josh Richards
Pink Carburetors ($100 product certificate): Rick Eckert
Pink Carburetors ($50 product certificate): Jill George
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate): Shane Clanton
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate): Rick Eckert
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate): Tim Fuller
R2C Performance ($100 certificate): Shane Clanton
STP ($50 cash award): Clint Smith
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (two five-gallon plastic fuel jugs to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main if decal is displayed): Marty Calloway
Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Shane Clanton

2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of July 3 – 24 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):

1. Josh Richards 3266
2. Tim McCreadie 3230 (-36)
3. Darrell Lanigan 3188 (-78)
4. Steve Francis 3150 (-116)
5. Tim Fuller 3084 (-182)
6. Austin Hubbard 3078 (-188)
7. Shane Clanton 3052 (-214)
8. Rick Eckert 3012 (-254)
9. Chub Frank Bear 2946 (-320)
10. Clint Smith 2886 (-380)
11. Russell King 2710 (-556)
12. Brent Robinson 2400 (-866)
13. Brady Smith 2338 (-928)
14. Jill George 1756 (-1510)
15. April Farmer 1128 (-2138)

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and Chizmark Larson Insurance; in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance and Wrisco Aluminum.