Laubach holds off Sheppard to score Super DIRTcar Series win
Story By: AARON FIEDLER / DIRTcar SERIES MEDIA Photos By: PETE MacDONALD / RACERSGUIDE.COM
BARBERVILLE, FL- February 20, 2016- Josh Richards scored a wild second straight World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series victory Friday night during DIRTcar Nationals as he battled through the field from a 12th place starting position and held off Jonathan Davenport.
Davenport led through the early portion of the 50-lap feature as Richards worked his way through the field. Ocala-native Ivedent Lloyd Jr. battled with Davenport through the middle portion of the feature and helped open the door for the charging Richards.
Through the closing laps, Richards and Davenport fought through traffic and engaged in a side-by-side, lap-by-lap battle for the lead. Ultimately, it was Richards on top, scoring his second straight series win and third win of DIRTcar Nationals.
“It’s been unbelievable,” Richards said. “We got put behind early. I ran out of tear offs and I ran the last four laps with my shield up. I knew we had a good car … I didn’t know how lapped traffic was going to play out. I just tried to keep my speed up and get up through there. This track’s been awesome. I can’t thank the fans enough – this has been an unbelievable speed weeks.”
The win was the one of the deepest come from behind victories in recent DIRTcar Nationals history, and gave the 27-year-old driver his 60th career win.
One night after losing the Super DIRTcar Series feature to Matt Sheppard as he battled his way through lapped traffic, Rick Laubach was redeemed as he held off Sheppard by .117 seconds to score a win.
Laubach started the feature on the pole but Sheppard battled forward from a sixth place starting position. Through several cautions and challenges Laubach maintained his lead but again, lapped traffic came into play. As he worked his way through in the final three laps, Sheppard closed the gap. As the two drivers turned the final lap, they crossed the finish side-by-side. It was Laubach by a nose.
“My crew guy said I had a lead and I’m like, alright – I didn’t feel pressure again like last night. Son of a gun, he was right there again,” Laubach said. “I know those yellows were helping a little bit. Track conditions were mixing up. I kind of just stroked it that last lap and held it down into turn one and he was going to go by me. I’ve got to get my lapped traffic skills down a little better. We had a good run last night, maybe almost a win, tonight we got the win. My little boy, he loves these trophies, he said, ‘we’ll take another trophy back to grammy’s house.”
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series and Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modifieds lead the way into the final night of the 2016 DIRTcar Nationals on Saturday.
For more information and updates on the DIRTcar Nationals, click DIRTcarNationals.com or follow on Twitter at @DIRTcarNats.
DIRTcar Nationals Statistical Report; Feb. 19, 2016; Volusia Speedway Park; Barberville, Fla.
World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series A-Feature (50 Laps) – 1. 1-Josh Richards, 2. 6-Jonathan Davenport, 3. 21-Ivedent Lloyd Jr, 4. 39-Tim McCreadie, 5. 9-Steve Casebolt, 6. 3s-Brian Shirley, 7. 0-Scott Bloomquist, 8. 17M-Dale McDowell, 9. 1*-Chub Frank, 10. 21J-Billy Moyer Jr, 11. 22s-Gregg Satterlee, 12. 5-Don O’Neal, 13. 7-Rick Eckert, 14. 99j-Frank Heckenast Jr, 15. 40B-Kyle Bronson, 16. 20-Jimmy Owens, 17. 38s-Kenny Pettyjohn, 18. 14M-Morgan Bagley, 19. 18c-Chase Junghans, 20. 2F-Dennis Franklin, 21. 16-Justin Rattliff, 22. 76-Brandon Overton, 23. 5w-Mark Whitener, 24. 77-Jordan Yaggy, 25. 25z-Mason Zeigler, 26. 15s-Donny Schatz, 27. 99B-Boom Briggs, 28. 18-Eric Wells, 29. 25-Shane Clanton, 30. 72-Mike Norris, 31. 777-Jared Landers
Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modifieds A-Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 7-Rick Laubach [$2,000], 2. 9s-Matt Sheppard, 3. 14J-Alan Johnson, 4. 25R-Erick Rudolph, 5. 44-Stewart Freisen, 6. 1-Billy Pauch, 7. 1T-Tyler Dippel, 8. 27J-Danny Johnson, 9. 54-Steve Bernard, 10. 74-J.R Heffner, 11. 49-Billy Dunn, 12. 32c-Vic Coffey, 13. 99L-Larry Wight, 14. 21a-Pete Britten, 15. 30-Jamie Mills, 16. 1G-Darwin Green, 17. 19m-Jessey Mueller, 18. OBs-Jeremy Markle, 19. 323-Neal Williams, 20. 20-Brett Hearn, 21. 6m-Mat Williamson, 22. 5*-Tyler Siri, 23. 28p-Eldon Payne, 24. 19-Tim Fuller, 25. 7-Tim Kerr, 26. 83-Brian Swartzlander
DIRTcar Nationals Day-by-Day Schedule (Grandstands open at 5 p.m.)
Saturday, Feb. 20 – World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series & Super DIRTcar Series
The 2016 DIRTcar Nationals is supported by Budweiser, Daytona Harley-Davidson, Hampton Inn-Palm Coast, Integrity Painting with Valspar, Ring Power CAT, and Safety-Kleen. The World of Outlaws are brought to fans by official partners: Bad Boy Buggies (Official Side-by-Side Vehicle), The Kenny Wallace Dirt Racing Experience (Official Racing Experience), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), Morton Buildings (Official Building), and VP Racing Fuel (Official Racing Fuel). Additional support is provided by Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company of WoO Late Model), DirtonDirt.com (WoO Late Model Hard Charger Award), and Chevrolet Performance. Contingency sponsors include: ASI, Beyea Headers, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, Fox Shocks, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, KSE Racing Products, Mobil 1, MSD Performance, Penske Racing Shocks, Ohlins Shocks, QA1, QuarterMaster, Sweet Manufacturing, Superflow Dynos and Wrisco Aluminum Manufacturer sponsors include: Capital Race Cars, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Motorsports Safety Systems, Racing Electronics, Rocket Chassis, S&S Volvo, and TNT Rescue.
