Richards Sets Up For Saturday Night Final
Story By: TRAVIS BRANCH / LUCAS LATE MODEL SERIES MEDIA Photos By: KNOXVILLE RACEWAY
KNOXVILLE, IA- September 16, 2016- Josh Richards picked up his fifth Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the season on Friday Night at Knoxville Raceway. Richards took the lead from Shannon Babb and then pulled away for the win on the second preliminary night. For Richards it was his 26th overall win of the season.
Owens and Babb had a near photo-finish for second at the finish line, with Owens just edging out Babb for the runner-up spot. Dale McDowell came home in fourth, followed by Mike Marlar.
Richards, who has four runner-up finishes in his career in the Saturday Night finale of the Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals, set himself up for a good starting spot, completing a perfect night in points. Richards started seventh and took the lead with nine laps to go from Babb.
Richards; in the Mark Richards Racing/Valvoline/Seubert Calf Ranches/Rocket House Car; was happy with his car’s performance. “We had a good point night last night. The track was in good shape tonight with the rain they had overnight. The car was phenomenal, I can’t thank my crew enough. Andy Durham builds an awesome race engine.”
“We have had an awesome season, but tomorrow night is one that we really want to win. There are a lot of great cars here. We have been so close to winning the big one at Knoxville. It is one that we circle on our calendar every year to come to. You really don’t feel that you are in a comfort spot here. It was a handful tonight, but it was a lot of fun.”
Owens led the first lap until Babb took over the lead. The two didn’t meet up again until the final lap when Owens nipped him at the line. “We made several changes to the car. Shannon was good and then Josh got up there. Most of the time we have a really good race track here. We ran the bottom for several laps and then the top. I want to thank R&W Racing for putting me in good equipment.”
Babb, who led several laps of the 25-lap event was pleased with his run. “Absolutely we are tickled to death to get a podium finish. We just wanted to see what our car could do up front. It was definitely strong. It could be a little bit better. I slid up there in four and Jimmy got underneath me. I can’t wait until tomorrow night now,” said the driver of the Petroff Towing/Rocket.
Completing the ten were Rodney Sanders, Jimmy Mars, Scott Bloomquist, Jonathan Davenport, and Chris Simpson.
In preliminary action, Josh Richards set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group A) amongst the 65 entrants, with a lap of 17.090 seconds. Dale McDowell set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 17.402 seconds. Josh Richards, Tim Lance, Brandon Sheppard, Chase Junghans, Dennis Erb Jr. and Chad Mahder won their respective heat races. Gregg Satterlee won the C-Main. Tim McCreadie won the B-Main.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Friday, September 16th, 2016
13th Annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals – Presented by Casey’s General Store
Knoxville Raceway – Knoxville, IA
Miller Welders Fast Time Group A: Josh Richards / 17.090 seconds
Miller Welders Fast Time Group B: Dale McDowell / 17.402 seconds
Eibach Springs Heat Race #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Josh Richards, Chris Simpson, Kent Robinson, Earl Pearson, Jr., Don O’Neal, Billy Moyer, Jr., Nick Marolf, Ricky Weiss, Rob Moss, Jay Johnson, John Duty
FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Tim Lance, Joey Moriarty, Mike Marlar, Frank Heckenast, Jr., Jason Rauen, Bobby Pierce, Justin Duty, Vic Hill, Mike Fryer, Mitch McGrath, Shane Clanton-DNS
Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Brandon Sheppard, Shannon Babb, Jimmy Owens, Billy Moyer, Darrell Lanigan, Jason Utter, Ricky Thornton Jr., Kerry King, Sr., Colton Flinner, Ryan Gustin, Ray Guss, Jr.
QA1 Heat Race #4 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Chase Junghans, Jonathan Davenport, Dale McDowell, Morgan Bagley, Kyle Bronson, Nick Hoffman, RC Whitwell, Gregg Satterlee, Mason Zeigler, Rob Toland, Charlie McKenna-DNS
DirtOnDirt.com Heat Race #5 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Dennis Erb, Jr., Scott Bloomquist, Jimmy Mars, Chad Simpson, Tim McCreadie, Joel Callahan, Matt Furman, Brent Larson, Doug Sanders, Jake O’Neil, Chad Holladay
ASi Racewear Heat Race #6 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Chad Mahder, Spencer Diercks, Rodney Sanders, Ryan Unzicker, Steve Francis, Tyler Erb, Dave Eckrich, Jason Feger, Rich Bell, Brian Ledbetter
Keyser MFG D-Main (Did Not Run, Top 4 Transfer to C-Main): Rob Toland, Jay Johnson, Brian Ledbetter, John Duty, Shane Clanton-DNS, Ryan Gustin-DNS, Mitch McGrath-DNS, Ray Guss, Jr.-DNS, Jake O’Neil-DNS, Charlie McKenna-DNS, Chad Holladay-DNS
Hoosier Racing Tire C-Main Finish (12 Laps, Top 4 Transfer to B-Main): Gregg Satterlee, Ricky Thornton Jr., Ricky Weiss, RC Whitwell, Nick Marolf, Rich Bell, Jason Feger, Vic Hill, Rob Toland, Justin Duty, Mike Fryer, Rob Moss, Colton Flinner, John Duty, Brian Ledbetter, Doug Sanders, Mason Zeigler, Brent Larson, Jay Johnson, Dave Eckrich, Matt Furman-DNS, Kerry King, Sr.-DNS
Fast Shafts B-Main Finish (15 Laps, Top 6 Transfer to A-Main): Tim McCreadie, Don O’Neal, Darrell Lanigan, Earl Pearson, Jr., Steve Francis, Billy Moyer, Chad Simpson, Kyle Bronson, Frank Heckenast, Jr., Tyler Erb, Ricky Weiss, RC Whitwell, Jason Rauen, Billy Moyer, Jr., Ryan Unzicker, Gregg Satterlee, Ricky Thornton Jr., Nick Hoffman, Morgan Bagley, Jason Utter, Bobby Pierce, Joel Callahan
Race Statistics
Entrants: 69
Lap Leaders: Jimmy Owens (Lap 1); Shannon Babb (Laps 2 – 18); Josh Richards (Laps 19 – 25)
Cautions: Chase Junghans (Lap 3); Billy Moyer (Lap 12); Brandon Sheppard (Lap 16)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: n/a
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: n/a
Wrisco Feature Winner: Josh Richards
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Jimmy Mars (Started: 16th; Finished: 7th; Advanced 9 Positions)
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Scott Bloomquist
Allstar Performance Power Move of the Race: Darrell Lanigan
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Josh Richards
Hot Rod Processing Rookie of the Race: n/a
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Andy Durham Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Rocket Chassis
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Danny White (Josh Richards)
Fastest Lap of the Race: Shannon Babb (Lap #2 – 17.874 seconds)
Most Laps Led: Shannon Babb (16 Laps)
PFC Brakes Tough Brake Award: Chase Junghans
Time of Race: 14 minutes 42 seconds
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