Five Drivers Finish on Lead Lap
Story By: BRENDAN CAPRIA / WoO LATE MODEL SERIES Photos By: RACERSGUIDE.COM PHOTO STAFF
WEEDSPORT, NY- June 22, 2016- Josh Richards played tag from the front row Tuesday night at Weedsport Speedway (N.Y.), leaving only five cars on the lead lap of the Finger Lakes 40 in his seventh win of the season.
“I can’t thank my guys enough,” Richards said. “They worked their butts off, and I’m just glad I can put [the car] up front for them.”
Richards, who led the 24-car field into the green flag with his No. 1 Valvoline/ Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket car, held the lead for all 40 laps. Richards won his heat earlier in the night by more than a three-and-a-half second margin, but that gap was unparalleled to how much he pulled away from the pack in the feature.
Richards maintained a similar differential through the first half of the race. The true fight was from spots four through six. Shane Clanton, Rick Eckert and Brandon Overton jockeyed for position within the first 10 laps of the feature, nearly spreading three-wide across the 3/8-mile oval. Overton relied on the top groove early, but soon forfeited the high-side of the track to Clanton, who broke into the top 5 by lap 7.
While Overton continued to fade, Clanton and Eckert chased-down third place Steve Casebolt by lap 21. The trio bunched up, weaving as a unit through lapped traffic. It took a bold move on lap 17 from Clanton’s No. 25 Weldbank Energy/ Coopers Meat Packers Capital machine however to take third. With Clanton’s fender nearly grazing the wall with every lap, he set his sights on second-place Frank Heckenast Jr.
“We were just trying to bide our time and pick our line, and we needed to get by those guys,” Clanton said. “I knew I was better than them biding my time. I knew that Josh [Richards] was long-gone…we needed a caution there at the end to see if I had anything for him. But overall: good night.”
Though Clanton bided his time thereafter, he made his move 11 laps later on Heckenast’s No. 99JR St. Louis U-Pic-A-Part/ Storage Squares Capital car; Heckenast signed with Clanton’s chassis company one month prior. Using the top groove, Clanton built enough momentum to take sole possession of second. Heckenast managed to hold on to the final spot on the podium.
“We’ve had some good runs but just with bad luck,” Heckenast said. “I’m just trying to get the ball rolling, get some confidence back, make good runs, build the bank up and get confidence for my crew guys. We were definitely a third place car. Shane [Clanton] was better than us. But, this place is awesome. I wish we could race at facilities like this every week.”
While the battles ensued, Richards increased his lead exponentially – especially within the final 25 laps of the race. Richards led by more than four seconds with 23 laps remaining, and then increased his lead to more than five seconds four laps later. At that trajectory, Richards’ largest lead was with four laps remaining at 11.116 seconds; he ultimately won by 10.363 seconds over Clanton.
Richards lapped into to top ten with 11 laps remaining. Four laps later, he passed three more drivers. His pursuit to lap the rest of the field fell just short out of the top 5.
“I really didn’t realize [how many drivers I lapped] until at the end when I saw Rick [Eckert] and [Brandon] Overton and glanced up at the board,” Richards said. “I didn’t feel like we were that good but the track was beautiful. That was the most fun track I’ve run on in a long time. They do a phenomenal job here. This is a beautiful place. I remember coming here ten years ago as a rookie and it’s really cool to come back here.”
This was not the only feat of the night, as Heckenast picked up his first fast time of the series this season with a 15.358. Overton, who claimed fourth in the feature, led hot laps with his best time of 14.882.
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World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series Statistical Report; June 21, 2016; Weedsport, Speedway; Weedsport, N.Y.
A-Main (40-laps): 1. 1- Josh Richards [1] [$8,875]; 2. 25- Shane Clanton [6] [$4,800]; 3. 99JR- Frank Heckenast Jr. [2] [$3,450]; 4. 76- Brandon Overton [4] [$3,000]; 5. 7- Rick Eckert [5] [$2,850]; 6. C9-Steve Casebolt [3] [$2,150]; 7. 18c- Chase Junghans [10] [$1,900]; 8. 44- Dave Hess [7] [$1,450]; 9. 3s- Brian Shirley [8] [$1,750]; 10. 14M- Morgan Bagley [15] [$1,650]; 11. 11- Austin Smith [9] [$1,550]; 12. 1*- Chub Frank [23] [$1,450]; 13. 21JR- Billy Moyer Jr. [12] [$1,650]; 14. 99B- Boom Briggs [13] [$850]; 15. 119B- Bryan Bernheisel [16] [$750]; 16. 72- Dan Stone [11] [$700]; 17. 91- Tyler Erb [18] [$660]; 18. 18- Eric Wells [24] [$1,140]; 19. 99z- David Zona [19] [$620]; 20. 2c- Joey Coulter [17] [$600]; 21. 18F- Brandon Ford [20][$600]; 22. 10- Chris Fleming [21] [$600]; 23. 22- Greg Oakes [14] [$600]; 24. 33- Jason Occhino [22] [$600]
Last-Chance Showdown (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): 1. 99z- David Zona; 2. 18F- Brandon Ford; 3. 10- Chris Fleming; 4. 33- Jason Fleming; 4. 33- Jason Occhino; 5. 56- Brandon Carvey; 6. 24- Dylan Yoder (DNS); 6. 1*- Chub Frank (DNS); 7. 18- Eric Wells (DNS)
Qualifying: 1. 99JR- Frank Heckenast Jr., 15.358; 2. 1- Josh Richards, 15.443; 3. 7- Rick Eckert, 15.48; 4. 1*- Chub Frank, 15.536; 5. 76- Brandon Overton, 15.69; 6. 21JR- Billy Moyer Jr., 15.75; 7. 44- Dave Hess, 15.77; 8. 24- Dylan Yoder, 15.903; 9. 25- Shane Clanton, 15.91; 10. 99B- Boom Briggs, 15.937; 11. 3s- Brian Shirley, 16.017; 12. 91- Tyler Erb, 16.067; 13. 119B- Bryan Bernheisel, 16.082; 14. 18- Eric Wells, 16.085; 15. 11- Austin Smith, 16.122; 16. C9- Steve Casebolt, 16.151; 17. 2c- Joey Coulter, 16.223; 18. 14M- Morgan Bagley, 16.281; 19. 18c- Chase Junghans, 16.312; 20. 72- Dan Stone, 16.403; 21. 99z- David Zona, 16.404; 22. 10- Chris Fleming, 17.034; 23. 18F- Brandon Ford, 17.13; 24. 33- Jason Occhino, 17.459; 25. 56- Brandon Carvey; 26. 22- Greg Oakes (DNS)
Heat No. 1 (10 laps- Top 6 Transfer): 1. 99JR- Frank Heckenast Jr.; 2. C9- Steve Casebolt; 3. 44- David Hess; 5. 99B- Boom Briggs; 6. 119B- Bryan Bernheisel; 7. 10- Chris Fleming; 8. 56- Brandon Carvey; 9. 1*- Chub Frank
Heat No. 2 (10 laps- Top 6 Transfer): 1. 1- Josh Richards; 2. 76- Brandon Overton; 3. 3s- Brian Shirley; 4. 72- Dan Stone; 5. 22. Greg Oakes; 6. 2c- Joey Coulter; 7. 18F- Brandon Ford; 8. 24- Dylan Yoder; 9. 18- Eric Wells
Heat No. 3 (10 laps- Top 6 Transfer): 1. 7- Rick Eckert; 2. 25- Shane Clanton; 3. 11- Austin Smith; 4. 21JR- Billy Moyer Jr.; 5. 14M- Morgan Bagley; 6. 91- Tyler Erb; 7. 99z- David Zona; 8. 33- Jason Occhino
World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners (awards presented to noted finisher/qualifier or next highest displaying decal):
Comp Cams – $50 Product certificate : Josh Richards
MSD – $50 Cash: Josh Richards
QuarterMaster – $100 Product certificate: Shane Clanton
Wrisco Aluminum – 3 Sheets of aluminum: Josh Richards
Penske Shocks – TBD Product certificate: Brandon Overton
JE Pistons – $50 Cash: Rick Eckert
VP Racing Fuels – $50 Cash: Dave Hess
Edelbrock – $50 Cash: Brian Shirley
Comp Cams – $50 Cash: Morgan Bagley
Morton Buildings – $50 Cash: Austin Smith
Cometic Gasket – $50 Cash: Chub Frank
JRI Shocks – $50 Cash: Billy Moyer Jr.
SuperFlow – $50 Cash: Boom Briggs
QuarterMaster – $25 Product certificate: Bryan Bernheisel
JE Pistons – Set of rings: Tyler Erb
QuarterMaster – $50 Product certificate: David Zona
Arizona Sport Shirts – $100 Product certificate: Joey Coulter
JE Pistons – Set of rings: Brandon Ford
MSD – $25 Cash: Josh Richards
QA1 – $50 Cash: Rick Eckert
Bonus Bucks – $500 Cash: Austin Smith
Rookie Bonus – $250 Cash: Billy Moyer Jr.
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Josh Richards
Craftsman Bonus – $100 Cash: Dave Hess
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Shane Clanton
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Frank Heckenast Jr.
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Brandon Overton
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Rick Eckert
2016 World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series Point Standings as of June 21 – 16 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/residence/points/deficit to leader):
Pos. Car # Driver Residence Points Trail By
1 1 Josh Richards Clarksburg, WV 2326 0
2 25 Shane Clanton Zebulon, GA 2188 138
3 7 Rick Eckert York, PA 2096 230
4 76 Brandon Overton Evans, GA 2064 262
5 3S Brian Shirley Chatham, IL 2056 270
6 C9 Steve Casebolt Richmond, IN 1998 328
7 21JR Billy Moyer Jr. Batesville, AR 1978 348
8 1* Chub Frank Bear Lake, PA 1952 374
14M Morgan Bagley Gladewater, TX 1952 374
10 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr. Frankfort, IL 1944 382
11 18C Chase Junghans Manhattan, KS 1918 408
12 18 Eric Wells Hazard, KY 1898 428
13 91 Tyler Erb New Waverly, TX 1656 670
14 2C Joey Coulter Union Grove, NC 1636 690
15 99B Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs Bear Lake, PA 1374 952
16 77 Jordan Yaggy Rochester, MN 896 1430
17 2F Dennis ‘Rambo’ Franklin Gaffney, SC 836 1490
18 22 Chris Ferguson Mt. Holly, NC 756 1570
19 5 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN 742 1584
20 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 718 1608
The World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Bad Boy Off Road (Official Side-by-Side Vehicle), Craftsman (Official Tool), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), Morton Buildings (Official Building), Sears (Official Home Store), The Kenny Wallace Dirt Racing Experience (Official Racing Experience, VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel) and DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award); in addition to contingency sponsors, including: Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, MSD, Penske Shocks, QA1, QuarterMaster, Superflow Dynos and Wrisco Aluminum; along with manufacturer sponsors, including: Capital Race Cars, Integra Shocks, Impact Racing Products,
