Georgian Holds Off Casebolt For Second Victory Of 2013 On National Tour
MARYVILLE, TN – April 26, 2013 – Everything fell Shane Clanton’s way on Friday night at Smoky Mountain Speedway.
Taking advantage of an outside pole starting spot and some well-placed caution flags, Fayetteville, Ga.’s Clanton had just enough speed to hold off a late challenge from Steve Casebolt Jr. of Richmond, Ind., and capture the ‘Mountain Outlaw 50.’
Clanton, 37, registered his second victory of the season on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, which made its first visit to Smoky Mountain since 2004. He steered his Kennedy Motorsports Capital Race Car under the checkered flag a scant 0.164 of a second ahead of Casebolt, who overtook Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., for second on a lap-38 restart and kept his Dishman Motorsports MasterSbilt car there to earn a career-best WoO LMS finish.
Owens settled for third in a Team Zero by Bloomquist mount after running in the second spot for laps 10-38. Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., maintained the WoO LMS points lead with a solid fourth-place finish in his father Mark’s Rocket Chassis house car and Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville, Tenn., made a late charge to complete the top five in a Blount Motorsports Rocket fielded by Smoky Mountain co-owner Larry Garner.
Clanton was succinct after the race when asked for the key to his $10,550 triumph.
“The laps run out,” he said with a smile.
The WoO LMS veteran’s assessment was actually somewhat serious. Before a caution flag on lap 38 ended a 20-lap stretch of green-flag action, Clanton appeared to be in trouble with Owens, Casebolt and Richards all bearing down on him. He put some space on Casebolt following the restart but saw that gap shrink to virtually nothing a few laps later because his car’s right-rear tire simply wasn’t able to handle an extended run of uninterrupted racing.
“They said he was coming there at the end,” Clanton said of the signals his crew provided him concerning Casebolt’s last-ditch bid. “Luckily we had a caution there at the end (on lap 38) to cool the tires off. We went a little softer on right-rear tire, just trying to get the lead (at the start) and hopefully dictate the pace. I liked every caution, especially since they seemed to fall right my way. I didn’t even have to lap a car. We got in lapped traffic twice and luckily a caution came out.”
Casebolt stuck the nose of his machine inside Clanton’s off turn two on lap 44 and stayed close the remainder of the distance, but Clanton held strong to score his 18th career win on the WoO LMS and close to within four points of Richards in the tour standings.
“I was just using most of the racetrack,” said Clanton, whose previous victory this season came in the tour opener on Feb. 8 at Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Ga. “We got tight there in the middle and I was just floating in the bottom, letting it float across and then using the brown to leave the corner. I was trying not to spin the tires because I knew we had a softer right-rear.
“It feels good that we were able to hold on. We’ve had a lot of good runs so far this year but we wanted another win.”
Casebolt, 34, was left wondering if he could have done anything differently to change the outcome.
“I felt like we had the fastest car, but I think I missed my mark a couple of times with a few laps to go,” said Casebolt, who started fourth. “Once my tires cooled off after those cautions it was so hard for me to hit my mark coming off (turn) two. I needed to be low, but I had to get so crooked entering one with those cold tires that I didn’t feel like I had enough drive. So I just carried momentum in one and two, and that was probably a mistake. I maybe could’ve drove a little bit different and had a better shot at winning.
“In my opinion, I felt like I would’ve had a much better shot at winning the race had that last caution not come out,” he continued. “I think I was passing Owens (for second) at the time and we were really coming on, but the caution killed me.”
Casebolt tried to put on a happy face, but it wasn’t easy after threatening to bag his first-ever WoO LMS victory.
“A second is great – it’s another great run for us this year – but we’re here to win,” said Casebolt. “And we were so close to winning. It’s not like we were a half-straightaway away. We were half a car-length away, and that’s just a little bit hard to handle.”
Four caution flags slowed the event. The most serious incident occurred on lap 19 when Vic Hill of Morristown, Tenn., slapped the turn-three wall after apparent contact with another while racing just outside the top 10. Other cautions flew on lap 14 for Tommy Kerr of Maryville, Tenn., who slowed with a flat tire; lap 18 for Eric Wells of Hazard, Ky., who slowed with his car’s rearend sparking after catching the wall; and lap 38 for Rick Eckert of York, Pa., who relinquished sixth place to a broken rear axle.
Other casualties of the race were Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., and Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn. Moments after Kerr brought out the lap-14 caution, Marlar slowed between turns one and two with mechanical trouble that caused flames to appear under his car. He collected Bloomquist and both drivers retired from further action.
Dillon Wood of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., who started from the pole position, slipped to sixth at the finish but earned the $250 WoO LMS top-rookie bonus and matched his career-best run on the circuit. Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., fell one spot from where he started to finish seventh; Bub McCool of Vicksburg, Miss., placed eighth after starting 15th; Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., finished ninth after using a provisional to start 24 th because he was involved in a heat-race tangle that busted his car’s radiator; and Riley Hickman of Cleveland, Tenn.
Defending WoO LMS champion Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., finished a quiet 14th after using a provisional to start 23rd. His night went downhill when he blew a right-rear tire while leading the second heat with two laps remaining.
Thirty-five cars signed in for the event, which was run before a near-capacity crowd despite the threat of rain that forced track and series officials to push the program.
Marlar was the overall fastest qualifier in Ohlins Shocks Time Trials, which were split into ‘A’ and ‘B’ groups. His lap of 14.990 seconds gave him his second WoO LMS fast-time honor of 2013.
Heat winners were Casebolt, Davenport, Marlar and Clanton. The B-Mains were captured by Chad Ogle of Sevierville, Tenn., and Hill.
The WoO LMS’s weekend tripleheader in the Volunteer State is scheduled to continue on Saturday night (April 27) at Tazewell Speedway and Sunday evening (April 28) at Duck River Raceway Park in Wheel.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Fans can also follow the WoO LMS on Twitter at Twitter.com/WoOLateModels and Facebook atFacebook.com/WorldofOutlaws .
Results of World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Mountain Outlaw 50’ at Smoky Mountain Speedway (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):
1. (2) Shane Clanton/50 $10,550
2. (4) Steve Casebolt Jr./50 $5,550
3. (3) Jimmy Owens/50 $3,050
4. (5) Josh Richards/50 $3,200
5. (7) Billy Ogle Jr./50 $2,000
6. (1) Dillon Wood/50 $1,950
7. (6) Jonathan Davenport/50 $1,450
8. (15) Bub McCool/50 $2,000
9. (24) Tim McCreadie/50 $1,850
10. (16) Riley Hickman/50 $1,150
11. (10) Scott James/50 $1,600
12. (14) Mark Vineyard/50 $1,000
13. (19) Chub Frank/50 $1,550
14. (23) Darrell Lanigan/50 $1,550
15. (20) Tim Fuller/50 $1,400
16. (21) Tommy Kerr/50 $850
17. (25) Morgan Bagley/50 $620
18. (12) Rick Eckert/37 $1,400
19. (13) Michael Asberry/28 $730
20. (22) Clint Smith/25 $1,250
21. (18) Vic Hill/18 $700
22. (17) Chad Ogle/18 $700
23. (11) Eric Wells/17 $1,250
24. (8) Mike Marlar/13 $700
25. (9) Scott Bloomquist/13 $700
* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses
Time of Race: 26 Mins., 32.342 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 0.164 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 4 (laps 14, 18, 19, 38)
Lap Leaders: Clanton (1-50)
Provisional Starters: Lanigan, McCreadie (WoO); Bagley (WoO emergency)
Rookie of the Race: Wood ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Casebolt ($500)
Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/
Group ‘A’
1. c9-Steve Casebolt Jr./Richmond, IN 15.150
2. 49-Jonathan Davenport/Blairsville, GA 15.218
3. 201-Billy Ogle Jr./Knoxville, TN 15.300
4. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 15.305
5. 0-Scott Bloomquist/Mooresburg, TN 15.379
6. 47-Brett Miller/Greenville, TN 15.417
7. 360-Michael Asberry/Crossville, GN 15.451
8. 20-Jimmy Owens/Newport, TN 15.482
9. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 15.538
10. 1G-Scott James/Bright, IN 15.627
11. 10-Chad Ogle/Sevierville, TN 15.687
12. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 15.710
13. 97-Bobby Giffin/Maryville, TN 15.808
14. 4-Mark Vineyard/Powell, TN 15.826
15. 14M-Morgan Bagley/Longview, TX 15.923
16. 91-Chuck Laney/Sevierville, TN 17.509
17. 4T-Tommy Kerr/Maryville, TN N/T
18. 257-Skylar Marlar/Winfield, TN N/T
Group ‘B’
1. 5b-Mike Marlar/Winfield, TN 14.990
2. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 15.055
3. 1W-Dillon Wood/New Smyrna Beach, FL 15.062
4. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 15.165
5. 1H-Vic Hill/Morristown, TN 15.219
6. 17M-Dale McDowell/Chickamauga, GA 15.225
7. 18-Eric Wells/Hazard, KY 15.227
8. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 15.240
9. 52d-Mark Douglas/Knoxville, TN 15.243
10. 116-Randy Weaver/Crossville, TN 15.277
11. 57J-Bub McCool/Vicksburg, MS 15.368
12. R1-Riley Hickman/Cleveland, TN 15.462
13. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 15.477
14. 63-Josh Collins/Knoxville, TN 15.522
15. 30-Ryan King/Seymour, TN 15.577
16. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 15.678
17. J12-Jeff Franklin/Ten Mile, TN 16.327
Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Casebolt, B. Ogle, Bloomquist, Asberry, C. Ogle, Frank, Bagley, Kerr, Giffin
Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Davenport, Owens, James, Vineyard, Miller, S. Marlar, Lanigan, Laney, McCreadie
Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): M. Marlar, Wood, Wells, McCool, Hill, C. Smith, Douglas, King, Franklin
Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Clanton, Richards, Eckert, Hickman, Fuller, Collins, McDowell, Weaver
B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): C. Ogle, Frank, Kerr, Miller, Bagley, S. Marlar, Laney (DNS) Lanigan, Giffen, McCreadie
B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Hill, Fuller, C. Smith, Douglas, Collins, Franklin (DNS) McDowell, King, Weaver
World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners (awards presented to noted finisher/qualifier or next highest displaying decal:
Ohlins Shocks ($50 cash to fast qualifier): Jonathan Davenport
Eibach Springs (one free spring to each B-Main winner): Tommy Kerr/Vic Hill
VP Race Fuels ‘Nice Jugs’ Award: (One VP 5-gallon container to fastest qualifier who misses A-Main): Randy Weaver
Wrisco Aluminum (3 sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner only): Shane Clanton
Armor All (One case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main): Steve Casebolt Jr.
Comp Cams ($50 certificate to A-Main winner): Shane Clanton
QuarterMaster ($100 certificate to A-Main winner, $50 certificate to 15th-place finish): Shane Clanton/Tim Fuller
MSD Ignition ($50 cash to A-Main winner): Josh Richards
STP ($50 cash to 2nd-place finisher in A-Main): Steve Casebolt Jr.
XS Power ($50 cash to 3rd-place finisher in A-Main): Jimmy Owens
Roush Yates ($50 cash to 4th-place finisher in A-Main): Josh Richards
JE Pistons ($50 cash to 5th-place finisher in A-Main): Bub McCool
Dominator ($50 cash to 6th-place finisher in A-Main): Bub McCool
American Race Wheels ($50 cash to 7th-place finisher in A-Main): Bub McCool
VP Race Fuels ($50 cash to 8th-place finisher in A-Main): Bub McCool
Edelbrock Manifolds ($50 cash to 9th-finisher in A-Main): Tim McCreadie
Comp Cams ($50 cash to 10th-place finisher in A-Main): Riley Hickman
XS Power ($60 product certificate to 11th-place finisher in A-Main): Scott James
Cometic Gasket ($50 cash to 12th-place finisher in A-Main): Chub Frank
JRI Shocks ($50 cash to 13th-place finisher in A-Main): Chub Frank
Super Flow Dynos ($50 cash to 14th-place finisher in A-Main): Tommy Kerr
JE Pistons (one complete set of JE Pro Seal rings to 16th-place finisher in A-Main, redeemable w/next purchase of set): Tommy Kerr
Klotz Lubricants ($50 cash to 17th-place finisher in A-Main): Morgan Bagley
Roush Yates ($50 gift card to 18th-place finisher in A-Main): Rick Eckert
QuarterMaster ($50 certificate to 19th-place finisher in A-Main): Michael Asberry
Arizona Sport Shirts ($100 certificate to 20th-place finisher in A-Main): Clint Smith
JE Pistons (one complete set of JE Pro Seal rings to 21st-place finisher in A-Main, redeemable w/next purchase of set): Vic Hill
Roush Yates ($50 gift card to 22nd-place finisher in A-Main): Eric Wells
MSD Ignition ($25 cash to 24th-place finisher in A-Main): Eric Wells
XS Power ‘Power Move of the Race’ ($60 product certificate): Tim McCreadie
Roush Yates ($25 gift card to driver who leads most laps in the A-Main): Shane Clanton
Reliable Painting (one free tire): Bub McCool
2013 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of April 26 – 11 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):
1. Josh Richards 1566
2. Shane Clanton 1562 (-4)
3. Rick Eckert 1484 (-82)
4. Darrell Lanigan 1480 (-86)
5. Tim McCreadie 1448 (-118)
6. Scott James 1400 (-166)
7. Tim Fuller 1388 (-178)
8. Eric Wells 1382 (-184)
9. Chub Frank 1360 (-206)
10. Morgan Bagley 1358 (-208)
11. Bub McCool 1350 (-216)
12. Clint Smith 1258 (-308)
13. Dillon Wood 1196 (-370)
14. Brandon Sheppard 942 (-624)
15. Casey Roberts 912 (-654)
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: American Racing Custom Wheels (Official Custom Wheel), Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), KMC (Official Custom Truck Wheel), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), Vicci (Official Uniform), VP Racing Fuel (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and McCarthy’s One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning (Raye Vest Memorial Pill Draw Award); in addition to contingency sponsors: Butlerbuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Dominator Race Products, Edelbrock, Eibach Springs, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, QuarterMaster, Roush Yates Performance Parts, Superflow Dynos, Wrisco Aluminum and XS Power Racing Batteries; along with manufacturer sponsors Capital Race Cars, Integra Shocks, GRT Chassis, Jake’s Carts, Racing Electronics, Rocket Chassis, TNT Rescue, and Warrior Chassis.