Josh Richards Captures His 12th Win of the Season, 70th Career Series Victory
NEW RICHMOND, Wisc. – August 4, 2016 – Josh Richards got his golden egg Thursday night, reaching one dozen wins at Cedar Lake Speedway’s USA Nationals preliminary show. It was Richards’ 70th career World of Outlaws Craftsman®Late Model Series win.
“From 2013-15 the track changed,” said Richards, who won the $6,000 purse. “But from last year to this year, the track was quite a bit different – with the surface and everything. We could race on it really well. I want to thank all the track guys for putting on this event and working hard on the track. This is the track to race on. Thanks to all the fans for coming out.”
Richards, who won his heat race earlier in the night, caught fire in the 30-lap feature. He was supposed to start fifth in the A-Main, but electrical failures in Jonathan Davenport’s car forced him to forfeit third position. This moved everyone up by one position. Davenport won the show last season, but helped others’ cases to win this time around.
Local hero A.J. Diemel led the 27-car field into the green flag, and he held his own against regional favorites and national studs. This was while drivers began to fight for track position. Richards made quick-work of Jason Feger, moving into a podium spot. This set up a three-wide battle for the lead following the race’s first caution. It was not until lap 10 when Eckert managed to get under Diemel in turn two for the lead. One lap later, Richards followed suit from the top of the front straightaway. The night’s second caution called-off his advances but for a short time.
Diemel began to fade; he finished eighth. This rekindled a regular battle between two former series champions, who are also in the top three in the 2016 series championship race. Richards, wheeling his No. 1 Valvoline/ Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket car, quickly gained on Eckert; he closed more than a one-second gap to a 0.886-second margin with 11 laps remaining. The race’s third caution diminished what cushion Eckert had left, but Feger returned to challenge Richards on the restart.
Barreling into turn four, Feger got inside Richards but within that lap, another caution prevented any position changes. Eckert, Richards and Feger maintained their podium spots respectively. In this restart, Eckert left a window of opportunity for Richards at the bottom of the track. With 10 laps remaining, Richards swept under Eckert’s No. 7 Monumental Paving & Escavating/ P-J Contracting Co. Longhorn machine.
“Rick put on one heck of a battle up there,” Richards said. “The car just went, and I just had to go for it. I grew up watching Rick win races here when I was little, so passing him there was pretty cool. He wanted to win it, but I was going to give it all I had.”
Richards would go on to extend his lead to 0.945 seconds, until the fifth caution regrouped the field. Though this restart was uneventful, the sixth and final caution was not. Richards and Eckert separated themselves from the rest of the pack by more than one second with six laps remaining. Eckert made one last attempt at Richards.
“It was a good run,” Eckert said. “I could just not get going on those restarts. [Josh] had a little more traction, and he could drive up off the corner better than I could. That’s the way he’s been. They’ve been the team to beat for sure. We can see him now, so we’re getting closer – as awful as that is to say. Here, we could finally see him.”
Richards was too strong. Eckert, though he has not won since February 13, recorded his ninth top five finish of the season. Feger’s No. 25F Cheap Cars/ Floyd’s Waste Systems Black Diamond car rounded-out the podium.
“We were pretty good up there for a few minutes,” said Feger, who used the top of the track to his advantage throughout the night. “We made a few changes with the gears before the feature that hurt us on the top-side. We geared it wrong, and if we changed it down I think we would’ve been a lot faster on the top. We were good through the middle, and I thought we would’ve had something for [Rick]. It felt like we both lost right-rear grip there, and Josh didn’t seem like he did that. He’s been on fire.”
Richards will seek his second USA Nationals win Saturday night.
“We’re sure going to try,” Richards said. “Our car is really good. We’ll just have to get it to maneuver a little bit better through lapped traffic. These guys are really good, and just a little tough to pass right now.”
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World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series Statistical Report; August 4, 2016; Cedar Lake Speedway; New Richmond, Wisc.
A-Main (30-laps): 1. 1- Josh Richards [5] [$6,350]; 2. 7- Rick Eckert [2] [$3,350]; 3. 25F- Jason Feger [4] [$2,100]; 4. c9- Steve Casebolt [11] [$1,950]; 5. 21- Billy Moyer [9] [$1,650]; 6. 3s- Brian Shirley [8] [$1,600]; 7. 32- Bobby Pierce [19] [$1,800]; 8. 58- A.J. Diemel [1] [$1,250]; 9. 32s- Chris Simpson [10] [$1,150]; 10. 25z- Mason Zeigler [20] [$1,000]; 11. 1*- Chub Frank [16] [$1,200]; 12. 21JR- Billy Moyer Jr. [24] [$1,150]; 13. 25- Shane Clanton [21] [$950]; 14. 91- Tyler Erb [26] [$875]; 15. 99jr- Frank Heckenast Jr. [12] [$800]; 16. 18c- Chase Junghans [6] [$700]; 17. 14m- Morgan Bagley [25] [$660]; 18. 76- Brandon Overton [17] [$690]; 19. 18- Eric Wells [7] [$670]; 20. 77- Jordan Yaggy [22] [$600]; 21. 2c- Joey Coulter [27] [$110]; 22. 25s- Chad Simpson [15] [$600]; 23. 99B- Boom Briggs [13] [$600]; 24. 15A- Nick Anvelink [23] [$625]; 25. 39- Tim McCreadie [18] [$700]; 26. 90- Lance Matthees [14] [$600]; 27. 6- Jonathan Davenport [3] [$600]
Last-Chance Showdown No. 1 (10 laps – Top 2 Transfer): 1. 32- Bobby Pierce; 2. 77- Jordan Yaggy; 3. 0- Jake O’Neil; 4. 15- Steve Francis; 5. 74M- Mitch McGrath; 6. B1- Brent Larson; 7. 11- Gordy Gundaker; 8. 16b- Tyler Bruening; 9. 93- Ray Moore; 10. 99- Mike Mullen; 11. 15H- Jon Henry
Last-Chance Showdown No. 2 (10 laps – Top 2 Transfer): 1. 25z- Mason Zeigler; 2. 15A- Nick Anvelink; 3. 18b- Shannon Babb; 4. 4- Cody Mahoney; 5. 96T- R.C. Whitwell; 6. 14m- Morgan Bagley; 7. 98- Jason Rauen; 8. 29- Spencer Diercks; 9. 51- Joey Moriarty; 10. 6H- Nick Herrick; 11. 28M- Jimmy Mars (DNS)
Last-Chance Showdown No. 3 (10 laps – Top 2 Transfer): 1. 25- Shane Clanton; 2. 21JR- Billy Moyer Jr.; 3. 91- Tyler Erb; 4. 28E- Dennis Erb Jr.; 5. 1P- Earl Pearson Jr.; 6. 2c- Joey Coulter Jr.; 7. 2M- Allen Murray; 8. 10s- Taylor Scheffler; 9. 51F- Matthew Furman; 10. 57- Chad Williamson
Qualifying Group A: 1. 6- Jonathan Davenport, 15.028; 2. 7- Rick Eckert, 15.132; 3. 21- Billy Moyer, 15.221; 4. 18- Eric Wells, 15.254; 5. 3s- Brian Shirley, 15.294; 6. 18c- Chase Junghans, 15.368; 7. 77- Jordan Yaggy, 15.394; 8. 15- Steve Francis, 15.411; 9. 25s- Chad Simpson, 15.433; 10. 74M- Mitch McGrath, 15.526; 11. 32- Bobby Pierce, 15.533; 12. 15A- Nick Anvelink, 15.658; 13. 99B- Boom Briggs, 15.698; 14. 99- Mike Mullen, 15.707; 15. 18b- Shannon Babb, 15.729; 16. 0- Jake O’Neil, 15.786; 17. 90- Lance Matthees, 15.791; 18. 51- Joey Moriarty, 15.804; 19. 16b- Tyler Bruening, 15.836; 20. 11- Gordy Gundaker, 15.942; 21. 96T- R.C. Whitwell, 15.985; 22. 15H- Jon Henry, 16.044; 23. 93- Ray Moore, 16.069; 24. 14m- Morgan Bagley, 16.072; 25. B1- Brett Larson, 16.221
Qualifying Group B: 1. 1- Josh Richards, 15.380; 2. 25F- Jason Feger, 15.635; 3. 99jr- Frank Heckenast Jr., 15.698; 4. 28M- Jimmy Mars, 15.751; 5. 91- Tyler Erb, 15.753; 6. 58- A.J. Diemel, 15.776; 7. 4- Cody Mahoney, 15.781; 8. c9- Steve Casebolt, 15.808; 9. 28E- Dennis Erb Jr., 15.809; 10. 1*- Chub Frank, 15.819; 11. 76- Brandon Overton, 15.833; 12. 39- Tim McCreadie, 15.833; 13. 32s- Chris Simpson, 15.835; 14. 51F- Matthew Furman, 15.835; 15. 25- Shane Clanton, 15.851; 16. 25z- Mason Zeigler, 15.881; 17. 21JR- Billy Moyer Jr., 15.963; 18. 1P- Earl Pearson Jr., 15.971; 19. 98- Jason Rauen, 16.022; 20. 2M- Allen Murray, 16.058; 21. 2c- Joey Coulter, 16.082; 22. 29- Spencer Diercks, 16.089; 23. 57- Chad Williamson, 16.143; 24. 10s- Taylor Scheffler, 16.305; 25. 6H- Nick Herrick, 17.089
Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. 6- Jonathan Davenport; 2. 18- Eric Wells; 3. 99B- Boom Briggs; 4. 77- Jordan Yaggy; 5. 16b- Tyler Bruening; 6. 0- Jake O’Neil; 7. B1- Brent Larson; 8. 74M- Brent Larson; 8. 74M- Mitch McGrath; 9. 15H- Jon Henry
Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. 7- Rick Eckert; 2. 3s- Brian Shirley; 3. 90- Lance Matthees; 4. 32- Bobby Pierce; 5. 99- Mike Mullen; 6. 11- Gordy Gundaker; 7. 93- Ray Moore; 8. 15- Steve Francis
Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. 18c- Chase Junghans; 2. 21- Billy Moyer; 3. 25s- Chad Simpson; 4. 15A- Nick Anvelink; 5. 18b- Shannon Babb; 6. 14m- Morgan Bagley; 7. 96T- R.C. Whitwell; 8. 51- Joey Moriarty
Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. 1- Josh Richards; 2. 32s- Chris Simpson; 3. 1*- Chub Frank; 4. 25z- Mason Zeigler; 5. 4- Cody Mahoney; 6. 29- Spencer Diercks; 7. 98- Jason Rauen; 8. 28M- Jimmy Mars; 9. 6H-Nick Herrick (DNS)
Heat No. 5 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. 25F- Jason Feger; 2. c9- Steve Casebolt; 3. 76- Brandon Overton; 4. 91- Tyler Erb; 5. 21JR- Billy Moyer Jr.; 6. 2M- Allen Murray; 7. 51F- Matthew Furman; 8. 57- Chad Williamson
Heat No. 6 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. 58- A.J. Diemel; 2. 99jr- Frank Heckenast Jr.; 3. 39- Tim McCreadie; 4. 25- Shane Clanton; 5. 28E- Dennis Erb Jr.; 6. 1P- Earl Peason Jr.; 7. 2c- Joey Coulter; 8. 10s- Taylor Scheffler
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: Rick Eckert
Wrisco Aluminum – 3 Sheets of aluminum: Josh Richards
Penske Shocks – TBD Product certificate: Rick Eckert
JE Pistons – $50 Cash: Billy Moyer
VP Racing Fuels – $50 Cash: A.J. Diemel
Edelbrock – $50 Cash: Chris Simpson
Comp Cams – $50 Cash: Chub Frank
Morton Buildings – $50 Cash: Chub Frank
Cometic Gasket – $50 Cash: Billy Moyer Jr.
JRI Shocks – $50 Cash: Tyler Erb
SuperFlow – $50 Cash: Tyler Erb
QuarterMaster – $25 Product certificate: Chase Junghans
JE Pistons – Set of rings: Chase Junghans
QuarterMaster – $50 Product certificate: Eric Wells
Arizona Sport Shirts – $100 Product certificate: Jordan Yaggy
JE Pistons – Set of rings: Joey Coulter
MSD – $25 Cash: Nick Anvelink
QA1 – $50 Cash: Rick Eckert
Bonus Bucks – $500 Cash: Bobby Pierce
Rookie Bonus – $250 Cash: Billy Moyer Jr.
Craftsman Bonus – $100 Cash: Jason Feger
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Josh Richards
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Rick Eckert
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Steve Casebolt
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Brian Shirley
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Chub Frank
2016 World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series Point Standings as of August 4 – 28 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/residence/points/deficit to leader):
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Residence | Points | Trail By |
| 1 | 1 | Josh Richards | Shinnston, WV | 4056 | 0 |
| 2 | 25 | Shane Clanton | Zebulon, GA | 3820 | 236 |
| 3 | 7 | Rick Eckert | York, PA | 3734 | 322 |
| 4 | 3S | Brian Shirley | Chatham, IL | 3584 | 472 |
| 5 | 76 | Brandon Overton | Evans, GA | 3570 | 486 |
| 6 | C9 | Steve Casebolt | Richmond, IN | 3498 | 558 |
| 7 | 21JR | Billy Moyer Jr. | Batesville, AR | 3490 | 566 |
| 8 | 99JR | Frank Heckenast Jr. | Frankfort, IL | 3468 | 588 |
| 9 | 1* | Chub Frank | Bear Lake, PA | 3460 | 596 |
| 10 | 18 | Eric Wells | Hazard, KY | 3404 | 652 |
| 11 | 14M | Morgan Bagley | Gladewater, TX | 3394 | 662 |
| 12 | 18C | Chase Junghans | Manhattan, KS | 3288 | 768 |
| 13 | 91 | Tyler Erb | New Waverly, TX | 3036 | 1020 |
| 14 | 2C | Joey Coulter | Union Grove, NC | 2888 | 1168 |
| 15 | 99B | Boom Briggs | Bear Lake, PA | 2692 | 1364 |
| 16 | 77 | Jordan Yaggy | Rochester, MN | 1526 | 2530 |
| 17 | 11 | Austin Smith | Cedartown, GA | 1368 | 2688 |
| 18 | 6 | Jonathan Davenport | Blairsville, GA | 1150 | 2906 |
| 19 | 39 | Tim McCreadie | Avon, NY | 1118 | 2938 |
| 20 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | Mooresburg, TN | 1116 | 2940 |
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, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, Rocket Chassis and TNT Rescue.