Three Series Drivers Finish on the Podium
DELMAR, Del. – August 11, 2016 – Josh Richards pulled away from the field Thursday night, winning the Fulton Bank 50 at Delaware International Speedway by more than four seconds. The victory was Richards’ 14th, and with it he earns the $10,000 purse.
Richards’ wins total this season stands three shy of tying Darrell Lanigan for most wins in a single season (17). Not only that, Richards tied Lanigan for most series wins all-time with 72. The win was Richards’ second consecutive trip to victory lane.
“That’s wild,” said Richards about tying the record, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd. “It’s been an incredible season. We’ve had so much fun. You see guys get on these rolls. You just don’t want to mess it up. I’m so blessed to be able to do what I do.”
Kenny Pettyjohn and Amanda Whaley, two Delaware natives, led the 24-car field into the green flag of the 50-lap feature. Though Pettyjohn drew the No. 1 spot earlier in the night, Whaley overtook him within the first few laps; Pettyjohn fell out of the top five. She thereon built a two-second buffer from the field, and she was consistently quicker than the rest of the field by two-tenths of a second.
Richards on the other hand found himself in an early battle with 2015 Rookie of the Year Brandon Overton, who eventually passed him six laps into the race. In a three-lap sequence, Richards butted fenders with Overton. The two were side-by-side, neither willing to surrender their track position. Richards soon redeemed his spot in his No. 1 Valvoline/ Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket racecar and moved to the outside to challenge series veteran Rick Eckert for the runner-up position.
Within the first ten laps, Richards overcame the two-second deficit set by Whaley eight laps into the race. He thereon built his lead by three to four-tenths of a second per lap. Meanwhile, Overton’s powerful No. 76 Budweiser/ C-H Paving Moyer/ Victory machine moved passed Eckert into third.
The top three began to separate themselves from the rest of the field by eight-tenths of a second. But Richards built one of his own from those on the podium – more than a three second cushion. Whaley, Overton and Eckert soon found themselves in a game of musical chairs for second and third place.
Before the third caution on lap 24, Whaley and Overton simultaneously steam-rolled down the front-stretch. Whaley held her ground at the bottom of the track while Overton swept through the top. Exiting turn four, Overton carried enough momentum to make the pass for second.
“We’re getting better,” Overton said. “We’re more consistent. I can’t thank Fulton Bank, the World of Outlaws and Craftsman for having us here.”
The caution on lap 24 gave defending series champion Shane Clanton a window of opportunity to break into the podium. On the restart, Clanton used the outside – his go-to route for half-mile tracks – to contest for third. Whaley and Clanton were neck-and-neck for three laps, until Clanton cleared his No. 25 Weldbank Energy/ Coopers Meat Packers Capital car for the spot entering turn three. Whaley finished fifth on the night.
The top three crossed the start/finish line in two-second intervals with less than 20 laps remaining. With 10 laps remaining, the podium was separated from the field by four seconds – a similar margin Richards would eventually win by. Overton finished in the runner-up position, while Clanton rounded-out the podium.
“If anyone would’ve told me I was going to be on the podium at Delaware I’d be surprised,” Clanton said. “Tonight showed that we put our head down and got where we needed to be. We just needed to be a little better to catch the No. 1 car, but we’re still working. We have some more races this season, so hopefully we can win all of them.”
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World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series Statistical Report; August 11, 2016; Delaware International Speedway; Delmar, Del.
A-Main (50-laps):1. 1- Josh Richards [6] [ $10,850]; 2. 76- Brandon Overton [8] [$5,700]; 3. 25- Shane Clanton [10] [$3,800]; 4. 38s- Kenny Pettyjohn [1] [$3,100]; 5. 4- Amanda Whaley [2] [$2,000]; 6. 72c- Jason Covert [9] [$1,700]; 7. 1*- Chub Frank [12] [$2,150]; 8. 3s- Brian Shirley [3] [$2,050]; 9. 99jr- Frank Heckenast Jr. [15] [$1,750]; 10. 88- Ricky Elliot [17] [$1,100]; 11. 55L- Donald Lingo Jr. [7] [$1,100]; 12. 91- Tyler Erb [19] [$1,400]; 13. 14m- Morgan Bagley [23] [$1,450]; 14. 7- Rick Eckert [4] [$1,650]; 15. 18- Eric Wells [13] [$1,400]; 16. 2c- Joey Coulter [22] [$800]; 17. 21JR- Billy Moyer Jr. [18] [$1,320]; 18. 93- Donald Bradsher [14] [750]; 19. 0- Dale Hollidge [11] [$730]; 20. 2- Dan Stone [24] [700]; 21. 8- Mark Pettyjohn [16] [$700]; 22. 99B- Boom Briggs [5] [$700]; 23. 7R- Ross Robinson [21] [$700]; 24. c9- Steve Casebolt [20] [$1,250]
Last-Chance Showdown Group No. 1 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. 88- Ricky Elliot; 2. 91- Tyler Erb; 3. 7R- Ross Robinson; 4. 14m- Morgan Bagley; 5. 119B- Bryan Bernheisel; 6. 82- Andy Fries; 7. 12- Charles Schaffer; 8. 22R- Reese Massiello; 9. KB- Kerry King; 10. 41- Jamie Lathroum; 11. 2R- Max Robichaud (DNS)
Last-Chance Showdown Group No. 2 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 21JR- Billy Moyer Jr.; 2. c9- Steve Casebolt; 3. 2c- Joey Coulter; 4. 2- Dan Stone; 5. 80- Dylan Evans; 6. 11- Joe Warren; 7. 92- Nick Davis; 8. 12k- Kevin Scott Jr.; 9. 118- Rob Schirmer; 10. 1V- Jeremy Miller
Qualifying Group No. 1: 1. 7- Rick Eckert, 18.479; 2. 99B- Boom Briggs, 18.528; 3. 72c- Jason Covert, 18.532; 4. 93- Donald Bradsher, 18.592; 5. 4- Amanda Whaley, 18.733; 6. 25- Shane Clanton, 18.743; 7. 18- Eric Wells, 18.848; 8. 55L- Donald Lingo Jr., 18.595; 9. 41- Jamie Lathroum,19.093; 10. 88- Ricky Elliot, 19.127; 11. 14m- Morgan Bagley, 19.146; 12. KB- Kerry King, 19.360; 13. 82- Andy Fries, 19.418; 14. 119B- Bryan Bernheisel, 19.437; 15. 7R- Ross Robinson, 19.480; 16. 22R- Reese Massiello, 19.516; 17. 2R- Max Rodichaud, 20.374; 18. 12- Charles Schaffer, 20.425; 19. 91- Tyler Erb (DNS)
Qualifying Group No. 2: 1. 76- Brandon Overton, 18.527; 2. 1- Josh Richards, 18.785; 3. 3s- Brian Shirley, 18.868; 4. 21JR- Billy Moyer Jr., 19.056; 5. 0- Dale Hollidge, 19.064; 6. 38s- Kyle Pettyjohn, 19.099; 7. 99jr- Frank Heckenast Jr., 19.269; 8. 1*- Chub Frank, 19.324; 9. 2c- Joey Coulter, 19.351; 10. 92- Nick Davis, 19.423; 11. 1V- Jeremy Miller, 19.431; 12. 80- Dylan Evans, 19.523; 13. 2- Dan Stone, 19.591; 14. 8- Mark Pettyjohn, 19.716; 15. 11- Joe Warren, 20.169; 16. 118- Rob Schirmer, 20.464; 17. 12k- Kevin Scott Jr., 20.584; 18. c9- Steve Casebolt (DNS)
Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): 1. 7- Rick Eckert; 2. 4- Amanda Whaley; 3. 72c- Jason Covert; 4. 18- Eric Wells; 5. 7R- Ross Robinson; 6. 91- Tyler Erb; 7. 14m- Morgan Bagley; 8. 41- Jamie Lathroum; 9. 82- Andy Fries; 10. 2R- Max Robichaud
Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): 1. 99B- Boom Briggs; 2. 55L- Donald Lingo Jr.; 3. 25- Shane Clanton; 4. 93- Donald Bradsher; 5. 88- Ricky Elliot; 6. KB- Kerry King; 7. 119B- Bryan Bernheisel; 8. 12- Charles Schaffer; 9. 22R- Reese Massiello
Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): 1. 76- Brandon Overton; 2. 3s- Brian Shirley; 3. 0- Dale Hollidge; 4. 99jr- Frank Heckenast Jr.; 5. 2c- Joey Coulter; 6. 2- Dan Stone; 7. 11- Joe Warren; 8. 1V- Jeremy Miller; 9. 12k- Kevin Scott Jr.
Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): 1. 1-Josh Richards; 2. 38s- Kenny Pettyjohn; 3. 1*- Chub Frank; 4. 118- Rob Schirmer; 9. 80- Dylan Evans
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: Brandon Overton
Wrisco Aluminum – 3 Sheets of aluminum: Josh Richards
Penske Shocks – TBD Product certificate: Brandon Overton
JE Pistons – $50 Cash: Chub Frank
VP Racing Fuels – $50 Cash: Brian Shirley
Edelbrock – $50 Cash: Tyler Erb
Comp Cams – $50 Cash: Tyler Erb
Morton Buildings – $50 Cash: Donald Lingo Jr.
Cometic Gasket – $50 Cash: Tyler Erb
JRI Shocks – $50 Cash: Rick Eckert
SuperFlow – $50 Cash: Rick Eckert
QuarterMaster – $25 Product certificate: Eric Wells
JE Pistons – Set of rings: Joey Coulter
QuarterMaster – $50 Product certificate: Boom Briggs
Arizona Sport Shirts – $100 Product certificate: Ross Robinson
JE Pistons – Set of rings: Boom Briggs
MSD – $25 Cash: Steve Casebolt
QA1 – $50 Cash: Rick Eckert
Bonus Bucks – $500 Cash: Kenny Pettyjohn
Rookie Bonus – $250 Cash: Tyler Erb
Craftsman Bonus – $100 Cash: Kenny Pettyjohn
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Josh Richards
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Brandon Overton
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Shane Clanton
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Chub Frank
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Brian Shirley
2016 World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series Point Standings as of August 11 – 30 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/residence/points/deficit to leader):
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Residence | Points | Trail By |
| 1 | 1 | Josh Richards | Shinnston, WV | 4266 | 0 |
| 2 | 25 | Shane Clanton | Zebulon, GA | 4024 | 242 |
| 3 | 7 | Rick Eckert | York, PA | 3916 | 350 |
| 4 | 3S | Brian Shirley | Chatham, IL | 3778 | 488 |
| 5 | 76 | Brandon Overton | Evans, GA | 3776 | 490 |
| 6 | 21JR | Billy Moyer Jr. | Batesville, AR | 3666 | 600 |
| 7 | C9 | Steve Casebolt | Richmond, IN | 3660 | 606 |
| 99JR | Frank Heckenast Jr. | Frankfort, IL | 3660 | 606 | |
| 9 | 1* | Chub Frank | Bear Lake, PA | 3656 | 610 |
| 10 | 18 | Eric Wells | Hazard, KY | 3584 | 682 |
| 11 | 14M | Morgan Bagley | Gladewater, TX | 3578 | 688 |
| 12 | 18C | Chase Junghans | Manhattan, KS | 3348 | 918 |
| 13 | 91 | Tyler Erb | New Waverly, TX | 3222 | 1044 |
| 14 | 2C | Joey Coulter | Union Grove, NC | 3066 | 1200 |
| 15 | 99B | Boom Briggs | Bear Lake, PA | 2858 | 1408 |
| 16 | 77 | Jordan Yaggy | Rochester, MN | 1586 | 2680 |
| 17 | 11 | Austin Smith | Cedartown, GA | 1368 | 2898 |
| 18 | 6 | Jonathan Davenport | Blairsville, GA | 1210 | 3056 |
| 19 | 39 | Tim McCreadie | Avon, NY | 1178 | 3088 |
| 20 | 25Z | Mason Zeigler | Chalk Hill, PA | 1156 | 3110 |
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.