Clanton and Eckert Duel for More than Half the Feature
SPRING VALLEY, Minn. – July 9, 2016 – In the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series’ 500th feature event in the modern era on Saturday night, Josh Richards rockets to his 67th career series win at Deer Creek Speedway. The win was his ninth of the season.
“I’ll tell you, this place does not get enough credit,” Richards said. “This is probably one of the top facilities in the country, and I always enjoy coming here. I want to thank the fans for coming out. It’s cool to win on this stage.”
The podium reflected the top three in the points standings – Richards, Shane Clanton and Rick Eckert battling to a one-two-three finish respectively. Richards, who started second in the feature, wasted no time on Billy Moyer Jr. for first. Richards passed him by the third lap, despite a valiant effort from Moyer to protect the lead spot – the first time he led a series feature into the green flag.
Richards opened-up a 1.151 lead five laps later in his No. 1 Valvoline/ Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket car, while Clanton joined Moyer and third-place Boom Briggs in a side-by-side fight for a podium spot. Nobody wanted to lose the game of musical chairs between them, as the three-way fight lasted four more laps until Clanton made his move on Briggs in his No. 25 Weldbank Energy/ Coopers Meat Packers Capital car. Eckert, biding his time, entered the battle and took fourth away from a fading Briggs.
Another three-way battle followed the feature’s second caution on lap 13. Behind Richards on the restart, Moyer, Clanton and Eckert spanned three-wide entering turn four. Clanton had the upper-hand leaving turn four, and a last-ditch effort by Moyer to reclaim the second spot fell short. Moyer fought to have another chance at Clanton, but could only come within .800 seconds then; Eckert swept under Moyer for third shortly after.
Moyer fell out of the podium picture briefly, but a caution with 24 laps completed revitalized his chances. Moreover, the race’s third caution regrouped him with Clanton and Eckert yet again. On the restart, Clanton and Eckert moved up the track while Moyer sunk low. Moyer began to fade after one lap, while Clanton and Eckert dueled.
Clanton challenged Richards briefly on the restart before resuming his battle with Eckert, but it was a game of cat and mouse in Richards’ favor. The closest Clanton got to Richards for the remainder of the race was at the finale caution of the night on lap 43.
Richards strong restarts prevailed, propelling him to a 2.759- second lead and eventual victory. Clanton in the meantime had his hands full with Eckert – one last showdown before the checkers. The two flew around the track fender-to-fender, but Clanton was able to break away three laps later. Eckert and his No. 7 Monumental Paving & Excavating/ P-J Contracting Co. Longhorn machine settled for third.
“I feel Eckert was a little bit better when we got in front of him,” Clanton said. “I’m just happy to be here, for all our fans to see us, support us, and I love just being in Minnesota.”
This was Eckert’s 500th appearance in the series; he has been with the series since World Racing Group rekindled it in 2004. Eckert joked when he was asked about his “greatest series memory,” saying he is thankful that his memory is still even there as he gets older. This particular race in a monumental moment will be another to add to his 13 years of memories with the series.
“Yeah, we’ve made some real progress over the past couple night,” Eckert said. “I just couldn’t get Shane cleared there, and it looked like Josh was fading there after the last caution. We were inches away from each other for half the race… I just got such a terrible start and I couldn’t rebound from that. I’d like to thank the fans for coming out.”
Chub Frank also recorded his 500th appearance with the series. Frank ran in the top ten through the majority of the race before bouncing off a wall with 17 laps remaining. He finished 19th on the night.
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World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series Statistical Report; July 9, 2016; Deer Creek Speedway; Spring Valley, Minn.
A-Main (50-laps): 1. 1- Josh Richards [3] [$12,225 ]; 2. 25- Shane Clanton [6] [$5,800]; 3. 7- Rick Eckert [4] [$3,900]; 4. 25s- Chad Simpson [8] [$3,100 ]; 5. 28M- Jimmy Mars[10] [$2,000]; 6. 91- Tyler Erb [15] [$1,950]; 7. 76- Brandon Overton [23] [$2,100]; 8. 3s- Brian Shirley [19] [$1,850]; 9. 21JR- Billy Moyer Jr. [1] [$2,000]; 10. C9- Steve Casebolt [24] [$1,650]; 11. 99JR- Frank Heckenast Jr. [13] [$1,600]; 12. 14m- Morgan Bagley [20] [$1,550]; 13. B1- Brent Larson [22] [$950]; 14. 18c- Chase Junghans [17] [$1,450]; 15. 77- Jordan Yaggy [21] [$850]; 16. 2c- Joey Coulter [7] [$800]; 17. 99B- Boom Briggs [2] [$970]; 18. 18- Eric Wells [5] [$1,350]; 19. 1*- Chub Frank [14] [$1,280]; 20. 20- Rodney Sanders [11] [$700]; 21. 32- Chris Simpson [9] [$700]; 22. 98- Jason Rauen [16] [$700]; 23. 58- A.J. Diemel [12] [$700]; 24. 11s- Austin Smith [18] [$700]
Non-qualifier (11 laps): 1. 90- Lance Matthees; 2. 16b- Tyler Bruening; 3. 58E- Dave Eckrich; 4. 11- Pat Doar; 5. 16- Austin Siebert; 6. 33x- Jeffrey Massingill; 7. 71- Rick Hanestad; 8. ’01- Shawn Mann; 9. 71jr- Buddy Hanestad; 10. 13- Ryan Konkel; 11. 10- Bob Schoenfelder
Last-Chance Showdown No. 1 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. 18c- Chase Junghans; 2. 3s- Brian Shirley; 3. 77- Jordan Yaggy; 4. C9- Steve Casebolt; 5. 76- Brandon Overton; 6. 90- Lance Matthees; 7. 16- Austin Siebert; 8. 11- Pat Doar; 9. ’01- Shawn Mann
Last-Chance Showdown No. 2 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. 11s- Austin Smith; 2. 14M- Morgan Bagley; 3. B1- Brent Larson; 4. 16b- Tyler Bruening; 5. 58E- Dave Eckrich; 6. 71- Rick Hanestad; 7. 33x- Jeffrey Massingill; 8. 71jr- Buddy Hanestad; 9. 13- Ryan Konkel; 10. 10- Bob Schoenfelder
Qualifying Group A: 1. 1- Josh Richards, 14.487; 2. 99B- Boom Briggs; 3. 25s- Chad Simpson; 14.571; 4. 2c- Joey Coulter, 14.775; 5. 32- Chris Simpson, 14.797; 6. 28M- Jimmy Mars, 14.817; 7. 99JR- Frank Heckenast Jr., 14.827; 8. C9- Steve Casebolt, 14.828; 9. 18c- Chase Junghans, 14.855; 10. 77- Jordan Yaggy, 14.875; 11. 76- Brandon Overton, 14.895; 12. 1*- Chub Frank, 15.015; 13. 16. Austin Siebert, 15.107; 14. 11- Pat Doar, 15.113; 15. 3s- Brian Shirley, 15.247; 16. 90- Lance Matthees, 15.361; 17. ‘01- Shawn Mann, 16.425
Qualifying Group B: 1. 25- Shane Clanton, 14.763; 2. 21JR- Billy Moyer Jr., 14.790; 3. 18- Eric Wells, 14.833; 4. 7- Rick Eckert, 14.851; 5. 91- Tyler Erb, 15.105; 6. B1- Brent Larson, 15.105; 7. 11s- Austin Smith, 15.105; 8. 98- Jason Rauen, 15.184; 9. 20- Rodney Sanders, 15.221; 10. 14M- Morgan Bagley, 15.308; 11. 58E- Dave Eckrich, 15.492; 12. 58- A.J. Diemel, 15.501; 13. 16b- Tyler Bruening, 15.545; 14. 71- Rick Hanestad, 16.155; 15. 33x- Jeffrey Massingill, 16.173; 16. 71jr- Buddy Hanestad, 16.351; 17. 13- Ryan Konkel, 17.517; 18. 10- Bob Schoenfelder
Heat No. 1 (10 laps- Top 4 Transfer): 1. 1- Josh Richards; 25s- Chad Simpson; 3. 32- Chris Simpson; 4. 99JR- Frank Heckenast Jr.; 5. 18c- Chase Junghans; 6. 3s- Brian Shirley; 7. 76- Brandon Overton; 8. 16- Austin Siebert; 9. ’01- Shawn Mann
Heat No. 2 (10 laps- Top 4 Transfer): 1. 99B- Boom Briggs; 2c- Joey Coulter; 3. 28M- Jimmy Mars; 4. 1*- Chub Frank; 5.C9- Steve Casebolt; 6. 77- Jordan Yaggy; 7. 90- Lance Matthees; 8. 11- Pat Doar; 9. 6- Nick Herrick (DNS)
Heat No. 3 (10 laps- Top 4 Transfer): 1. 18- Eric Wells; 2. 25- Shane Clanton; 3. 20- Rodney Sanders; 4. 91- Tyler Erb; 5. 11s- Austin Smith; 6. 16b- Tyler Bruening; 7. 58E- Dave Eckrich; 8. 33x- Jeffrey Massingill; 9. 13- Ryan Konkel
Heat No. 4 (10 laps- Top 4 Transfer): 1. 7- Rick Eckert; 2. 21JR- Billy Moyer Jr.; 3. 58- A.J. Diemel; 4. 98- Jason Rauen; 5. 14M- Morgan Bagley; 6. B1- Brent Larson; 7. 71- Rick Hanestad; 8. 71jr
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: Rick Eckert
JE Pistons – $50 Cash: Tyler Erb
VP Racing Fuels – $50 Cash: Brian Shirley
Edelbrock – $50 Cash: Billy Moyer Jr.
Comp Cams – $50 Cash: Steve Casebolt
Morton Buildings – $50 Cash: Frank Heckenast Jr.
Cometic Gasket – $50 Cash: Morgan Bagley
JRI Shocks – $50 Cash: Boom Briggs
SuperFlow – $50 Cash: Chase Junghans
QuarterMaster – $25 Product certificate: Jordan Yaggy
JE Pistons – Set of rings: Joey Coulter
QuarterMaster – $50 Product certificate: Chub Frank
Arizona Sport Shirts – $100 Product certificate: Rodney Sanders
JE Pistons – Set of rings: Chris Simpson
MSD – $25 Cash: Josh Richards
QA1 – $50 Cash: Boom Briggs
Bonus Bucks – $500 Cash: Chad Simpson
Rookie Bonus – $250 Cash: Tyler Erb
Craftsman Bonus – $100 Cash: Chad Simpson
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Josh Richards
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Shane Clanton
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Rick Eckert
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Tyler Erb
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Brandon Overton
2016 World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series Point Standings as of July 9 – 23 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/residence/points/deficit to leader):
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Residence | Points | Trail By |
| 1 | 1 | Josh Richards | Shinnston, WV | 3266 | 0 |
| 2 | 25 | Shane Clanton | Zebulon, GA | 3046 | 220 |
| 3 | 7 | Rick Eckert | York, PA | 2968 | 298 |
| 4 | 3S | Brian Shirley | Chatham, IL | 2886 | 380 |
| 5 | 76 | Brandon Overton | Evans, GA | 2878 | 388 |
| 6 | 21JR | Billy Moyer Jr. | Batesville, AR | 2812 | 454 |
| 7 | C9 | Steve Casebolt | Richmond, IN | 2796 | 470 |
| 8 | 1* | Chub Frank | Bear Lake, PA | 2768 | 498 |
| 9 | 99JR | Frank Heckenast Jr. | Frankfort, IL | 2754 | 512 |
| 10 | 18 | Eric Wells | Hazard, KY | 2726 | 540 |
| 11 | 14M | Morgan Bagley | Gladewater, TX | 2720 | 546 |
| 12 | 18C | Chase Junghans | Manhattan, KS | 2656 | 610 |
| 13 | 91 | Tyler Erb | New Waverly, TX | 2378 | 888 |
| 14 | 2C | Joey Coulter | Union Grove, NC | 2284 | 982 |
| 15 | 99B | Boom Briggs | Bear Lake, PA | 2066 | 1200 |
| 16 | 11 | Austin Smith | Cedartown, GA | 1282 | 1984 |
| 17 | 77 | Jordan Yaggy | Rochester, MN | 1246 | 2020 |
| 18 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | Mooresburg, TN | 1116 | 2150 |
| 19 | 17M | Dale McDowell | Chickamauga, GA | 1088 | 2178 |
| 20 | 22 | Gregg Satterlee | Indiana, PA | 1070 | 2196 |
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.