Clanton Finished Second after Starting Ninth
OGILVIE, Minn. – July 13, 2016 – Josh Richards held his pointer finger high in the sky Wednesday night, repeating his victory lane celebration in the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series for the 10th time this season at Ogilvie Raceway. It was his 68th career series win.
“It was tough, I’ll tell you,” Richards said. “I want to thank the track guys. It’s a beautiful facility and I wasn’t expecting it to be this nice. It’s a great place to come. I didn’t think we’d have 10 [wins] this year and this early.”
Richards, who led the field into the green flag for 50 laps, never lost his top spot. Within the first 10 laps, Richards widened the gap between him and the field with his No. 1 Valvoline/ Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket car; the other two cars in the podium positions began to separate themselves as well.
On lap nine, Richards caught-up to the back of the pack only for the race’s first caution to follow on the next lap. On the restart, Rookie of the Year contender Tyler Erb took the highest line on the 3/8-mile oval, passing Eric Wells. Wells prevents a slippery slope, slamming the door on a charging Steve Casebolt. By lap 15, Richards extended his lead to 3.66 seconds.
While Richards maintained his lead spot, the rest of the top five shuffled. But, there was one driver in the top ten ready to make his move following the races second caution on lap 13. Defending Series Champion Shane Clanton, who started ninth, made his move on the restart, carrying more momentum than most of the cars in front of him. Clanton’s No. 25 Weldbank Energy/ Coopers Meat Packers Capital car settled into the second spot, just 1.806 seconds behind the leader.
For Richards and Clanton – a frequently revisited battle in 2016 –it was a matter of follow the leader for this particular A-Main. Richards, with a 1.826 second lead, got caught-up in a group of four lapped cars. This sequence brought his lead down to 1.692 seconds; Clanton enjoyed an empty straightaway to close the gap. However, Clanton fell into the same hole. Richards rebuilt his lead to 4.253 seconds with 14 to laps remaining.
With 11 laps to go Richards continued to hammer-down on the throttle, creating a 6.18-second gap between him and Clanton. Five lapped cars separated Richards from Clanton. On lap 44, Richards enjoyed a 7.965-second lead – until a caution the next lap regrouped the field.
“I knew Shane was really good, and I knew he started back and he made me worry a little bit,” Richards said. “My guys were telling me to go all over the place, so I just tried to get back into a rhythm. It had grip in places but it was hard to get a consistent feel. That last restart I thought he’d get a pretty good shot at it. I just tried to stay smooth the best I could.”
Though this caution gave Clanton a fighting chance, Richards’ strong restart prevented any attempts at a lead change.
“Overall, we had a pretty good night,” Clanton said. “Well, [the No. 1 team] got their program turned around from last year. They’re way more consistent than we are with wins. We’ve run top five and second to him, but hopefully we can turn it around tomorrow night – we win and he gets second.”
Richards and Clanton finished one-two respectively. As for the final podium spot, Casebolt muscled his No. c9 Lias Tire/ Sudz Car Wash Rocket car past Wells for third place. This was Casebolt’s fourth top five finish of the season.
“It’s been awhile,” said Casebolt, grinning. “I guess we’re not totally washed-up. Eric and I swapped spots a couple times, and he’s really improved a ton. I asked him at the draw what he’s doing different with his life that I need to take advantage of for myself. He wouldn’t tell me. It’s special to get a podium. We just need to win.”
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World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series Statistical Report; July 13, 2016; Ogilvie Raceway; Ogilvie, Minn.
A-Main (50-laps): 1. 1- Josh Richards [1] [$10,875]; 2. 25- Shane Clanton [9] [$5,800]; 3. C9- Steve Casebolt [5] [$3,700]; 4. 18- Eric Wells [2] [$3,200]; 5. 76- Brandon Overton [10] [$2,750]; 6. 91- Tyler Erb [3] [$2,450]; 7. 7- Rick Eckert [14] [$2,000]; 8. 99jr- Frank Heckenast Jr. [4] [$1,850]; 9. 20- Rodney Sanders [11] [$1,400]; 10. 28M- Jimmy Mars [12] [$1,100]; 11. 1*- Chub Frank [23] [$1,650]; 12. B1- Brent Larson [13] [$1,000]; 13. 90- Lance Matthees [7] [$1,050]; 14. 2c- Joey Coulter [8] [$1,000]; 15. 99B- Boom Briggs [20] [$850]; 16. 14M- Morgan Bagley [17] [$1,300]; 17. 18r- Ross Camponovo [22] [$770]; 18. 3s- Brian Shirley [19] [$1,300]; 19. 21JR- Billy Moyer Jr. [6] [$1,280]; 20. 77- Jordan Yaggy [15] [$700]; 21. 33x- Jeffrey Massingill [24] [$700]; 22. 71- Dustin Strand [16] [$700]; 23. 18c- Chase Junghans [18] [$1,200]; 24. 11- Pat Doar [21] [700]
Last-Chance Showdown (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): 1. 3S- Brian Shirley; 2. 99B- Boom Briggs; 3. 11- Pat Doar; 4. 18r- Ross Camponovo; 5. 19- Steve Larsen; 6. 44- Darrell Nelson; 7. 33x- Jeffrey Massingill; 8. 71w- Zach Wohlers; 9. IP1 2- Aaron Lillo; 10. 42s- Don Shaw; 11. 1*- Chub Frank [DNS]
Qualifying Group : 1. 99JR- Frank Heckenast Jr., 14.938; 2. 2c- Joey Coulter, 15.115; 3. 1- Josh Richards, 15.154; 4. 21JR- Billy Moyer Jr., 15.226; 5. 18- Eric Wells, 15.257; 6. 28M- Jimmy Mars, 15.263; 7. 11- Pat Doar, 15.358; 8. 20- Rodney Sanders, 15.368; 9. 18c- Chase Junghans, 15.379; 10. B1- Brent Larson; 15.481; 11. C9- Steve Casebolt, 15.513; 12. 33x- Jeffrey Massingill, 15.543; 13. 90- Lance Matthees, 15.555; 14. 7- Rick Eckert, 15.625; 15. 91- Tyler Erb, 15.634; 16. 99B- Boom Briggs, 15.656; 17. 42s- Don Shaw, 15.703; 18. 77- Jordan Yaggy, 15.738; 19. 76- Brandon Overton, 15.750; 20. 14M- Morgan Bagley, 15.757; 21. 1*- Chub Frank, 15.828; 22. 71- Dustin Strand, 15. 832; 23. 44. Darrell Nelson, 15.919; 24. 25- Shane Clanton, 16.065; 25. 18r- Ross Camponovo, 16.165; 26. 19- Steve Larsen, 16.343; 27. 71w- Zach Wohleris, 16.592; 28. IP1 2- Aaron Lillo, 17.142; 29. 3s- Brian Shirley [DNS]
Heat No. 1 (10 laps- Top 6 Transfer): 1. 99JR- Frank Heckenast Jr.; 2. 21JR- Billy Moyer Jr.; 3. 90- Lance Matthees; 4. 76- Brandon Overton; 5. B1- Brent Larson; 6. 71- Dustin Strand; 7. 99B- Boom Briggs; 8. 11- Pat Doar; 9. 18r- Ross Camponovo; 10. IP1 2- Aaron Lillo
Heat No. 2 (10 laps- Top 6 Transfer): 1. 18- Eric Wells; 2. C9- Steve Casebolt; 3. 2c- Joey Coulter; 4. 20- Rodney Sanders; 5. 7- Rick Eckert; 6. 14M- Morgan Bagley; 7. 3s- Brian Shirley; 8. 42s- Don Shaw; 9. 19- Steve Larsen; 10. 44- Darrell Nelson
Heat No. 3 (10 laps- Top 6 Transfer): 1. 1- Josh Richards; 2. 91- Tyler Erb; 3. 25- Shane Clanton; 4. 28M- Jimmy Mars; 5. 77- Jordan Yaggy; 6. 18c- Chase Junghans; 7. 71w- Zach Wohlers; 8. 1*- Chub Frank; 9. 33x- Jeffrey Massingill [DQ]
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: Eric Wells
JE Pistons – $50 Cash: Brandon Overton
VP Racing Fuels – $50 Cash: Rodney Sanders
Edelbrock – $50 Cash: Rodney Sanders
Comp Cams – $50 Cash: Chub Frank
Morton Buildings – $50 Cash: Chub Frank
Cometic Gasket – $50 Cash: Lance Matthees
JRI Shocks – $50 Cash: Lance Matthees
SuperFlow – $50 Cash: Joey Coulter
QuarterMaster – $25 Product certificate: Boom Briggs
JE Pistons – Set of rings: Morgan Bagley
QuarterMaster – $50 Product certificate: Billy Moyer Jr.
Arizona Sport Shirts – $100 Product certificate: Jeffrey Massingill
JE Pistons – Set of rings: Jeffrey Massingill
MSD – $25 Cash: Josh Richards
QA1 – $50 Cash: Joey Coulter
Bonus Bucks – $500 Cash: Tyler Erb
Rookie Bonus – $250 Cash: Tyler Erb
Craftsman Bonus – $100 Cash: Rodney Simpson
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Josh Richards
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Shane Clanton
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Steve Casebolt
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Eric Wells
Craftsman Bonus – $200 Cash: Brandon Overton
2016 World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series Point Standings as of July 13 – 24 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/residence/points/deficit to leader):
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Residence | Points | Trail By |
| 1 | 1 | Josh Richards | Shinnston, WV | 3416 | 0 |
| 2 | 25 | Shane Clanton | Zebulon, GA | 3192 | 74 |
| 3 | 7 | Rick Eckert | York, PA | 3104 | 162 |
| 4 | 76 | Brandon Overton | Evans, GA | 3018 | 248 |
| 5 | 3S | Brian Shirley | Chatham, IL | 3000 | 266 |
| 6 | C9 | Steve Casebolt | Richmond, IN | 2940 | 326 |
| 7 | 21JR | Billy Moyer Jr. | Batesville, AR | 2924 | 342 |
| 8 | 1* | Chub Frank | Bear Lake, PA | 2896 | 370 |
| 9 | 99JR | Frank Heckenast Jr. | Frankfort, IL | 2888 | 378 |
| 10 | 18 | Eric Wells | Hazard, KY | 2868 | 398 |
| 11 | 14M | Morgan Bagley | Gladewater, TX | 2838 | 428 |
| 12 | 18C | Chase Junghans | Manhattan, KS | 2760 | 506 |
| 13 | 91 | Tyler Erb | New Waverly, TX | 2516 | 750 |
| 14 | 2C | Joey Coulter | Union Grove, NC | 2406 | 860 |
| 15 | 99B | Boom Briggs | Bear Lake, PA | 2186 | 1080 |
| 16 | 77 | Jordan Yaggy | Rochester, MN | 1356 | 1910 |
| 17 | 11 | Austin Smith | Cedartown, GA | 1282 | 1984 |
| 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.