DIRT LATE MODEL: Josh Richards Wins At Knoxville Raceway ( PHOTOS )

Josh Richards Knoxville Late Model Nationals ( Knoxville Raceway )

Josh Richards Photos From Night 1 of the Knoxville Nationals Below

KNOXVILLE, IA – In his first visit to Knoxville Raceway since 2010, Josh Richards captured the opening night of the 10th Annual Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals presented by Casey’s General Stores. Richards took the lead from Brandon Sheppard on lap eight and led the remainder of the race, for the $7,000 victory in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned event.

Josh Richards took the Mark Richards Racing, Valvoline, Roush-Yates Racing Engines, Rocket Chassis Ford to Lucas Oil Victory Lane ahead of Darrell Lanigan, Jason Feger, Dale McDowell, and Bub McCool.

“It’s great to be back here, I love this place! It’s hard to believe it has been three years!The track was great as always, and it’s one of my favorite tracks, no doubt,” said Josh Richards the 25-year-old racer. I could hear him (Lanigan) a few times, but I just kept my line. I had a couple of issues in turn two and he was able to pull along-side me a few times.”

Sheppard took the lead at the start of the 25 lapper and looked dominant in the early going. A red-flag for a multi-car accident involving Jimmy Owens, Dennis Erb Jr., and Joel Callahan halted the action with seven laps complete. All drivers escaped unharmed, but their cars were done for the night.

When the race went green again, Josh Richards made the pass for the lead on Sheppard. Richards then had to fight off several challenges from Lanigan as he held the lead to the finish. Feger made it close towards the end, rallying on the topside to earn a podium finish.

“We had a really good car! He (Richards) was just a tick better tonight! We aren’t used to this hard-tire rule, but it’s the same for everyone!The crew did a great job. The track was great as always here! We got some good points tonight, so we’ll tune on the car even more tomorrow,” said Lanigan.

Feger nearly stole the win from the top two, but his efforts came up just short. “We really like running here! That berm was a little tricky tonight, but we had a good car,Like Josh and Darrell said, we have to get used to these harder tires. My car was better as the race went on. I think with some more work we can win one of the next two nights,” said Feger.

Completing the top ten were Billy Moyer, Chad Simpson, John Blankenship, Brandon Sheppard, and Earl Pearson Jr.

In preliminary action Don O’Neal set the RED BUCK Fast Time (Group A) with a lap of 17.363 seconds. Dale McDowell set the RED BUCK Fast Time (Group B) with a lap of 17.718 seconds. Billy Moyer, Bub McCool, Joel Callahan, Tony Jackson Jr., Morgan Bagley, and Steve Francis won their respective heat races. Ryan Gustin won the D-Main. Shannon Babb won the C-Main. Eddie Carrier Jr. won the B-Main.

The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will return to action tomorrow night for the second preliminary night at the Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Store. There will be RED BUCK Time Trials, Heat Races, last chance races, and another 25 Lap main event. The weekend will conclude on Saturday, September 28th, with a D-Main, C-Main, B-Main, and the $40,000-to-win 100-Lap main event. For more information, log on towww.knoxvilleraceway.com.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com and follow the series on www.facebook.com/lucasdirt and www.twitter.com/#!/lucasdirt.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Race Summary
Thursday Night, September 26th, 2013
Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals
Knoxville Raceway – Knoxville, IA

RED BUCK Fast Time Group A: Don O’Neal / 17.363 seconds
RED BUCK Fast Time Group B: Dale McDowell / 17.718 seconds


Wiles Drive Shafts Heat Race #1 (15 Laps, Top 3 Transfer):
 Billy Moyer, Jared Landers, Jason Feger, Don O’Neal, Jason Rauen, Charlie McKenna, Ricky Weiss, Ray Guss, Jr., Dustin Walker, Brian Harris, Curt Schroeder, Rodney Sanders

Eibach Springs Heat Race #2 (15 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Bub McCool, Ryan Unzicker, Austin Hubbard, John Blankenship, Brian Birkhofer, Chase Junghans, Chris Simpson, Chris Spieker, Michael Smith, Stewart Hayward, Tim McCreadie, Ryan Gustin

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 (15 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Joel Callahan, Brandon Sheppard, Frank Heckenast, Jr., Kent Robinson, Scott Bloomquist, Dave Eckrich, Mike Marlar, AJ Diemel, Tyler Bruening, Skip Frey, Dennis Vandermeersch, Greg Kimmons

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #4 (15 Laps, Top 3 Transfer):
 Tony Jackson, Jr., Dale McDowell, Jason Utter, Eddie Carrier Jr., Earl Pearson Jr., Denny Eckrich, Shannon Babb, Terry Phillips Jonathan Brauns, Rich Bell, Matt Furman, Jason Jaggers

DirtonDirt.com Heat Race #5 (15 Laps – Top 3 Transfer):
 Morgan Bagley, Josh Richards, Chad Simpson, Brady Smith, Jimmy Owens, Jason McBride, Tim Lance, Darrel DeFrance, Tim Isenberg, Steve Lance, Jesse Stovall, Mike Fryer

RED BUCK Heat #6 (15 Laps – Top 3 Transfer): Steve Francis, Darrell Lanigan, Spencer Diercks, Dennis Erb Jr., Jimmy Mars, Justin Kay, Billy Moyer Jr., Brian Shirley, Travis Dickes, Jay Johnson, Ray Sveeggen, Andy Eckrich

CV Products D-Main (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer to C-Main): Ryan Gustin, Rodney Sanders, Tim McCreadie, Matt Furman, Spencer Diercks, Rich Bell, Mike Fryer, Skip Frey, Dennis Vandermeersch, Ray Sveeggen, Curt Schroeder, Stewart Hayward, Greg Kimmons, Steve Lance

Wrisco Aluminum C-Main (12 Laps, Top 4 Transfer to B-Main): Shannon Babb, Mike Marlar, Brian Shirley, Terry Phillips, Ryan Gustin, Tim Lance, Tyler Bruening, Chris Spieker, Travis Dickes, Tim Isenberg, Jay Johnson, Rodney Sanders, Matt Furman, AJ Diemel, Michael Smith, Darrel DeFrance, Ricky Weiss, Ray Guss, Jr., Jonathan Brauns, Tim McCreadie, Chris Simpson

CV Products B-Main (15 Laps, Top 6 Transfer to A-Main): Eddie Carrier Jr., Don O’Neal, Jimmy Owens, Scott Bloomquist, John Blankenship, Earl Pearson Jr., Denny Eckrich, Jimmy Mars, Chase Junghans, Jason McBride, Jason Rauen, Mike Marlar, Brady Smith, Billy Moyer Jr., Justin Kay, Kent Robinson, Shannon Babb, Brian Birkhofer, Dave Eckrich, Charlie McKenna, Brian Shirley, Terry Phillips

Feature Finish (25 Laps):

FINISH
START
CAR #
DRIVER NAME
HOMETOWN
1
4
1
Josh Richards
Shinnston, WV
2
6
29
Darrell Lanigan
Union, KY
3
7
25F
Jason Feger
Bloomington, IL
4
8
17m
Dale McDowell
Chickamauga, GA
5
13
57J
Bub McCool
Vicksburg, MS
6
9
21
Billy Moyer
Batesville, AR
7
10
25c
Chad Simpson
Mt. Vernon, IA
8
23
23
John Blankenship
Williamson, WV
9
1
B5
Brandon Sheppard
Berlin, IL
10
24
44
Earl Pearson Jr.
Jacksonville, FL
11
20
71
Don O’Neal
Martinsville, IN
12
12
15
Steve Francis
Ashland, KY
13
16
14m
Morgan Bagley
Tyler, TX
14
19
28
Eddie Carrier Jr.
Salt Rock, WV
15
2
31u
Jason Utter
Columbus Junction, IA
16
3
5
Jared Landers
Batesville, AR
17
14
56
Tony Jackson, Jr.
Lebanon, MO
18
15
24x
Ryan Unzicker
El Paso, IL
19
5
99JR
Frank Heckenast, Jr.
Frankfort, IL
20
22
0
Scott Bloomquist
Mooresburg, TN
21
11
11h
Austin Hubbard
Seaford, DE
22
17
40
Joel Callahan
Dubuque, IA
23
18
28e
Dennis Erb Jr.
Carpentersville, IL
24
21
20
Jimmy Owens
Newport, TN
Race Statistics
 
Entrants: 72
Lap Leaders: Brandon Sheppard (Laps 1 – 7); Josh Richards (Laps 8 – 25)
Caution Flags: Dennis Erb Jr., Joel Callahan (Lap 7); Scott Bloomquist (Lap 14); Frank Heckenast Jr. (Lap 17)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: none
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: none
RED BUCK Fast Time Provisionals: none

Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals Thursday Night Points:

Overall Pos
CAR #
DRIVER NAME
HOMETOWN
Night #1 POINTS
1
17m
Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA
491
2
29
Darrell Lanigan Union, KY
485
3
25F
Jason Feger Bloomington, IL
484
4
1
Josh Richards Shinnston, WV
483
5
71
Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN
471
6
23
John Blankenship Williamson, WV
469
7
21
Billy Moyer Batesville, AR
466
8
57J
Bub McCool Vicksburg, MS
460
9
B5
Brandon Sheppard Berlin, IL
459
10
28
Eddie Carrier Jr. Salt Rock, WV
459
11
25c
Chad Simpson Mt. Vernon, IA
456
12
5
Jared Landers Batesville, AR
455
13
44
Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL
452
14
15
Steve Francis Ashland, KY
450
15
99JR
Frank Heckenast, Jr. Frankfort, IL
448
16
0
Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
446
17
31u
Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA
442
18
14m
Morgan Bagley Tyler, TX
438
19
20
Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
434
20
56
Tony Jackson, Jr. Lebanon, MO
432
21
11h
Austin Hubbard Seaford, DE
428
22
24x
Ryan Unzicker El Paso, IL
425
23
40
Joel Callahan Dubuque, IA
418
24
50
Denny Eckrich Tiffin, IA
411
25
28m
Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI
411
26
18J
Chase Junghans Manhattan, KS
405
27
28e
Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL
404
28
98
Jason Rauen Farley, IA
400
29
77m
Jason McBride Carbondale, IL
397
30
5b
Mike Marlar Winfield, TN
394
31
15K
Justin Kay Wheatland, IA
388
32
3s
Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
388
33
2
Brady Smith Solon Springs, WI
385
34
21JR
Billy Moyer Jr. Batesville, AR
375
35
18
Shannon Babb Mowequa, IL
370
36
7R
Kent Robinson Bloomington, IN
365
37
58e
Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA
365
38
19R
Ryan Gustin Marshalltown, IA
357
39
22m
Charlie McKenna Clear Lake, IA
349
40
15b
Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA
348
41
75
Terry Phillips Springfield, MO
339
42
16b
Tyler Bruening Decorah, IA
336
43
48
Tim Lance Brimfield, IL
328
44
32x
Chris Simpson Oxford, IA
322
45
56x
Chris Spieker Massena, IA
321
46
58x
Ray Guss, Jr. Milan, IL
315
47
21T
Travis Dickes Madison, NE
311
48
20x
Rodney Sanders Happy, TX
309
49
51
Matt Furman Columbus, OH
304
50
9t
Tim Isenberg Marshfield, WI
302
51
93J
Jay Johnson W. Burlington, IA
298
52
7w
Ricky Weiss Headingley, MB
296
53
58
AJ Diemel Elk Mound, WI
295
54
00s
Jesse Stovall Billing, MO
290
55
99D
Darrel DeFrance Marshalltown, IA
287
56
s1
Michael Smith Vienna, WV
286
57
39
Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY
282
58
22B
Jonathan Brauns Muscatine, IA
280
59
77A
Dustin Walker Peculiar, MO
274
60
29d
Spencer Diercks Davenport, IA
272
61
21b
Rich Bell Sheffield, IL
259
62
3x
Skip Frey Swisher, IA
257
63
15R
Brian Harris
251
64
48x
Steve Lance Brimfield, IL
247
65
R21
Ray Sveeggen Beresford, SD
241
66
83
Dennis Vandermeersch Springfield, IL
240
67
5m
Mike Fryer Freeport, IL
237
68
15c
Curt Schroeder Ames, IA
234
69
51E
Stewart Hayward ________
233
70
27
Greg Kimmons Pleasant Plains, IL
223
71
32J
Jason Jaggers Wyanet, IL
219
72
56e
Andy Eckrich Oxford, IA
213

Author: Lucas Oil Dirt Series

 

Josh Richards Photos ( Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals – Knoxville Raceway )

Categories

Tags