SHINNSTON, WV – Josh Richards proved adaptive abilities Thursday night (May 1) me head-turning DIRTcar big-block Modified debut Virginia Motor Speedway.
The 20-year-old dirt Late Model star kn ‘Kid Rocket’ finished 19th 60-lap Advance Auto Super DIRTcar Series ‘Paul Sawyer Memorial’ event, qualifying effort performance feature quickly able transition open-wheel machine.
Josh’s special appearance wheel DIRTcar big-block Modified legend Brett Hearn’s backup Madsen Motorsports No. 20 highlighted busy stretch racing Shinnston, W.Va., product. drove Ernie Davis-owned Rocket No. 25 dirt Late Model fifth-place finish division’s 40-lap companion event 1 VMS, battled se missteps bad breaks weekend World Outlaws Late Model Series events finish 13th Saturday night (May 3) Missouri’s Lebanon I-44 Speedway 20th Sunday night (May 4) Monett (Mo.) Speedway steering familiar Mark Richards Racing Rocket No. 1.
The big-block Modified ride Josh wl remember at on-track action week. recorded fourth-fastest lap ag 48 entries time trials, finished Hearn heat race led feature’s laps pole position evening downhill.
Shortly ar losing lead, Josh me unintentional contact Yorker Dale Planck, causing Planck spin sending Josh rear field restart. Josh continued short time be involvement couple multi-car scrapes prompted retire fm competition.
“Driving Modified lot fun,” Josh, thanked Hearn providing ride. “I track record awhile (in time trials) led laps feature, car free couple cars pass me. accident foot slipped brake pedal io ran bk 77 (Planck), wh feel real bad about.”
Josh noted big-block Modified distinctly feel fm dirt Late Models regularly campaigns, especially terms motor responsiveness.
“It Top-Fuel dragster Late Model,” Josh. “The Modified didn’t respond fast Late Model, real racy drive. ss le me time Modified, probably racing good.”
Josh’s biggest Modified? Getting comfortable sitting me upright position seat dirt Late Model.
After flying St. Louis, Mo., Saturday morning meet wh dirt Late Model team, Josh experienced worst night WoO LMS racing ts season Saturday Lebanon I-44 Speedway. recorded night’s fifth-fastest lap time trials, slap homestretch wall heat forced pits thoroughly-damaged Seubert Calf Ranches/Ace Metal Works/TSR-Tony Stewart Racing/Petroff Towing/MCB Motorsports/Ernie’s Auto & Hauling No. 1.
Josh provisional start WoO LMS A-Main time se 2006 – barely starting grid. crew wd start feature pace laps fix machine, wh manhandled 13th-place finish 40-lapper.
“We car jt ready wn realized driveshaft damaged nd changed,” sd Josh. “We time roll feature. pm didn’t chance fix end, towed-out at fr inches.”
The following night’s first-ever WoO LMS event Monett Speedway started Josh, set track record 15.711 ss three-eighths-mile oval qualifying earn ft fast-time honor 2008. wt win heat race draw outside pole feature, couldn’t outgun polesitter eventual winner Brian Birkhofer initial green flag settled io fifth pe soon after.
Josh’s hopes strong finish ed lap 35 wn car’s right-rear tire flat. slowed pitted caution flag flew, headway or final circuits driver lead lap finish, taking 20th place.
“I tire down, tried ride out,” Josh. “I jt holding race anyway. night, tried experiment feature didn’t wk out. We’ll look wouldn’t he mattered flat.”
Josh entered weekend ranked sd WoO LMS standings, fell tie sixth Shannon Babb, 38 ps lead.
Josh spending week Petroff Towing shop outside St. Louis prepare weekend’s SuperClean Diamond Nationals Lucas Oil Speedway Wheatland, Mo. 100-lap Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event set Friday (May 9) Saturday (May 10) offers $40,000 prize.
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