Josh Comes Up One Spot Short
SHINNSTON, WV – The Dirt Track World Championship will always hold a special place in the heart of Josh Richards – the crown-jewel event did, after all, serve as the launching pad for his dirt Late Model career four years ago.But it would have meant even more to ‘Kid Rocket’ if he had been able finish one spot better in Saturday night’s 27th annual edition of the Carl Short-promoted mega-show at K-C Raceway in Alma, Ohio.
The 19-year-old sensation from Shinnston, W.Va., led more than half of the 100-lap distance before settling for a runner-up placing to fellow World of Outlaws Late Model Series regular Chub Frank.
“It’s tough to accept coming so close to winning a major race after having such a good car and leading for so long,” said Josh, who crossed the finish line about a half-straightaway behind Frank. “But Chub’s been racing a lot longer than I have and this is the first time he’s ever won (the DTWC), so I was happy to see him win it.”
After winning a Friday-night heat race despite running with a broken left-front A-frame on his Mark Richards Racing-owned Seubert Calf Ranches/Ace Metal Works/TSR-Tony Stewart Racing/Petroff Towing/MCB Motorsports Rocket Chassis No. 1, Josh drew the third starting spot for the DTWC A-Main. He surged forward quickly, grabbing the lead from Mike Marler on lap four.
But Frank came on near the halfway point to challenge Josh. The two Rocket Chassis stalwarts spent nearly 15 laps battling side-by-side for the lead before Frank pulled in front for good on lap 56.
“Early in the race my car was working real good,” said Josh. “I wasn’t even pushing it too hard. It would just roll around there.
“But when we got to lapped traffic, I think the track got a little dirtied-up where I was running and I didn’t feel as good. I was able to hold my own with Chub until I just ran out of room behind a lapped car and he got ahead of us.
“Later on the track cleaned up and I was better, but it was too late for me to do anything with Chub.”
Josh pocketed $12,500 for finishing second in the DTWC. He ended up so close to the race’s famed $50,000 top prize such a short time after debuting as a 15-year-old racer in the 2003 edition of the event at Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, Ky.
“I feel like I just ran (the DTWC) for the first time yesterday,” said Josh, who failed to qualify for the ’03 event while also competing in that year’s special ‘Futures’ race for teenage drivers. “Everything has just gone so quickly the last few years. I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot and learned a lot so far, but there’s still a long way to go.”
As great a night as the DTWC was for Josh, it was also equally memorable for the Rocket Chassis company co-owned by Josh’s father Mark. The top-five finishers in the 100-lapper – Frank, Josh, Steve Francis, Steve Shaver and Darren Miller – all were behind the wheel of Rocket Chassis cars.
Josh will head this weekend to Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway, where he’ll drive one of Ernie Davis’s Rocket No. 25 machines in the $10,000-to-win dirt Late Model portion of the annual ‘Octoberfest 350.’ Qualifying is on Saturday and the features will be contested on Sunday.
Earlier this year Josh won an Interstate Racing Series event at Hagerstown behind the wheel the wheel of a Davis-owned mount.
Source: Josh Richards Racing
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