Strong ARCA Debut Highlights Busy Holiday Weekend Of Racing For Josh Richards
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SHINNSTON, WV – Josh Richards found a great way to close out his busy holiday weekend of racing.
With his car owner – NASCAR star Tony Stewart – serving as his spotter, Josh drove to a third-place finish in his first career ARCA RE/MAX Series start on Monday afternoon (Sept. 3) at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.
The 19-year-old sensation known as ‘Kid Rocket’ quickly adapted to running Stewart’s Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevy No. 20 on the historic one-mile dirt track. He started fourth and climbed as high as second before settling for a show position finish in the 55th Southern Illinois 100, which was won by NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader.
“For awhile I thought we might have something for them,” said Josh, who made a scheduled pit stop for fuel midway through the event. “But my right-rear tire got a little used up, and I was a little too tight in the center of the corner.
“We were a solid top-five car, though. Tony (Stewart) seemed like he was real happy and we were able to get some laps in a heavier (stock) car, so it was a good day.”
Josh was appreciative of the opportunity to run an ARCA event that was presented to him by Stewart, who runs a special-show schedule in a Rocket dirt Late Model wrenched by Josh.
“I don’t know if Tony has anything else planned for us, but I have to thank him for putting this deal together for me,” said Josh, who was worn out after racing in the sweltering 100-plus-degree heat on Labor Day. “I also appreciate all of the help I got from Tony’s (crew) guys. Several of them flew in with Tony from California (following Saturday night’s Nextel Cup event there) and didn’t get much sleep, but they worked hard all day in that heat.”
Josh flew to DuQuoin by way of Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Pa., where he spent Saturday and Sunday competing in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Oil Region Labor Day Classic.’ Josh was a solid contender in the two 50-lap A-Mains that headlined the weekend, steering his Mark Richards Racing-owned Seubert Calf Ranches/Ace Metal Works/TSR-Tony Stewart Racing/Petroff Towing/MCB Motorsports Rocket Chassis No. 1 to a sixth-place finish on Saturday and a third-place finish on Sunday.
Josh was on the move in Sunday night’s feature, advancing from the seventh starting spot to take third just a half-second behind Steve Francis. He had nothing, however, for winner Dan Stone, who pulled off one of the biggest upsets in WoO LMS.
“I caught up to Francis at the end, but Stone was gone,” said Josh. “He drove right by me (for fifth on a lap-18 restart) and that was the last I saw of him. He definitely deserved to win, and I was happy for him.”
The doubleheader ended with Josh still ranked fourth in the WoO LMS points standings, 136 points behind leader Francis. But he’s closed within 50 points of third-place Clint Smith with nine events remaining in 2007.
Josh started his holiday weekend with a Friday-night stop at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., for a 35-lap Mid-Atlantic Championship Series (MACS) event. He registered a second-place finish in the feature behind fellow WoO LMS regular Chub Frank, who is acknowledged as a master of the track’s slick conditions.
The runner-up finish was Josh’s second of the season at Lernerville. He also placed second in the track’s season opener on March 30.
Josh now turns his focus to the most prestigious dirt Late Model event of the season – this weekend’s 37th annual World 100 at Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. He heads to the half-mile oval with high hopes after finishing fourth – and contending for victory – in last year’s event.
Source: Josh Richards Racing
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