Latemodelracer.com - Print Page

Latemodelracer.com
http://www.latemodelracer.com/cgi-bin/yabb3/YaBB.pl
LATEMODELRACER >> DRIVER PRESS RELEASES >> Josh Richards Enjoys Visit to the Knoxville Late Model Nationals
http://www.latemodelracer.com/cgi-bin/yabb3/YaBB.pl?num=1286307774

Message started by LMR on 10/05/10 at 1:42pm

Title: Josh Richards Enjoys Visit to the Knoxville Late Model Nationals
Post by LMR on 10/05/10 at 1:42pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 5, 2010

Richards Enjoys Visit to the Hawkeye State for Knoxville Late Model Nationals

SHINNSTON, W. Va. - Oct. 5, 2010 - Josh Richards was all smiles and positive vibes after spending three days at the historic Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway for the seventh annual Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals. "We had a good weekend," pronounced Richards, the 22 year old motorsports driver from Shinnston, W.Va. Imagine how pumped Richards would have been if he hadn't had one bad break in Thursday night's Nationals opener or run up against red hot veteran star Billy Moyer, who outran Richards for two victories during his unprecedented $54,000 sweep of the weekend's three A-Mains.

"I feel like we had a legitimate shot to win every night," said Richards, who followed up his 25 lap preliminary feature finishes of seventh (Thursday) and third (Friday) with a $20,000 runner-up placing behind Moyer in Saturday evening's 100 lap Nationals headliner. "I think we had the second best car there and, at times, maybe even the best car. We're a little disappointed we didn't get a win, but Billy's really on a roll right now and was a little better than us."

Running to a famed half mile oval that he ranks as one of his favorite tracks, Richards established himself as a favorite for the $40,000 top prize in Saturday's 100 lapper with strong performances in the two preliminary programs that kicked off the weekend. He started from the pole and led both 25 lappers, but some slight misfortune on Thursday and a lapped traffic miscalculation on Friday prevented him from reaching Victory Lane.

In Thursday's A-Main, Richards led laps 3-9 but slipped back to seventh because the handling of his Mark Richards Racing Enterprises Rocket No. 1 was hampered by a spring strap that broke off the right front nosepiece and got into the tire. He came back to lead laps 3-22 of Friday's feature before losing traction in turns three and four when he decided to attempt passing a lapped car on the outside, allowing Moyer and eventual second place finisher Kelly Boen to slip by him.

"I feel like a made a mistake that cost us a chance to win on Friday," said Richards. "I should've just followed the lapped car around the bottom because it was faster down there, especially late in the race. But sometimes when you're leading and trying to stay there you have to make a decision that doesn't always work out."

Slotted into the 11th starting spot for Saturday night's extra distance main event under the unique Knoxville Late Model Nationals points system format, Richards steadily moved to the front when the green flag flew. He reached second for the first time just before the halfway mark and gained control of the position for good by lap 70.

Richards briefly threatened Moyer, but the defending World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion couldn't quite keep pace over the final 30 circuits, giving Richards a bridesmaid finish in the Knoxville Late Model Nationals for the second time in three years.

"I tried to pace myself and move forward without abusing the car," said Richards. "I felt like we did a good job of it and we had a little left for the end, but it seemed like when we got to open track Billy did what he had to do to pull away a little bit. He's been doing this a long time and he knows how to save that little extra to hold on and get to the finish."

Richards would have liked to make the Nationals his first big money, crown jewel victory - just one month after breaking through for his first 100 lap triumph in the $20,000 to win the WoO LMS Battle at Eastern Door at New York's Mohawk International Raceway - but he felt no shame in following the legendary Moyer across the finish line.

"It's definitely a huge honor just to get to race with him and everything with what he's accomplished, it's pretty cool," Richards said during the Nationals' post race press conference. "We've been second here twice now and we've been close in these big races. We just have to keep digging at it and just learn from it and move on."

Richards plans to head south for his dirt Late Model racing fix this weekend. He will climb back behind the wheel of the Ernie D's Enterprises Rocket No. 25 for a Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series doubleheader, competing on Sat., Oct. 9, at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, Ga., and Sun., Oct. 10, at Rome (Ga.) Speedway. Both races pay $10,000 to win.

For more information on Josh Richards, visit www.joshrichards.com and follow him on Twitter at @Josh_Richards1.

Josh Richards' No. 1 team carries support from Rocket Chassis, Cornett Racing Engines, Seubert Calf Ranches, Ernie D's Enterprises, ACE Metal Works, Petroff Towing, Tony Stewart Racing, Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Racing Tires, Integra Shocks, Slavic Custom Decals, Valvoline, AEM, AFCO, ATL Fuel Cells, Aurora Bearing Company, Autolite, Banshee Graphics, Barnes Systems, Beyea Performance, Brinn Transmissions, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Braswell Carburetion, Butlerbuilt Seat Systems, CV Products, Dohm Cycles, Dyer's Top Rods, Fram Filters, Frankland Rearends, Howe Racing, Kwik Change Product, LSI, Mason Racin', MSD Ignition, Outerwears, Performance Bodies, Performance Friction Brakes, Performance Rod & Custom, Ringers Gloves, Scott Performance Wire, Simpson Race Products, Sweet Manufacturing, Tel Tech, TWM Racing Products, Trick Carbon Fiber Driveshafts, Jones Racing Products, TurboStart Racing Batteries, US Brake, Weld Racing Wheels, Wehr's Machine, Wilwood and Wrisco Aluminum.

Honey Elizabeth Rentz
Rising Star Management Group
hrentz@risingstarmg.com