Carolina Clash Series
311 Speedway
July 9, 2011
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Ricky Weeks Claims Carolina Clash Series Victory at 311 Speedway

by Alex Cummings
MADISON, N.C. (July 9) - The 5 time Carolina Clash Champion Ricky Weeks Moved his Parton Lumber, Adams Electric, Rocket Impala to the point on lap 15 and went on to take the win at 311 Speedway Saturday Night.  

"I had a lot better car than I qualified with tonight as I left some of it out on the track during qualifying," said Ricky Weeks "I want to thank Phyllis and Ike and my entire crew along with all of my sponsors who have made this season possible. My last race here, I rolled in turn 3, a couple times so this win means a lot to me here."

A Wolfpack Racing front row consisting of XS Power Racing Batteries Fastest Qualifier Luke Roffers and Scott Autry led the 24 car starting field to the green flag. With just 1 second separating the top 21, it was the closest field of competitors in Carolina Clash history. Autry was able to use the cushion on the high side to get around Roffers to lead the first two laps but his Wolfpack Racing teammate wasn't to be outdone as Roffers took over the top spot on lap 3.

With a racy track surface, drivers were able to run two distinct grooves with much of the field running two and three wide from fifth on back on drivers jockeying for position early.

The first caution waved on lap 13 as both Mike Parker and Ray Tucker slowed in turn 4 as Tucker was just breaking into the top 10. Both drivers were unable to continue.

By this time Weeks was closing in on the top spot and made the pass for the lead on lap 15.

Mike Gault who came into the evening third in points had trouble on lap 16 when some cars tangled and Gault had nowhere to go spinning into the outside wall. Gault would continue after extensive repairs behind the wall as he finished in 13th.

A multiple car wreck on lap 18 in turn 2 forced Chris Meadows, Dan Breuer, and Chad Paxton behind the wall for the rest of the evening. On the restart another, multiple car wreck took place in the exact same location forcing Ronnie Hoover and Dustin Mitchell behind the wall.

Weeks still showed the way on lap 19 with Dennis Franklin, Autry, Roffers, and Jay Sessoms in tow. During the next 14 lap green flag stretch Roffers was able to pass Autry yet again for the third position and set his sights on Franklin who was just 1 point behind Roffers in the current Carolina Clash point's championship.

Roffers would run side by side with Franklin for the rest of the race as Franklin drove the high groove and Roffers on the inside but the outside proved to be the preferred groove as Franklin held onto the second spot.

Ricky Weeks took the checkered flag 1st with Dennis Franklin finishing in the Keizer Aluminum Wheels Runner-up position with Luke Roffers finishing in the Shell Racing Solutions 3rd position. The ATL Fuel Cells 4th place finisher was Jay Sessoms and Scott Autry closed out the Cool Shirts top 5.

Travis Yow had one of his best races of the year breaking into the top 10 on lap 34 and made a last lap pass on Tim Allen in turn 4 to finish ninth. Yow now sits just 105 points behind Chad Paxton who currently leads the Klotz Rookie of the Year standings.

A-Main
1. Ricky Weeks (3) Rutherfordton, NC
2. Dennis Franklin (5) Gaffney, SC
3. Luke Roffers (1) Concord, NC
4 Jay Sessoms (7) Stanley, NC
5. Scott Autry (2) Fayetteville, NC
6. Kenny Compton (14) Bland, VA
7. Ross Bailes (9) Clover, SC
8. Jeff Smith (8) Dallas, NC
9. Travis Yow (17) Fayetteville, NC
10. Tim Allen (6) Kannapolis, NC
11. Craig Shuffield (4) Fayetteville, NC
12. Donald Bradsher (12) Burlington, NC
13. Mike Gault (19) Gaffney, SC
14. David Taylor (20) Fayetteville, NC
15. Billy Thompson (21) Gastonia, NC
16. Gary Mabe (11) Danberry, NC
17. Dustin Mitchell (16) Pine Level, NC
18. Ronnie Hoover (10) China Groove, NC
19. Chad Paxton (18) Troutman, NC
20. Dan Breuer (15) Troutman, NC
21. Chris Meadows (24) Beckley, WV
22. Ray Tucker (13) Mt. Airy, NC
23. Mike Parker (22) Fayetteville, NC
24. Jim Shuffield (23) Fayetteville, NC
Lap Leaders - Scott Autry laps 1-2, Luke Roffers laps 3-15, Ricky Weeks laps 16-40

Hard Charger of the Race: (10 pts bonus) Kenny Compton Jr.
XS Power Racing Batteries Fastest Qualifier - Luke Roffers 17.260
Collins Signs First Man out Award (11th place Qualifier) - Gary Mabe
JE Piston/Roush Yates Performance Feature Winner - Ricky Weeks
Comp Cams Feature Winner - Ricky Weeks
Keizer Wheels Runner-Up Award - Dennis Franklin
Shell Racing Solutions 3rd Place - Luke Roffers
ATL Fuel Cells 4th Place - Jay Sessoms
Cool Shirts Top-5- Ricky Weeks, Dennis Franklin, Luke Roffers, Jay Sessoms, Scott Autry
RF Composites 6th Place - Kenny Compton Jr.
Nascar Technical Institute 10th Place - Tim Allen
Klotz Lubricants 15th Place - Billy Thompson
Ohlins Shocks Last but not Least - Jim Shuffield
Safety Kleen Hard Charger - Kenny Compton Jr.
Klotz Lubricants Hard Luck Award - Dan Breuer
Klotz Lubricants Rookie of the Race - Travis Yow

Upcoming Carolina Clash Event
August 6 Fayetteville Speedway Fayetteville, NC $4,000 to win
August 9 Carolina Speedway Gastonia, NC $3,000 to win
August 13 Wythe Raceway Wythe, VA $4,000 to win

Top Ten in Points
Dennis Franklin 1402
Luke Roffers 1398
Mike Gault 1312
Kenny Compton Jr. 1243
Jeff Smith 1237
Chad Paxton 1176
David Taylor 1124
Scott Autry 1119
Dustin Mitchell 1102
Travis Yow 1071