Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series
I-77 Speedway
July 14, 2012
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Luke Roffers Cashes In on a $4,000 Speeding Ticket at I-77 Speedway

by Mark Huey
RICHBURG, SC (July 14) - Warm temperatures and a summertime weather pattern usually equals late evening thunderstorms and Saturday, July 14, 2012 was no different. As of race time at I-77 Speedway in Richburg, SC, the upstate South Carolina weather appeared to follow in that pattern as skies began to darken and race fans could clearly see heavy rain bands set up over every corner of the track. Nevertheless, the clouds, threatening rain, and frequent lightning would not hinder a near capacity crowd from filing into the facility which hosted its first ever Carolina Clash event. The grandstands at I-77 Speedway have witnessed many firsts over the years - the framework of the stands originally watched racing at the historic Old Columbia Speedway in the Palmetto State capital back in the 1950s. They have held many fans over the years and witnessed many great races at the 33 year-old dirt raceway in Chester County, SC. However, not since 2010 had super late models stormed around the 4/10 mile track.

I-77 Speedway was named "The Little Diamond of the South" by track owners Ronnie and Velma Mosley when they took charge of the defunct facility in 2004. It was built in 1980 by Chester, SC residents Paul & Edith Campbell. They operated the track on Friday nights for six years. After laying dormant for nearly eight years, the track has opened-and-closed since 1994, when Winnsboro, SC business owners Herb & Gloria Hobgood brought the track back to life. Various promoters have tried to operate the track from 1994 to 2011 and now, Darrell "Squeak" Trull and Melissa Ervin of Fort Mill, SC are having one of the best years of promotion since the track opened in 1980.

The Carolina Clash appeared for the first time in the series' 13 year history and the drivers had both high expectations for and great night along with some anxiety.

Twenty-five teams registered for the event, including some who had raced at I-77 Speedway off-and-on over the years, some who had wins and championships weekly, and some who were racing on it for the first time.

Luke Roffers indicated that it had been nearly six years since he had competed there. Brandon Overton had not raced there much at all either. Both drivers made noise early in the event. Overton reeled off the fastest lap ever recorded there during hot laps - a lap of 16.978 had fans, other drivers, and staff marveled and amazed. After hot laps, changing track conditions slowed the pace, but only a little. Luke Roffers and Wayne Hughes both set quick laps and found themselves on the front row. Roffers captured the XS Power Racing Batteries Fastest Qualifier Award with a time of 17.122. Hughes was not that far off that mark as he recorded a time of 17.294, his best starting position of the season with Clash. Johnny Pursley and Scott Autry took the second row starting positions, and Brian Nuttall and Travis Yow started in row three.

After a very popular four-wide salute to the fans, the opening lap saw an intense battle between Hughes and Roffers, as Hughes took the advantage into turn one with Roffers digging in underneath. After a series of opening lap skirmishes, the first lap would score as Roffers took the lead on a restart and would never relinquish it. Hughes would begin to feel pressure from Pursley and Autry and eventually found trouble in turn one during a green-flag run. Roffers held the same line over most of the race, holding off challenges from Johnny Pursley and Scott Autry, who were tied up in a major battle of their own.

Meanwhile, Ross Bailes, who had already captured a checkered-flag in the NDRA Crate Late Model division earlier that night, was advancing from his 11th place starting spot into the top-five. Bailes finished third in the race, moving him into ninth in the points race. A monumental charge to the bottom of turns four and the front straightaway sent Bailes three-wide with Scott Autry and Wayne Hughes, placing all three machines in a vice grip down the front stretch. The cars tangled and Hughes and Autry were sent spinning into the first corner. Autry indicated that he was put into a "squeeze play" in that exchange and was not able to avoid the contact with Hughes.

The Rookie-of-the-Year contender (Hughes) had pitted and returned to race back into the top ten. He carded an eighth-place finish and gained a few points on rookie point leader Michael Marlowe who finished ninth.

Richburg, SC native and virtual Carolina Clash rookie driver Thomas Hedgpath, who had only previous entered one Clash event - The Skyler Trull Memorial Race at the first of the year, a race that he did not make the field in - qualified 18th. He paced himself in a very patient manner and dodged several incidents during the event to claw his way into the top ten. Hedgpath has minimal starts in super late model racing and took his first ever green flag at his "home track" in this division. He managed to work into the top five near the latter part of the event and held on to earn the events Safety-Kleen "Hard Charger of the Race" award. His advance of 13 positions (the highest finisher advancing the most positions) earned him his best ever event finish. Hedgpath is sponsored by FM&E Engineering Consultants of Columbia, SC and piloted a car owned by his father, Bill Hedgpath of Richburg, SC.

Johnny Pursley scored his third top five finish of the season and first runner-up in 2012. His second-place finish vaulted him into second in the series point-standings, given the misfortune of 9th place starter Jeff Smith, who was involved in an early race tangle, damaging the front suspension of his #18M racer. Smith finished 17th in the race , a season low.

Tim Allen made his return to Clash racing and started 10th. Allen had previously raced at I-77 in a limited late model during the 2000s, but had not raced a super late model there. He wound up sixth.

Brandon Overton was not able to produce lap speeds comparable those in his hot lap session, but drove a very smart race and finished fourth. The Appling, GA driver has two starts with Clash in 2012 - a 2nd place and 4th place finish.

Other notables with Carolina Clash had troubles over most of the night. Series defending champion qualified eighth, but started at the rear and completed one lap of the race before pitting with an engine problem discovered after qualifying. Rambo continues to struggle but maintains his eligibility to compete for the series' top honor - a chance to compete in the JE Pistons by Roush-Yates Performance Products "Chase for the Championship" to be held at the end of the regular season. Franklin is currently 12th in the points standings, 3 behind veteran driver Gary Mabe, who recorded his best finish of the season in 7th position. Travis Yow was running fourth in the race until a mid-race spin sent his #98 car down pit road. Yow was able to save the car which did not prompt a caution-flag. His run through the pit area ended up costing him a lap to the leaders and he returned to the event one lap down. Yow was able to finish 12th, salvaging his position in 7th in points.
Austin Kirkpatrick, Mike Gault, Ricky Weeks, and Scott Autry each had their share of troubles in the event and are moving on to the next event to be held at Madison, NC 311 Motor Speedway.

Luke Roffers stated that the track was "nice and smooth...but kind of narrow" as he worked to cool down after the race after the long, grueling event. "It did get slick late in the race, but I like to race on tracks like that."

Roffers pilots a Rocket chassis prepared by Wolfpack Racing of Troutman, NC and is sponsored by Chad Roffers Trucking, Cal-les II Trucking, Roffers Wildlife Service, and Wisconsin Lock and Load. Roffers is originally from Oneida, Wisconsin and currently lives in Concord, NC. He is employed by Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing.

The series will be idle for the next three weeks until returning to action with three scheduled events to end the regular season in August. The 2012 season will see eight more events to be run.

The results of the event will not be made official until post-race tire samples are returned on Thursday.

I-77 Speedway - Unofficial Results from July 14, 2012
Richburg, SC

A-Main
1 - 21 Luke Roffers Concord, NC (1)
2 - 09 Johnny Pursley Clover, SC (3)
3 - 87 Ross Bailes Clover, SC (11)
4 - 2 Brandon Overton Evans, GA (7)
5 - 28 Thomas Hedgpath Richburg, SC (18)
6 - 17A Tim Allen Kannapolis, NC (10)
7 - 15M Gary Mabe Danbury, NC (15)
8 - 1H Wayne Hughes Flat Top, WV (2)
9 - 08 Michael Marlowe Nichols, SC (12)
10 - 04 Ritchie Corley Leesville, SC (22)
11 - 18 Jason Burroughs Blythewood, SC (24)
12 - 98 Travis Yow Fayetteville, NC (6)
13 - 17MG Mike Gault Gaffney, SC (15)
14 - 16N Brian Nuttall Claxton, GA (5)
15 - 1W Ricky Weeks Rutherfordton, NC (13)
16 - 07 Brian Ledbetter Dallas, NC (20)
17 - 18M Jeff Smith Dallas, NC (17)
18 - 1A Scott Autry Autryville, NC (4)
19 - 81 Daniel Tucker Kannapolis, NC (17)
20 - 8T Jon Thornburg Dallas, NC (23)
21 - 01 Robbie Bailey Gastonia, NC (19)
22 - 11 Austin Kirkpatrick Ocala, FL (14)
23 - 42 Doug Sanders Springwood, NC (21)
24 - 33 Chuck Smith Sanford, NC (25)
25 - 37C Dennis Franklin Gaffney, SC (8)
 
Race Statistics:
Cars Entered: 25
Fastest Qualifier: Luke Roffers - 17.122
Race Leaders and Laps Led: Luke Roffers 1-40
"Hard Charger of the Race" - Thomas Hedgpath - advanced 13 positions