Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series
Laurens Speedway
June 11, 2013
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Ross Bailes Wins Laurens County Speedway’s 32nd Annual Shrine Race

by Mark Huey
LAURENS, SC (June 11) - The Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series sanctioned the running of the 32nd Annual Laurens County Shrine Race Tuesday Night June 11, 2013 at the historic Laurens Speedway. 18 Carolina Clash Super Late Model entries attended this race, including 12 of the top 15 drivers, who are each jockeying for position to set up the second-half of the regular season. Any driver who plans to run for the Roush Yates Performance Products Countdown to the Cup Championship must compete in all of the regular season events in order to receive bonus points in the chase point reset. Drivers can miss up to three events in the regular season. Currently, 17 drivers are eligible for the chase, with only the top 15 eligible moving into the championship series, which begins August 24th at Lancaster.

Known as "The Darlington of Dirt Tracks", Laurens Speedway is one of the toughest tracks in the Carolinas. The high banked, 3/8 mile oval is known for its speed, action and close racing. The Laurens Shrine race has always been a favorite among local and regional drivers. Clover, SC driver Ross Bailes and Toccoa, GA champion Casey Roberts claimed the previous two races, and each put on a dominating display in front of a stellar field and record crowd.

This annual charity event has developed quite a history and a strong following over the years. Several drivers who are members of the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame (Freddy Smith, Buck Simmons, Ronnie Johnson, and Steve Francis) have the Laurens County Shrine Race trophies. The most prolific event winner is Hall of Famer Mike Duvall who holds more wins than any other driver with an impressive 8 Shrine victories. Past winners include Freddy Crawford, Bill Morgan, John Pursley, Dennis Franklin, Rex Richey, Chris Madden, C.L. Pritchett, Ricky Weeks, HotRod Lamance, Randall Jordan, and Frank Coates.

The Shriner’s Hospitals for Children is a one-of-a-kind international health care system dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing specialty pediatric care, innovative research and outstanding teaching programs. Children up to the age of 18 with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip/palate are eligible for admission and receive all care in a family-centered environment at no financial obligation to patients or families. This will mark the 33rd year that the Laurens Speedway have handed their keys to their 3/8ths mile facility over to the Laurens County Shrine Club.

"Our race fans and teams have always been such strong supporters of the Shriners. This event raised over a half of a million dollars through the first thirty years. We can't stress enough how important events like this are to the Shriners Hospital. We appreciate everyone's support and we look forward to having a good show for them on June the 11th." said Dennis Nabors.

Ross Bailes of Clover, SC captured the Roush Yates Performance Products “Fast Time Award” and started the race from the front row alongside of Appling, GA hot foot Brandon Overton, who qualified second. Chip Brindle picked up the R2C Performance Hard Luck Award as he pitted during the opening laps of the race with problems on his #5B car.

From the onset of the race, Ross Bailes took the lead and fended off challenges from Brandon Overton as the field began to lap the tail end of the field by the 10th lap. The race went caution free until lap 15 when Mike Gault climbed the wall in turns one and two. Gault was able to keep going, but the caution waved as the cars blazed by the slowing #17 car. There were three attempts to restart the race double-file behind Bailes, but cautions would fly on the next two restart attempts for multiple-car spins exiting turn four to complete each lap.

When the race passed the halfway point, Dennis Franklin had slipped beneath Brandon Overton and Ray Cook made it by Dustin Mitchell. Racing continued until a lap 24 crash for Kyle Pierce, who had been running near the top five throughout the race. Pierce hit the wall in the same place as Gault and Pursley – turns one and two.

With 11 laps to go, Bailes restarted the leader and the field remained stable over the final laps and Bailes went on to pick up his second Carolina Clash victory, both of which came in Shrine races (Carolina – Gaston Shrine 100 Race of 2011). Bailes now has two wins in his career at Laurens County Speedway driving the #B4 car owned by Bobby and Johnny Wilson of Greenville, SC.

Defending track champion Billy Rushton of Greenwood, SC was the Safety-Kleen Hard Charger of the Race winner, advancing 5 positions from his 16th place starting spot to finish 11th. That finish also awarded him a Roush Yates Performance Products Gift Certificate.

Brandon Overton and Ray Cook were making their first Carolina Clash starts of the season and Dustin Mitchell finished fifth.

The regular season point race took another twist and turn as Dennis Franklin captured the point lead as Ricky Weeks moved into second. Johnny Pursley dropped to third and Ross Bailes vaulted into the fourth position as his quest to become a championship contender gained serious momentum. Tim Allen is now fifth in points and with one win also has a win on the year. Four of the top five drivers each have wins, but Ricky Weeks continues to collect solid top 10 finishes, with the Fayetteville race being the only flaw on his season. Franklin is seeking his third championship and Weeks is chasing after his sixth. Pursley, Bailes and Allen are in search of their first Carolina Clash series title.

The next race on the tour will be this coming Saturday night for regular season race #8 at the I-77 Speedway in Richburg, SC. Contact information for I-77 Speedway can be found at www.i77speedwayracing.com or track phone is (803) 789-7223 (RACE). I-77 Speedway is also on Facebook. Luke Roffers was the winner at I-77 Speedway in 2012 and looks to turn around his season there. Roffers won the pole position at I-77 in 2012 with a fast time of 17.122.

For information on the Carolina Clash series, please visit us online at www.carolinaclash.com and like the Carolina Clash on Facebook and follow the series on Twitter.

RESULTS FROM JUNE 11, 2013
Finish – Car # - Driver Name –Hometown

1. B4 Ross Bailes Clover, Sc
2. 2F Dennis Franklin Gaffney, SC
3. 76 Brandon Overton Appling, GA
4. 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
5. D8 Dustin Mitchell Princeton, NC
6. 57 Zack Mitchell Enoree, SC
7. 1W Ricky Weeks Rutherfordton, NC
8. 17A Tim Allen Kannapolis, NC
9. 9P John Pursley Clover, Sc
10. 17G Mike Gault Gaffney, SC
11. 4 Billy Rushton Greenwood, SC
12. 21 Frank Coates Hodges, SC
13. 02 Damon Kotke Louisburg, NC
14. 08 Michael Marlowe Nichols, SC
15. 33 Chuck Smith Sanford, NC
16. 281 Kyle Pierce Statesville, NC
17. 09 Johnny Pursley Clover, SC
18. 5B Chip Brindle Chatsworth, GA

Roush Yates Performance Products “Fast Time Award” – Ross Bailes – 14.658

R2C Performance “Last Man Standing” Award – 18th Place Qualifier – Johnny Pursley

R2C Performance “Hard Luck Award” – Chip Brindle

Safety – Kleen “Hard Charger of the Race” Award – Billy Rushton


UPCOMING EVENTS:

June 15, 2013 - I-77 Speedway of Richburg, SC
July 3, 2013 – Cherokee Speedway, Gaffney, SC
July 13 – 2013 – 311 Speedway – Pine Hall, NC