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LATEMODELRACER >> DRIVER PRESS RELEASES >> Late-Race Flat Knocks Josh Richards From Contention at VMS
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Message started by LMR on 04/22/10 at 2:19am

Title: Late-Race Flat Knocks Josh Richards From Contention at VMS
Post by LMR on 04/22/10 at 2:19am

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2010

Late-Race Flat Knocks Josh Richards From Contention in Commonwealth 100 But Regains Share of World of Outlaws Late Model Series Points Lead

SHINNSTON, W. Va. - April 21, 2010 - Josh Richards thought he might be in position to win the biggest race of his career on Saturday night at Virginia Motor Speedway. Lady Luck, however, had another idea.

Just two circuits after Richards inherited second place in the inaugural Commonwealth 100 at Bill Sawyer's beautiful half-mile oval in Jamaica, Va., a flat right-rear tire forced the 22-year-old sensation from Shinnston, W.Va., to pull up on lap 87 in his Mark Richards Racing Enterprises Rocket car. His misfortune brought out a caution flag and he returned to the fray on the lead lap after changing the worn through tire, but he could only manage a 12th place finish in the $25,000-to-win World of Outlaws Late Model Series spectacular.

"I felt really good early," said Richards, who started 10th but cracked the top five before the race's one-third point. "I felt like we had a legitimate shot to win the race."

Richards moved into third place on lap 59 when Earl Pearson Jr. became the first of the contenders to suffer a flat right-rear tire on the abrasive track surface. He fell a half straightaway behind leader Darrell Lanigan and second-place Brian Birkhofer until closing in on the pacesetters with 20 laps remaining, fueling the defending WoO LMS champion's hopes that he might pull off the first 100-lap victory of his career.

But after watching Birkhofer give up second place to a popped right-rear tire on lap 85, Richards suffered the same fate two laps later. The tread on Richards' right-rear tire simply couldn't withstand running in the hard groove of rubber that developed midway through the Commonwealth 100.

"When (the track) was kind of in between, I felt really comfortable," said Richards, who timed fourth-fastest in the event's 56-car field and finished second in a 15-lap heat race on Friday night. "But obviously, when it rubbered it was just about trying to save and conserve."

"I probably ran a little harder than I wanted to so I could catch Darrell and Birkhofer when they got to lapped traffic, but I was just trying to just get to the position where, if they slipped up, I could get by. Maybe I should've just conserved a little bit more and then we maybe we could've been there at the end, but it's just one of those things where you're trying to win."

Richards was able to take some consolation from the race, which was won by South Carolina's Chris Madden. Tim McCreadie, who entered the event leading the WoO LMS points standings finished the night 17th after a flat right-rear tire knocked him from third place on lap 98. Richards moved into a tie with McCreadie atop the national tour's points standings after eight events this season.

Richards will be off from WoO LMS action this weekend, but he'll jump behind the wheel of the Ernie Davis-owned Rocket No. 25 for a Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series doubleheader at tracks close to his Mountaineer State home. He plans to use the Roush Yates Racing Ford engine he debuted in Davis' car earlier this month in the Lucas events on Fri., April 23, at Bedford (Pa.) Speedway and Sat., April 24, at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway.

For more information on Josh Richards, visit www.joshrichards.com.

Josh Richards' No. 1 team carries support from Rocket Chassis, Cornett Racing Engines, Seubert Calf Ranches, Ernie D's Enterprises, ACE Metal Works, MCB Motorsports, 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.