Lanigan Outruns Richards In Inaugural World of Outlaws Late Model Series A-Main At Little Valley Speedway
Record 14th Victory Of 2012, 40th Of Career Moves Lanigan Back Ahead Of Richards On Tour’s Alltime Win List
By Kevin Kovac, WoO LMS P.R. Director
LITTLE VALLEY, NY – Aug. 29, 2012 – Well, that ‘slump’ didn’t last long.
Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., snapped a modest two-race winless streak on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series Wednesday night, rolling to a runaway victory before a standing-room-only crowd in the national tour’s inaugural 50-lap A-Main at Little Valley Speedway.
The 42-year-old star raced off the outside pole starting spot to lead the entire distance. He turned back a brief mid-race threat from Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., and then pulled away following a lap-32 restart to defeat the returning two-time WoO LMS champion by a commanding 2.231 seconds.
Lanigan’s triumph was his record 14th of the 2012 season and the 40th of his career in World of Outlaws competition, moving him out of a tie with Richards for the top spot on the circuit’s alltime win list.
“I think we’re bouncing that most wins (record) back and forth,” said Lanigan, who watched Richards tie him for career top-winner status with a victory on Aug. 18 at Merritt Raceway in Lake City, Mich. “We’ll see who comes up with it.”
Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., finished a distant third, nearly a half-lap behind Lanigan on the sprawling half-mile fairgrounds oval. Smith started from the pole position but was outgunned by Lanigan at the initial green flag and lost second to Richards on lap nine.
Ron Davies of Warren, Pa., a 54-year-old veteran who won the most recent dirt Late Model feature run at Little Valley, settled for a fourth-place finish after starting third. Sixth-starter Vic Coffey of Caledonia, N.Y., who won the only dirt Late Model feature of his career in 2007 at Little Valley, briefly grabbed fourth from Davies on a lap-16 restart but ceded the spot back two circuits later and went on to place fifth.
Of the top five finishers, only Davies did not drive a Rocket Chassis machine. He was behind the wheel of an MB Customs mount.
Lanigan, of course, raved about the performance of his Cornett-powered Rocket car after scoring a $10,650 checkered flag that pushed his 2012 WoO LMS earnings to an astounding $284,650.
“The car was just awesome,” said Lanigan, who extended his points lead to 172 over ninth-place finisher Rick Eckert of York, Pa., with just eight events remaining on the 2012 schedule. “The carburetor stumbled a little bit in the corners and kind of screwed me up, but man, that thing would run down the straightaways. It’s just an unbelievable motor.”
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Lanigan, whose record streak of six consecutive wins ended with quiet finishes of fifth and eight during the tour’s Michigan doubleheader on Aug. 17-18, kept Richards from scoring a second straight victory. Richards, 24, took advantage of an open spot on his NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule to enter his third WoO LMS event in a row.
“We were softer (compound) with the left-rear and right-front tire than Darrell and I thought we had something on him,” said Richards, who started fourth. “They said we were a half-second faster (than Lanigan) when I got to second and he got hung up in some traffic during the first green flag run. We caught him and I felt like if we could’ve got by him we could’ve held him off even though he was better at the end, but we couldn’t get by him and then our tires started giving out.
“We were trying hard. It definitely wasn’t from lack of effort. But Darrell and his guys were really good tonight and we just gambled on tires and it didn’t work out. It was still good enough to run second, so we’re happy.”
Smith, 47, registered his third-place finish with a Rocket car making its debut run.
“We just had some brand-new car blues,” said Smith. “We built this car after Michigan, and if we would’ve got a shakedown night at Winchester or Selinsgrove (the Virginia and Pennsylvania tracks that had WoO LMS events rained out last weekend) we would’ve been more prepared here.
“We had some header problems that weren’t sealed for hot laps and qualifying, so we had to get all that fixed. We had a fifth-coil come loose in qualifying. Everything was good in the heat race, but we had an oil line come loose about lap 30 in the feature so I was dropping oil pressure and I had to just hold my spot and settle for third.
“But I feel good to be traveling with these three (Lanigan and Richards) right now,” he added. “It’s good to be in company with them and get on the podium with ’em. Hopefully we’ll get our night. Josh ain’t here to stay, so maybe it can be between me and Darrell at a race coming up.”
Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., made a late-race charge to finish sixth, advancing five positions in nine laps after the race’s third and final caution flag flew on lap 32 for a turn-one tangle involving Dan Stone of Thompson, Pa., and Bump Hedman of Sugar Grove, Pa. Bub McCool of Vicksburg, Miss., was the last driver to fall to Clanton and finished seventh. Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., finished eighth after taking the final restart in sixth place; Rick Eckert of York, Pa., cracked the top 10 late to finish ninth; and Mike Knight of Ripley, N.Y., was 10th.
Twenty-nine cars entered the event, which was run on a cool summer evening.
Richards was fastest in Ohlins Shocks Time Trials with a lap of 21.726 seconds. It was his second fast-time honor of 2012.
Heat winners were Richards, Coffey and Davies, and John Lobb of Frewsburg, N.Y., won the B-Main.
The next action for the WoO LMS comes on Saturday night (Sept. 1) with the running of the ‘Black Diamond 125’ at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, W.Va., The unique $150,000-plus event includes a pair of 40-lap preliminary features paying $10,000 to win each and the 45-lap ‘Sweet Sixteen’ finale – for the top eight finishers in each prelim – that offers a $20,000 top prize.
Results of WoO Late Model Series at Little Valley Speedway (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):
1. (2) Darrell Lanigan/50 $10,650
2. (4) Josh Richards/50 $5,250
3. (1) Clint Smith/50 $3,550
4. (3) Ron Davies/50 $3,000
5. (6) Vic Coffey/50 $2,550
6. (9) Shane Clanton/50 $2,250
7. (5) Bub McCool/50 $2,250
8. (8) Jimmy Mars/50 $1,300
9. (11) Rick Eckert/50 $1,750
10. (7) Mike Knight/50 $1,300
11. (12) Tim Fuller/50 $1,600
12. (15) Kent Robinson/50 $1,550
13. (16) Bob Close/50 $950
14. (19) John Lobb/49 $900
15. (10) Jason Dupont/47 $1,050
16. (14) Dick Barton/37 $850
17. (22) Bump Hedman/34 $820
18. (20) Dan Stone/32 $750
19. (17) Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/30 $730
20. (18) Brian Reese/25 $700
21. (24) Gregg Satterlee/19 $700
22. (13) Tim McCreadie/17 $1,350
23. (21) Chub Frank/15 $1,250
24. (23) Pat Doar/12 $1,250
* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses
Time of Race: 28 Mins., 14.431 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 2.231 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 3 (Laps 16, 32, 32)
Lap Leaders: Lanigan (1-50)
Provisional Starters: Doar, Satterlee
Rookie of the Race: McCool ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Davies ($500)
Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):
1. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 21.726
2. 32c-Vic Coffey/Caledonia, NY 21.740
3. 71d-Ron Davies/Warren, PA 21.780
4. 9K-Mike Knight/Ripley, NY 21.810
5. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 21.812
6. 57J-Bub McCool/Vicksburg, MS 21.894
7. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 21.974
8. 29-Jimmy Mars/Menomonie, WI 21.993
9. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 22.063
10. N07-Jason Dupont/Cyclone, PA 22.120
11. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 22.139
12. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 22.148
13. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 22.174
14. 99B-Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/Bear Lake, PA 22.175
15. 7R-Kent Robinson/Bloomington, IN 22.214
16. 22s-Gregg Satterlee/Rochester Mills, PA 22.252
17. 14b-Dick Barton/Ashville, NY 22.257
18. 3-David Scott/Garland, PA 22.258
19. 04-Bob Close/Eldred, PA 22.286
20. 22-Greg Oakes/Franklinville, NY 22.343
21. 33-Brian Reese/Sharpsburg, GA 22.372
22. B22-Bump Hedman/Sugar Grove, PA 22.383
23. 21d-Dan Stone/Thompson, PA 33.439
24. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 22.455
25. 28L-John Lobb/Frewsburg, NY 22.473
26. 11-Pat Doar/New Richmond, WI 22.534
27. 32T-Terry Porter/Erie, PA 22.739
28. 07R-Brent Rhebergen/Clymer, NY 22.741
29. 9-Scott Gurdak/Bear Lake, PA 23.040
Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Richards, C. Smith, Knight, Dupont, McCreadie, Close, Lobb, Hedman, Satterlee, Rhebergen
Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Coffey, Lanigan, Mars, Eckert, Barton, Stone, Doar, Oakes, Gurdak (DQ) Briggs
Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Davies, McCool, Clanton, Fuller, Robinson, Reese, Frank, Scott, Porter
B-Main (12 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Lobb, Stone, Frank, Hedman, Doar, Satterlee, Scott, Oakes, Rhebergen, Gurdak, Porter
World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:
Arizona Sport Shirts ($100 product certificate to 23rd-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): John Lobb
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Mike Knight
Cometic Gasket ($50 cash to 12th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Jason Dupont
Comp Cams ($50 cash to 10th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Mike Knight
Comp Cams ($50 product certificate to A-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Josh Richards
Dominator ($50 cash to 6th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Bub McCool
Eibach Springs (one free spring to each B-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Bump Hedman
Gravely ($50 cash to 7th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Bub McCool
JE Pistons ($50 cash to 16th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Dick Barton
JE Pistons (one compete set of JE Pro Seal rings to 11th-place finisher or next highest w/decal – $285 value): Tim Fuller
JE Pistons (one complete set of JE Pro Seal rings to 21st-place finisher or next highest w/decal – $285 value): Tim McCreadie
Klotz Synthetic Lubricants ($50 cash to 17th-place finisher or next highest finisher): Bump Hedman
MSD Ignition ($50 cash to A-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Josh Richards
MSD Ignition ($25 cash to 24th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Pat Doar
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash to fast qualifier or next highest w/decal): Mike Knight
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate to A-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Josh Richards
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate to 5th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Vic Coffey
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate to 15th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Jason Dupont
Roush-Yates Performance Products ($50 cash to 4th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Jason Dupont
Roush-Yates Performance Products (carburetor repair kit to 18th-place finish in A-Main or next highest w/decal – $100 value): Chub Frank
Roush-Yates Lap Leader Award (one pair of Wiley X Sunglasses to driver who leads most laps in A-Main): Darrell Lanigan
STP ($50 cash to 2nd-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Josh Richards
SuperFlow ($50 cash to 14th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Jason Dupont
VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash to 9th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Mike Knight
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (one VP 5-gallon container to fastest qualifier who misses A-Main or next highest with decal – $30 value): David Scott
WIX Filters ($50 cash to 13th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Jason Dupont
Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner if decal displayed – $200 value): Josh Richards
XS Power ($50 cash to 3rd-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Mike Knight
XS Power ($60 product certificate to 8th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Mike Knight
XS ‘Power Move of the Race’ ($60 product certificate): Shane Clanton
2012 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Aug. 29 – 33 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):
1. Darrell Lanigan 4622
2. Rick Eckert 4450 (-172)
3. Shane Clanton 4252 (-370)
4. Tim McCreadie 4248 (-374)
5. Chub Frank 4194 (-428)
6. Bub McCool 4110 (-512)
7. Clint Smith 4092 (-530)
8. Vic Coffey 3998 (-624)
9. Tim Fuller 3872 (-750)
10. Pat Doar 3832 (-790)
11. Kent Robinson 3768 (-854)
12. Jack Sullivan 3268 (-1354)
13. John Lobb 2422 (-2200)
14. Jill George 2190 (-2432)
15. Mike Marlar 1966 (-2656)
LIVE UPDATES 8/29: World of Outlaws Late Model Series At Little Valley Speedway
LITTLE VALLEY, NY – Aug. 29, 2012 – Following back-to-back rainouts in Virginia and Pennsylvania last weekend, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series returns to action tonight at Little Valley Speedway.
A sprawling half-mile fairgrounds oval about 80 miles southeast of Buffalo, Little Valley is hosting the national tour for the first time in its history. A 50-lap A-Main paying $10,000 to win will top the evening’s agenda.
For live updates of all the news, pit notes and results from tonight’s action, click the ‘Full Story’ link below. Be sure to refresh your browser throughout the night to see the latest information.
Back on top
10:45 p.m. – Darrell Lanigan ended an, ahem, two-race winless streak, cruising to a flag-to-flag victory in the 50-lap A-Main. He pulled away from Josh Richards after a lap-32 caution flag to beat the returning two-time series champion by a full straightaway, with third-place Clint Smith nearly a half-lap behind Lanigan at the finish.
A-Main Finish: 1. Darrell Lanigan, 2. Josh Richards, 3. Clint Smith, 4. Ron Davies, 5. Vic Coffey, 6. Shane Clanton, 7. Bub McCool, 8. Jimmy Mars, 9. Rick Eckert, 10. Mike Knight, 11. Tim Fuller, 12. Kent Robinson, 13. Bob Close, 14. John Lobb, 15. Jason Dupont, 16. Dick Barton, 17. Bump Hedman, 18. Dan Stone, 19. Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs, 20. Brian Reese, 21. Gregg Satterlee, 22. Tim McCreadie, 23. Chub Frank, 24. Pat Doar
Field set
9:10 p.m. – John Lobb was victorious in the 12-lap B-Main, defeating Dan Stone, Chub Frank and Bump Hedman. Those four drivers, plus provisional starters Pat Doar and Gregg Satterlee, complete the 24-car A-Main starting field.
The open-wheel Modified feature, which includes a double-duty-pulling Ron Davies and his son Dan, is now on the racetrack. The race will go 20 laps or 15 minutes, and then the WoO LMS headliner will hit the speedway.
A-Main Lineup:
Row 1: Clint Smith/Darrell Lanigan
Row 2: Ron Davies/Josh Richards
Row 3: Bub McCool/Vic Coffey
Row 4: Mike Knight/Jimmy Mars
Row 5: Shane Clanton/Jason Dupont
Row 6: Rick Eckert/Tim Fuller
Row 7: Tim McCreadie/Dick Barton
Row 8: Kent Robinson/Bob Close
Row 9: Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/Brian Reese
Row 10: John Lobb/Dan Stone
Row 11: Chub Frank/Bump Hedman
Row 12: Pat Doar/Gregg Satterlee
Can Cat Daddy do it?
9:05 p.m. – Clint Smith has fallen short of defeating Darrell Lanigan twice this summer — he lost on the last lap to the WoO LMS points in July at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D., and finished second to Lanigan in a body-rubbing duel on Aug. 6 at Iowa’s Independence Motor Speedway — so he’s anxious to have another shot tonight. Smith drew the pole position for the 50-lap A-Main and Lanigan will start alongside in the second spot.
Ron Davies, who drew the loudest cheer during the A-Main draw for position, will start third, followed by Josh Richards, Bub McCool and Vic Coffey.
Prelim action
8 p.m. – The three 10-lap heat races were dominated by the polesitters — Josh Richards, Vic Coffey and Ron Davies were victorious — but some post-race activity following the second preliminary drew a rise from the SRO crowd.
Moments after the second heat was checkered, fifth-place finisher Dick Barton ended up sitting sideways on the inside berm in turn two from what looked like a bump from Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs, whom Barton overtook for fifth on the final lap. The fans reacted with a loud roar, and WoO LMS race director Bret Emrick initially ruled that Briggs would be disqualified from his sixth-place finish and set down for the remainder of the night for running into Barton.
However, after WoO LMS officials heard from both Barton and Briggs, it was determined that Briggs did not hit Barton on purpose and would thus be reinstated to his sixth-place position and move on to the A-Main. As Briggs noted, after he crossed the finish line side-by-side with Barton, he slid high into the dust in turn one. Briggs then had to “gas it up” to avoid sliding into the outside wall — but with Barton still door-to-door with him as they slowed, they rubbed together and Barton was sent into the berm.
Barton said the incident didn’t warrant a DQ for Briggs, so WoO LMS officials changed the ruling.
Complete heat-race results can be found here.
Speedy Richards
7:25 p.m. – With an absolutely packed house of fans looking on (see new picture above), Josh Richards made his presence known on the WoO LMS again, ripping off the fastest lap in Ohlins Shocks Time Trials. He registered his second fast-time honor of the 2012 season with a circuit of 21.726 seconds.
Vic Coffey, whose lone career win in a dirt Late Model came at Little Valley in an unsanctioned event in 2007, was second-fastest at 21.740 seconds. The quick clocking got Coffey off to a great start as he bids for his first-ever WoO LMS victory at a track less than two hours from him home in Caledonia, N.Y.
For complete results of time trials, click here.
Green flag flying
6:35 p.m. – Hot laps are now underway for the 29 cars signed in to compete tonight. Ohlins Shocks Time Trials will immediately follow the completion of the practice sessions.
Sigh of relief
5:30 p.m. – Vic Coffey thought his Sweeteners Plus racing hauler would need a new engine after its turbo blew on Interstate 81 near Winchester, Va., last Saturday, creating a situation in which the truck’s powerplant would not turn off until it ran out of oil. Considering the heavy smoke that poured from the truck as it sat on the highway’s shoulder, it appeared major damage was done.
But Coffey’s cars were towed to the track today with the same truck. Surprisingly, after a new turbo was put on the engine, it fired up and seems to be running without a problem.
The ‘Lobbster’ Returns
5:10 p.m. – John Lobb, who followed the WoO LMS fulltime in 2011 and during the first half of the 2012 season, will make his first start on the tour since Kennedy Motorsports owner John Kennedy took him off the circuit before July’s Wild West Tour.
A resident of nearby Frewsburg, N.Y., Lobb has been devoting much of his time for the past month to helping his son’s go-kart effort. He will drive his brother Randy’s No. 28 tonight.
Tough field
4:05 p.m. – The WoO LMS travelers — the top 11 drivers in the points standings are already on hand — will face some formidable competition tonight. Entrants ready to challenge the regulars include two-time WoO LMS champion Josh Richards, who is back in his father Mark’s Rocket No. 1 with a break in his NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule; Wisconsin superstar Jimmy Mars; Georgia’s Brian Reese, who made the trip north this week with Clint Smith; 2011 WoO LMS regular Ron Davies, who has enjoyed plenty of success at Little Valley in recent years (he won the last dirt Late Model show run here this season); David Scott; Jason Dupont; Brent Rhebergen; Scott Gurdak; Dick Barton; and Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs.
Unique place
3:45 p.m. – The WoO LMS doesn’t visit any other track quite like Little Valley Speedway.
For starters, the track boasts monster-length straightaways. It also has an impressive covered grandstand. But perhaps the most notable aspect of the facility is the pit area parking situation — haulers are basically scattered all over the place outside the speedway’s backstretch. A majority of the dirt Late Model entrants are parked in a row off turn two, but other entrants, as well as support-division competitors, are parked between, and in some cases inside, the barns that are used for the annual fair held on the property.
