Lanigan Holds Off Richards For World of Outlaws Late Model Series Triumph At Eriez Speedway
By Kevin Kovac, WoO LMS P.R. Director
HAMMETT, PA – July 31, 2011 – Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., capped the three-race World of Outlaws Late Model Series swing through western Pennsylvania in fine fashion, mastering Eriez Speedway to capture Sunday night’s 50-lap A-Main.
The 2008 WoO LMS champion led from start-to-finish to register his first-ever victory at the one-third-mile oval outside Erie. He drove away from Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., following a late-race restart en route to his series-leading sixth win of the 2011 season behind the wheel of his self-owned GottaRace.com Rocket car.
“Eriez is not one of my better tracks, but the car was awesome tonight,” said the 41-year-old Lanigan, who earned $10,775 for his efforts. “Getting to draw the front row (outside pole starting spot) definitely helped out, but the car was unbelievable. We did a few things different than we usually do here and it worked.”
The checkered flag was Lanigan’s second of the national tour’s month-ending tripleheader in the Keystone State. He also won on July 26 at Dog Hollow Speedway in Strongstown, Pa. – a race that was the milestone 300th contested on the WoO LMS since 2004.
Richards, 23, hustled his father Mark’s Rocket Chassis house car forward from the fifth starting spot to second by lap 23. But after overtaking Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., for the runner-up slot his ascension effectively stalled thanks to a faulty spark plug wire, leaving him 0.990 of a second behind Lanigan at the finish line.
Clanton, who started from the pole position, settled for a third-place finish in his RSD Enterprises Rocket mount. Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., advanced from the 14th starting position to place fourth in a Victory Circle machine and his Sweeteners Plus teammate Vic Coffey of Caledonia, N.Y., completed the top five in a Rocket.
Lanigan, whose pair of Pennsy victories sandwiched a ninth-place finish on July 27 at McKean County Raceway in East Smethport (he went to the rear of the field after clipping the wall and sliding to a stop between turns one and two), outgunned Clanton for the lead at the initial green on Sunday and never looked back. He was well aware that Richards was lurking in second throughout the race’s second half but figured it would take a spectacular move for his young rival to unseat him.
“I knew (Richards) was back there, but I didn’t where he was,” said Lanigan, who registered his 25th career win on the WoO LMS. “I knew if anyone did pass me on the outside, he was gonna have a helluva ride out there. It got dirty out there and it was hard to get anything going, so I didn’t see how anybody could pass me out there.
“I just kept running the same line I did the whole race. I wasn’t gonna get off the bottom unless I had to.”
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Richards managed to come within inches of Lanigan’s right-rear quarter-panel when he lunged into turns one and two following the race’s third-and-final restart, on lap 41, but that was as close as he got to the lead.
“We gave it all we had,” said Richards, who was shooting for a second consecutive WoO LMS victory after winning the ‘Penn Gold 40’ at McKean County. “We had a real good car, but we broke a plug wire and I couldn’t quite get the car loaded (through the corners) like we needed to. The motor would just stumble and I’d lose that little extra bit of ground when I needed to be on the gas and going.
“I really feel like if we could’ve run a clean line we would’ve had a good shot to win the race, but we’re happy with second. Darrell and his guys did a great job and deserved to win.”
Clanton, 35, recorded just his second top-five finish in 21 WoO LMS starts this season. He got back on track after back-to-back frustrating finishes at Dog Hollow and McKean County.
“We worked pretty hard this week,” said Clanton, who decided to pull out his Rocket car for Sunday’s action after struggling with his Capital Race Car in the other Pennsylvania events. “We wanted to go racing Friday and Saturday but we didn’t. We took some time off to try and concentrate on this race.”
McCreadie, 37, was the most notable hard charger for the third consecutive WoO LMS A-Main, but that fact had him a bit perturbed following the race.
“I just don’t qualify or heat race good,” said McCreadie, who briefly took third from Clanton lap 47 before ceding the spot back the following circuit. “We had a really good car for the feature – again – but the problem is, when you start so far back and have to pass all them guys, you just use a lot of your stuff up. Once you get there in contention like we did tonight, there just isn’t enough left.”
Coffey, who turned 40 on July 25, cracked the top five for the second consecutive race. He also threatened to take third from Clanton midway through the A-Main before he fell back to fifth place.
“I was probably a little bit too tight right in the center to run the bottom,” said Coffey, who is still searching for his first career WoO LMS victory in 101 A-Mains starts. “I finally moved up to the middle in (turns) three and four about halfway through the race and actually drove right to Clanton and got beside him a couple times, but then he kind of adjusted his line a little bit and I went down there and missed once and slid and Timmy went driving on by (for fourth on a lap-37 restart).”
WoO LMS points leader Rick Eckert of York, Pa., finished sixth after nearly slipping out of the top 10 following a lap-23 restart. He left Eriez with a 42-point advantage over Richards.
“I tightened my car up too much,” said Eckert. “I was too tight to roll through the center, and on the one restart I pushed off the corner and whoa…I was in trouble. They were steady driving by me.
“That last restart I got something back. We salvaged a decent finish out of it, so we’ll keep after ’em as hard as we can and hopefully we’ll be there at the end (in the championship battle).”
Finishing in positions 7-10 was third-starter Mike Knight of Ripley, N.Y., who earned the $500 ‘Bonus Buck’ cash for being the highest-finishing driver who hasn’t won a WoO LMS A-Main and isn’t ranked among the top 12 in the points standings; Robbie Blair of Titusville, Pa.; Dan Stone of Thompson, Pa., who ran as high as sixth; and Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., who started 22nd after earning the final transfer spot in the second B-Main with a last-corner pass of Corry, Pa.’s Chris Hackett.
Bump Hedman of Sugar Grove, Pa., topped the 36-car field in Ohlins Shocks Time Trials, turning a lap 16.051 seconds to earn his first-ever fast-time honor in WoO LMS competition. He was an early retiree from the A-Main, however, finishing 23rd after stopping on the track to bring out a caution flag on lap 37.
Heat winners were Clanton, Lanigan, Stone and Richards. John Volpe of Lakewood, N.Y., and WoO LMS rookie Ron Davies of Warren, Pa., captured the B-Mains.
Next on the WoO LMS schedule is a three-race trip to the Upper Midwest highlighted by the $50,000-to-win USA Nationals on Aug. 4-6 at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis. The 100-lap event will be sandwiched by 50-lap, $10,000-to-win programs on Wed., Aug. 3, at Shawano (Wis.) Speedway and Mon., Aug. 8, at Independence (Iowa) Motor Speedway.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Results of WoO Late Model Series at Eriez Speedway (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):
1. (2) Darrell Lanigan/50 $10,775
2. (5) Josh Richards/50 $5,750
3. (1) Shane Clanton/50 $3,550
4. (14) Tim McCreadie/50 $3,150
5. (4) Vic Coffey/50 $2,550
6. (7) Rick Eckert/50 $2,250
7. (3) Mike Knight/50 $1,950
8. (10) Robbie Blair/50 $1,300
9. (8) Dan Stone/50 $1,200
10. (22) Chub Frank/50 $1,650
11. (12) Pat Doar/50 $1,850
12. (23) Clint Smith/50 $1,550
13. (13) Austin Hubbard/50 $1,500
14. (15) Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/50 $900
15. (16) Andy Boozel/50 $850
16. (6) Dave Hess Jr./50 $800
17. (17) John Volpe/50 $770
18. (11) Tim Fuller/50 $1,300
19. (18) Ron Davies/50 $1,280
20. (21) John Lobb/50 $700
21. (25) Dave Lyon/49 $700
22. (20) Scott Gurdak/37 $700
23. (9) Bump Hedman/36 $750
24. (24) Steve Francis/2 $700
25. (19) Jason Dupont/0 $725
* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses
Time of Race: 26 Mins., 38.036 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 0.990 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 3 (Laps 23, 37, 41)
Lap Leaders: Lanigan (1-50)
Provisional Starters: Smith, Francis (WoO); Lyon (track)
Rookie of the Race: Doar ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Knight ($500)
Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):
1. B22-Bump Hedman/Sugar Grove, PA 16.051
2. won11-Robbie Blair/Titusville, PA 16.135
3. 99B-Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/Bear Lake, PA 16.169
4. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 16.233
5. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 16.275
6. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 16.320
7. 2-Dan Stone/Thompson, PA 16.345
8. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 16.384
9. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 16.389
10. 2V-Chad Valone/Jamestown, NY 16.394
11. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 16.453
12. 9K-Mike Knight/Ripley, NY 16.504
13. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 16.505
14. 44H-Dave Hess Jr./Waterford, PA 16.514
15. 71d-Ron Davies/Warren, PA 16.514
16. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 16.517
17. 14B-Dick Barton/Ashville, NY 16.531
18. 28L-Randy Lobb/Jamestown, NY 16.557
19. 76-Andy Kania/Waterford, PA 16.589
20. 11-Pat Doar/New Richmond, WI 16.591
21. 53-John Volpe/Lakewood, NY 16.592
22. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 16.604
23. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 16.612
24. 12B-Andy Boozel/16.620
25. 1L-John Lobb/Frewsburg, NY 16.629
26. NO7-Jason Dupont/Cyclone, PA 16.643
27. 32c-Vic Coffey/Caledonia, NY 16.650
28. 9-Scott Gurdak/Bear Lake, PA 16.665
29. 26G-Dutch Davies/Warren, PA 16.674
30. 55H-Dave Lyon/Corry, PA 16.679
31. 33-Chris Hackett/Corry, PA 16.694
32. 1g-Rich Gardner/Waterford, PA 16.795
33. 22-Greg Oakes/Franklinville, NY 16.820
34. 71L-Dennis Lunger/Albion, PA 16.841
35. 03-Doug Eck/Corry, PA 16.897
36. 16*-Dereck Frank/Jamestown, NY 17.232
Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Clanton, Eckert, Hedman, Hubbard, Volpe, J. Lobb, Oakes, D. Davies, Barton
Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Lanigan, Hess, Blair, McCreadie, Dupont, Valone, R. Lobb, Lyon, Lunger
Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Stone, Coffey, Fuller, Briggs, R. Davies, Hackett, Eck, C. Frank, Kania
Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Richards, Knight, Doar, Boozel, Gurdak, Gardner, Smith, D. Frank, Francis
B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Volpe, Dupont, J. Lobb, D. Davies, Lunger, R. Lobb, Oakes, Valone, Lyon (DNS) Barton
B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): R. Davies, Gurdak, C. Frank, Hackett, Eck, Francis, Smith, Kania, D. Frank (DNS) Gardner
World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:
Arizona Sports Shirts ($100 apparel certificate to 22nd fastest qualifier): Tim McCreadie
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Mike Knight
Comp Cams ($50 cash to A-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Josh Richards
Comp Cams (certificate to 10th place in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Chub Frank
Eibach Springs (one free spring to each B-Main winner or next highest w/decal): John Lobb/Chris Hackett
JE Pistons ($50 cash to A-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Josh Richards
JE Pistons (one set of Pro Seal rings to 11th-place or next highest w/decal, redeemable w/next purchase of one complete set of rings): Pat Doar
JE Pistons (one set of Pro Seal rings to 21st-place or next highest w/decal, redeemable w/next purchase of one complete set of rings): Dave Lyon
MSD Ignition ($75 cash to A-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Darrell Lanigan
MSD Ignition ($25 cash to last-place in A-Main or next lowest w/decal): Jason Dupont
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash to fast qualifier or next highest w/decal): Bump Hedman
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate to A-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Shane Clanton
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate to 5th-place or next highest w/decal): Vic Coffey
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate to 15th-place or next highest w/decal): John Lobb
R2C Performance ($100 certificate to highest-finishing driver w/decal or $100 cash if race winner is using R2C filter and decal is displayed): Darrell Lanigan (cash)
STP ($50 cash to 2nd-place in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Josh Richards
Superflow Dynos ($50 cash to 7th-place in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Mike Knight
VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash to winner of Heat 1 or next highest w/decal): Shane Clanton
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (one five-gallon plastic fuel jugs to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main or next highest w/decal): Chad Valone
WIX Filters ($50 cash to 13th-place in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Austin Hubbard
Wrisco Aluminum (Three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Darrell Lanigan
2011 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of July 31 – 21 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):
1. Rick Eckert 3056
2. Josh Richards 3014 (-42)
3. Tim McCreadie 2946 (-110)
4. Darrell Lanigan 2926 (-130)
5. Austin Hubbard 2810 (-246)
6. Shane Clanton 2800 (-256)
7. Chub Frank 2796 (-260)
8. Clint Smith 2782 (-274)
9. Tim Fuller 2676 (-380)
10. Vic Coffey 2638 (-418)
11. Pat Doar 2574 (-482)
12. Ron Davies 2428 (-628)
13. John Lobb 2324 (-732)
14. Jill George 1648 (-1408)
15. Jonathan Davenport 1288 (-1768)
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), Vicci (Official Uniform), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award), McCarthy’s One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning (Raye Vest Memorial Pill Draw Award), Chizmark Larson Insurance, Factory Value Parts and RacingJunk.com; in addition to contingency sponsors Comp Cams, Eibach Springs, JE Pistons, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance, Superflow Dynos, Wix Filters and Wrisco Aluminum.
