2011

Richards Repels Eckert For Second Straight World of Outlaws Late Model Series Victory Monday At Independence Motor Speedway

By Kevin Kovac, WoO LMS P.R. Director

INDEPENDENCE, IA – Aug. 8, 2011 – Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., backed up his USA Nationals triumph in fine fashion, closing a three-race World of Outlaws Late Model Series swing through the Upper Midwest with a victory in Monday night’s 50-lap A-Main at Independence Motor Speedway.

The two-time defending series champion’s sixth win of 2011 came just two days after he pocketed $50,000 for capturing his first-ever crown-jewel dirt Late Model event at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis.

Richards, 23, survived a late-race scare to top the inaugural WoO LMS event at the three-eighths-mile Independence oval. After pacing the race from the initial green flag, he slipped out of the groove off turn four on lap 36, allowing WoO LMS points leader Rick Eckert of York, Pa., to dive underneath and lead the circuit.

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Richards Makes Saturday’s USA Nationals At Cedar Lake Speedway His Long-Awaited First Crown-Jewel Victory

By Kevin Kovac, WoO LMS P.R. Director

NEW RICHMOND, WI – Aug. 6, 2011 – Josh Richards finally has a victory in a crown-jewel dirt Late Model event on his resume.

The 23-year-old star’s breakthrough performance came on Saturday night in the 24th annual USA Nationals presented by U.S. Steel at Cedar Lake Speedway, a three-eighths-mile oval that will forever be close to his heart.

“It hasn’t even sunk in yet,” Shinnston, W.Va.’s Richards said when asked to describe his emotions following a 100-lap World of Outlaws Late Model Series triumph worth $50,125. “This place has always been real special to me. Back in 2000 whenever Davey Johnson was driving for us (his father Mark’s Rocket Chassis house car) I remember coming here and watching the (USA Nationals). I was just in awe. I just fell in love with this track at a young age.

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Iowa’s Jason Rauen Pulls Off Surprise Sweep Of Qualifying Night To Earn Pole Starting Spot In USA Nationals At Cedar Lake Speedway

By Kevin Kovac, WoO LMS P.R. Director

NEW RICHMOND, WI – Aug. 5, 2011 – Jason Rauen of Farley, Iowa, surprised even himself with a clean sweep of Friday night’s qualifying program for the USA Nationals presented by U.S. Steel at Cedar Lake Speedway.

An upstart 31-year-old dirt Late Model driver making just his third career appearance at the high-banked, three-eighths-mile oval, Rauen was fastest in the 54-car Ohlins Shocks Time Trials session, won a heat race and captured the 10-lap dash to earn the pole position starting spot in Saturday night’s 24th annual 100-lap, $50,000-to-win A-Main. He will lead the field to the green flag in what will be both his first-ever start in the USA Nationals and a World of Outlaws Late Model Series event.

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Red-Hot Lanigan Rolls To Seventh Victory Of 2011 In Wednesday-Night Visit To Shawano Speedway

By Kevin Kovac, WoO LMS P.R. Director

SHAWANO, WI – Aug. 3, 2011 – Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., continued his mid-summer surge, rolling to victory in Wednesday night’s 50-lap World of Outlaws Late Model Series A-Main at Shawano Speedway.

The 41-year-old former series champion overtook Chad Simpson of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, for the lead on lap 26 and cruised to his second straight and seventh overall win of the 2011 season. He matched his single-season career-high win total on the national tour and moved within two triumphs of equaling Scott Bloomquist’s WoO LMS record of nine victories in 2004.

“We’ve just been doing our own little thing and it’s definitely been working,” said Lanigan, whose $10,775 win was his third in four starts over an eight-day span. “Our car’s been awesome.”

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