Richards keeps rolling with Tuesday Winternationals win

TAMPA, Fla. - Josh Richards continued to dominate the competition on Tuesday Night at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, Fla., winning his fourth Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event of 2016. Richards took the lead from Jared Landers on lap nine after Landers jumped the turn four cushion.

Richards went on to win his sixth career East Bay Winternationals feature event. Scott Bloomquist finished second, followed by Tim McCreadie, Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., and Eddie Carrier, Jr.

“We changed motors today,” Richards said. “I was a little nervous about the balance we had in the car, but it worked out well in the feature. The track started off like last night, it was nice and fast. With the weather conditions tonight, you had to get to the front quickly to have a chance to win.

“The car tightened up quite a bit. We were way too tight for the conditions out there. I don’t know how many more laps I had in that right rear; probably not many; the way it looks. Jared (Landers) got off to a good start. I just tried to stay under him and then he must have jumped the berm there and we were able to get by him. This place is tricky with the way you move around so much.”

Landers led the first eight laps, then fell to second behind Richards and held that spot until contact sent him spinning on lap 23. Bloomquist then moved into second and held off McCreadie for third.

Bloomquist, who did not run Monday night at East Bay said,

“We got some rest last night,” said Bloomquist, who did not run Monday night at East Bay. “I have been feeling sick, so we decided to take the night off. The car was just a little bit free in the heat race, and I tightened it up way too much. That’s not how I like to drive it.

“I thought Jared was getting a flat tire or something. I thought I was outside of him enough and I guess I just barely hooked him. I hate that because we are really good friends. We have race together a lot and that’s the first time something has happened between us. I apologize for that! It was absolutely my fault.”

McCreadie is following the LOLMDS for the first time in his career, and had another solid finish.

“It’s such a relaxed atmosphere,” he said. “We have had good starts to a season before, but we just need the consistency for the whole season. We feel like we have a winning combination here.”

Completing the top ten were Devin Moran, Dennis Erb, Jr., Don O’Neal, Steve Francis and Mason Zeigler.

In preliminary action, Darrell Lanigan set the overall fast time (Group B) amongst the 41 entrants, with a lap of 14.763 seconds. Mike Marlar set the fastest time in Group A with a time of 14.773 seconds. Bloomquist, McCreadie, Landers, and Richards won their respective heat races. Richards and Jimmy Owens won their respective B-Mains.

For more information on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, LucasDirt.com.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
East Bay Raceway Park – Tampa, FL
East Bay Winternationals – Feb. 9, 2016

Race Statistics
Entrants: 41
Lap Leaders: Jared Landers (Laps 1 – 8); Josh Richards (Laps 9 – 25)
Cautions: Brian Shirley (Lap 16); Austin Kirkpatrick (Lap 17); Jared Landers (Lap 23)
Fastest Lap of the Race: Josh Richards (Lap #19 – 15.8545 seconds)
Most Laps Led: Josh Richards (17 Laps)
Time of Race: 14 minutes, 9 seconds