Accident Hampers Josh Richards Return at Eldora Speedway
In his first appearance back since being out of a race car for nearly a year due to medical issues, Josh Richards began Saturday night at Eldora Speedway by going out in the first of several groups to hot lap. The Three-time World of Outlaws Late Model Series Champion looked as if he’d never stepped out of the car turning the second fastest lap time in his group with a time of 18.473 seconds. The 26-year-old driver was the first to make a qualifying run at the half-mile clay oval for group time trials. He ran the fastest time in his group with a lap of 15.743 en route to taking home the second fastest qualifying time overall. After an invert of the top-four cars, Richards lined up fourth in the first heat race of the evening. On Lap 1, the Rocket driver went to the high-side exiting Turn 2 and was forced into the cushion causing heavy contact with the wall. Extensive damage forced Richards to the pits for repairs. The Valvoline/Seubert Calf Ranches crew worked hard and got the No.1 machine ready, just in time to take the green-flag for the B-Main. Since Richards did not finish his heat race, he lined up in the rear of a 12-car field. The Mark Richards Racing driver made it to the third position in just 10 short laps, but fell one spot shy of making the feature event. It was later discovered that Richards made his impressive run toward the front in the B-Main minus a cylinder, after a spark plug was jarred loose. He will return to racing action Oct. 17-18 for the Dirt Track World Championship at Portsmouth (Ohio) Raceway Park.
Qualifying Result – 2nd B-Main Finish – 3rd
JOSH RICHARDS QUOTE: “I’ve been waiting all year to get back behind the wheel and it felt great to be back in the seat of the Valvoline/Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket house-car. It’s a bummer we ruined our chances early on by hitting the wall in our heat race. The car felt good in hot laps and qualifying, it’s just a shame we ran out of laps in the B-Main to be able to transfer into the feature event. We were running the guys in front of us down, but just needed another lap or two to catch them. I want to thank my crew for all of their hard work to get the car fixed up in time to run the B-Main. I have some of the best guys in the business.”
