Dirtfan_21
07-14-2008, 03:24 PM
ELKIN, NC (July 12) - How important is momentum? Just ask four time and defending Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series champion Ricky Weeks. Fresh off his first win of the 2008 season last weekend, the popular driver know as the 'Rutherfordton Rocket' pocketed his second win in as many weeks with a hard fought $4,000 win in the Oakwood Homes 40 at Friendship Speedway Saturday night.
"It is the greatest thing that ever was," said Weeks referring to momentum. "We are defiantly hitting our stride at the right time. We are trying to stay focused as we get closer to the 'Championship Series', said Weeks. "The race track was very good and I think the fans saw a heck of a race."
Weeks is going after his fifth straight series championship. He is also leading Fayetteville Motor Speedway's Crazy 8 series. If he can pull off both championships he will pocket $40,000.
Weeks topped the 39 cars in Mega Plumbing of the Carolina's Qualifying to earn the right to start the main event from the pole. Local standout and former Carolina Clash Rookie of the Year Noel Tucker lined up beside Weeks for the start of the main event. As the green flag waved Weeks slid into the lead over Tucker, Tommy Taylor, Ray Tucker and Benji Cole. Ray Tucker quickly flexed his muscle and moved into third on lap three. Cole moved Taylor back on more spot on lap five, as the Cannon, GA native moved into fourth.Tucker then moved Noel Tucker (no relation) back to third when he took the runner up spot on lap six. Noel Tucker's hopes of a win vanished on lap seven when the Franklin, NC resident slowed with a flat left rear tire.
On the restart Ray Tucker quickly went to work on Weeks for the race lead. The pair of veterans raced door to door for several laps with Tucker looking under Weeks on every lap. As the lead duo raced through lapped traffic the pair made contact when Tucker tried to squeeze under Weeks and lapped car in turn two. The contact sent Tucker pitside with suspension damage and brought out the fourth caution of the race.
This moved the Cole into the runner up spot for the lap 16 restart with Troutman NC's Randle Chupp on his rear bumper. Cole took up where Tucker left off and began to challenge Weeks for the race lead. Chupp kept the lead pair in sight to make it a three car battle for the lead. Cole kept the heat on Weeks and pulled alongside the Rutherfordton, NC veteran on several occasions but Weeks was to strong and kept Cole at bay to score his second straight win. Chupp, Wisconsin transplant Luke Roffers and Ed Gibbons rounded out the top five.
Damon Eller was sixth with Ed Gibbons seventh, Brian Moody eighth, Jeff Smith charged from the rear to ninth and Brent Robinson tenth.
Brent Robinson was the Heintz Brothers Performance Hard Charger of the Race. Chupp earned the Beaver Bail Bonds Bailed Out Award. Ricky Boahn, Gary East and Dennis 'Rambo' Franklin scored the Cabinets By Design Heat Wins.
The winning Rocket Chassis is sponsored by Starrette Trucking, Parton Lumber Company, AFCO, Yelton's Auto Sales, American Racer, J&J Race Cars, Carolinadirt.com and Clements Racing Engines.
The next Carolina Clash event will be August 2nd at Wythe Raceway.
CAROLINA CLASH FINISH: 1. Ricky Weeks 2. Benji Cole 3. Randle Chupp 4. Luke Roffers 5. Ed Gibbons 6. Damon Eller 7. Booper Bare 8. Brian Moody 9. Jeff Smith 10. Brent Robinson 11. Dennis Franklin 12. Noel Tucker 13. Chris Medows 14. Doug Sanders 15. Tim Allen 16. Ronnie Hoover 17. Jonathan Davenport 18. Anthony Sanders 19. Gary East 20. Ricky Boahn 21. Scott Neighbors 22. Ray Tucker 23. Gary Mabe 24. Tommy Taylor DNS: G.R Smith, Jimmy McCormick, Raymond Brown, Gary Wood, Chad Justice, Mickey Flinchum, Dwayne Joyce, Dan Breuer, Justin Labonte, Keith Jacobs, Daniel Baggerly, Craig Shuffield, Deano Long, Bruce Hall, Brent Hall.
"It is the greatest thing that ever was," said Weeks referring to momentum. "We are defiantly hitting our stride at the right time. We are trying to stay focused as we get closer to the 'Championship Series', said Weeks. "The race track was very good and I think the fans saw a heck of a race."
Weeks is going after his fifth straight series championship. He is also leading Fayetteville Motor Speedway's Crazy 8 series. If he can pull off both championships he will pocket $40,000.
Weeks topped the 39 cars in Mega Plumbing of the Carolina's Qualifying to earn the right to start the main event from the pole. Local standout and former Carolina Clash Rookie of the Year Noel Tucker lined up beside Weeks for the start of the main event. As the green flag waved Weeks slid into the lead over Tucker, Tommy Taylor, Ray Tucker and Benji Cole. Ray Tucker quickly flexed his muscle and moved into third on lap three. Cole moved Taylor back on more spot on lap five, as the Cannon, GA native moved into fourth.Tucker then moved Noel Tucker (no relation) back to third when he took the runner up spot on lap six. Noel Tucker's hopes of a win vanished on lap seven when the Franklin, NC resident slowed with a flat left rear tire.
On the restart Ray Tucker quickly went to work on Weeks for the race lead. The pair of veterans raced door to door for several laps with Tucker looking under Weeks on every lap. As the lead duo raced through lapped traffic the pair made contact when Tucker tried to squeeze under Weeks and lapped car in turn two. The contact sent Tucker pitside with suspension damage and brought out the fourth caution of the race.
This moved the Cole into the runner up spot for the lap 16 restart with Troutman NC's Randle Chupp on his rear bumper. Cole took up where Tucker left off and began to challenge Weeks for the race lead. Chupp kept the lead pair in sight to make it a three car battle for the lead. Cole kept the heat on Weeks and pulled alongside the Rutherfordton, NC veteran on several occasions but Weeks was to strong and kept Cole at bay to score his second straight win. Chupp, Wisconsin transplant Luke Roffers and Ed Gibbons rounded out the top five.
Damon Eller was sixth with Ed Gibbons seventh, Brian Moody eighth, Jeff Smith charged from the rear to ninth and Brent Robinson tenth.
Brent Robinson was the Heintz Brothers Performance Hard Charger of the Race. Chupp earned the Beaver Bail Bonds Bailed Out Award. Ricky Boahn, Gary East and Dennis 'Rambo' Franklin scored the Cabinets By Design Heat Wins.
The winning Rocket Chassis is sponsored by Starrette Trucking, Parton Lumber Company, AFCO, Yelton's Auto Sales, American Racer, J&J Race Cars, Carolinadirt.com and Clements Racing Engines.
The next Carolina Clash event will be August 2nd at Wythe Raceway.
CAROLINA CLASH FINISH: 1. Ricky Weeks 2. Benji Cole 3. Randle Chupp 4. Luke Roffers 5. Ed Gibbons 6. Damon Eller 7. Booper Bare 8. Brian Moody 9. Jeff Smith 10. Brent Robinson 11. Dennis Franklin 12. Noel Tucker 13. Chris Medows 14. Doug Sanders 15. Tim Allen 16. Ronnie Hoover 17. Jonathan Davenport 18. Anthony Sanders 19. Gary East 20. Ricky Boahn 21. Scott Neighbors 22. Ray Tucker 23. Gary Mabe 24. Tommy Taylor DNS: G.R Smith, Jimmy McCormick, Raymond Brown, Gary Wood, Chad Justice, Mickey Flinchum, Dwayne Joyce, Dan Breuer, Justin Labonte, Keith Jacobs, Daniel Baggerly, Craig Shuffield, Deano Long, Bruce Hall, Brent Hall.