Richards Sweeps LOLMDS Openers At Golden Isles

Josh Richards scored the victories in both Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series features over the weekend at Golden Isles Speedway. Photo: Heath Lawson Photography

Defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion Josh Richards opened up the 2018 season in grand fashion, as he swept the season opening weekend at Golden Isles Speedway in Waynesville, Georgia.

Richards took top honors to open the season on Friday night, then followed it with another victory on Saturday.

On Friday night, Richards had to hold of 2017 series Rookie-of-the Year, Hudson O’Neal to score the win.

Richards took the lead from Blairsville, Georgia’s Jonathan Davenport on lap five and then held off a furious late-race charge from the 15th-place starting O’Neal. O’Neal made what appeared to be a winning pass on Richards in turns three and four on the final lap, but Scott Bloomquist was sitting in the middle of turn four and brought out a caution, negating O’Neal’s pass for the lead.

In the end, Richards was able to hold off O’Neal to score his 23rd career series victory over O’Neal in second, Davenport in third, Jimmy Owens in fourth, and Brandon Sheppard in fifth.

Richards and Davenport exchanged the lead three times in the first five laps of the 50-lap main event, with Richards forging ahead. Owens challenged Davenport for third, and finally got by him. Owens ran in second for several laps until O’Neal and Davenport got around him late in the race.

“I knew I was a sitting duck, I didn’t pay attention to the scoreboard,” Richards said in victory lane. “I thought I was protecting the top from Davenport making the pass and here comes Hudson on the bottom. He got to the bottom of the burm in turn three and got by, but then the caution came out.

“We were too tight to steer down off turn two. I thought I had lost the race. Fortunately, the caution came out and we were able to hold him (O’Neal) off on the last lap. It is a great way to start the season. We didn’t run Gateway and Arizona like some of the guys did. We were getting ready for this. There really isn’t an off-season anymore. If the race stays green, he (O’Neal) would have had us.”

Earl Pearson Jr., Tim McCreadie, Kyle Bronson, Mason Zeigler, and Don O’Neal rounded out the top ten.

On Saturday night, Richards overcame several obstacles to score the victory.

He had to resort to a back-up car, after issues arose with his main car during an earlier heat race. Richards then had the power steering fail on the back-up car as he tried to start the B-Main. His team then fixed the issue, barely making the call to start the 60-lap main event, as Richards was the final car to enter the race track.

Richards had to take a series provisional and was scheduled to start 23rd on the grid, but due to his lateness while the crew worked on his car, he was relegated to the 26th and final starting position. Richards charged through the field and despite a lap 46 pass from Tyler Erb, went on to record his second win in a row.

“It was close,” said Richards on nearly missing the start of the race. “No one sees what goes on behind the scenes, but this really is a team sport. I can’t thank everyone enough. This is the same car we ran at Portsmouth in October last year. We had to get it out in a hurry. I broke a power steering line out there when I was just testing it. Good thing I went out there or we would have never known.

“Danny and all the guys from my dad’s crew chipped in to get it ready. We just threw some stuff on it and then rolled it out on the track. I didn’t expect to come out with a win. We were just hoping to finish the race. We were going along pretty good and we were passing a lot of cars. I got out in front and then I started to ride it out. When he (Tyler Erb) got by me, I picked it up and was fortunate to get back around him. We were able to pull away from him and finish it off.”

Kyle Bronson came home in second for his best career series finish, as he fought past Tyler Erb for the runner-up position. Dennis Erb, Jr. finished fourth, with Brandon Sheppard in fifth.

Brent Larson, Bobby Pierce, Darrell Lanigan, Boom Briggs and Jonathan Davenport rounded out the top ten.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Golden Isles Speedway – Waynesville, GA
Race Results – February 2, 2018

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Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Golden Isles Speedway – Waynesville, GA
Race Results – February 3, 2018