PROMISING RUN ENDS EARLY FOR RICHARDS AT KENTUCKY

Topics:  Josh Richards, Click It or Ticket Buckle-Up Kentucky 150

Emily Teeter
Venturini Motorsports
July 19, 2009

SPARTA, KY (July 19, 2009) – Josh Richards and his Venturini Motorsports’ team were poised for a strong entrance into his ARCA RE/MAX Series’ pavement career after consistently impressive circuits in practice, qualifying, and early in the “Click It or Ticket Buckle Up Kentucky 150”. Unfortunately, the record books will not reflect their strong performance through the first half of the 100-lap event.

Billy Venturini, crew chief of the No. 25 Valvoline/Gunter’s Honey Chevrolet, and his team prepared a fast racecar. Richards, the 21-year-old points leader in the World of Outlaws’ Late Model Series, debuted the home state sponsor’s red and blue colors during practice where he was reliably within the Top-5 during both qualifying and race trim. The rookie driver also notched an impressive 4th place qualifying effort with an average speed just over 178mph around the 1.5-mi oval.

Richards remained consistently rooted in the Top-10 and was poised for a solid finish after his team made a track-bar adjustment, took four tires and fuel on their final planned pit stop on lap 41. However, slight contact on lap 61 resulted in an accident that ended the team’s night early.

“This was a terrible way to end the race especially having such a fast race car and I’m disappointed for the entire Venturini Motorsports team who delivered a great car and for our generous sponsors at Valvoline and Gunter’s Honey,” noted Richards. “We made that last pit stop and didn’t get as good of a restart as I hoped for but knew we had the means to go the distance and take home a good finish.”

Richards officially finished thirty-second out of the thirty-eight cars that attempted the event.

“Cars kept breaking loose all night so I was trying to be as conscious of that as possible at 175mph. I knew that last caution was for No. 32, who was running competitively to us all day, after he lost air and spun,” recalled Richards. “We were racing each other in 12th (position) and I moved up to give him extra room because I saw the lap traffic. I don’t know what exactly happened but I think he just drifted up a bit too much and got us in the left quarter and I was on the high side so there wasn’t any room to try and save it. Racing deals happen but they don’t make things any easier because I know that we had a car that was capable of a strong finish and so he did he.”

Disappointment cannot linger long as the West Virginian will be back behind the wheel of his No. 1 Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket dirt late model for four events during this week’s World of Outlaws’ Late Model Series’ “Ohio Speedweek”. Richards will attempt to extend his current points lead starting Thursday night, July 23rd, at Muskingum Co. Speedway in Zanesville, OH.

Richards’ No. 25 Chevy Monte Carlo SS was fielded by Venturini Motorsports and carried sponsorship from Valvoline, Gunter’s Honey, Seubert Calf Ranches, Petroff Towing, ACE Metal Works, Ernie D’s Enterprises, Hoosier Tire, Simpson Race Products, and Sunoco Race Fuels. Log on to http://www.joshrichards.com for more Josh Richards’ news and notes. Also be sure to check out http://www.venturinimotorsports.com

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