Lancaster Motor Speedway
Jeff Smith grabs victory in first Clash South race
Jeff Smith in the pits at Lancaster. (Kyle Armstrong)
LANCASTER, S.C. (April 3) — Fourth-starting Jeff Smith of Dallas, N.C., raced to a 40-lap victory Saturday at Lancaster Motor Speedway in the first-ever Clash South Tour event. Smith, last year's Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series champion, earned $4,000 for the victory on the Clash's new sister tour.
Outside front-row starter Johnny Pursley of Clover, S.C., was second followed by Ricky Weeks of Rutherfordton, N.C., Chris Ferguson of Mount Holly, N.C., and Wisconsin transplant Luke Roffers of Concord, N.C. Polesitter Ross Bailes of Blacksburg, S.C., ended up ninth after a mid-race flat tire.
Bailes took the lead at the outset, but Pursley went ahead on the fifth lap while Smith stalked the frontrunners. Smith went ahead in turn four on the eighth lap while Bailes stayed with him, trying to regain the point.
After the fourth of four cautions in the first half of the race, Smith led on a lap-18 restart, but Bailes quickly fell to third behind Pursley and faded to sixth before slowing with a flat right-rear tire.
Smith kept Pursley in check the rest of the way, pulling away in the final laps.
Several cautions slowed the action, most for single-car incidents. Tim Allen broke a rear end on the second lap and Craig Shuffield spun early in turn two. On the 16th lap, Donald Bradsher spun in turn two and on the 17th lap, Scott Shirey hit the inside turn-two wall, causing heavy damage to his car and knocking him out of the race. Bailes spun on lap 36 for the final yellow.
Notes: Smith's Mark Menscer-owned Rocket Chassis is sponsored by Starrette Trucking and Star Leasing. ... Ross Bailes lowered the half-mile's track record with his 18.540-second lap, beating Dennis Franklin's September 2008 time of 18.573. ... Billy Thompson's 10th-to-sixth run netted him Hard Charger honors. ... Shawn Beasley scratched for the night after breaking a motor in hot laps. ... Ohio traveler Jim Rasey made the trip and plans to run more series races. ... Next up for Clash South competitors is a $3,000-to-win event April 16 at Westminster (S.C.) Speedway.
Clash South @ Lancaster: (1) Jeff Smith, (2) Johnny Pursley, (3) Ricky Weeks, (4) Chris Ferguson, (5) Luke Roffers, (6) Billy Thompson, (7) John Henderson, (8) Jim Rasey, (9) Ross Bailes, (10) Craig Shuffield, (11) Donald Bradsher, (12) Scott Shirey, (13) Mike Gault, (14) Randy Smith, (15) Tim Allen. Fast qualifier (among 15 cars): Bailes, 18.540 seconds.
