Ultimate Motorsports Park
Weeks avoids year-long drought with Friendship victory
Ricky Weeks celebrates at Friendship. (bigcountry.smugmug.com)
ELKIN, N.C. (May 29) — Ricky Weeks of Rutherfordton, N.C., had one more chance to avoid having a year-long losing streak on the Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series, and he made the most of it Saturday night at Friendship Motor Speedway. | Slideshow
Weeks, the five-time series champion whose previous victory came May 30, 2009, outdueled Jeff Smith and Chris Ferguson for a $4,000 payday and his series-leading 30th career victory.
Smith, of Dallas, N.C., battled with Weeks before slamming the inside wall in turn two on the 11th lap, and Ferguson, of Mount Holly, N.C., moved in to challenge next. Ferguson actually made a high-side pass of Weeks, but a caution erased the move and Weeks held on the rest of the way.
Ferguson settled for second while Dan Breuer of Mooresville, N.C., was third. Wisconsin transplant Luke Roffers of Concord, N.C., and Dean Bowen of Whiteville, N.C., rounded out the top five. Dennis Franklin of Gaffney, S.C., who entered the race leading Carolina Clash points, was eighth after recovering from a lap-37 spin.
Among the cautions was a six-car pileup on lap-24 restart triggered by contact between Ferguson and outside front-row starter Chris Meadows, who ended up getting into the wall. Donald Bradsher's car rolled after being hit by Scott Shirey while Ronnie Hoover, Dustin Mitchell and Ray Tucker also got a piece of the melee.
Notes: Weeks, who is transitioning back to his own equipment after driving the No. 54 of Don and Herbert Way, drives a Randy Clary-powered Rocket Chassis sponsored by Adams Electric Company, Parton Lumber and Starrette Trucking. ... The victory ended the longest drought on the series for Week since he began running it full time in 2004. ... The track's event drew 92 race cars overall. ... Justin Hudspeth won his fourth straight NDRA-sanctioned Crate Late Model feature. ... Drivers failing to make the Carolina Clash feature: Jim Rasey, Tim Allen, Gary Mabe, Bobby Sands, Buddy Isles Jr., Randy Harmon, Jimmy McCormick, Bubba McGee. ... Next up for Carolina Clash competitors is a June 5 event at Fayetteville (N.C.) Motor Speedway.
Carolina Clash @ Friendship: (1) Ricky Weeks, (2) Chris Ferguson, (3) Dan Breuer, (4) Luke Roffers, (5) Dean Bowen, (6) Jay Sessoms, (7) Ray Tucker, (8) Dennis Franklin, (9) Johnny Pursley, (10) Timmy Blackwell, (11) David Taylor, (12) Dustin Mitchell, (13) Jordan Bland, (14) Craig Shuffield, (15) Chris Meadows, (16) Donald Bradsher, (17) Ronnie Hoover, (18) Scott Shirey, (19) Chris Blackwell, (20) Brian Moody, (21) Justin Labonte, (22) Jeff Smith, (23) Jeff Cooke, (24) Chris Cheek. Fast qualifier (among 32 cars): Weeks, 14.740 seconds. Consolation race winners: Franklin, Blackwell.
