Laurens County Speedway
Roberts captures Laurens Shrine Race, $3,500
LAURENS, S.C. (June 19) — Casey Roberts of Toccoa, Ga., earned $3,500 on Tuesday night at Laurens County Speedway with a victory in the 32nd annual Laurens County Shrine Race. The Battle of the Eastern All Stars Tour event was a benefit for Shriners Children’s Hospital.
Larry Timms of Hodges, S.C., finished second with Mike Measamer of Clinton, S.C., in third. Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., and Johnny Pursley of Clover, S.C., rounded out the top five in the 40-lapper.
Roberts notched his second victory of the season and second in four days. He won Saturday’s Ultimate Super Late Model Series event at 441 Speedway in Dublin, Ga.
“This car was one race from hitting retirement. We gave it one more chance, and we have won the last two events we have competed in," Roberts ssaid. "I think we will give it a few more (races) before we talk retirement with the car again."
At the race's outset, Timms launched in the lead from outside the front row with Roberts, Pursley and Measamer in two. The race's lone caution soon appeared when Mike Ashley looped his car in turns one and two and retired. Ross Bailes, last year's race winner, made contact with another car in dodging the spin and went the pits to change a flat tire. He retired before the halfway mark.
Roberts challenged higher-running Timms throughout the first half of the race, and made the winning move in lapped traffic near the midway point when he used a slower car as a pick to slip by the leader. Roberts held the lead the rest of the way to become the fourth BEAST winner in four races.
Notes: Roberts drives a Capital Race Car powered by a Randy Clary Race Engine with sponsorship from Cushman Paint and Body, Starrette Trucking, M&S Concrete, Simpson, Schaeffer Oil, GW Performance and VP Race Fuels. ... The race was postponed a week by weather. ... Johnny Pursley led the points on the first-year BEAST series heading into the race. ... Next up for BEAST competitors is the July 3 Independence Shootout at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, S.C., a $5,000-to-win event.
Laurens County Shrine Race: (1) Casey Roberts, (2) Larry Timms, (3) Mike Measamer, (4) Chris Madden, (5) Johnny Pursley, (6) Billy Rushton, (7) Jeff Smith, (8) Travis Leake, (9) Mike Gault, (10) John Pursley, (11) Shane Tankersley, (12) Scott Shirey, (13) Ross Bailes, (14) Jeff Crowder, (15) Mike Ashley.
