May 13
Richmond Raceway,
Richmond, KY
Sanction: Southern All Star Series (Finn Watson Memorial) - $7,500
Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated May 16, 11:30 am)
Getting first SAS win, Rice rules at Richmond
Finn Watson Memorial
- Josh Rice
- Trevor Landrum
- James Rice
- Justin Rattliff
- Kody Evans
- Ace Claborn
- Robby Hensley
- Austin Lay
- Shane Irvin
- Caleb Gay
- David Webb
- Camaron Marlar
- Dustin Linville
- Kirk Phillips
- Dan Cox
- Blake Creech
Jimmy Pittman
Josh Rice and the winning team at Richmond Raceway.
What won the race: Josh Rice of Verona, Ky., regained the lead on lap 16 and paced the final 25 laps at Richmond Raceway, winning Saturday's $7,500 Finn Watson Memorial. Rice led twice for 29 laps, earning his first career Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series main event victory to become the third first-time tour winner this season (joining Billy Franklin and Dillon Tidmore).
Quotable: “It’s pretty cool. I know it wasn’t the cleanest (pass) ever, (Trevor Landrum) was taking up so much of the racetrack, I was trying to just let him know I was there,” Rice said. “Then when I hooked him, he stopped to get straight, then I really drilled him. I apologize for that man, we’re at Richmond, I hope he understands. But yeah, just a good bounce-back for us after last weekend; I feel like I had a car to win (at Florence) last weekend, just driver error kept us from doing it.”
Key notes: Trevor Landrum took the lead on a lap-11 restart and paced five circuits before he was passed by Rice. Landrum finished 3.104 seconds back. ... Rice made slight contact with Landrum at the entrance of turn three before powering around the outside to regain the lead at the line. ... James Rice, the winner's older brother, finished third. ... Austin Lay gained three spots and finished eighth. ... Shane Irvin started 16th and finished ninth. ... After leading the first six laps, Robby Hensley slowed while running second on lap 10, which caused Kirk Phillips to slam into the rear of David Webb's car as he slowed to avoid Hensley. The multicar incident necessitated a 10-minute red flag for cleanup. Hensley recovered to finish seventh while Phillips retired. ... Camaron Marlar drew the race's final caution on lap 26 after slowing from sixth. ... The race had three lead changes among three drivers. ... Saturday's feature — the fifth-ever series stop at Richmond Raceway — was slowed by four separate incidents, including the 10-minute red flag and lasted 27 minutes, with nine drivers completing 40 laps.
On the move: Ace Claborn of Albany, Ky., started 14th and finished sixth.
Winner's sponsors: Rice’s Rick Jones-owned Rocket Chassis is powered by a Jay Dickens Racing Engine and sponsored by Sunesis Holdings & Construction, BLOX Spiked Ice, Extreme Sportswear, Map It Right Engineering & Land Surveying, Chain Locker USA, Maxwell Trucking, AirMax Heating and Cooling, ATC Bolts & Fasteners LLC, Northern Kentucky Equipment, Bazell Race Fuels, Integra Shocks, Accu-Force Dynos & Testers, STAKT Products, TopSide Marketing and Slicker Graphics.
Points chase: After Richmond: 1. Caleb Gay (472); 2. Billy Franklin (400); 3. Dan Cox (308); 4. Dalton Cook (288); 5. Bo Slay (268).
Current weather: Clear, 79°F
Car count: 16
Fast qualifier: Josh Rice
Time: 14.713 seconds
Polesitter: Josh Rice
Heat race winners: Josh Rice, Robby Hensley
Next series race: May 27, Thunderhill Raceway Park (Summertown, TN) $5,000
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.