Travelers Rest Speedway
Weeks picks up $3,500 at Travelers Rest
By Kelley Carlton
DirtonDirt.com correspondent
Ricky Weeks (1) puts a lap on Randy Harmon (51). (Alison Williams)
TRAVELERS REST, S.C. (June 19) — Capitalizing on a Chris Ferguson miscue, fast qualifier Ricky Weeks of Rutherfordton, N.C., took the lead on the third lap at Travelers Rest Speedway and led the rest of the way for a $3,500 payday on the Clash South Tour.
“My car was perfect. I could run whatever speed I needed to,” said Weeks, who built leads of nearly a half-track at the 3/8-mile oval. "They told me I had a big lead so I tried to slow down and set a good pace. But I could go hammer down if I needed to.”
Benji Cole of Canon, Ga., held off a hard charging Jim Rasey of Southington, Ohio, for the second spot while Lee Cooper of Greer, S.C., and Dustin Mitchell of Pine Level, N.C., rounded out the top five.
Ferguson, of Mount Holly, N.C., jumped the turn-four cushion on the third lap and hit the wall, and he dropped back to third and eventually retired with a flat tire.
Tim Allen of Kannapolis, N.C., took second from Cole and appeared to be ready to take a run at Weeks, but he slowed a lap later and pulled off the track.
Five cautions, mostly for single-car incidents, slowed the 35-lap event that drew 11 cars.
Notes: Weeks drives his own Rocket Chassis powered by a Randy Clary Race Engine and sponsored by Starrette Trucking, Parton Lumber Company, Adams Electrical Contractors, Phyllis and Ike and Kenny Lamb Racing Equipment. ... Weeks credited a return to RE Suspension Shocks for a recent resurgence. ... All 11 drivers used American Racer tires on the tour that allows American Racers or Hoosiers. ... Lee Cooper’s ninth-to-fourth run gave him hard charger honors; the three-time Fastrak Crate Late Model regional champion debuted a C.J. Rayburn Race Car owned by Bobby and Johnny Wilson. ... Next up for the Clash South Tour is a July 1 event at Harris (N.C.) Motor Speedway.
Clash South @ Travelers Rest: (1) Ricky Weeks, (2) Benji Cole, (3) Jim Rasey, (4) Lee Cooper, (5) Dustin Mitchell, (6) Keith Freeman, (7) Jay Sessoms, (8) Randy Harmon, (9) Ritchie Corley, (10) Chris Ferguson, (11) Tim Allen. Fast qualifier (among 11 cars): Weeks, 15.471 seconds.
