Dublin Motor Speedway
Roffers gets first Clash win via Tucker's DQ
DUBLIN, N.C. (June 26) — Wisconsin transplant Luke Roffers of Concord, N.C., inherited his first career Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series victory Saturday at Dublin Motor Speedway when apparent winner Ray Tucker of Greensboro, N.C., was disqualified.
The polesitting Roffers, a mechanic with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, earned $4,000 in the 40-lap feature despite racing for the first time in a month with a car that had sat untouched.
"We were probably a second-place car or third-place car,” said the 28-year-old Roffers. "Dan Breuer actually got around me there. ... We didn’t want to win our first one this way, but it sure is nice to collect the check.”
The seventh-starting Tucker, reunited with car owner Rodney Rich, disputed the ruling that his car was 12 pounds light at the postrace weigh-in, arguing an allowance should’ve been made for excessive laps under caution.
Shawn Beasley of Raeford, N.C., who started 15th, was moved up to the runner-up spot in the rundown ahead of Dennis Franklin of Gaffney, S.C., who pitted early to change tires. Outside front-row starter Dean Bowen of Whiteville, N.C., and Jay Sessoms of Stanley, N.C., rounded out the top five.
Five-time series champion of Ricky Weeks of Rutherfordton, N.C., started third and was in contention for the victory before breaking something in his car’s rear end.
Roffers credited his hard right rear tire — and American Racer 48 compound — with helping him in a “tire game” race.
“Ray had little bit harder tire on right rear,” Roffers said. “This is hardest tire we had; that’s all we had on the truck.
“It’s good to have a little bit of luck here. About four years ago, we led first 10 laps of Thanksgiving race here and broke distributor. Love the track, just a great track, multiple grooves. It got some holes in it tonight, but man, for the most part it stayed in pretty good shape and was racy.”
Notes: Roffers drives a Rocket Chassis sponsored by Cal-Les-2 Transport. ... Local driver Travis Yow made his first Super Late Model start, finishing eighth. ... Travis Hair piloted the Tart Brothers entry formerly driven by D.J. Tyndall. ... Jared Landers of Batesville, Ark., started 17th and finished sixth; he was in the Team Dillon hauler with Shane McDowell turning the wrenches. ... With the closing of 311 Fastrack in Madison, N.C., the next Carolina Clash event is Aug. 7 at Wythe Raceway in Rural Retreat, Va.
Carolina Clash @ Dublin: (1) Luke Roffers, (2) Shawn Beasley, (3) Dennis Franklin, (4) Dean Bowen, (5) Jay Sessoms, (6) Jared Landers, (7) Craig Shuffield, (8) Travis Yow, (9) Dustin Mitchell, (10) Mike Mason, (11) David Taylor, (12) Michael Marlowe, (13) Travis Hair, (14) Tim Allen, (15) Zach Cox, (16) Mike Parker, (17) Chuck Smith, (18) Dan Breuer, (19) Timmy Blackwell, (20) Ricky Weeks, (21) Brian Ledbetter, (22) Dale Hammond, (23) Steve Blackburn. Disqualified: Ray Tucker. Fast qualifier (among 24 cars): Roffers.
