Pittsburgh's Pa. Motor Speedway
Richards captures Red Miley Rumble at PPMS
Josh Richards heads for victory at PPMS. (Frank Wilson)
IMPERIAL, Pa. (Aug. 28) — Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., took the lead of the fourth annual Red Miley Rumble on the 10th lap and controlled the rest of the 44-lapper at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. Richards pocketed more than $4,300 for the event co-sanctioned by the UFO Race Championship Series and Northern Tier United Late Model Series. | Slideshow | Video
Davey Johnson of Latrobe, Pa., finished second followed by Jason Covert of York Haven, Pa., 19th-starting Dave Hess Jr. of Waterford, Pa., and Boom Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa. Steve Baker of Morgantown, W.Va., charged from 21st to seventh but fell from contention after a tangle with John Flinner triggered a six-car accident.
Covert and Johnson started on the front row with Johnson leading the first nine laps before the sixth-starting Richards took command.
While Richards ran virtually unchallenged the rest of the way, mid-race cautions slowed the actions with Bart Hartman pulling out during a lap-15 yellow with a broke driveshaft, Dennis Lunger spinning in turn three on the restart, and John Mollick retiring on lap 20.
After Baker's spin — which resulted in Danny Mitchell's departure from the race — Richards led Johnson and Covert back to green. The final caution appeared on the 29th lap as a flat tire ruined Jared Miley's top-five run. Richards cruised the rest of the way for the victory, his first on either tour.
The night's action also included a makeup of the rained out July 24 feature, and hometown driver Mike Johnson collected $2,000 for the UFO-ULMS triumph. The 10th-starting Johnson took command shortly after an early red flag for Jason Rider's flip and cruised the rest of the way. Keith Barbara of South Park, Pa., was second followed by the 11th-starting Baker. Rider wasn't injured in the accident that also included Jared Miley, Jim Lepro, Ben Miley and Chad McClellan.
Notes: Among drivers failing to make the Red Miley Rumble feature: Alex Ferree, Scott LeBarron and Jason Dupont. ... Twenty-six of 29 scheduled starters for the makeup feature returned. ... Kyle Lukon won the night's Fastrak Crate feature after leader Mike Pegher Jr. went pitside in the closing laps. ... Next up for UFO competitors is a $10,000-to-win event Sept. 3 at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, W.Va., as part of the inaugural Black Diamond weekend festivities. ... ULMS competitors take a break before a $5,000-to-win event at Stateline Speedway in Busti, N.Y., on Sept. 10-11.
Red Miley Rumble: (1) Josh Richards, (2) Davey Johnson, (3) Jason Covert, (4) Dave Hess Jr., (5) Boom Briggs, (6) Mike Johnson, (7) Tommy Beck, (8) Keith Barbara, (9) Lynn Geisler, (10) Greg Satterlee, (11) Ben Miley, (12) Ron Davies, (13) Steve Baker, (14) Jim Stephans, (15) Jared Miley, (16) Jim Lepro, (17) Jared Hawkins, (18) Bump Hedman, (19) Dave Murdick, (20) Garrett Krummert, (21) Chad McClellan, (22) Dennis Lunger, (23) Daryl Charlier, (24) John Flinner, (25) Brandon Burgoon, (26) Matt Lux, (27) Jason Rider, (28) John Mollick, (29) Danny Mitchell, (30) Doug Dodd, (31) Bart Hartman, (32) Mark Banal. Heat race winners (among 45 cars): Richards, Briggs, J. Miley, Burgoon, Barbara. Consolation winners: Baker, B. Miley.
PennNationals (makeup from July 24 rainout): (1) Mike Johnson, (2) Keith Barbara, (3) Steve Baker, (4) Lynn Geisler, (5) Brandon Burgoon, (6) Dennis Lunger, (7) Brandon Wearing, (8) John Flinner, (9) Jim Stephans, (10) Tommy Beck, (11) Mike Norris, (12) John Mollick, (13) Charles Medved, (14) Chad McClellan, (15) Bump Hedman, (16) Dereck Frank, (17) Alex Ferree, (18) Ben Miley, (19) Danny Mitchell, (20) Boom Briggs, (21) Mark Banal, (22) Jared Miley, (23) Jim Lepro, (24) Jason Rider. Scratched: Daryl Charlier, Dave Wade, Mike Knight, Bob Hershman, Brent Rhebergen.
