Richmond Raceway
Ridley grabs first NASRA victory at Richmond
RICHMOND, Ky. (Sept. 4) — Breaking through for his first series victory, reigning champion Aaron Ridley earned $2,000 Saturday with a National All Star Racing Association victory at Richmond Raceway. The polesitting regained the lead from a fading Mike Jewell of Scottsburg, Ind., on the 13th lap and led the rest of the Stars and Stripes 30.
Sixth-starting Todd Coffman of Junction City, Ky., was second followed by 12th-starting Skylar Marlar of Winfield, Tenn. Michael Chilton of Harrodsburg, Ky., and 10th-starting Dennis Roberson of Lexington, Ky., rounded out the top five.
Ridley led the first two laps before Jewell took command. But Jewell flirted with disaster in the high groove and caught the outside guardrail on the ninth lap. Ridley closed in and took the lead on lap 13 while Jewell again made contact with the guardrail and began to fade.
The race was halted six times, the most serious for a lap-11 restart that saw Victor Lee and David Webb tangle, blocking the track in turn three for the six-car incident.
Notes: Ridley's Rayburn Race Car has the series-touted CT525 all-aluminum crate engine and sponsorship from Tru-Temp Heating and Cooling, American Racer Tires and Jumpstart Communications. ... Skyler Marlar's 12th-to-third run gave him hard charger honors. ... Marlar's older brother Mike won the next night's NASRA event at Tazewell, Tenn. ... Next up for the series is Sept. 17-18 events at Lake Cumberland Speedway in Burnside, Ky.
Stars and Stripes 30: (1) Aaron Ridley, (2) Todd Coffman, (3) Skylar Marlar, (4) Michael Chilton, (5) Dennis Roberson, (6) Victor Lee, (7) Aaron Hatton, (8) Bobby Carrier Jr., (9) Joey Daniel, (10) Rohn Moon, (11) Arnie Fields, (12) Anthony Reams, (13) Doodle Farris, (14) Tom Webster, (15) Mike Jewell, (16) Jason Barrett, (17) Donnie Everman, (18) Chris Ruble, (19) Marty O’Neal, (20) David Webb. Fast qualifier (among 20 cars): Hatton, 15.253 seconds. Heat race winners: Webb, Jewell, Ridley.
