I-77 Speedway
Roberts edges Carrier, grabs $5,000 at I-77
By Kelley Carlton
Ultimate Super Late Model Series
Casey Roberts (101) edged Eddie Carrier Jr. (28) at I-77 Raceway Park. (Gene Lefler)
RIPLEY, W.Va. (June 1) — Reigning champ and points leader Casey Roberts of Toccoa, Ga., on Saturday became the first two-time winner on the Ultimate Super Late Model Series, outdueling fellow front-row starter Eddie Carrier Jr. in a battle at I-77 Raceway Park in the tour’s first trip to West Virginia. | Slideshow
Roberts won the side-by-side duel among the frontrunners in the final laps for a $5,000 payday while Carrier, of Salt Rock, W.Va., settled for a runner-up finish in the 25-car field.
“That was a great race. I thought that he had got me there a couple of times. But our Capital Race Car was just so good up on the top and we were able to keep our momentum going up top to keep the lead,” said Roberts, who won his debut at the 3/8-mile oval. “My hat’s off to Eddie, he could have drove me dirty there and pulled a bad slide job but he didn’t. He’s a professional and it showed during that race. I appreciate him running us clean like he did.”
Josh McGuire of Grayson, Ky., was third while 10th-starting Zack Dohm of Cross Lanes, W.Va., rallied to finish fourth. Consolation race winner Mike Benedum of Bristol, W.Va., gave West Virginia three home-state finishers in the top five.
Roberts, who also won on the series May 10 at Cleveland County Speedway in Lawndale, N.C., became the first repeat winner on the series in six races.
At the outset, Roberts jumped to the lead with the third-starting McGuire slipped by Carrier while fourth-starting Chris Ferguson was out of action early with his car’s rear end problems. Carrier got second from McGuire on the restart while Dohm worked toward the top five.
Up front, Roberts and Carrier were duking it out with Roberts on the high side, with the exception of occasions to get around slower traffic, while Carrier gave chase.
With three laps remaining, Carrier dove under the leader in turn three and the frontrunners emerged from turn four in a dead heat. The duel continued in the race’s waning moments with Carrier repeatedly pulling even. As the duo exited turn four for the final time, Roberts barely held on, crossing the finish line 0.168 seconds ahead.
“That was a lot of fun,” Roberts said. “This is a neat track. It’s fast and racy. I am glad we were able to get the win.”
Carrier enjoyed the battle with the Georgia invader.
“That’s the way it’s supposed to be, you know?” Carrier said. “We raced each other so hard and never beat and banged. He gave me room to race and never pinched me and did my best to race him clean.
“I didn’t want to door him on that last lap because that’s just not how I race. We will take second from that and be happy with it. I believe those folks up there got their money’s worth tonight.”
Notes: Roberts drives a Jimmy and Ann Cushman-owned Capital Race Car powered by a Custom Race Engine and sponsored by Starrette Trucking, Cushman Paint & Body, Schaeffer Oil,M&S Concrete, VP Race Fuels and Hoosier Racing Tire. ... Roberts was racing nearly 500 miles from home. ... Roberts fell just shy of lowering the track record set a week earlier by Steve Lucas. ... Four cautions slowed the feature, none for serious incidents. ... The series returns to action June 8 at Toccoa (Ga.) Speedway. ... The series is also scheduled to return to West Virginia on June 14-15 for a $10,000-to-win event.
Ultimate @ I-77: (1) Casey Roberts, (2) Eddie Carrier Jr), (3) Josh McGuire, (4) Zack Dohm, (5) Mike Benedum, (6) Kenney Newhouse, (7) Victor Lee, (8) Travis Brookover, (9) Harold Redman Jr., (10) Larry Timms, (11) Brett Miller, (12) Don White, (13) Steve Lucas, (14) Mike Gault, (15) Chris Garnes, (16) Scott Peltz, (17) Jeff Smith, (18) Tyler Carpenter, (19) Shane McLoughlin, (20) Brock Morris, (21) Marshall Wiblin, (22) Rick Lucas, (23) Weston Hutchison, (24) Chris Ferguson, (25) Rick Williams. Fast qualifier (among 25 cars): Roberts, 12.578 seconds. Consolation race winners: Benedum, Dohm.
Correction: Fixes winning purse to $5,000.
