Josh Richards Sweeps Illini 100 Weekend

Josh Richards Sweeps Illini 100 Weekend

Becomes the first driver to win both feature races during the Illini 100 weekend

(FARMER CITY, IL - April 3, 2016) - Josh Richards completed the weekend sweep of the Douglas Dodge Ram Trucks Illini 100 at Farmer City Raceway on Sunday night as he scored his fourth World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series victory of the season. The Shinnston, W.V. -native is the first driver to sweep the race weekend since the Illini 100 became a full-weekend event in 2014.

"The track was a little greasy early, and we didn't know how hard we should run," said Richards, who took home a $15,000 prize tonight for his No. 1 Valvoline Rocket Chassis team. "It's been an incredible year. This year is just getting started."

This was Richards' 62nd career World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series victory. The three-time series champion is now 10 wins short of the all-time record.

Richards picked up on Sunday where he left off on Saturday. From the fifth starting position, Richards overtook Billy Moyer Jr. within the first 20 laps of the 75-lap feature. Through traffic in the first half of the feature, Richards was the class of the field as 19-year-old Bobby Pierce worked to run him down.

"When you get into traffic you slow down a little bit," said Richards, ultimately winning by nearly a five-second differential. "You're trying to move around and the track just gets dirty. We tried to get through it the best we could and make our moves when they counted."

Pierce though had his hands full much of the night with Scott Bloomquist. Following a caution on lap 37, Pierce's No. 32 Allgayer, Inc. car and Bloomquist's No. 0 All Star Performance car jockeyed for position.

Traffic and one final late-race caution on lap 55 regrouped the race's frontrunners inside of 20 laps remaining, but Pierce got the best case-scenario, finishing second place on the night. Bloomquist rounded out the podium in third.

The weekend - with two preceding weather cancellations - drew a total of 48 late models to Farmer City Raceway, with 45 competing in Sunday's action. During preliminary action on Sunday, Billy Moyer Jr. was the fastest overall qualifier. Moyer, Richards, Shane Clanton and Chase Junghans, each won one of four heat races. Last Chance Showdowns on Sunday were won by Rick Eckert and Illinois-native Brian Shirley.

Edited from press release by Brendan Capria