Hess Outruns World of Outlaws At WCS

ORRVILLE, OH May 24, 2013 Dave Hess Jr. ran the race of his life on Friday night at NAPA Auto Parts Wayne County Speedway.

The 28-year-old driver from Waterford, Pa., grabbed the lead on lap two and never looked back en route to capturing the World of Outlaws Late Model Series Buckeye 50 Presented by Southeast Equipment his coveted first-ever triumph on the national tour.

Not even a lap-36 caution flag could derail Hess, who pulled away from three former WoO LMS champions Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., and Rick Eckert of York, Pa. during the races late stages to pocket $10,550.

Hesss victory came in the 58 th WoO LMS event hes entered and 38 th A-Main hes started since 2004. His previous best finish was a second on Aug. 31, 2008, at Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Pa.

Weve been trying a long time to win one of these World of Outlaws shows, said Hess, who has driven family-owned equipment throughout his career. Weve come close before, and I knew the way the cars been (in recent years) it was just a matter of time (that a win would come) if we got some luck.

But I didnt think (the win) would be here, he added. I thought it would be at one of my better tracks. We havent even been here in a couple years, but the car was great.

Richards, 25, advanced from the seventh starting spot to run second from lap 11 to the finish, but he only managed to briefly duck underneath Hess twice late in the distance. The two-time WoO LMS champion crossed the finish line 1.262 seconds behind Hess.

Lanigan, who started sixth but lost two spots on the races first lap when he bounced through a rut in turn one, recovered to finish third. He turned back the late-race challenges of the eighth-starting Eckert, who settled for fourth. Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., completed the top five after climbing forward from the 12 th starting spot to match his top finish of the season.

Hess, who started from the pole position, was outgunned for the lead at the initial start by WoO LMS rookie Eric Wells of Hazard, Ky. But Hess pushed his Craiger-powered Rocket past Wells for the top spot on lap two and maintained firm control for the remainder of the distance.

Running hard on the top side of the three-eighths-mile oval, Hess kept Richards and the rest of the star-studded field at bay. He understood that he had to be flawless to reach the checkered flag first.

You gotta have your car perfect, have the right tires on and then drive a perfect race, said Hess, noting the ingredients for success in a WoO LMS event. You know guys like Josh Richards and Darrell Lanigan, they aint gonna make mistakes. So if you make any, itll put you behind.

My cars felt real great around that top of one and two, but that berm was pretty tall so if you got into it very hard it really got you out of a shape. It scared me a few times, but I knew I had to push it as hard as I could because Josh and Darrell would be coming.

Hess threw every last bit of caution to the wind following the races final restart, which came on lap 36 after George Lee of Loudonville, Ohio, slowed to bring out a yellow flag.

It seemed like every restart the car would just be great for about six, seven, eight laps, and then it would start laying down just a little bit and losing a little bit of traction, said Hess. I knew I just had to push it as hard as I could on that last restart and hope I could build enough cushion to hold em off.

Richards showed his nose to Hess entering turn one on the lap-36 restart, but he never got his Rocket Chassis house car close enough to challenge Hess again over the remaining circuits.

We had a really good car but I was a little too tight to run up on the cushion off of (turn) two, said Richards, who recorded his series-leading 11 th top-five finish in 14 A-Mains this season. Thats where he would really get a run.

Daves a really great race car driver and Im glad to see those guys get a win. He did a great job.

Richardss runner-up finish allowed him to extended his WoO LMS points lead to 32 markers over Shane Clanton of Zebulon, Ga., who finished 15 th after rearend problems in his Kennedy Motorsports machine forced him to retire on lap 38 while battling for fifth place.

Bub McCool of Vicksburg, Miss., tied his best finish of the season with a sixth after starting 16 th . Wells slipped to seventh in the final rundown after running in the top five until Franks lap-44 pass knocked him back. Morgan Bagley of Longview, Texas, placed eighth, third-starter Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, Pa., was ninth and a Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., finished 10 th after starting 23 rd because a heat-race flat tire forced him to use a provisional spot.

Four caution flags slowed the event. Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., brought out the first, on lap five, when he slammed into the barrier of tractor tires off the backstretch. Later, Russ King of Bristolville, Ohio, slowed on lap 15; Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., spun in turn two on lap 16 shortly before retiring; and Lee slowed on lap 36 with a smoking car.

Thirty cars were signed in for the event, which was contested on an unseasonably cool evening. Temperatures never climbed much above 50 and dipped into the 30s by the end of the program.

Doug Drown of Wooster, Ohio, turned the quickest lap in Ohlins Shocks Time Trials, clocking in at 16.807 seconds to earn his first-ever WoO LMS fast-time honor.

Drown, Lanigan and Satterlee were victorious in heat races, and Ron Davies of Warren, Pa., won the B-Main.

Walker Arthur of Forest, Va., saw his night come to an abrupt end after his car dug into the cushion between turns one and two and rolled several times during his time-trial effort. He wasnt injured.

The WoO LMS continues its Memorial Day weekend tripleheader on May 25-26 with the running of the second annual Jackpot 100 Presented by NAPA Auto Parts at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, W.Va. A 30-lap, $6,000-to-win A-Main is scheduled for Saturday night (May 25) and a 70-lap finale carrying a $15,000 first-place prize will be contested on Sunday evening (May 26).

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Fans can also follow the WoO LMS on Twitter at Twitter.com/WoOLateModels and ******** at ********.com/WorldofOutlaws .

Results of World of Outlaws Late Model Series at NAPA Auto Parts Wayne County Speedway (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (1) Dave Hess Jr./50 $10,550

2. (7) Josh Richards/50 $5,650

3. (6) Darrell Lanigan/50 $3,700

4. (8) Rick Eckert/50 $3,150

5. (12) Chub Frank/50 $2,550

6. (16) Bub McCool/50 $2,300

7. (2) Eric Wells/50 $2,200

8. (11) Morgan Bagley/50 $1,850

9. (3) Gregg Satterlee/50 $1,200

10. (23) Tim Fuller/50 $1,700

11. (5) Doug Drown/50 $1,050

12. (9) Russ King/50 $1,000

13. (18) Corey Conley/50 $950

14. (17) Ryan Markham/49 $900

15. (4) Shane Clanton/38 $1,500

16. (13) Davey Johnson/35 $800

17. (20) George Lee/35 $770

18. (22) Shane McLoughlin/32 $750

19. (14) Tim McCreadie/21 $1,380

20. (21) Zack Dohm/15 $700

21. (15) J.R. Gentry/15 $700

22. (24) Steve Casebolt Jr./7 $700

23. (10) Clint Smith/5 $1,250

24. (19) Ron Davies/3 $700

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

Time of Race: 25 Mins., 38.302 Secs.

Margin of Victory: 1.262 Secs.

Yellow Flags: 4 (laps 5, 15, 16, 36)

Lap Leaders: Wells (1); Hess (2-50)

Provisional Starters: Fuller, Casebolt

Rookie of the Race: Wells ($250)

WoO LMS Bonus Bucks Winner: Hess ($500)

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. 63-Doug Drown/Wooster, OH 16.807

2. 25-Shane Clanton/Zebulon, OH 17.036

3. 44H-Dave Hess Jr./Waterford, PA 17.140

4. 18-Eric Wells/Hazard, KY 17.143

5. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 17.186

6. 22-Gregg Satterlee/Rochester Mills, PA 17.189

7. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 17.197

8. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 17.233

9. 56-Russ King/Bristolville, OH 17.260

10. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 17.300

11. 14M-Morgan Bagley/Longview, TX 17.378

12. 14-Corey Conley/Wellsburg, WV 17.390

13. 1J-Davey Johnson/Latrobe, PA 17.427

14. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 17.448

15. 14G-J.R. Gentry/Wooster, OH 17.553

16. 007-Rick Bond/Mansfield, OH 17.656

17. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 17.702

18. 240-Charlie Duncan/Millersburg, OH 17.792

19. 57J-Bub McCool/Vicksburg, MS 17.818

20. 5M-Ryan Markham/Ashland, OH 17.829

21. 61-George Lee/Loudonville, OH 17.857

22. 87-Walker Arthur/Forest, VA 17.880

23. 17-Zack Dohm/Cross Lanes, WV 17.886

24. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 17.914

25. 71d-Ron Davies/Warren, PA 17.943

26. 9-Shane McLoughlin/Nashport, OH 18.026

27. c9-Steve Casebolt Jr./Richmond, IN 18.184

28. 11-Kyle Bates/Cambridge, OH 18.292

29. 59-Larry Bellman/Wooster, OH 18.414

30. 81-Blane Aber/Wooster, OH 19.129

Heat No. 1 (10 laps Top 6 Transfer): Drown, Wells, Richards, C. Smith, Johnson, McCool, Davies, Bond, Bates (DNS) Arthur

Heat No. 2 (10 laps Top 6 Transfer): Lanigan, Clanton, Eckert, Bagley, McCreadie, Markham, Z. Dohm, McLoughlin, Bellman, Fuller

Heat No. 3 (10 laps Top 6 Transfer): Satterlee, Hess, King, Frank, Gentry, C. Conley, Lee, Duncan, Aber, Casebolt

B-Main (12 laps Top 4 Transfer): Davies, Lee, Dohm, McLoughlin, Casebolt, Duncan, Bond, Aber, Bates (DNS) Bellman, Fuller, Arthur

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners (awards presented to noted finisher/qualifier or next highest displaying decal:

Ohlins Shocks ($50 cash to fast qualifier): Eric Wells

Eibach Springs (one free spring to each B-Main winner): Ron Davies

VP Race Fuels Nice Jugs Award: (One VP 5-gallon container to fastest qualifier who misses A-Main): Blane Aber

Wrisco Aluminum (3 sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner only): Dave Hess Jr.

Armor All (One case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main): Dave Hess Jr.

Comp Cams ($50 certificate to A-Main winner): Dave Hess Jr.

QuarterMaster ($100 certificate to A-Main winner, $50 certificate to 5 th -place finish): Dave Hess Jr./Shane Clanton

MSD Ignition ($50 cash to A-Main winner): Dave Hess Jr.

STP ($50 cash to 2 nd -place finisher in A-Main): Darrell Lanigan

XS Power ($50 cash to 3 rd -place finisher in A-Main): Darrell Lanigan

Roush Yates ($50 cash to 4 th -place finisher in A-Main): Rick Eckert

JE Pistons ($50 cash to 5 th -place finisher in A-Main): Chub Frank

Dominator ($50 cash to 6 th -place finisher in A-Main): Bub McCool

American Race Wheels ($50 cash to 7 th -place finisher in A-Main): Eric Wells

VP Race Fuels ($50 cash to 8 th -place finisher in A-Main): Tim Fuller

Edelbrock Manifolds ($50 cash to 9 th -finisher in A-Main): Shane Clanton

Comp Cams ($50 cash to 10 th -place finisher in A-Main): Tim Fuller

XS Power ($60 product certificate to 11 th -place finisher in A-Main): Davey Johnson

Cometic Gasket ($50 cash to 12 th -place finisher in A-Main): Shane Clanton

JRI Shocks ($50 cash to 13 th -place finisher in A-Main): Bub McCool

Super Flow Dynos ($50 cash to 14 th -place finisher in A-Main): Shane Clanton

JE Pistons (one complete set of JE Pro Seal rings to 16 th -place finisher in A-Main, redeemable w/next purchase of set): Davey Johnson

Klotz Lubricants ($50 cash to 17 th -place finisher in A-Main): Tim McCreadie

Roush Yates ($50 gift card to 18 th -place finisher in A-Main): Davey Johnson

QuarterMaster ($50 certificate to 19 th -place finisher in A-Main): Tim McCreadie

Arizona Sport Shirts ($100 certificate to 20 th -place finisher in A-Main): Steve Casebolt Jr.

JE Pistons (one complete set of JE Pro Seal rings to 21 st -place finisher in A-Main, redeemable w/next purchase of set): Clint Smith

Roush Yates ($50 gift card to 22 nd -place finisher in A-Main): Davey Johnson

MSD Ignition ($25 cash to 24 th -place finisher in A-Main): Clint Smith

XS Power Power Move of the Race ($60 product certificate): Dave Hess Jr.

Roush Yates ($25 gift card to driver who leads most laps in the A-Main): Dave Hess Jr.

Reliable Painting Award (free tire): Rick Eckert

2013 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of May 24 14 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):

1. Josh Richards 1988

2. Shane Clanton 1956 (-32)

3. Darrell Lanigan 1916 (-72)

4. Rick Eckert 1894 (-94)

5. Tim McCreadie 1816 (-172)

6. Eric Wells 1790 (-198)

7. Tim Fuller 1786 (-202)

8. Morgan Bagley 1748 (-240)

9. Chub Frank 1746 (-242)

10. Bub McCool 1744 (-244)

11. Scott James 1714 (-274)

12. Clint Smith 1632 (-356)

13. Dillon Wood 1426 (-562)

14. Billy Moyer 960 (-1028)

15. Brandon Sheppard 942 (-1046)

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: American Racing Custom Wheels (Official Custom Wheel), Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), KMC (Official Custom Truck Wheel), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), Vicci (Official Uniform), VP Racing Fuel (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and McCarthy’s One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning (Raye Vest Memorial Pill Draw Award); in addition to contingency sponsors: Butlerbuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Dominator Race Products, Edelbrock, Eibach Springs, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, QuarterMaster, Roush Yates Performance Parts, Superflow Dynos, Wrisco Aluminum and XS Power Racing Batteries; along with manufacturer sponsors Capital Race Cars, Integra Shocks, GRT Chassis, Jakes Carts, Racing Electronics, Rocket Chassis, TNT Rescue, and Warrior Chassis.