Wood Works Lawton for

First ASCS Sooner Win!

 

Lonnie Wheatley, LAWTON, Okla. (June 14, 2008) – Joe Wood, Jr., cashed in on his first career American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region feature win by wiring the field in Saturday night's 25-lap main event at Lawton Speedway.

 

Gunning into the lead at the outset, the Oklahoma City racer survived heavy traffic over the final rounds to beat Zach Chappell and Kevin Ramey to the checkered flag for his first dose of American Sprint Car Series glory. 

"Traffic was a challenge with everyone running different lines around the track," the 23-year-old explained from victory lane.  "I was just trying to stay focused."

Making his way into the redraw by ranking eighth in passing points after heat race action, Wood drew the three pill and was slated to start the feature inside the second row.  But when scheduled polesitter Sheldon Barksdale jumped the original start, Wood assumed the pole as Barksdale was put back a row.

 

The next attempt to get the main event under way was quickly red-flagged when sixth-starter Kolt Walker flipped in turn two.  The West Texas shoe was unable to continue, taking a hit in the series championship points race in the process with a 22nd-place finish.

 

Wood then outgunned fellow front row starter Justin Melton for the lead as action got under way, with Ramey in third and then ninth-starter Chappell in fourth after Sean McClelland spun out of the fourth spot in turn two on the third lap.
Oklahoma City's Joe Wood, Jr., captured his first career American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region feature victory by topping Saturday night's 25-lap feature at Lawton Speedway.
Oklahoma City's Joe Wood, Jr., captured his first career American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region feature victory by topping Saturday night's 25-lap feature at Lawton Speedway.

 

Ramey and Chappell made their way past Melton soon after the lap three caution and set their sights on Wood, who began working lapped traffic nine laps in.  Wood found clear track soon after though, as the red flag flew with eleven laps in the books when fourth-runner Robert Sellers bicycled entering turn one and flipped.  Sellers was uninjured but done for the night.

 

Back under way, Wood was flawless over the final 14 rounds as Ramey and Chappell chased.  Not even lapped traffic, including a near-tangle upon the completion of the 23rd lap, over the final handful of circuits could derail Wood's victory drive, as he charged to the checkered flag aboard his father's Wesmar-powered J&W Oilfield Services/Signfxr No. 03 Maxim.

 

Chappell made a late move around Ramey to snare the runner-up spot but ran out of time to mount a serious bid for the lead.  Ramey settled for the show position, while Brian McClelland climbed from tenth to fourth to extend his series points lead to 53 points over Kolt Walker.

 

Andy Shouse charged from 16th to round out the top five, with Melton, 14th-starter Gary Taylor, 17th-starter Kerry McAlister, 15th-starter Eric Baldaccini and Sean McClelland completing the top ten.

 

Michael Brown, Walker and Melton topped heat race action.

 

American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region

Results from Lawton Speedway:

 

Heat One (8 Laps):  1. 15b-Michael Brown, 2. 1-Sean McClelland, 3. L23-Landon Brown, 4. 20-Rick Barksdale, 5. 29a-Jason Botsford, 6. 27-Andy Shouse, 7. 61J-Danny Jennings, 8. 95-Matt Covington.

 

Heat Two (8 Laps):  1. 45k-Kolt Walker, 2. 20s-Sheldon Barksdale, 3. 7m-Kevin Ramey, 4. 92-Zach Chappell, 5. 5*-Gary Taylor, 6. 15k-Kerry McAlister, 7. d99-Jeff Dodd.

 

Heat Three (8 Laps):  1. 11-Justin Melton, 2. 25-Robert Sellers, 3. 03-Joe Wood, Jr., 4. 87-Brian McClelland, 5. b4-Eric Baldaccini, 6. 61-Earnest Jennings, 7. 27m-Kyle Merriman.

 

"A" Feature (25 Laps):  1. 03-Joe Wood, Jr., 2. 92-Zach Chappell, 3. 7m-Kevin Ramey, 4. 87-Brian McClelland, 5. 27-Andy Shouse, 6. 11-Justin Melton, 7. 5*-Gary Taylor, 8. 15k-Kerry McAlister, 9. b4-Eric Baldaccini, 10. 1-Sean McClelland, 11. 95-Matt Covington, 12. 61J-Danny Jennings, 13. L23-Landon Brown, 14. 15b-Michael Brown, 15. 29a-Jason Botsford, 16. d99-Jeff Dodd, 17. 20s-Sheldon Barksdale, 18. 61-Earnest Jennings, 19. 27m-Kyle Merriman, 20. 25-Robert Sellers, 21. 20-Rick Barksdale, 22. 45k-Kolt Walker.

 

American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region Points

(Top Ten):  1. Brian McClelland 1,327, 2. Kolt Walker 1,274, 3. Gary Taylor 1,218, 4. Joe Wood, Jr. 1,194, 5. Matt Covington 1,140, 6. Michael Brown 1,065, 7. Justin Melton 1,030, 8. Eric Baldaccini 975, 9. Sherman Davis 943, 10. Sheldon Barksdale 756.



Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com .

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