Published: October 06, 2008 12:14 am      

Richards handles Big Kahuna VIII field

POTOMAC PARK — Josh Richards set the pace throughout the 50-lap Big Kahuna VIII, handily charging to the victory Saturday night at The Rock, Allegany County Speedway.

The first two turns presented the only drama for Richards at the front of the field. When the dust settled, the pole-sitter and defending race co-champion, Ricky Elliott, was angrily left to wonder what might have been.

Richards and Elliott touched in turn two on the opening lap, sending Elliott into a spin in which he careened off of Tim McCreadie. Elliott and McCreadie finished 22nd and 24th, respectively.

After the race, Richards, of Shinnston, W.Va., rose atop his car in triumph, then was apologetic for the incident with Elliott. But he showed little mercy on the rest of the field while behind the wheel.

He led by as much as seven seconds over Jason Covert, who clinched his third Mid-Atlantic Championship Series (MACS) title in a row with the second-place finish. Richards left no openings for any late-race drama when a pair of cautions in the last 10 laps put the field back together.

Steve Francis finished third and Rick Eckert was fourth. Francis chased Covert for much of the race while Eckert was locked in a battle with Jeremy Miller for fifth. Eckert later left Boom Briggs holding fifth while Miller was sixth. Gary Stuhler, Doug Horton, Davey Johnson and Jared Miley completed the top 10.

Khi Swanger got the victory in the 20-lap Street Stock feature after an early battle with Greg Hainsey for the lead. Swanger and Hainsey went side-by-side for the lead following a restart on lap three.

Shortly after, they made contact in turn three.

Swanger drove by but Hainsey was eliminated after damage. Swanger remained in control for the last 17 laps. Behind him, the rest of the top five spots were up for grabs.

Daryl Whetstone, Kerry Molovich, Mike Desch, Chris Chamberlain and Bob Jay exchanged positions throughout the race. Jay lost a fifth-place run with a spin on lap 17.

The resulting caution flag erased Swanger’s lead but the battle raged on for second in the final laps. Chamberlain, who started 11th, got around Whetstone and Mike Desch to claim second, four car lengths behind Swanger. Desch, Whetstone and Molovich completed the top five.

Steve Fadley was the big winner of the 20-lap Hobby Stock feature that came down to the final lap. Though he led every lap, he was never able to break away from Tom Warren, Chuck Weyant, Bill Replogle, Terry Norris and Marcius VanMeter.

The first nine laps were filled with jockeying between Warren, Weyant and VanMeter behind Fadley. VanMeter lost the handle in turn three while running third to bring out the first caution. He would later work his way back to finish fifth. Weyant slowed on lap 13, leaving Replogle, Warren and Norris to decide the race with Fadley.

In the final laps, Replogle chased Fadley in the corners with Norris and Warren vying for third. Replogle ended up a car length short at the finish and Norris edged Warren for third.

The Rock’s season will end with the Western Maryland Nationals on Oct. 23-25. For more information, visit www.therockspeedway.com.