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ON TRACK SUCCESS
West Virginia Drivers Make Big Impact At Nation's Richest Dirt Track Event

Reported by: Send eMail Kennie Bass
Videographer: Kennie Bass
Web Producer: Kennie Bass
Reported: Jun. 12, 2012 1:36 PM EDT
Updated: Jun. 12, 2012 1:52 PM EDT

EYEWITNESS ONLINE WEBCAST VIDEO
C L I C K   T O   P L A Y
Rossburg , Ohio

The figures don't lie. Per capita, West Virginia has the highest number of race fans in the nation.

Every weekend thousands attend events from the NASCAR circuit down to their local dirt tracks.

Over the weekend, a trio of West Virginia drivers visited the Mecca of dirt and managed to put on a very good show.

Eldora Speedway is a half-mile oval in western Ohio. It hosts a race with the biggest purse in the business.

It's the $100,000 "Dirt Late Model Dream"...where the best of the best from all across the country line up for a shot at a hundred grand.

Three Mountain State racers made the big show. They were a part of Saturday night's main event.

Williamson native John Blankenship made it into the big show with a top three finish in his heat race. He didn't waste the opportunity, moving from his 9th place starting position to a second place finish. Blankenship collected $20,000. It's the biggest payday of his career.

He was joined in the Dream Race by Salt Rock's Eddie Carrier, Jr., who managed the biggest move of the day. He started at the back of the field and came away with a top ten result. Vienna's Steve Shaver also qualified among the elite drivers.

They say competing on dirt tracks throughout West Virginia and the tri-state area has them well-prepared to go wheel-to-wheel with the best late model cars on the circuit.

Shinnston's Josh Richards failed to make it to the main event, but he has enjoyed tremendous success the past few years, capturing the World of Outlaws Late Model titles in 2009 and 2010.

The racers all now move to their next events. For Blankenship it's back to the asphalt. He's competing in an ARCA race on Friday at Michigan International Speedway.



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