John Ruggiero Jr was unsatisfied with leaving the ninth annual World Short Track Championship with only one Feature trophy.
Instead, he’ll left with two, as the Lincolnton, NC driver led all 20 laps to become the first driver to sweep the FOX Factory Pro Crate Racin’ USA Late Models and the Chevrolet Performance Mid East Association 602 Late Models.
Ruggiero and David Smith led the field to the green flag, with defending 602 Late Model champion Beckham Malone in third as Ruggiero led over Smith.
Ruggiero extended his lead to over two seconds when he encountered lap traffic at the halfway mark of the Feature. Ruggiero made his No.44 Late Model work around every lane of the racetrack with a mix of the high and bottom lanes in his pursuit.
With the caution waving with two laps remaining, Ruggiero had to face the pressure of a potential late-race charge from Smith, Malone, and Mooresboro, NC driver Dalton Peavy, to fend off on the final restart.
Ruggiero got the vital restart to break away from Smith as Malone and Peavy were left to battle for the final step on the podium.
Crossing the finish line as a three-time World Short Track Championship Feature winner, Ruggiero completed a flawless weekend at The Dirt Track at Charlotte for his second career win in the 602 Late Models.
“The track prep from the 604 Feature was a curveball to expect,” Ruggiero said. “I was a little nervous about how the track could take rubber or where it got slick, so I had to be smart and slow down my entry to hit my marks. I knew David and Beckham were behind me and really good, so I just had to do everything I needed to do to stay out front, and it’s the name of the game at places like (Charlotte).”
Smith, of Inman, SC, took home the second-place result, and the Rock Hill, SC driver of Malone rounded out the Feature’s podium finishers.
Peavy drove to fourth, and Trent Ivey of Union, SC finished fifth to bookend the Chevrolet Performance Mid-East 602 Late Models racing weekend.
Last Chance Showdown Winners: Jason Dickerson, Bryce Viar, Nickelos Stiles
RESULTS:
Feature (25 Laps): 1. 44-John Ruggiero Jr[1]; 2. 11S-David Smith[2]; 3. 23-Beckham Malone[5]; 4. 9-Dalton Peavy[3]; 5. 28-Trent Ivey[13]; 6. 007-Nickelos Stiles[21]; 7. 11B-Dalton Jacobs[24]; 8. T9-Brodie Thompson[9]; 9. 0-Olivia Gentry[23]; 10. 2-Wyatt Coffey[12]; 11. 18-Preston Blalock[25]; 12. J12-Jason Dickerson[19]; 13. 5O-Joey Johnson[27]; 14. 22T-Steven Thompkins[11]; 15. C10-Carl Currin[18]; 16. 27-Mike Davidson[22]; 17. 5-Robbie Gibson[10]; 18. 20-Trey Stamper[4]; 19. 7H-Ronnie Long[28]; 20. 32-Shawn Walker[26]; 21. 5J-Braden Jones[16]; 22. 25V-Bryce Viar[20]; 23. 1J-Morghan Johnson[7]; 24. 24-Seth Wimpey[8]; 25. 22K-Kenny Peeples[15]; 26. 57-Luke Cooper[6]; 27. 611-Koulten Herbert[14]; 28. 515-Bubba Roling[17]
