By Matt Skipper
After quietly having a fast weekend with the RaceQuip Mid-East Street Stocks, Ricky Greene had his pace on full display as the winner during the eighth annual World Short Track Championship.
Greene, of Newton, NC, grabbed the lead early after a massive 13-car pileup on lap one gave him great track position on the restart – making his way up to the lead by lap six.
With clean air and a smooth racing line, Greene had nothing to pressure him, winning the Feature by over two seconds.
For Greene, he let the competition come to him, with the slick track surface being the ideal conditions for him to score the Feature win.
Chris Dolack Photo
“Yeah, I knew they were coming but I knew I had to wait,” Greene said. “I had to be patient to use the bottom line and then get by for the lead. I had to go where they weren’t because I knew the track was super slick and that favors me a lot. I knew I had to get down to the bottom, get the grip, keep my car straight and we were gonna be good.”
Last year’s division champion Devon Morgan was able to take home a second-place finish after battling inside the top five for all 20 laps.
However, the biggest mover of the race, Andrew Durham, came home in third after starting last in the Feature. The Jonesville, NC driver made his way into the Feature through the Last Chance Showdown, leaving Charlotte with a major boost of confidence.
“From the get-go, the car was terrible.” Durham said. “When it was wide open, it wouldn’t turn, and I just kept hoping for a slick track and it was. All I needed to do was slow off the gas and keep it straight. When the UMP Modifieds were blowing off their tires I had to make sure to be careful to not slip the tires. I drove the bottom line and got up to the front.”
Manning, SC’s Banjo Duke came across the line in fourth after shuffling positions throughout the Feature. Andy Stewart, of Evans, GA, completed the Feature’s top five after leading early in the race.
RESULTS (20 Laps):
1. 18-Ricky Greene[8]; 2. 17-Devon Morgan[5]; 3. 06-Andrew Durham[25]; 4. 711-Banjo Duke[4]; 5. 75-Andy Stewart[2]; 6. 39-Steve Greene[3]; 7. 11L-Kade Langley[13]; 8. 96-Dalton Pannell[12]; 9. 83M-Calob McLaughlin[10]; 10. 04B-Austin Brown[9]; 11. 00-Cody Ussery[16]; 12. 22-Terry Caples Jr[23]; 13. 44-Bailey Loftin[6]; 14. 51-Brandon Dockery[18]; 15. 92-Tanner Fortune[7]; 16. B4-Brandon Satterfield[19]; 17. 9M-Ronnie Mosley[14]; 18. 01L-Patrick Lyon[24]; 19. 01-Tyler Hyatt[21]; 20. 0-Johnny Westmoreland[15]; 21. 32F-Stephen Ford[20]; 22. 5-Hunter Denny[26]; 23. S1-Brian Sipe[22]; 24. 24-Dalton Peavy[1]; 25. 5N-Nick Evans[11]; 26. 18B-Blake Bentley[17]
HIGHLIGHTS:
