Josh Richards
Hometown: Shinnston, WV
Birthday: March 22, 1988
Marital Status: Single
Children: None
Car: No. 1 Seubert Calf Ranches/ACE Metal Works/MCB Motorsports Rocket
Car Owner: Mark Richards Racing
Website: www.joshrichards.com

2007 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Stats:

Events: 45
Starts: 44
Wins: 4 (Volusia Speedway Park, Fla.; Hagerstown, Md.; Eriez, Pa.; Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway)
Top 5: 12
Top 10: 26
Fast Times: 2
Heat Wins: 12
B-Main Wins: 2
Points Standings Finish: 6th (-236)
Total Season Earnings: $130,707

WoO LMS History: Entered selected tour events in 2004 during his first full season of dirt Late Model racing. Earned first heat race win in July at Pennsy’s Challenger Raceway and scored a season-best finish of fourth at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway… Was installed as lead driver of his father Mark’s Rocket Chassis House Car for 2005 WoO LMS schedule. Enjoyed a superb season, finishing eighth in the points standings and capturing Rookie of the Year honors on the strength of one win (on Aug. 15 at New York’s Lebanon Valley Speedway), eight top-five and 18 top-10 finishes… Became first driver in WoO LMS’s World Racing Group-era (2004-2007) to win Rookie of the Year award and a feature in same season… Won once in 2006, late in season at Columbus (Miss.) Speedway. Finished ninth in points standings, but was among top points-earners during second half of season… Enjoyed career season in 2007, winning four A-Mains (tied for third-most on the series). His victories came in the season opener at Volusia Speedway Park; on July 21 at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway (the ‘60th Anniversary Classic worth $12,000 to win); July 22 at Eriez Speedway in Hammett, Pa.; and Sept. 22 at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway (18th annual ‘Pittsburgher 50’)… One of only three drivers to win back-to-back A-mains on the 2007 tour… Finished a career-high sixth in the points standings and was one of six drivers to reach six figures in purse earnings ($105,707)… Owns seven career tour victories (through 2/16/2007)…

Other Racing History: Made first-ever dirt Late Model start in October 2003 Future Dirt Track World Championship, an event for teenage racers at Kentucky’s Bluegrass Speedway… Only one month after turning 16 – and in his third career start – won a heat race in a non-sanctioned April 2004 dirt Late Model event at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. He was headed to victory in the feature when a flat tire forced him pitside… Competed in a total of 33 events in 2004, including WoO LMS appearances… Made several starts in 2005 behind the wheel of an asphalt Late Model at Motordrome Speedway in Smithton, Pa… Qualified for Eldora Speedway’s $100,000 Dream and World 100 in 2005 at the age of 17, becoming the youngest driver in history to make both mega-events in a first attempt… Competed in January 2006 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals as a Venture Racing teammate of NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart and open-wheel stars Jason Leffler, Sammy Swindell and Kevin Swindell. Returned to Chili Bowl in 2007 as driver of a Tony Stewart Motorsports Midget… In September 2006, contended for victory in prestigious World 100 at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway before settling for fourth place… Signed an exclusive management contract in November 2005 with Motorsports Management International, which was founded by noted motorsports attorney/promoter Cary Agajanian… Was one of 16 aspiring racers invited to participate in the General Motors Driver Development Program in 2006. He participated in two segments of the program, driving a Busch Series car at Caraway Speedway in Asheville, N.C., and a dirt Late Model at North Georgia Speedway… Made ARCA RE/MAX Series debut on Sept. 3, 2007, at DuQuion (Ill.) dirt mile, finishing third in Southern Illinois 100 driving a Tony Stewart-owned car… Won the Red Miley Memorial Penn National 53’ on July 1, 2007, at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway – his first career win at the track where he ran the first feature of his career… Drove the Ernie Davis-owned No. 25 to victory in the Independent Racing Series 27th annual ‘Shorty Bowers/Bull Durham Championship 40’ on Aug. 4, 2007, at Hagerstown Speedway… Finished second in Dirt Track World Championship event on Oct. 20, 2007, at Ohio’s K-C Raceway…

Interesting Facts: Nicknamed ‘Kid Rocket,’ Richards grew up around the country’s top dirt Late Model racers. Since the age of six he traveled to events with his father Mark, who co-owns Rocket Chassis, one of the sport’s most noted manufacturers… Was featured on the July 2006 documentary, Dirt Track Warriors, that was telecast nationally on the CNN cable network… Serves as crew chief on the Tony Stewart-driven Bass Pro Shops/Rocket dirt Late Model that is housed at Rocket Chassis in Shinnston, W.Va…