Huge news out of the World of Outlaw Late Model Series today as Two-time champion Josh Richards is stepping down from his full-time Rocket house car ride to pursue his NASCAR aspirations. With plans already made to drive this weekend, father Mark had to find someone to replace his son for this weekend’s two races.
Mark decided on Watertown, N.Y.’s Tim Fuller. A former champion in the DIRTcar Big-Block Modified division, Fuller has struggled lately in the popular late model division and understands what this opportunity brings him.
“It’s quite an opportunity, Mark could’ve picked a couple hundred drivers, and I feel real fortunate that he picked me to do it,” Said Fuller. “There’s nothing lacking with this team at all. Mark has the best of the best of everything. Basically, to put it into terms, you got the Jimmie Johnson ride and Rick Hendrick called you, so there are no excuses. You gotta produce, and that’s what I’m going to try my hardest to do for him.”
“I’ve been kicked for about a year, and yeah, it hurts my pride and ego – and ego is a lot of this game,” said Fuller, who last reached Victory Lane on June 17, 2010, at Merrittville Speedway in Thorold, Ont. “But you still know you can do it. I’ve been through tough times before in the Modified, when things weren’t right, and then you get into a good ride and you go. It comes down to equipment and ability, and I still have the ability to do it. I’m not questioning that.”
For Richards it ends a streak of 278 World of Outlaw Late Model races that he has entered in. The two-time champion has massed 38 victories in his father’s house car, “It’s been a real tough decision, and without a doubt the fire inside of me to move on has always been there, and the only way to put it out or keep it going is to try to pursue it. It’s a decision I’ve made the last couple of weeks.”
Fuller, who is tied for tenth on the WoO LMS win list since 2004, will look to end a 65 race drought this weekend at North Alabama and Tazewell. It is unclear if this will turn into a full-time ride for Fuller. For now, Fuller will have one of the best rides in the field for these two races.
For more information on the World of Outlaw Late Models, visit their home on the web at WoOLMS.com
By: John Gibson
Thanks to: www. onedirt.com
http://www.onedirt.com/news/filling-the-two-time-champs-seat-fuller-in-rocket-house-car/