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Ross Bailes cruises to Clash triumph at Sumter Speedway

Ross Bailes parked the M&W Transport No. 58 Dave’s Towing/ Fred Caldwell Chevrolet/ Rocket Chassis/ Clements Racing Engine Super Late Model for the fourth time this season on Saturday. (Caitlyn Cox photo)

Bailes led all 40 laps of Saturday night’s Ed Gibbins Memorial at Sumter (S.C.) Speedway to pocket $4,000. Slated to start near the middle of the pack in his B-Main at Portsmouth (Ohio) Raceway Park, the team elected to pack up and head south for the Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series event.

“We took a hard look at where we were starting in the B-Main at Portsmouth and with only two transferring, odds weren’t the best,” team owner Augie Burttram stated. “We decided to load up and hit the Carolina Clash event on our way back and it payed off. Not how we’d planned the weekend, but it was a great experience for our team at the Dirt Track World Championship. Thankful for another win and thanks to everyone who supports our team.”

Ross Bailes and Big Frog Motorsports started their weekend at Portsmouth (Ohio) Raceway Park for the 40th Annual Dirt Track World Championship. Drawing 63 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series entries for the two-day event, Ross recorded the 11th fastest lap in his time trial group before placing sixth in his heat race.

Slated to start sixth in his B-Main on Saturday night for one final shot at the $100,000-to-win finale, Bailes and the team made the tough decision to scratch from 15-lap consolation event.

Making a stop at Sumter (S.C.) Speedway for the Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series sanctioned Ed Gibbons Memorial, Bailes timed in second fastest overall behind David Duke.

Earning the second position on the starting grid for the A-Main, Ross blasted ahead of Duke on the opening lap and cruised to his fifth win of the season. Duke finished second, with Dennis Franklin, Johnny Pursley, and Kenny Collins rounding out the Top-5. Taking the checkers 2.627 seconds ahead of Duke, Bailes earned a $4,000 for his fifth overall victory of the season.

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