Irwindale: Joey Clanton race report
No. 83 Camp Fire USA Georgia Council Team Burns competition at Irwindale. IRWINDALE, Calif. (April 7, 2002) - Joey Clanton, driving the No. 83 Camp Fire USA Chevrolet Monte Carlo, burned up the track in Sunday's American Speed Association (ASA) ...
No. 83 Camp Fire USA Georgia Council Team Burns competition at Irwindale.
IRWINDALE, Calif. (April 7, 2002) - Joey Clanton, driving the No. 83 Camp Fire USA Chevrolet Monte Carlo, burned up the track in Sunday's American Speed Association (ASA) tirerack.com 300 held at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway claiming his second straight victory of 2002. The win gives the Steve Dale Motorsports team a two for two record this season after capturing the ASA season opener two weeks ago at USA International Speedway in Lakeland, Florida.
Despite winning the pole in Saturday's qualifying session, the No. 83 team opted to take the green flag from the outside of row one, a position traditionally left for the second place qualifier. The savvy decision allowed Clanton to move the No. 83 Camp Fire USA Georgia Council Chevrolet Monte Carlo in front of the No. 7 car of Gary St. Amant just seconds after the race began. Clanton paced the 31-car field around the half-mile track quickly gaining a three-second lead on the second place driver. With considerable ground between Clanton and his competitors, the team's trouble laid ahead as the Monte Carlo began to approach lap traffic. At lap 78, Clanton barely missed an accident between the No. 05 and No. 28 cars swerving to the bottom of the track to prevent damage to the No. 83 Chevy. The distance Clanton gained on the field quickly vanished when ASA officials threw the yellow flag to allow the two cars to sort themselves.
Green flag racing resumed and Clanton quickly put 3.44 seconds between himself and veteran ASA driver Gary St. Amant. When the caution flag flew at lap 108, crew chief Bond Suss made the call for the No. 83 to pit. A twelve-second right side tires and fuel pit stop put the No. 83 Camp Fire USA Chevy back in the lead at lap 111.
Clanton continued to dominate the event lapping all but four cars by lap 186. A caution at lap 211 allowed the No. 83 to come in for another set of right side tires and a splash of fuel. Within nine seconds the Camp Fire USA Georgia Council car moved back onto the track riding in the second position due to the No. 28 team's decision not to pit. Clanton regained the lead from the No. 28 car of Tim Taylor at lap 219 and never looked back. Despite several caution periods, Clanton kept his distance from second place finisher Gary St. Amant, claiming the victory at lap 300, after having led 292 laps of the event.
An elated Clanton couldn't say enough about his team and their stellar performance. "We have gone three for three on our pit stops and two for two in victories so far and these guys are just showing everyone else what being a team means. We are on a roll and we will head to South Boston in our Camp Fire USA Chevy with another win in sight."
A third straight win is likely for the No. 83 team at South Boston (Va.) Speedway this Saturday. In 2001, Clanton led all 300 laps of the event flag to flag -- a feat that had not occurred on the ASA circuit since 1986.
The race will be broadcast tape-delayed on The National Network (TNN) beginning at 12:00 a.m. EST on Sunday, April 14. Tune in, or set your VCR to record what could be the No. 83's third straight victory.
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