Catchfence

Myrtle Beach, SC: Lucas Ransone headed back to the beach this weekend looking to cap what has been a stellar year for the young 19 year old driver from Madison, North Carolina. After claiming 2009 Rookie of the Year honors in the USAR Pro Cup Series with one win, three top fives, and eight top ten finishes, Ransone took the checkered flag in dramatic fashion in the Myrtle Beach 250 to win one of the biggest late model races of the season.

The race was originally scheduled for last weekend, and Ransone qualified 9th of 63 cars vying to make the 33 car field. Lucas was blocked in early in the race on the .538 mile oval and was 27th when rain cancelled the race and delayed the conclusion to the following Saturday.

As racing resumed this weekend, Ransone patiently worked his way through the field in the 00 Chevrolet, and was running 6th by the midway point of the 250 lap race. After taking four new tires, Ransone held position in the top ten, trying to save his car.

With 50 laps to go, Ransone was running fourth and he told his spotter, Shawn Treadaway, that he had the car to beat and he wanted to find a way to gain a position every ten laps. With 20 to go, Ransone was in second place and held position close to the leader during two tense late race restarts. The final lap went green/white/checkered and Ransone passed the leader coming out of the final turn to take the win.

“We had such a great car,” said Ransone. “I knew it had a win in it, if I could just be patient and get it where it needed to be at the right time. The whole crew did a terrific job getting ready for this race. To be able to come back after a week and still run that well is really amazing. Our crew chief, Darren Shaw, called a great race.”

The win was extra special for Ransone, coming on his father’s 50th birthday. Ransone is looking forward to next year, and is looking to move to NASCAR’s Truck Series as the next step in his racing career.

- MediaFit, Inc. Press Release