4/19/2016
Boyles Emerges From Opening Weekend As WAR Points Leader
(Photo by TeeJay Crawford Photography)
FARMINGTON, Mo. – Just three races into his sprint car career, Clinton Boyles is firing on all cylinders and leading the Missouri nonwing sprint car scene early in the year. After opening the Wingless Auto Racing season with a second-place finish at Belle-Clair Speedway in Belleville, Ill., Boyles’ fifth-place run at St. Francois County Raceway in Farmington, Mo. was enough to place him atop the series point standings.
Starting on Friday night at the Belleville, Ill. fifth-mile, history was made for the tiny speedway. Hosting races since 1948, it was the very first time that full-size sprint cars visited the St. Clair County Fairgrounds without wings affixed. 19 sprinters signed in to compete; Boyles pill draw set him at the tail of heat three, but that would not keep him from charging forward with two expertly timed slidejobs en route to a third place finish.
The top six starters for the main event were inverted, so Boyles would roll off from the outside front row. When the green dropped, Boyles emerged as the early favorite, as he quickly set sail. Slower traffic would soon play a role, but the Jesse Hockett Racing No. 77 cut through with precision. However, sliding too high one time and making contact with the outside wall was all it would take for charging Joe B. Miller to sneak by and into the lead, bringing second-place Terry Babb with him. The duo would quickly pull away, but Boyles regained the second spot when Babb stalled with just a few laps remaining. Miller again opened a gap on the restart, and Boyles finished in second.
A short trip southwest to Farmington, Mo. put the 20-year-old at St. Francois County Raceway for the second leg of the weekend. 16 others made the journey as well; this time, just two heat races would be in order. Boyles repeated his heat race performance from one night prior, starting sixth and finishing third.
This time, the inversion draw for the main event was a “0,” so Boyles’ starting position would be fifth. After dropping back one spot when the green flag flew, Boyles stayed close to Kenny Potter, battling fiercely to regain his position. It took nearly 20 laps to navigate back by on the narrow red clay racing surface, but Boyles eventually moved by and made the pass stick to earn the fifth-place finish.
Boyles would like to thank Rod End Supply, Rockwell Security, Moon Construction, Lucas Oil, Taylor Cable Products, CNJ Signs and Wraps, and Hinchman Racing Uniforms, as well as his family, friends, fans, and the Jesse Hockett Racing team for their continued support.
Boyles is next scheduled to compete on April 23 at I-35 Speedway in Winston, Mo. with the WAR Sprint Car Series in the Jesse Hockett Racing No. 77 410ci wingless sprint entry.
Quick Results
April 15 – Belleville, IL – 410ci Wingless Sprint – Heat: 3rd (6); Feature: 2nd (2)
April 16 – Farmington, MO – 410ci Wingless Sprint – Heat: 3rd (6); Feature: 5th (5)
2016 Stats
6 races, 4 features, 0 win, 2 podiums, 3 top-fives, 3 top-tens, 0 DNFs
Social Media
Twitter: www.twitter.com/clintonboyles98
Facebook: www.facebook.com/clinton.boyles.5
Instagram: www.instagram.com/clinton_boyles
Article Credit: Redbeard Promotions
