RIDGEWAY, VA :: Sam Yarbrough muscled his way to a second place finish in the closing laps of Sunday’s MDCU 300 at Martinsville Speedway after spending much of the race in the top-20.
Yarbrough qualified in 45th during Saturday’s qualifying session, setting him up for a 14th place start in his respective heat race. Several drivers were involved in an accident on the first lap, putting Yarbrough in a comfortable position to make the field for the 200-lap feature event. Yarbrough was relieved to be inside the top-10 in the heat race and in control of his destiny.
“Where we were starting in that first heat race, we were planning on picking up a few spots so we had a good spot for the last chance qualifier,” Yarbrough said. “That big wreck happened in turn three, me and Deac [McCaskill] were right there together and squeezed through. We got really lucky. That set us up to hold our spot and ride. We had a great opportunity just to hold our own, make the field and that was a great relief.”
After advancing to the feature, Yarbrough’s focus was the same as most drivers, surviving and being in position in the final 10 laps. He spent much of the race inside the top-20 and moved up by avoiding on track incidents.
“We started the race and held our own in the top-20,” Yarbrough remarked. “We fell back to about 23rd and that’s where we ran until halfway. We made a few spots after the halfway, the guys made a few adjustments and we changed the brakes. We got a lot done in 10 minutes and it helped propel us to where we finished. The biggest thing was that we dodged all the wrecks. We gained most of our spots just getting around the accidents. And everyone who runs that race knows if you avoid the wrecks you’ll have a good day. At one point there, I’m pretty sure we were close to going a lap down until a caution came out.”
Yarbrough moved up even more in the final 10 laps after an accident with about six laps to go. On an ensuing restart, he made contact with second place driver Peyton Sellers which resulted in Sellers and Anthony Anders colliding in a frightening crash. Yarbrough went on to finish second but spoke about the accident, saying it wasn’t intentional and that it was a racing deal.
“Nothing intentional, that’s for sure,” Yarbrough explained. “On that restart, the outside line went. We picked up a few spots, got a good run down the backstretch, got a feel for what Peyton and Tommy were doing. Coming out of four, he was pinched below Tommy, got free, crossed up and I had a good run down the frontstretch. I was intending to go three wide. It’s not like I ducked out behind him and dive-bombed him, I showed my nose the whole straightaway. I was past his bumper in the turn and that’s enough to warrant me holding my position.
“I knew he would hold his position, I didn’t expect him to hold it that aggressively. I mean, I knew he’d try to hold his spot. But, in itself, I’m not one to back out if I think I have position on somebody. When we got to the corner, it was obvious he would come down. I did try to get out of it. I didn’t just run through him. He came across my bumper. You don’t want to see something like that happen. I hate to pick up positions that way. You see that happen in that race every year, people get turned toward the end of the race. It’s just a tough deal. You’re trying to advance your position. I’d like to think it was a racing deal, I’m sure he might think otherwise and his fans might think otherwise. That’s just the way it is I guess.”
Yarbrough was both shocked and satisfied with his second place finish. He said it took about a day for it to fully sink in but, now that it has, he’s really excited about his finish in Late Model Stock Car racing’s premier event.
“I was kind of shocked. Most of the race, we were mired from 15th to 25th. It came down to that last restart. We didn’t expect to have that good a day but we knew if we could avoid the wrecks, we had a good shot to contend. That’s what it comes down to in that race, staying clean and being there at the end. We were elated to make the race. To come away with a top-two, it took about a day for it to sink in. I’m really excited for all the guys here at Chad McCumbee Racing and for Robert Elliott.”
Yarbrough’s celebration will be short-lived. He’ll be racing at Myrtle Beach Speedway next weekend in a race where the top-two finishers will earn a guaranteed starting position in the Myrtle Beach 400 in November. Just a few weeks prior to the MDCU 300, Yarbrough won the track championship at Myrtle Beach Speedway – his second consecutive Myrtle Beach Speedway track championship.
