Watkins Wins Red Rose Rumble at Lancaster to Kick off the 25th Anniversary Season for the Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series

Watkins Wins Red Rose Rumble at Lancaster to Kick off the 25th Anniversary Season for the Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series

By Rhonda Beck, WISNC Creations/BeckRacingMedia

On Saturday, March 16, 2024, Rock Hill, S.C.’s Ben Watkins won his fourth straight Red Rose Rumble at Lancaster Motor Speedway to kick off the 25th Anniversary season for the Carolina Clash. He led all 40 laps for a $5000 payday. He has 13 career victories with the Clash, tying him with Chris Madden for seventh on the all-time wins list.

Denver, N.C.’s Adam Yarbrough finished second and polesitter, Ross Bailes was third. Rookie Dale Timms was fourth and Brent Robinson, fifth.

The previous week, Watkins had said he knew they were all gunning for him at his home track. He started on the front row, alongside 2018 Carolina Clash champion Ross Bailes, who set fast time with a 19.414 earlier that day. Watkins said he was surprised about Bailes’ lane choice to start the feature.

“Yeah, so he chose the outside. And I’ll be honest--and I said in my interview afterward--I was just a little shocked. In my opinion, in my head, I felt I wanted to be on the bottom. We all have to make our best judgement when we go out there, but I felt like I wanted to be on the bottom there and felt like that’s probably where he was going to be going. But he chose the top. But like I say, maybe that’s where he thought he needed to be. So anyway, that definitely made me feel good that I was able to take the bottom, because that was where I wanted to be in turn one. So that worked out good,” said Watkins.

It was also a special win for Watkins because of his connection to Indocil Art and the recent passing of Ryan Young, who did many of his helmets over the years.

“Yeah, Ryan painted the helmets; he actually designed my racing suits as well. But really much more than that, we were really good friends. That was just definitely a tough blow to me personally, losing him, because he was a really close friend. Winning that Saturday was something that I wanted to do in memory of him and his family. I definitely knew he was riding with me there,” said Watkins.

Watkins felt the track was not typical of what people usually expect at Lancaster.

“At Lancaster we’re used to the nice smooth surface and sometimes maybe faster. For the most part--I think you can pretty much ask anybody--Lancaster is pretty darn smooth. They put new dirt on it over the wintertime, so this was the first race on it. So we didn’t know what we were up against. But yeah, it was not typical of Lancaster. It was very choppy getting into three, especially through the center, which kind of made a lane around the bottom, maybe a lane and a half. It was, for Lancaster, narrow around the bottom. And then one and two was better. It was still just a little choppy getting into one but was pretty smooth other than that. But I just felt the best on the bottom there. It was a little rough for sure. I think it was a combination of the new dirt and the rain before and not having a lot of run time on it. Not having any races on it quite yet to what they prepared for,” said Watkins.

His goal was to make good decisions on the racetrack and stay out of trouble.

“I felt good. At the same time, we’re just trying to run a smart race. With the track conditions, any of us could easily put ourselves in a bad situation, just put yourself on the wrong spot on the racetrack. So I was just trying to be smart once I got out to the lead and tried to be as consistent as I could be. Like I say, just trying not to make any mistakes to open the door for anybody,” said Watkins.

Adam Yarbrough, who finished fourth in series points in 2023 and won a Clash race at Sumter, came home in second. He had a definitive answer as to whether he could have caught Watkins.

“Lord no. You know, running second to him is like winning. He’s definitely got that place figured out,” said Yarbrough.

Like Watkins, he knew it was the first race of the year at Lancaster and just had to manage where he was running on the track.

“Yeah, it was almost like two different racetracks. It was a little rough, but it was okay. It was a little rough but not too terrible. You had to stay on the bottom to stay out of the rough.”

Yarbrough has been glad to be part of the Carolina Clash over the years and is looking forward to some of the schedule’s races in the 25th anniversary season.

“It’s by far my favorite series. Marion, Joey, all the boys that work there, Morgan. They are just a good group of people and it’s certainly my favorite series to run.

“I’m looking forward to going back to Fayetteville. I’m looking forward to going back to Laurens, a small little racetrack. I’m looking forward to going back there this year. Definitely looking forward to going back to Sumter. But if I had to say one I’m looking forward to, it would be Laurens. It’s a cool little racetrack and we haven’t raced there much. I love Lancaster. But I do like Harris too. I like the little hometown racetracks,” said Yarbrough.

He plans to compete in a race or two before the Carolina Clash goes to Fayetteville for their second race of the season on April 13, 2024.

“I’m going to try to get my other car out this Thursday night and go to Carolina to practice, see if I can get it going this Thursday night. And my plan is probably to go to Lakeview on the 6th. The Ultimate race at Lake View is probably my next one,” said Yarbrough.

Saturday’s Hard Charger Award at Lancaster went to David Yandle, of Monroe, N.C., who finished seventh after starting 14th. Yandle was third in points in 2023 with the Carolina Clash. He has competed many times at Lancaster over the years and knew it was the first race of the year there.

“I was told they redid the surface again on it. They did put new dirt in three and four. It just got kinda rough and you were almost committed to one line. It will take them a little bit to get it worked in. But I finished good and didn’t venture up like a lot of them did. I probably should have tried it and I mighta, coulda advanced further, but it’s one of them deals. But I’m glad to say I finished where I did. It was good for me, starting in the back. I did run faster than in hot laps. But it’s one of them things. I don’t know how good I can be there. Sometimes I can be faster there and then sometimes I can be slow there. My dad thinks it’s my transponder not picking up right. But we’ll see. We might get a different one and try it again. We’ll see if it is the transponder; it’s 16 years old or something like that,” said Yandle.

He said he plans to go to Cherokee Speedway next.

“I’m thinking of going over to Gaffney to run the 30th as far as I know. But this weekend I won’t run, because it’s not looking good weather-wise and I’m not trying to push the issue. I done washed the car today; that’s what I usually do on Monday. I’m just getting things ready for next week but not trying to race until maybe the 30th, to go to the Ultimate race. Maybe do a little practicing over there and see what it does.

“I’m going to try to run as many races as I can, but not venture off too far from home, an hour and a half. Now Gaffney ain’t that far. I’m trying to run a couple motors and try not to have a motor issue this year. I don’t want to have to spend a lot of money needing to have one freshened up right now. Just looking at stuff like that,” said Yandle.

Yandle also appreciates the opportunity to be part of the 25th anniversary year for Carolina Clash.

“I’ve been running seven years with the Clash, and I know some of the guys like Rambo, he’s been running ever since the beginning, almost. It’s good to be running this year. I’d like to finish where I did last year, this year. I don’t know how many guys are running this year all the races. I’d like to finish out the year good again. If the Lord wants me to finish good, I’ll finish good. It’s just, that’s my hobby; it’s my only hobby to do,” said Yandle.

Several other drivers had decent runs Saturday night. Watkins talked about Dale Timms, who finished fourth and is a Rookie on the tour this year, as well as Jordy Nipper who was running him down but then fell out at lap 37.

“I think we raced against Dale a few times last year. And there must be something about Lancaster. I’ve seen him run pretty decent. I think he only ran a handful of supers last year. Obviously, he was pretty fast. I think he might have been fastest in practice and qualified fairly decent and was right in the mix there. So that’s definitely good for him.

“And if I could say something about Jordy--I went back and watched the video and he definitely caught up to me at the end pretty hard. He was really good. And it surprised me. After I seen him shred that tire earlier, I didn’t know being the leader if he came back. Honestly, he had a pretty good car. I mean, he was running through there pretty hard. And I’d like to say I still had a little left in the tank, but it would have took just one slip-up and he’d have been right there. I think he might have hurt the motor or some kind of thing with two laps to go. But it could have made it a little interesting right there at the end,” said Watkins.

Watkins plans to run locally this coming weekend and is happy to have a victory already early in the season.

“I think we’re going to go up to the new Ultimate track this coming weekend. It’s a little early, depending on weather. But we’re planning on going and running that. And that definitely gives us a little shot of confidence going up there. It always helps everybody whenever you win,” said Watkins.

The next Carolina Clash series race will be at Fayetteville Motor Speedway in Fayetteville, N.C. on April 13, 2024. Carolina Clash Series Director Joey Champman talked about the support the series gets over there, like from Kipp Thompson with the Voice of Victory Lane podcast. Fans can tune in to the show again tonight at 7 p.m., where Chapman, Ben Watkins and Adam Yarbrough will be guests.

“Yeah, everybody that’s with Fayetteville, they always do a great job too. And Kipp does so much to promote this sport we love. It’s good to be involved with stuff that he does. He really helps us,” said Joey Chapman.

Carolina Clash Red Rose Rumble, Lancaster Motor Speedway, Lancaster, S.C. Results, 3-16-2024: 1. Ben Watkins 2. Adam Yarbrough 3. Ross Bailes 4. Dale Timms 5. Brent Robinson 6. Carson Brown 7. David Yandle 8. Jordy Nipper 9. Mark Greene 10. Luke Morey 11. Michael Brown 12. Gray Parton 13. Benji Hicks 14. Greg Clark 15. Dennis Franklin 16. Nick Yandle

Lancaster Motor Speedway Red Rose Rumble other Division winners, 3-16-2024: Vintage: Elias Grant; Renegade Sportsman: Brent Hodges; Monster Thunder Bombers: Luke Doggett; SCDRA Hornets: Brad McManus; Crown Vics: Tyler Bennett