Track Specs: .538-mile oval / Twin 40-lap features
Race 1 start/finish: 1st/1st
Race 2 start/finish: 5th/1st
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – What better way to prep for a big race than sweep the twin 40-lap features at that track the weekend before? That’s what Josh Berry did Saturday night at Myrtle Beach Speedway, earning his 10th and 11th victories of the season and the 12th for JR Motorsports, and it put him and teammate Christian Eckes in great shape for the CARS Late Model Stock series event there this coming weekend.
Berry won the pole for the first 40-lapper in his No. 88b Speedco Chevrolet, but gave up the lead soon after the initial green when Eckes got past along with local driver Matt Cox. Berry worked past his teammate after five laps, then waited behind Cox until lap 20, when he made the pass for the top spot. He led the rest of the way. Eckes battled Cox over the final 20 laps and wound up a strong third.
In the second 40-lapper, Berry drew the No. 5 pill and started fifth on the inversion. It took him eight laps to get to the top spot again, just prior to the first and only caution of the race, and he was never headed, despite Eckes pushing his teammate all the way home. Eckes fell back on the initial start, but gathered it up and passed back to second before the checkered flag waved.
Berry and Eckes will be back in action Friday and Saturday, Sept. 17 at Myrtle Beach for the CARS LMSC event on the .538-mile oval.
Josh Berry, driver No. 88 Speedco Chevrolet team
"Obviously, we had a really good weekend. From the time we unloaded, we were really fast. Last year, we sort of struggled down here at the end of the year, so our goal was to come down here and improve for the CARS race next week, which we accomplished. Next week will be more competitive, but I feel like we will be up front. Myrtle Beach wears tires extremely fast, so whenever you can win both races like we did without killing the tires then it is a good sign."
