By The Daily Item

MINERSVILLE-- Not even a two-position penalty for jumping the initial start can slow down Darrell Lanigan.

The series points leader overcame the penalty and a race-dominating performance by Josh Richards to score his second win of the Great Northern Tour' as the World of Outlaws late model series made its inaugural visit to Big Diamond Raceway on Wednesday night.

Richards led the first 29 circuits before surrendering the lead during a torrid late-race battle with Shannon Babb.

Babb, who started seventh, passed Lanigan on lap 23 for the runner-up spot and then worked the outside groove to track down Richards over the next six circuits.

On lap 29, Babb switched his line to the bottom groove and slid up in front of Richards in turn two for the lead. As Richards slid over the top of turn two, Lanigan powered by to re-take second.

Babb's lead was short-lived, however, as he fell victim to a left-rear flat tire on lap 33.

Lanigan would then open up a five-car-length lead over pole-sitter Clint Smith on the lap-29 restart and go on to record the win.

It was his second win in the Keystone state in as many weeks as he won the Great Northern Tour' opener at Port Royal Speedway on June 17.

"We had a great car but I went too soft with the right front tire," said Lanigan, who scored his 10th consecutive top-10 win. "But sometimes it's better to be lucky than good."

Pole-sitter Smith finished second with Richards, Shane Clanton and York's Rick Eckert rounding out the top five. Sixth through 10th went to Steve Francis, John Blankenship, Jason Covert, Chub Frank and Babb. Heats for the 34 cars went to Babb, Lanigan, Richards, and Francis while Selinsgrove resident Jeff Rine won the first of two consolation events. Jim Bernheisel won the other consolation. Mike Marlar set fast time with a lap of 16.235 seconds.

FIRST TIME: The Empire Super Sprints (ESS) are making their first-ever appearance in at Clinton County Raceway on July 11 and promoter Vern Wasson has an incentive for Central Pennsylvania 358 sprint car teams.

Wasson, who also promoters Woodhull Raceway in New York where the ESS will race on July 12, will pay the $25 entrant fee requited by ESS for any of the 358 teams that race at Clinton County or Woodhull.

Wasson will also cover half of the cost of a right rear tire as ESS employs a spec tire rule if a team competes at Clinton County. If a team competes at both events, Wasson will cover the entire cost of a right rear tire. In order to take advantage of this offer, teams are asked to contact Wasson by July 1 by calling 398-4052.