2/3/2024
Clay Harris
Harris runner-up with Lucas Oil at Ocala; storms to fifth-place finish in Winter Nationals finale
Coming off his first-career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series starts, Clay Harris followed the series to Ocala (Fla.) Speedway on Tuesday afternoon for the first of two days at the track.
Stopping the clock sixth-quickest in his group, Harris earned a spot in the $10,000-to-win feature after picking up the final transfer spot in his heat race. Fading back in the 40-lap A-Main, Clay rallied late to record a 13th-place finish.
With the field elevated to 43 entries on Wednesday, Clay laid down the fourth-fastest lap in qualifying before picking up the victory in his heat race. Rolling off third in the second $10,000 main event, Harris moved into the top spot on lap 8 and led 10 laps before losing the lead to Hudson O'Neal. Clay made a last-ditch effort with just a couple laps remaining, but ultimately came out one spot short. He trailed Hudson O' Neal while Brian Shirley, Ricky Thornton Jr., and Kyle Bronson completed the Top-5.
Following the series to All-Tech Raceway (Lake City, Fla.) on Friday evening, Harris snuck into the A-Main with a third-place finish in his heat. Falling back in the early stages of the 50-lap feature, Clay pulled off just past halfway and was scored 25th.
Hoping for better luck in Saturday's finale, Clay was relegated to a B-Main but earned a spot in feature by picking up the victory. Harris started the $15,000-to-win main event from the ninth-row and hadn't cracked the Top-10 at the halfway point. With just a handful of laps remaining, Clay made a stout charge through the field and wound up inside the Top-5 in fifth.
Full results from the events are available at www.LucasDirt.com.
Article Credit: Heath Lawson Photo
Article Media
