EASTABOGA, Ala — If it’s true that stock car racing is a game of momentum, Eastaboga, Ala, driver Chris Yarbrough certainly has had the market cornered on that commodity for the past month at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala.
The locally-based driver has won—count ‘em—four races in a row at the third-mile oval in the Crate Racin’ USA Weekly Racing Series Modified Sportsman division, taking the checkered flag on May 13, June 3, June 10 and June 17 at the high-banked facility! He's the only driver in the class to win four races in a row, a division which is sanctioned at seven different tracks across the region.
“We’ve been very blessed, for sure,” said Yarbrough, who was reached in his race car shop by telephone just a few days after his most recent victory in the popular, non-fendered division that is perhaps the CRUSA organization’s fastest-growing class since its inception as one of the company’s Weekly Racing Series divisions in 2018. “The crew has really been on it this year, and we’re in the shop working on the car most every night. It’s been an awesome run this first part of the year. The crew comes ready to work after being at their regular jobs during the day, and we get right on that thing."
Yarbrough’s early-season win streak has been accomplished in remarkably efficient fashion, and without many troubles to overcome. That type of repetitive success usually comes from preparation, and it played in Yarbrough’s favor again in his most recent victory over Kyle Clifton in a nose-to-tail, side-by-side duel that went down to the wire at Yarbrough’s home track.
Yarbrough and Clifton were trailed in the top five by David Beam, Steve Pate and Eddie Brannon.
Yarbrough is wheeling a 2015 Larry Shaw-built car that was purchased in 2018, and has established himself as a potential national championship contender should his good fortunes continue in the future. He’s currently listed 22nd in the points standings, but has accumulated four victories in five starts. When the season reaches a point where drivers start dropping races (since the points are based on a competitor’s best 14 finishes), Yarbrough knows it’s possible that he could climb significantly in the standings.
First things first, though. While a championship would be nice, the team is focused only on its next performance.
“Me and the crew have been talking here lately, and we’re aware of the four wins in just five races, but right now we’re more focused on taking it one race at a time,” Yarbrough said. “We’ll just keep going through the car every week as good as we can, and hopefully this success will continue for us. We’re just going to run as many races as we can and see how it all works out. It’s been a blessed year for us so far, and we’ll keep working hard and hope the success continues for us.”
Article Credit: Brian McLeod