MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Michael Ritch found a great way to end a day at the beach.
The Hooters Pro Cup and former Busch Series veteran drove his No. 28 Naturally Fresh/Jackaroo Ford to victory lane in the Greased Lightning 200 presented by Black’s Tire & Auto Service at Myrtle Beach Speedway.
For Ritch, the night marked his 12th Hooters Pro Cup victory, but just his second since 1999, when he left that series to compete in NASCAR’s Busch Series for several years.
“It’s taken me a while to get back here,” said Ritch, who started second.
After leading the first lap, Ritch swept to the inside of Clay Jones and took the lead for the final time on lap 168. From there, he held off challenges from Mark McFarland in the No. 81 Knight’s Companies Chevrolet to secure the victory.
Caleb Hoffman came home third, ahead of Benny Gordon in fourth.
The finish:
Showing driver, car, laps completed and money won: 1. Michael Ritch, Ford, 200, $11,500; 2. Mark McFarland, Chevrolet, 200, $6,250; 3. Caleb Hoffman, Chevrolet, 200, $7,000; 4. Benny Gordon, Ford, 200, $4,000; 5. Mike Garvey, Ford, 200, $3,000; 6. Brian Scott, Ford, 200, $2,800; 7. Kirk Lene, Ford, 200, $2,800; 8. Shelby Howard, Chevrolet, 200, $2,700; 9. Wade Day, Ford, 200, $2,300; 10. Jody Lavender, Ford, 200, $2,200; 11. Dange Hanniford, Chevrolet, 200, $2,100; 12. Woody Howard, Chevrolet, 200, $2,000; 13. Bill Plemons, Jr., Ford, 200, $2,400; 14. Trevor Bayne, Chevrolet, 200, $2,400; 15. Billy Bigley, Jr., Ford, 200, $1,700; 16. Justin Wakefield, Ford, 200, $1,600; 17. Bobby Gill, Ford, 200, $2,600; 18. Frank Deiny, Jr., Ford, 200, $1,600; 19. Clay Jones, Ford, 200, $1,850; 20. Daniel Johnson, Chevrolet, 200, $1,800; 21. Cody Pruitt, Chevrolet, 199, $1,400; 22. Carl Long, Ford, 199, $1,400; 23. Mike Herman, Jr., Chevrolet, 199, $1,600; 24. Brett Butler, Chevrolet, 199, $1,400; 25. Derrick Kelley, Pontiac, 199, $1,400; 26. Randy Gentry, Chevrolet, 196, $1,200; 27. Tom Hessert, Chevrolet, 185; $1,200; 28. Richard Boswell, Chevrolet, 167, $2,700; 29. Matt Hawkins, Ford, 164, $1,200; 30. J.P. Morgan, Chevrolet, 163, $1,200; 31. Don Satterfield, Chevrolet, 154, $1,200; 32. Jay Fogleman, Ford, 146, $1,900; 33. Gary Helton, Chevrolet, 107, $1,200; 34. Chase Pistone, Chevrolet, 106, $1,200; 35. James Buescher, Chevrolet, 75, $1,200; 36. Dusty Williams, Ford, 68, $1,200; 37. Mart Nesbitt, Ford, 26, $1,200.