Ross vs. Morton: The Battle at Caraway Continues

By Ashley Thomson

Last week saw some great and clean racing between Steven Ross and Justin Morton at Caraway. 

Morton came away with the win last week.  But this week, it was Ross’ turn.

Ross started in the second position and jumped out to the early lead.  Ross stayed out front, while Morton charged to second place.

The two put on a great battle, racing side-by-side.  Morton almost got the lead at one point, but couldn’t make the pass and fell back behind Ross.  A few cautions and lapped traffic looked to possibly change the outcome of the race, but each time, Ross was able to hold his lead over Morton.

In fact, it was lapped traffic that allowed for Ross to pull away, while Morton dealt with Kyle Beattie.  Beattie took advantage of Morton being slowed by the traffic and passed him for second place late in the event, while Ross smoothly weaved his way through the lapped cars to win by three car lengths.

“We really didn’t do anything different,” said Ross.  “We were handling just a little bit better than last week.  I just drove as hard as I could and we ended up getting the win.  (Justin) was really close.  I just tried to stay focused and drive as hard as I could and get everything out of the car that I could.  If second was all the car had, then that’s all I could get out of it.  We got the win tonight.  The car was really good this time.”

Steven Ross has visited victory lane at Caraway Speedway multiple times this season. (LN Photo)

Morton sounded a little disappointed after losing a position and falling back to third on the last lap. He also expressed his feelings toward some other words Ross said off the record after the race.

“I got caught up by a lapped car,” said Morton.  “He (Steven Ross) went high on the lapped car and as soon as he cleared him, the lap car moved up to let me go to the left side but I was already committed high.  I was right on him (Ross) going into the turn and that just cost me.  I’m not going to make that excuse.  He beat me fair and square, but it just really kind of tore me up that he’s going to go talk junk about me after the race.”

It was a bittersweet top five for Beattie.  He admitted to feeling a little bad after passing his customer on the last lap.

“I really didn’t want to pass (Justin Morton),” said Beattie.  “Those lap cars messed him up bad enough to where I had to. I really didn’t have a choice.  I think he’d have a bad corner and I’d be faster than him and then I’d have a bad corner and he’d be faster than me. We were pretty well even.

“He’s (Justin Morton) running for the track championship out here so I wasn’t wanting to mess him up. There were a few times I got underneath him and I could’ve pressed the issue a little bit, but I wasn’t fast enough to complete the pass.  The whole goal is to win the race and all I was going to do by staying underneath him was cause us both not to win.”