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Defending NAPA Auto Parts Gopher 50 champ ready to return to Deer Creek Speedway

Rochester Post Bulletin:  (Photo courtesy of Gulbranson Photo)  If there had been five more laps in the 33rd annual Gopher 50 charity Late Model race, Shane Clanton may not have reached Victory Lane.

But the race isn't called the Gopher 55 and Clanton earned his way to Victory Lane at Deer Creek Speedway last July with an impressive run against two of the hottest drivers on the World of Outlaws tour.

"I had to do all I could to block on the last lap," Clanton said. "If there were 10 laps to go I wouldn't have been able to do that, but when you're leading on the last lap, you do all you can to win the race."

Clanton won a tight three-car battle, holding off eventual WoO series champion Darrell Lanigan and Tim McCreadie over the last few laps to win arguably the most entertaining Gopher 50 race since it moved to Deer Creek in 2005.

The trio of Outlaws regulars were three-wide out of Turn 2 on the final lap. Clanton gained a slight edge down the backstretch and dove down low in Turn 3 to preserve the lead and his first victory of the 2012 season.

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