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Rusty Daniels currently leads the Eastern Carolina Late Model Mania (ECLMM) standings heading into the final race of the four race series at Carteret County Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

With an average finish of 3.75 with his best results, so far, from ECLMM races at Carteret County and Southern National, Daniels should be able to lock up the title on in Sunday’s Solid Rock Carriers Labor Day Classic. Daniels leads Eric Winslow (5.5), Ryan Haddock (6.0) and Chris Burns (6.25) heading into the final race of the ECLMM series.

“We made a lot of headway last weekend,” Daniels said. “I was real pleased with our run down there. I just feel like we’ve got a good chance to get a top-three in both races. I know Clay Jones is coming and a couple more coming. It is what it is.”

However, Daniels has more on his mind than just the ECLMM title. The 44-year-old from Alliance, North Carolina is winless so far in 2017 – a statistic he hopes to change. Daniels has had strong runs in recent months and been in position to win races at both Carteret County and Southern National, but luck has been cruel.

“That’s the way it goes,” Daniels explained. “We were leading and got turned. We were leading and broke the motor. I’m optimistic about it this weekend. We have really picked it up a good bit last weekend and I feel like I have a good chance. I’m optimistic.”

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While Daniels has a comfortable lead in the standings so far, with two more chances to improve his average finish, Ryan Haddock and Eric Winslow are still lurking and the most recent race winner, Chris Burns, hopes to improve his standing.

Ryan Haddock is hoping to spoil the party on Sunday night and lock himself into Southern National Motorsports Park’s Thanksgiving All-Star Classic – if he can get two wins. Haddock will be making his first Late Model Stock Car start at Carteret County Speedway and is looking to build momentum.

“We got Solid Rock Carriers coming on board to run the Thanksgiving Classic so locking ourselves in would be a feather in the cap,” Haddock explained. “This will be our first time going to Carteret in a Late Model. We’re kind of shooting in the dark, we don’t know what to do setup wise but we’re hoping for two wins or two top-three finishes. First time there, that would be a good way to setup. We’re going to travel around next year so we’re trying to get some experience and momentum.”

Eric Winslow, currently second in the ECLMM standings, has four career wins at Carteret County Speedway and is confident he can get two more on Sunday.

“I think we’re capable of getting two wins this weekend,” Winslow said. “Obviously Rusty is a tough competitor and he has much more success at Southern National than us with our one start there but we’re going to do what we can do. Got to thank Solid Rock Carriers for putting such a neat deal together for the Eastern Carolina tracks.”

Chris Burns, fourth in standings, won in the most recent Eastern Carolina Late Model Mania series race at Carteret County Speedway, improving his average so far to 6.25.

However, those four drivers will have plenty of competition of their own. Along with track regulars such as Jim Kelley, Tyler Matthews and Tyler Horne, a handful of outsiders are planning to invade the Swansboro, North Carolina track on Sunday night. Among those looking to win on Sunday is Clay Jones, who is undefeated at Carteret County Speedway with three starts in two different divisions.

Marquis comes from St. Charles, Maryland and has a widespread background in journalism, having covered politics in Washington and Maryland as well as nearly every form of auto racing, including NASCAR, IndyCar, AMA Motocross and IHRA Drag Racing. Now living near Emerald Isle, North Carolina, Marquis covers Late Model Stock Cars and Super Late Models in the Carolinas and Virginia.

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