TAMPA, FL (February 13, 2015) – Eddie Carrier Jr. driving the Optima Batteries #28 won an exciting battle with Devin Moran in Friday Night’s $10,000-to-win main event at East Bay Raceway Park. Carrier held the lead on lap 31, quickly lost it again on the next circuit and used a lapped car to his advantage as he snuck by Moran once again on lap 44.Carrier would led the remaining 6 laps and wind up in victory lane in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned event. Following Carrier and Moran at the finish were Jimmy Owens, Jared Landers, and Jonathan Davenport.
“That was a great race,” exclaimed Carrier in Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the second time in his career at East Bay. “The track crew did a great job, they moved the tires out in the corners, and we drivers didn’t know what to think, but it worked out real well. It was nice of Devin to let one of us old guys win tonight,” Carrier jokingly said.
“We had to diamond off the corners to get a run down the straight-aways. Both Devin and I had trouble with a lapped car. I used the outside line to get by him coming off of turn four. He saw what I did and used the same line to get by him. I was fortunate enough to find enough room coming off of turn two to get the lead back.”
“I want to thank my car owner, Carl Grover. He gave me the chance several years ago to drive his cars, and it has been the best thing to ever happen to me other than marrying my wife, Jamie. I have to thank Engines Inc, Optima Batteries, Sunoco Race Fuels and all of my sponsors, my crew, and especially my dad [Eddie Carrier Sr.] for all he does. He works his tail off every day on this car.”
Moran, the 20-year-old son of Hall-of-Fame driver, Donnie Moran equaled his best East Bay finish. Ironically in the last year’s Winternationals opener it was Carrier who denied Moran his first career victory at “The Clay by the Bay.”
Earl Pearson Jr. led the first 23 laps of the race, until contact with a car he was lapping dropped him several spots in the running order. Moran pounced on the opportunity to take the lead.
“Congratulations to Eddie for the win, he deserved it. He was better than me. I hate it for Earl. He was really fast tonight. I just couldn’t get by that lapped car. I could have moved him out of the way, but I don’t drive like that. I was too patient with him. But we will take second after the week we have had. I would like to thank my sponsors, Donnie Moran Driving School, Eddie’s Sunoco, and Performance Bodies, and MasterSbilt Race Cars for all of their assistance.”
Owens; the 3-time LOLMDS National Champion; had his best points finish of the young season. “Our car rolled around the top early on, and we were passing cars. No doubt it’s the best we have run all week. I think I used up the edges of the tires getting to the front, and from then on I couldn’t stay with Eddie and Devin,” said the driver of the Rowland Racing, Widow Wax Car Care Products, Club 29 Ford.
Completing the top ten were Brandon Sheppard, Mason Zeigler, Bobby Pierce, Steve Francis, and Dan Stone.
In preliminary action, Dan Stone set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group A) amongst the 41 entrants, with a lap of 15.481 seconds. Eddie Carrier Jr. set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 15.838 seconds. Scott Bloomquist, Earl Pearson Jr., Jared Landers and Devin Moran won their respective heat races. Billy Moyer Jr. and Tim Dohm won their respective B-Mains.
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Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Friday, February 13th, 2015
39th Annual Winternationals
East Bay Raceway Park – Tampa, FL
Miller Welders Fast Time Group A: Dan Stone / 15.481 seconds
Miller Welders Fast Time Group B: Eddie Carrier Jr. / 15.838 seconds
Eibach Springs Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Scott Bloomquist, Dan Stone, Ricky Weiss, Dennis Erb, Jr., Billy Moyer, Jr., Davey Johnson, Allen Murray, Jason Papich, Freddie Carpenter, Dan Schlieper, Kenny PettyJohn-DNS
FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Earl Pearson, Jr., Jimmy Owens, Steve Francis, Gregg Satterlee, Vic Hill, Kyle Bronson, Dustin Mitchell, Doug Blashe, Nick Davis, Mark Dotson-DNS
Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jared Landers, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Jonathan Davenport, Brandon Sheppard, Don O’Neal, Stormy Scott, Chad Hollenbeck, Terry English, Mike Benedum, James O’Hara
QA1 Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Devin Moran, Billy Moyer, Bobby Pierce, Mason Zeigler, Tim Dohm , Austin Rettig, Chris Brown, Gregg Hill, Wendell Wallace, Steve Casebolt-DNS
Fast Shafts B-Main #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Billy Moyer, Jr., Doug Blashe, Allen Murray, Dustin Mitchell, Davey Johnson, Freddie Carpenter, Dan Schlieper, Mark Dotson, Nick Davis, Kyle Bronson, Vic Hill, Jason Papich, Kenny PettyJohn-DNS
Keyser MFG B-Main #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Tim Dohm , Don O’Neal, Stormy Scott, Chris Brown, Austin Rettig, Chad Hollenbeck, Terry English, Mike Benedum, Wendell Wallace, Gregg Hill, James O’Hara, Steve Casebolt-DNS
FEATURE FINISH (50 LAPS):
| FINISH | START | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN |
| 1 | 6 | 28 | Eddie Carrier, Jr. | Salt Rock, WV |
| 2 | 4 | 99m | Devin Moran | Dresden, OH |
| 3 | 7 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN |
| 4 | 2 | 777 | Jared Landers | Batesville, AR |
| 5 | 10 | 6 | Jonathan Davenport | Mount Airy, NC |
| 6 | 14 | B5 | Brandon Sheppard | New Berlin, IL |
| 7 | 16 | 25Z | Mason Zeigler | Chalk Hill, PA |
| 8 | 12 | 32 | Bobby Pierce | Oakwood, IL |
| 9 | 11 | 15 | Steve Francis | Ashland, KY |
| 10 | 5 | 21d | Dan Stone | Thompson, PA |
| 11 | 8 | 21 | Billy Moyer | Batesville, AR |
| 12 | 3 | 1 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | Jacksonville, FL |
| 13 | 22 | 2s | Stormy Scott | Las Cruses, NM |
| 14 | 26 | 21b | Chris Brown | Spring, TX |
| 15 | 9 | 7w | Ricky Weiss | Headingley, MB |
| 16 | 17 | 21jr | Billy Moyer, Jr. | Batesville, AR |
| 17 | 23 | 91p | Jason Papich | Nipomo, CA |
| 18 | 20 | 5 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN |
| 19 | 13 | 28e | Dennis Erb, Jr. | Carpentersville, IL |
| 20 | 15 | 22 | Gregg Satterlee | Rochester Mills, PA |
| 21 | 19 | 1b | Doug Blashe | Marion, WI |
| 22 | 18 | 6T | Tim Dohm | Charleston, WV |
| 23 | 21 | 2m | Allen Murray | San Antonio, TX |
| 24 | 1 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | Mooresburg, TN |
| 25 | 25 | 1J | Davey Johnson | Greensburg, PA |
| 26 | 24 | 7H | Vic Hill | Mosheim, TN |
Entrants: 41
Lap Leaders: Earl Pearson Jr. (Laps 1 – 23); Devin Moran (Laps 24 – 30); Eddie Carrier Jr. (Lap 31); Devin Moran (Laps 32 – 43); Eddie Carrier Jr. (Laps 44 – 50)
Cautions: Scott Bloomquist (Lap 1); Ricky Weiss (Lap 5); Allen Murray (Lap 12)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisional: Jason Papich
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: n/a
Miller Welders Fast Time Provisionals: Vic Hill, Davey Johnson
DirtonDirt.com Strawberry Dash Provisional: Chris Brown
Wrisco Feature Winner: Eddie Carrier Jr.
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Chris Brown (Started: 26th; Finished: 14th; Advanced 12 Positions)
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Earl Pearson Jr.
Allstar Performer of the Race: Devin Moran
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Eddie Carrier Jr.
Rookie of the Race: n/a
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Grover Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Rocket Chassis
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Eddie Carrier Sr. (Eddie Carrier Jr.)
CV Products Fastest Lap of the Race: Devin Moran (Lap #9 – 16.933 seconds)
Hot Rod Processing Most Laps Led: Earl Pearson Jr. (23 Laps)
PFC Brakes Tough Break Award: Scott Bloomquist
Time of Race: 37 minutes 33 seconds