PONTOON BEACH, IL (July 15, 2011) – Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA took the lead on lap eight and went on to capture the Inaugural “Battle at the Beach” on Friday Night at Tri-City Speedway. Birkhofer pocketed $20,000 in the richest race in track history and also ended Scott Bloomquist’ three-race win streak on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. At 34 Raceway back in May, Birkhofer ended Bloomquist’s streak of four wins in a row. Bloomquist finished in second followed by 10th-starting, Billy Moyer of Batesville, AR; Brian Shirley of Chatham, IL; and Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN completed the top five. Before one of the biggest crowds in track history, Don O’Neal grabbed the lead at the start of the race and led the first seven circuits, until Birkhofer took over the point. For most of the early action in the main event there were four cars battling for the lead. Bloomquist moved into the runner-up spot on lap 12. The only caution of the race was for Dale McDowell on lap 15. On the restart Birkhofer maintained his lead as Shirley moved into the second spot around Bloomquist, by using the high side of the race track. Birkhofer started to pick-up the tail of the field by lap 25, allowing both Shirley and Bloomquist to cut into his lead. Bloomquist maneuvered by Shirley in the battle for second, regaining the spot on lap 26. The top three then pulled away from the rest of the pack and with 40 laps down were ahead of the tight race for fourth between Owens and Moyer. As the race wore on Birkhofer continued to show a good-sized advantage over Bloomquist who had finally shed Shirley with 40 to go. For most of the race Birkhofer had to contend with heavy traffic. Bloomquist finally began to close the gap with ten laps to go. Birkhofer was able to clear a couple of cars that were battling in front of him and distanced himself from Bloomquist as he went on to capture his 13th career LOLMDS victory. In Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the second time this season, the 39-year-old racer was complementary to several people. “It’s been a tough year in some aspects for us, we haven’t run all that much, we were here a few weeks ago and the wheel came off before the start of the race, we’ve tried to patch together a crew here lately, and I have Brian Daugherty of Integra Shocks here tonight helping. It feels good to win here at Kevin’s (Gundaker) track, to beat Scott and Billy, I mean what can you say about either of them that hasn’t already been said, they are two great drivers.” “O’Neal started off real strong, we ran side-by-side there for a while, until I was finally able to clear him. The traffic was difficult, especially there at the end when it got slick. My car wasn’t getting through the turns like I wanted, but we had enough of a distance apparently there at the end to get the win,” said Birkhofer whose MB Customs Chassis is sponsored by ASi Racewear, Keyser Mfg, Zens Flooring, J&J Steel, Hoosier Tires, VP Racing Fuels, Reed’s Lawn Service and powered by a Pro Power Racing Engine. With his second place finish, Bloomquist in his Hawkeye Trucking, Roush-Yates, Bloomquist Race Cars Ford took over the series points from Owens. Bloomquist now leads Owens by 20-points. Moyer, who passed Shirley for third with 25 laps remaining was piloting his Banner Valley Hauling, Clements Racing Engines, Moyer Victory Circle Ford. Shirley in his Jayco Construction, Pro Power, Bob Pierce Race Cars Chevrolet edged out Owens for fourth at the stripe. Completing the top ten were Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN; Steve Francis of Ashland, KY; Tyler Reddick of Corning, CA; Randy Korte of Highland, IL; and Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL. The event will be shown at 1 PM Eastern on Saturday August 7th on SPEED. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will continue their weekend of racing with the 5th Annual CMH Diamond Nationals at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO tomorrow night. The event will be taped by Lucas Oil Production Studios to air on SPEED at a later date. The series will round out the month of July with an East Coast tripleheader. On Wednesday, July 27th the series will make its second appearance at the historic Fonda Speedway in Fonda, NY . On Thursday, July 28th the series heads back to Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon, NY and rounds out the month on Saturday, July 30th at “The Capitol of Dirt Track Racing” Hagerstown Speedway in Hagerstown, MD. All three shows will pay $10,000 to win. For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com or call the series’ office at (951) 532-2503.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary Friday Night, July 15th, 2011 “Battle at the Beach 100”Tri-City Speedway – Pontoon Beach, IL
Red Buck Cigars Fast Time: Scott Bloomquist / 16.132 seconds (Group A and Overall) Tyler Reddick / 16.340 seconds (Group B)
| GROUP “A” | |||
| POS | CAR# | DRIVER | Q. Time |
| 1 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | 16.132 |
| 2 | 15b | Brian Birkhofer | 16.235 |
| 3 | 23 | John Blankenship | 16.275 |
| 4 | 00K | Randy Korte | 16.584 |
| 5 | 15 | Steve Francis | 16.609 |
| 6 | 17m | Dale McDowell | 16.691 |
| 7 | 88 | Wendell Wallace | 16.752 |
| 8 | 41n | Brad Neat | 16.753 |
| 9 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | 16.786 |
| 10 | 9t | Tim Isenberg | 16.816 |
| 11 | 77m | Jason McBride | 16.871 |
| 12 | 53 | Ray Cook | 16.880 |
| 13 | 777 | Jared Landers | 16.938 |
| 14 | 21b | Chris Brown | 17.089 |
| 15 | 25f | Jason Feger | 17.112 |
| 16 | 72 | John Mason | 17.174 |
| 17 | 82 | Billy Laycock | 17.240 |
| 18 | 16g | Rusty Griffaw | 17.255 |
| 19 | 7s | Jeffrey Sloan | 17.512 |
| GROUP “B” | |||
| POS | CAR# | DRIVER | Q. Time |
| 1 | 11t | Tyler Reddick | 16.340 |
| 2 | 71 | Don O’Neal | 16.546 |
| 3 | 44 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | 16.763 |
| 4 | 32x | Chris Simpson | 16.782 |
| 5 | 21 | Billy Moyer | 16.785 |
| 6 | c9 | Steve Casebolt | 16.905 |
| 7 | 21JR | Billy Moyer, Jr. | 16.953 |
| 8 | 18e | Eric Wells | 16.973 |
| 9 | 78 | Chad Zobrist | 17.022 |
| 10 | 57J | Bub McCool | 17.064 |
| 11 | 3s | Brian Shirley | 17.099 |
| 12 | 99jr | Frank Heckenast, Jr. | 17.105 |
| 13 | 27 | Rodney Melvin | 17.228 |
| 14 | 6k | Michael Kloos | 17.237 |
| 15 | 16H | Mike Hammerle | 17.273 |
| 16 | 0K | Dewayne Kiefer | 17.290 |
| 17 | 16S | Tommy Seets Jr. | 17.540 |
| 18 | 49 | Steve Leach | 18.157 |
Wiles Driveshafts First Heat (15 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Scott Bloomquist, Jimmy Owens, Steve Francis, John Blankenship, Jared Landers, Wendell Wallace, Jason Feger, Jeffrey Sloan, Billy Laycock, Jason McBride-DNS Wiles Driveshafts Second Heat (15 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Brian Birkhofer, Randy Korte, Dale McDowell, Tim Isenberg, Brad Neat, Ray Cook, Chris Brown, Rusty Griffaw, John Mason Sweet Manufacturing Third Heat (15 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Earl Pearson Jr., Brian Shirley, Billy Moyer, Tyler Reddick, Chad Zobrist, Billy Moyer Jr., Rodney Melvin, Mike Hammerle, Tommy Seets Jr. HAWK Brakes Fourth Heat (15 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Don O’Neal, Steve Casebolt, Eric Wells, Chris Simpson, Bub McCool, Michael Kloos, Frank Heckenast Jr., Dewayne Kiefer, Steve Leach JRi Shocks First B-Main (15 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Ray Cook, Jared Landers, Jason Feger, Brad Neat, Chris Brown, John Mason, Rusty Griffaw, Billy Laycock, Jeffrey Sloan, Wendell Wallace, Jason McBride-DNS Wrisco Aluminum Second B-Main (15 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Rodney Melvin, Bub McCool, Chad Zobrist, Michael Kloos, Frank Heckenast Jr., Dewayne Kiefer, Mike Hammerle, Steve Leach, Billy Moyer Jr., Tommy Seets Jr.
“Battle @ the Beach – Feature Finish – 100 Laps: Brian Birkhofer, Scott Bloomquist, Billy Moyer, Brian Shirley, Jimmy Owens, Don O’Neal, Steve Francis, Tyler Reddick, Randy Korte, Earl Pearson, Jr., John Blankenship, Chris Simpson, Eric Wells, Bub McCool, Dale McDowell, Brad Neat, Ray Cook, Frank Heckenast, Jr., Chad Zobrist, Dewayne Kiefer, Jared Landers, Tim Isenberg, Jason Feger, Wendell Wallace, Billy Laycock, Steve Casebolt, Rodney Melvin
“Battle @ the Beach – Feature Finish – 100 Laps:
| FINISH | START | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN |
| 1 | 2 | 15b | Brian Birkhofer | Muscatine, IA |
| 2 | 4 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | Mooresburg, TN |
| 3 | 10 | 21 | Billy Moyer | Batesville, AR |
| 4 | 6 | 3s | Brian Shirley | Chatham, IL |
| 5 | 5 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN |
| 6 | 1 | 71 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN |
| 7 | 9 | 15 | Steve Francis | Ashland, KY |
| 8 | 14 | 11t | Tyler Reddick | Corning, CA |
| 9 | 7 | 00K | Randy Korte | Highland, IL |
| 10 | 3 | 44 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | Jacksonville, FL |
| 11 | 13 | 23 | John Blankenship | Williamson, WV |
| 12 | 16 | 32x | Chris Simpson | Oxford, IA |
| 13 | 12 | 18e | Eric Wells | Hazard, KY |
| 14 | 20 | 57J | Bub McCool | Vicksburg, MS |
| 15 | 11 | 17m | Dale McDowell | Chickamauga, GA |
| 16 | 27 | 41n | Brad Neat | Dunnville, KY |
| 17 | 17 | 53 | Ray Cook | Brasstown, NC |
| 18 | 23 | 99jr | Frank Heckenast, Jr. | Frankfort, IL |
| 19 | 22 | 78 | Chad Zobrist | Highland, IL |
| 20 | 25 | 0K | Dewayne Kiefer | Ste. Genevieve, MO |
| 21 | 19 | 777 | Jared Landers | Batesville, AR |
| 22 | 15 | 9t | Tim Isenberg | Marshfield, WI |
| 23 | 21 | 25f | Jason Feger | Bloomington, IL |
| 24 | 24 | 88 | Wendell Wallace | Batesville, AR |
| 25 | 26 | 82 | Billy Laycock | Marine, IL |
| 26 | 8 | c9 | Steve Casebolt | Richmond, IN |
| 27 | 18 | 27 | Rodney Melvin | Benton, IL |
Race Statistics
Entrants: 37
Lap Leaders: Don O’Neal (Lap 1 – 7); Brian Birkhofer (Lap 8 – 100)
Caution Flags: Dale McDowell (Lap 15)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisional: Frank Heckenast Jr.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisional: Brad Neat
Fast Time Provisional: Wendell Wallace
Tri-City Speedway Track Provisionals: Dewayne Kiefer, Billy Laycock
PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race: Billy Moyer (Started 10th; Finished 3rd; Advanced 7 positions)
Allstar Performer of the Race: Scott Bloomquist
K&N Filters Clean Pass of the Race: Brian Birkhofer
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Tyler Reddick
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Pro Power Racing Engines
Janowski Insurance Feature Winner: Brian Birkhofer
Outerwears Challenger of the Race: Bub McCool
Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award: Jared Landers
DirtonDirt.com Crew Chief of the Race: Aaron Faugust (Brian Shirley)
Time of Race: 34 minutes 27 seconds
Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:
| POS | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN | POINTS |
| 1 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | Mooresburg, TN | 3420 |
| 2 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN | 3400 |
| 3 | 71 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | 3130 |
| 4 | 15 | Steve Francis | Ashland, KY | 2855 |
| 5 | 44 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | Jacksonville, FL | 2770 |
| 6 | 777 | Jared Landers | Batesville, AR | 2665 |
| 7 | 41n | Brad Neat | Dunnville, KY | 2620 |
| 8 | 17m | Dale McDowell | Chickamauga, GA | 2570 |
| 8 | 53 | Ray Cook | Brasstown, NC | 2570 |
| 10 | 57J | Bub McCool | Vicksburg, MS | 2510 |
| 11 | 11t | Tyler Reddick | Corning, CA | 2470 |
| 11 | 23 | John Blankenship | Williamson, WV | 2470 |
| 13 | 1G | Mike Marlar | Winfield, TN | 2415 |
| 14 | 18e | Eric Wells | Hazard, KY | 2230 |
| 15 | c9 | Steve Casebolt | Richmond, IN | 2165 |
| 16 | 99jr | Frank Heckenast, Jr. | Frankfort, IL | 2100 |