BULLS GAP, TN (August 25, 2011) – Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN took the lead from Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, GA on lap 42 and led the rest of the way to win Thursday Night’s Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series sanctioned Reece Monument Scorcher 50 at Volunteer Speedway. McDowell finished second followed by Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN; Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN; and John Blankenship of Williamson, WV. McDowell took the lead at the start of the $10,000 to win race. Owens slipped to third on the opening lap. O’Neal moved into second to challenge McDowell early on, but Owens passed O’Neal for second on lap 15. With only one caution flag to slow the action, McDowell and Owens then had a terrific two-car race for the lead before the tremendous crowd that was on hand to witness the event. Owens stalked McDowell for several laps until he dove underneath of McDowell at the flag stand to complete lap 41. Owens then took the lead heading into turn number one. Owens raced through heavy lapped traffic as he went on to score his sixth series win of 2011 and extending his points lead over Bloomquist. “It’s good to win here in front of the fans. My car owner was here, Mike Reece and he sponsored the race, which makes it even more amazing to be able to bring home the win,” said Owens. “Dale had a real good car tonight, we slipped up there in turn four on that first lap, but we got it back in line and ran down O’Neal and then had a really great race with Dale.” “The track was really racy tonight, you could run anywhere on it. The lapped cars are always an issue here, but we just took our time and we were fortunate enough to get by Dale. He’s had a tough year and I’m sure he is trying hard to get that first win. Thanks to everybody for coming out tonight, I hope they enjoyed the show.” Owens drives a Bloomquist Race Cars Ford sponsored by Reece Monument Company, Gantte Appraisals, Midwest Sheet Metal, Red Line Oil, VP Race Fuels, Hoosier Tires and is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine. McDowell in one of his best runs of the year was grateful for his second place finish. “We are thrilled with second; Jimmy had the best car tonight. We led for a long time and I thought tonight maybe the night. With Clint Bowyer in the house, it would have been nice to get the win, but we’ll settle for second and head to the next race.” O’Neal started on the pole for the last two series events came home third. “We’ll take it, after the last two weeks, it feels good to finish up front. We didn’t get the results we wanted in the last two races, but we’ll take this and head to Indiana tomorrow.” Completing the top ten were Steve Francis of Ashland, KY; Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC; Vic Hill of Morristown, TN; Chris Madden of Gaffney, SC, and Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, GA. In preliminary action Jared Landers was the Red Buck Cigars Fast Qualifier among the 31 entrants. Heat races went to Dale McDowell, Scott Bloomquist, Jimmy Owens, and Don O’Neal. The B-Mains went to Brad Neat and Dan Schlieper. The Lucas oil Late Model Dirt Series heads to Lawrenceburg Speedway in Lawrenceburg, IN on Friday Night followed by a Saturday Night appearance at Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, KY. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary Thursday Night, August 25th, 2011 “Reece Monument Scorcher 50” Volunteer Speedway – Bulls Gap, TN Red Buck Cigars Fast Time: Jared Landers / 12.180 seconds (Group A and Overall) John Blankenship / 12.292 seconds (Group B) Wiles Driveshafts First Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Dale McDowell, Jared Landers, Earl Pearson Jr., Chris Madden, Brad Neat, Billy Ogle, Jonathan Davenport, Brett Miller Wiles Driveshafts Second Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Scott Bloomquist, Steve Francis, Vic Hill, Mark Douglas, Tyler Reddick, Frank Heckenast Jr., Mike Marlar, Eric Jacobsen-DNS Sweet Manufacturing Third Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Jimmy Owens, John Blankenship, Ray Cook, Steve Casebolt, Dan Schlieper, Chad Ogle, Eric Wells, Jeff Maupin HAWK Brakes Fourth Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Don O’Neal, Shane Clanton, Michael Chilton, Tommy Kerr, Chris Ferguson, Mark Vineyard, John Tweed JRi Shocks First B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Brad Neat, Billy Ogle Jr., Tyler Reddick, Frank Heckenast Jr., Jonathan Davenport, Brett Miller, Eric Jacobsen-DNS, Mike Marlar-DNS Wrisco Aluminum Second B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Dan Schlieper, Chris Ferguson, Mark Vineyard, Chad Ogle, Eric Wells, John Tweed, Jeff Maupin-DNS Feature Finish – 50 Laps
FINISH | START | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN |
1 | 2 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN |
2 | 1 | 17m | Dale McDowell | Chickamauga, GA |
3 | 4 | 71 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN |
4 | 3 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | Mooresburg, TN |
5 | 6 | 23 | John Blankenship | Williamson, WV |
6 | 7 | 15 | Steve Francis | Ashland, KY |
7 | 10 | 53 | Ray Cook | Brasstown, NC |
8 | 11 | 1v | Vic Hill | Mosheim, TN |
9 | 13 | 44m | Chris Madden | Gaffney, SC |
10 | 8 | 25c | Shane Clanton | Locust Grove, GA |
11 | 12 | 97 | Michael Chilton | Salvisa, KY |
12 | 14 | c9 | Steve Casebolt | Richmond, IN |
13 | 5 | 777 | Jared Landers | Batesville, AR |
14 | 17 | s9 | Dan Schlieper | Sullivan, WI |
15 | 17 | 41n | Brad Neat | Dunnville, KY |
16 | 19 | 201 | Billy Ogle | Knoxville, TN |
17 | 23 | 18e | Eric Wells | Hazard, KY |
18 | 21 | 11t | Tyler Reddick | Corning, CA |
19 | 16 | 4T | Tommy Kerr | Maryville, TN |
20 | 19 | 22 | Chris Ferguson | Mount Holly, NC |
21 | 9 | 44 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | Jacksonville, FL |
22 | 24 | 99jr | Frank Heckenast, Jr. | Frankfort, IL |
23 | 15 | 52d | Mark Douglas | Knoxville, TN |
24 | 21 | 4v | Mark Vineyard | Powell, TN |
Race Statistics Entrants: 31 Lap Leaders: Dale McDowell (Laps 1 – 41); Jimmy Owens (42 – 50) Caution Flags: Mark Douglas (Lap 16) Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Eric Wells, and Frank Heckenast Jr. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: none PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race: Chris Madden (Started 13th; Finished 9th; Advanced 4 positions) Allstar Performer of the Race: Dale McDowell K&N Filters Clean Pass of the Race: Don O’Neal Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Jared Landers COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing Engines Janowski Insurance Feature Winner: Jimmy Owens Outerwears Challenger of the Race: Dan Schlieper Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award: Earl Pearson Jr. DirtonDirt.com Crew Chief of the Race: Jason Durham (Dale McDowell) Time of Race: 14 minutes 17 seconds Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:
POS | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN | POINTS |
1 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN | 5080 |
2 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | Mooresburg, TN | 4900 |
3 | 71 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | 4415 |
4 | 15 | Steve Francis | Ashland, KY | 4195 |
5 | 44 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | Jacksonville, FL | 4025 |
6 | 777 | Jared Landers | Batesville, AR | 3940 |
7 | 23 | John Blankenship | Williamson, WV | 3900 |
8 | 53 | Ray Cook | Brasstown, NC | 3830 |
8 | 41n | Brad Neat | Dunnville, KY | 3830 |
10 | 11t | Tyler Reddick | Corning, CA | 3640 |
11 | 57J | Bub McCool | Vicksburg, MS | 3560 |
12 | 17m | Dale McDowell | Chickamauga, GA | 3460 |
13 | 18e | Eric Wells | Hazard, KY | 3280 |
14 | 99jr | Frank Heckenast, Jr. | Frankfort, IL | 3100 |