GAFFNEY, SC (June 17, 2011) – Steve Shaver of Vienna, WV edged out Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC to win the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series sanctioned 13th Grassy Smith Memorial on Friday Night at Cherokee Speedway. Shaver, who started fifth, took over the lead on lap 44 when race leader Jonathan Davenport pitted for a flat tire. Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN finished third; followed by 23rd starting Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN and Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN.
Chris Ferguson led the first six laps until Davenport took over the top spot on lap seven. Rookie contender Jared Landers then used the high-side to his advantage as he moved into second on lap nine. Landers and Bloomquist then ran side-by-side for several laps and Ferguson fell to fourth.
Davenport was holding the lead through heavy traffic until the red flag came out on lap 23. Bloomquist and Landers went door-to-door in turn three and Bloomquist flipped in turn four, bringing out the red. Bloomquist went pitside and returned to the race, staying on the lead lap.
Davenport then held off Shaver for several laps until a caution came out on lap 43. During the caution flag, Davenport’s right rear tire went flat and he went pitside for a tire change. Shaver then took over the lead as Owens and Cook battled it out for second place.
Cook went by Owens on the top shelf with two laps to go. Cook then tracked down Shaver in a hurry and pulled even with Shaver in the final two circuits. Shaver slammed the door on Cook as he went on to become the tenth different winner in LOLMDS action this season.
In Lucas Oil Victory Lane, the 47-year-old Shaver said he didn’t know if he had enough left at the end. “There’s probably not any tread left on either rear tire, I tried to baby them there at the end, but to hold Ray off, he’s a clean racer and a great driver and to win this race means a lot to me and my race team,” said Shaver, who drives for the Greensboro, NC based K&L Rumley Team.
Shaver’s Rocket Chassis is sponsored by GPS Supply Company, CV Products, Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Racing Tires, and is powered by a Rumley Racing Engine.
Cook finished second by a car length in the Rockstar Energy Drink, MasterSbilt entry. Owens maintained his points lead with a third place finish in the Reece Monument Company, Bloomquist Race Cars Ford. O’Neal, who started in 23rd, finished fourth in the Magnaflow Exhaust Products, MasterSbilt Chevy, with Casebolt placing fifth in his Rockstar Energy Drink, MasterSbilt Car.
Completing the top ten were Dennis Franklin of Gaffney, SC; John Blankenship of Williamson, WV; Steve Francis of Ashland, KY; Brad Neat of Dunnville, KY; and Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA.
Chris Ferguson was the Red Buck Cigars Fast Qualifier among the 37 entries on hand. Heat race winners were Ferguson, Davenport, Johnny Pursley, and Dale McDowell. The B-Mains went to Frank Heckenast Jr. and Eric Jacobsen.
Coming up on Saturday Night, June 18th the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will be in action at Fred Brown’s Wythe Raceway in Rural Retreat, VA for a $10,000 to win event. For more info log on to www.wytheraceway.com.
Race Summary
Friday Night, June 17th, 2011
13th Annual Grassy Smith Memorial
Cherokee Speedway – Gaffney, SC
- Red Buck Cigars Fast Time: Chris Ferguson / 15.413 seconds (Group A and Overall) Jared Landers / 15.530 seconds (Group B)
- Wiles Driveshafts First Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Chris Ferguson, Steve Shaver, Ray Cook, Jeff Smith, Frank Heckenast Jr., Chris Wall, Zack Mitchell, Dennis Franklin, Furman Parton-DNS, Ross Bailes
- Wiles Driveshafts Second Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Jonathan Davenport, Mike Marlar, Eric Wells, Jimmy Owens, Steve Casebolt, John Blankenship, Tyler Reddick, Casey Roberts-DNS, Danny Breuer-DNS
- Sweet Manufacturing Third Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Johnny Pursley, Jared landers, Mike Gault, John Henderson, Eric Jacobsen, Steve Francis, Daniel Baggerly, Brent Dixon, Don O’Neal
- HAWK Brakes Fourth Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Dale McDowell, Scott Bloomquist, Chris Madden, Brad Neat, Bub McCool, Clint Smith, Chip Brindle, Earl Peasrson Jr., Brandon Russell
- JRi Shocks First B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Frank Heckenast Jr., Steve Casebolt, Dennis Franklin, John Blankenship, Chris Wall, Zack Mitchell, Tyler Reddick-DNS, Furman Parton-DNS, Ross Bailes-DNS, Danny Breuer-DNS, Casey Roberts-DNS
- Wrisco Aluminum Second B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Eric Jacobsen, Bub McCool, Steve Francis, Clint Smith, Earl Pearson Jr., Chip Brindle, Daniel Baggerly, Don O’Neal-DNS, Brent Dixon-DNS, Brandon Russell-DNS
- “13th Annual Grassy Smith Memorial” Feature Finish – 50 Laps: Steve Shaver, Ray Cook, Jimmy Owens, Don O’Neal, Steve Casebolt, Dennis Franklin, John Blankenship, Steve Francis, Brad Neat, Jonathan Davenport, Johnny Pursley, Tyler Reddick, Frank Heckenast, Jr., Scott Bloomquist, Chris Madden, Mike Marlar, Mike Gault, Bub McCool, Earl Pearson, Jr., Chris Ferguson, Eric Wells, Jared Landers, Dale McDowell, Eric Jacobsen, Jeff Smith, John Henderson
“13th Annual Grassy Smith Memorial” Feature Finish – 50 Laps
| FINISH | START | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN |
| 1 | 5 | 6 | Steve Shaver | Vienna, WV |
| 2 | 9 | 53 | Ray Cook | Brasstown, NC |
| 3 | 15 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN |
| 4 | 23 | 71 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN |
| 5 | 19 | c9 | Steve Casebolt | Richmond, IN |
| 6 | 21 | 2f | Dennis Franklin | Gaffney, SC |
| 7 | 25 | 23 | John Blankenship | Williamson, WV |
| 8 | 22 | 15 | Steve Francis | Ashland, KY |
| 9 | 16 | 41n | Brad Neat | Dunnville, KY |
| 10 | 3 | 49 | Jonathan Davenport | Blairsville, GA |
| 11 | 2 | 09 | Johnny Pursley | Clover, SC |
| 12 | 26 | 11t | Tyler Reddick | Corning, CA |
| 13 | 17 | 99jr | Frank Heckenast, Jr. | Frankfort, IL |
| 14 | 8 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | Mooresburg, TN |
| 15 | 12 | 44m | Chris Madden | Gaffney, SC |
| 16 | 7 | 1G | Mike Marlar | Winfield, TN |
| 17 | 10 | 17 | Mike Gault | Gaffney, SC |
| 18 | 20 | 57J | Bub McCool | Vicksburg, MS |
| 19 | 24 | 44 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | Jacksonville, FL |
| 20 | 1 | 22 | Chris Ferguson | Mount Holly, NC |
| 21 | 11 | 18e | Eric Wells | Hazard, KY |
| 22 | 6 | 777 | Jared Landers | Batesville, AR |
| 23 | 4 | 17m | Dale McDowell | Chickamauga, GA |
| 24 | 18 | 5 | Eric Jacobsen | Watsonville, CA |
| 25 | 13 | 18m | Jeff Smith | Gastonia, NC |
| 26 | 14 | 2x | John Henderson | Aiken, SC |
Race Statistics
- Entrants: 37
- Lap Leaders: Chris Ferguson (Laps 1 – 5); Jonathan Davenport (Laps 6 – 43); Steve Shaver (Laps 44 – 50)
- Caution Flags: John Henderson (Lap 21); Dale McDowell, Johnny Pursley, Scott Bloomquist (Lap 24); Chris Madden (Lap 27); Eric Jacobsen, Jeff Smith (Lap 36); Jared Landers (Lap 41); Eric Wells (Lap 43); Chris Ferguson (Lap 43); Tyler Reddick (Lap 46); Mike Marlar, Mike Gault, Scott Bloomquist (Lap 47)
- Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Don O’Neal, Earl Pearson Jr.
- Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: John Blankenship, Tyler Reddick
- PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race: Don O’Neal (Started 23rd; Finished 4th; Advanced 19 positions)
- Allstar Performer of the Race: Ray Cook
- K&N Filters Clean Pass of the Race: Steve Casebolt
- Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Tyler Reddick
- COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: K&L Rumley Race Engines
- Outerwears Challenger of the Race: Steve Casebolt
- Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award: Eric Jacobsen
- DirtonDirt.com Crew Chief of the Race: Kevin Rumley (Steve Shaver)
- Time of Race: 53 minutes 15 seconds
Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:
| POS | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN | POINTS |
| 1 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN | 2530 |
| 2 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | Mooresburg, TN | 2410 |
| 3 | 71 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | 2360 |
| 4 | 15 | Steve Francis | Ashland, KY | 2120 |
| 5 | 777 | Jared Landers | Batesville, AR | 2030 |
| 6 | 41n | Brad Neat | Dunnville, KY | 1965 |
| 7 | 53 | Ray Cook | Brasstown, NC | 1940 |
| 7 | 44 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | Jacksonville, FL | 1940 |
| 9 | 1G | Mike Marlar | Winfield, TN | 1885 |
| 10 | 17m | Dale McDowell | Chickamauga, GA | 1870 |
| 11 | 57J | Bub McCool | Vicksburg, MS | 1840 |
| 12 | 11t | Tyler Reddick | Corning, CA | 1810 |
| 13 | 23 | John Blankenship | Williamson, WV | 1790 |
| 14 | 71w | Chris Wall | Springfield, LA | 1725 |
| 15 | 18e | Eric Wells | Hazard, KY | 1710 |
| 16 | c9 | Steve Casebolt | Richmond, IN | 1665 |
| 17 | 99jr | Frank Heckenast, Jr. | Frankfort, IL | 1580 |