2.16.13 Lucas Oil Late Models Results
TAMPA, FL (February 16, 2013) – Jimmy Owens passed race leader, Don O’Neal on lap 16 and went on the take the $7,000 main event at East Bay Raceway Park Saturday afternoon. The race was originally scheduled for Thursday Night, but was rained out. The win marks the second victory at EBRP for the 2-time and reigning Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion. O’Neal and Dennis Erb Jr. battled it out for the first 15 laps, with Erb officially leading lap 9. Erb had a flat on lap 15, bringing out the first caution of the race. Owens, who started fifth passed O’Neal on the outside after the restart. Owens then led the rest of the race and picked up his second career win at East Bay and the 37th series win of his career. O’Neal came home in second, followed by Eric Jacobsen, John Blankenship, and Vic Coffey. “For a day race, the track was really great! The crew went out and worked it after the rain delay and there were enough crumbs out there to give everybody traction for the first part of the race,” said the driver of the Mike Reece-owned, Reece Monument Company, Bloomquist Race Cars Ford. “From where we started, I figured that I needed to get to the front before the track took rubber. I saw Erb running up top and I don’t know what happened to him. John (Blankenship) and I had a really good race for second. I was finally able to clear him and was able to catch O’Neal and pass him for the lead.” O’Neal was looking for his second straight win week, but came up just a car-length short. He commented: “I left the door open in turn one and I knew I was in trouble. Our car has really been great this week, I knew once Owens was in front it was going to be hard to pass him back. We will take second and work towards tonight’s race!” Jacobsen recorded his second podium finish of the week with a solid third place. “We have got this place figured out, but we just can’t seem to close the deal and get a win here. I haven’t run as much over the few years as these [Lucas Oil] guys. They race so much more than me, but the car feels good and maybe tonight we can end the week on a good note.” In preliminary action, Jimmy Owens set the overall RedBuck Fast Time (Group A) amongst the 34 entrants, with a lap of 15.346 seconds. Dennis Erb Jr. set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 15.672 seconds. Don O’Neal, John Blankenship, Dennis Erb Jr., and Eric Jacobsen won their respective Heat Races. Jared Landers and Tyler Reddick won their respective B-Mains. Leon Henderson was the PRC Strawberry Dash-Draw Winner, Henderson was drawn at random from a pool of eligible drivers due to rain delay and condensed format. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt series will be back later this evening, Saturday, February 16th with the second program of today’s double-header at the 37th Annual DART Winternationals at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, FL. Hot Laps for the event will begin at 6:00PM and will also feature RedBuck Time Trials, Heats, B-Mains, PRC Strawberry Dash. The evening will be capped off with the $10,000-to-win, 60-Lap main event and the $1,000-to-win Non-Qualifiers’ Race. For more information on the event or EBRP, log onto www.eastbayracewaypark.com. For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com and follow the series on www.facebook.com/lucasdirt and www.twitter.com/#!/lucasdirt. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary Saturday Day (Thursday’s Make-Up Event), February 16th, 2013 37th Annual DART Winternationals East bay Raceway Park – Tampa, FL Red Buck Fast Time Group A: Jimmy Owens / 15.346 seconds Red Buck Fast Time Group B: Dennis Erb Jr. / 15.672 seconds Wiles Drive Shafts Heat Race #1 (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Don O’Neal, Jimmy Owens, Steve Francis, Donnie Moran, David Breazeale, Jared Landers, Devin Moran, Nick Davis Eibach Springs Heat Race #2 (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): John Blankenship, Austin Hubbard, Braden Mitchell, Jason Riggs, Jason McBride, Scott Bloomquist, Chad Hollenbeck, Brad Malcuit, James O’Hara Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Dennis Erb Jr., Vic Coffey, Bobby Pierce, Chad Stapleton, Billy Moyer Jr., Doug Blashe, Doug Drown, Scott Phillips, Bob Geiger HAWK Performance Heat Race #4 (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Eric Jacobsen, Jerry Lierly, Justin Rattliff, Eddie Carrier Jr., Tyler Reddick, Ricky Weiss, Stormy Scott, Leon Henderson CV Products B-Main #1 (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jared Landers, Scott Bloomquist, David Breazeale, Jason McBride, Devin Moran, Nick Davis, Chad Hollenbeck, James O’Hara, Brad Malcuit-DNS Wrisco Aluminum B-Main #2 (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Tyler Reddick, Billy Moyer Jr., Doug Blashe, Ricky Weiss, Doug Drown, Stormy Scott, Leon Henderson, Scott Phillips, Bob Geiger PRC Strawberry Draw Winner: Leon Henderson Feature Finish (35 Laps):
FINISH START CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN
1 5 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
2 1 71 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN
3 4 5J Eric Jacobsen Watsonville, CA
4 3 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
5 6 32c Vic Coffey Caledonia, NY
6 9 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
7 20 21JR Billy Moyer Jr. Batesville, AR
8 10 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
9 16 28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Salt Rock, WV
10 8 7L Jerry Lierly Camp Point, IL
11 18 11T Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
12 21 54 David Breazeale Philadelphia, MS
13 7 11h Austin Hubbard Seaford, DE
14 25 4-Ds Chad Hollenbeck Montrose, PA
15 14 32s Chad Stapleton Edinburgh, IN
15 22 1B Doug Blashe Marion, WI
17 13 99 Donnie Moran Dresden, OH
18 11 64 Braden Mitchell Russellville, AL
19 2 28e Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL
20 15 81JR Jason Riggs Harrisburg, IL
21 24 7w Ricky Weiss Headingley, MB
22 23 77 Jason McBride Carbondale, IL
23 26 10 Leon Henderson Laurel, MS
24 12 16 Justin Rattliff Campbellsville, KY
25 19 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
26 17 5 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
Race Statistics Entrants: 36 Lap Leaders: Don O’Neal (Laps 1 – 8); Dennis Erb Jr. (Lap 9); Don O’Neal (Laps 10 – 15); Jimmy Owens (Laps 16 – 35) Caution Flags: Dennis Erb Jr. (Lap 15); Donnie Moran, Tyler Reddick, Jason Riggs, Justin Rattliff, Scott Bloomquist, Ricky Weiss (Lap 16); Jared Landers (Lap 5) Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: n/a Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisional: n/a DirtonDirt.com Fast Time Provisional: Chad Hollenbeck Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Billy Moyer Jr. (started: 20th, finished: 7th, advanced: 13 positions) Allstar Performer of the Race: John Blankenship Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Jimmy Owens JRi Shocks/Dunn Benson Ford Rookie of the Race: n/a COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Race Engines Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Bloomquist Race Cars Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Chris Fox (Jimmy Owens) HAWK Performance Fastest Lap of the Race: Don O’Neal (Lap# 29; 15.668 seconds) Time of Race: 25 minutes 11 seconds DART Winternationals Point Standings:
POS CAR# DRIVER HOMETOWN POINTS
1 71 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN 1130
2 28e Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL 1080
3 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY 955
3 11T Tyler Reddick Corning, CA 955
5 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN 935
5 5J Eric Jacobsen Watsonville, CA 935
5 32c Vic Coffey Caledonia, NY 935
8 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL 920
9 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV 895
10 99 Donnie Moran Dresden, OH 835
Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:
POS CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN POINTS
1 71 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN 250
2 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL 230
2 63 Doug Drown Wooster, OH 230
4 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL 210
5 28e Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL 205
6 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV 200
7 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN 195
7 32c Vic Coffey Caledonia, NY 195
9 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY 190
10 4-Ds Chad Hollenbeck Montrose, PA 180
11 81JR Jason Riggs Harrisburg, IL 175
12 11T Tyler Reddick Corning, CA 170
13 11h Austin Hubbard Seaford, DE 165
14 7L Jerry Lierly Camp Point, IL 160
15 5 Jared Landers Batesville, AR 155
16 28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Salt Rock, WV 145
17 99m Devin Moran Dresden, OH 140
18 54 David Breazeale Philadelphia, MS 135
19 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 130
20 5J Eric Jacobsen Watsonville, CA 125
20 99 Donnie Moran Dresden, OH 125
20 16 Justin Rattliff Campbellsville, KY 125
20 7w Ricky Weiss Headingley, MB 125
20 32s Chad Stapleton Edinburgh, IN 125
TAMPA, FL (February 16, 2013) – Earl Pearson Jr. rallied from a flat tire to win the $10,000 DART Winternationals finale for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series at East Bay Raceway Park. Pearson pitted on lap 37 after suffering a right rear flat and restarted from the tail. He charged through the field, taking the lead from Don O’Neal on lap 52 and led the remainder of the race. Driving for NASCAR’s Bobby Labonte, Pearson took the Lucas Oil Products and MAVTV sponsored Longhorn Chassis Chevrolet to Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the first time since July of 2010 at Tri-City (IL) Speedway. “It’s been a longtime, no doubt,” said the 4-time series champion who was all smiles from ear-to-ear. “This deal with Kevin Rumley came together just a few months ago and we have come out of the box running much better! I have to thank Steve Shaver, he was my crew chief this week, and everybody at Lucas Oil and MAVTV for their support! It feels great to be back in victory lane!” Pearson’s win was the third of his career at East Bay and his 25th on the LOLMDS tour. Scott Bloomquist wound up second followed by O’Neal, Jared Landers, and Steve Francis. Bloomquist, who was one of the few cars not having to pit, got by O’Neal in the closing laps to take a podium finish in second. “We ran the hardest tires we could; the track was actually pretty good! It was black from top to bottom, but when you start getting some of that sand grit mixed in after a while, that’s why the tires started going away.” O’Neal, with his third place finish, clinched the DART Winternationals Championship, worth $5,000. “We are really proud to win the DART (Winternationals) Championship! As far as the race was concerned, we tried to conserve the tires the best we could, and I was just hanging on there at the end and I knew those guys that pitted were going to be hard to handle.” In preliminary action, Vic Coffey set the overall Time (Group B) amongst the 36 entrants, with a lap of 14.417 seconds. Don O’Neal set the fastest time in Group A with a time of 14.547 seconds. Don O’Neal, Austin Hubbard, Dennis Erb Jr., and won their respective Heat Races. Jared Landers and Scott Bloomquist won their respective B-Mains. Devin Moran was the PRC Strawberry Dash Winner. After the main event, Doug Blashe won the $1,000-to-win Non-Qualifiers Race. Brad Malcuit, Nick Davis, James O’Hara and Bob Geiger rounded out the Top-5. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will return to action on Saturday, March 24th, with the Brian Bowman Chrysler Dodge Jeep Indiana Icebreaker at Brownstown Speedway in Brownstown, IN. The event will pay $10,000-to-win, and will include RedBuck Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains, and the 50-Lap main event. For more information, log onto www.brownstownspeedway.com. For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com and follow the series on www.facebook.com/lucasdirt and www.twitter.com/#!/lucasdirt. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary Saturday Night, February 16th, 2013 37th Annual DART Winternationals East bay Raceway Park – Tampa, FL Red Buck Fast Time Group A: Don O’Neal / 14.547 seconds Red Buck Fast Time Group B: Vic Coffey / 14.417 seconds Wiles Drive Shafts Heat Race #1 (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Don O’Neal, Jimmy Owens, Ricky Weiss, Todd Frank, Chad Stapleton, Chad Hollenbeck, Jason McBride, Doug Blashe, Scott Phillips Eibach Springs Heat Race #2 (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Austin Hubbard, John Blankenship, Donnie Moran, David Breazeale, Jared Landers, Billy Moyer Jr., Nick Davis, James O’Hara, Bob Geiger Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Dennis Erb Jr., Eddie Carrier Jr., Steve Francis, Vic Coffey, Devin Moran, Justin Rattliff, Jerry Lierly, Brad Malcuit, Tyler Reddick HAWK Performance Heat Race #4 (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Earl Pearson Jr., Doug Drown, Bobby Pierce, Eric Jacobsen, Jason Riggs, Scott Bloomquist, Stormy Scott, Braden Mitchell, Leon Henderson CV Products B-Main #1 (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jared Landers, Billy Moyer Jr., Jason McBride, Chad Stapleton, Doug Blashe, Bob Geiger, James O’Hara, Scott Phillips, Nick Davis, Chad Hollenbeck Wrisco Aluminum B-Main #2 (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Scott Bloomquist, Justin Rattliff, Stormy Scott, Devin Moran, Jerry Lierly, Brad Malcuit, Jason Riggs, Leon Henderson, Braden Mitchell PRC Strawberry Dash Finish: Devin Moran, Jason Riggs, Doug Blashe, Nick Davis, Brad Malcuit, Scott Phillips, O’Hara Feature Finish (60 Laps):
FINISH START CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN
1 4 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL
2 18 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
3 1 71 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN
4 17 5 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
5 10 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
6 19 21JR Billy Moyer Jr. Batesville, AR
7 11 99 Donnie Moran Dresden, OH
8 5 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
9 2 28e Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL
10 7 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
11 23 11T Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
12 12 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
13 9 7w Ricky Weiss Headingley, MB
14 15 54 David Breazeale Philadelphia, MS
15 6 28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Salt Rock, WV
16 8 63 Doug Drown Wooster, OH
17 14 32c Vic Coffey Caledonia, NY
18 21 77 Jason McBride Carbondale, IL
19 24 7L Jerry Lierly Camp Point, IL
20 25 32s Chad Stapleton Edinburgh, IN
21 22 2s Stormy Scott Woodward, OK
22 16 5J Eric Jacobsen Watsonville, CA
23 26 99m Devin Moran Dresden, OH
24 20 16 Justin Rattliff Campbellsville, KY
25 13 21F Todd Frank Mellen, WI
26 3 11h Austin Hubbard Seaford, DE
Non-Qualifiers Race Finish: Doug Blashe, Brad Malcuit, Nick Davis, James O’Hara, Bob Geiger Race Statistics Entrants: 36 Lap Leaders: Don O’Neal (Laps 1 – 51); Jimmy Owens (Laps 52 – 60) Caution Flags: Steve Francis (Lap 35); John Blankenship, Steve Francis (Lap 37); Dennis Erb Jr. (Lap 43); Ricky Weiss (Lap 43); Bobby Pierce (Lap 45); David Breazeale (Lap 47) Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Tyler Reddick, Jerry Lierly (Fast Time) Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisional: n/a DirtonDirt.com Fast Time Provisional: Chad Stapleton Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Scott Bloomquist (Started: 18th, Finished: 2nd, Advanced: 16 positions) Allstar Performer of the Race: Earl Pearson Jr. Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Earl Pearson Jr. JRi Shocks/Dunn Benson Ford Rookie of the Race: n/a COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Roush-Yates Race Engines Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn Chassis Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Steve Shaver (Earl Pearson Jr.) HAWK Performance Fastest Lap of the Race: Earl Pearson Jr. (Lap# 52; 15.321 seconds) Time of Race: 49 minutes 56 seconds DART Winternationals Point Standings:
POS CAR# DRIVER HOMETOWN POINTS
1 71 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN 1360
2 28e Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL 1265
3 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY 1160
4 11T Tyler Reddick Corning, CA 1130
5 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN 1125
6 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL 1090
6 32c Vic Coffey Caledonia, NY 1090
8 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV 1075
9 5J Eric Jacobsen Watsonville, CA 1060
10 99 Donnie Moran Dresden, OH 1030
Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:
POS CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN POINTS
1 71 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN 480
2 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL 460
3 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL 400
4 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY 395
5 28e Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL 390
6 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN 385
7 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV 380
7 63 Doug Drown Wooster, OH 380
9 5 Jared Landers Batesville, AR 365
10 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 360
11 32c Vic Coffey Caledonia, NY 350
12 11T Tyler Reddick Corning, CA 345
13 99 Donnie Moran Dresden, OH 320
14 21JR Billy Moyer Jr. Batesville, AR 305
15 28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Salt Rock, WV 300
16 54 David Breazeale Philadelphia, MS 295
16 7L Jerry Lierly Camp Point, IL 295
18 7w Ricky Weiss Headingley, MB 290
18 11h Austin Hubbard Seaford, DE 290
18 81JR Jason Riggs Harrisburg, IL 290
21 4-Ds Chad Hollenbeck Montrose, PA 275
22 99m Devin Moran Dresden, OH 265
23 32s Chad Stapleton Edinburgh, IN 255
24 77 Jason McBride Carbondale, IL 250
24 5J Eric Jacobsen Watsonville, CA 250
24 16 Justin Rattliff Campbellsville, KY 250