BULLS GAP,Tenn.(Aug. 25) — 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 the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series “Scorcher 50” presented by Reece Monument Co. on Thursday night 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, when Mark Douglas slowed high between turns one and two with a flat tire on lap 16, once back under green flag racing 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, thus extending his series points lead over Bloomquist to 180.
“It’s always good to win here at Volunteer Speedway, this is where it all started for me in racing driving a Street Stock many years ago,” said Owens in victory lane. “My car owner is here, Mike Reece, and he sponsored the race, which makes it even more amazing to be able to bring home the win for him. Dale (McDowell) had a real good car tonight. We slipped up there in turn four on the first lap, but we got it back in line and ran down (Don) O’Neal and then had a really great race with Dale for the lead.”
“The track was really racy tonight, you could run anywhere on it. There were some issues a few times with lapped cars, 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 Racing 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 maybe with my car owner (NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Clint Bowyer) in the house we were going to get the win. But is was a good run for us and we’ll settle for second and head to the next race.”
O’Neal started alongside of Bloomquist in the second row and came home in third. “It’s not a win but 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 (series) races, but we’ll take this and head toIndianatomorrow.”
Completing the top 10 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 with a lap of 12.180 seconds. Heat races went to Dale McDowell, Scott Bloomquist, Jimmy Owens, and Don O’Neal. The B-mains went to Brad Neat and Dan Schlieper.
Jerry Broyles set fast-time at 13.402 seconds to earn the pole position for the 25-lap Fastrak Racing Series-sanctioned Pro (Crate) Late Model feature. Broyles jumped into the lead over Dale Ball, Jensen Ford, Weston Gantte and Pierce McCarter at drop of the green.
McCarter got around Gantte for fourth on the second lap racing off turn two. One circuit later, at the end of the backstretch racing into the third turn, Ball slowed and coasted around to the infield opening in the fourth turn and entered the pits after the coil wire became disconnected from his car’s engine. The event’s first caution waved on lap 8, when Hugh Scalf spun in turn two.
Broyles was all alone out front for the Delaware double-file restart, with Ford and McCarter behind him side-by-side.
Back under green, Ford, from Piney Flats and driving the Williams II Racing (Eddie Williams)AFCO Silver Advantage/Envy Suspension & Race Consultants/Hy-Tec Specialty Coatings/B. Terry Vintage Automobile Restoration/Sweet Mfg./FK Rod Ends/Wilwood Disc Brakes/QuickCar Racing Products/Simpson/Twisted Roofs/Primetime Designs Race Car Decals & Body Wraps/TNT Race Cars & Parts/No. 83 Ford Fusion, quickly got around Broyles for the lead on lap 9 and one circuit later Broyles retired to the pits with a broken right-front suspension.
Once out front in the lead, Ford never looked back en route to claiming his first Pro Late Model feature win of the season. Ford was chased to the checkers by McCarter, Gantte, Dan Breuer and Tim Maupin.
LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL DIRT SERIES – VOLUNTEER SPEEDWAY – BULLS GAP, TN – $10,000-TO-WIN “EIGHT ANNUAL SCORCHER” PRESENTED BY REECE MONUMENT CO. – AUGUST 25, 2011
Showing Finish Position, Starting Position In Parentheses, Driver Name, Car Number, Hometown
1. (2) Jimmy Owens #20-Newport, TN
2. (1) Dale McDowell #17m-Chickamauga, GA
3. (4) Don O’Neal #71-Martinsville,IN
4. (3) Scott Bloomquist #0-Mooresburg, TN
5. (6) John Blankenship #23-Williamson, WV
6. (7) Steve Francis #15-Ashland, KY
7. (10) Ray Cook #53-Brasstown, NC
8. (11) Vic Hill #1-Morristown, TN
9. (13) Chris Madden #44m-Gaffney, SC
10. (8) Shane Clanton #25-Locust Grove, GA
11. (12) Michael Chilton #97-Salvisa, KY
12. (14) Steve Casebolt #c9-Richmond, IN
13. (5) Jared Landers #777-Batesville, AR
14. (17) Dan Schlieper #s9-Sullivan, WI
15. (17) Brad Neat #41n-Dunnville,KY
16. (19) Billy Ogle Jr #201-Knoxville, TN
17. (23) Eric Wells #18e-Hazard, KY
18. (21) Tyler Reddick #11t-Corning, CA
19. (16) Tommy Kerr #4T-Maryville, TN
20. (19) Chris Ferguson #22-Mount Holly, NC
21. (9) Earl Pearson Jr. #44-Jacksonville, FL
22. (22) Frank Heckenast Jr. #99jr-Frankfort, IL
23. (15) Mark Douglas #52D-Knoxville, TN
24. (21) Mark Vineyard #4v-Powell,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 Jr., 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 (Did Not Start)
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)
Entrants: 31
Red Buck Cigars Fast Time:
Jared Landers / 12.180 seconds (Group A and Overall)
John Blankenship / 12.292 seconds (Group B)
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
PRO LATE MODEL (25 laps)
1) Jensen Ford #83; 2) Pierce McCarter #71; 3) Weston Gantte #14; 4) Dan Breuer #7; 5) Tim Maupin #2x; 6) Ricky Moore #75; 7) Mark Sant #79; 8) Steve Cooke #17c; 9) Shane Roberts #5; 10) Dennis Stiles #00; 11) Rick Shelton #22; 12) Jordan Dill #22j; 13) Todd Brooks #T1; 14) Hugh Scalf #56; 15) Jerry Broyles #72; 16) Tyler Dixon #00; 17) Dale Ball #2; 18) Richard Adkins #73; 19) Daniel Baggerly #16 – Did Not Start: Mike Smith #4
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Track Office – Weekdays Only 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.: (423) 378-5942
Phyllis Loven: (423) 676-9081
Robert Walden-Media/Public Relations: (423) 928-9644