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TAMPA, FL (February 17, 2012) – Battling back from an early caution, Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, IL had the fans on their feet as he captured Friday night’s exciting 50-lap DART Winternationals event. Erb took the lead on lap 48 and roared to the finish in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned race.

Erb originally started 14th on the grid, but tangled with Austin Hubbard on lap three. This brought out the first caution of the race. Erb pitted, changed a tire, and restarted in 23rd position. He then charged through the field, and passed Randy Korte of Highland, IL on lap 47. Erb got around both Korte and Tyler Reddick at the same time. He powered away and took his Bloomquist Race Cars #28 to victory lane for the second time in his career at East Bay.

“I still can’t believe it,” said Erb in Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the second time ever. He was shell-shocked as he spoke with series announcer, James Essex. “I saw what (Steve) Francis did the night before and decided my car would work up top as well. I drove around them on the high side, and was able to carry my momentum passed them. I want to thank McBride Mack, PRC, Allstar Performance, Petersen Aluminum, Ohlins, and VP Fuels for their support.”

“The deal earlier in the race with Hubbard, it was just a racing thing. I decided to pit and bolt on a new tire, knowing that I was taking a gamble, and it paid off. I knew my car was working pretty well this week and the Vic Hill Racing Engine performed flawlessly. Heather (Lyne) has been working hard and I am really pleased how things turned out tonight.”

Korte was in the hunt for his first ever series and East Bay win. He looked like he was headed for victory lane until a caution came out with 47 laps complete. Korte had worked his way up from starting 12th in the Riggs Motorsports, Clearwave Communications, Rocket Chevrolet. He took the lead from Steve Francis with less than five laps to go. Korte came home in second, his best career finish in LOLMDS competition.

Reddick wound up third in the Broken Bow Records, Gaerte Racing Engines, Bloomquist Race Cars mount. He was followed by Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA. Davenport had led the first 33 laps until Francis passed him. He grabbed fourth in the Bowyer Motorsports, Roush-Yates Racing Engines, Barry Wright Toyota. Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH rounded out the top five in his Custom Cutters, Malcuit Racing Engines, and MasterSbilt Chevrolet.

Completing the top ten were Austin Hubbard of Seaford, DE; Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC; Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN; Eric Wells of Hazard, KY; and John Blankenship of Williamson, WV.

In preliminary action Steve Francis was the Red Buck Cigar’s Fast Qualifier amongst the 42 entrants. Heat race winners were Terry Casey, Jonathan Davenport, Don O’Neal, and Shelby Miles. Eric Wells and Eric Jacobsen captured the B-mains.

The final night of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series 36th Annual DART Winternationals is set for Saturday night, February 18th. There will be a $10,000 payday on the line for the winner of the 60-lap feature. Hot laps will begin at 6 PM, followed by Red Buck Cigar Time Trials, and Heat Race action at 7 PM. For more information, log on to www.eastbayracewaypark.com.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Friday Night, February 17, 2012
36th Annual DART Winternationals
East Bay Raceway Park – Tampa, FL

Red Buck Cigars Fast Time:
Terry Casey / 14.501 seconds (Group A)
Steve Francis / 14.119 seconds (Group B and Overall)

Wiles Driveshafts First Heat (8 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Terry Casey, Jared Landers, Tyler Reddick, Ray Cook, Josh McGuire, Bobby Pierce, Scott Creel, Jimmy Owens, Chris Brown, Todd Frank Doug Blashe

U. S. Steel Second Heat (8 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Don O’Neal, Shannon Babb, Austin Hubbard, Donnie Moran, Eric Wells, Jason Riggs, Danny Mitchell, Morgan Bagley, Roger Hammond, Earl Pearson, Jr.

Simpson Performance Products Third Heat (8 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Jonathan Davenport, Scott Bloomquist, Steve Francis, Dennis Erb, Jr., Eric Jacobsen, Mark Andersen, Kevin Cole, Dillan White, Shane Cottle, Chad Hollenbeck, Justin Rattliff

HAWK Brakes Fourth Heat (8 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Shelby Miles, Scott James, Randy Korte, John Blankenship, James O’Hara, Chad Stapleton, Leon Henderson, Travis Varnadore, Duke Whiseant, Victor Lee

JRi Shocks First B-Main (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Eric Wells, Josh McGuire, Jason Riggs, Bobby Pierce, Scott Creel, Jimmy Owens, Morgan Bagley, Roger Hammond, Chris Brown, Todd Frank, Earl Pearson, Jr., Danny Mitchell, Doug Blashe

PAC Racing Springs Second B-Main (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Eric Jacobsen, Mark Andersen, Victor Lee, Chad Stapleton, Kevin Cole, James O’Hara, Dillan White, Chad Hollenbeck, Shane Cottle, Leon Henderson-DNS, Travis Varnadore-DNS, Duke Whiseant-DNS, Justin Rattliff-DNS

Feature Finish – 50 Laps:

Race Statistics
Entrants: 42
Lap Leaders: Jonathan Davenport (Laps 1 – 35); Steve Francis (Laps 34 – 46); Randy Korte (Lap 47); Dennis Erb Jr. (Laps 48 – 50)
Caution Flags: Dennis Erb Jr., Tyler Reddick (Lap 3); Stacy Miles (Lap 23); Don O’Neal (Lap 31); Eric Jacobsen, Josh McGuire (Lap 32); Eric Jacobsen (Lap 38); Jimmy Owens (Lap 41); John Blankenship (Lap 43); Steve Francis (Lap 47); Victor Lee (Lap 47)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Jimmy Owens, Earl Pearson Jr.
DirtonDirt.com Fast Time Provisional: n/a
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisional: n/a
Performance Bodies First Non-Qualifier: n/a
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Jimmy Owens (Started 25th; Finished 8th; Advanced 17 positions)
Allstar Performer of the Race: Donnie Moran
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Donnie Moran
ASi Racewear Challenge Finisher: Dennis Erb Jr.
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Jonathan Davenport
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Vic Hill Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Bloomquist Race Cars
Sweet Mfg Crew Chief of the Race: Heather Lyne (Dennis Erb Jr.)
Time of Race: 49 minutes 10 seconds

DART Winternationals Point Standings:
POS CAR# DRIVER POINTS
1 28e Dennis Erb, Jr. 1060
2 15 Steve Francis 1005
3 53 Ray Cook 995
4 71 Don O’Neal 990
5 81x Randy Korte 960
6 23 John Blankenship 945
7 5J Eric Jacobsen 890
7 42c Terry Casey 890
9 0 Scott Bloomquist 885
10 18e Eric Wells 830

Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:

POS CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN POINTS
1 28e Dennis Erb, Jr. Carpentersville, IL 250
2 81x Randy Korte Highland, IL 230
3 11T Tyler Reddick Corning, CA 220
4 15d Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA 210
5 99 Donnie Moran Dresden, OH 205
6 11h Austin Hubbard Seaford, DE 200
7 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC 195
8 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN 190
9 18e Eric Wells Hazard, KY 185
10 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV 180
11 5J Eric Jacobsen Watsonville, CA 175
11 42c Terry Casey New London, WI 175
13 44 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL 170
14 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY 165
15 32s Chad Stapleton Edinburgh, IN 160
16 5 Jared Landers Batesville, AR 150
17 18 Shannon Babb Mowequa, IL 145
18 4L Victor Lee Danville, KY 140
19 81 Scott James Lawrenceburg, IN 135
20 41 Josh McGuire Grayson, KY 130
21 71 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN 125
21 76 Shelby Miles Bloomington, IN 125
21 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 125
21 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL 125
21 81JR Jason Riggs Harrisburg, IL 125
21 85 Mark Andersen Blanchard, MI 125

2012 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Schedule 

2012 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Sponsors

ASI Racewear – “The Official Merchandise Vendor” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Canidae Pet Foods – “The Official Pet Foods” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

DART Machinery – “The Official Engine Components” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

E3 Spark Plugs – “The Official Spark Plug” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Geico – “The Official Insurance” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

General Tire – “The Official Tire” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Hoosier Tire – “The Official Race Tire” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Lucas Oil Products – “The Official Oil” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
MavTV – “The Official Men’s Network” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Optima Batteries – “The Official Battery” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Speedco – “The Official Truck Lube and Tire Center” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Sunoco Race Fuels – “The Official Fuel” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

U. S. Steel – “The Official Steel Manufacturer” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

2012 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Supporters Include:

Allstar Performance, American Racer, Banshee Graphics, Barry Wright Race Cars, Bloomquist Race Cars, COMP Cams, Chizmark Larson Insurance, Cornett Racing Engines, Cruise with the Champions, CV Products, DirtonDirt.com, Dyers Top Rods, ECR Race Engines, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, FK Rod Ends, Gaerte Engines, GRT Race Cars, Hawk Performance, Jay Dickens Racing Engines, JE Pistons, JRi Shocks, Keyser MFG, Longhorn Chassis, MasterSbilt Chassis, Öhlins, Outerwears, PBM/Erson Cams,
PAC Racing Springs, Performance Bodies, Pierce Racecars, PRC, Pro Power Racing, Quarter Master, Race Engine Design, Red Buck Cigars, Rhyne Race Engines, Rick Schwallie Photography, Ringers Gloves, Rocket Chassis, Roush Yates Engines, Roush Yates Performance Parts, Simpson Performance Products, Sweet Mfg, Vic Hill Race Engines, Weld Racing Wheels, Wiles Drive Shafts, Wrisco, 5150 Race Trailers.

James Essex, Public Relations Coordinator, jessex@lucasdirt.com