KILGORE, TX (April 6, 2013) – Two-time and reigning Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion Jimmy Owens survived to win the 50-lap High Banks Havoc on Saturday Night at LoneStar Speedway. Owens earned $10,000 for his second LOLMDS win of the season and the 38th of his career.
Owens took the lead from Scott Bloomquist on lap 33 and then held off Bloomquist for the win. Steve Francis finished third followed by Don O’Neal and Jared Landers.
“It is really a weight off of our shoulders to win this race after we had a rough time in Florida. It really was a pretty good race having several different leaders, I saw Scott running a line to avoid the holes and I followed him for a longtime, and finally we were able to pass him,” said Owens.
“You had to have a super good car tonight to withstand the tough track conditions. My crew worked really hard to prepare the car for these conditions tonight and it paid off. We’ve been needing a good points night and we got it tonight. I have to thank my car owner Mike Reece, Reece Monument Company, Gantte Appraisals, Sunoco Race Fuels and everybody else with this race team,”
O’Neal would take the lead at the start of the race and hold the point until he slowed with a flat tire on the 19th lap. After O’Neal pitted for a fresh tire, he rejoined the race on the tail. Bloomquist then inherited the lead, and led until lap 33 when Owens powered by Bloomquist for lead.
Bloomquist like Owens needed a good points night as well and got what he wanted. “We started off slow last year and came back to finish third in the points. It was treacherous tonight, but we have a well-built car and it held up in these rough conditions. We were airborne several times out there and then we found a line that was somewhat smoother to run but I couldn’t hold Jimmy off. Congratulations to Jimmy on his win in one of our cars and Dennis (Erb) had a good finish as well.”
Francis, who like his counterparts came into the race looking to move up in the points, was pleased with his third place finish. “The crew worked hard on the car and we were fast all night. I was able to keep it up front most of the race and thought we might get past Scott (Bloomquist), but just couldn’t get by him. It was just a night of survival but we will take a third place finish and go from there, said Steve Francis, driver of the Clint Bowyer Racing Team entry.
Completing the top ten were Dennis Erb Jr.; Chris Wall, John Blankenship, B.J. Robinson and Bobby Pierce.
In preliminary action, Bobby Pierce set the overall Time (Group B) amongst the 39 entrants, with a lap of 14.199 seconds. Don O’Neal set the fastest time in Group A with a time of 14.257 seconds. Don O’Neal, Scott Bloomquist, Earl Pearson Jr., and Jimmy Owens won their respective Heat Races. Tyler Erb and Chris Wall won their respective B-Mains.
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will return to action in two weeks with a trek through the Appalachian Mountains for three events. The series will be at Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex in Markleysburg, PA on Friday, April 19th. On Saturday, April 20th, the series will venture to Hagerstown Speedway in Hagerstown, MD. Rounding out the trip in the “Mountaineer State”, the series will make its return to West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells, WV on Sunday, April 21st. All three events will pay $10,000-to-win, and will include RED BUCK Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains, and 50-Lap main events. For more information, log onto www.roaringknob.com, www.hagerstownspeedway.com, and www.wvspeedway.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, April 6th, 2013
High Banks Havoc
Lonestar Speedway – Kilgore, TX
Red Buck Fast Time Group A: Don O’Neal / 14.257 seconds
Red Buck Fast Time Group B: Bobby Pierce / 14.199 seconds
Wiles Drive Shafts Heat Race #1 (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Don O’Neal, Steve Francis, Dennis Erb Jr., Eric Turner, Jack Sullivan, Michael Asberry, Zachary McMillan, Mike Harris, Ray Moore-DNS, Chris Buhler-DNS
Eibach Springs Heat Race #2 (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Scott Bloomquist, Shane Hebert, Jerry Lierly, BJ Robinson, Tyler Erb, Troy Berdan, Shane Harris, Allen Murray, Robert Baker
Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Earl Pearson Jr., Jared Landers, Bobby Pierce, Timothy Culp, John Blankenship, Chris Wall, Billy Moyer Jr., Odie Green, Jay Brunson, Wendell Wallace
HAWK Performance Heat Race #4 (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jimmy Owens, Eddie Carrier Jr., Austin Hubbard, Jason McBride, Rob Litton, Robbie Stuart, Jon Mitchell, Jeff Chanler, Lee Patton, Ronny Lee Hollingsworth
CV Products B-Main #1 (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Tyler Erb, Jack Sullivan, Michael Asberry, Shane Harris, Zachary McMillan, Robert Baker, Troy Berdan, Allen Murray, Mike Harris-DNS, Ray Moore-DNS, Chris Buhler-DNS
Wrisco Aluminum B-Main #2 (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Chris Wall, John Blankenship, Billy Moyer Jr., Jeff Chanler, Jon Mitchell, Jay Brunson, Lee Patton, Odie Green, Wendell Wallace, Rob Litton, Robbie Stuart, Ronny Lee Hollingsworth-DNS
Feature Finish (50 Laps):
FINISH START CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN
1 4 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
2 3 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
3 5 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
4 1 71 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN
5 6 5 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
6 9 28e Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL
7 18 71w Chris Wall Springfield, LA
8 20 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
9 15 F5 BJ Robinson Shreveport, LA
10 10 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
11 11 7L Jerry Lierly Camp Point, IL
12 22 21JR Billy Moyer Jr. Batesville, AR
13 17 91 Tyler Erb Magnolia, TX
14 8 28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Salt Rock, WV
15 14 C8 Timothy Culp Prattsville, AR
16 16 77 Jason McBride Carbondale, IL
17 13 99T Eric Turner Hermitage, MO
18 21 360 Michael Asberry Crossville, TN
19 2 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL
20 12 11h Austin Hubbard Seaford, DE
21 7 9 Shane Hebert Lafayette, LA
22 19 1x Jack Sullivan Greenbrier, AR
23 23 6x Rob Litton Alexandria, LA
24 24 6r Robbie Stuart DeRidder, LA
Race Statistics
Entrants: 39
Lap Leaders: Don O’Neal (Laps 1 -19); Scott Bloomquist (Laps 20 – 31); Jimmy Owens (Laps 32 – 50)
Caution Flags: Shane Hebert (Lap 10); Austin Hubbard, Tyler Erb (Lap 10); Earl Pearson Jr. (Lap 11); Don O’Neal (Lap 19); Tyler Erb (Lap 20); Jason McBride (Lap 32); John Blankenship (Lap 37); Tyler Erb (Lap 37)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: N/A
Fast Time Provisionals: Rob Litton, Robbie Stuart
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: N/A
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: John Blankenship (Started: 20th, Finished: 8th, Advanced: 12 positions)
Allstar Performer of the Race: Scott Bloomquist
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Jimmy Owens
JRi Shocks/Dunn Benson Ford Rookie of the Race: Bobby Pierce
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# 2; 15.047 seconds)
Time of Race: 42 minutes 44 seconds
Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:
POS CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN POINTS
1 71 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN 930
2 28e Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL 840
3 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN 820
4 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL 805
5 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY 790
5 5 Jared Landers Batesville, AR 790
7 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 760
7 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV 760
9 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL 755
10 28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Salt Rock, WV 625
11 21JR Billy Moyer Jr. Batesville, AR 620
12 7L Jerry Lierly Camp Point, IL 595
13 11h Austin Hubbard Seaford, DE 545
14 77 Jason McBride Carbondale, IL 525
*Points are unofficial until Close of Business on the Tuesday following Race Day*
Related Links
2013 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Tour Schedule
2012 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series TV Schedule
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Lucas Oil Products
MAVTV
ProtectTheHarvest.com
2013 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
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 “American Real”- “The Official TV Network” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Optima Batteries – “The Official Battery” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
ProtectTheHarvest.com- “The Official Protect the Harvest Campaign of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Serie
RED BUCK- “The Official Fast Time Sponor” of the Lucas Oil late Model Dirt Series
Sunoco Race Fuels – “The Official Fuel” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
2013 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Supporters Include:
Allstar Performance, AR Bodies, Banshee Graphics, Barry Wright Race Cars, Bloomquist Race Cars, Borrowed Blue, COMP Cams, Cornett Racing Engines, C&R Racing, Crawford Supply, CV Products, Dart Machinery, DirtonDirt.com, Dunn-Benson Ford, Dyers Top Rods, Edlebrock, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, Fuel Safe Fuel Cells, FK Rod Ends, Gaerte Engines, Georgia Boot, Hawk Performance, Jay Dickens Racing Engines, JE Pistons, JRi Shocks, Keyser MFG, Longhorn Chassis, Mann Merchant Processing, MasterSbilt Chassis, Öhlins, Outerwears, Performance Bodies, Pierce Racecars, Performance Rod and Custom, Pro Power Racing, Race Engine Design, Rayburn Race Cars, RED BUCK, Rick Schwallie Photography, Roush Yates Engines, Roush Yates Parts, Simpson Performance Products, Sweet Mfg, Traeger Grills, Vic Hill Race Engines, Weld Racing Wheels, Wiles Drive Shafts, Wrisco, 5150 Race Trailers.