Bloomquist over Owens in Portsmouth Raceway Park Duel

| Sep 03, 2011 | Comments 0

PORTSMOUTH, OH (September 3, 2011) – Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN withstood all of Jimmy Owens’ challenges to win the Pepsi 50 River Days Rumble on Saturday Night at Portsmouth Raceway Park.   Owens started 22nd and finished just behind Bloomquist at the stripe. He was followed by 14th place starter, Jared Landers of Batesville, AR; Brad Neat of Dunnville, KY; and Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, WV.
Scott James grabbed the lead at the start of the $10,000 to win race. He was in control for most of race, holding a good-sized lead through traffic. A heated race for second place was going on between last year’s winner, Dale McDowell and Bloomquist who eventually seized the spot.
Bloomquist then caught James as the two ran side-by-side for a dozen laps with Bloomquist leadingfor the first time on lap 39. A lap later it was James at the stripe. Then a caution came out for a flat tire on Ray Cook’s car. On the restart, Bloomquist gained the point in turn two as James’ left rear tire went flat forcing the final caution of the race.
This set up a nine-lap shootout between Bloomquist and Owens.  On the restart Bloomquist led Owens, but Owens closed right on Bloomquist’ rear with five laps to go. Bloomquist changed his line on the track to prevent Owens from stealing the win away from him. He went on for his 11th series win of 2011. The win for Bloomquist cut Owens’ points lead to 110.
“The track was great all night, we started in the fourth row and it only took a couple of laps to get to the front,” said Bloomquist, who earned career win number 514 with the triumph. “You could run anywhere on this track. We had a real good race there with Scott [James], we ran side-by-side without touching, I don’t know if he thought I got into him or what, it was accidental if I even did. Then he had the flat and went out. Holding off Jimmy there at the end was tough because he was coming on strong from where he started.”
Bloomquist in his Bloomquist Race Cars Ford is sponsored by Roush-Yates, Base Racing Fuels, Ohlins, Miller Brothers Construction and Sweet Manufacturing.
Owens came into the event with a 130-point lead over Bloomquist and was excited with his finish. “I just started too far back, the car was great at the end, but Scott was just a little bit better,” said the driver of the Mike Reece-owned, Reece Monument Company, Bloomquist Race Cars Ford.
Completing the top ten were Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, GA; Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN; Steve Francis of Ashland, KY; Frank Heckenast Jr. of Frankfort, IL; and John Blankenship of Williamson, WV.
In preliminary action, Rod Conley was the Red Buck Cigars Fast Qualifier among the 51 entrants on hand. The heat race winners were Doug Drown, Don O’Neal, Scott James, and Dale McDowell. The B-mains went to Chris Brown and Ben Adkins.
Tomorrow night, September 4th, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will be back in action at Portsmouth Raceway Park for the 43rd Annual Hillbilly Hundred paying $25,000 to win. For more information log onto www.portsraceway.com.
For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com or call the series’ office at (951) 532-2503.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Saturday Night, September 3rd, 2011
Pepsi 50 River Days Rumble
Portsmouth Raceway Park – Portsmouth, OH

Red Buck Cigars Fast Time:  Doug Drown / 14.897 seconds (Group A)
                                           Rod Conley / 14.824 seconds (Group B and Overall)
Wiles Driveshafts First Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Doug Drown, Frank Heckenast Jr., Bub McCool, Kenny Christy, Chris Brown, Delmas Conley, Jackie Boggs, Russ Frohnapfel, Larry Martin Jr., Lee Logan, James Watson, Paul Davis, Josh Bivens
Wiles Driveshafts Second Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Don O’Neal, Steve Casebolt, Josh Bocook, Mark Frazier, Greg Johnson, Ray Cook, Casey Noonan, Kenneth Howell, Jerry Mustain, Butch Dowdy, Michael Howard, Steve Francis
Sweet Manufacturing Third Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Scott James, Brad Neat, Tyler Reddick, Jared Landers, John Blankenship, Eric Wells, Nick Bocook, Josh McGuire, John Mason, Chris Wilson, Kevin Wagner, Rod Conley, Chad Stapleton-DNS
HAWK Brakes Fourth Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Dale McDowell, Scott Bloomquist, Jason Montgomery, Eddie Carrier Jr., Ben Adkins, Jimmy Owens, Earl Pearson Jr., Eric Jacobsen, RJ Conley, Larry Ferrell, Paul Harris, Justin Rattliff-DNS, Billy Guillion-DNS
JRi Shocks First B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Chris Brown, Jackie Boggs, Ray Cook, Casey Noonan, Delmas Conley, Greg Johnson, Russ Frohnapfel, Lee Logan, Larry Martin Jr., James Watson, Jerry Mustain, Steve Francis, Kenneth Howell, Michael Howard, Josh Bivens, Butch Dowdy-DNS, Paul Davis-DNS
Wrisco Aluminum Second B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Ben Adkins, Eric Wells, Jimmy Owens, Eric Jacobsen, Rod Conley, RJ Conley, Chris Wilson, Larry Ferrell, Josh McGuire, John Blankenship, Earl Pearson Jr., John Mason, Paul Harris, Kevin Wagner, Nick Bocook, Chad Stapleton, Justin Rattliff-DNS, Billy Guillion-DNS

"Pepsi 50 River Days Rumble" Feature Finish – 50 Laps: Scott Bloomquist, Jimmy Owens, Jared Landers, Brad Neat, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Dale McDowell, Don O'Neal, Steve Francis, Frank Heckenast, Jr., John Blankenship, Bub McCool, RJ Conley, Eric Wells, Ray Cook, Kenny Christy, Jason Montgomery, Tyler Reddick, Jackie Boggs, Earl Pearson, Jr., Chris Brown, Scott James, Ben Adkins, Josh Bocook, Doug Drown, Steve Casebolt, Mark Frazier 

"Pepsi 50 River Days Rumble" Feature Finish – 50 Laps
FINISH
START
CAR #
DRIVER NAME
HOMETOWN
1
8
0
Scott Bloomquist
Mooresburg, TN
2
22
20
Jimmy Owens
Newport, TN
3
14
777
Jared Landers
Batesville, AR
4
6
41n
Brad Neat
Dunnville, KY
5
16
28
Eddie Carrier, Jr.
Salt Rock, WV
6
4
17m
Dale McDowell
Chickamauga, GA
7
3
71
Don O'Neal
Martinsville, IN
8
23
15
Steve Francis
Ashland, KY
9
5
99jr
Frank Heckenast, Jr.
Frankfort, IL
10
26
23
John Blankenship
Williamson, WV
11
9
57J
Bub McCool
Vicksburg, MS
12
25
71c
RJ Conley
Wheelersburg, OH
13
20
18e
Eric Wells
Hazard, KY
14
21
53
Ray Cook
Brasstown, NC
15
13
c7
Kenny Christy
Vanceburg, KY
16
12
21m
Jason Montgomery
Jackson, OH
17
10
11t
Tyler Reddick
Corning, CA
18
19
4b
Jackie Boggs
Grayson, KY
19
24
44
Earl Pearson, Jr.
Jacksonville, FL
20
17
21b
Chris Brown
Cleveland, TX
21
2
81
Scott James
Lawrenceburg, IN
22
18
b7
Ben Adkins
West Portsmouth, OH
23
11
B1
Josh Bocook
Wheelersburg, OH
24
1
12
Doug Drown
Wooster, OH
25
7
c9
Steve Casebolt
Richmond, IN
26
15
9F
Mark Frazier
Chillicothe, OH
Race Statistics
Entrants: 51
Lap Leaders:  Scott James (Laps 1 – 38); Scott Bloomquist (Lap 39); Scott James (Lap 40); Scott Bloomquist (Laps 41 – 50)
Caution Flags:  Josh Bocook (Lap 1); Tyler Reddick (Lap 28); Ray Cook (Lap 40); Ben Adkins (Lap 40 restart); Scott James (Lap 41)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Steve Francis, Earl Pearson Jr.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: John Blankenship
Portsmouth Raceway Park Track Provisional: RJ Conley
PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race: Jimmy Owens (Started 22nd; Finished 2nd; Advanced 20 positions)
Allstar Performer of the Race: Jared Landers
K&N Filters Clean Pass of the Race: Jimmy Owens
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Jared Landers
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Roush Yates Racing Engines
Janowski Insurance Feature Winner: Scott Bloomquist
Outerwears Challenger of the Race: Jimmy Owens
Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award: Scott James
DirtonDirt.com Crew Chief of the Race: Tommy Hicks (Scott Bloomquist)
Time of Race:  33 minutes 34 seconds
Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:
POS
CAR #
DRIVER NAME
HOMETOWN
POINTS
1
20
Jimmy Owens
Newport, TN
5710
2
0
Scott Bloomquist
Mooresburg, TN
5600
3
71
Don O'Neal
Martinsville, IN
5120
4
15
Steve Francis
Ashland, KY
4780
5
777
Jared Landers
Batesville, AR
4510
6
44
Earl Pearson, Jr.
Jacksonville, FL
4465
7
41n
Brad Neat
Dunnville, KY
4405
8
23
John Blankenship
Williamson, WV
4350
9
53
Ray Cook
Brasstown, NC
4280
10
11t
Tyler Reddick
Corning, CA
4190
11
17m
Dale McDowell
Chickamauga, GA
4025
12
57J
Bub McCool
Vicksburg, MS
3990
13
18e
Eric Wells
Hazard, KY
3775
14
99jr
Frank Heckenast, Jr.
Frankfort, IL
3625
15
c9
Steve Casebolt
Richmond, IN
3135

Filed Under: 2011 News • 2011 Results