Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Heads to Batesville for the Inaugural Bad Boy 98 This Weekend

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:19:46 +0000

WAYCROSS, GA (May 16, 2012) – The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will be sanctioning a unique event this upcoming weekend at Batesville Motor Speedway in Locust Grove, AR. The Inaugural “Bad Boy 98” will be a 98-lap feature event paying $10,000 to win and as a trophy, the feature winner will receive a 2012 Chevy Camaro. The second place finisher in the LOLMDS main event will take home $20,000. As an added bonus, Mark Martin Ford, in association with Batesville Motor Speedway, has put together a special promotion for the fans that attend the event. A special drawing before the feature event will match one fan with each driver in the main event and the fan that is matched with the feature winner will win a 2012 Ford Mustang. The victory lane celebration and photo shoot will include the presentation of both cars to the lucky fan and the feature winner.

The activities will get underway with a practice session on Thursday night, May 17^thfrom 7-9:30pm. On Friday night, May 18^th the “Bad Boy 98” will begin with Red Buck Cigar Time Trials and Heat Races for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. On Saturday May 19^th there will be a special driver autograph session at 6pm, followed by Hot Laps and two B-mains for the LOLMDS. Following the B-mains, the special draw matching the fans with each driver in the feature will take place and the green flag will wave on the Inaugural “Bad Boy 98” feature event, which pays $1,200 to start.

“This weekend’s events will be exciting, not only the for the series, but also for the many great fans that attend this weekend. Batesville Speedway has put together a great promotion for this weekend and we’re looking forward to going to Batesville, Arkansas and seeing all the great fans and racers in that part of the country. This event is shaping up to be a great week of racing leading into the Dart Show-Me 100 presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com”, stated Ritchie Lewis, Series Director.

Defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Champion, Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN, currently leads the championship points standings heading into the “Bad Boy 98.” Owens has yet to reach Lucas Oil Victory Lane in 2012. He again has shown remarkable consistency just as he did a year ago on his way to his first-career LOLMDS title. Owens has recorded 7-second place finishes this year and leads the hottest driver on the tour, Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN by 145-points.

O’Neal has won three out of the last four LOLMDS events and currently sits in second place in the points followed by 2-time champion, Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN, 4-time champion, Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL and Steve Francis of Ashland, KY.

Also competing at Batesville this weekend will be series regulars Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA, 16-year-old phenom Tyler Reddick of Corning, CA, Jared Landers of Batesville, AR, Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, IL, Austin Hubbard of Seaford, DE, Eric Wells of Hazard, KY, and John Blankenship of Williamson, WV.

Joining the stars of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series this weekend at Batesville Motor Speedway will be several of the top national and regional drivers from that part of the country. The strong field of drivers that normally converge on the track in August for the COMP Cams Topless 100 should make for an exciting event this weekend.

For more information about the “Bad Boy 98” this weekend at Batesville Motor Speedway log onto the track’s website at www.batesvillemotorspeedway.net. For info on tickets call (870) 613-1337. The track office number is (870) 251-0011.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, visit the series’ website at www.lucasdirt.com.

Be sure and visit the series on social media outlets as well at http://www.facebook.com/lucasdirt and http://twitter.com/#!/lucasdirt.

Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings

Jimmy Owens (Newport, TN) – 2410
Don O’Neal (Martinsville, IN) – 2265
Scott Bloomquist (Mooresburg, TN) – 2170
Earl Pearson Jr. (Jacksonville, FL) – 2160
Steve Francis (Ashland, KY) – 2115
Jonathan Davenport (Blairsville, GA0 – 2040
Tyler Reddick (Corning, CA) – 2005
Jared Landers (Batesville, AR) – 1970
Dennis Erb Jr. (Carpentersville, IL) – 1930
Austin Hubbard (Seaford, DE) – 1880
Eric Wells (Hazard, KY) – 1880
John Blankenship (Williamson, WV) – 1875

Current Quarter Master Rookie of the Year Points Standings

Jonathan Davenport (Blairsville, GA) – 2040
Austin Hubbard (Seaford, DE) – 1880

O’Neal Continues Hot Streak with Seventh Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Win at La Salle

admin — Sun, 13 May 2012 03:14:14 +0000

La Salle, IL (May 12, 2012) – Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN continued his recent hot streak on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series tour by winning for the third time in his last four races. O’Neal grabbed the lead at the start of the race. He cruised to the $10,000 victory in the Jeff’s Engine Masters-sponsored Spring Shootout at La Salle (IL) Speedway. O’Neal has now won seven series events in 2012.

Defending series champion and current point’s leader Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN battled with Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA to grab the runner-up spot. Steve Francis of Ashland, KY finished fourth followed by Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN.

O’Neal completed completed a clean sweep the last night at Hartford Motor Speedway and brought out the broom again at La Salle setting fast time and winning his heat and leading every lap in the main event for his 26^th career LOLMDS victory.

O’Neal sprinted to the lead at the start of the 50-lap main event and was quickly into traffic by the tenth circuit. Birkhofer ran second for several laps and restarted behind O’Neal after a caution came out on lap 22 for Shawn Toczek. With the field bunched up for the restart O’Neal pulled away from Birkhofer, increasing his lead with each scored lap.

Owens started eighth and challenged Birkhofer for second as the two raced side-by-side for several circuits as Owens finally cleared Birkhofer for second. The final caution of the race came out on lap 36 for Jonathan Davenport who stopped in turn two after climbing as high as fifth in the running order.

On the restart O’Neal pulled away from the field, stretching his lead out to several car lengths as Owens and Birkhofer continued to battle for second. Nobody had anything for O’Neal as he sped on for another appearance in Lucas Oil Victory Lane.

“The car was awesome again all night long; we are just on a roll right now! Jimmy had another good finish, he’s so consistent, that’s what we have to develop to win this points title. The track was absolutely tremendous tonight and a big thanks for the fans for coming out tonight and supporting us,” said the 47-year-old who cut Owens’ points lead to 145-points.

O’Neal in the Keith and Tader Masters, MasterSbilt House Car Chevrolet is sponsored by Jay Dickens Racing Engines, Optima Batteries, Independence Lumber, Tarpy Trucking, Seubert Calf Ranches, O’Neal Mulch, Superior Cleaning Services, Jones Core, Budda Bert Transmissions, Dragon Race Fuels and Ohlins Shocks.

Owens in the Reece Monument Company, Cornett Racing Engines, Bloomquist Race Cars Ford, edged Birkhofer in the J&J Steel, Pro Power Racing Engines, MB Customs Chevrolet for second.

Completing the top ten were Austin Hubbard of Seaford, DE; Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, IL; Eric Wells of Hazard, KY; Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL; Tyler Reddick of Corning, CA; and Jason Feger of Bloomington, IL.

In preliminary action O’Neal was the Red Buck Cigars Fast Qualifier among the 30 entrants. Heat race winners were O’Neal, Babb, Birkhofer and Heckenast. Jared Landers and Shawn Toczek were B-Main winners.

Next weekend the stars of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series head to Batesville Motor Speedway in Batesville, AR for the “Bad Boy 98”. The event will take place from May 18^th to 19^th and will be the final event before the “DART Show Me 100” at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO. The “DART Show Me 100” will take place from May 25^th to 26^th. For more information on each event, log onto their respective websites at www.batesvillemotorspeedway.net and www.lucasoilspeedway.com.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com and be sure to follow the series at www.facebook.com/lucasdirt and www.twitter.com/#!/lucasdirt.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Race Summary

Friday Night, May 12^th, 2012

“Spring Shootout 50”
LaSalle Speedway – La Salle, IL

Red Buck Cigars Fast Time:

Don O’Neal / 13.764 seconds (Group A and Overall)

Brian Birkhofer / 12.792 seconds (Group B)

Wiles Driveshafts First Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Don O'Neal, Scott Bloomquist, Jason Feger, Austin Hubbard, Jared Landers, Bret Sievert, Dennis Erb, Jr., Kevin Weaver

U. S. Steel Second Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Shannon Babb, Eric Wells, Brandon Sheppard, Ryan Unzicker, Mike Spatola, Chris Simpson, Mark Burgtorf

Simpson Performance Products Third Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Brian Birkhofer, Jonathan Davenport, Steve Francis, Earl Pearson, Jr., John Blankenship, Shawn Toczek, Mike Provenzano, Steve Dimmick

HAWK Brakes Fourth Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Frank Heckenast, Jr., Jimmy Owens, Tyler Reddick, Terry Casey, Jason Jaggers, Rich Bell, Jerry Lierly-DNS

JRi Shocks First B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Jared Landers, Chris Simpson, Dennis Erb, Jr., Mark Burgtorf, Mike Spatola, Bret Sievert, Kevin Weaver

PAC Racing Springs Second B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Shawn Toczek, Rich Bell, John Blankenship, Jason Jaggers, Mike Provenzano, Steve Dimmick, Jerry Lierly-DNS

Feature Finish – 50 Laps

FINISH	START	CAR #	DRIVER NAME	HOMETOWN
1	1	71	Don O'Neal	Martinsville, IN
2	8	20	Jimmy Owens	Newport, TN
3	2	15b	Brian Birkhofer	Muscatine, IA
4	10	15	Steve Francis	Ashland, KY
5	5	0	Scott Bloomquist	Mooresburg, TN
6	13	11h	Austin Hubbard	Seaford, DE
7	3	18	Shannon Babb	Mowequa, IL
8	7	18e	Eric Wells	Hazard, KY
9	14	44	Earl Pearson, Jr.	Jacksonville, FL
10	12	11T	Tyler Reddick	Corning, CA
11	9	25F	Jason Feger	Bloomington, IL
12	15	24x	Ryan Unzicker	El Paso, IL
13	11	b5	Brandon Sheppard	Berlin, IL
14	6	15d	Jonathan Davenport	Blairsville, GA
15	17	5	Jared Landers	Batesville, AR
16	21	28e	Dennis Erb, Jr.	Carpentersville, IL
17	22	23	John Blankenship	Williamson, WV
18	4	99JR	Frank Heckenast, Jr.	Frankfort, IL
19	20	21b	Rich Bell	Sheffield, IL
20	24	B12	Kevin Weaver	Gibson City, IL
21	18	42a	Shawn Toczek	Hebron, IN
22	23	5x	Bret Sievert	Mukwonago, WI
23	16	42c	Terry Casey	New London, WI
24	19	32x	Chris Simpson	Oxford, IA

Race Statistics

Entrants: 30

Lap Leaders: Don O’Neal (Laps 1 – 50)

Caution Flags: Shawn Toczek (Lap 22); Jonathan Davenport (Lap 36)

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: none

Red Buck Cigars Fast Time Provisional: Bret Sievert, Kevin Weaver

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisional: none

Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Austin Hubbard (Started 13^th; Finished 6^th; Advanced 7 positions)

Allstar Performer of the Race: Steve Francis

Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Jimmy Owens

ASi Racewear Challenge Finisher: Don O’Neal

Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Austin Hubbard

COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Jay Dickens Race Engines

Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: MasterSbilt Race Cars

Sweet Mfg Crew Chief of the Race: Nick Hover (Austin Hubbard)

Time of Race: 19 minutes 08 seconds

Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:

POS	CAR #	DRIVER NAME	HOMETOWN	POINTS
1	20	Jimmy Owens	Newport, TN	2410
2	71	Don O'Neal	Martinsville, IN	2265
3	0	Scott Bloomquist	Mooresburg, TN	2170
4	44	Earl Pearson, Jr.	Jacksonville, FL	2160
5	15	Steve Francis	Ashland, KY	2115
6	15d	Jonathan Davenport	Blairsville, GA	2040
7	11T	Tyler Reddick	Corning, CA	2005
8	5	Jared Landers	Batesville, AR	1970
9	28e	Dennis Erb, Jr.	Carpentersville, IL	1930
10	11h	Austin Hubbard	Seaford, DE	1880
10	18e	Eric Wells	Hazard, KY	1880
12	23	John Blankenship	Williamson, WV	1875

*Points are unofficial until Close of Business on the Tuesday following Race Day*

Feature Finish

admin — Sun, 13 May 2012 02:22:33 +0000

Feature Finish:

ONeal

Owens

Birkhofer

Francis

Bloomquist

Hubbard

Babb

Wells

Pearson

Reddick

Feger

Unzicker

Sheppard

Davenport

Landers

Blankenship

Heckenast

Bell

Weaver

Toczek

Sievert

Casey

Simpson

Feature Line Up

admin — Sun, 13 May 2012 01:29:40 +0000

Feature Line Up:

ONeal-Birkhofer;

Babb-Heckenast;

Bloomquist-Davenport;

Wells-Owens;

Feger-Francis;

Sheppard-Reddick;

Hubbard-Pearson;

Unzicker-Casey;

Landers-Toczek;

Simpson-Bell;

Erb-Blankenship;

Sievert-Weaver

B-Main 2 Finish

admin — Sun, 13 May 2012 01:29:14 +0000

B-Main 2 Finish:

Toczek

Bell

Blankenship

Jaggers

Provenzano

Dimmick

B-Main 1 Finish

admin — Sun, 13 May 2012 01:19:55 +0000

B-Main 1 Finish:
Landers

Simpson

Erb

Spatola

Burgtorf

Sievert

Weaver

B-Main 2 Line Up

admin — Sun, 13 May 2012 00:57:02 +0000

B-Main 2 Line Up:

Blankenship-Jaggers;

Toczek-Bell;

Provenzano-Lierly;

Dimmick

B-Main 1 Line Up

admin — Sun, 13 May 2012 00:56:38 +0000

B-Main 1 Line Up:

Landers-Spatola;

Sievert-Simpson;

Erb-Burgtorf;

Weaver

Heat 4 Finish

admin — Sun, 13 May 2012 00:55:21 +0000

Heat 4 Finish:

Heckenast

Owens

Reddick

Casey

Jaggers

Bell

Heat 3 Finish

admin — Sun, 13 May 2012 00:51:52 +0000

Heat 3 Finish:

Birkhofer

Davenport

Francis

Pearson

Blankenship

Toczek

Provenzano

Dimmick