Post by LMR on 08/24/11 at 11:53pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2011
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Steve Francis Finishes Fourth in Topless 100; Lucas Oil Three-Race Swing this Week!
James Essex
ASHLAND, KY – Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series driver, Steve Francis of Ashland, KY competed last weekend in the 19th Annual COMP Cams Topless 100 at Batesville Motor Speedway in Locust Grove, AR. Steve would have the Roush-Yates Chevrolet under the hood of his Valvoline/MasterSbilt #15 at Batesville as he anxiously awaits the arrival of the Ford Motors this week.
Action would get underway on Friday Night with Red Buck Cigar Time Trials and Heat Races. Steve would qualify for the seventh starting spot in his 12-lap heat race. He would move through the field passing four cars on his way to a third-place finish.
Steve would start 14th in the $40,000 to win main event on Saturday Night. At the drop of the green flag Steve would quickly make his way into the top ten advancing to the seventh position when the race was halted for rain with 12 laps scored.
The race would resume on Sunday afternoon under sunny skies and oppressive heat Steve would restart seventh and advance to the fourth position where he stayed for most of the last half of the race. At the finish of the 100-laps Steve would finish behind race winner, Scott Bloomquist, Jimmy Owens and Jared Landers in the final rundown as he maintains fourth place in the championship points standings.
This week Steve and the rest of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series drivers will have a three-race swing though three different states. Racing action will kick-off on Thursday Night, August 25th at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, TN, followed on Friday Night, August 26th with a trip up I-75 to Lawrenceburg Speedway in Lawrenceburg, IN. The weekend finale will be a Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, KY on Saturday Night, August 27th. All three races will pay $10,000 to win.
Steve would like to thank his 2011 sponsors including; Valvoline, MasterSbilt Race Cars, Roush-Yates Racing Engines, PRC, Ohlins, Keyser Mfg., Harbaugh Amusement Machine Inc., VP Racing Fuels, JFRgraphics.com, Tim Logan Racing and Bobst Auto Parts.
Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings
Jimmy Owens (Newport, TN) - 4830
Scott Bloomquist (Mooresburg, TN) - 4690
Don O’Neal (Martinsville, IN) – 4195
Steve Francis (Ashland, KY) – 3995
Earl Pearson Jr. (Jacksonville, FL) - 3900