Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Tri-City Speedway
July 15, 2011
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Birkhofer Ends Bloomquist' Win Streak in Taking Battle at the Beach at Tri City



PONTOON BEACH, Ill. (July 15) - Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA took the lead on lap eight and went on to capture the Inaugural "Battle at the Beach" on Friday Night at Tri-City Speedway. Birkhofer pocketed $20,000 in the richest race in track history and also ended Scott Bloomquist' three-race win streak on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. At 34 Raceway back in May, Birkhofer ended Bloomquist's streak of four wins in a row. Bloomquist finished in second followed by 10th-starting, Billy Moyer of Batesville, AR; Brian Shirley of Chatham, IL; and Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN completed the top five.

Before one of the biggest crowds in track history, Don O'Neal grabbed the lead at the start of the race and led the first seven circuits, until Birkhofer took over the point. For most of the early action in the main event there were four cars battling for the lead. Bloomquist moved into the runner-up spot on lap 12. The only caution of the race was for Dale McDowell on lap 15.

On the restart Birkhofer maintained his lead as Shirley moved into the second spot around Bloomquist, by using the high side of the race track. Birkhofer started to pick-up the tail of the field by lap 25, allowing both Shirley and Bloomquist to cut into his lead. Bloomquist maneuvered by Shirley in the battle for second, regaining the spot on lap 26. The top three then pulled away from the rest of the pack and with 40 laps down were ahead of the tight race for fourth between Owens and Moyer.

As the race wore on Birkhofer continued to show a good-sized advantage over Bloomquist who had finally shed Shirley with 40 to go. For most of the race Birkhofer had to contend with heavy traffic. Bloomquist finally began to close the gap with ten laps to go. Birkhofer was able to clear a couple of cars that were battling in front of him and distanced himself from Bloomquist as he went on to capture his 13th career LOLMDS victory.



In Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the second time this season, the 39-year-old racer was complementary to several people. "It's been a tough year in some aspects for us, we haven't run all that much, we were here a few weeks ago and the wheel came off before the start of the race, we've tried to patch together a crew here lately, and I have Brian Daugherty of Integra Shocks here tonight helping. It feels good to win here at Kevin's (Gundaker) track, to beat Scott and Billy, I mean what can you say about either of them that hasn't already been said, they are two great drivers."

"O'Neal started off real strong, we ran side-by-side there for a while, until I was finally able to clear him. The traffic was difficult, especially there at the end when it got slick. My car wasn't getting through the turns like I wanted, but we had enough of a distance apparently there at the end to get the win," said Birkhofer whose MB Customs Chassis is sponsored by ASi Racewear, Keyser Mfg, Zens Flooring, J&J Steel, Hoosier Tires, VP Racing Fuels, Reed's Lawn Service and powered by a Pro Power Racing Engine.

With his second place finish, Bloomquist in his Hawkeye Trucking, Roush-Yates, Bloomquist Race Cars Ford took over the series points from Owens. Bloomquist now leads Owens by 20-points. Moyer, who passed Shirley for third with 25 laps remaining was piloting his Banner Valley Hauling, Clements Racing Engines, Moyer Victory Circle Ford. Shirley in his Jayco Construction, Pro Power, Bob Pierce Race Cars Chevrolet edged out Owens for fourth at the stripe.

Completing the top ten were Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN; Steve Francis of Ashland, KY; Tyler Reddick of Corning, CA; Randy Korte of Highland, IL; and Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL. The event will be shown at 1 PM Eastern on Saturday August 7th on SPEED.

The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will continue their weekend of racing with the 5th Annual CMH Diamond Nationals at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO tomorrow night. The event will be taped by Lucas Oil Production Studios to air on SPEED at a later date.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
July 15, 2011

A-Main
1 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA $20,000
2 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
3 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR
4 3s Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
5 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
6 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
7 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
8 11t Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
9 00 Randy Korte Highland, IL
10 44 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL
11 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
12 32 Chris Simpson Farley, IA
13 18e Eric Wells Hazard, KY
14 57J Bub McCool Vicksburg, MS
15 17m Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA
16 41n Brad Neat Dunnville, KY
17 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
18 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr Orland Park, IL
19 0k Dewayne Keifer St Geneveve, MO
20 78 Chad Zobrist Highland, IL
21 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
22 9t Tim Isenberg Marshfield, WI
23 F25 Jason Feger Bloomington, IL
24 88 Wendell Wallace Batesville, AR
25 82 Billy Laycock Marine, IL
26 c9 Steve Casebolt  Richmond, IN
27 27 Rodney Melvin Benton, IL

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JRi Shocks First B-Main (15 Laps- Top 3 Advance):
1 53 Ray Cook
2 777 Jared Landers
3 F25 Jason Feger
4 41N Brad Neat
5 21C Chris Brown
6 72 John Mason
7 16g Rusty Griffaw
8 82 Billy Laycock
9 7s Jeffrey Sloan
10 88 Wendell Wallace
77 Jason McBride-DNS

Wrisco Aluminum Second B-Main (15 Laps- Top 3 Advance):
1 27 Rodney Melvin
2 57J Bub McCool
3 78 Chad Zobrist
4 6k Michael Kloos
5 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr.
6 0k Dewayne Kiefer
7 16H Mike Hammerle
8 49 Steve Leach
9 21JR Billy Moyer Jr.
10 16S Tommy Seets Jr.

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Heat #1  
1 0 Scott Bloomquist
2 20 Jimmy Owens
3 15 Steve Francis
4 23 John Blankenship
5 777 Jared Landers
6 88 Wendell Wallace
7 25f Jason Feger
8 7s Jeffrey Sloan
9 82 Billy Laycock
10 77m Jason McBride

Heat #2  
1 15b Brian Birkhofer
2 00K Randy Korte
3 17m Dale McDowell
4 9t Tim Isenberg
5 41n Brad Neat
6 53 Ray Cook
7 21b Chris Brown
8 16g Rusty Griffaw
9 72 John Mason

Heat #3  
1 44 Earl Pearson, Jr.
2 3s Brian Shirley
3 21 Billy Moyer
4 11t Tyler Reddick
5 78 Chad Zobrist
6 21JR Billy Moyer, Jr.
7 27 Rodney Melvin
8 16H Mike Hammerle
9 16S Tommy Seets Jr.

Heat #4  
1 71 Don O'Neal
2 c9 Steve Casebolt  
3 32x Chris Simpson
4 18e Eric Wells
5 57J Bub McCool
6 6k Michael Kloos
7 99jr Frank Heckenast, Jr.
8 0K Dewayne Kiefer
9 49 Steve Leach

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Qualifying  
1 0 Scott Bloomquist 16.132
2 15b Brian Birkhofer 16.235
3 23 John Blankenship 16.275
4 11t Tyler Reddick 16.340
5 71 Don O'Neal 16.546
6 00K Randy Korte 16.584
7 15 Steve Francis 16.609
8 17m Dale McDowell 16.691
9 88 Wendell Wallace 16.752
10 41n Brad Neat 16.753
11 44 Earl Pearson, Jr. 16.763
12 32x Chris Simpson 16.782
13 21 Billy Moyer 16.785
14 20 Jimmy Owens 16.786
15 9t Tim Isenberg 16.816
16 77m Jason McBride 16.871
17 53 Ray Cook 16.880
18 c9 Steve Casebolt  16.905
19 777 Jared Landers 16.938
20 21JR Billy Moyer, Jr. 16.953
21 18e Eric Wells 16.973
22 78 Chad Zobrist 17.022
23 57J Bub McCool 17.064
24 21b Chris Brown 17.089
25 3s Brian Shirley 17.099
26 99jr Frank Heckenast, Jr. 17.105
27 25f Jason Feger 17.112
28 72 John Mason 17.174
29 27 Rodney Melvin 17.228
30 6k Michael Kloos 17.237
31 82 Billy Laycock 17.240
32 16g Rusty Griffaw 17.255
33 16H Mike Hammerle 17.273
34 0K Dewayne Kiefer 17.290
35 7s Jeffrey Sloan 17.512
36 16S Tommy Seets Jr. 17.540
37 49 Steve Leach 18.157