36th Annual Winternationals
East Bay Raceway Park
February 18, 2012
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Francis Fends Off Owens in Classic Finish at East Bay Raceway Park



by James Essex
TAMPA, FL (February 18, 2012) - Steve Francis of Ashland, KY outdueled defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion, Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN in an exciting finish at East Bay Raceway Park. Francis picked up $10,000 for his win in the finale of the 36th Annual DART Winternationals. He scored his second win of the week, in doing so. The duo was followed by Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN; Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN; and Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, IL. Erb earned the week-long DART Winternationals Championship. He won $5,000 for his efforts.

He had to withstand Owens' repeated efforts over the last four laps after a caution came out for Jason Riggs. On the restart Owens tried the inside of Francis several times, but Francis repelled him at each turn. Francis also won the Thursday night installment of the Winternationals. O'Neal was able to get by Bloomquist on the 60th and final lap to claim third after pitting for fresh tires on lap 27.

"I want to apologize to Donnie (Moran) for getting into him. I knew we had a good car in open air, I was trying not to make a mistake and let Scott or Jimmy get by me. We were just looking for a caution to clear the track in front of us. I can't say enough about Barry and Lance Wright. This team got together so late in the game, we have had to work our tails off to get ready. I was racing in Australia just a few weeks ago," said Francis, who captured his tenth career win at East Bay.

"The Barry Wright Race Cars and the Clements Engines have been great this week. We could've won a couple more of these without the flat tires, but we'll never know. Luckily they all held air tonight," said the 44-year-old driver embarking on his second year with the LOLMDS. "I want to thank VP Race Fuels, Valvoline, Nichols Plumbing, AES Racing, Jri Shocks, and Mathis Farms."

Completing the top ten were Duke Whiseant of Texarkana, AR; Scott Creel of Franklinton, LA; Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL; Austin Hubbard of Seaford, DE; and Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA.

In preliminary action John Blankenship took the Red Buck Cigars Fast Time award amongst the 41 entrants. Heat races were won by Donnie Moran, Randy Korte, Terry Casey, and Steve Francis. Duke Whiseant and Austin Hubbard won the B-Mains. Rookie Late Model driver, Shelby Miles captured the PRC Strawberry Dash.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Saturday Night, February 18, 2012
36th Annual DART Winternationals
East Bay Raceway Park - Tampa, FL

A-Main
1 4 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY $10,000
2 10 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
3 9 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
4 5 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
5 12 28 Dennis Erb Jr Carpentersville, IL
6 17 A1 Duke Whiseant Texarkana, TX
7 25 31 Scott Creel Franklinton, LA
8 23 44 Earl Pearson Jr Jacksonville, FL
9 18 11 Austin Hubbard Seaford, DE
10 13 15 Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA
11 15 81 Scott James Bright, IN
12 21 11 Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
13 3 81X Randy Korte Highland, IL
14 14 32 Chad Stapleton Edinburgh, IN
15 6 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
16 24 18 Eric Wells Hazard, KY
17 1 99 Donnie Moran Dresden, OH
18 22 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
19 16 81jr Jason Riggs Harrisburg, IL
20 7 5 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
21 8 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
22 20 14b Morgan Bagley Longview, TX
23 26 76 Shelby Miles Bloomington, IN
24 2 42 Terry Casey New London, WI
25 11 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
26 19 01 Jack Nosbisch Riverview, FL

Race Statistics
Entrants: 41
Lap Leaders: Donnie Moran (Laps 1 - 24); Steve Francis (Laps 25 - 60)
Caution Flags: Tyler Reddick (Start); Duke Whiseant (Lap 11); Austin Hubbard (Lap 27); Pile Up (Lap 27); Jonathan Davenport (Lap 37); Jason Riggs (Lap 56)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Earl Pearson Jr., Eric Wells
Time of Race: 56 minutes 58 seconds

DART Winternationals Point Standings
1 28e Dennis Erb, Jr. Carpentersville, IL 1265
2 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY 1255
3 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN 1210
4 81x Randy Korte Highland, IL 1125
5 53 Ray Cook Dresden, OH 1120
6 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV 1110
7 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 1095
8 42c Terry Casey New London, WI 1015
9 18e Eric Wells Hazard, KY 980
10 11T Tyler Reddick Corning, CA 970

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B-Main #1  
1 1 A1 Duke Whiseant Texarkana, TX
2 2 01 Jack Nosbisch Riverview, FL
3 3 11 Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
4 6 41 Josh McGuire Ashland, KY
5 4 21c Chris Brown Spring, TX
6 5 85 Mark Anderson Blanchard, MI
7 8 16 Justin Rattliff Campbellsville, KY
8 7 18d Danny Mitchell Clarksburg, WV
9 10 44 James O'Hara Daleville, PA
10 9 21F Todd Frank Green Bay, WI
11 11  Roger Hammond

B-Main #2  
1 4 11 Austin Hubbard Seaford, DE
2 1 14b Morgan Bagley Longview, TX
3 2 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
4 5 54 Dillon White Crofton, KY
5 3 76 Shelby Miles Bloomington, IN
6 6 4h Chad Hollenbeck Kingsley, PA
7 8 51 Travis Varnadore Dover, FL
8 7 11 Shane Cottle Kokomo, IN

Strawberry Dash
1 3 76 Shelby Miles Bloomington, IN
2 4 11 Shane Cottle Kokomo, IN
3 6 21c Chris Brown Spring, TX
4 2 44 James O'Hara Daleville, PA
5 5 51 Travis Varnadore Dover, FL
6 1 4h Chad Hollenbeck Kingsley, PA


Heat #1  
1 1 99 Donnie Moran Dresden, OH
2 2 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
3 3 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
4 4 15 Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA
5 6 A1 Duke Whiseant Texarkana, TX
6 5 11 Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
7 8 85 Mark Anderson Blanchard, MI
8 10 18d Danny Mitchell Clarksburg, WV
9 7 16 Justin Rattliff Campbellsville, KY
10 9 21F Todd Frank Green Bay, WI
11 11  Roger Hammond

Heat #2  
1 1 81X Randy Korte Highland, IL
2 2 5 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
3 3 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
4 5 81 Scott James Bright, IN
5 7 01 Jack Nosbisch Riverview, FL
6 9 21c Chris Brown Spring, TX
7 4 41 Josh McGuire Ashland, KY
8 10 10X Leon Henderson Laurel, MS
9 6 5 Eric Jacobsen Seacliff Beach, CA
10 8 44 James O'Hara Daleville, PA

Heat #3  
1 2 42 Terry Casey New London, WI
2 1 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
3 5 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
4 8 32 Chad Stapleton Edinburgh, IN
5 9 14b Morgan Bagley Longview, TX
6 3 44 Earl Pearson Jr Jacksonville, FL
7 7 11 Austin Hubbard Seaford, DE
8 6 18 Eric Wells Hazard, KY
9 10 11 Shane Cottle Kokomo, IN
10 4 31 Scott Creel Franklinton, LA

Heat #4  
1 1 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
2 2 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
3 3 28 Dennis Erb Jr Carpentersville, IL
4 6 81jr Jason Riggs Harrisburg, IL
5 4 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
6 5 76 Shelby Miles Bloomington, IN
7 9 54 Dillon White Crofton, KY
8 8 4h Chad Hollenbeck Kingsley, PA
9 7 51 Travis Varnadore Dover, FL
dns 4 Victor Lee Sanford, KY


Fast Time Group B (and Overall): John Blankenship 14.398 seconds
Fast Time Group A: Donnie Moran 14.440 seconds