Spring 50
Florence Speedway
March 17, 2012
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Don O’Neal Wins Fifth Career Spring 50 at Florence Speedway



by James Essex
UNION, KY (March 17, 2012) – Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN took the lead on lap 15 from Darrell Lanigan of Union, KY and went unchallenged the remaining 35 laps in winning the Spring 50 on Saturday Night at Florence (KY) Speedway.  Joey Kramer of Hanover, IN led every lap of the Open Wheel Modified Feature to claim the victory.  The event kicked off the 2012 racing season at Florence.

O’Neal earned $5,000 for the victory which was his fifth in the annual event tying the late Hall of Famer, Jack Boggs for the most wins.  O’Neal, who started third, trailed Lanigan for the first 14 circuits until he made the pass for the lead on lap 15.  Lanigan, who had been battling steering issues then pulled out of the race while running second on lap 16.

The race got off to a rocky start when a multi-car pileup took place coming off of turn two that eliminated several contenders.  Once O’Neal was on he went unchallenged the rest of the way lapping up to the third place car of 15-year-old Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, IL and second place finisher, R.J. Conley of Wheelersburg, OH.

The win marked O’Neal’s fourth of the season as the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series regular heads to his home track at Brownstown (IN) Speedway this Saturday for the “Indiana Icebreaker” O’Neal’s MasterSbilt Chevrolet is sponsored by Optima Batteries, Independence Lumber, Seubert Calf Ranches, Tarpy Trucking, O’Neal Mulch, Super Cleaning Services, Jones Core, and Budda Bert Transmissions.  His car is powered by a Jay Dickens Racing Engines.



Conley and Pierce had an excellent battle for second after Greg Johnson left the race on lap 27 while running in that position.  Conley and Pierce would go door-to-door several times with Conley holding off the youngster to get the runner-up spot in the Conley Trucking, Draime Racing Engines, Rocket Chassis GTO.  Pierce recorded his best ever Florence finish with third in the American Metal Supply Company, Pro Power Racing Engines, Bob Pierce Race Cars Chevrolet.

Wayne Chinn of Bradford, OH running his own team car for the first time in since 2009 came home fourth in the Sugar Creek Packing, Dargie Race Engines, C.J. Rayburn Race Cars entry with first time Florence visitor Ryan Vanderveen of Six Lakes, MI taking fifth in his LeFever Builders, Cornett Racing Engines, Larry Shaw machine.

Completing the top ten were Tim Prince of Heltonville, IN; Jarrod Breeding of Isom, KY; Greg Johnson of Bedford, IN; Dustin Neat of Dunnville, KY; and Alan Vochaska of Southhaven, MI.

In Late Model preliminary action Eric Wells of Hazard, KY set a new track in time trials with a lap of 14.748 seconds.  Overall there were six drivers who qualified under Rick Eckert’s former track record of 15.053 seconds set in 2006.  Heat race winners were Wells, Darrell Lanigan and Justin Rattliff.  Alan Vochaska in his first appearance at Florence won the consy.  Wells, who was scheduled to start on the pole failed to make the call for the starting grid in the feature when he developed motor issues on the last lap of his heat race.



Joey Kramer led every lap of the open wheel modified feature to collect the win.  Kramer waited through several caution flags and a red flag for Fireball Pinkerton, who barrel-rolled his car in turn one.  Pinkerton was o.k., but his car was heavily damaged.  

Jeff Babcock of Wayne, OH, who started 21st on the grid came through the field to finish second followed by Tommy Bailey of Corbin, KY, Steve King of Holton, IN; and Kyle Schornick of Milan, IN.

Kramer, who won his heat race to earn the pole position in his Lightning Chassis earned $1000 for his win in the Claudette Kramer-owned, Hill’s Historic Painting, State Farm insurance, Lucas Oil Products, Allstar Performance, Genesis Shocks, Rocketman Race Bodies and Ground Works Lawn Care sponsored number 77.

Spring 50 Late Model Finish:  Don O’Neal, R.J. Conley, Bobby Pierce, Wayne Chinn, Ryan Vanderveen, Tim Prince, Jarrod Breeding, Greg Johnson, Dustin Neat, Alan Vochaska, Jesse Lay, Jon Henry, Darrell Lanigan, Jeff Arnold, Brandon Green, Mike Meyers, Daniel Shelton, Justin Rattliff, Scott James, Kent Robinson, Josh McGuire, Chris Shelton

Open Wheel Modified Feature Finish:  Joey Kramer, Jeff Babcock, Tommy Bailey, Steve King, Kyle Schornick, Ray Branscum, Joe Brewer, Mark Kaetzel, Kevin Mayabb, Jeremy Rayburn, Vic Rouse Jr., Chris Kruetzkamp, aaron Coffey, Jaosn Montgomery, Antony Davis, Dustin Webber, Shawn Tolson, Keith Smith, Trent Green, Andrew Corbin, Scotty Kincaid, Dave Pinkerton, David McWilliams, Daryl Herbert

Spring 50

A-Main
1 71 Don O'Neal $5,000
2 71c R.J. Conley
3 32 Bobby Pierce
4 1 Wayne Chinn
5 23 Ryan Vanderveen
6 P1 Tim Prince
7 25 Jarrod Breeding
8 49 Greg Johnson
9 25 Dustin Neat
10 34 Alan Vochaska
11 33 Jesse Lay
12 15H Jon Henry
13 29 Darrell Lanigan
14 77 Jeff Arnold
15 10 Brandon Green
16 2M Mike Meyers
17 1 Daniel Shelton
18 16 Justin Rattliff
19 81 Scott James
20 7R Kent Robinson
21 41 Josh McGuire
22 16 Chris Shelton
DNS 18 Eric Wells
DNS 1 Jerry Rice