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Bob Wilson
KNOXVILLE, Ala. (October 3) - Coming on hard late in the race, Scott Bloomquist won the 6th Annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals Sunday night at Knoxville Raceway. It marked Bloomquist's second Nationals win as he took this event in 2005. The victory paid the Mooresburg, Tennessee driver $40,000.
For the longest time in this 100-lap championship, it appeared that Shannon Babb would take his first Nationals win after starting on the pole of this race. For nearly ten laps he was paced by fellow front row starter Rick Eckert. Then it was Bloomquist who chased the leader for a couple of laps. Brady Smith came into play as he followed Babb until the 31st go around. Throughout this portion of the race, Babb had control and at his best held a 25 car-length lead on Knoxville's big half-mile oval.
It was lap 31 in which Bloomquist took over the second spot when he got by Brady Smith in heavy traffic, but he could not stay with Babb. As the race neared the half-way mark, Bloomquist slowly began reeling in the Babb machine. He stayed close but was unable to get around Babb.
On lap 55 Bloomquist made his move as he ran with Babb in a nose to tail fashion. For the next ten laps Babb had his hands full with Bloomquist's various attempts to pass. Bloomquist had found a new line which took him into and out of all turns at mid-track. Babb, in the meantime ran the top with the cushion devilishly near the track's tall fences.
Lap 65 prove to be Babb's demise when Bloomquist took the race lead for good as he roared out of turn four. Lap traffic played a part in this race as all race leaders, when faced with the backmarkers, seemed to falter and allow the contenders a chance to make a race of it.
Behind leader Bloomquist, several skirmishes broke out especially between Billy Moyer and Jimmy Mars. On lap 79 Brady Smith made it a three-car battle and that is when Mars sailed into the marbles in turn three and lost his contention for the runner-up spot. After that he no longer was a factor and soon pulled into the pits.
In the waning laps, there were several changes in the top five positions as Bloomquist pulled away. The track, which had been bladed prior to the C Main, held several grooves to the finish, but only Bloomquist utilized the mid-track goove.
When Bloomquist took the checkered flags, he held an entire "chute" advantage over second place finisher Moyer. Defending Nationals champion Tim McCreadie took third. Completing the top five were Brady Smith and Josh Richards. Tony Stewart, who started 27th, progressively worked his way forward to finish seventh in the field of twenty-eight.
The 6th annual event had been scheduled for Thursday through Saturday, October 1-3. However, the first two nights were called due to rains during the day. Saturday night's finale was postponed to Sunday evening when rain again descended upon the fairgrounds just prior to the qualifying time trials.
6th Annual Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals
Knoxville Raceway
October 4, 2009
A-Main
1 6 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN $40,000
2 8 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR
3 20 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY
4 3 2 Brady Smith Solon Springs, WI
5 12 1 Josh Richards Shinnston, WV
6 9 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA
7 27 14 Tony Stewart Columbus, IN
8 1 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
9 16 25 Chad Simpson Mount Vernon, IA
10 15 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL
11 2 24 Rick Eckert York, PA
12 23 83 Scott James Lawrenceburg, IN
13 21 29 Darrell Lanigan Union, KY
14 19 32D Darren Miller Milledgeville, IL
15 25 32c Vic Coffey Caledonia, NY
16 14 55 Jeep Van Wormer Pinconning, MI
17 18 33F Rickey Frankel Quincy, IL
18 10 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, IN
19 4 28M Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI
20 7 7 Matt Miller Whitehouse, OH
21 17 1V Will Vaught Crane, MO
22 28 39x Ryan Newman South Bend, IN
23 11 19 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
24 13 s9 Dan Schlieper Sullivan, WI
25 26 29H Jeremiah Hurst Dubuque, IA
26 24 50 Denny Eckrich Oxford, IA
27 22 41 Brad Neat Dunnville, KY
28 5 3s Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
Lap Leaders: Eckert 1; Babb 2-65; Bloomquist 66-100
B-Main
1 29 Darrell Lanigan Union, KY *
2 41 Brad Neat Dunnville, KY *
3 83 Scott James Lawrenceburg, IN *
4 50 Denny Eckrich Oxford, IA *
5 32c Vic Coffey Caledonia, NY *
6 29H Jeremiah Hurst Dubuque, IA *
7 F15 Justin Fegers Mound, MN
8 98 Jason Rauen Farley, IA
9 0 Eddie Kirchoff Gillette, WY
10 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
11 56 Andy Eckrich Iowa City, IA
12 5 John Duty Portland, OR
13 58 Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA
14 15R Tommy Elston Mt. Pleasant, IA
15 22 Jill George Cedar Falls, IA
16 9 Ken Schrader Concord, NC
17 31 Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA
18 33x Nick Marolf Moscow, IA
19 45 Curt Martin Independence, IA
20 1m Rob Moss Iowa City, IA
21 51 Matt Furman Iowa City, IA
22 32 Chris Simpson Marion, IA
23 42 Terry Casey New London, WI
C-Main
1 58 Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA
2 51 Matt Furman Iowa City, IA
3 56x Chris Spieker Massena, IA
4 22 Jill George Cedar Falls, IA
5 16 Dan Shelliam Hazel Green, WI
6 5m Mike Fryer Freeport, IL
7 33 Paul Glendenning Mount Ayr, IA
8 15c Curt Schroeder Des Moines, IA
9 95 Ed Sanger Postville, IA
10 3c Chris Schroeder Ankeny, IA
11 10 Junior Coover Norfolk, NE
12 21B Rich Bell Sheffield, IL
13 14x Boone McLaughlin Mediapolis, IA
Heat #5
1 50 Denny Eckrich Oxford, IA
2 s9 Dan Schlieper Sullivan, WI
3 1m Rob Moss Iowa City, IA
4 32c Vic Coffey Caledonia, NY
5 7 Matt Miller Whitehouse, OH
6 33x Nick Marolf Moscow, IA
7 45 Curt Martin Independence, IA
8 21B Rich Bell Sheffield, IL
9 1V Will Vought Crane, MO
10 33 Paul Glendenning Mount Ayr, IA
Heat #4
1 83 Scott James Lawrenceburg, IN
2 41 Brad Neat Dunnville, KY
3 33F Rickey Frankel Quincy, IL
4 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL
5 1 Josh Richards Shinnston, WV
6 32 Chris Simpson Marion, IA
7 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, IN
8 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
9 14x Boone McLaughlin Mediapolis, IA
10 15c Curt Schroeder Des Moines, IA
Heat #3
1 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY
2 19 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
3 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR
4 32D Darren Miller Milledgeville, IL
5 28M Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI
6 56 Andy Eckrich Iowa City, IA
7 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
8 58 Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA
9 5m Mike Fryer Freeport, IL
10 22 Jill George Cedar Falls, IA
11 42 Terry Casey New London, WI
Heat #2
1 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA
2 25 Chad Simpson Mount Vernon, IA
3 3s Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
4 24 Rick Eckert York, PA
5 31 Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA
6 98 Jason Rauen Farley, IA
7 5 John Duty Portland, OR
8 16 Dan Shelliam Hazel Green, WI
9 51 Matt Furman Iowa City, IA
10 15R Tommy Elston Mt. Pleasant, IA
11 95 Ed Sanger Postville, IA
Heat #1
1 2 Brady Smith Solon Springs, WI
2 55 Jeep Van Wormer Pinconning, MI
3 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
4 29H Jeremiah Hurst Dubuque, IA
5 F15 Justin Fegers Mound, MN
6 0 Eddie Kirchoff Gillette, WY
7 56x Chris Spieker Massena, IA
8 9 Ken Schrader Concord, NC
9 3c Chris Schroeder Ankeny, IA
10 10 Junior Coover Norfolk, NE
11 29 Darrell Lanigan Union, KY
Qualifying Results
1 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL 19.757
2 24 Rick Eckert York, PA 20.019
3 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 20.040
4 28M Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI 20.325
5 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, IN 20.461
6 7 Matt Miller Whitehouse, OH 20.516
7 2 Brady Smith Solon Springs, WI 20.559
8 3s Brian Shirley Chatham, IL 20.599
9 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR 20.619
10 1 Josh Richards Shinnston, WV 20.620
11 1V Will Vought Crane, MO 20.644
12 29 Darrell Lanigan Union, KY 20.650
13 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA 20.687
14 19 Steve Francis Ashland, KY 20.693
15 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL 20.775
16 s9 Dan Schlieper Sullivan, WI 20.793
17 55 Jeep Van Wormer Pinconning, MI 20.797
18 25 Chad Simpson Mount Vernon, IA 20.804
19 32D Darren Miller Milledgeville, IL 20.856
20 33F Rickey Frankel Quincy, IL 20.880
21 32c Vic Coffey Caledonia, NY 20.897
22 0 Eddie Kirchoff Gillette, WY 20.963
23 15R Tommy Elston Mt. Pleasant, IA 20.982
24 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY 21.017
25 41 Brad Neat Dunnville, KY 21.018
26 1m Rob Moss Iowa City, IA 21.059
27 29H Jeremiah Hurst Dubuque, IA 21.077
28 98 Jason Rauen Farley, IA 21.135
29 42 Terry Casey New London, WI 21.149
30 50 Denny Eckrich Oxford, IA 21.171 31 83 Scott James Lawrenceburg, IN 21.251 32 5 John Duty Portland, OR 21.395 33 56 Andy Eckrich Iowa City, IA 21.408 34 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV 21.441 35 9 Ken Schrader Concord, NC 21.464 36 45 Curt Martin Independence, IA 21.488 37 F15 Justin Fegers Mound, MN 21.570 38 31 Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA 21.585 39 58 Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA 21.630 40 32 Chris Simpson Marion, IA 21.820 41 33x Nick Marolf Moscow, IA 21.839 42 56x Chris Spieker Massena, IA 21.884 43 51 Matt Furman Iowa City, IA 21.891 44 22 Jill George Cedar Falls, IA 21.938 45 14x Boone McLaughlin Mediapolis, IA 22.021 46 33 Paul Glendenning Mount Ayr, IA 22.073 47 3c Chris Schroeder Ankeny, IA 22.187 48 16 Dan Shelliam Hazel Green, WI 22.241 49 5m Mike Fryer Freeport, IL 22.542 50 15c Curt Schroeder Des Moines, IA 22.674 51 21B Rich Bell Sheffield, IL 22.746 52 10 Junior Coover Norfolk, NE 23.388 53 95 Ed Sanger Postville, IA 23.446 54 25H Kerry Hansen Spencer, WI No Time 55 25s Chris Smyser Lancaster, MO No Time 56 9T Tim Isenberg Marshfield, WI No Time 57 39x Ryan Newman South Bend, IN No Time 58 99D Darrel DeFrance Marshalltown, IA No Time 59 14 Tony Stewart Columbus, IN No Time
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