|
Florence Speedway
UNION, Ky. (March 20) - Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN captured the 34th Annual Spring 50 for Late Models on Saturday Night at Florence (KY) Speedway taking over the top spot on lap 42 after race leader Jason Feger had a left front tire go flat. O'Neal then pulled away in the final eight laps to take the win worth $5,000. Greg Johnson of Mitchell, IN, who started right behind O'Neal in eleventh came on late in the race to finish second followed by Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, WI, 15th starting Rod Conley of Wheelersburg, OH and defending race winner, Jeep VanWormer of Pinconning, MI.
Eric Wells and Schlieper sat on the front row of the event with Schlieper grabbing the early lead in the 50-lap affair. Schlieper and Wells would start to put some distance between themselves and the rest of the field as Scott James driving for Scotty Earl was running third followed by Wayne Chinn and VanWormer.
Chinn would stay in the top five for one lap before falling back as VanWormer and O'Neal, who started ninth on the grid moved around him by the completion of the second lap. O'Neal then powered around VanWormer on lap four to take fourth, but by then those two competitors were more than half a straightaway behind the frontrunners.
By lap ten Schlieper had pulled away from Wells as he had a six-car length advantage over his the Kentucky youngster. The top five remained the same in the running as the first caution appeared on lap 12 for debris on the track. During the caution fast qualifier for the evening, Josh McGuire would take his mount pit side ending his night.
On the restart Schlieper would lead one circuit behind Wells made a nifty move on him entering turn three passing him on the inside to take over the lead for the first time in the race. Schlieper would fall to second with James, O'Neal and first-time Florence visitor, Jason Feger breathing down his neck.
Wells, who is currently second the Quarter Master Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rookie of the Year chase built a four-car length lead over the pack with 18 laps in the books. With 21 laps complete Wells was looking solid as he was trying to get the biggest win of his racing career, but entering turn number one the engine let go in his Rocket Chassis ride ending a terrific run for the Hazard, KY driver.
The race would go caution for track cleanup and on the restart with Schlieper back on the point once again with James and O'Neal lined up side-by-side on the Delaware double-file restart. But when the green came back out, the caution would soon follow as problems for Mike Marlar's car on the front stretch would end his night with a broken rear-end gear.
When the race would go green for good again O'Neal would get by Schlieper to take over the lead for the first time in the race as Schlieper would have to contend with a fast-moving Greg Johnson, James and Feger in the battle for second place. O'Neal stretched his lead out to three-lengths before the next caution as Wayne Chinn slowed on the race track four to bring out the caution on lap 26.
O'Neal would lead the pack on the restart as a very good race for second place was taking place between Schlieper and Johnson. Feger went around James to grab fourth on lap 27. Feger then advanced another position moving to third on lap 30 and then a lap later the high side worked again for Feger as he sped by Schlieper to take over second.
Feger was not done yet as he set his sights on the race leader, O'Neal as the defending UMP Late Model Champion, who scored 23 wins in 2009 made quick work of O'Neal passing him on lap 32 to take over the top spot.
Feger's wall riding run continued as he set sail putting some distance between himself and O'Neal, but then a caution came out for D.J. Wells on lap 34 which would only momentarily slow the high-flying antics of Feger.
On the restart Feger kept his advantage over O'Neal as the two went to running the same high-line around the high-banked half-mile track. With ten laps to go Feger was looking good for his first ever win at Florence, but a caution with 41 laps complete for Justin Rattliff would lead to Feger's undoing.
Several laps prior to the final caution of the race, Feger and another competitor had made contact and a slow-leaking cut left front tire would go flat under caution with nine laps to go in the race. The restart to begin lap 42 would see Feger slide up the track in turn number one letting several cars go by him.
O'Neal would be the biggest benefactor of Feger's demise as he took over the lead as Johnson slipped by Schlieper for second. O'Neal and Johnson then pulled away in the waning few laps as O'Neal would go on to pick up his fourth career Spring 50 at Florence Speedway.
In victory lane the 45-year-old O'Neal, who is currently second the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points standings told announcer Brad Greer that "things fell our way tonight, but we will take wins like that, it was heck of a good race out there. Feger and I got up top there and I don't think we ever could have passed him if he didn't have that flat, I have to thank my crew, Tader Masters and everybody at MasterSbilt, it's been a real good start to the year and hopefully we can come back here in August for the North/South and win it this time," said O'Neal who took previous wins in the Spring 50 in 1999, 2002 and 2006.
O'Neal's MasterSbilt Monte Carlo SS is powered by a Jay Dickens Racing Engine and sponsored by Superior Cleaning, O'Neal Mulch, Independence Lumber, Jones, Core, Scott Clippinger Racing, Hanzo Logistics, Sunoco Race Fuels, Budda Bert Transmissions, Brownstown Speedway, Hoosier Tires and Ohlins.
Johnson finished second in the Gary Engle Racing/Wags Racing Engines/C.J. Rayburn Race Cars Monte Carlo SS followed by Schlieper in the Rockstar Energy Drink/Pro Power Engines/Bloomquist Race Cars Ford Fusion.
Completing the top five was Rod Conley in the Conley Trucking/Draime Racing Engines/Rocket Impala SS and VanWormer in the Bayline Fire Protection/Cornett Racing Engines/Rocket Ford Fusion.
Completing the top ten were Scott James of Lawrenceburg, IN, Brian Shirley of Chatham, IL, Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN, Robby Hensley of Richwood, KY and Chris Combs of Isom, KY.
Josh McGuire was the fastest qualifier for the 42 cars on hand with a time of 15.717 seconds. Heat race winners were Eric Wells, Dan Schlieper, Scott James and Wayne Chinn. D.J. Wells won the B-main.
34th Annual Spring 50 Finish: Don O'Neal, Greg Johnson, Dan Schlieper, Rod Conley, Jeep VanWormer, Scott James, Brian Shirley, Steve Casebolt, Robby Hensley, Chris Combs, Brandon Green, John Gill, Tyler Reddick, Jason Feger, Justin Rattliff, D.J. Wells, Wayne Chinn, Mike Marlar, Eric Wells, Matt Miller, Josh Williams, Chris Wilson, Josh McGuire, Eddie Carrier Jr.
|
