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James Essex
CORONA, Calif. (March 10) - The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is excited to announce five drivers that have officially declared their intentions of running for the Quarter Master Rookie of the Year award on the series in 2008. The five drivers that will be battling for the Quarter Master Rookie of the Year include: John Blankenship, Terry Casey, Wayne Chinn, Eric Jacobsen and Tony Knowles. "The series is very pleased to have such a quality group of drivers competing for the Quarter Master Rookie of the Year in 2008. We look forward to watching these drivers compete on the series and feel this is the strongest group of drivers to compete for the rookie of the year to date", stated Ritchie Lewis series director.
All five drivers competing for this year's Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Quarter Master "Rookie of the Year" are coming off of their best career finishes in Lucas Oil Series competition at the recently held DART Winternationals at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, FL.
Blankenship, 26 of Williamson, WV is coming off of a fifth place A-main finish on February 8th at East Bay which marked the highest finish of his career with the Lucas Oil Series. Blankenship who scored his first career win in a late model back in 2003 and has relocated his racing operation to Tennessee where he will be based while competing on this year's edition of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series drives the Don Blankenship owned #23 Bloomquist Race Cars Monte Carlo SS. His car sponsored by Busch Beer, Fast Lane and Hilton Head National a Scratch Golf Property. The driver who scored the biggest win of his career on July 2, 2005 at Stateline Speedway is Busti, NY has a Pro Power Engine under the hood of his Team Zero car.
Casey, 38 of New London, WI has announced his candidacy for the 2008 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Quarter Master "Rookie of the Year" award. Casey made five out of six feature events during this year's edition of the DART Winternationals at East Bay with the most important one for Casey coming on February 7th when he captured his first career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory. Now Casey has his sights set on the $10,000 first place money up for grabs to the winner of this year's "Rookie of the Year" chase. Casey's C.J. Rayburn Race Cars #42 is sponsored by Arnie Ranta Motorsports, Brewer Concrete Construction and Arnie's Sleds and Trailers has a Bill and John Schlieper Pro Power Engine providing the horsepower.
Chinn, 27 of Bradford, OH is known throughout the racing community as "The Sniper" came into his own as a dirt late model driver in 2007 when he finished fourth in arguably the most prestigious race for late models the "World 100" at Eldora Speedway. He was the 2007 "Rookie of the Year" for the IRS Racing Series and in 2005 won the "Most Improved Driver" for the Battle of the Bluegrass Series and finished second in the "Rookie of the Year" points. Chinn began his racing career running Karts in 1995 advancing to Midgets, Open Wheel Modifieds and eventually Late Models in '05. He scored his best finish ever in Lucas Oil Series competition at East Bay finishing 11th in the main event on February 6th. The James Chinn Motorsports/C.J. Rayburn Dodge Charger with power from Dargie Racing Engines is sponsored by Sugar Creek Packing, Erwin's Chrysler Dodge Jeep, Klingshirn and Sons Trucking, Hendricks Auto Service, J.B Enterprises, Sunoco Race Fuels, Thienman's Sportsman Bar and Grill and AWP of Ohio Equipment rentals.
Jacobsen, 38 of Seacliffe Beach, CA picked up a third place finish in the feature at East Bay back on February 8th marking his best career run in LOLMDS competition. Jacobsen made five out of the six features at East Bay during the 2008 DART Winternationals and like Blankenship, Casey, Chinn and Tony Knowles has his sights set on capturing the Quarter Master "Rookie of the Year" honors as the winner will join Scott James (2005), Steve Casebolt (2006) and Justin Rattliff (2007) in winning the top rookie honors for the series. Jacobsen's Bloomquist Race Cars number 5 has a Pro Power Engine under the hood with sponsorship from VP Racing Fuels, Bell Helmets and Hoosier Tire South.
Knowles, 22 from Tyrone, GA has put his hat in the ring to run for the '08 Quarter Master "Rookie of the Year" program. His best career finish in Lucas Oil Series competition was a tenth place finish in 2007 at North Alabama Speedway. Knowles will be behind the wheel of a Rocket Chassis with a Custom Engine with sponsorship from SAE Parts, Inc., RSD Enterprises, VP Racing Fuels, Hunter Electric and All-Star Graphix. Knowles will also be sporting a new car number this year going with number 26 switching from his familiar #66.
Quarter Master has signed on as the title sponsor of the "Rookie of the Year" program in 2008 and will make the special presentation at the year end banquet to the top Rookie on the series for 2008. The rookie of the year program for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series continues to get bigger every year for racers who elect to run the series and this years program offers both cash and several product awards to the top rookies of the series in 2008. This year's program will pay $10,000 to the winner of the Rookie of the Year, with the runner up receiving $2,500 at the year end banquet. Other awards that have been posted for the rookies include a product award from Quarter Master, a new Tiger Rearend form Tiger Rearends, one set of connecting rods from Dyers Rods, 10 sheets of pre-finished aluminum from Wrisco Industries, $500 product award from Wiles Driveshafts, one set of Duralite Racing Wheels from Duralite, $100 Ohlins Shocks product award at every race to the highest finishing rookie, and a complete new MD3 nose combo package from Performance Bodies.
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is also pleased to announce several new sponsors to the series in 2008. Dyers Top Rods has signed on as a contingency sponsor for the series in 2008 offering drivers an opportunity to earn a free set of connecting rods to both the series champion and the series "Rookie of the Year" at the year end banquet. Dyers Top Rods located in Forrest, IL has numerous Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series drivers running their products and will use the series as a tool to further their presence in the dirt late model industry. To learn more about Dyers Top Rods visit their website at www.dyersrods.com.
Another new sponsor to the series in 2008 is Victory Circle Chassis. Victory Circle Chassis has signed on as part of the Chassis Builders Challenge on the series in 2008. Victory Circle Chassis located in Bakersfield CA is joining the series in hopes of winning the top chassis builder on the series in 2008. Victory Circle Chassis is currently 3rd in the series chassis builders points category only 2 points out of first place. Victory Circle Chassis is working closely with current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series point's leader Billy Moyer in the design and development of their chassis. Marc Lundgren owner of Victory Circle Chassis is excited to be a part of the series in 2008. "The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is the premier national touring series and a great opportunity for our company to use the series to help build brand awareness for our company and hopefully to sell more cars to racers all over the country", stated Marc Lundgren. To learn more about Victory Circle Chassis visit their official website at www.victorycircle.com.
Duralite Racing Wheels has also signed on as a contingency sponsor on the series in 2008. Duralite Racing wheels will post a contingency award at every series event in 2008 and will give a set of four Duralite Racing Wheels to the Rookie of the Year on the series at the year end banquet as well. Duralite Racing Wheels is located in Ada, OK and their official website can be found at www.duralitewheels.com.
To learn more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series visit their official website at www.lucasdirt.com.
Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings (After February 9, 2008)
1) Billy Moyer (Batesville, AR) - 250
2) Terry Casey (New London, WI) - 230
3) Steve Francis (Ashland, KY) - 220
3) Josh Richards (Shinnston, WV) - 220
5) Donnie Moran (Dresden, OH) - 205
6) Matt Miller (Waterville, OH) - 200
6) Steve Casebolt (Richmond, IN) - 200
8) Mike Marlar (Winfield, TN) - 190
9) Earl Pearson, Jr. (Jacksonville, FL) - 185
10) Tim McCreadie (Watertown, NY) - 180
Current Quarter Master Rookie of the Year Points Standings
1) Terry Casey (New London, WI) - 230
2) John Blankenship (Williamson, WV) - 140
3) Wayne Chinn (Bradford, OH) - 125
4) Tony Knowles (Tyrone, GA) - 75
5) Eric Jacobsen (Seacliffe Beach, CA) - 75
2008 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Sponsors
Arizona Sport Shirts - "The Official Merchandise Vendor" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Dixie Chopper - "The Official Mower" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
E3 Spark Plugs - "The Official Spark Plug" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Fatheadz Sunglasses - "The Official Eyewear" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
General Tire - "The Official Tire" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Hoosier Tire - "The Official Race Tire" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Jasper Engines - "The Official Engine" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Jim Beam - Drink Smart - "The Official Beverage" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
K&N Filters - "The Official Filter" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Lucas Oil Products - "The Official Oil" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
R&L Carrier - "The Official Carrier" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Sunoco Race Fuels - "The Official Fuel" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
SuperClean - "The Official Degreaser" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
2008 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Supporters Include: Afco Racing Products, Allstar Performance, American Racer Tire, ARC Engines, ASI Racewear, Banshee Graphics, Bloomquist Race Cars, CJ Rayburn Race Cars, Comp Cams, Cornett Racing Engines, Cruise with the Champions, Dart Machinery, Duralite Racing Wheels, Dyers Top Rods, Erson Cams, GRT Race Cars, Hawk Performance Brake Pads, Hyperco, Integra Shocks, Jay Dickens Racin g Engines, Malcuit Racing Engines, Mason Racin', Mastersbilt Race Cars, Mullvain Motorsports, Ohlins, On the Edge Graphics, PBM, Penske Shocks, Performance Bodies, Performance Rod & Customs, Pro Power Racing, Quarter Master, Rick Schwallie Photography, Rocket Chassis, Tiger Rearends, Vic Hill Racing Engines, Victory Circle Chassis, WD Enterprises, Wiles Driveshafts, and Wrisco Industries.
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