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James Essex
FARLEY, Iowa (May 16) - Homestate driver Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA grabbed the lead on lap 30 and then had to fight off a furious late race charge from Brian Shirley of Chatham, IL to win the Banner Valley Hauling 50 Friday Night at Farley Speedway for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. The victory was Birkhofer's first with the series in 2008 as he became the 10th different winner in the first 14 events held. It was also a special win for the Birkhofer family as his oldest son Cruz was at the track celebrating his sixth birthday.
Shirley had a six car length lead over Birkhofer and Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, IL when a caution came out with 29 laps scored. On the restart Birkhofer powered to the lead which he never relinquished. Shirley cut Birkhofer's sizable lead down with less than five laps remaining in the race and tried valiantly a couple of times to pass Birkhofer, but Birkhofer held him at bay as he went on to score the $10,000 for his seventh career Lucas Oil Series triumph in his Mars-Birkhofer designed chassis.
Shirley has his best series finish of the year crossing the line in second followed closely by Erb, Billy Drake of Bloomington, IL and new series point's leader, Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN.
Bart Hartman led the opening circuit until fifth place starting Billy Moyer took the point on the second lap. Moyer then built a comfortable lead in traffic until a fateful lap 21 caution. On the restart Shirley tried the inside line of the track into turn one but slid up the turn and for a split second there was contact between Shirley and Moyer. Moyer would end up leaving the track on a wrecker ending his night.
Completing the top ten in the finishing order was Brady Smith, Darren Miller, Chris Simpson, Earl Pearson Jr. and Brian Harris.
In preliminary action Billy Moyer set a new Farley Speedway track record in the PRC Time Trials with a lap of 18.775 seconds among the 40 entrants on hand. Matt Miller, Steve Casebolt, Bart Hartman and Dan Schlieper won heat races. Brian Harris and Jason Rauen took the B-Mains.
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will be back in action on Saturday Night, May 17 with a trip across the state line to Illinois for the Spring Shootout at LaSalle Speedway in LaSalle, IL. For more information on this $10,000 to win event you can log onto www.lasallespeedway.com or www.lucasdirt.com
You can find out more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series by logging on to www.lucasdirt.com or call the series office at (951) 532-2503.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Friday Night, May 16, 2008
Farley Speedway-Farley, IA
PRC Fast Time: Billy Moyer/18.775 seconds (NTR)
Hawk Brake First Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Matt Miller, Billy Moyer, Darren Miller, Dennis Erb Jr., Brian Harris, John Mason, Curt Martin, Pete Parker, Rob Klein, Terry Casey
Hawk Brake Second Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Steve Casebolt, Brian Birkhofer, Brady Smith, Andy Eckrich, Justin Rattliff, Freddy Smith, Dave Eckrich, Chad Simpson, Andrew McKay, Alonzo Grosse
AFCO Racing Products Third Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Bart Hartman, Brian Shirley, Jason Utter, Joel Callahan, Jason Rauen, Jeff Larson, Marty Scheckel, Darin Duffy, George Scheffler, Wayne Chinn
Tiger Rear Ends Fourth Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Dan Schlieper, Scott James, Billy Drake, Kerry Hansen, Chris Simpson, Denny Eckrich, Jeremy Grady, Mike Mataragas, Jill George, Earl Pearson Jr.
Mason Racin' Rebel Shock Dyno First B-Main (12 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Brian Harris, John Mason, Curt Martin, Dave Eckrich, Justin Rattliff, Chad Simpson, Freddy Smith, Ron Klein, Pete Parker - DNS, Andrew McKay - DNS, Terry Casey - DNS, Alonzo Grosse - DNS
Quarter Master Second B-Main (12 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Jason Rauen, Chris Simpson, Jeff Larson, Wayne Chinn, Denny Eckrich, Jeremy Grady, Mike Mataragas, Jill George, Marty Schecker, Darin Duffy - DNS, George Scheffler - DNS, Earl Pearson Jr. - DNS
Banner Valley Hauling 50 Feature Finish (50 Laps): Brian Birkhofer, Brian Shirley, Dennis Erb Jr., Billy Drake, Steve Casebolt, Brady Smith, Darren Miller, Chris Simpson, Earl Pearson Jr., Brian Harris, Curt Martin, Matt Miller, Dan Schlieper, Scott James, Bart Hartman, John Mason, Jason Rauen, Justin Rattliff, Kerry Hansen, Billy Moyer, Jeff Larson, Jason Utter, Andy Eckrich, Joel Callahan
Race Statistics
Entries: 40
Caution Flags: 7
Lap Leaders: Hartman 1, Moyer 2, Hartman 3-5, Moyer 6-21, Shirley 22-29, Birkhofer 30-50
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Earl Pearson Jr., Justin Rattliff
PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race: Earl Pearson Jr. (Started 23rd and finished 9th-advanced 14 positions)
Allstar Performance Performer of the Race: Brian Birkhofer
K&N Filters Clean Pass of the Race: Billy Drake
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: None
ASI Racewear Lucky 7 Award: Darren Miller
Integra Shocks Crew Chief of the Race: Heather Lyne (Dennis Erb Jr.)
Comp Cams Engine Builder of the Race: ProPower Racing Engines
Time of the Race: 40 minutes
Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings
1) Steve Casebolt (Richmond, IN) 1880
2) Earl Pearson Jr. (Jacksonville, FL) 1860
3) Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY) 1715
4) Bart Hartman (Zanesville, OH) 1675
5) Terry Casey (New London, WI) 1620
6) Dan Schlieper (Sullivan, WI) 1615
7) Scott James (Lawrenceburg, IN) 1585
8) Billy Drake (Bloomington, IL) 1540
9) Wayne Chinn (Bradford, OH) 1330
10) Donnie Moran (Dresden, OH) 1290
Quarter Master Rookie of the Year Points Standings
1) Terry Casey (New London, WI) 1620
2) Wayne Chinn (Bradford, OH) 1330
3) John Blankenship (Williamson, WV) 520
4) Eric Jacobsen (Seacliffe Beach, CA) 75
5) Tony Knowles (Tyrone, GA) 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: 5150 Race Trailers, 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 Racing Engines, Malcuit Racing Engines, Mason Racin', 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 Aluminum.
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