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James Essex
WHEEL, Tenn. (June 12) - One week after finishing third in the Dirt Late Model Dream at Eldora Speedway, Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, GA came to Duck River Speedway ran away with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event; becoming the 13th different winner in 18 events in 2008. Clanton grabbed the lead on lap three and was never threatened despite four caution flags which bunched the field for the restarts, but Clanton quickly distinguished himself as the car to beat pulling away on every restart. Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN edged out Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN for the runner-up spot with 13th place starter, Justin Rattliff, of Campbellsville, KY finishing fourth followed by Freddy Smith of Seymour, TN with his best LOLMDS finish of the season, crossing the line in fifth.
Last year's LOLMDS winner at Duck River, Scott James, and Steve Casebolt would make up the front row for the $7,000 to the win 40 lap main event. Casebolt, who entered the night second in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points, found the lead to his liking as he grabbed the point on the first lap with Clanton, who started third, James, Billy Drake and Bloomquist in the top five.
Clanton showed his strength as he powered his way into the lead around Casebolt on the third circuit. The driver from Locust Grove, GA then started to put some distance between himself and the rest of the field as Casebolt and Drake would race side-by-side for second.
Clanton began to encounter the tail end of the field, and by lap ten he would put two cars between himself and a fantastic battle for second, between Casebolt and Drake. The first caution of the race was red flag stop on the front stretch as fourth place running Earl Pearson Jr. broke a strut rod causing the "Hurricane" and the "Silver Shark" to collide as the two entered turn number one, resulting in James' car ending up on its top. Both drivers checked out o.k. after the incident, but their machines were too damaged to continue.
With 14 laps scored, Clanton still held the top position with Casebolt and Drake still racing side-by-side for second. Rattliff had made his way into fourth, after starting 13th, with Bloomquist running alongside. The second caution for debris would come out on lap 18; once again the field would be bunched up behind the leader, Clanton.
There were only two more scored laps until the yellow would come out for more debris on the racing surface. Clanton's car again would re-fire well on the restart as he opened distance between himself and everyone else. The race would see a stretch of eight consecutive green flag laps with Clanton holding a sizable lead.
The race for second continued to catch the attention of the packed grandstand as Casebolt, Drake, Rattliff, and Freddy Smith were dicing it out in an exciting battle for second. The fourth and final caution of the event would come out when 10th place running Terry Casey suddenly slowed in turn 2 after getting together with two other cars, bringing out the last caution the race would see.
With the restart, and 12 laps left in the race, Clanton would have a clear track in front of him, with some tough competition as Casebolt and Bloomquist were set to reel him in on the restart. When the green flew for the final restart of the race Clanton would set sail as he clearly had the car to beat Thursday Night as he pulled away and went to the Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the second time in his career as he scored his first LOLMDS win since 2006, at Rome (GA) Speedway. A great finish for second had the capacity crowd on its feet as Casebolt edged Bloomquist by half a car length to take second and regain the series points lead. Rattliff, last year's Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rookie of the Year finished an impressive fourth after starting in the seventh row. Freddy Smith who was in hunt for a top five finish the final half of the race recording his best series finish of '08 crossing the line in fifth.
In victory lane, Clanton talked about the Ronnie Dobbins owned car which has been hooked up the last two weeks. "I can't thank Ronnie Dobbins enough and my crew is just tremendous we worked until midnight last night putting a new Custom motor in the car, this Rocket Chassis has been real good the last few weeks, the track was phenomenal tonight, I first raced here back in '97 and won that time so it's great to be back here," said the 32 year-old driver who was joined in victory circle by his wife and son.
Clanton's #25 Rocket GTO is sponsored by Stevens Plumbing and Mechanical, RSD Enterprises and SAE Parts, Inc.
Casebolt in his Dixie Chopper/Cornett Racing Engines/ Rocket GTO is again the series points leader after Duck River with his thrilling second place finish over Bloomquist' Miller Brothers Coal/Vic Hill Racing Engines/Bloomquist Race Cars Monte Carlo SS. Rattliff was behind the wheel of the James Rattliff/Rattliff Motors/C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo SS with the National Late Model Hall of Famer Freddy Smith driving his White Oaks Motorsports/Dale Meers Racing Engines/Warrior Monte Carlo SS completing the top five.
Completing the top ten were Bart Hartman, Billy Drake, Ray Cook, Dustin Neat and Randy Weaver.
In preliminary action Billy Drake topped the 33 car field in PRC Time Trials. Heat race winners were Scott James, Steve Casebolt and Shane Clanton. Jerry Owens won the B-Main.
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will next be in action on Friday Night, June 13 at North Georgia Speedway in Chatsworth, GA for a $10,000 to win event. For more information you can go to www.northgeorgiaspeedway.com and 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
Thursday Night, June 12, 2008
Duck River Speedway-Wheel, TN
PRC Fast Time: Billy Drake/12.976 seconds
Hawk Brake First Heat (10 Laps-Top 6 Advance): Scott James, Billy Drake, Brandon Kinzer, Jay Brinkley, Justin Rattliff, Wayne Chinn, Daniel Miller, Anthony Burroughs, Justin McRee, Kenny Cobble, Michael Baggett - DNS
Hawk Brake Second Heat (10 Laps-Top 6 Advance): Shane Clanton, Scott Bloomquist, Earl Pearson Jr., Randy Weaver, Dustin Neat, Terry Casey, Jerry Owens, Tony Morris, Tony Knowles, Michael Walker, Matt Wilson
AFCO Racing Products Third Heat (10 Laps-Top 6 Advance): Steve Casebolt, Freddy Smith, Bart Hartman, Jason Fitzgerald, Tyler Landers, Jimmy Tucker, David Earl Gentry, Ray Cook, Shon Flanary, John Mason, Eric Jacobsen - DNS
Mason Racin' Rebel Shock Dyno B-Main (12 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Jerry Owens, David Earl Gentry, Ray Cook, Anthony Burroughs, Tony Morris, Michael Baggett, Tony Knowles, Michael Walker, Kenny Cobble, Justin McRee, John Mason, Shon Flanary, Matt Wilson, Daniel Miller - DNS, Eric Jacobsen - DNS
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Feature Finish (40 Laps): Shane Clanton, Steve Casebolt, Scott Bloomquist, Justin Rattliff, Freddy Smith, Bart Hartman, Billy Drake, Ray Cook, Dustin Neat, Randy Weaver, Brandon Kinzer, Wayne Chinn, Jay Brinkley, David Earl Gentry, Jimmy Tucker, Tyler Landers, John Mason, Terry Casey, Jerry Owens, Jason Fitzgerald, Anthony Burroughs, Scott James, Earl Pearson Jr., Shon Flanary, Daniel Miller
Race Statistics
Entries: 33
Caution Flags: 4
Lap Leaders: Steve Casebolt 1-2, Shane Clanton 3-40
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: John Mason, Shon Flanary
Duck River Speedway Track Provisional: Daniel Miller
PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race: Ray Cook (Started 21st and finished 8th-advanced 13 positions)
Allstar Performance Performer of the Race: Steve Casebolt
K&N Filters Clean Pass of the Race: Freddy Smith
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Wayne Chinn
ASI Racewear Lucky 7 Award: Billy Drake
Integra Shocks Crew Chief of the Race: Jeff Gullett (Justin Rattliff)
Comp Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Custom Racing Engines
Time of the Race: 25 minutes
Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings
1) Steve Casebolt (Richmond, IN) 2645
2) Earl Pearson Jr. (Jacksonville, FL) 2595
3) Bart Hartman (Zanesville, OH) 2425
3) Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY) 2425
5) Scott James (Lawrenceburg, IN) 2230
6) Billy Drake (Bloomington, IL) 2155
7) Dan Schlieper (Sullivan, WI) 2105
8) Terry Casey (New London, WI) 2085
9) Wayne Chinn (Bradford, OH) 1970
10) Freddy Smith (Seymour, TN) 1840
Quarter Master Rookie of the Year Points Standings
1) Terry Casey (New London, WI) 2085
2) Wayne Chinn (Bradford, OH) 1970
3) John Blankenship (Williamson, WV) 745
4) Tony Knowles (Tyrone, GA) 185
5) Eric Jacobsen (Seacliffe Beach, CA) 125
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