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James Essex
CORONA, Calif. (July 1) - After taking the past weekend off, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series gets back into action with events in Ohio and Tennessee this Fourth of July weekend.
The series will first start off the holiday weekend racing action with the $10,000 to win Creno's 50 on Thursday Night, July 3rd at Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, OH. It will be the fourth appearance for the LOLMDS at the Ronnie Moran promoted facility. Previous winners in LOLMDS competition at Muskingum include Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN, Steve Shaver of Vienna, WV along with defending race winner, and current LOLMDS Championship Points Leader, Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN. The fans will also be entertained by a gigantic fireworks display during the intermission. For more information on the LOLMDS event at Muskingum County, call the track office at (740) 763-3991 or visit the track's website at www.mcspeedway.20m.com.
After a one-night visit to the Buckeye State, the series heads south to the state of Tennessee for a pair of LOLMDS sanctioned events. On Friday Night, July 4th Toyota of Knoxville will present the fourth appearance of the LOLMDS to the Gary Hall owned Tazewell Speedway in Tazewell, TN. "The Taz" is known for its high speeds and exciting racing competition and the LOLMDS will provide a healthy test for the stout competition in the East Tennessee area region of Dirt Late Model stars including previous Tazewell/LOLMDS winners Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN and Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN. Owens has won twice on the high-banks in Lucas Oil competition, grabbing wins in 2005 and last year; with Bloomquist taking the top honors in 2006. For more information on the LOLMDS event at Tazewell, call the track at (423) 626-2222 or check out the track's website at www.tazewellspeedway.net.
The LOLMDS will then pay a Saturday Night, July 5th visit to Joe Loven's Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, TN for the third $10,000 to win race at the famed facility. The LOLMDS is set to invade "The Gap" in the middle of a season which has seen 15 different winners in the first 21 events held this year. The event marks the second consecutive year the series will race at "The Gap" with Scott Bloomquist taking home the win in the a year ago. For more information on the LOLMDS event at Volunteer, log onto www.volunteerspeedway.com or call the track at (423) 235-5020.
A heated Championship Point's battle for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is expected to burn even hotter this Fourth of July weekend as Steve Casebolt holds a mere ten-point margin over 3-time and reigning LOLMDS National Champion Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL. Bart Hartman of Zanesville, OH in his first full-season of touring with the LOLMDS sits third in points, followed by last year's Rookie of the Year Justin Rattliff of Campbellsville, KY and Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, WI who comes into the holiday week of racing fifth points after winning two out of the last three LOLMDS events.
The remainder of the top ten heading to Muskingum, Tazewell and Volunteer are Scott James of Lawrenceburg, IN, Billy Drake of Bloomington, IL, Terry Casey of New London, WI, Freddy Smith of Seymour, TN and Wayne Chinn of Bradford, OH. Casey leads Chinn in the quest for the '08 Quarter Master Rookie of the Year honors.
John Mason of Millersburg, OH is 11th in points, just five behind Chinn with Jimmy Owens, Matt Miller of Waterville, OH, Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC and Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH rounding out the top 15 in points.
The tire rule will be the same for all three events with the following tires allowed: Hoosier 1300, LM20, 1350, 1600 and LM40 and the American Racer SD44, SD48 and MD56.
For the latest news and happenings with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and for up-to-date information, log onto www.lucasdirt.com or by call the series office at (951) 532-2503.
Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings
1) Steve Casebolt (Richmond, IN) - 3145
2) Earl Pearson Jr (Jacksonville, FL) - 3135
3) Bart Hartman (Zanesville, OH) - 2905
4) Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY) - 2870
5) Dan Schlieper (Sullivan, WI) - 2805
6) Scott James (Lawrenceburg, IN) - 2720
7) Billy Drake (Bloomington, IL) - 2690
8) Terry Casey (New London, WI) - 2520
9) Freddy Smith (Seymour, TN) - 2295
10) Wayne Chinn (Bradford, OH) - 2075
Current Quarter Master Rookie of the Year Points Standings
1) Terry Casey (New London, WI) - 2520
2) Wayne Chinn (Bradford, OH) - 2075
3) John Blankenship (Williamson, WV) - 745
4) Tony Knowles (Tyrone, GA) - 425
5) Eric Jacobsen (Sea Cliffe Beach, CA) - 245
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