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James Essex
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (August 2) - Taking advantage of a late race restart, with 11 laps to go, Bart Hartman of Zanesville, OH sprinted to his second Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of 2008 on Saturday Night at the Hagerstown Speedway as he won the "Shootout Finale" worth $10,000. Hartman had carried the for the first 16 laps of the race before yielding to Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN who led until the late caution with 11 laps that allowed Hartman to get a run on him to retake the lead on the restart. Hartman sped away for the win with Owens finishing second followed by Josh Richards of Shinnston, WV, Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL and Steve Francis of Ashland, KY.
The 50 lap main event began with last year's Lucas Oil winner at Hagerstown Scott James starting on the pole alongside Hartman. Hartman gained the top spot immediately as he moved his bright yellow #75 car to the point ahead of James, Owens, Eckert and Pearson.
Owens made a move on James to take second on lap two as Hartman built a six-car length lead in the early stages of the race as Owens was trying to track him down. As the two battled through lapped traffic, Owens would pull even with Hartman by the 15th circuit. The two would race side-by-side for two laps until Owens was finally able to clear Hartman and take the lead. Owens then opened a five-car length spread over Hartman.
The race for third was heating up as well with Pearson passing Eckert for third on lap 22. The top two of Owens and Hartman had distanced themselves from the rest of the field as Owens managed a straightaway lead over Hartman with 27 laps recorded.
Josh Richards began his march toward the leaders as he climbed to fourth, passing Eckert just after the halfway mark of the race. At this point, Owens had lapped up to the 11th place Matt Lux machine, with Hartman slowly cutting down the margin between himself and Owens with only 15 laps remaining.
Hartman had cut, what once seemed to be an insurmountable lead, down to just five car lengths as Lux suddenly slowed in turn two on lap 39, bringing out the only caution of the race. On the restart, Owens was out front by himself, with Hartman and Richards lined up side-by-side on the Delaware double-file restart right behind him.
Hartman picked the inside on the restart, which proved to be the right choice, as Owens drifted up coming to the green flag. Hartman moved quickly to the inside of Owens heading down the main straightaway, as the pair entered into turn number one, Hartman would retake the lead.
Hartman then pulled away from Owens, as he set a blistering pace that would carry him to his second Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory in the last four races. Owens, who was making his first ever start at Hagerstown, finished second in the Mike Reece/Reece Monuments/Bloomquist Race Cars Ford Fusion.
Richards would finish third in the Ernie Davis/Ernie's Towing and Hauling Monte Carlo SS with Pearson in the Bobby Labonte Racing/LifeLong Locks/MasterSbilt Dodge Charger finishing fourth followed by Francis in the Dale Beitler Racing/Reliable Painting/Rocket GTO.
In the Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the third time in his career, Hartman regained second place in the championship point's standings behind Pearson. "I didn't think I had enough for Jimmy out there, on the restart, the race took off real good and I think Jimmy had softer tires on than us, this is a brand new car, we've had a tough weekend starting at Bedford and we didn't run well last night at Winchester, but I can't thank Austin Hargrove (his crew chief) enough, the car was fast all night and it feels good to get in the Lucas Oil Victory Lane again, said the former Dirt Track World Champion.
Hartman's Rocket Monte Carlo SS is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine, and sponsored by Imler's Poultry/LendX Check Cashing and Loans/Sunoco Race Fuels/Dyers Rods/Allstar Performance/Lucas Oil Products and Ohlins.
Completing the top ten were Rick Eckert, Gary Stuhler, Donnie Moran, Steve Casebolt and Scott James.
To find out more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log on to www.lucasdirt.com or call the series office at (951) 532-2503.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Saturday Night, August 2, 2008
Hagerstown Speedway - Hagerstown, MD
PRC Fast Time: Scott James/19.078 seconds
Hawk Brake First Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Scott James, Brian Booze, Gary Stuhler, Andy Anderson, Billy Drake, Steve Casebolt, Dan Stone, David Williams, Billy Wampler, Mike Lupfer, Scott LeBarron, Marvin Winters, Nathan Duboraw - DNS
Hawk Brake Second Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Bart Hartman, Earl Pearson Jr., Donnie Moran, Jim Bernheisel, Steve Shaver, Wayne Chinn, Tyler Armstrong, Darryl Hills, Timothy Wilson, Scott Cross, Roland Mann, Matt Murphy, Terry Casey
AFCO Racing Products Third Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Rick Eckert, Josh Richards, Jeremy Miller, DJ Myers, Booper Bare, Devin Friese, DJ Troutman, Ricky Elliot, Kirk Ryan Jr., Vic Coffey, Paul Crowl, Al Cheney, Ronnie DeHaven Jr.
Tiger Rear Ends Fourth Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Jimmy Owens, Matt Lux, Steve Francis, JT Spence, Justin Rattliff, Dan Schlieper, Jamie Lathroum, Jason Covert, Brent Smith, John Mason, Frank Plessinger, Freddy Smith, Jim Stine
Mason Racin' Rebel Shock Dyno First B-Main (12 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Steve Shaver, Billy Drake, Steve Casebolt, Dan Stone, Darryl Hills, David Williams, Billy Wampler, Scott LeBarron, Wayne Chinn, Marvin Winters, Mike Lupfer, Tyler Armstrong, Matt Murphy, Scott Cross, Roland Mann, Terry Casey, Timothy Wilson - DNS, Nathan Durboraw - DNS
Quarter Master Second B-Main (12 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Booper Bare, Ricky Elliott, Dan Schlieper, Jason Covert, Justin Rattliff, DJ Troutman, Jamie Lathroum, Vic Coffey, Devin Friese, Paul Crowl, Kirk Ryan Jr., Brent Smith, John Mason, Frank Plessinger, Al Cheney, Jim Stine, Freddy Smith, Ronnie DeHaven Jr.
27th Annual "Stanley Schetromph Classic" Feature Finish (50 Laps): Bart Hartman, Jimmy Owens, Josh Richards, Earl Pearson Jr., Steve Francis, Rick Eckert, Gary Stuhler, Donnie Moran, Steve Casebolt, Scott James, JT Spence, Steve Shaver, Billy Drake, DJ Myers, Justin Rattliff, Booper Bare, Dan Schlieper, Terry Casey, Brian Booze, Mike Lupfer, Matt Lux, Andy Anderson, Ricky Elliott, Jimmy Bernheisel, Jeremy Miller
Race Statistics
Entries: 52
Caution Flags: 1
Lap Leaders: Bart Hartman 1-16, Jimmy Owens 17-39, Hartman 40-50
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Justin Rattliff, Terry Casey
Hagerstown Speedway Track Provisional: Mike Lupfer
PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race: Steve Casebolt (Started 21st and finished 9th -advanced 12 positions)
Allstar Performance Performer of the Race: Gary Stuhler
K&N Filters Clean Pass of the Race: Bart Hartman
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Terry Casey
ASI Racewear Lucky 7 Award: Gary Stuhler
Integra Shocks Crew Chief of the Race: Chris Fox (Jimmy Owens)
Comp Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing Engines
Time of the Race: 22 minutes
Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings
1) Earl Pearson Jr. (Jacksonville, FL) 5450
2) Bart Hartman (Zanesville, OH) 4935
3) Steve Casebolt (Richmond, IN) 4925
4) Billy Drake (Bloomington, IL) 4590
5) Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY) 4395
6) Terry Casey (New London, WI) 4315
7) Dan Schlieper (Sullivan, WI) 4305
8) Scott James (Lawrenceburg, IN) 4260
9) Freddy Smith (Seymour, TN) 3830
10) Wayne Chinn (Bradford, OH) 3585
Quarter Master Rookie of the Year Points Standings
1) Terry Casey (New London, WI) 4315
2) Wayne Chinn (Bradford, OH) 3585
3) John Blankenship (Williamson, WV) 745
4) Tony Knowles (Tyrone, GA) 425
5) Eric Jacobsen (Seacliffe Beach, CA) 245
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
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