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James Essex
BARDSTOWN, Ky. (August 23) - Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN held the key to ending Scott Bloomquist' three-year win streak in the Bluegrass Classic at Bluegrass Speedway on Saturday Night. Owens' second Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the season kept the huge crowd on its feet for a good part of the race in the early going as he picked up $10,000 for his third ever win at Bardstown. Owens took the lead on lap 29 from Bloomquist and then led the rest of the way. Bloomquist finished second followed by Darren Miller of Chadwick, IL, Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL and Michael England of Glasgow, KY.
Tim Tungate and Bloomquist started on the front row of the 60 lap main event as Bloomquist was seeking to win this race for the fourth consecutive year. Bloomquist bolted to the lead at the drop of chief starter Brian Axsom's green flag with Tungate, the winningest driver in the history of the track going to second followed by fourth starting Owens, Miller and England.
Bloomquist pulled out to a good lead in the early part of the race as Owens was all over Tungate in the race for second. Owens would make the pass on Tungate on lap eight after the two had raced side-by-side for two circuits.
Owens then set sail after Bloomquist who had built a sizable lead over the field saw it dwindle down lap after lap as Bloomquist was catching up to the back of the field. Bloomquist would then encounter heavy traffic as Owens closed on him in a hurry.
Meanwhile Miller, who had one the LOLMDS event the night before at Lawrenceburg, went by Tungate to gain the third spot on lap ten. The top three of Bloomquist, Owens and Miller then were on the same straightaway with 15 laps in the record books.
Bloomquist was having some problems getting by lapped traffic and that would keep Owens on his rear bumper as all eyes were on the race for the lead. Owens would pull even alongside Bloomquist as the battle for the lead became air tight.
With 25 laps scored Bloomquist and Owens were still going at it tooth and nail for the lead as the two were racing within inches of each other around the high-banked half-mile track. Owens finally was able to pass Bloomquist for the lead on lap 29 dropping Bloomquist to second as Miller rode in third.
There was a good race going for fourth on back between Pearson, England and Bart Hartman and those drivers were trying to gain on the three frontrunners. With Owens in front Bloomquist would stay close to him as they continued to battle in traffic and without the help of any caution flags to clear lapped traffic those two would have to settle it amongst themselves.
Owens would put himself in position to end Bloomquist's winning streak when he would get by Tungate who was the last car on the lead lap. Owens would get around Tungate and that set him up for a clear path to victory lane with 15 laps remaining.
Bloomquist then had to the same with Tungate, try and pass him as Owens was getting away from him. But Bloomquist who tried lap after lap to get by Tungate never could as passing was at a premium in the late going of the race.
Owens then went on unchallenged in the final ten laps to score his second Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the season and his eight career overall with the series as he held the secret to defeating Bloomquist , who had had a stranglehold on this event. The race was run without a caution flag and it took just 15 minutes to complete the 60 lap event.
In Lucas Oil victory lane the defending World 100 Champion did a quick interview for SPEED Channel who was on hand to tape the event and the 36-year-old was gracious in his track interview thanking a multitude of people. 'We were able to capitalize in traffic, we all share information and I knew if I got a couple of cars between me and Scott that would be big and that's when the track became one lane," said Owens.
Owens who was the RPM Racing News Driver of the Year in 2007 after winning 17 events including five Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series races felt like his season is really heating up heading into some major paying races. "I can't thank Mike Reece (his car owner) enough, we put this deal together early last year and it's obviously worked out real well, with all the wins we have had over the last two years, this was a new Cornett Ford engine that we brought out and Jack Cornett builds some strong motors and the Bloomquist Chassis handled great tonight and thanks to all of the fans who came out, it looked like a great turnout and I'm glad to end up here in victory lane."
Owens in the Bloomquist race Cars Ford Fusion has sponsorship from Reece Monument Company, Gantte Appraisals, Performance Rod and Custom, VP Racing Fuels, Red Line Oil, Wear Development, Mike's Mini Late Models, Alwee Trucking and is powered by the aforementioned Cornett Racing Engines.
Bloomquist in his Miller Brothers Coal/Vic Hill Racing Engines/Bloomquist Race Cars Chevrolet was second behind Owens with Miller's NAPA/Pro Power Engines/Moyer Victory Circle Ford Taurus finishing third followed by Pearson in the Bobby Labonte Racing/Larry Wallace Engines/MasterSbilt Dodge Charger extending his series points lead and England recorded his first top five of the season in LOLMDS competition in the Young Oil Corporation/Pro Power Engines/Bloomquist Race Cars Monte Carlo SS.
Completing the top ten were Bart Hartman, Jeep VanWormer, Jason Keltner, Brad Neat and Steve Casebolt.
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will be back in action Labor Day Weekend with a pair of shows. On Saturday Night, August 30th the series heads to Portsmouth Raceway Park in Portsmouth, OH for the $10,000 to win "Rumble on the River" and on Sunday Night, August 31st the series comes to Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, WV for the $40,000 to win 40th Annual "Hillbilly 100."
For more information on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series you can visit www.lucasdirt.com or call the series office at (951) 532-2503.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Saturday Night, August 23, 2008
Bluegrass Speedway - Bardstown, KY
PRC Fast Time: Darren Miller/15.660 seconds
Hawk Brake First Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Tim Tungate, Darren Miller, Aaron Hatton, Joey Kramer, Vic Hill, Jeff Watson, Brady Smith, Wayne Chinn, Dan Schlieper, Joey Tackett, Audie McWilliams, Larry Greer
Hawk Brake Second Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Jimmy Owens, Bart Hartman, Terry Casey, Jordan Bland, Dustin Neat, Scott James, Johnny Wheeler, Freddy Smith, Rick Corbin, Ed Behn, Scott Brewer, Dustin Linville - DNS
AFCO Racing Products Third Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Michael England, Jeep VanWormer, Jason Keltner, Brad Neat, John Gill, Whitney McQueary, Damon Eller, David Webb, Bryant Woodcock, Steve Landrum, Jacob Webber, Eric Wells - DNS
Tiger Rear Ends Fourth Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Scott Bloomquist, Earl Pearson Jr., Steve Casebolt, Mike Marlar, Billy Drake, Kevin Claycomb, Justin Rattliff, Scotty Earl, John Mason, Mike Jewell, Michael Chilton - DNS, Victor Lee - DNS
Mason Racin' Rebel Shock Dyno First B-Main (12 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Vic Hill, Dustin Neat, Wayne Chinn, Brady Smith, Freddy Smith, Jeff Watson, Scott James, Dan Schlieper, Rick Corbin, Joey Tackett, Ed Behn, Larry Greer, Scott Brewer, Johnny Wheeler, Audie McWilliams - DNS, Dustin Linville - DNS
Quarter Master Second B-Main (12 Laps-Top 3 Advance): John Gill, Billy Drake, Kevin Claycomb, Damon Eller, Whitney McQueary, Mike Jewell, Justin Rattliff, John Mason, Jacob Webber, Steve Landrum, Bryant Woodcock, David Webb - DNS, Scotty Earl - DNS, Eric Wells - DNS, Michael Chilton - DNS, Victor Lee - DNS
8th Annual "Bluegrass Classic" Feature Finish (60 Laps): Jimmy Owens, Scott Bloomquist, Darren Miller, Earl Pearson Jr., Michael England, Bart Hartman, Jeep VanWormer, Jason Keltner, Brad Neat, Steve Casebolt, Tim Tungate, Terry Casey, Billy Drake, John Gill, Jordan Bland, Joey Kramer, Dustin Neat, Scott James, Justin Rattliff, Wayne Chinn, Johnny Wheeler, Aaron Hatton, Vic Hill, Mike Marlar, Kevin Claycomb
Race Statistics
Entries: 48
Caution Flags: none
Lap Leaders: Scott Bloomquist 1-28, Jimmy Owens 29-60
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Justin Rattliff, Scott James
Bluegrass Speedway Track Provisional: Johnny Wheeler
PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race: Brad Neat (Started 15th and finished 9th - advanced 6 positions)
Allstar Performance Performer of the Race: Jason Keltner
K&N Filters Clean Pass of the Race: Jimmy Owens
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Terry Casey
ASI Racewear Lucky 7 Award: Jeep VanWormer
Integra Shocks Crew Chief of the Race: Eric Killion (Steve Casebolt)
Comp Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing Engines
Time of the Race: 15 minutes
Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings
1) Earl Pearson Jr. (Jacksonville, FL) 6185
2) Bart Hartman (Zanesville, OH) 5635
3) Steve Casebolt (Richmond, IN) 5500
4) Billy Drake (Bloomington, IL) 5130
5) Terry Casey (New London, WI) 4855
6) Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY) 4830
7) Scott James (Lawrenceburg, IN) 4790
8) Dan Schlieper (Sullivan, WI) 4725
9) Freddy Smith (Seymour, TN) 4345
10) Wayne Chinn (Bradford, OH) 4085
Quarter Master Rookie of the Year Points Standings
1) Terry Casey (New London, WI) 4855
2) Wayne Chinn (Bradford, OH) 4085
3) John Blankenship (Williamson, WV) 1060
4) Tony Knowles (Tyrone, GA) 505
5) Eric Jacobsen (Seacliffe Beach, CA) 385
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