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James Essex
BULLS GAP, Tenn. (June 18) - Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN won his second straight Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event in dramatic fashion on Friday Night as he captured night number one of the Scorcher 100 Presented by Reece Monument Company at Volunteer Speedway. He passed Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, WI heading to the white flag as he went on to beat Schlieper to the finish line for his fifth series win of the year. Schlieper, who led 48 of the 50 laps finished second followed by Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA; Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC; and Earl Pearson, Jr. of Jacksonville, FL.
Davenport and Schlieper made up the front row for the $10,000 to win main event. Schlieper pulled out to an early lead as a terrific battle for second place was going on between Davenport and Billy Ogle, Jr. Schlieper built a huge ten-car-length advantage only five laps into the race as Davenport and Ogle exchanged the second spot twice within a three lap period.
Schlieper's lead began to melt away as traffic started to enter the picture by the tenth circuit. The top five were Schlieper, Davenport, Ogle, Cook and Owens, who was running fifth. The top five stayed the same until lap 26 when Ogle went pitside for the night.
Schlieper still held a good six-car-length lead even in traffic until the first caution came out for Mike Marlar who was up against the turn two wall on lap 29. On the restart, Schlieper had Davenport and Cook lined up side-by-side behind him for the Delaware double-file restart.
Owens was the benefactor of the restart as he moved into third, advancing two spots in the running order. The second and final caution of the race appeared for John Blankenship, who slowed on the frontstretch on lap 31.
On the restart, Schlieper again sprinted out to a four-car-length lead with 15 laps remaining in the race as Davenport and Owens would battle door-to-door for five consecutive laps for the runnerup slot. Schlieper then moved into some heavy traffic, and with ten laps to go, he still held a big enough lead that it looked like neither Davenport or Owens was going to able to catch him. Owens tried unsuccessfully for several laps to pass Davenport, but was finally able to clear the young Georgia hotshoe on lap 43 to take over second.
With five laps to go, Schlieper was seven-car lengths ahead of Owens and appeared to be on his way for his first series win since July 3, 2008 at Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, OH. Schlieper was having trouble negotiating around traffic, allowing Owens to cut into his lead with four laps remaining.
Owens was able to get within striking distance of Schlieper and it looked like Owens was going to be able to catch Schlieper in time, but could he pass him? Owens dove to the inside of Schlieper with three laps to go, but Schlieper shut the door and the pair headed down the backstretch. Coming to the white flag, Owens set Schlieper up into turn three and was able to get to the inside of Schlieper coming off of turn number four as he took the lead.
Owens then held off Schlieper on the final lap and picked up his second straight Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the weekend. He was coming off of a win on Thursday Night at Cleveland (TN) Speedway in the 4th Annul Car Smart Race for the Cure [Juvenile Diabetes]. For Owens it was his 18th career series win, which is third all-time in series history.
In Lucas Oil victory lane Owens was extremely happy to accept the winner's check after a hard earned victory. "I said last night at Cleveland, that I hoped the fan's got their money's worth last night, well I think tonight we did them one better here," said Owens, who started fifth and was joined in victory lane by a bevy of well wishers including his son, Nathan.
"I have to thank my crew, Chris Fox, and the guys did a great job as usual. We set fast time, ran second in our heat and we had just enough laps to catch Dan there at the end. We had a good race with Davenport and I wasn't sure we could catch him (Schlieper), but in traffic we were able to close on him and were able to get underneath of him coming to the white flag. Winning at Bulls Gap is special and with Reece Monument Company presenting this event, it's great to win for Mike Reece and everybody there," said the 38-year-old driver who now trails points leader, Scott Bloomquist by just 50 points heading into night two of the "Scorcher 100" Presented by Reece Monument Co. at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, TN.
Owens, who drives for Tazewell, TN's Mike Reece drives a Bloomquist Race Cars Ford Fusion powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by Reece Monument Company, Gantte Appraisals, Red Line Oil, VP Racing Fuels, Byrd's Radiator, C&C Trucking, Ohlins and Alwee Trucking.
Schlieper drove the Rockstar Energy Drink/Pro Power Race Engines/Bloomquist Race Cars Ford Fusion to his second runner-up finish of 2010 was disappointed in second as he thought he had to car to beat. "It's bitter pill to swallow, I got there in traffic and then I saw Jimmy there and I knew I was in some trouble not only having to battle him, but lapped traffic, the car was super all race long, we just came up two laps short at the end," said Schlieper who scored his best finish since the final night of the DART Winternationals at East Bay back in February.
Davenport was third in the Baird Transport/Clements Racing Engines/Barry Wright Race Cars entry with Cook finishing fourth in the Danny Dishman and Ron Ivey/A+ Moving and Storage/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo SS and Pearson came home fifth in the Bobby Labonte Racing/Lucas Oil Products/MasterSbilt Dodge Charger.
Completing the top ten were Chris Wall of Holden, LA, Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, GA, Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN, Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN and Chris Madden of Gaffney, SC.
For the latest breaking news on 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
Friday Night, June 18th, 2010
"7th Annual Scorcher 100" Presented by Reece Monument Co.
Volunteer Speedway - Bulls Gap, TN
Red Buck Cigars Fast Time: Jimmy Owens / 13.940 seconds
Wiles Driveshaft's First Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Jonathan Davenport, Jimmy Owens, Scott Bloomquist, Rick Rogers, Don O'Neal, Mark Vineyard, Bryan Hendrix, Brandon Kinzer, Donald Bradsher, Daniel Baggerly, Dean Bowen, John Tweed
AFCO Racing Products Second Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Ray Cook, Dale McDowell, Brad Neat, Chris Madden, Eric Jacobsen, Tim Isenberg, Terry Wolfenbarger, Jeff Maupin, Tommy Kerr, Lee Sutton, John Mason, Michael Walker
Allstar Performance Third Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Dan Schlieper, Chris Wall, Steve Casebolt, John Blankenship, Shanon Buckingham, Jared Landers, Tyler Reddick, Chris Brown, Chad Ogle, Stacey Boles, Jordan Bland, Tony Schrimsher
SuperFlow Fourth Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Billy Ogle, Earl Pearson Jr., Mike Marlar, Vic Hill, Eric Wells, Mark Douglas, Michael Smith, Kerry Jones, Rodney Kiker, Jeff Neubert, Jeff Smith
Hawk Brake First B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Transfer): Don O'Neal, Eric Jacobsen, Mark Vineyard, Tim Isenberg, Jeff Maupin, Terry Wolfenbarger, Brayn Hendrix, Brandon Kinzer, Tommy Kerr, Lee Sutton, Michael Walker, John Mason, Donald Bradsher, Dean Bowen, Daniel Baggerly-DNS, John Tweed-DNS
Performance Rod and Custom (PRC) Second B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Transfer): Eric Wells, Shanon Buckingham, Jared Landers, Mark Douglas, Michael Smith, Tyler Reddick, Jeff Neubert, Chris Brown, Jeff Smith, Jordan Bland, Chad Ogle, Tony Schrimsher, Kerry Jones, Rodney Kiker, Stacy Boles-DNS
A-Main
1 5 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
2 2 s9 Dan Schlieper Sullivan, WI
3 1 49 Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA
4 3 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
5 8 44 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL
6 6 71w Chris Wall Holden, LA
7 7 17m Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA
8 9 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
9 10 c9 Steve Casebolt Richmond, IN
10 15 44m Chris Madden Gaffney, SC
11 17 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
12 11 41n Brad Neat Dunnville, KY
13 13 44x Rick Rogers Knoxville, TN
14 16 1v Vic Hill Mosheim, TN
15 18 18e Eric Wells Hazard, KY
16 21 4v Mark Vineyard Powell, TN
17 19 5 Eric Jacobsen Watsonville, CA
18 24 11t Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
19 14 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
20 12 157 Mike Marlar Winfield, TN
21 20 50 Shanon Buckingham Morristown, TN
22 4 201 Billy Ogle Knoxville, TN
23 23 9t Tim Isenberg Marshfield, WI
24 22 777 Jared Landers Lexington, NC
25 25 64 Michael Walker Franklin, TN
Race Statistics
Entrants: 47
Lap Leaders: Dan Schlieper (Laps 1-48); Jimmy Owens (Laps 49-50)
Caution Flags: Mike Marlar (Lap 29); John Blankenship (Lap 31)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Tim Isenberg, Tyler Reddick
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisional: Michael Walker
PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race: Don O'Neal (Started 17th; Finished 11th; Advanced 6 positions)
Ohlin's Shocks Performer of the Race: Dan Schlieper
K&N Filters Clean Pass of the Race: Earl Pearson Jr.
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Chris Wall
Comp Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing Engines
Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award: Billy Ogle
DirtonDirt.com Crew Chief of the Race: Chris Fox (Jimmy Owens)
Time of Race: 21 minutes, 23 seconds
2010 Point Standings
1 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 2840
2 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN 2790
3 44 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL 2650
4 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN 2490
5 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC 2405
6 17m Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA 2305
7 s9 Dan Schlieper Sullivan, WI 2225
8 c9 Steve Casebolt Richmond, IN 2210
9 71w Chris Wall Holden, LA 2170
10 18e Eric Wells Hazard, KY 2070
11 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV 2015
12 41n Brad Neat Dunnville, KY 1980
13 157 Mike Marlar Winfield, TN 1905
14 9t Tim Isenberg Marshfield, WI 1635
15 11t Tyler Reddick Corning, CA 1500
16 28e Dennis Erb, Jr. Carpentersville, IL 1475
17 64 Michael Walker Franklin, TN 1315
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