Don O'Neal Dominates at Mansfield

(MANSFIELD, OH - July 1, 2018) - Don O'Neal brought the Clint Bowyer Racing, Club 29 to Victory Lane for the first time this season in dominating fashion. The former Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion led all 50 laps of the Freedom 50 on Sunday night at Mansfield Motor Speedway.

O'Neal took the lead at the start of the race and never looked back, going unchallenged for his 44th career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win. It was his first Series win since the Pittsburgher 100 last October. Scott Bloomquist and Jimmy Owens battled for second for several laps with Bloomquist finally able to pull away from Owens in the last half of the race. Earl Pearson Jr. finished in fourth followed by Hudson O'Neal in fifth.

Starting on the outside front row, Don O'Neal was slowed by a handful of cautions. He closed out the race with an over four second margin of victory over Bloomquist. In the series championship points standings, O'Neal becomes the eighth driver in the top ten to earn a win in 2018.

"It seems like a long time since we have been in Victory Lane. My hat is off to the whole crew, they worked so hard getting us headed in the right direction. Anthony Burroughs [Crew Chief] and my team, they have never given up this season. They are making us better every week. My crew was signaling me so I knew I had a pretty good lead, but I didn't know it was as much as it was."

Bloomquist completed his second straight podium finish and was able to close the gap on points leader, Jonathan Davenport, who finished 12th.

Owens took third in a competitive run as he and Bloomquist battled for second for several laps. "We had a good hot rod tonight, but tightened up the car a bit too much. Congrats to Don O'Neal and his crew for a great run tonight."

The winner's Clint Bowyer Racing, Clements Racing Engines-powered entry is sponsored by: Peak Antifreeze and Coolant, iRacing.com, Crawford Outdoor, Cometic Gasket, Penske Racing Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, and Clint Bowyer Autoplex.

Completing the top ten were RJ Conley, Dennis Erb Jr., Devin Moran, Dale McDowell, and Josh Richards.