Jared Landers Wins Lucas Oil Knoxville Nationals Finale

Jared Landers Wins Lucas Oil Knoxville Nationals Finale

(KNOXVILLE, IA September 26, 2015) - Jared Landers bolted to the lead on lap 92 and then held off Josh Richards to win the 12th Annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals - Presented by Casey's General Store on Saturday night at Knoxville Raceway. Landers earned $40,000 for the second crown jewel victory of his career.

In a race that saw five different leaders, Landers swept by Jimmy Owens with ten laps to go, and caught Richards in the waning laps. Once Landers cleared Richards, the duo battled it out to the finish. Owens finished third, followed by Mike Marlar, and Darrell Lanigan.

"What a win for our team! I tried to keep the car on the bottom for most of the race. Then when I was racing Jimmy [Owens] late in the race, I decided to go to the top. I didn't want to run up against that berm because I thought the car would get hot and start overheating. Early in the race my seat belts came undone. Thank goodness we had a caution right after that so I could get buckled back up again."

Chad Simpson led the first five laps until Jonathan Davenport took over the top spot. Davenport then controlled the race until smoke started bellowing from his car with 43 laps scored. Davenport slowed and dropped out of the race, finishing 29th.

Owens picked up the lead of the race. Landers moved into third, followed by Richards, Simpson, and Mason Zeigler.   Bloomquist had a chance to cut into Davenport's points lead, but suddenly slowed and then exited the race with 26 laps remaining. He was credited with a 23rd place finish.

Owens held the lead until Richards passed him heading into turn number three for the lead. Richards then stretched his lead out over Owens and Landers as those two battled it out for second. Landers cleared Owens and then set his sights on Richards. With eight laps to go, Landers was able to track down Richards and make the winning pass.

"I sort of held back there for a while. Those guys have more experience than me and I didn't want to use up my equipment early on. Several cars I saw were jumping the cushion. When I got by Jimmy, it seemed like it didn't take long to catch Josh. I got into a lapped car and tore up the right rear quarter panel. But the car stayed together until the end. It's great to win this prestigious event in front of this big of a crowd."

"I want to thank my dad, Lance Landers, my crew chief, Jason Durham, and everyone else on the crew for their help. Our sponsors; I am just so grateful for all of them; Crop Production Services, Bad Boy Mowers, Mark Martin Automotive, ASC Warranty, Big Dog Motorsports, Penske Shocks, and Sunoco Race Fuels. Our Durham engine was just spectacular, and what else can I say about this Sweet-Bloomquist car, we have been fast all year and we finally got the victory in a big race."

Richards now has four second place finishes in this event and was pleased with his runner-up spot, but thought he might have finally won the big one at Knoxville. "Congrats to Jared and those guys, what a run they had. We had just a fantastic car over the last half of the race. I got up to the front and was racing with Jimmy and once I got past him I thought tonight was going to be our night. Then Jared just came out of nowhere and passed us. We tried our best to get back around him but he held his line."

"I'd like to thank my dad and all of my crew. We started so far back that it made it a little tough, but I am proud of our effort. I want to thank Valvoline, Seubert Calf Ranches, Ace Metal Works, Petroff Towing, and everyone else who sponsors our car."

Owens was third at the finish of the race. "I want to thank Bryan Rowland, Widow Wax, and everyone else with our team. We had a really good car all weekend. We just came up a little short tonight. We keep making strides with this team. Congrats to Jared on his win and we will go get 'em next time."

Completing the top ten were Chad Simpson, Chris Simpson, Brandon Sheppard, Frank Heckenast Jr., and Steve Francis.

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Feature Finish (100 Laps):

FINISH   START   CAR #    DRIVER NAME   HOMETOWN

1             7             777        Jared Landers     Batesville, AR

2             19           1R          Josh Richards     Shinnston, WV

3             2             20           Jimmy Owens     Newport, TN

4             8             157        Mike Marlar        Winfield, TN

5             9             29           Darrell Lanigan   Union, KY

6             1             25           Chad Simpson    Mt. Vernon, IA

7             15           32           Chris Simpson    Oxford, IA

8             21           B5          Brandon Sheppard    New Berlin, IL

9             27           99JR       Frank Heckenast, Jr. Frankfort, IL

10           24           15           Steve Francis     Ashland, KY

11           16           21           Billy Moyer          Batesville, AR

12           18           25Z         Mason Zeigler   Chalk Hill, PA

13           23           17m       Dale McDowell  Chickamauga, GA

14           13           28e        Dennis Erb, Jr.   Carpentersville, IL

15           29           7w          Ricky Weiss       Headingley, MB

16           26           14m       Morgan Bagley  Tyler, TX

17           11           1             Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL

18           28           25F         Jason Feger       Bloomington, IL

19           32           40           Joel Callahan     Dubuque, iA

20           14           18b        Shannon Babb    Mowequa, IL

21           6             21BX      Chris Brown        Spring, TX

22           10           7R          Kent Robinson    Bloomington, IN

23           3             0             Scott Bloomquist  Mooresburg, TN

24           12           39           Tim McCreadie   Watertown, NY

25           17           21jr        Billy Moyer, Jr.     Batesville, AR

26           30           28           Eddie Carrier, Jr.  Salt Rock, WV

27           5             5             Don O'Neal         Martinsville, IN

28           22           54W       Matt Westfall       Pleasant Hill, OH

29           4             6             Jonathan Davenport   Mount Airy, NC

30           25           28m       Jimmy Mars        Menomonie, WI

31           20           58D        AJ Diemel           Elk Mound, WI

32           31           29d        Spencer Diercks Davenport, IA