Jimmy Owens Cashes in on COMP Cams Topless 100

Jimmy Owens Cashes in on COMP Cams Topless 100 at Batesville Motor Speedway

(LOCUST GROVE, AR - August 16, 2014) - For the second time in his career, Jimmy Owens found victory lane in the COMP Cams Topless 100-Presented by Crop Production Services. The three-time and defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Champion took the lead on lap 81 from Don O'Neal and cruised on for the $40,000 victory. Owens had previously won the event back in 2009.

Dale McDowell charged from his eleventh starting spot to finish second. McDowell passed Jonathan Davenport on the final circuit to earn the runner-up spot. Davenport came home third, followed by 23rd-starting, Scott Bloomquist, with Don O'Neal rounding out the top five.

"It's such a great win for our team, my car owner Mike Reece, and all my sponsors. The Club 29 car and the Cornett Ford Engine combination haven't missed a beat this season. You could run anywhere on this track once things got going. The groove widened out as the race went on. I could maneuver my car anywhere. I tried a couple of times to get by Don [O'Neal], but he held his line and raced us clean. I just got a run on him and we were fortunate enough to clear him."

Pole-sitter Stacy Taylor led the first ten laps of the event. O'Neal got by him on lap 10, and then built a steady lead over the field. Taylor held down the second spot until four-time Topless 100 winner, Billy Moyer moved past him to take over second. Owens, who started seventh, picked up the pace after a couple of caution flags had bunched the field.

Owens lost second to hometown driver and former winner of the event, Wendell Wallace in the middle stages of the race. Wallace scooted by Owens and held the position until lap 54 when Owens got back by him. O'Neal and Owens then waged a two-car battle for the race lead until Owens forged ahead with 19 laps to go.

"I was trying to run a different line than him [O'Neal], but he stayed in front coming off the corners. It seems like it's always a tire game when you come here. Will they hold up or won't they, that's the question. Tonight the tires held up. We are pretty excited to get this win in front of such a large crowd. I have to thank Reece Monument Company, Edge Services, Sunoco, Red Line Oil, Keyser, Ohlins, and FORD. Also thanks to COMP CAMS And Crop Production Services for sponsoring this race."

Davenport is still looking for the first crown jewel win of his career and was hoping for a caution with less than ten laps to go to have a shot at Owens. That caution never came, and McDowell tracked him down to take away second in the final six laps.

"We had a great car tonight," said McDowell in victory lane. "The bottom was better for us, there was enough grip that we were able to pass three cars there at the end. I don't think even with a caution I could have gotten by him [Owens], said the driver of the Team Dillon Warrior Race Cars Chevrolet. Congrats to Jimmy on the win, he deserved it. I can't believe I had enough momentum on that last lap to get by Jonathan. We have struggled a little bit since winning the Dream. So it feels good to run strong again."

Davenport felt he a had a car that could challenge Owens near the end. "We just fell too far back from him with about five to go. He had a couple of lapped cars between us that he'd successfully cleared and it kind of hurt my momentum a little bit. The best car won. We will take third and move on. We learned a lot about completing a 100-lap race this weekend. We will be better in the future," said the driver of the AES Racing, K&L Rumley Longhorn Chassis.

Completing the top ten were John Blankenship, Stacy Taylor, Jimmy Mars, Chris Brown, and Jared Landers.

In preliminary action, Stacy Taylor set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group A) amongst the 63 entrants, with a lap of 13.554 seconds. Brian Birkhofer set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 13.867 seconds. Stacy Taylor, Don O'Neal, Jonathan Davenport, Brian Birkhofer, Wendell Wallace, and Billy Moyer won their respective heat races. Robbie Stuart and Earl Pearson, Jr. won their respective B-Mains.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com and follow the series on www.facebook.com/lucasdirt and www.twitter.com/lucasdirt.

 

Feature Finish (100 Laps):

FINISH   START   CAR #    DRIVER NAME                  HOMETOWN

1             7             20           Jimmy Owens                    Newport, TN

2             11           17m       Dale McDowell                 Chickamauga, GA

3             6             6             Jonathan Davenport        Mount Airy, NC

4             23           0             Scott Bloomquist              Mooresburg, TN

5             3             5             Don O'Neal                        Martinsville, IN

6             13           23           John Blankenship              Williamson, WV

7             1             27T        Stacy Taylor                       Jacksonville, AR

8             15           28m       Jimmy Mars                       Menomonie, WI

9             12           21b        Chris Brown                       Spring, TX

10           18           777        Jared Landers                    Batesville, AR

11           10           15           Steve Francis                     Ashland, KY

12           14           57J         Bub McCool                       Vicksburg, MS

13           27           28e        Dennis Erb, Jr.                   Carpentersville, IL

14           24           28           Eddie Carrier, Jr.               Salt Rock, WV

15           5             6m         Wendell Wallace              Batesville, AR

16           22           17mb     Robert Baker                     Bryant, AR

17           21           18x         Jack Sullivan                       Greenbrier, AR

18           26           27s         Tommy Surrett                  Little Rock, AR

19           19           6r           Robbie Stuart                    DeRidder, LA

20           16           75           Terry Phillips                      Springfield, MO

21           9             157        Mike Marlar                       Winfield, TN

22           28           91p        Jason Papich                      Nipomo, CA

23           17           18           Shannon Babb                   Mowequa, IL

24           8             21jr        Billy Moyer, Jr.                  Batesville, AR

25           4             21           Billy Moyer                         Batesville, AR

26           25           86           Kyle Beard                          Trumann, AR

27           2             15b        Brian Birkhofer                  Muscatine, IA

 

 

Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings: 

POS       CAR #    DRIVER NAME   HOMETOWN      POINTS

1             20           Jimmy Owens     Newport, TN        5735

2             5             Don O'Neal         Martinsville, IN    5590

3             0             S. Bloomquist     Mooresburg, TN  5355

4             15           Steve Francis      Ashland, KY           4990

5             28           E. Carrier, Jr.       Salt Rock, WV       4940

6             44           Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL    4885

7             23           J. Blankenship     Williamson, WV  4595

8             777        Jared Landers     Batesville, AR       4515

9             28e        Dennis Erb, Jr.    Carpentersville, IL4235

10           12           Jason Hughes     Watts, OK              3850

11           91p        Jason Papich       Nipomo, CA          3725

 

*Points are unofficial until Close of Business on the Tuesday following Race Day*