Jimmy Owens Earns First Win of the Season at LaSalle Speedway

Jimmy Owens Earns First Win of the Season at LaSalle Speedway

(La Salle, IL - May 17, 2014) - The 3-time and defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion, Jimmy Owens scored his first series win of the season on Saturday Night at LaSalle Speedway. Owens survived a classic side-by-side battle with Jared Landers after over taking Scott Bloomquist for second. Owens then tracked down race leader Landers and forged ahead for good on lap 37. Owens then pulled away to a comfortable lead to take the Spring Shootout victory. Trailing Owens and Landers to the finish line were, Scott Bloomquist, Earl Pearson Jr., and Don O'Neal

 "I can't say enough about this car. The last few races, we've been solid, and tonight we were finally able to get to victory lane. I want to thank the track crew, it's good to see a track promoter take the time and rework the track. With all the rain they had this week, they smoothed it out and you could run anywhere on it," said Owens, who became the 12th different winner in 15 event races this year.

 "Landers was tough tonight. He drove a very good race, and we ran side-by-side there for several laps. I hope it was a good show for the fans tonight. We got off to a rough start in the feature, but we were able to settle down. Scott [Bloomquist] and I had a really good battle for second. He'd get by me, then the next lap I'd get him back. It was just a great night for our Mike Reece team and all of our sponsors. We feel like we are hitting our stride now," said the winner afterwards

 Owens has now recorded a win and 2-runnerup finishes in his last three starts. "I want to thank Reece Monument Company, Edge Services, Sunoco, Ford, Keyser, Ohlins, Midwest Sheet Metal, my crew chief, Chris Fox, and all the team for giving me a great car tonight."

 Landers held the point for most of the race, but when Owens slipped by him with 13 laps to go he knew he had to concentrate on hanging on for the second position. "That's the best car we have had for quite some time and the crew did a great job on the car. I was doing my job, we got into a lapped car, and that kind of hurt us a little bit. We were able to recover and I thought tonight may be the night we could do it," said the former series rookie-of-the year. "Anytime Jimmy gets by you, it's going to be extremely difficult to get back around him.   Then I had to worry about Scott. Fortunately we held him off to get second," said the driver of the Mark Martin Automotive, Crop Production Services, Rocket Chassis Chevrolet.

In preliminary action, Eddie Carrier Jr. set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group A) amongst the 37 entrants, with a lap of 12.404 seconds. Scott Bloomquist set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 12.712 seconds. Jared Landers, Jimmy Owens, Scott Bloomquist, and Jason Feger won their respective heat races. Bobby Pierce and Tony Toste 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.

 

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series - Race Summary - Saturday Night, May 17th, 2014

Spring Shootout - LaSalle Speedway - La Salle, IL

 Miller Welders Fast Time Group A: Eddie Carrier Jr./ 12.404 seconds

Miller Welders Fast Time Group B: Scott Bloomquist/ 12.712 seconds

Fast Shafts Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jared Landers, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Brady Smith, Dennis Erb Jr., Bobby Pierce, Kevin Weaver, Randy Korte, Mark Larson, Dennis Vandermeersch, Jeff Riddle

Eibach Springs Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jimmy Owens, Earl Pearson, Jr., Shannon Babb, Brandon Sheppard, Rich Bell, Ryan Dauber, Guy Volk, Steve Pastva, Ray Guss, Jr.

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Scott Bloomquist, Don O'Neal, John Blankenship, Brian Birkhofer, Scott Schmitt, Jason Papich, Billy Drake, Ryan Unzicker, Mike Fryer

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jason Feger, Chris Simpson, Brian Shirley, Steve Francis, Tony Toste, Jason Hughes, Steve Dimmick, Jason Riggs, Bob Pohlman

JRi Shocks B-Main #1 (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Bobby Pierce, Kevin Weaver, Randy Korte, Rich Bell, Ryan Dauber, Ray Guss, Jr., Mark Larson, Dennis Vandermeersch, Guy Volk, Jeff Riddle, Steve Pastva

CV Products B-Main #2 (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Tony Toste, Scott Schmitt, Jason Hughes, Jason Papich, Billy Drake, Jason Riggs, Ryan Unzicker, Mike Fryer, Steve Dimmick, Bob Pohlman

 

Feature Finish (50 Laps):

FINISH   START    CAR #    DRIVER NAME    HOMETOWN

1             3             20           Jimmy Owens     Newport, TN

2             1             777        Jared Landers     Batesville, AR

3             2             0             Scott Bloomquist              Mooresburg, TN

4             7             44           Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL

5             6             5             Don O'Neal         Martinsville, IN

6             9             2             Brady Smith        Solon Springs, WI

7             10           23           John Blankenship              Williamson, WV

8             5             28           Eddie Carrier, Jr.               Salt Rock, WV

9             13           28e        Dennis Erb, Jr.    Carpentersville, IL

10           19           B12        Kevin Weaver     Gibson City, IL

11           17           32           Bobby Pierce      Oakwood, IL

12           21           00           Randy Korte        Highland, IL

13           16           15           Steve Francis      Ashland, KY

14           15           B5          Brandon Sheppard            New Berlin, IL

15           23           91p        Jason Papich       Nipomo, CA

16           18           91T        Tony Toste          Arroyo Grande, CA

17           11           18           Shannon Babb    Mowequa, IL

18           8             32x         Chris Simpson     Oxford, IA

19           22           12           Jason Hughes     Watts, OK

20           14           15b        Brian Birkhofer   Muscatine, IA

21           20           10           Scott Schmitt      Tonica, IL

22           24           v77         Guy Volk              Valparaiso, IN

23           12           81           Brian Shirley        Chatham, IL

24           4             25F         Jason Feger         Bloomington, IL

 

 

 

Race Statistics:

Entrants: 37

Lap Leaders: Jared Landers (Laps 1 - 40); Jimmy Owens (Laps 42 - 50)

Caution Flags: Jason Feger (Lap 1); Jason Papich (Lap 14); Brian Shirley (Lap 27); Brian Shirley (Lap 33)

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisional: Jason Papich

Miller Welders Fast Time Provisional: Guy Volt

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: None

Wrisco Feature Winner: Jimmy Owens

Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Kevin Weaver (Started: 19th; Finished: 10th; Advanced 9 Positions)

Keyser Mfg Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Don O'Neal

Allstar Performer of the Race: Jared Landers

Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Jimmy Owens

Dunn Benson Ford Rookie of the Race: Jason Papich

Midwest Sheet Metal Highest Finishing Rookie: Jason Papich

COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing Engines

Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Club 29 / Black Diamond Race Cars

Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Jason Durham (Jared Landers)

HAWK Performance Fastest Lap of the Race: Jared Landers (Lap # 2 - 14.120 seconds)

Time of Race: 22 minutes 21 seconds

 

Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:

  POS      CAR #    DRIVER NAME    HOMETOWN      POINTS

1             5             Don O'Neal         Martinsville, IN  2120

2             20           Jimmy Owens     Newport, TN      2085

3             15           Steve Francis      Ashland, KY         2030

4             28           Eddie Carrier, Jr.               Salt Rock, WV     2020

5             44           Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL  2005

6             0             Scott Bloomquist              Mooresburg, TN               1965

7             23           John Blankenship              Williamson, WV 1815

8             777        Jared Landers     Batesville, AR     1750

9             81           Brian Shirley        Chatham, IL        1710

10           28e        Dennis Erb, Jr.    Carpentersville, IL            1655

11           12           Jason Hughes     Watts, OK            1555

12           91p        Jason Papich       Nipomo, CA        1410

 

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