O'Neal Wins Terrific Battle at the Beach at Tri-City Speedway Friday Night

O'Neal Wins Terrific Battle at the Beach at Tri-City Speedway Friday Night

(GRANITE CITY, IL - July 11, 2014) - A day after celebrating his birthday, current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points leader, Don O'Neal gave himself quite a present by winning the Battle at the Beach 50 on Friday Night at Tri-City Speedway. O'Neal took the lead from his teammate Steve Francis on lap 26 and withstood challenges from Jimmy Owens and Scott Bloomquist for the win.

In a battle amongst the top three in LOLMDS points standings, O'Neal held on for his fifth series win of the season. Bloomquist snuck by Owens at the end to finish second. Owens came home third, followed by 12th starting, Brian Birkhofer, and Francis rounded out the top five.

"What a win for this Clint Bowyer Race Team tonight! I saw Jimmy pull alongside a few times and I thought I had better get going. That top line was going away. The car handled really well whether we ran low, in the middle, or the top. It got pretty loose there at the end. I kept my pace pretty good, there were a few lapped cars that actually helped up keep the lead. The track was in excellent shape tonight, and I hope the fans got their money's worth," said the winner.

"Steve [Francis] got off to a good start. He had a really good car. I just kept digging and digging, and was finally able to get by him. I want to thank my crew chief Jeremy Justice, Tony Trent, Barry and Lance Wright. Lance couldn't be here tonight. He is with his daughter who just had surgery. Thanks to Peak Antifreeze and Motor Oil, Crawford Supply, Traeger Grills, Cometic Gasket, Ohlins, Georgia Boot, Toyota, and Clements Race Engines."

Bloomquist was able to overcome a few early setbacks; falling to fifth at one point; to collect the second place money. "We had a really good car; the track was just spectacular all night. I had a run there a few times, and I thought I was going to get both Don and Jimmy for the lead. Another second place finish for us tonight. It feels good knowing we have a car capable of winning every time out. I have to thank Ole Smoky Moonshine, Penske Shocks, Base, Andy Durham Engines and Randy Sweet. We will head to Wheatland tomorrow night and hopefully come home with a victory."

Owens was in the hunt trying to make it back-to-back wins after a stunning run from 17th place to win at 201 last Saturday. "Wow what a race, at one point there was five of us racing for the lead. I tried a few times to slide up there in front of him [O'Neal], but I was going to race him clean. Then I got into the wall and that ended any chance I had of passing him for the win. Then here comes Scott and he got underneath me for second. We had a good point's night and we'll head down to Wheatland tomorrow and try to get us another win there. Thanks my Mike Reece, Reece Monument Company, Sunoco, FORD, and everybody else on this car."

Completing the top ten were Jared Landers, Ryan Gustin, Chad Simpson, Billy Moyer Jr., and Terry Phillips.

In preliminary action, Jim Shereck set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group A) amongst the 37 entrants, with a lap of 14.733 seconds. Steve Francis set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 15.066 seconds. Billy Moyer Jr., Scott Bloomquist, Steve Francis, and Don O'Neal won their respective heat races. Brandon Overton and Jared Landers 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  - Friday Night, July 11, 2014

"Battle at the Beach 50" - Tri-City Speedway - Granite City, IL

Feature Finish (50 Laps):

FIN.    ST.   CAR #    DRIVER NAME        HOMETOWN

1          4          5          Don O'Neal                Martinsville, IN

2          3          0          Scott Bloomquist        Mooresburg, TN

3          5          20        Jimmy Owens            Newport, TN

4          12        15b      Brian Birkhofer          Muscatine, IA

5          2          15        Steve Francis            Ashland, KY

6          18        777      Jared Landers           Batesville, AR

7          7          19R     Ryan Gustin               Marshalltown, IA

8          14        25c      Chad Simpson           Mt. Vernon, IA

9          1          21jr     Billy Moyer, Jr.           Batesville, AR

10        16        75        Terry Phillips             Springfield, MO

11        9          17        Jim Shereck                St. Charles, MO

12        17        5e        Brandon Overton        Appling, GA

13        19        33T      Tim Manville                Highland, IL

14        13        44        Earl Pearson, Jr.         Jacksonville, FL

15        15        28e      Dennis Erb, Jr.            Carpentersville, IL

16        20        18x      Jack Sullivan              Greenbrier, AR

17        22        56        Tony Jackson, Jr.       Lebanon, MO

18        23        91p      Jason Papich             Nipomo, CA

19        11        12        Jason Hughes            Watts, OK

20        28        5A       Paul Schrempf            St. Louis, MO

21        27        6k        Michael Kloos             Trenton, IL

22        6          28        Eddie Carrier, Jr.        Salt Rock, WV

23        8          23        John Blankenship       Williamson, WV

24        21        6T        Travis Dickes             Madison, NE

25        10        00        Randy Korte               Highland, IL

26        25        186      Jeremy Payne             Springfield, MO

27        24        92w     Scott Weber                Festus, MO

28        26        99L      Scott Lewis                 Henderson, CO

 

Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:   

POS    CAR # DRIVER NAME        HOMETOWN           POINTS

1          5          Don O'Neal                 Martinsville, IN          4625

2          20        Jimmy Owens             Newport, TN              4585

3          0          Scott Bloomquist        Mooresburg, TN         4205

4          44        Earl Pearson, Jr.         Jacksonville, FL         4100

5          15        Steve Francis              Ashland, KY              4060

6          28        Eddie Carrier, Jr.        Salt Rock, WV            4000

7          23        John Blankenship       Williamson, WV          3670

8          777      Jared Landers             Batesville, AR            3635

9          28e      Dennis Erb, Jr .           Carpentersville, IL     3380

10        12        Jason Hughes              Watts, OK                 3180

11        91p      Jason Papich               Nipomo, CA               3075

 

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