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Lanigan Holds Off Richards For World of Outlaws Late Model Series Triumph At Eriez Speedway

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World of Outlaws Late Model SeriesHAMMETT, PA – July 31, 2011 – Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., capped the three-race World of Outlaws Late Model Series swing through western Pennsylvania in fine fashion, mastering Eriez Speedway to capture Sunday night’s 50-lap A-Main.

The 2008 WoO LMS champion led from start-to-finish to register his first-ever victory at the one-third-mile oval outside Erie. He drove away from Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., following a late-race restart en route to his series-leading sixth win of the 2011 season behind the wheel of his self-owned GottaRace.com Rocket car.

“Eriez is not one of my better tracks, but the car was awesome tonight,” said the 41-year-old Lanigan, who earned $10,775 for his efforts. “Getting to draw the front row (outside pole starting spot) definitely helped out, but the car was unbelievable. We did a few things different than we usually do here and it worked.”

The checkered flag was Lanigan’s second of the national tour’s month-ending tripleheader in the Keystone State. He also won on July 26 at Dog Hollow Speedway in Strongstown, Pa. – a race that was the milestone 300th contested on the WoO LMS since 2004.

Richards, 23, hustled his father Mark’s Rocket Chassis house car forward from the fifth starting spot to second by lap 23. But after overtaking Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., for the runner-up slot his ascension effectively stalled thanks to a faulty spark plug wire, leaving him 0.990 of a second behind Lanigan at the finish line.

Clanton, who started from the pole position, settled for a third-place finish in his RSD Enterprises Rocket mount. Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., advanced from the 14th starting position to place fourth in a Victory Circle machine and his Sweeteners Plus teammate Vic Coffey of Caledonia, N.Y., completed the top five in a Rocket.

Lanigan, whose pair of Pennsy victories sandwiched a ninth-place finish on July 27 at McKean County Raceway in East Smethport (he went to the rear of the field after clipping the wall and sliding to a stop between turns one and two), outgunned Clanton for the lead at the initial green on Sunday and never looked back. He was well aware that Richards was lurking in second throughout the race’s second half but figured it would take a spectacular move for his young rival to unseat him.

“I knew (Richards) was back there, but I didn’t where he was,” said Lanigan, who registered his 25th career win on the WoO LMS. “I knew if anyone did pass me on the outside, he was gonna have a helluva ride out there. It got dirty out there and it was hard to get anything going, so I didn’t see how anybody could pass me out there.

“I just kept running the same line I did the whole race. I wasn’t gonna get off the bottom unless I had to.”

Richards managed to come within inches of Lanigan’s right-rear quarter-panel when he lunged into turns one and two following the race’s third-and-final restart, on lap 41, but that was as close as he got to the lead.

“We gave it all we had,” said Richards, who was shooting for a second consecutive WoO LMS victory after winning the ‘Penn Gold 40’ at McKean County. “We had a real good car, but we broke a plug wire and I couldn’t quite get the car loaded (through the corners) like we needed to. The motor would just stumble and I’d lose that little extra bit of ground when I needed to be on the gas and going.

“I really feel like if we could’ve run a clean line we would’ve had a good shot to win the race, but we’re happy with second. Darrell and his guys did a great job and deserved to win.”

Clanton, 35, recorded just his second top-five finish in 21 WoO LMS starts this season. He got back on track after back-to-back frustrating finishes at Dog Hollow and McKean County.

“We worked pretty hard this week,” said Clanton, who decided to pull out his Rocket car for Sunday’s action after struggling with his Capital Race Car in the other Pennsylvania events. “We wanted to go racing Friday and Saturday but we didn’t. We took some time off to try and concentrate on this race.”

McCreadie, 37, was the most notable hard charger for the third consecutive WoO LMS A-Main, but that fact had him a bit perturbed following the race.

“I just don’t qualify or heat race good,” said McCreadie, who briefly took third from Clanton lap 47 before ceding the spot back the following circuit. “We had a really good car for the feature – again – but the problem is, when you start so far back and have to pass all them guys, you just use a lot of your stuff up. Once you get there in contention like we did tonight, there just isn’t enough left.”

Coffey, who turned 40 on July 25, cracked the top five for the second consecutive race. He also threatened to take third from Clanton midway through the A-Main before he fell back to fifth place.

“I was probably a little bit too tight right in the center to run the bottom,” said Coffey, who is still searching for his first career WoO LMS victory in 101 A-Mains starts. “I finally moved up to the middle in (turns) three and four about halfway through the race and actually drove right to Clanton and got beside him a couple times, but then he kind of adjusted his line a little bit and I went down there and missed once and slid and Timmy went driving on by (for fourth on a lap-37 restart).”

WoO LMS points leader Rick Eckert of York, Pa., finished sixth after nearly slipping out of the top 10 following a lap-23 restart. He left Eriez with a 42-point advantage over Richards.

“I tightened my car up too much,” said Eckert. “I was too tight to roll through the center, and on the one restart I pushed off the corner and whoa…I was in trouble. They were steady driving by me.

“That last restart I got something back. We salvaged a decent finish out of it, so we’ll keep after ‘em as hard as we can and hopefully we’ll be there at the end (in the championship battle).”

Finishing in positions 7-10 was third-starter Mike Knight of Ripley, N.Y., who earned the $500 ‘Bonus Buck’ cash for being the highest-finishing driver who hasn’t won a WoO LMS A-Main and isn’t ranked among the top 12 in the points standings; Robbie Blair of Titusville, Pa.; Dan Stone of Thompson, Pa., who ran as high as sixth; and Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., who started 22nd after earning the final transfer spot in the second B-Main with a last-corner pass of Corry, Pa.’s Chris Hackett.

Bump Hedman of Sugar Grove, Pa., topped the 36-car field in Ohlins Shocks Time Trials, turning a lap 16.051 seconds to earn his first-ever fast-time honor in WoO LMS competition. He was an early retiree from the A-Main, however, finishing 23rd after stopping on the track to bring out a caution flag on lap 37.

Heat winners were Clanton, Lanigan, Stone and Richards. John Volpe of Lakewood, N.Y., and WoO LMS rookie Ron Davies of Warren, Pa., captured the B-Mains.

Next on the WoO LMS schedule is a three-race trip to the Upper Midwest highlighted by the $50,000-to-win USA Nationals on Aug. 4-6 at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis. The 100-lap event will be sandwiched by 50-lap, $10,000-to-win programs on Wed., Aug. 3, at Shawano (Wis.) Speedway and Mon., Aug. 8, at Independence (Iowa) Motor Speedway.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Results of WoO Late Model Series at Eriez Speedway (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (2) Darrell Lanigan/50 $10,775

2. (5) Josh Richards/50 $5,750

3. (1) Shane Clanton/50 $3,550

4. (14) Tim McCreadie/50 $3,150

5. (4) Vic Coffey/50 $2,550

6. (7) Rick Eckert/50 $2,250

7. (3) Mike Knight/50 $1,950

8. (10) Robbie Blair/50 $1,300

9. (8) Dan Stone/50 $1,200

10. (22) Chub Frank/50 $1,650

11. (12) Pat Doar/50 $1,850

12. (23) Clint Smith/50 $1,550

13. (13) Austin Hubbard/50 $1,500

14. (15) Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/50 $900

15. (16) Andy Boozel/50 $850

16. (6) Dave Hess Jr./50 $800

17. (17) John Volpe/50 $770

18. (11) Tim Fuller/50 $1,300

19. (18) Ron Davies/50 $1,280

20. (21) John Lobb/50 $700

21. (25) Dave Lyon/49 $700

22. (20) Scott Gurdak/37 $700

23. (9) Bump Hedman/36 $750

24. (24) Steve Francis/2 $700

25. (19) Jason Dupont/0 $725

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

Time of Race: 26 Mins., 38.036 Secs.

Margin of Victory: 0.990 Secs.

Yellow Flags: 3 (Laps 23, 37, 41)

Lap Leaders: Lanigan (1-50)

Provisional Starters: Smith, Francis (WoO); Lyon (track)

Rookie of the Race: Doar ($250)

WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Knight ($500)

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. B22-Bump Hedman/Sugar Grove, PA 16.051

2. won11-Robbie Blair/Titusville, PA 16.135

3. 99B-Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/Bear Lake, PA 16.169

4. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 16.233

5. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 16.275

6. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 16.320

7. 2-Dan Stone/Thompson, PA 16.345

8. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 16.384

9. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 16.389

10. 2V-Chad Valone/Jamestown, NY 16.394

11. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 16.453

12. 9K-Mike Knight/Ripley, NY 16.504

13. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 16.505

14. 44H-Dave Hess Jr./Waterford, PA 16.514

15. 71d-Ron Davies/Warren, PA 16.514

16. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 16.517

17. 14B-Dick Barton/Ashville, NY 16.531

18. 28L-Randy Lobb/Jamestown, NY 16.557

19. 76-Andy Kania/Waterford, PA 16.589

20. 11-Pat Doar/New Richmond, WI 16.591

21. 53-John Volpe/Lakewood, NY 16.592

22. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 16.604

23. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 16.612

24. 12B-Andy Boozel/16.620

25. 1L-John Lobb/Frewsburg, NY 16.629

26. NO7-Jason Dupont/Cyclone, PA 16.643

27. 32c-Vic Coffey/Caledonia, NY 16.650

28. 9-Scott Gurdak/Bear Lake, PA 16.665

29. 26G-Dutch Davies/Warren, PA 16.674

30. 55H-Dave Lyon/Corry, PA 16.679

31. 33-Chris Hackett/Corry, PA 16.694

32. 1g-Rich Gardner/Waterford, PA 16.795

33. 22-Greg Oakes/Franklinville, NY 16.820

34. 71L-Dennis Lunger/Albion, PA 16.841

35. 03-Doug Eck/Corry, PA 16.897

36. 16*-Dereck Frank/Jamestown, NY 17.232

Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Clanton, Eckert, Hedman, Hubbard, Volpe, J. Lobb, Oakes, D. Davies, Barton

Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Lanigan, Hess, Blair, McCreadie, Dupont, Valone, R. Lobb, Lyon, Lunger

Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Stone, Coffey, Fuller, Briggs, R. Davies, Hackett, Eck, C. Frank, Kania

Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Richards, Knight, Doar, Boozel, Gurdak, Gardner, Smith, D. Frank, Francis

B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Volpe, Dupont, J. Lobb, D. Davies, Lunger, R. Lobb, Oakes, Valone, Lyon (DNS) Barton

B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): R. Davies, Gurdak, C. Frank, Hackett, Eck, Francis, Smith, Kania, D. Frank (DNS) Gardner

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:

Arizona Sports Shirts ($100 apparel certificate to 22nd fastest qualifier): Tim McCreadie

Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Mike Knight

Comp Cams ($50 cash to A-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Josh Richards

Comp Cams (certificate to 10th place in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Chub Frank

Eibach Springs (one free spring to each B-Main winner or next highest w/decal): John Lobb/Chris Hackett

JE Pistons ($50 cash to A-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Josh Richards

JE Pistons (one set of Pro Seal rings to 11th-place or next highest w/decal, redeemable w/next purchase of one complete set of rings): Pat Doar

JE Pistons (one set of Pro Seal rings to 21st-place or next highest w/decal, redeemable w/next purchase of one complete set of rings): Dave Lyon

MSD Ignition ($75 cash to A-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Darrell Lanigan

MSD Ignition ($25 cash to last-place in A-Main or next lowest w/decal): Jason Dupont

Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash to fast qualifier or next highest w/decal): Bump Hedman

Quartermaster ($100 product certificate to A-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Shane Clanton

Quartermaster ($50 product certificate to 5th-place or next highest w/decal): Vic Coffey

Quartermaster ($25 product certificate to 15th-place or next highest w/decal): John Lobb

R2C Performance ($100 certificate to highest-finishing driver w/decal or $100 cash if race winner is using R2C filter and decal is displayed): Darrell Lanigan (cash)

STP ($50 cash to 2nd-place in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Josh Richards

Superflow Dynos ($50 cash to 7th-place in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Mike Knight

VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash to winner of Heat 1 or next highest w/decal): Shane Clanton
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (one five-gallon plastic fuel jugs to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main or next highest w/decal): Chad Valone

WIX Filters ($50 cash to 13th-place in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Austin Hubbard

Wrisco Aluminum (Three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Darrell Lanigan

2011 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of July 31 – 21 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):

1. Rick Eckert 3056

2. Josh Richards 3014 (-42)

3. Tim McCreadie 2946 (-110)

4. Darrell Lanigan 2926 (-130)

5. Austin Hubbard 2810 (-246)

6. Shane Clanton 2800 (-256)

7. Chub Frank 2796 (-260)

8. Clint Smith 2782 (-274)

9. Tim Fuller 2676 (-380)

10. Vic Coffey 2638 (-418)

11. Pat Doar 2574 (-482)

12. Ron Davies 2428 (-628)

13. John Lobb 2324 (-732)

14. Jill George 1648 (-1408)

15. Jonathan Davenport 1288 (-1768)

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

Over 4,700 fans are now WoO LMS ‘followers’ on Twitter. To sign-up and receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to http://www.dirtvision.com/welcome.php and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

BLOGGING: WoO LMS fans can now read interesting stories from the road by checking out two blogs –‘Life As An Outlaw’ by series announcer Rick Eshelman and ‘The Scoop With Scoop’ by tour P.R. director Kevin Kovac. Both blogs can be accessed by clicking on the preceding links or the specific ‘Blog’ buttons on the right-hand side of http://www.woolms.com/.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), Vicci (Official Uniform), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award), McCarthy’s One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning (Raye Vest Memorial Pill Draw Award), Chizmark Larson Insurance, Factory Value Parts and RacingJunk.com; in addition to contingency sponsors Comp Cams, Eibach Springs, JE Pistons, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance, Superflow Dynos, Wix Filters and Wrisco Aluminum. 

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