ASHLAND, KY – Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series driver, Steve Francis of Ashland, KY competed last weekend in the 29th Annual Sunoco Race Fuels North/South 100 Presented by Lucas Oil at the famed Florence Speedway in Union, KY.

Steve would make the 100-lap event which was taped before the cameras of SPEED Channel by finishing second in his B-Main on Saturday Night. Steve would start 22nd in the star-studded field and steadily worked his way into the top ten.

At the end of the event Steve would earn the PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race as he finished in the seventh position after advancing 15 spots from his original starting position on the grid. Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN would win his third North/South 100 and extend his points lead over Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN. The event will be shown on SPEED at 11 AM Eastern Time on September 4th.

Steve and the rest of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series drivers are preparing for one of the their biggest events of 2011 this week with the 19th Annual COMP Cams Topless 100 to be held at Batesville Motor Speedway in Locust Grove, AR. The event will pay $40,000 to win and $2,000 to start.

Activity will get underway on Thursday Night, August 18th with a special practice session followed by Red Buck Cigar Time Trials and Heat Races on Friday Night, August 19th. On Saturday, August 20th will be the B-Mains and the 100-lap Topless 100. For more information log on to www.batesvillemotorspeedway.net.

Steve would like to thank his 2011 sponsors including; Valvoline, MasterSbilt Race Cars, Roush-Yates Racing Engines, PRC, Ohlins, Keyser Mfg., Harbaugh Amusement Machine Inc., VP Racing Fuels, JFRgraphics.com, Tim Logan Racing and Bobst Auto Parts.

Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings

1. Jimmy Owens (Newport, TN) – 4600
2. Scott Bloomquist (Mooresburg, TN) – 4440
3. Don O’Neal (Martinsville, IN) – 4060
4. Steve Francis (Ashland, KY) – 3785
5. Earl Pearson Jr. (Jacksonville, FL) – 3705