by Bill Wright
KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA, September 29, 2011 – Jimmy Owens of Newport, Indiana snatched the win in the opening night of the 8th Annual Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals Thursday night at the Knoxville Raceway. The win was Owens’ first at the famous half-mile oval and was worth $7,000.
Darrell Lanigan led the 25-lap feature early from his starting spot outside of row one. By lap five, Owens was second, ahead of Steve Francis, Chad Simpson and Austin Hubbard. Francis’ solid run came to an end with seven laps in the books when he broke going down the front stretch in a battle with Owens for second.
The restart saw Lanigan leading Owens, Hubbard, Simpson and Shannon Babb back to green. Owens pulled ahead of the leader down the backstretch, but Lanigan maintained the lead when passing the flagstand.
On lap nine, Owens found a line on the cushion to his liking, and the lead pair exchanged the lead three times, before Owens took control for good on lap twelve. One final caution slowed the event when Jason Rauen spun with thirteen laps down. The lead trio of Owens, Lanigan and Hubbard held their ground the rest of the way.
“We’ve been here the last two or three years, and we’ve been close a time or two,” said Owens in Victory Lane. “To win this main event, is pretty good. Maybe we can get it going the rest of the weekend. We didn’t qualify well, we were pretty good in the heat, and things went our way in the feature. I think we capitalized on having a good car.”
Brian Birkhofer finished fourth and emerged as the high point man for the night, along with Hubbard (492 points). Babb was fifth, and Scott James, Billy Moyer, Will Vaught, Scott Bloomquist and Dale McDowell completed the top ten.
Bloomquist registered quick time and won the first heat. Other heat winners included Birkhofer, Hubbard, Francis and Jimmy Mars. Chris Spieker won the C main and Jason Feger took the B.
Drivers will get a chance to improve their scores on Friday, with action starting at 6:45 p.m. in the second night of action! Tickets still remain, and can be purchased at www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com, or by calling 641 842-5431!
Points for Night #1
|
1 |
15B |
Birkhofer, Brian | Muscatine, IA |
492 |
|
2 |
19 |
Hubbard, Austin | Laurel, DE |
492 |
|
3 |
0 |
Bloomquist, Scott | Mooresburg, TN |
484 |
|
4 |
20 |
Owens, Jimmy | Newport, TN |
477 |
|
5 |
18 |
Babb, Shannon | Moweaqua, IL |
474 |
|
6 |
1 |
Lannigan, Darrell | Union, KY |
474 |
|
7 |
81 |
James, Scott | Lawrenceburg, IN |
460 |
|
8 |
1V |
Vaught, Will | Crane, MO |
451 |
|
9 |
15 |
Francis, Steve | Ashland, KY |
450 |
|
10 |
25 |
Simpson, Chad | Mount Vernon, IA |
450 |
|
11 |
777 |
Landers, Jared | Welcome, NC |
442 |
|
12 |
17M |
McDowell, Dale | Chicamauga, GA |
441 |
|
13 |
11T |
Reddick, Tyler | DuQuoin, IL |
432 |
|
14 |
21 |
Moyer, Sr., Bill | Batesville, AR |
431 |
|
15 |
25F |
Feger, Jason | Bloomington, IL |
430 |
|
16 |
39 |
McCready, Tim | Watertown, NY |
429 |
|
17 |
32 |
Simpson, Chris | Oxford, IA |
427 |
|
18 |
3S |
Shirley, Brian | Chatham, IL |
422 |
|
19 |
28M |
Mars, Jimmy | Menomonie, WI |
404 |
|
20 |
98 |
Rauen, Jason | Farley, IA |
403 |
|
21 |
56 |
Eckrich, Andy | Iowa City, IA |
399 |
|
22 |
18E |
Wells, Eric | Hazard, KY |
397 |
|
23 |
23 |
Blankenship, John | Morristown, TN |
397 |
|
24 |
1M |
Moss, Rob | Iowa City, IA |
392 |
|
25 |
41 |
Neat, Brad | Trinity, NC |
389 |
|
26 |
7R |
Robinson, Kent | Bloomington, IN |
383 |
|
27 |
27H |
Harris, Brian | Davenport, IA |
367 |
|
28 |
S9 |
Schlieper, Dan | Oak Creek, WI |
367 |
|
29 |
44 |
Pearson, Jr., Earl | Trinity, NC |
365 |
|
30 |
58 |
Eckrich, Dave | Oxford, IA |
341 |
|
31 |
2 |
Smith, Brady | Solon Springs, WI |
339 |
|
32 |
99JR |
Heckenast, Jr., Frank | Frankfert, IL |
339 |
|
33 |
1S |
Sullivan, Jack | Greenbrier, AR |
334 |
|
34 |
50 |
Eckrich, Denny | Tiffin, IA |
326 |
|
35 |
71 |
O’Neal, Don | Martinsville, IN |
323 |
|
36 |
22M |
McKenna, Charlie | Clear Lake, IA |
322 |
|
37 |
5 |
Duty, John | Happy Valley, OR |
322 |
|
38 |
16 |
Bruening, Tyler | Decorah, IA |
321 |
|
39 |
15H |
Hurst, Jeremiah | Dubuque, IA |
318 |
|
40 |
25H |
Hansen, Kerry | Spencer, WI |
310 |
|
41 |
5B |
Marlar, Mike | Winfield, TN |
304 |
|
42 |
56X |
Spieker, Chris | Massena, IA |
300 |
|
43 |
53 |
Cook, Ray | Brasstown, NC |
299 |
|
44 |
22 |
George, Jill | Cedar Falls, IA |
296 |
|
45 |
C9 |
Casebolt, Steve | Richmond, IN |
291 |
|
46 |
21B |
Bell, Rich | Sheffield, IL |
291 |
|
47 |
33G |
Glendenning, Paul | Mt. Ayr, IA |
283 |
|
48 |
3 |
Sather, Kevin | Ankeny, IA |
280 |
|
49 |
51 |
Furman, Matt | Columbus, OH |
263 |
|
50 |
48 |
Lance, Tim | Peoria, IL |
261 |
|
51 |
21JR |
Moyer, Jr., Billy | Batesville, AR |
260 |
|
52 |
5M |
Fryer, Mike | Freeport, IL |
258 |
|
53 |
99D |
DeFrance, Darrel | Marshalltown, IA |
258 |
|
54 |
57J |
McCool, Bub | Vicksburg, MS |
254 |
|
55 |
6 |
Humphrey, Al | Giltner, NE |
246 |
|
56 |
8 |
Wallace, Mike | Carter Lake, IA |
240 |
|
57 |
31 |
Utter, Jason | Columbus Junction, IA |
236 |
|
58 |
99 |
Lewis, Scott | Brighton, CO |
232 |
|
59 |
44ZO |
Grosse, Alonzo | Council Bluffs, IA |
227 |
|
60 |
93 |
Johnson, Jay | West Burlington, IA |
226 |
|
61 |
10 |
Coover, Junior | Norfolk, NE |
225 |
|
62 |
15C |
Schroeder, Curt | Ames, IA |
222 |
|
63 |
33 |
Marlof, Nick | Moscow, IA |
221 |
|
64 |
7C |
Chenoweth, Chad | Huron, SD |
213 |
Late Models Results
Time Trials (Group Qualifying): 1. 0, Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, TN, 17.335; 2. 15B, Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, IA, 17.429; 3. 19, Austin Hubbard, Laurel, DE, 17.511; 4. 15, Steve Francis, Ashland, KY, 17.570; 5. 71, Don O’Neal, Martinsville IN, 17.609; 6. 777, Jared Landers, Welcome, NC, 17.622; 7. 18, Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, IL, 17.625; 8. 20, Jimmy Owens, Newport, IN, 17.795; 9. 56, Andy Eckrich, Iowa City, IA, 17.818; 10. 1, Darrell Lanigan, Union, KY, 17.818; 11. 25, Chad Simpson, Mount Vernon, IA, 17.859; 12. 5B, Mike Marlar, Winfield, TN, 17.905; 13. 81, Scott James, Lawrenceburg, IN, 17.942; 14. 3s, Brian Shirley, Chatham, IL, 17.946; 15. 25F, Jason Feger, Bloomington, IL, 18.025; 16. 39, Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY, 18.027; 17. 1V, Will Vaught, Crane, MO, 18.027; 18. 11T, Tyler Reddick, Corning, CA, 18.045; 19. 1M, Rob Moss, Iowa City, IA, 18.049; 20. 17M, Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, GA, 18.073; 21. 27H, Brian Harris, Davenport, IA, 18.082; 22. C9, Steve Casebolt, Richmond, IN, 18.108; 23. 7R, Kent Robinson, Bloomington, IN, 18.126; 24. 58, Dave Eckrich, Oxford, IA, 18.150; 25. 98, Jason Rauen, Farley, IA, 18.190; 26. 25, Chris Simpson, Marion, IA, 18.202; 27. 18E, Eric Wells, Hazard, KY, 18.202; 28. 21, Billy Moyer, Batesville, AR, 18.249; 29. 2, Brady Smith, Solon Springs, WI, 18.318; 30. 44, Earl Pearson Jr., Trinity, NC, 18.328; 31. 50, Denny Eckrich, Oxford, IA, 18.337; 32. 51, Matt Furman, Columbus, OH, 18.361; 33. 1s, Jack Sullivan, Greenbrier, AR, 18.397; 34. 23, John Blankenship, Morristown, TN, 18.418; 35. 28M, Jimmy Mars, Menomonie, WI, 18.433; 36. 41, Brad Neat, Trinity, NC, 18.445; 37. 57J, Bub McCool, Vicksburg, MS, 18.455; 38. 99JR, Frank Heckenast Jr., Frankfurt, IL, 18.478; 39. 53, Ray Cook, Brasstown NC, 18.492; 40. 16, Tyler Bruening, Decorah, IA, 18.498; 41. 3, Kevin Sather, Ankeny, IA, 18.561; 42. 22M, Charlie McKenna, Clear Lake, IA, 18.568; 43. 21JR, Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville, AR, 18.613; 44. S9, Dan Schlieper, Sullivan, WI, 18.625; 45. 31, Jason Utter, Columbus Junction, IA, 18.697; 46. 56x, Chris Spieker, Massena, IA, 18.734; 47. 5, John Duty, Happy Valley, OR, 18.737; 48. 15H, Jeremiah Hurst, Dubuque, IA, 18.823; 49. 25H, Kerry Hansen, Spencer, WI, 18.833; 50. 22, Jill George, Cedar Falls, IA, 18.835; 51. 48, Tim Lance, Peoria, IL, 19.006; 52. 33G, Paul Glendenning, Mt. Ayr, IA, 19.050; 53. 5M, Mike Fryer, Freeport, IL, 19.116; 54. 8, Mike Wallace, Carter Lake, IA, 19.150; 55. 99D, Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown, IA, 19.235; 56. 6, Al Humphrey, Giltner, NE, 19.238; 57. 21B, Rich Bell, Sheffield, IL, 19.307; 58. 44zo, Alonzo Grosse, Council Bluffs, IA, 19.314; 59. 99, Scott Lewis, Brighton, CO, 19.338; 60. 10, Junior Coover, Norfolk, NE, 19.404; 61. 7c, Chad Chenoweth, Huron, SD, 19.480; 62. 15c, Curt Schroeder, Ames, IA, 20.277; 63. 33, Nick Marolf, Moscow, IA, 22.339; 64. 93, Jay Johnson, West Burlington, IA, NT.
Heat one (started), 12 laps, 3:50.4: 1. Scott Bloomquist (10) 2. Chris Simpson (5) 3. Chad Simpson (8) 4. Brad Neat (3) / 5. Jared Landers (9) 6. Tim McCreadie (7) 7. Denny Eckrich (4) 8. Brian Harris (6) / 9. Kevin Sather (2) 10. Tim Lance (11) 11. Al Humphrey (12) 12. Chad Chenoweth (13) 13. Chris Spieker (1)
Heat two (started), 12 laps, 3:46.8: 1. Brian Birkhofer (10) 2. Will Vaught (7) 3. Shannon Babb (9) 4. Eric Wells (5) / 5. Charlie McKenna (2) 6. Curt Schroeder (13) 7. Rich Bell (12) 8. John Duty (1) / 9. Paul Glendenning (11) 10. Steve Casebolt (6) 11. Bub McCool (3) 12. Matt Furman (4) 13. Mike Marlar (8)
Heat three (started), 12 laps, 3:51.1: 1. Austin Hubbard (8) 2. Billy Moyer (5) 3. Scott James (6) 4. Jimmy Owens (9) / 5. Tyler Reddick (7) 6. Kent Robinson (4) 7. Jeremiah Hurst (1) 8. Frank Heckenast Jr. (3) / 9. Jack Sullivan (2) 10. Nick Marolf (12) 11. Mike Fryer (11) 12. Alonzo Grosse (10) DNS – Billy Moyer Jr.
Heat four (started), 12 laps, 3:51.2: 1. Steve Francis (10) 2. John Blankenship (4) 3. Brian Shirley (8) 4. Dan Schlieper (2) / 5. Rob Moss (7) 6. Brady Smith (5) 7. Kerry Hansen (1) 8. Andy Eckrich (9) / 9. Jay Johnson (13) 10. Dave Eckrich (6) 11. Scott Lewis (12) 12. Ray Cook (3) 13. Mike Wallace (11)
Heat five (started), 12 laps, NT: 1. Jimmy Mars (4) 2. Dale McDowell (7) 3. Darrell Lanigan (9) 4. Jason Rauen (6) / 5. Jason Feger (8) 6. Earl Pearson Jr. (5) 7. Jill George (1) 8. Tyler Bruening (3) / 9. Darrel DeFrance (11) 10. Junior Coover (12) 11. Jason Utter (2) 12. Don O’Neal (10)
C main (started), 15 laps, 5:05.1: 1. Chris Spieker (5) 2. Jack Sullivan (2) 3. Ray Cook (3) 4. Dave Eckrich (1) / 5. Mike Fryer (7) 6. Darrel DeFrance (9) 7. Tim Lance (6) 8. Al Humphrey (10) 9. Kevin Sather (4) 10. Mike Wallace (8) 11. Billy Moyer Jr. (18) 12. Scott Lewis (12) 13. Jay Johnson (17) 14. Alonzo Grosse (11) 15. Nick Marolf (16) 16. Junior Coover (13) 17. Curt Schroeder (15) 18. Chad Chenoweth (14) DNS – Don O’Neal, Mike Marlar, Steve Casebolt, Matt Furman, Bub McCool, Jason Utter
B main (started), 20 laps, NT: 1. Jason Feger (3) 2. Tim McCreadie (4) 3. Tyler Reddick (5) 4. Jared Landers (1) / 5. Kent Robinson (8) 6. Rob Moss (6) 7. Earl Pearson Jr. (10) 8. Andy Eckrich (2) 9. Frank Heckenast Jr. (12) 10. John Duty (15) 11. Jeremiah Hurst (16) 12. Brian Harris (7) 13. Chris Spieker (21) 14. Kerry Hansen (17) 15. Jack Sullivan (22) 16. Tyler Bruening (13) 17. Rich Bell (20) 18. Charlie McKenna (14) 19. Dave Eckrich (24) 20. Jill George (18) 21. Brady Smith (9) 22. Ray Cook (23) 23. Paul Glendenning (19) 24. Denny Eckrich (11)
A main (started), 25 laps, NT: 1. Jimmy Owens (3) 2. Darrell Lanigan (2) 3. Austin Hubbard (6) 4. Brian Birkhofer (7) 5. Shannon Babb (4) 6. Scott James (9) 7. Billy Moyer (16) 8. Will Vaught (11) 9. Scott Bloomquist (8) 10. Dale McDowell (12) 11. Chris Simpson (14) 12. Tyler Reddick (23) 13. Chad Simpson (1) 14. Tim McCreadie (22) 15. Jimmy Mars (18) 16. Jason Feger (21) 17. Brad Neat (19) 18. John Blankenship (17) 19. Jared Landers (24) 20. Dan Schlieper (20) 21. Jason Rauen (13) 22. Eric Wells (15) 23. Steve Francis (5) 24. Brian Shirley (10). Lap Leaders: Lanigan 1-8, Owens 9, Lanigan 10-11, Owens 12-25.