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WHEATLAND, MO (May 25, 2012) – The 20th Annual DART Show-Me 100 Presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com got underway on Friday Night with preliminary racing action for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and Lucas Oil MLRA Late Models.

With temperatures hovering around 90 degrees, the racing action on the track was even hotter. Track conditions were better than ever for the heats, allowing for drivers to come from the back to transfer into tomorrow night’s main event. With four stacked heat races, several drivers took advantage of the ultra-racy surface to make their way into the “Sweet Sixteen” for Saturday Night.

The first of four 20-lap heat races rolled off with the defending DART Show-Me 100 winner Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN taking the early lead at the start. Owens built a huge lead over the field. Local driver Eric Turner of nearby Hermitage, MO moved into second early in the race and stayed there the rest of the way. Wendell Wallace of Batesville, AR, a 3-time DART Show-Me 100 winner climbed from his seventh starting spot to finish third just ahead of Chad Simpson of Oxford, IA in an exciting tussle for the remaining transfer spot.

The second heat had 5-time DART Show-Me 100 victor, Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN and 16-year-old phenom, Tyler Reddick of Corning, CA battling for the lead for most of the race with Bloomquist showing the way until Reddick passed him for the lead. Bloomquist came back a lap later and regained the lead and went on for the win. Reddick finished second followed by Eric Wells of Hazard, KY. Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, IL roared from his 11th starting position to claim the fourth and final transfer position.

The third heat race saw Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN, who has seven wins on the 2012 LOLMDS tour take the lead at the drop of the green and on for the victory. A spectacular race for second lasted the entire race as Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, WI withstood the challenges of both Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA and Steve Francis of Ashland, KY. Davenport came all the way from his 11th starting spot to barely edge out Francis at the finish line for third.

The fourth and final heat had 3-time DART Show-Me 100 champion, Billy Moyer of Batesville, AR showing the way. The Hall of Famer driver took the lead at the start and went on to score the 20-lap victory. Behind Moyer, the race for second was a terrific battle between Kevin Sather of Ankeny, IA and Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, IL, who raced side-by-side for the last half of the race. Erb got by Sather at the end to claim second. Will Vaught of Crane, MO, who started ninth, got in the hunt midway through the race and challenged Sather on the final lap as the two crashed the at the flagstand while taking the checkered flag. Despite the wreck both drivers advanced to tomorrow night’s DART Show-Me 100.

Tomorrow, events will kick off at 4:15PM with a Dirt Racing Outreach service in the dining hall near the general admission gate. Opening ceremonies will get underway with the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard at 7:15PM and racing begins at 7:30PM. There will be two Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series B-Mains and hot laps for the heat race transfer cars, leading into the main event. The 20th Annual DART “Show-Me 100” Presented by Protect the Harvest will crown its champion tomorrow night after the nation’s toughest drivers go head-to-head for 100 laps of heart pounding, high flying action on the “Diamond of the Dirt Tracks” with the $30,000 payday on the line.

In preliminary action, Jimmy Owens set the Red Buck Cigars Fast Time amongst the 55 entrants with a lap of 15.513 seconds. Heat races were taken by: Jimmy Owens, Scott Bloomquist, Don O’Neal, and Billy Moyer.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com and be sure to follow the series at www.facebook.com/lucasdirt and www.twitter.com/#!/lucasdirt.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Race Summary

Friday Night, May 18th, 2012

20th Annual DART “Show-Me 100” Presented by Protect The Harvest
Lucas Oil Speedway – Wheatland, MO

Red Buck Cigars Fast Time:

Jimmy Owens / 15.513 seconds (Group A and Overall)

Steve Francis / 16.158 seconds (Group B)

Wiles Driveshafts First Heat (20 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Jimmy Owens, Eric Turner, Wendell Wallace, Chad Simpson, Billy Moyer, Jr., Earl Pearson, Jr., Tony Jackson, Jr., Tommy Weder, Robert Baker, Jerry Lierly, Charlie McKenna, Morgan Bagley, Chris Wall, Brian Birkhofer

U. S. Steel Second Heat (20 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Scott Bloomquist, Tyler Reddick, Eric Wells, Shannon Babb, AJ Diemel, Austin Hubbard, John Blankenship, Duke Whiseant, Mark Dotson, Brian Shirley, Jason Rauen, Josh McGuire, Shane Harris, Scott Lewis

Simpson Performance Products Third Heat (20 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Don O’Neal, Jimmy Mars, Jonathan Davenport, Steve Francis, Eric Jacobsen, Terry Phillips, John Anderson, Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, Bryon Allison, RC Whitwell, Brandon McCormick, Tim Rivers, BJ Robinson, Timothy Culp

HAWK Brakes Fourth Heat (20 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Billy Moyer, Dennis Erb, Jr., Kevin Sather, Will Vaught, Brad Neat, Jesse Stovall, Tim Isenberg, Chris Simpson, David Turner, Brad Looney, Jake Meier, Mike Stadel, Jared Landers

U. S. Steel Manufacturers Dash Presented by Fast Shafts: Brian Shirley, Brad Looney, Steve Francis, Don O’Neal, Jimmy Owens, Earl Pearson Jr., Tony Jackson Jr., Brandon McCormick

Crawford Supply Race of Champions Presented by Traeger Grills: Billy Moyer, Terry Phillips, Scott Bloomquist, Jimmy Owens, Wendell Wallace, Brian Birkhofer