UNION, KY (August 11, 2012) – Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN passed race leader, Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN on lap 85 and then went on to capture his first career Sunoco Race Fuels North/South 100 Presented by Lucas Oil on Saturday Night at Florence Speedway. With a record-setting crowd on hand, O’Neal captured the $50,000 to win event in his 14th attempt. Owens finished second followed by Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN; Rick Eckert of York, PA; and Steve Francis of Ashland, KY.

O’Neal and Owens started on the front row of the Bluegrass State’s richest dirt race with Owens grabbing the lead at the start. Owens set a blazing pace around the half-mile track leading O’Neal, Jewel, Eckert, and the 8th-starting Casebolt for the first 15 laps.

Eckert got around Jewell for third on lap 17 and then a circuit later, Casebolt made the same move, dropping Jewell to fifth. The race went green for the first 43 laps of the race until the first caution appeared. Owens held the lead, followed by O’Neal, Casebolt, Eckert and Francis.

O’Neal finally made a move and dove to the inside of Owens heading into turn three on lap 85, wrestling the lead away from Owens. O’Neal then had to wait through two caution flags in the final ten laps as he pulled away for the victory.

“It’s about time,” said O’Neal, who claimed his 11th Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the season. “I saw an opening there and decided I was going to go for it. I don’t know if we touched or not, but we race hard every week against each other,” said the 48-year-old driver who claimed his 30th career victory on the touring series.

“To finally win this race after trying so many times, and coming close a few years ago, it’s a relief to finally get this one. This place is close to home, and we have won about everything else here in the past and to get this one is quite an accomplishment,” said O’Neal, who drives the MasterSbilt House Car. It was the ninth win in the annual event for the chassis building company based in Crothersville, IN.

“I have to thank Jay Dickens Racing Engines and all my sponsors, Optima Batteries, Independence Lumber, Superior Cleaning, Tarpy Trucking, Jones Core, Seubert Calf Ranches, Jones Core, and all my product sponsors, without them this wouldn’t be possible.”

Owens maintains the LOLMDS points lead after his second place finish in the Reece Monument Company, Bloomquist Race Cars Ford. Owens was trying to become the first driver to win the event three years in a row and fourth overall. Casebolt in the Arizona Sport Shirts, MasterSbilt Chevrolet was a close third.

Completing the top ten were Mike Jewell of Scottsburg, IN; Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA; Tyler Reddick of Corning, CA; Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC; and Randy Weaver of Crossville, TN.

In preliminary action Don O’Neal set the Red Buck Cigars Fast Time amongst the 64 entrants, with a lap of 16.501 seconds. Jimmy Owens set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 16.977 seconds. Don O’Neal, Rick Eckert, Ray Cook, Jimmy Owens, Mike Jewell, and RJ Conley won their respective Heat Races. Eddie Carrier Jr. and Billy Moyer won their respective B-Mains.

The COMP Cams Topless 100 at Batesville Motor Speedway in Batesville, AR awaits the stars of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, next weekend, August 17th and 18th. The crown jewel event will include Red Buck Cigars Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains, and the 100-lap, $40,000 to win, COMP Cams Topless 100. For more information, check out www.batesvillemotorspeedway.net.

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, August 10th, 2012
30th Annual Sunoco Race Fuels “North South 100” presented by Lucas Oil Products
Florence Speedway – Union, KY

Red Buck Cigars Fast Time Group A: Don O’Neal / 16.501seconds
Red Buck Cigars Fast Time Group B: Jimmy Owens / 16.977 seconds

Red Buck Cigars Dash (8 Laps): Jimmy Owens, Randy Weaver, Steve Francis, Don O’Neal, Jonathan Davenport, Greg Johnson

Wiles Driveshafts First Heat (12 Laps – Top 3 Transfer): Don O’Neal, Michael Asberry, Dustin Linville, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Chad Stapleton, Morgan Bagley, Joe Janowski, John Mason, Josh McGuire, Brian Gray, Dustin Neat

U. S. Steel Second Heat (12 Laps – Top 3 Transfer): Rick Eckert, Jason Jameson, Jonathan Davenport, Earl Pearson, Jr., John Blankenship, Chad Smith, Chris Combs, Tim Rivers, Danny Hatcher, Josh Scott, Mason Combs

Simpson Performance Products Third Heat (12 Laps – Top 3 Transfer): Ray Cook, Scott Bloomquist, Jared Landers, Greg Johnson, Brian Birkhofer, Jimmy Mars, Justin Rattliff, John Gill, James Rice, Mick Sansom

HAWK Brakes Fourth Heat (12 Laps – Top 3 Transfer): Jimmy Owens, Steve Casebolt, Tyler Reddick, Josh Williams, Stephen Breeding, D.J. Wells, Tommy Carlton, Jesse Lay, Jim Price, Freddy Smith, Tim McCreadie

Wiles Driveshafts Fifth Heat (12 Laps – Top 3 Transfer): Mike Jewell, Steve Francis, Brad Neat, Billy Moyer, Mike Marlar, Jason Barrett, Terry Lanigan, Nick Latham, Mike Unger, Kenny Hyde, Jr., Walker Arthur

U. S. Steel Sixth Heat (12 Laps – Top 3 Transfer): RJ Conley, Randy Weaver, Robby Hensley, Steve Shaver, Eric Wells, Scott James , Tim Prince, David Spille, Vern LeFevers, Billy Gullion

JRi Shocks First B-Main (12 Laps – Top 2 Transfer): Eddie Carrier Jr., Brian Birkhofer, John Blankenship, Joe Janowski, Earl Pearson, Jr., Greg Johnson, Chad Stapleton, Jimmy Mars, Morgan Bagley, Chad Smith, Justin Rattliff, James Rice, Josh McGuire, John Gill, John Mason, Danny Hatcher, Josh Scott, Brian Gray, Mick Sansom, Mason Combs, Chris Combs, Tim Rivers, Dustin Neat-DNS

PAC Racing Springs Second B-Main (12 Laps – Top 2 Transfer): Billy Moyer, Steve Shaver, Eric Wells, Scott James , Josh Williams, Mike Marlar, Jesse Lay, Nick Latham, Freddy Smith, Tim McCreadie, D.J. Wells, David Spille, Jason Barrett, Billy Gullion, Jim Price, Tommy Carlton, Mike Unger, Stephen Breeding, Tim Prince, Kenny Hyde, Jr., Terry Lanigan-DNS, Vern LeFevers-DNS, Walker Arthur-DNS

Feature Finish – 100 Laps
FINISH START CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN
1 1 71 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN
2 2 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
3 8 c9 Steve Casebolt Richmond, IN
4 3 24 Rick Eckert York, PA
5 10 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
6 4 9J Mike Jewell Scottsburg, IN
7 15 15d Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA
8 14 11T Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
9 5 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
10 12 116 Randy Weaver Crossville, TN
11 13 D8 Dustin Linville Lancaster, KY
12 24 44 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL
13 26 18e Eric Wells Hazard, KY
14 11 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
15 17 5 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
16 6 71c RJ Conley Wheelersburg, OH
17 16 41n Brad Neat Dunnville, KY
18 18 21h Robby Hensley Walton, KY
19 23 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
20 19 28 Eddie Carrier, Jr. Salt Rock, WV
21 9 12 Jason Jameson Lawrenceburg, IN
22 7 360 Michael Asberry Crossville, TN
23 20 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR
24 22 6s Steve Shaver Vienna, WV
25 21 15b Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA
26 25 JJ2 Josh Williams W. Harrison, IN

Race Statistics
Entrants: 64
Lap Leaders: Jimmy Owens (Laps 1 – 84); Don O’Neal (Laps 85 – 100)
Caution Flags: Debris (Lap 43); Earl Pearson Jr. (Lap 47); Robby Hensley (Lap 50); Jason Jameson (Lap 86); RJ Conley (Lap 90); Brad Neat (Lap 91)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: John Blankenship, Earl Pearson Jr.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisional: Eric Wells
Florence Speedway Track Provisional: Josh Williams
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Eric Wells (Started 25th; Finished 13th; Advanced 12 positions)
Allstar Performer of the Race: Don O’Neal
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Jimmy Owens
ASi Racewear Challenge Finisher: Don O’Neal
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Jonathan Davenport
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Jay Dickens Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: MasterSbilt Race Cars
Sweet Mfg Crew Chief of the Race: Cody Mahoney (Don O’Neal)
Time of Race: 46 minutes 03 seconds

Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:

POS CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN POINTS
1 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN 5735
2 71 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN 5415
3 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 5280
4 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY 5270
5 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV 4870
6 44 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL 4830
7 15d Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA 4755
8 11T Tyler Reddick Corning, CA 4630
9 18e Eric Wells Hazard, KY 4440
10 5 Jared Landers Batesville, AR 4430

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