WAYCROSS, GA (NOVEMBER 20, 2013) – Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN secured his third consecutive Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Championship in 2013. The “Newport Nightmare” and the Reece Monument Racing Team put up some amazing stats during the 2013 LOLMDS season. Owens will take home $104,000 in cash awards at the Lucas Oil Championship Awards banquet, including the $75,000 first-place prize for winning the series points championship. For the LOLMDS season, Owens will have earned over $370,000 in winnings, contingency challenges and special bonus awards on the tour in 2013.
Owens won eight Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series events during the 2013 season. His wins came at East Bay Raceway Park’s (FL) DART Winternationals in February; Lonestar Speedway (TX) and Hagerstown Speedway (MD) in April; Lucas Oil Speedway (MO) in May; I-80 Speedway (NE) and Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex (PA) in July; Attica Raceway Park (OH) and the “Hillbilly Hundred” at I-77 Motorsports Park (WV) in September.
Owens also recorded fourteen (14) Top-Three finishes in 2013 and an impressive thirty-three (33) Top-Ten finishes out of 37 starts on the season. Owens took over the series championship points lead from Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN, after winning the April 20th event at Hagerstown Speedway and continued to battle a stout field of contenders while relinquishing the lead only a few times for remainder of the season. O’Neal briefly took over the lead again after the May 11th event at LaSalle Speedway (IL). John Blankenship of Williamson, WV took over the points lead for the first time in his career at Tri-City Speedway (IL) on July 12th. In the month of July, Owens fell as far back as third in points, but rallied in the month of August to regain the lead after back-to-back wins at the end of month. From that point, Owens never relinquished the lead again, but was never allowed any “breathing room” for the rest of the year. Coming down to the final event, Owens held on to beat out Steve Francis of Ashland, KY by 150 points in the series final points standings.
“We had another great season for our team, crew, and all of our sponsors to win the points title for the third time in a row. O’Neal, Blankenship, and Francis all gave us a tough challenge all year, and we never got too comfortable at the top, knowing we needed to finish strong week in and week out. To win the title again is a huge accomplishment considering the level of talent of all these drivers that follow the LOLMDS. I can’t thank my car owner, Mike Reece, enough for giving me this opportunity to drive these cars and do what I love to do. It was another great year,” stated an elated Owens.
In winning his third consecutive Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship, Owens used a Bloomquist Chassis powered by a Cornett Racing Engine. His sponsors include: Reece Monument Company, Gantte Appraisals, FK Rod Ends, Sunoco Race Fuels, Red Line Oil, Midwest Sheet Metal, Hoosier Tire, Alwee, PRC, Wiles Drive Shafts, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Arizona Sport Shirts, Jones Racing Products, Hyperco, WELD Wheels, Petersen Fluid Systems, Ultra-Shield, Ohlins, Race Optics, Bell, Outerwears, Fast Lane Graphics,West Haven, C&C Trucking, Goodridge, Mike’s Mini Late Models, Keyser Mfg and Slavic Corporation.
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will proudly honor Jimmy Owens and the remaining Class of 2013 at the Lucas Oil Championship Awards Banquet being held at the Lucas Estate in Carmel, IN on Thursday evening December 12th, 2013.
To learn more about the 2013 LOLMDS Champion Jimmy Owens and his entire race team visit his official website at www.jimmyowens20.com.
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