PORTSMOUTH, OH (July 4, 2014) – Scott Bloomquist returned to victory lane on Friday Night at tonight’s “Independence 50” at Portsmouth Raceway Park. Bloomquist, in the Ole Smoky Moonshine, Sweet-Bloomquist Ford, led all 50-laps in winning his third LOLMDS event of 2014. He beat 3-time and reigning series champion Jimmy Owens by two car lengths at the finish.

“I was worried we had gone too soft on tires for the feature. There were other cars that went harder on tires for 50 laps. I think if it had been longer than 50 laps we would have still been ok. After the night we had last night, my crew worked their tails off the last night and this morning getting this car ready. Our car fired off really well after those early restarts. Traffic wasn’t too much of a problem. I didn’t know how close those other guys were”, stated Bloomquist in victory lane.

“I have to thank Andy Durham Racing Engines, Penske Shocks, Base Fuels, and Hawkeye Trucking. Last night was one of those nights where I thought I might as well go home. But we aren’t quitters, and we changed engines in the car, and the car was just fantastic all night tonight. I was kind of locked in on the tire combination before they watered the track. Then I thought maybe we were in a little bit of trouble, but it all worked out for us. We have been snake-bitten here lately. It feels good to win one again,” said Bloomquist, who with the win, broke a tie with Jimmy Owens for most all-time wins in series history. Bloomquist now has 49 victories in LOLMDS competition.

Owens started sixth and was in a mix of drivers who battled early on in the top five. Owens climbed to third by lap 31. Owens then caught the second place running Boggs and the two had a spirited race for the runner-up spot for several laps. Owens overhauled Boggs for second with eight laps to go.

Owens then tried to chase down Bloomquist in the closing circuits. With his sights set on Bloomquist, Owens had to contend with some lapped traffic which was running his line. Owens was able to get passed the lapped car and closed rapidly on Bloomquist over the final two laps. Owens march to the front came up just short at the finish line as Bloomquist took the checkers first.

“We had to work for that finish,” said Owens afterwards. “There was a heck of battle between about four or five of us there for a while. When I caught Jackie, he and I went back-and-forth for a long time. When I got by him (Boggs), I didn’t think I had enough laps to catch Scott. He was well out in front. But to come from sixth like we did was a good point’s night and we will head to 201 tomorrow. We have never raced there, and we are looking forward to it,” said the driver of the Reece Monument Company, Club 29 FORD entry.

Boggs was in the thick of things all race long as the second-generation driver came up short in his quest for his second LOLMDS win at PRP. “To run third with these guys, that’s a good thing. Our car was pushing a little bit more than I would have liked near the end. We had a good car, but just not good enough. To beat these guys everything has to go right for you. If you are off by a little bit it makes a big difference, said the driver of the McCoy Brothers Logging, Kenny Hehman Engines, Swartz Race Cars entry.

Completing the top ten were John Blankenship, Earl Pearson Jr., Eddie Carrier Jr., Don O’Neal, and Rick Eckert.

In preliminary action, Steve Francis set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group A) amongst the 34 entrants, with a lap of 15.302 seconds. Scott Bloomquist set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 15.530 seconds. Steve Francis, Jackie Boggs, Scott Bloomquist, and Duane Chamberlain won their respective heat races. Delmas Conley and Dennis Erb Jr. won their respective B-Mains.

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Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Wednesday Night, July 4, 2014
“Independence 50”
Portsmouth Raceway Park – Portsmouth, OH

Miller Welders Fast Time Group A: Steve Francis / 15.302 seconds
Miller Welders Fast Time Group B: Scott Bloomquist / 15.530 seconds

Fast Shafts Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Steve Francis, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Earl Pearson, Jr., Shannon Thornsberry, Dustin Linville, Delmas Conley, Rod Conley, Tommy Bailey, Paul Davis

Eibach Springs Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jackie Boggs, Don O’Neal, John Blankenship, Jason Hughes, Nick Bocook, Kenneth Howell, JT Conley, Mark Frazier

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Scott Bloomquist, Jimmy Owens, Tim Dohm, Craig Vosbergen, Dennis Erb, Jr., Kevin Wagner, Jared Landers, Mick Sansom

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Duane Chamberlain, Jason Papich, Ben Adkins, RJ Conley, Rick Eckert, Greg Oliver, Mike Meyers, Daniel Williams

JRi Shocks B-Main #1 (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer) Finish: Delmas Conley, Dustin Linville, JT Conley, Rod Conley, Nick Bocook, Paul Davis, Mark Frazier, Tommy Bailey, Kenneth Howell

CV Products B-Main #2 (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer) Finish: Dennis Erb, Jr., Rick Eckert, Greg Oliver, Jared Landers, Mick Sansom, Mike Meyers, Kevin Wagner, Daniel Williams-DNS

Feature Finish (50 Laps):
FINISH START CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN
1 2 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
2 6 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
3 3 4b Jackie Boggs Grayson, KY
4 4 20c Duane Chamberlain Richmond, IN
5 1 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
6 11 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
7 9 44 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL
8 5 28 Eddie Carrier, Jr. Salt Rock, WV
9 7 5 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN
10 20 1 Rick Eckert York, PA
11 8 91p Jason Papich Nipomo, CA
12 10 6T Tim Dohm Charleston, WV
13 25 71R Rod Conley Wheelersburg, OH
14 22 47 Greg Oliver Jackson, OH
15 16 71c RJ Conley Wheelersburg, OH
16 17 71d Delmas Conley Wheelersburg, OH
17 18 28e Dennis Erb, Jr. Carpentersville, IL
18 23 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
19 15 12 Jason Hughes Watts, OK
20 21 71J JT Conley Wheelersburg, OH
21 13 17T Shannon Thornsberry Martin, KY
22 24 88b Tommy Bailey Corbin, KY
23 14 8 Craig Vosbergen Perth, W. Australia
24 19 D8 Dustin Linville Lancaster, KY
25 12 b7 Ben Adkins West Portsmouth, OH

Race Statistics
Entrants: 33
Lap Leaders: Scott Bloomquist (Laps 1 – 50)
Cautions: RJ Conley (Lap 7); Ben Adkins (Lap 7); Shannon Thornsberry (Lap 9)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Jared Landers
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: n/a
Miller Welders Fast Time Provisionals: Tommy Bailey
Portsmouth Raceway Park Track Provisional: Rod Conley
Wrisco Feature Winner: Scott Bloomquist
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Rod Conley (Started: 25th; Finished: 13th; Advanced 12 Positions)
Keyser Mfg Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Don O’Neal
Allstar Performer of the Race: Scott Bloomquist
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Jimmy Owens
Dunn Benson Ford Rookie of the Race: Jason Papich
Midwest Sheet Metal Highest Finishing Rookie: Jason Papich
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Durham Race Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Sweet-Bloomquist Race Cars
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Matt Salmons (Scott Bloomquist)
HAWK Performance Fastest Lap of the Race: Scott Bloomquist (Lap # 8 – 15.754 seconds)
Time of Race: 24 minutes 52 seconds

Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:
POS CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN POINTS
1 5 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN 4145
2 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN 4115
3 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 3805
4 44 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL 3735
5 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY 3655
5 28 Eddie Carrier, Jr. Salt Rock, WV 3655
7 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV 3335
8 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR 3260
9 28e Dennis Erb, Jr. Carpentersville, IL 3090
10 12 Jason Hughes Watts, OK 2905
11 91p Jason Papich Nipomo, CA 2780

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