Sheppard and Bloomquist then set a torrid pace, pulling away from third place running Madden, and the rest of the pack. Jimmy Owens got up to fourth and was challenging Madden for third when mechanical issues struck, ending his night.

Sheppard maintained the lead until Bloomquist was able to maneuver around him on lap 48. Bloomquist pulled away from Sheppard and the rest of the field. Sheppard’s night ended up in smoke on lap 72 when he brought out the last caution of the race. Bloomquist held on over the last three circuits to score the 66th win of his LOLMDS career.

When asked about the last three laps of green flag racing after the caution, Bloomquist responded. “Well I can’t really say what I was thinking because when I saw his [Davenport’s] number on the scoreboard in second I knew I had to really get tough and not make any mistakes, and we didn’t.”

Bloomquist; in his Reece Monument Company/Crop Production Services/Petroff Towing/Sorbera Chiropractic/Horton Coal/Mark Martin Honda/Durham-powered Sweet-Bloomquist entry; kept Davenport at bay in the final three circuits to take his second crown jewel win of the season.

Davenport had won the last two LOLMDS events at Atomic Speedway and just could not muster enough to challenge Bloomquist.

Richards has four LOLMDS wins this season and came home in third place. “I just got the team in a hole yesterday in the heat race. I think I just used my stuff up getting to the front. We went a little softer than Jonathan and some others. I thought I might have something at the end for those guys, but we didn’t,” said the driver of the Mark Richards Racing/Valvoline/Seubert Calf Ranches/Rocket House Car.

Completing the top ten were Steve Francis, Eddie Carrier Jr., Earl Pearson Jr., Tim McCreadie and Darrell Lanigan.

In preliminary action, Brandon Sheppard set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group A) amongst the 49 entrants, with a lap of 14.047 seconds. Steve Francis set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 14.493 seconds. Brandon Sheppard, Chris Madden, Scott Bloomquist, Steve Francis, Jimmy Owens and Darrell Lanigan won their respective heat races. Eric Wells and Mason Zeigler won their respective B-Mains. Gregg Satterlee won the Ten-Not-In Non-Qualifiers Race.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, including the latest series standings, 2016 tour schedule, driver information, and more visit the official website at: www.lucasdirt.com.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Race Summary
Saturday, May 14th, 2016

Buckeye Nationals

Atomic Speedway – Waverly, OH

Miller Welders Fast Time Group A: Brandon Sheppard / 14.047 seconds

Miller Welders Fast Time Group B: Steve Francis / 14.493 seconds

Eibach Springs Heat Race #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Brandon Sheppard, Jonathan Davenport, Dale McDowell, Eric Wells, Gregg Satterlee, Greg Johnson, Nick Latham, Kirk Phillips

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Chris Madden, Delmas Conley, Josh Richards, Tim McCreadie, Steve Casebolt, Scott James, Jason DuPont, Kenneth Howell-DNS

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Scott Bloomquist, RJ Conley, Don O’Neal, Jake O’Neil, Jackie Boggs, Brian Shirley, Greg Oliver, Freddie Carpenter, Jared Landers

DirtOnDirt.com Heat Race #5 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Jimmy Owens, Tim Dohm, Rod Conley, Kent Robinson, Mike Marlar, Billy Gullion, Kody Evans, Ben Adkins

ASi Racewear Heat Race #6 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Darrell Lanigan, Dennis Erb, Jr., Devin Gilpin, Devin Moran, Duane Chamberlain, Jeremy Hines, Chris Shannon, Colton Flinner

Keyser MFG B-Main #2 Finish (15 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): Mason Zeigler, Devin Moran, Kent Robinson, Mike Benedum, Mike Marlar, Duane Chamberlain, Jeremy Hines, Jason Montgomery, Kody Evans, Chris Shannon, Daniel Williams, Billy Gullion, Ben Adkins, Shannon Babb, Colton Flinner

Ten-Not-In: (20 Laps): Gregg Satterlee, Kent Robinson, Greg Johnson, Mike Benedum, Gregg Oliver, Scott James, Duane Chamberlain, Jake O’Neil, Jason Montgomery, Chris Shannon

Feature Finish (75 Laps):

Race Statistics

Entrants: 49

Lap Leaders: Brandon Sheppard (Lap 1); Chris Madden (Laps 2 – 7); Scott Bloomquist (Laps 8 – 15); Brandon Sheppard (Laps 16 – 47); Scott Bloomquist (Laps 48 – 75)
Cautions: Don O’Neal; Colton Flinner (Lap 21); Debris (Lap 31); Brandon Sheppard (Lap 72)

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Jared Landers, Tim McCreadie
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: Colton Flinner
Wrisco Feature Winner: Scott Bloomquist
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Tim McCreadie (Started: 24th; Finished: 9th; Advanced 15 Positions)
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Jonathan Davenport
Allstar Performance Power Move of the Race: Eddie Carrier Jr.

Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Jonathan Davenport

Hot Rod Processing Rookie of the Race: Colton Flinner
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Durham Racing Engines

Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Bloomquist Race Cars

Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Heather Lyne (Dennis Erb Jr.)
Fastest Lap of the Race: Brandon Sheppard (Lap #2 – 14.0769 seconds)
Most Laps Led: Scott Bloomquist (36 Laps)
PFC Brakes Tough Break Award: Brandon Sheppard

Time of Race: 33 minutes 34 seconds

Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:

POS	CAR #	DRIVER NAME	HOMETOWN	POINTS	SEASON EARNINGS
1	6	Jonathan Davenport	Mount Airy, NC	2685	$108,250
2	0	Scott Bloomquist	Mooresburg, TN	2605	$128,550
3	777	Jared Landers	Batesville, AR	2335	$45,850
4	15L	Darrell Lanigan	Union, KY	2315	$34,150
5	B5	Brandon Sheppard	New Berlin, IL	2260	$36,725
6	39	Tim McCreadie	Watertown, NY	2225	$33,200
7	28e	Dennis Erb, Jr.	Carpentersville, IL	2210	$32,950
8	20	Jimmy Owens	Newport, TN	2135	$33,875
9	1	Earl Pearson, Jr.	Jacksonville, FL	2110	$36,125
10	5	Don O’Neal	Martinsville, IN	2105	$35,925
11	15F	Steve Francis	Bowling Green, KY	1990	$22,650
12	75	Colton Flinner	Allison Park, PA	1315	$6,075