Jimmy Owens to Represent Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series in 25th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nation

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CORONA, CA (January 10, 2011) - Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN will be representing famed event starts this Tuesday, January 11th at the QuikTrip Tulsa Expo Raceway in Tulsa, OK. Owens is sure to make a charge for he front of the pack and challenge the best drivers in the world for the win as he helms the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series entry.

Scott Bloomquist, current LOLMDS National Champion was given the opportunity to helm the KBR entry, however, he respectfully declined the opportunity, as he and his family will be on vacation during the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl presented by General Tire.

"I'm excited to turn over the opportunity to Jimmy [Owens]," exclaimed Bloomquist, "I feel like he will be absolutely 'Spot On' for Kenny Brown Racing, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, and will represent all of the dirt late model racers very well."

"Our team is extremely excited about this opportunity to work with a series such as Lucas Oil", says Kenny Brown. Danny Stratton; Jr. Motorsports driver Josh Wise; and Austin Brown will be joining Owens on the KBR Racing Team for the event. At the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl presented by General Tire in the past, KBR Racing has fielded drivers such as Steve Knepper, Mike Hess, Dave Darland, Brad Kuhn, Jerry Coons, Josh Wise and Tony Stewart.

This year's competition marks the 25th Anniversary of the event, which was first held in 1987. There are 264 entries from 29 states and entrants from as far away as New Zealand and Australia. Preliminary action will get underway on Tuesday Night with qualifying events continuing until the finale on Saturday, January 15th. The event will air on February 2nd on SPEED.

Owens, the two-time Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Runner-Up in the National Championship Points Standings, will be making his midget racing debut at the QuikTrip Tulsa Expo Raceway in the Kenny Brown Racing, #20B. His teammates will include Austin Brown of Millstadt, IL; Hunter Schuerenberg of Sikeston, MO; Danny Stratton of Indianapolis, IN; and Josh Wise of Riverside, CA.

Owens captured eight Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series wins in 37 starts last season. He had 19 top five finishes to go along with 30 top ten finishes. During 2010 he captured the Sunoco Race Fuels North/South 100 at Florence Speedway in Union, KY the Diamond Nationals at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO, and the Indiana Icebreaker at Brownstown Speedway in Brownstown, IN.

The event is without a doubt the midget event of the year. Owens will join stars from NASCAR, Late Model, Sprint Car, and Midget racing over the five nights of racing and he is looking forward to the challenge.

"I will be a rookie there, but when you look at the success that (Tim) McCreadie had there, winning a few years ago (2006), I may have to lean on him for some pointers. I've got some great teammates and hopefully their experience will help quite a bit as well," said Owens, whose dirt late model car is owned by Mike Reece of Tazewell, TN.

"These cars are really light weight, they've got four cylinders, and 400 horsepower motors in them," which is quite a contrast from the 2300 pound, 800-hp late models he is used to driving. "These cars are going to turn real quick, but they say they're fun and they're a handful," said Owens, who is third all-time on the winners list in LOLMDS competition with 21 career victories.

While Owens knows that winning the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals in his first attempt will prove to be very challenging, he also know the last two winners have come from the Volunteer State of Tennessee, where he resides. The father and son combo of Sammy and Kevin Swindell have won the event the last two years. In fact, Sammy Swindell has won more Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals than any other driver; he has reached victory lane a total of five times in his career.

"One thing about Jimmy Owens is that you can never count him out, no matter what type of car he is racing," said Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Director, Ritchie Lewis. "He's won in open-wheel modifies, he's won the Topless 100, the North/South 100, The Diamond Nationals and Eldora; so he knows about big wins. The bigger the stage, the more confidence he displays."

Spike Chassis, Toyota, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Lucas Oil Products, and Rockstar Energy Drink sponsor Owens' Kenny Brown Racing entry.

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2010 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Sponsors

ASI Racewear - "The Official Merchandise Vendor" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Canidae Pet Foods - "The Official Pet Foods" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

DART Machinery - "The Official Engine Components" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

E3 Spark Plugs - "The Official Spark Plug" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Geico Power Sports - "The Official Insurance" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

General Tire - "The Official Tire" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Hoosier Tire - "The Official Race Tire" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

K&N Filters - "The Official Filter" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Lucas Oil Products - "The Official Oil" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Magnaflow Exhaust - "The Official Exhaust" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

MavTV - "The Official Men's Network" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

R&L Carrier - "The Official Carrier" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Rockstar Energy Drink - "The Official Drink" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Speedco - "The Official Truck Lube and Tire Center" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Sunoco Race Fuels - "The Official Fuel" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series


2010 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Supporters Include: AFCO, Allstar Performance, American Racer, ApplianceZone.com, Banshee Graphics, Bloomquist Race Cars, COMP Cams, Cornett Racing Engines, Cruise with the Champions, Custom Race Engines, DirtonDirt.com, Dominator Race Products, Dyers Top Rods, ECR Race Engines, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, GRT Race Cars, Hawk Performance, Hypercoil Springs, JRi Shocks, MasterSbilt Chassis, Öhlins, Penske Shocks, PBM/Erson Cams, Performance Bodies, Performance Rod & Custom, Pro Power Racing, Quarter Master, Race Engine Design, Red Buck Cigars, Rhyne Race Engines, Rick Schwallie Photography, Rocket Chassis, Roush Yates Engines, Safety Solutions, SuperFlow, Sweet Manufactuing, Vic Hill Race Engines, Warrior Race Cars, Weld Racing Wheels, Wiles Drive Shafts, Wrisco, WD Enterprises, 5150 Race Trailers.

James Essex, Public Relations Coordinator, jessex@lucasdirt.com
 




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