ORLANDO, FL--The 2005 edition of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series wrapped up a successful campaign with their awards banquet on Thursday Night, December 1st at the Wyndham Orlando Resort in Orlando, FL. With a packed room on hand Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Announcer and Emcee for the festivities James Essex along with Series Director, Spencer Wilson honored those who made the season one of the best in all of dirt late model racing.
Earl Pearson, Jr. of Jacksonville, FL was crowned the 2005 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion earning $30,000 in point fund money. Pearson also captured the Oval Craft Fast Time Award. Pearson competed in all 32 events held this season earning two wins (at Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, IL and West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells, WV) to go along with 14 top five finishes and 24 top 10 finishes to earn the title by 65 points over Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN. Pearson was behind the wheel of the Dunn-Benson Ford Motorsports Team owned by Championship Car Owners Carlton and Kemp Lamm and crew chiefed by Frankie Averitt.
O'Neal led the series in wins with seven and earned $22,000 in point fund money along with the Weld Wheels Hard Charger of the Year Award. Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH was third in points earning an $18,000 point fund check. Moran led the series in money earned and he had more second place finishes than any other driver with eight. Moran also captured three series events along the way. Matt Miller of Waterville, OH earned two series wins and a fourth place finish in the final points earning $16,000 for that accomplishment. Miller was the only driver to finish at least once in every top ten finishing position this season. He was also second in top 10 finishes to Pearson as he accumulated 22 top ten finishes this year. Rounding out the top five in points was Scott James of Lawrenceburg, IN who earned $15,000 in point fund money to go along with capturing the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rookie of the Year Award and a $10,000 check. James also took home the VP Racing Fuels Heat Race Winner Awards.
The rest of the top ten in the final 2005 series points were also honored with Freddy Smith of Seymour, TN earning $14,000 for his sixth place finish in points followed by Tim Dohm of Cross Lanes, WV taking home $13,000 for seventh place in points and an additional $6,000 for second place in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rookie of the Year Standings. Darren Miller of Chadwick, IL finished eighth in points and a check for $12,000 followed by Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA who brought home $11,000 for ninth and Brady Smith of Solon Springs, WI with checks for $10,000 in point fund money and $4,000 for third place in the Rookie of the Year standings.
MasterSbilt Race Cars of Crothersville, IN was honored for being named Chassis Builder of the Year for the series. MasterSbilt claimed the top three in points and five of the top ten in the final overall point standings. Keith and Tader Masters were on hand for the presentation to accept the award. Also the entire staff of the series was thanked along with Series Sponsors and the Track Promoters who held events in 2005. The Chris Francis Achievement Award from C.J. Rayburn Race Cars was presented to Carlton Lamm for his years in dedication to the sport of Late Model racing.
Lucas Oil Late Model Executive Vice President, Bob Patison also spoke on the State of the Series. Patison said the 2006 points fund will go to $200,000 with the champion receiving $40,000. The top ten in points who are each event will get $600 in winners circle money in '06. Patison thanked all of staff, series sponsors, race tracks and fans for making 2005 a successful season and announced there will be a limited compound series tire rule next season.
The 2005 version of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will be one to remember with the series leading the way over other national and regional series. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series averaged 54 cars per event, had the highest car count with 117, number of different winners with 20 and number of participating drivers with 608 different drivers racing at least once with the series this year. The drivers who competed in the 2005 edition of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series raced for purses in excess of $1.3 million dollars
It was also announced that the 2006 racing season will begin on Friday Night, February 3rd at Golden Isles Speedway in Brunswick, GA with a $10,000 to win event. Then the series will return to East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, FL for six consecutive nights of racing during the Winternationals, February 6th -11th.
2005 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Sponsors
Lucas Oil- Title Sponsor and “Official Oil Products of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series”
VP Racing Fuels- “Official Race Fuel of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series”
Hoosier Race Tires – “Official Race Tire of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series”
2005 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Sponsors include: Lucas Oil Products, Arizona Sports Shirts, VP Racing Fuels, Oval Craft, COMP Cams, Hoosier Racing Tires, PPM, AFCO, Design 500, BERT, C J Rayburn Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, American Race Tire, Real Wheels, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, MasterSbilt Race Cars, Weld Racing Wheels, Trailer Parts & Sales, On The Edge Graphics, Cruise With The Champions and All-Star Performance
Earl Pearson, Jr. of Jacksonville, FL was crowned the 2005 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion earning $30,000 in point fund money. Pearson also captured the Oval Craft Fast Time Award. Pearson competed in all 32 events held this season earning two wins (at Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, IL and West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells, WV) to go along with 14 top five finishes and 24 top 10 finishes to earn the title by 65 points over Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN. Pearson was behind the wheel of the Dunn-Benson Ford Motorsports Team owned by Championship Car Owners Carlton and Kemp Lamm and crew chiefed by Frankie Averitt.
O'Neal led the series in wins with seven and earned $22,000 in point fund money along with the Weld Wheels Hard Charger of the Year Award. Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH was third in points earning an $18,000 point fund check. Moran led the series in money earned and he had more second place finishes than any other driver with eight. Moran also captured three series events along the way. Matt Miller of Waterville, OH earned two series wins and a fourth place finish in the final points earning $16,000 for that accomplishment. Miller was the only driver to finish at least once in every top ten finishing position this season. He was also second in top 10 finishes to Pearson as he accumulated 22 top ten finishes this year. Rounding out the top five in points was Scott James of Lawrenceburg, IN who earned $15,000 in point fund money to go along with capturing the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rookie of the Year Award and a $10,000 check. James also took home the VP Racing Fuels Heat Race Winner Awards.
The rest of the top ten in the final 2005 series points were also honored with Freddy Smith of Seymour, TN earning $14,000 for his sixth place finish in points followed by Tim Dohm of Cross Lanes, WV taking home $13,000 for seventh place in points and an additional $6,000 for second place in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rookie of the Year Standings. Darren Miller of Chadwick, IL finished eighth in points and a check for $12,000 followed by Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA who brought home $11,000 for ninth and Brady Smith of Solon Springs, WI with checks for $10,000 in point fund money and $4,000 for third place in the Rookie of the Year standings.
MasterSbilt Race Cars of Crothersville, IN was honored for being named Chassis Builder of the Year for the series. MasterSbilt claimed the top three in points and five of the top ten in the final overall point standings. Keith and Tader Masters were on hand for the presentation to accept the award. Also the entire staff of the series was thanked along with Series Sponsors and the Track Promoters who held events in 2005. The Chris Francis Achievement Award from C.J. Rayburn Race Cars was presented to Carlton Lamm for his years in dedication to the sport of Late Model racing.
Lucas Oil Late Model Executive Vice President, Bob Patison also spoke on the State of the Series. Patison said the 2006 points fund will go to $200,000 with the champion receiving $40,000. The top ten in points who are each event will get $600 in winners circle money in '06. Patison thanked all of staff, series sponsors, race tracks and fans for making 2005 a successful season and announced there will be a limited compound series tire rule next season.
The 2005 version of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will be one to remember with the series leading the way over other national and regional series. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series averaged 54 cars per event, had the highest car count with 117, number of different winners with 20 and number of participating drivers with 608 different drivers racing at least once with the series this year. The drivers who competed in the 2005 edition of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series raced for purses in excess of $1.3 million dollars
It was also announced that the 2006 racing season will begin on Friday Night, February 3rd at Golden Isles Speedway in Brunswick, GA with a $10,000 to win event. Then the series will return to East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, FL for six consecutive nights of racing during the Winternationals, February 6th -11th.
2005 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Sponsors
Lucas Oil- Title Sponsor and “Official Oil Products of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series”
VP Racing Fuels- “Official Race Fuel of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series”
Hoosier Race Tires – “Official Race Tire of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series”
2005 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Sponsors include: Lucas Oil Products, Arizona Sports Shirts, VP Racing Fuels, Oval Craft, COMP Cams, Hoosier Racing Tires, PPM, AFCO, Design 500, BERT, C J Rayburn Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, American Race Tire, Real Wheels, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, MasterSbilt Race Cars, Weld Racing Wheels, Trailer Parts & Sales, On The Edge Graphics, Cruise With The Champions and All-Star Performance
