By Roby Helm
WOODSTOCK, GA - A late race charge by Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN padded
his bank account to the tune of $55,000 in winning the 100-lap 14th Annual
Hardee's Shootout Presented by Coca-Cola for the Xtreme DirtCar Series
Saturday night at Dixie Speedway.
After starting his Petroff Towing Rayburn/Pro Power Monte Carlo 16th, O'Neal
chased down Dan Schlieper of Pewaukee, WI, who led the first 97 laps of the
race, in lapped traffic and took the lead with three laps to go. The
victory also earned O'Neal the Advance Auto Parts Hard Charger of the Race
Award.
"We weren't that good in the heat race yesterday, so we changed a lot of
things on the car, and it really made a big difference," O'Neal said. "The
track tonight was the best I've ever seen it. Even after 100 laps, we could
race anywhere we wanted to. It really means a lot to me to win this race.
This is one of the biggest races in the country."
Schlieper looked like the man to beat for the first 97 laps of the race. No
one could get close to his Miller Brothers Coal Rayburn/Pro Power Monte
Carlo, until O'Neal closed in, for the first time on lap 75. Schlieper was
able to pull away after a lap 81 restart, but O'Neal closed again in the
closing laps.
With ten laps to go, Schlieper moved his racing groove to the bottom of the
track, while O'Neal was cutting the corners from high going in to low coming
off. O'Neal stepped to the outside of Schlieper in turn three, catching
Schlieper behind the lapped car of David Smith of Inmon, SC. Using the
lapped car as a pick, O'Neal drove around Schlieper for the winning pass.
Schlieper had to settle for second, and third went to 2002 Shootout Champion
Chub Frank of Sugar Grove, PA, who started 18th in the Corry Rubber
Rocket/Draime Monte Carlo. The 2003 and five-time XDCS Champion Scott
Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN finished fourth in the Miller Brothers Coal
Bloomquist/Custom Taurus.
Jimmy Mars of Elk Mound, WI claimed the fifth spot in the Jimmy Mars Racing
Mastersbilt/Pro Power Monte Carlo, and Shannon Babb of Decatur, IL was sixth
in the Car City Co. Rayburn/Dickens Monte Carlo. The 2003 Lucas Oil Rookie
of the Race was Matt Miller of Waterville, OH in the McCullough
Motorsports/Lo-Temp Brazing Rocket/Russell Baker Grand Prix with a
seventh-place finish.
Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA charged from the 23rd starting spot to
finish eighth in the Seubert Calf Ranches Mastersbilt/Pro Power Monte Carlo,
and Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, GA took the ninth spot in the RSD
Enterprises Rocket/Custom Monte Carlo. The 1999 series champion and
Shootout winner Dale McDowell of Rossville, GA rounded out the top ten in
the Larry Shaw Race Cars/Petroff Towing Rocket By Shaw/Kuntz Taurus.
Starting on the outside of the front row, Schlieper beat polesitter Steve
Francis of Ashland, KY to the point at the start of the race. Francis
settled his Valvoline/Mopar Parts Rocket/Stanton Intrepid into the second
spot followed by Babb, 1997 series champion and Shootout winner Billy Moyer
of Batesville, AR, and two-time series champion Rick Eckert of York, PA.
The early laps of the race featured two and three racing throughout the
field behind the top two cars, and teammates Babb and Moyer raced
side-by-side for third. The first of eight caution flags came out for
debris on lap 17, and the restart saw Schlieper maintain his seven
car-length lead over Francis.
Bloomquist made a move on the double-file restart to move up to the fourth
spot, as Moyer began to fall back through the pack. Eckert was running
fifth when his Raye Vest Rocket/Cornett Taurus stalled on the frontstretch
on lap 36 to bring out the second caution flag, and Moyer also pitted his
J&J Steel Mastersbilt/Dickens Taurus.
Schlieper led the field down for the restart followed by Francis, Babb,
Bloomquist, Smith, and Mars. O'Neal had been a participant in much of the
three-wide racing in the early laps, as he had vaulted up to the seventh
spot, with McDowell, 1996 Shootout Champion Wendell Wallace of Batesville,
AR, and Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC in the Youngblood Mastersbilt/Cornett
Taurus behind him.
O'Neal and Wallace made the best of the double-file restart, passing Mars
for sixth and seventh spots respectively. Jeff Smith of Dallas, NC stalled
his Die Cast Digest Magazine/Starrette Trucking Rocket/Gaerte Monte Carlo on
the frontstretch on lap 38 to bring out the caution flag.
Clint Smith faded on the restart, as his JP Drilling GRT/Race Tech Monte
Carlo fell back to the eighth spot, moving O'Neal up to fifth. Mars got
back around Wallace for the sixth spot, and Frank moved up into the top ten.
Mike Gault of Gaffney, SC stalled his Carter's Royal Disposal GRT/Clements
Grand Prix in turn four on lap 41 to bring out the fourth caution flag of
the race.
Schlieper once again opened up a seven car-length lead on Francis after the
double-file restart, and Bloomquist got around Babb to take over the third
spot. Bloomquist closed on Francis to battle for the second spot by lap 45,
with drivers wheeling and dealing from fourth on back for positions.
At the halfway point, the "Real Deal" O'Neal moved up to the fourth spot,
Wallace passed Babb for fifth, Frank moved up to the seventh spot, with
Mars, Clint Smith, and Cook rounding out the top ten. Moyer slowed and
stopped in turn four on lap 54 to bring out the fifth caution flag. The
next restart saw Wallace pass O'Neal for fourth, and Frank get around Babb
for sixth.
Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL stopped his Lucas Oil/Dunn-Benson Ford
Rocket/Eatmon Taurus in turn two on lap 57 for the sixth caution flag. With
Schlieper pulling away on the restart, O'Neal got up on the wheel passing
Wallace and Bloomquist to move up to the third spot.
O'Neal caught Francis on lap 63 and began to challenge the Kentucky Colonel
for second, looking to the inside. As the pair raced off the second turn on
lap 67, the two cars made contact and got sideways down the backstretch.
O'Neal was able to gather up his sliding mount, but Francis spun to the high
side of the track and stopped to bring out the caution flag.
After driving up along side O'Neal under caution to have a word with him,
Francis had to restart as the last car on the lead lap in the 17th spot.
Schlieper led O'Neal, Wallace, Bloomquist, Frank, Mars, Babb, Birkhofer,
Clanton, and McDowell down for the restart. O'Neal stayed on Schlieper's
back bumper after the field went back to green to mount the first challenge
on the leader.
By lap 77, Schlieper was able to put the lapped car of David Smith between
him and O'Neal, and Schlieper started to pull away by the time O'Neal got
around David Smith's Northern KY Auto Auction Mastersbilt/Clements Taurus.
In the meantime, Frank passed Bloomquist for the fourth spot.
While running third, Wallace slowed on lap 81, and his J&J Steel GRT/Craft
Taurus stopped in turn one to bring out the eighth and final caution flag.
Schlieper was able to open up a lead on O'Neal after the restart, and by lap
90, looked to have his fifth XDCS win of the season in reach.
With ten laps to go, Schlieper changed his line from the middle groove of
the track to the inside. O'Neal was running high into the corners, and
coming off low. With five laps to go, O'Neal brought the packed house to
their feet, as he raced to within a car-length of Schlieper as they closed
up again on the lapped car of David Smith, who was also running the inside
groove.
On lap 98, O'Neal ran his high line into turn three, but instead of tucking
under Schlieper to come off the fourth turn, he kept his car to the outside,
as Schlieper closed on David Smith in turn four. By the time Schlieper
tried to turn to the outside to go around David Smith, O'Neal was already
camped out beside him to his right.
Schlieper had no choice but to watch O'Neal drive around him for the lead,
and then follow him to the checkered flag.
While he was disappointed for his brother, Bill Schlieper of Pro Power
Racing Engines still had reason to smile, as O'Neal and his brother Dan gave
Pro Power a one-two finish and the 2003 Xtreme DirtCar Series Engine
Builders Championship.
Earlier in the evening, Jeff Smith won the first 15-lap Consolation Race,
with Clanton winning the Bert Transmission second Consolation Race, and
Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH won the third consy in the QPI Tools Dirt Ripper
Rayburn/Malcuit Monte Carlo. Darren Miller of Chadwick, IL flipped his
Seubert Calf Ranches Mastersbilt/Pro Power Monte Carlo in the second
consolation race, but he was uninjured.
In Friday night preliminary action, Matt Miller won the $5,000 top prize in
the 15-lap Isky Dash for 2003 Ringers Gloves Fast Qualifiers. Francis
earned the pole position for the Shootout with a victory in the Action
Performance Dash. Eckert, Clint Smith, Moyer, Schlieper, Babb, and Francis
won the six 15-lap heat races.
Schlieper put on the show of the night on Friday, after he spun on lap two,
restarted in the 16th spot, and then came back to win the JE Pistons fourth
heat race.
Vic Hill of Mosheim, TN was the Ringers Gloves Fast Qualifier among the 97
entrants. Hill drove his Ecoquest/Lowe Trucking GRT/Vic Hill Grand Prix
around the 3/8-mile clay oval in 14.470 seconds for an average speed of
93.296 miles per hour. Hill failed to transfer to the shootout through heat
and consolation action, as did second fast qualifier Pearson, who made the
show with a provisional.
OFFICIAL RESULTS OF ROUND 35 AT DIXIE SPEEDWAY IN WOODSTOCK, GA ON
10/11/03 - THE 14TH ANNUAL XDCS HARDEE'S SHOOTOUT PRESENTED BY COCA-COLA:
POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CAR LAPS $ WON
1. 16 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN Chev. 100 $55,100
2. 2 9 Dan Schlieper Pewaukee, WI Chev. 100 $20,200
3. 18 1* Chub Frank Sugar Grove, PA Chev. 100 $10,100
4. 8 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN Ford 100 $8,500
5. 12 28 Jimmy Mars Elk Mound, WI Chev. 100 $7,000
6. 3 18 Shannon Babb Decatur, IL Chev. 100 $5,900
7. 15 7 Matt Miller (R) Waterville, OH Pont. 100 $9,000
8. 23 15b Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA Chev. 100 $3,700
9. 20 25 Shane Clanton Locust Grove, GA Chev. 100 $3,000
10. 11 17m Dale McDowell Rossville, GA Ford 100 $2,950
11. 13 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC Ford 100 $2,900
12. 5 44 Clint Smith Senoia, GA Chev. 100 $2,950
13. 14 31 Bobby Turner Ballground, GA Chev. 100 $2,800
14. 21 99 Donnie Moran Dresden, OH Chev. 100 $3,150
15. 26 0s Steve Shaver Parkersburg, WV Chev. 100 $3,050
16. 22 11 David Smith Inmon, SC Ford 96 $2,650
17. 9 88 Wendell Wallace Batesville, AR Ford 80 $2,600
18. 7 44m Chris Madden Gray Court, SC Pont. 80 $2,875
19. 25 1 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL Ford 80 $4,550
20. 1 m15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY Dodge 70 $2,840
21. 4 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR Chev. 51 $3,250
22. 27 17g Mike Gault Gaffney, SC Pont. 38 $2,520
23. 19 70 Jeff Smith Dallas, NC Chev. 37 $2,510
24. 6 24 Rick Eckert York, PA Ford 35 $3,100
25. 24 29 Gary McPherson Dalton, GA Ford 35 $2,500
26. 17 00 Randy Korte Highland, IL Chev. 25 $2,500
27 10 201 Billy Ogle Jr. Knoxville, TN Pont. 16 $2,650
ENTRIES: 97
RINGERS GLOVES FAST QUALIFIER: Vic Hill, 14.470 Seconds, 93.296 Miles Per
Hour
JE PISTONS 4TH HEAT RACE WINNER: Schlieper
WELD WHEELS JUST MISSED IT AWARD: Rodney Martin
PROVISIONALS: Pearson and Shaver
TELEVISION PROVISIONAL: Gault
LEAD CHANGES: 1
LAP LEADERS: Schlieper, 1-97; O'Neal 98-100
LAPS LED: Schlieper, 97; O'Neal, 3
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS HARD CHARGER: O'Neal (stated 16th and finished 1st)
LUCAS OIL ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Miller
CAUTIONS: 8
RINGERS GLOVES QUALIFYING:
POS CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CHASSIS ENGINE 1ST LAP 2ND LAP TIME SPEED
1 1h Vic Hill Mosheim, TN GRT Vic Hill 14.979 14.470 14.470 93.296
2 1 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL Rocket Eatmon 14.477 14.631 14.477
93.251
3 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR Mastersbilt Dickens 14.719 14.505 14.505
93.071
4 201 Billy Ogle Jr. Knoxville, TN Warrior Custom 14.746 14.592 14.592
92.516
5 18 Shannon Babb Decatur, IL Rayburn Dickens 14.884 14.623 14.623 92.320
6 1* Chub Frank Sugar Grove, PA Rocket Draime 15.490 14.632 14.632 92.264
7 24 Rick Eckert York, PA Rocket Cornett 14.634 14.888 14.634 92.251
8 89 Marshall Green Dalton, GA Warrior Hatfield 14.644 15.114 14.644 92.188
9 15b Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA Mastersbilt Pro Power 14.651 14.935
14.651 92.144
10 31 Skip Arp Georgetown, TN GRT Gaerte 14.681 15.384 14.681 91.956
11 00k Randy Korte Highland, IL Rayburn Race Tech 14.827 14.686 14.686
91.924
12 m15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY Rocket Stanton 14.703 14.895 14.703 91.818
13 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC Mastersbilt Cornett 14.974 14.726 14.726 91.675
14 44 Clint Smith Senoia, GA GRT Race Tech 14.766 14.882 14.766 91.426
15 88 Wendell Wallace Batesville, AR GRT Craft 14.950 14.771 14.771 91.395
16 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN Rayburn Pro Power 15.027 14.780 14.780
91.340
17 17m Dale McDowell Rossville, GA L.S. Rocket Kuntz 14.899 14.808 14.808
91.167
18 28m Jimmy Mars Elk Mound, WI Mastersbilt Pro Power 15.332 14.816 14.816
91.118
19 9j Jason Croft Woodstock, GA Rocket Hatfield 15.037 14.844 14.844 90.946
20 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN Bloomquist Custom 14.853 15.167 14.853
90.891
21 7 Matt Miller (R) Waterville, OH Rocket Russell Baker 15.537 14.879
14.879 90.732
22 9 Dan Schlieper Pewaukee, WI Rayburn Pro Power NT 14.886 14.886 90.689
23 19 Wayne Echols Cumming, GA Echols Thomas 14.927 15.612 14.927 90.440
24 116 Randy Weaver Crossville, TN GRT Vic Hill 15.024 15.077 15.024 89.856
25 44 Chris Madden Gray Count, SC Barry Wright Clements 15.030 15.300 15.030
89.820
26 31t Bobby Turner Ballground, GA Rocket Draime 15.500 15.095 15.095 89.434
27 47 Brad Hall Knoxville, TN Warrior Eagle 15.160 15.127 15.127 89.244
28 4s Vernon Smith Rome, GA GRT Race Tech NT 15.139 15.139 89.174
29 20 Wade Knowles Tyrone, GA Warrior Brown 15.139 15.519 15.139 89.174
30 29 Gary McPherson Dalton, GA Mastersbilt Race Tech 15.180 15.270 15.180
88.933
31 15d Patrick Duggan Lenoir City, TN GRT B&B 15.655 15.187 15.187 88.892
32 92 Rodney Martin Cartersville, GA Rocket Hunt 15.191 15.365 15.191 88.868
33 25 Shane Clanton Locust Grove, GA Rocket Custom 15.204 15.317 15.204
88.792
34 17n Zack Nichols Cedartown, GA GRT Vinson 15.229 15.268 15.229 88.647
35 114 Randle Chupp Mooresville, NC Rocket Pro Power 15.549 15.248 15.248
88.536
36 42 Don Jenkins Kingston, GA GRT Race Tech 16.326 15.266 15.266 88.432
37 E1 Mike Balzano Parkersburg, WV Rocket Russell Baker 15.355 15.281 15.281
88.345
38 11s David Smith Inman, SC Mastersbilt Clements 16.082 15.286 15.286
88.316
39 11 Shawn Chastain Murphy, NC GRT Allen NT 15.292 15.292 88.281
40 32D Darren Miller Chadwick, IL Mastersbilt Pro Power 15.297 15.448 15.297
88.253
41 99 Donnie Moran Dresden, OH Rayburn Malcuit 15.344 15.298 15.298 88.247
42 3 Steve Smith Powell, TN Rayburn Draime 15.306 16.167 15.306 88.201
43 2F Dennis Franklin Gaffney, SC Mastersbilt Cornett 15.331 15.365 15.331
88.057
44 0s Steve Shaver Parkersburg, WV Rocket Malcuit 15.342 19.131 15.342
87.994
45 049 Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA GRT Allen 15.368 15.481 15.368
87.845
46 p1 Phil Coltrane Canton, GA Stinger McPherson 15.472 15.376 15.376 87.799
47 00s Jeff Smith Villanow, GA GRT Race Tech 15.781 15.384 15.384 87.754
48 00 Freddy Smith Knoxville, TN Warrior Gaerte 15.453 15.389 15.389 87.725
49 17w Ricky Williams Fayetteville, GA Rocket R.E.D. 15.407 15.702 15.407
87.623
50 111 Steve Phillips Gaffney, SC Mastersbilt Clements 16.287 15.435 15.435
87.464
51 21b Royce Bray Hull, GA Warrior Clements 16.338 15.438 15.438 87.447
52 48 Ricky Weeks Rutherfordton, NC Mastersbilt Cornett 15.439 15.666 15.439
87.441
53 8p David Payne Murphy, NC GRT Race Tech 15.676 15.442 15.442 87.424
54 T31 Shane Tankersley Morgonton, GA Rocket Race Tech 15.468 16.040 15.468
87.277
55 29f Ladie Fulcher Thomaston, GA GRT Race Tech 15.566 15.489 15.489 87.159
56 17 Chris Ausburn Baldwin, GA Barry Wright Custom 15.508 15.939 15.508
87.052
57 2 Butch Pritchett Carnesville, GA Rayburn Pro Power 15.517 15.782 15.517
87.001
58 18d Rodney Dickson Fayetteville, GA GRT Hunt 15.544 15.649 15.544 86.850
59 88p Petey Ivey Union, SC GRT Clements 15.556 16.033 15.556 86.783
60 55 Terrance Nowell Phenix City, AL Nowell Nowell 16.058 15.575 15.575
86.677
61 F9 Frank Ingram Woodstock, GA Warrior Hunt 15.580 15.743 15.580 86.650
62 52 Mark Douglas Knoxville, TN GRT Vic Hill 15.922 15.591 15.591 86.588
63 F1 Mike Duvall Gaffney, SC GRT Clements 16.112 15.638 15.638 86.328
64 22 Mike Weeks Friendsville, TN Weeks Weeks 17.145 15.651 15.651 86.256
65 4m Mark Vineyard Powell, TN Rocket Vic Hill 16.330 15.651 15.651 86.256
66 51 Jeremy Clements Spartanburg, SC Barry Wright Clements 15.666 15.859
15.666 86.174
67 15 Marty Massey Winston, GA GRT Swafford 15.912 15.742 15.742 85.758
68 17H Lamar Haygood Douglasville, GA Rocket Bishop 15.959 15.745 15.745
85.742
69 60 Gar Dickson Flintstone, GA GRT Dickson 15.940 15.750 15.750 85.714
70 15h Kent Hicks Cleveland, TN Rocket ART 15.770 16.011 15.770 85.606
71 88c Brad Coffey Maryville, TN TNT Tipton 16.351 15.772 15.772 85.595
72 00x Johnny Chastain Murphy, NC GRT Allen 15.947 15.784 15.784 85.530
73 3 David Dick Summerfield, NC Rocket Hatfield 15.991 15.800 15.800 85.443
74 55r Ken Rupp Hiram, GA Warrior Gump 16.395 15.813 15.813 85.373
75 9f Shane Fulcher Thomaston, GA GRT Race Tech 15.828 15.841 15.828 85.292
76 81 Aaron Ridley Chatsworth, GA Rocket Race Tech 15.860 16.129 15.860
85.120
77 27 Pete Cochran Dallas, GA Mastersbilt Race Tech 15.942 15.899 15.899
84.911
78 21a Joe Armstead Jr. Sharpsburg, GA GRT Armstead 16.113 15.908 15.908
84.863
79 12 Sam Simmons Taylorsville, GA GRT Hunt 16.104 15.917 15.917 84.815
80 05 James Roulette Cumming, GA GRT Custom 16.133 16.037 16.037 84.180
81 27 Glenn Morris Fayetteville, GA Stinger Morris 16.049 16.678 16.049
84.117
82 85 Tim King Lavonia, GA KMRC Clements 17.411 16.058 16.058 84.070
83 04 Perry Delaney Sparta, TN Panther K&J 16.641 16.144 16.144 83.622
84 34 Gary Hardin McDonough, GA Mastersbilt Hunt 16.145 16.355 16.145 83.617
85 5 Greg Knight Suwanee, GA Mastersbilt Hunt 16.637 16.187 16.187 83.400
86 16 Terry Costner Morristown, TN Mastersbilt Myers 50.368 16.191 16.191
83.380
87 25k David Killian Murphy, NC Mastersbilt Allen 16.312 16.358 16.312
82.761
88 55 Jody Davis Dallas, GA Warrior Gump 16.695 16.437 16.437 82.132
89 8 Hot Rod LaMance Six Mile, SC Warrior Clements 16.789 16.463 16.463
82.002
90 88t Tyson Herrell Villa Rica, GA Rocket Race Tech 16.464 16.653 16.464
81.997
91 17g Mike Gault Gaffney, SC GRT Clements 17.492 16.664 16.664 81.013
92 11 Chase Austin Eudora, KS GRT Buzzard 17.237 NT 17.237 78.320
93 24 Jody Summerville Rome, GA Larry Shaw R E D 19.257 NT 19.257 70.104
94 9b Kevin Burke Dalton, GA Stinger Custom 20.193 NT 20.193 66.855
95 24F Gary Fowler Suwanee, GA Larry Shaw R E D 99.990 NT 99.990 13.501
96 187 David McCoy Franklin, NC Warrior HRS 99.991 NT 99.991 13.501
97 70 Jeff Smith Dallas, NC Rocket Gaerte 99.992 99.992 13.501
WOODSTOCK, GA - A late race charge by Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN padded
his bank account to the tune of $55,000 in winning the 100-lap 14th Annual
Hardee's Shootout Presented by Coca-Cola for the Xtreme DirtCar Series
Saturday night at Dixie Speedway.
After starting his Petroff Towing Rayburn/Pro Power Monte Carlo 16th, O'Neal
chased down Dan Schlieper of Pewaukee, WI, who led the first 97 laps of the
race, in lapped traffic and took the lead with three laps to go. The
victory also earned O'Neal the Advance Auto Parts Hard Charger of the Race
Award.
"We weren't that good in the heat race yesterday, so we changed a lot of
things on the car, and it really made a big difference," O'Neal said. "The
track tonight was the best I've ever seen it. Even after 100 laps, we could
race anywhere we wanted to. It really means a lot to me to win this race.
This is one of the biggest races in the country."
Schlieper looked like the man to beat for the first 97 laps of the race. No
one could get close to his Miller Brothers Coal Rayburn/Pro Power Monte
Carlo, until O'Neal closed in, for the first time on lap 75. Schlieper was
able to pull away after a lap 81 restart, but O'Neal closed again in the
closing laps.
With ten laps to go, Schlieper moved his racing groove to the bottom of the
track, while O'Neal was cutting the corners from high going in to low coming
off. O'Neal stepped to the outside of Schlieper in turn three, catching
Schlieper behind the lapped car of David Smith of Inmon, SC. Using the
lapped car as a pick, O'Neal drove around Schlieper for the winning pass.
Schlieper had to settle for second, and third went to 2002 Shootout Champion
Chub Frank of Sugar Grove, PA, who started 18th in the Corry Rubber
Rocket/Draime Monte Carlo. The 2003 and five-time XDCS Champion Scott
Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN finished fourth in the Miller Brothers Coal
Bloomquist/Custom Taurus.
Jimmy Mars of Elk Mound, WI claimed the fifth spot in the Jimmy Mars Racing
Mastersbilt/Pro Power Monte Carlo, and Shannon Babb of Decatur, IL was sixth
in the Car City Co. Rayburn/Dickens Monte Carlo. The 2003 Lucas Oil Rookie
of the Race was Matt Miller of Waterville, OH in the McCullough
Motorsports/Lo-Temp Brazing Rocket/Russell Baker Grand Prix with a
seventh-place finish.
Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA charged from the 23rd starting spot to
finish eighth in the Seubert Calf Ranches Mastersbilt/Pro Power Monte Carlo,
and Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, GA took the ninth spot in the RSD
Enterprises Rocket/Custom Monte Carlo. The 1999 series champion and
Shootout winner Dale McDowell of Rossville, GA rounded out the top ten in
the Larry Shaw Race Cars/Petroff Towing Rocket By Shaw/Kuntz Taurus.
Starting on the outside of the front row, Schlieper beat polesitter Steve
Francis of Ashland, KY to the point at the start of the race. Francis
settled his Valvoline/Mopar Parts Rocket/Stanton Intrepid into the second
spot followed by Babb, 1997 series champion and Shootout winner Billy Moyer
of Batesville, AR, and two-time series champion Rick Eckert of York, PA.
The early laps of the race featured two and three racing throughout the
field behind the top two cars, and teammates Babb and Moyer raced
side-by-side for third. The first of eight caution flags came out for
debris on lap 17, and the restart saw Schlieper maintain his seven
car-length lead over Francis.
Bloomquist made a move on the double-file restart to move up to the fourth
spot, as Moyer began to fall back through the pack. Eckert was running
fifth when his Raye Vest Rocket/Cornett Taurus stalled on the frontstretch
on lap 36 to bring out the second caution flag, and Moyer also pitted his
J&J Steel Mastersbilt/Dickens Taurus.
Schlieper led the field down for the restart followed by Francis, Babb,
Bloomquist, Smith, and Mars. O'Neal had been a participant in much of the
three-wide racing in the early laps, as he had vaulted up to the seventh
spot, with McDowell, 1996 Shootout Champion Wendell Wallace of Batesville,
AR, and Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC in the Youngblood Mastersbilt/Cornett
Taurus behind him.
O'Neal and Wallace made the best of the double-file restart, passing Mars
for sixth and seventh spots respectively. Jeff Smith of Dallas, NC stalled
his Die Cast Digest Magazine/Starrette Trucking Rocket/Gaerte Monte Carlo on
the frontstretch on lap 38 to bring out the caution flag.
Clint Smith faded on the restart, as his JP Drilling GRT/Race Tech Monte
Carlo fell back to the eighth spot, moving O'Neal up to fifth. Mars got
back around Wallace for the sixth spot, and Frank moved up into the top ten.
Mike Gault of Gaffney, SC stalled his Carter's Royal Disposal GRT/Clements
Grand Prix in turn four on lap 41 to bring out the fourth caution flag of
the race.
Schlieper once again opened up a seven car-length lead on Francis after the
double-file restart, and Bloomquist got around Babb to take over the third
spot. Bloomquist closed on Francis to battle for the second spot by lap 45,
with drivers wheeling and dealing from fourth on back for positions.
At the halfway point, the "Real Deal" O'Neal moved up to the fourth spot,
Wallace passed Babb for fifth, Frank moved up to the seventh spot, with
Mars, Clint Smith, and Cook rounding out the top ten. Moyer slowed and
stopped in turn four on lap 54 to bring out the fifth caution flag. The
next restart saw Wallace pass O'Neal for fourth, and Frank get around Babb
for sixth.
Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL stopped his Lucas Oil/Dunn-Benson Ford
Rocket/Eatmon Taurus in turn two on lap 57 for the sixth caution flag. With
Schlieper pulling away on the restart, O'Neal got up on the wheel passing
Wallace and Bloomquist to move up to the third spot.
O'Neal caught Francis on lap 63 and began to challenge the Kentucky Colonel
for second, looking to the inside. As the pair raced off the second turn on
lap 67, the two cars made contact and got sideways down the backstretch.
O'Neal was able to gather up his sliding mount, but Francis spun to the high
side of the track and stopped to bring out the caution flag.
After driving up along side O'Neal under caution to have a word with him,
Francis had to restart as the last car on the lead lap in the 17th spot.
Schlieper led O'Neal, Wallace, Bloomquist, Frank, Mars, Babb, Birkhofer,
Clanton, and McDowell down for the restart. O'Neal stayed on Schlieper's
back bumper after the field went back to green to mount the first challenge
on the leader.
By lap 77, Schlieper was able to put the lapped car of David Smith between
him and O'Neal, and Schlieper started to pull away by the time O'Neal got
around David Smith's Northern KY Auto Auction Mastersbilt/Clements Taurus.
In the meantime, Frank passed Bloomquist for the fourth spot.
While running third, Wallace slowed on lap 81, and his J&J Steel GRT/Craft
Taurus stopped in turn one to bring out the eighth and final caution flag.
Schlieper was able to open up a lead on O'Neal after the restart, and by lap
90, looked to have his fifth XDCS win of the season in reach.
With ten laps to go, Schlieper changed his line from the middle groove of
the track to the inside. O'Neal was running high into the corners, and
coming off low. With five laps to go, O'Neal brought the packed house to
their feet, as he raced to within a car-length of Schlieper as they closed
up again on the lapped car of David Smith, who was also running the inside
groove.
On lap 98, O'Neal ran his high line into turn three, but instead of tucking
under Schlieper to come off the fourth turn, he kept his car to the outside,
as Schlieper closed on David Smith in turn four. By the time Schlieper
tried to turn to the outside to go around David Smith, O'Neal was already
camped out beside him to his right.
Schlieper had no choice but to watch O'Neal drive around him for the lead,
and then follow him to the checkered flag.
While he was disappointed for his brother, Bill Schlieper of Pro Power
Racing Engines still had reason to smile, as O'Neal and his brother Dan gave
Pro Power a one-two finish and the 2003 Xtreme DirtCar Series Engine
Builders Championship.
Earlier in the evening, Jeff Smith won the first 15-lap Consolation Race,
with Clanton winning the Bert Transmission second Consolation Race, and
Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH won the third consy in the QPI Tools Dirt Ripper
Rayburn/Malcuit Monte Carlo. Darren Miller of Chadwick, IL flipped his
Seubert Calf Ranches Mastersbilt/Pro Power Monte Carlo in the second
consolation race, but he was uninjured.
In Friday night preliminary action, Matt Miller won the $5,000 top prize in
the 15-lap Isky Dash for 2003 Ringers Gloves Fast Qualifiers. Francis
earned the pole position for the Shootout with a victory in the Action
Performance Dash. Eckert, Clint Smith, Moyer, Schlieper, Babb, and Francis
won the six 15-lap heat races.
Schlieper put on the show of the night on Friday, after he spun on lap two,
restarted in the 16th spot, and then came back to win the JE Pistons fourth
heat race.
Vic Hill of Mosheim, TN was the Ringers Gloves Fast Qualifier among the 97
entrants. Hill drove his Ecoquest/Lowe Trucking GRT/Vic Hill Grand Prix
around the 3/8-mile clay oval in 14.470 seconds for an average speed of
93.296 miles per hour. Hill failed to transfer to the shootout through heat
and consolation action, as did second fast qualifier Pearson, who made the
show with a provisional.
OFFICIAL RESULTS OF ROUND 35 AT DIXIE SPEEDWAY IN WOODSTOCK, GA ON
10/11/03 - THE 14TH ANNUAL XDCS HARDEE'S SHOOTOUT PRESENTED BY COCA-COLA:
POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CAR LAPS $ WON
1. 16 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN Chev. 100 $55,100
2. 2 9 Dan Schlieper Pewaukee, WI Chev. 100 $20,200
3. 18 1* Chub Frank Sugar Grove, PA Chev. 100 $10,100
4. 8 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN Ford 100 $8,500
5. 12 28 Jimmy Mars Elk Mound, WI Chev. 100 $7,000
6. 3 18 Shannon Babb Decatur, IL Chev. 100 $5,900
7. 15 7 Matt Miller (R) Waterville, OH Pont. 100 $9,000
8. 23 15b Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA Chev. 100 $3,700
9. 20 25 Shane Clanton Locust Grove, GA Chev. 100 $3,000
10. 11 17m Dale McDowell Rossville, GA Ford 100 $2,950
11. 13 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC Ford 100 $2,900
12. 5 44 Clint Smith Senoia, GA Chev. 100 $2,950
13. 14 31 Bobby Turner Ballground, GA Chev. 100 $2,800
14. 21 99 Donnie Moran Dresden, OH Chev. 100 $3,150
15. 26 0s Steve Shaver Parkersburg, WV Chev. 100 $3,050
16. 22 11 David Smith Inmon, SC Ford 96 $2,650
17. 9 88 Wendell Wallace Batesville, AR Ford 80 $2,600
18. 7 44m Chris Madden Gray Court, SC Pont. 80 $2,875
19. 25 1 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL Ford 80 $4,550
20. 1 m15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY Dodge 70 $2,840
21. 4 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR Chev. 51 $3,250
22. 27 17g Mike Gault Gaffney, SC Pont. 38 $2,520
23. 19 70 Jeff Smith Dallas, NC Chev. 37 $2,510
24. 6 24 Rick Eckert York, PA Ford 35 $3,100
25. 24 29 Gary McPherson Dalton, GA Ford 35 $2,500
26. 17 00 Randy Korte Highland, IL Chev. 25 $2,500
27 10 201 Billy Ogle Jr. Knoxville, TN Pont. 16 $2,650
ENTRIES: 97
RINGERS GLOVES FAST QUALIFIER: Vic Hill, 14.470 Seconds, 93.296 Miles Per
Hour
JE PISTONS 4TH HEAT RACE WINNER: Schlieper
WELD WHEELS JUST MISSED IT AWARD: Rodney Martin
PROVISIONALS: Pearson and Shaver
TELEVISION PROVISIONAL: Gault
LEAD CHANGES: 1
LAP LEADERS: Schlieper, 1-97; O'Neal 98-100
LAPS LED: Schlieper, 97; O'Neal, 3
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS HARD CHARGER: O'Neal (stated 16th and finished 1st)
LUCAS OIL ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Miller
CAUTIONS: 8
RINGERS GLOVES QUALIFYING:
POS CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CHASSIS ENGINE 1ST LAP 2ND LAP TIME SPEED
1 1h Vic Hill Mosheim, TN GRT Vic Hill 14.979 14.470 14.470 93.296
2 1 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL Rocket Eatmon 14.477 14.631 14.477
93.251
3 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR Mastersbilt Dickens 14.719 14.505 14.505
93.071
4 201 Billy Ogle Jr. Knoxville, TN Warrior Custom 14.746 14.592 14.592
92.516
5 18 Shannon Babb Decatur, IL Rayburn Dickens 14.884 14.623 14.623 92.320
6 1* Chub Frank Sugar Grove, PA Rocket Draime 15.490 14.632 14.632 92.264
7 24 Rick Eckert York, PA Rocket Cornett 14.634 14.888 14.634 92.251
8 89 Marshall Green Dalton, GA Warrior Hatfield 14.644 15.114 14.644 92.188
9 15b Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA Mastersbilt Pro Power 14.651 14.935
14.651 92.144
10 31 Skip Arp Georgetown, TN GRT Gaerte 14.681 15.384 14.681 91.956
11 00k Randy Korte Highland, IL Rayburn Race Tech 14.827 14.686 14.686
91.924
12 m15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY Rocket Stanton 14.703 14.895 14.703 91.818
13 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC Mastersbilt Cornett 14.974 14.726 14.726 91.675
14 44 Clint Smith Senoia, GA GRT Race Tech 14.766 14.882 14.766 91.426
15 88 Wendell Wallace Batesville, AR GRT Craft 14.950 14.771 14.771 91.395
16 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN Rayburn Pro Power 15.027 14.780 14.780
91.340
17 17m Dale McDowell Rossville, GA L.S. Rocket Kuntz 14.899 14.808 14.808
91.167
18 28m Jimmy Mars Elk Mound, WI Mastersbilt Pro Power 15.332 14.816 14.816
91.118
19 9j Jason Croft Woodstock, GA Rocket Hatfield 15.037 14.844 14.844 90.946
20 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN Bloomquist Custom 14.853 15.167 14.853
90.891
21 7 Matt Miller (R) Waterville, OH Rocket Russell Baker 15.537 14.879
14.879 90.732
22 9 Dan Schlieper Pewaukee, WI Rayburn Pro Power NT 14.886 14.886 90.689
23 19 Wayne Echols Cumming, GA Echols Thomas 14.927 15.612 14.927 90.440
24 116 Randy Weaver Crossville, TN GRT Vic Hill 15.024 15.077 15.024 89.856
25 44 Chris Madden Gray Count, SC Barry Wright Clements 15.030 15.300 15.030
89.820
26 31t Bobby Turner Ballground, GA Rocket Draime 15.500 15.095 15.095 89.434
27 47 Brad Hall Knoxville, TN Warrior Eagle 15.160 15.127 15.127 89.244
28 4s Vernon Smith Rome, GA GRT Race Tech NT 15.139 15.139 89.174
29 20 Wade Knowles Tyrone, GA Warrior Brown 15.139 15.519 15.139 89.174
30 29 Gary McPherson Dalton, GA Mastersbilt Race Tech 15.180 15.270 15.180
88.933
31 15d Patrick Duggan Lenoir City, TN GRT B&B 15.655 15.187 15.187 88.892
32 92 Rodney Martin Cartersville, GA Rocket Hunt 15.191 15.365 15.191 88.868
33 25 Shane Clanton Locust Grove, GA Rocket Custom 15.204 15.317 15.204
88.792
34 17n Zack Nichols Cedartown, GA GRT Vinson 15.229 15.268 15.229 88.647
35 114 Randle Chupp Mooresville, NC Rocket Pro Power 15.549 15.248 15.248
88.536
36 42 Don Jenkins Kingston, GA GRT Race Tech 16.326 15.266 15.266 88.432
37 E1 Mike Balzano Parkersburg, WV Rocket Russell Baker 15.355 15.281 15.281
88.345
38 11s David Smith Inman, SC Mastersbilt Clements 16.082 15.286 15.286
88.316
39 11 Shawn Chastain Murphy, NC GRT Allen NT 15.292 15.292 88.281
40 32D Darren Miller Chadwick, IL Mastersbilt Pro Power 15.297 15.448 15.297
88.253
41 99 Donnie Moran Dresden, OH Rayburn Malcuit 15.344 15.298 15.298 88.247
42 3 Steve Smith Powell, TN Rayburn Draime 15.306 16.167 15.306 88.201
43 2F Dennis Franklin Gaffney, SC Mastersbilt Cornett 15.331 15.365 15.331
88.057
44 0s Steve Shaver Parkersburg, WV Rocket Malcuit 15.342 19.131 15.342
87.994
45 049 Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA GRT Allen 15.368 15.481 15.368
87.845
46 p1 Phil Coltrane Canton, GA Stinger McPherson 15.472 15.376 15.376 87.799
47 00s Jeff Smith Villanow, GA GRT Race Tech 15.781 15.384 15.384 87.754
48 00 Freddy Smith Knoxville, TN Warrior Gaerte 15.453 15.389 15.389 87.725
49 17w Ricky Williams Fayetteville, GA Rocket R.E.D. 15.407 15.702 15.407
87.623
50 111 Steve Phillips Gaffney, SC Mastersbilt Clements 16.287 15.435 15.435
87.464
51 21b Royce Bray Hull, GA Warrior Clements 16.338 15.438 15.438 87.447
52 48 Ricky Weeks Rutherfordton, NC Mastersbilt Cornett 15.439 15.666 15.439
87.441
53 8p David Payne Murphy, NC GRT Race Tech 15.676 15.442 15.442 87.424
54 T31 Shane Tankersley Morgonton, GA Rocket Race Tech 15.468 16.040 15.468
87.277
55 29f Ladie Fulcher Thomaston, GA GRT Race Tech 15.566 15.489 15.489 87.159
56 17 Chris Ausburn Baldwin, GA Barry Wright Custom 15.508 15.939 15.508
87.052
57 2 Butch Pritchett Carnesville, GA Rayburn Pro Power 15.517 15.782 15.517
87.001
58 18d Rodney Dickson Fayetteville, GA GRT Hunt 15.544 15.649 15.544 86.850
59 88p Petey Ivey Union, SC GRT Clements 15.556 16.033 15.556 86.783
60 55 Terrance Nowell Phenix City, AL Nowell Nowell 16.058 15.575 15.575
86.677
61 F9 Frank Ingram Woodstock, GA Warrior Hunt 15.580 15.743 15.580 86.650
62 52 Mark Douglas Knoxville, TN GRT Vic Hill 15.922 15.591 15.591 86.588
63 F1 Mike Duvall Gaffney, SC GRT Clements 16.112 15.638 15.638 86.328
64 22 Mike Weeks Friendsville, TN Weeks Weeks 17.145 15.651 15.651 86.256
65 4m Mark Vineyard Powell, TN Rocket Vic Hill 16.330 15.651 15.651 86.256
66 51 Jeremy Clements Spartanburg, SC Barry Wright Clements 15.666 15.859
15.666 86.174
67 15 Marty Massey Winston, GA GRT Swafford 15.912 15.742 15.742 85.758
68 17H Lamar Haygood Douglasville, GA Rocket Bishop 15.959 15.745 15.745
85.742
69 60 Gar Dickson Flintstone, GA GRT Dickson 15.940 15.750 15.750 85.714
70 15h Kent Hicks Cleveland, TN Rocket ART 15.770 16.011 15.770 85.606
71 88c Brad Coffey Maryville, TN TNT Tipton 16.351 15.772 15.772 85.595
72 00x Johnny Chastain Murphy, NC GRT Allen 15.947 15.784 15.784 85.530
73 3 David Dick Summerfield, NC Rocket Hatfield 15.991 15.800 15.800 85.443
74 55r Ken Rupp Hiram, GA Warrior Gump 16.395 15.813 15.813 85.373
75 9f Shane Fulcher Thomaston, GA GRT Race Tech 15.828 15.841 15.828 85.292
76 81 Aaron Ridley Chatsworth, GA Rocket Race Tech 15.860 16.129 15.860
85.120
77 27 Pete Cochran Dallas, GA Mastersbilt Race Tech 15.942 15.899 15.899
84.911
78 21a Joe Armstead Jr. Sharpsburg, GA GRT Armstead 16.113 15.908 15.908
84.863
79 12 Sam Simmons Taylorsville, GA GRT Hunt 16.104 15.917 15.917 84.815
80 05 James Roulette Cumming, GA GRT Custom 16.133 16.037 16.037 84.180
81 27 Glenn Morris Fayetteville, GA Stinger Morris 16.049 16.678 16.049
84.117
82 85 Tim King Lavonia, GA KMRC Clements 17.411 16.058 16.058 84.070
83 04 Perry Delaney Sparta, TN Panther K&J 16.641 16.144 16.144 83.622
84 34 Gary Hardin McDonough, GA Mastersbilt Hunt 16.145 16.355 16.145 83.617
85 5 Greg Knight Suwanee, GA Mastersbilt Hunt 16.637 16.187 16.187 83.400
86 16 Terry Costner Morristown, TN Mastersbilt Myers 50.368 16.191 16.191
83.380
87 25k David Killian Murphy, NC Mastersbilt Allen 16.312 16.358 16.312
82.761
88 55 Jody Davis Dallas, GA Warrior Gump 16.695 16.437 16.437 82.132
89 8 Hot Rod LaMance Six Mile, SC Warrior Clements 16.789 16.463 16.463
82.002
90 88t Tyson Herrell Villa Rica, GA Rocket Race Tech 16.464 16.653 16.464
81.997
91 17g Mike Gault Gaffney, SC GRT Clements 17.492 16.664 16.664 81.013
92 11 Chase Austin Eudora, KS GRT Buzzard 17.237 NT 17.237 78.320
93 24 Jody Summerville Rome, GA Larry Shaw R E D 19.257 NT 19.257 70.104
94 9b Kevin Burke Dalton, GA Stinger Custom 20.193 NT 20.193 66.855
95 24F Gary Fowler Suwanee, GA Larry Shaw R E D 99.990 NT 99.990 13.501
96 187 David McCoy Franklin, NC Warrior HRS 99.991 NT 99.991 13.501
97 70 Jeff Smith Dallas, NC Rocket Gaerte 99.992 99.992 13.501
