After a weekend off, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series fires back up for racing action this coming Saturday Night, June 4 in front of the ESPN2 cameras at the Florence Speedway in Union, KY. The 11th stop of the '05 tour for the series will be at the home of the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame, as Florence Speedway plays host to the 19th Annual "Ralph Latham Memorial". The race held each year since 1987 honors one of the truly great late model drivers of all-time. There will be a complete one-day show for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series with Oval Craft Racing Aluminum Designs Time Trials, VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat Races, Mason Racin' Rebel Shock Dyno and PPM Performance Products B-Mains and the $10,000 to win Lucas Oil A-Main.
Ralph Latham was a three decade driving star out of the Cincinnati, OH area. Among his numerous wins in dirt late model racing and came victories in ARCA and USAC in his racing career. He passed away in August of 1986 of cancer at age 54. He participated in the very first World 100 held in 1971. His most successful season came in 1970 when he won a remarkable 43 feature races on dirt.
The previous winners list of the "Ralph Latham Memorial" is considered a who's who in the dirt track racing genre. Mike Jewell of Scottsburg, Indiana is the defending race winner as Indiana natives have won this event two years in a row with Lawrenceburg, IN driver, Scott James winning in 2003.
The cameras of ESPN2 will be on hand to catch all the action at Florence Speedway. It will be the second time that ESPN2 will tape for broadcast an event at Florence. In 2004 the "Spring 50" won by Scott Bloomquist was aired. The "Ralph Latham Memorial" race will be one of the 13 appearances on ESPN2 in '05 for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. ESPN2 is currently seen in 88 million households nationwide. The race at Florence will air at a date and time to be announced in the future.
At Florence Speedway this Saturday Night, June 4 pit gates will open at 3 p.m. with grandstand gates opening at 5 p.m. Qualifying will take place at 6:30 p.m. with racing starting at approximately 7:30 p.m. Florence Speedway will also host open wheel modifieds and super dirt stocks. Florence Speedway is located west on U.S. Route 42 at exit 180 off of I-75. For more information on race day activitities you can log on to their website at www.florencespeedway.com or call the track at (859) 485-7591.
After 10 events the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series has Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN on top of the current points standings. The 40 year old racer has won twice with the series this year with both wins coming at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, FL in February. Terry English of Benton, KY currently sits second in points as he has also won twice on the Lucas Oil Late Model series in '05. English's wins have come at East Bay and Brownstown, IN. Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH rests in third place currently followed by Matt Miller of Waterville, OH and Dennis Erb, Jr. of Carpentersville, IL. Moran and Miller are looking for their first series wins of the season and both have run extremely well at Florence in the past taking wins. Erb rejoins the circuit at Florence after two top ten finishes two weeks ago at Farley and LaSalle to elevate him to fifth in points.
The rest of the top ten sees Jacksonville, FL driver, Earl Pearson, Jr. in sixth place followed by the top two "Rookie of the Year" contenders Tim Dohm of Cross Lanes, WV and Scott James of Lawrenceburg, IN. James is coming off of a big win at Farley were he pocketed his first career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event. Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, IL is ninth in points followed by another top "Rookie of the Year" contender who is rejoining the series, Brady Smith of Solon Springs, WI.
For more information on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series please visit the series' website at www.naradirtcar.com.
Previous Ralph Latham Memorial Race Winners
1987--Bobby Carnes
1988--Bob Pierce
1989--John Gill
1990--Jack Boggs
1991--Scott Bloomquist
1992--Jack Boggs
1993--Jack Boggs
1994--Billy Moyer
1995--Donnie Moran
1996--Billy Moyer
1997--Steve Francis
1998--Bart Hartman
1999--Wendell Wallace
2000--Darrell Lanigan
2001--R. J. Conley
2002--Steve Francis
2003--Scott James
2004--Mike Jewell
A-Main Payoff
1. $10,000.00
2. 5,000.00
3. 3,000.00
4. 2,500.00
5. 2,000.00
6. 1,500.00
7. 1,400.00
8. 1,300.00
9. 1,200.00
10. 1,100.00
11. 1,000.00
12. 950.00
13. 900.00
14. 875.00
15. 850.00
16. 825.00
17. 800.00
18. 775.00
19. 750.00
20. 725.00
21. 700.00
22. 700.00
23. 700.00
24. 700.00
Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Points Standings (after 10 events)
1. Don O'Neal-1720
2. Terry English-1690
3. Donnie Moran-1540
4. Matt Miller-1440
5. Dennis Erb, Jr.-1420
6. Earl Pearson, Jr.-1410
7. Tim Dohm-1365
8. Scott James-1345
9. Shannon Babb-1305
10. Brady Smith-1150
2005 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Sponsors
Lucas Oil- Title Sponsor and “Official Oil Products of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series”
O’Reilly Auto Parts – “Official Auto Parts Store 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, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Arizona Sports Shirts, Crown Spray Power, VP Racing Fuels, Oval Craft, COMP Cams, Hoosier Racing Tires, Dart, PPM Racing Products, AFCO, BERT, Rayburn Chassis, Rocket Chassis, American Race Tire, Real Wheels, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Weld Racing Wheels, Trailer Parts & Sales, On The Edge Graphics, Bell and Cruise With The Champions
Ralph Latham was a three decade driving star out of the Cincinnati, OH area. Among his numerous wins in dirt late model racing and came victories in ARCA and USAC in his racing career. He passed away in August of 1986 of cancer at age 54. He participated in the very first World 100 held in 1971. His most successful season came in 1970 when he won a remarkable 43 feature races on dirt.
The previous winners list of the "Ralph Latham Memorial" is considered a who's who in the dirt track racing genre. Mike Jewell of Scottsburg, Indiana is the defending race winner as Indiana natives have won this event two years in a row with Lawrenceburg, IN driver, Scott James winning in 2003.
The cameras of ESPN2 will be on hand to catch all the action at Florence Speedway. It will be the second time that ESPN2 will tape for broadcast an event at Florence. In 2004 the "Spring 50" won by Scott Bloomquist was aired. The "Ralph Latham Memorial" race will be one of the 13 appearances on ESPN2 in '05 for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. ESPN2 is currently seen in 88 million households nationwide. The race at Florence will air at a date and time to be announced in the future.
At Florence Speedway this Saturday Night, June 4 pit gates will open at 3 p.m. with grandstand gates opening at 5 p.m. Qualifying will take place at 6:30 p.m. with racing starting at approximately 7:30 p.m. Florence Speedway will also host open wheel modifieds and super dirt stocks. Florence Speedway is located west on U.S. Route 42 at exit 180 off of I-75. For more information on race day activitities you can log on to their website at www.florencespeedway.com or call the track at (859) 485-7591.
After 10 events the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series has Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN on top of the current points standings. The 40 year old racer has won twice with the series this year with both wins coming at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, FL in February. Terry English of Benton, KY currently sits second in points as he has also won twice on the Lucas Oil Late Model series in '05. English's wins have come at East Bay and Brownstown, IN. Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH rests in third place currently followed by Matt Miller of Waterville, OH and Dennis Erb, Jr. of Carpentersville, IL. Moran and Miller are looking for their first series wins of the season and both have run extremely well at Florence in the past taking wins. Erb rejoins the circuit at Florence after two top ten finishes two weeks ago at Farley and LaSalle to elevate him to fifth in points.
The rest of the top ten sees Jacksonville, FL driver, Earl Pearson, Jr. in sixth place followed by the top two "Rookie of the Year" contenders Tim Dohm of Cross Lanes, WV and Scott James of Lawrenceburg, IN. James is coming off of a big win at Farley were he pocketed his first career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event. Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, IL is ninth in points followed by another top "Rookie of the Year" contender who is rejoining the series, Brady Smith of Solon Springs, WI.
For more information on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series please visit the series' website at www.naradirtcar.com.
Previous Ralph Latham Memorial Race Winners
1987--Bobby Carnes
1988--Bob Pierce
1989--John Gill
1990--Jack Boggs
1991--Scott Bloomquist
1992--Jack Boggs
1993--Jack Boggs
1994--Billy Moyer
1995--Donnie Moran
1996--Billy Moyer
1997--Steve Francis
1998--Bart Hartman
1999--Wendell Wallace
2000--Darrell Lanigan
2001--R. J. Conley
2002--Steve Francis
2003--Scott James
2004--Mike Jewell
A-Main Payoff
1. $10,000.00
2. 5,000.00
3. 3,000.00
4. 2,500.00
5. 2,000.00
6. 1,500.00
7. 1,400.00
8. 1,300.00
9. 1,200.00
10. 1,100.00
11. 1,000.00
12. 950.00
13. 900.00
14. 875.00
15. 850.00
16. 825.00
17. 800.00
18. 775.00
19. 750.00
20. 725.00
21. 700.00
22. 700.00
23. 700.00
24. 700.00
Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Points Standings (after 10 events)
1. Don O'Neal-1720
2. Terry English-1690
3. Donnie Moran-1540
4. Matt Miller-1440
5. Dennis Erb, Jr.-1420
6. Earl Pearson, Jr.-1410
7. Tim Dohm-1365
8. Scott James-1345
9. Shannon Babb-1305
10. Brady Smith-1150
2005 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Sponsors
Lucas Oil- Title Sponsor and “Official Oil Products of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series”
O’Reilly Auto Parts – “Official Auto Parts Store 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, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Arizona Sports Shirts, Crown Spray Power, VP Racing Fuels, Oval Craft, COMP Cams, Hoosier Racing Tires, Dart, PPM Racing Products, AFCO, BERT, Rayburn Chassis, Rocket Chassis, American Race Tire, Real Wheels, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Weld Racing Wheels, Trailer Parts & Sales, On The Edge Graphics, Bell and Cruise With The Champions
