jdearing
07-31-2005, 02:52 AM
WEST LIBERTY, IA--Matt Miller of Waterville, OH led all 50 laps while
outdueling Donnie Moran to win the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event on
Thursday Night at the West Liberty Raceway in West Liberty, Iowa. The 34 year
old 2005 $100,000 Dream Winner rolled to the lead at the start of the 50 lap
main event on his way to the $10,000 payday for his second Lucas Oil Late Model
Dirt Series win of '05. Miller drove the Scott Smith crew chiefed, Dirt Shop,
Inc/McCullough Industries/Performance Rod and Custom/Doug Herbert Performance
Circle Track Parts/Lo-Temp Brazing/Banshee Graphics/Hoosier Tires/Whaley and
Son Collision/McDonald Refrigeration/Russell Baker Racing Engines/Rocket
Pontiac Grand Prix #7 to victory circle over Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH in the
PBM Performance Products/SMS Race Engines/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo. Third place
went to Andy Eckrich of Iowa City, IA in his first career start with the series
as he was driving the Precision Performance/Grove Automotive/Barry Wright Grand
Prix with fourth place going to Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA in the
Daufeldt Transport/Pro Power Engines/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo with Earl Pearson,
Jr. of Jacksonville, FL in the Lucas Oil/Larry Wallace Racing
Engines/MasterSbilt Ford Taurus.
Andy Eckrich and Matt Miller would make the front row with 50 laps of racing in
front of them it would be very important as to who would get the lead in this
race at the start with the stout field on hand. Miller would be the man to do
that as he outpowered the younger Eckrich on the start and blasted into the
lead heading into turn number one. Eckrich would fall in behind Miller for
second with Donnie Moran, Brian Birkhofer and Steve Boley making up the top
five after one lap was scored. The race would go green until a three car
accident in turn two slowed the action. Once the race resumed Miller was still
holding the point and building his lead to six and seven car lengths lap after
lap over Eckrich. Eckrich was receiving heavy pressure from Moran at this
point and on lap 10 Moran would scoot by Eckrich to take over second place.
Moran would now have Miller in his sights, but it would take a tremendous
effort now to track down Miller has he had built a sizable lead. A caution on
lap 16 for a slowed Steve Casebolt Jr would close the field up behind Miller.
The race would then see five more laps of green flag racing with Moran all over
Miller for the lead, but Denny Eckrich blew a tire on lap 21 necessitating
another caution flag period.
Scott James would stop with a flat on lap 24 for another caution as tire wear
was becoming a factor among some of the top ten drivers. With the halfway mark
given it was still Miller showing the way with Moran in second and a good
battle for third between Andy Eckrich and Birkhofer was also taking place. On
the restarts Miller would open up a five car length lead over Moran and it
would take Moran several laps to catch back up to Miller. With 15 laps to go
Moran was right on Miller's rear bumper and would close significantly in the
corners as Miller would pull away down the straightaways. A caution for debris
on lap 39 would slow the field one more time and set up an 11 lap shootout to
the finish line. Miller would again restart with force and get away from Moran
as Andy Eckrich was fighting off all challenges from Birkhofer. With five
laps remaining Moran was again right on Miller, but it was going to take a
mistake by Miller for Moran to pass him. Miller would hold his line lap after
lap in the closing segment of the race as he would power to win over Moran.
Andy Eckrich the current point's leader at West Liberty Raceway would do a nice
job all race long in securing the third spot at the pay window. Birkhofer
would wind up fourth with Earl Pearson, Jr. coming on strong from his 12th
starting spot to pass two cars in the waning laps to finish fifth.
"It is real good win for the team," said Miller in victory lane afterwards. "I
knew I had to get the jump on the 56 car heading into turn one, because I felt
like once we had the lead it would be hard for anyone to pass us out here
tonight," said the former Eldora Speedway track champion. "I knew Donnie would
be tough, he always is in the thick of things and I knew he was going to give
me a strong effort to try and pass me, but I knew if I held my line it would be
tough for him to beat me and on the restarts the car was exceptional and I want
to give credit to Scott Smith and everybody with team for giving me such a
great race car tonight and thanks to the fans for coming out tonight was well."
Completing the top ten were Gary Webb, Don O'Neal, Darren Miller, Chad Simpson
and Chris Simpson.
In preliminary events for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Don O'Neal was
the top qualifier in the Oval Craft Racing Aluminum Designs Time Trials with a
lap of 20.545 seconds among the 30 entrants on hand. The VP Fuels Makin' Power
Heat Race Winners were Matt Miller, Donnie Moran and Andy Eckrich. The Mason
Racin' Rebel Shock Dyno B-Main was taken by Chad Holladay.
Race Summary
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Event #23
Thursday Night, July 28, 2005
West Liberty Raceway-West Liberty, Iowa
Oval Craft Racing Aluminum Designs Fast Qualifier: Don O'Neal 20.545 seconds
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #1: Matt Miller, Darren Miller, Steve Boley, Don
O'Neal, Thomas Christenson, Rob Moss, Chad Holladay, Rick Aukland, Chad
Simpson, Boone McLaughlin
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #2: Donnie Moran, Brian Birkhofer, Brady Smith,
Scott James, Tommy Elston, Chris Simpson, Tim Dohm, Chuck Mayerhofer, Whitney
McQueary, Todd Davis
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #3: Andy Eckrich, Gary Webb, Denny Eckrich, Earl
Pearson, Jr., Dave Eckrich, Steve Casebolt, Jr., Freddy Smith, Jay Johnson,
Johnny Johnson
Mason Racin' Rebel Shock Dyno B-Main: Chad Holloday, Tim Dohm, Chuck
Mayerhofer, Chad Simpson, Rick Aukland, Johnny Johnson, Whitney McQueary, Boone
McLaughlin, Freddy Smith, Todd Davis
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series A-Main: (50 Laps): Matt Miller, Donnie
Moran, Andy Eckrich, Brian Birkhofer, Earl Pearson, Jr., Gary Webb, Don O'Neal,
Darren Miller, Chad Simpson, Chris Simpson, Brady Smith, Tim Dohm, Chad
Holloday, Freddy Smith, Steve Casebolt, Jr., Steve Boley, Dave Eckrich, Chuck
Mayerhofer, Scott James, Denny Eckrich, Todd Davis, Rick Aukland, Rob Moss,
Thomas Christenson, Tommy Elston
Race Statistics:
Entries: 30
Cautions: 5
Red Flags: 0
Lap Leaders: Matt Miller 1-50
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rookie of the Race: Brady Smith
Weld Wheels Hard Charger of the Race: Chad Simpson (started 22nd and finished
in 9th) advanced 15 positions
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Freddy Smith and Rick Aukland
Track Provisionals: Todd Davis
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, BERT, Rayburn Chassis, Rocket Chassis, American Race Tire,
Real Wheels, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Weld Racing Wheels, Trailer Parts &
Sales, On The Edge Graphics, and Cruise With The Champions
outdueling Donnie Moran to win the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event on
Thursday Night at the West Liberty Raceway in West Liberty, Iowa. The 34 year
old 2005 $100,000 Dream Winner rolled to the lead at the start of the 50 lap
main event on his way to the $10,000 payday for his second Lucas Oil Late Model
Dirt Series win of '05. Miller drove the Scott Smith crew chiefed, Dirt Shop,
Inc/McCullough Industries/Performance Rod and Custom/Doug Herbert Performance
Circle Track Parts/Lo-Temp Brazing/Banshee Graphics/Hoosier Tires/Whaley and
Son Collision/McDonald Refrigeration/Russell Baker Racing Engines/Rocket
Pontiac Grand Prix #7 to victory circle over Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH in the
PBM Performance Products/SMS Race Engines/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo. Third place
went to Andy Eckrich of Iowa City, IA in his first career start with the series
as he was driving the Precision Performance/Grove Automotive/Barry Wright Grand
Prix with fourth place going to Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA in the
Daufeldt Transport/Pro Power Engines/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo with Earl Pearson,
Jr. of Jacksonville, FL in the Lucas Oil/Larry Wallace Racing
Engines/MasterSbilt Ford Taurus.
Andy Eckrich and Matt Miller would make the front row with 50 laps of racing in
front of them it would be very important as to who would get the lead in this
race at the start with the stout field on hand. Miller would be the man to do
that as he outpowered the younger Eckrich on the start and blasted into the
lead heading into turn number one. Eckrich would fall in behind Miller for
second with Donnie Moran, Brian Birkhofer and Steve Boley making up the top
five after one lap was scored. The race would go green until a three car
accident in turn two slowed the action. Once the race resumed Miller was still
holding the point and building his lead to six and seven car lengths lap after
lap over Eckrich. Eckrich was receiving heavy pressure from Moran at this
point and on lap 10 Moran would scoot by Eckrich to take over second place.
Moran would now have Miller in his sights, but it would take a tremendous
effort now to track down Miller has he had built a sizable lead. A caution on
lap 16 for a slowed Steve Casebolt Jr would close the field up behind Miller.
The race would then see five more laps of green flag racing with Moran all over
Miller for the lead, but Denny Eckrich blew a tire on lap 21 necessitating
another caution flag period.
Scott James would stop with a flat on lap 24 for another caution as tire wear
was becoming a factor among some of the top ten drivers. With the halfway mark
given it was still Miller showing the way with Moran in second and a good
battle for third between Andy Eckrich and Birkhofer was also taking place. On
the restarts Miller would open up a five car length lead over Moran and it
would take Moran several laps to catch back up to Miller. With 15 laps to go
Moran was right on Miller's rear bumper and would close significantly in the
corners as Miller would pull away down the straightaways. A caution for debris
on lap 39 would slow the field one more time and set up an 11 lap shootout to
the finish line. Miller would again restart with force and get away from Moran
as Andy Eckrich was fighting off all challenges from Birkhofer. With five
laps remaining Moran was again right on Miller, but it was going to take a
mistake by Miller for Moran to pass him. Miller would hold his line lap after
lap in the closing segment of the race as he would power to win over Moran.
Andy Eckrich the current point's leader at West Liberty Raceway would do a nice
job all race long in securing the third spot at the pay window. Birkhofer
would wind up fourth with Earl Pearson, Jr. coming on strong from his 12th
starting spot to pass two cars in the waning laps to finish fifth.
"It is real good win for the team," said Miller in victory lane afterwards. "I
knew I had to get the jump on the 56 car heading into turn one, because I felt
like once we had the lead it would be hard for anyone to pass us out here
tonight," said the former Eldora Speedway track champion. "I knew Donnie would
be tough, he always is in the thick of things and I knew he was going to give
me a strong effort to try and pass me, but I knew if I held my line it would be
tough for him to beat me and on the restarts the car was exceptional and I want
to give credit to Scott Smith and everybody with team for giving me such a
great race car tonight and thanks to the fans for coming out tonight was well."
Completing the top ten were Gary Webb, Don O'Neal, Darren Miller, Chad Simpson
and Chris Simpson.
In preliminary events for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Don O'Neal was
the top qualifier in the Oval Craft Racing Aluminum Designs Time Trials with a
lap of 20.545 seconds among the 30 entrants on hand. The VP Fuels Makin' Power
Heat Race Winners were Matt Miller, Donnie Moran and Andy Eckrich. The Mason
Racin' Rebel Shock Dyno B-Main was taken by Chad Holladay.
Race Summary
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Event #23
Thursday Night, July 28, 2005
West Liberty Raceway-West Liberty, Iowa
Oval Craft Racing Aluminum Designs Fast Qualifier: Don O'Neal 20.545 seconds
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #1: Matt Miller, Darren Miller, Steve Boley, Don
O'Neal, Thomas Christenson, Rob Moss, Chad Holladay, Rick Aukland, Chad
Simpson, Boone McLaughlin
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #2: Donnie Moran, Brian Birkhofer, Brady Smith,
Scott James, Tommy Elston, Chris Simpson, Tim Dohm, Chuck Mayerhofer, Whitney
McQueary, Todd Davis
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #3: Andy Eckrich, Gary Webb, Denny Eckrich, Earl
Pearson, Jr., Dave Eckrich, Steve Casebolt, Jr., Freddy Smith, Jay Johnson,
Johnny Johnson
Mason Racin' Rebel Shock Dyno B-Main: Chad Holloday, Tim Dohm, Chuck
Mayerhofer, Chad Simpson, Rick Aukland, Johnny Johnson, Whitney McQueary, Boone
McLaughlin, Freddy Smith, Todd Davis
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series A-Main: (50 Laps): Matt Miller, Donnie
Moran, Andy Eckrich, Brian Birkhofer, Earl Pearson, Jr., Gary Webb, Don O'Neal,
Darren Miller, Chad Simpson, Chris Simpson, Brady Smith, Tim Dohm, Chad
Holloday, Freddy Smith, Steve Casebolt, Jr., Steve Boley, Dave Eckrich, Chuck
Mayerhofer, Scott James, Denny Eckrich, Todd Davis, Rick Aukland, Rob Moss,
Thomas Christenson, Tommy Elston
Race Statistics:
Entries: 30
Cautions: 5
Red Flags: 0
Lap Leaders: Matt Miller 1-50
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rookie of the Race: Brady Smith
Weld Wheels Hard Charger of the Race: Chad Simpson (started 22nd and finished
in 9th) advanced 15 positions
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Freddy Smith and Rick Aukland
Track Provisionals: Todd Davis
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, BERT, Rayburn Chassis, Rocket Chassis, American Race Tire,
Real Wheels, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Weld Racing Wheels, Trailer Parts &
Sales, On The Edge Graphics, and Cruise With The Champions