FONDA, NY (July 27, 2011)- Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN debuted a new Bloomquist Race Car as he captured the $10,000 to win Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event on Wednesday Night at Fonda Speedway. Owens took the lead on lap ten from Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN and then went on to dominate most of the race. John Blankenship of Williamson, WV had his second straight series runner-up finish, followed by Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL; Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN; and Jared Landers of Batesville, AR.

“I can’t thank the crew enough, we took last weekend off to get this car ready, we have worked day and night and it sure paid off! I really like this track, to come here two years in a row and win is just fantastic, there are a lot of fans who don’t get to see us race much. The car was good right from the start, once we got by Scott, I knew it would be tough for him to get back by us,” said the 39-year-old Owens, who regained the Lucas Oil Championship Points lead by five points over Bloomquist.

Bloomquist led the first nine laps of the race, until Owens, who had fallen back to third early on regained his momentum and blasted by Bloomquist on lap ten for the race lead. Bloomquist was unable to challenge Owens even as they battled with lapped traffic on the fast track. Owens was able to move all over the track and sailed through traffic, steadily building himself an increasing large lead over Bloomquist.

“They reworked the top before the feature, and it helped a lot, it was a little bumpy out there, but the car was just so fast and really pretty racy. I just felt good the entire race, I saw Blankenship pull up beside under caution there at the end, those guys are running real well, and it’s just a matter of time before they get a win!” said Owens who’s win was his fourth with the LOLMDS in 2011.

Bloomquist, who came into the race with a 60-point lead over Owens, was running second on lap 44 when his left rear wheel came off as he exited turn four. Bloomquist went spinning down the front stretch and came to a stop as several drivers avoided hitting him. Bloomquist went pit side for a new tire, he then came back out and finished in ninth.

“I have to thank Mike Reece, my car owner, Reece Monument Company, Gantte Appraisals, Red Line Oil, Ohlins, Hoosier Tire South and Cornett Racing Engines,” said Owens. He recorded the 25th win of his series career, and celebrated the milestone in victory lane with his son, Nathan at his side.

Blankenship equaled the best finish of his LOLMDS career with a second in the XCoal Resources, Cornett Racing Engines, Rocket Chassis. Blankenship was also the PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race after starting 13th. Pearson was third in the Bobby Labonte Racing, Lucas Oil Products, Longhorn Dodge. O’Neal came home fourth in the Magnaflow Exhaust, Jay Dickens Racing Engines, MasterSbilt Chevrolet.
Landers, who continues to the lead the Quarter Master Rookie of the Year chase, placed a solid fifth in the Lance Landers, Crawford Supply, Rocket Chevrolet.

Completing the top ten were: Steve Francis of Ashland, KY; Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC; Dale Planck of Cortland, NY; Bloomquist; and Bub McCool of Vicksburg, MS.

In preliminary action Jimmy Owens was the Red Buck Cigars Fast Qualifier among the 28 entrants. Heat race winners were Bloomquist, McCool, Owens, and Billy Decker. The B-mains went to D.J. Myers and Jim Bernheisel.

Coming up on Thursday Night, July 28th, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will continue their Northeast Tour with a visit to Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon, NY for a $10,000 to win event.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com or call the series’ office at (951) – 532-2503.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Wednesday Night, July 27th, 2011
Fonda Speedway – Fonda, NY

Red Buck Cigars Fast Time:
Scott Bloomquist / 18.557 seconds (Group A)
Jimmy Owens / 18.367 seconds (Group B and Overall)

Wiles Driveshafts First Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Scott Bloomquist, Steve Francis, Dale Planck, John Blankenship, DJ Myers, Brent Rhebergen, Dale Caswell

Wiles Driveshafts Second Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Bub McCool, Frank Heckenast Jr., Dylan Yoder, Earl Pearson Jr., Aaron Jacobs, David Zona, Bodie Bellinger-DNS

Sweet Manufacturing Third Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Jimmy Owens, Tyler Reddick, Ray Cook, Jared Landers, Jim Bernheisel, Larry Wight, Alan Fink
HAWK Brakes Fourth Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Billy Decker, Eric Wells, Don O’Neal, Daniel Stone, Brad Neat, Jon Rohacevich, Carey Terrance

JRi Shocks First B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): DJ Myers, David Zona, Brent Rhebergen, Dale Caswell, Aaron Jacobs, Bodie Bellinger-DNS

Wrisco Aluminum Second B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Jim Bernheisel, Brad Neat, Larry Wight, Alan Fink, Jon Rohacevich, Carey Terrance-DNS

Feature Finish – 50 Laps

FINISH START CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN
1 2 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
2 13 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
3 7 44 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL
4 12 71 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN
5 14 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
6 5 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
7 10 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
8 9 19 Dale Planck Cortland, NY
9 1 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
10 3 57J Bub McCool Vicksburg, MS
11 20 41n Brad Neat Dunnville, KY
12 18 119 Jim Bernheisel Lebanon, PA
13 16 2 Daniel Stone Thompson, PA
14 11 99jr Frank Heckenast, Jr. Frankfort, IL
15 21 07R Brent Rhebergen Clymer, NY
16 23 16 Aaron Jacobs Frankfort, NY
17 4 91 Billy Decker Unadilla, NY
18 6 11t Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
19 8 18e Eric Wells Hazard, KY
20 15 32 Dylan Yoder Selinsgrove, PA
21 22 99L Larry Wight Phoenix, NY
22 19 99z David Zona Montrose, PA
23 24 15F Alan Fink Central Square, NY
24 17 70J DJ Myers Greencastle, PA

Race Statistics
Entrants: 28
Lap Leaders: Scott Bloomquist (Laps 1- 9); Jimmy Owens (Laps 10 – 50)
Caution Flags: DJ Myers (Lap 1); Eric Wells (Lap 21); Aaron Jacobs (Lap 40); Bub McCool (Lap 41); Billy Decker (Lap 44); Scott Bloomquist (Lap 44)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: none
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: none
Red Buck Cigars Fast Time Provisionals: Aaron Jacobs, Alan Fink
PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race: John Blankenship (Started 13th; Finished 2nd; Advanced 11 positions)
Allstar Performer of the Race: Jared Landers
K&N Filters Clean Pass of the Race: John Blankenship
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Jared Landers
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing Engines
Janowski Insurance Feature Winner: Jimmy Owens
Outerwears Challenger of the Race: Brad Neat
Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award: Tyler Reddick
DirtonDirt.com Crew Chief of the Race: Chris Fox (Jimmy Owens)
Time of Race: 43 minutes 51 seconds

Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:

POS CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN POINTS
1 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN 3880
2 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 3875
3 71 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN 3530
4 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY 3205
5 44 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL 3150
6 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR 3040
7 41n Brad Neat Dunnville, KY 2980
8 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC 2945
9 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV 2930
10 57J Bub McCool Vicksburg, MS 2895
11 11t Tyler Reddick Corning, CA 2830
12 17m Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA 2790
13 18e Eric Wells Hazard, KY 2530
14 99jr Frank Heckenast, Jr. Frankfort, IL 2415

NETWORK AIR DATE AIR TIME VENUE EVENT NAME LOCATION EVENT DATE
SPEED 7/31/11 1:00 PM Magnolia Motor Speedway Clash at the Mag Columbus, MS 7/9/11
SPEED 8/7/11 1:00 PM Tri-City Speedway Budweiser Battle at the Beach Pontoon Beach, IL 7/15/11
VERSUS 8/27/11 2:30 PM Batesville Motor Speedway Bad Boy 98 Batesville, AR 5/21/11
SPEED 9/4/11 11:00 AM Florence Speedway 29th Annual Sunoco Race Fuels North/South 100 Presented by Lucas Oil Florence, KY 8/13/11
MavTV 9/8/11 9:00PM Batesville Motor Speedway Bad Boy 98 Batesville, AR 5/21/11
SPEED 9/17/11 2:00 PM Lawrenceburg Speedway Lawrenceburg, IN 8/26/11
SPEED 10/2/11 1:00 PM Portsmouth Raceway Park River Days Rumble Portsmouth, OH 9/3/11
SPEED 10/9/11 1:00 PM Virginia Motor Speedway ASi Racewear USA 100 Saluda, VA 9/17/11
SPEED 10/23/11 6:00 PM Brownstown Speedway 32nd Annual Jackson 100 Brownstown, IN 9/24/11
SPEED 10/30/11 3:00 PM Dixie Speedway Lucas Oil Dixie Shootout Woodstock, GA 10/8/11
VERSUS 12/18/11 6:00 PM Florence Speedway 29th Annual Sunoco Race Fuels North/South 100 Presented by Lucas Oil Florence, KY 8/13/11
MavTV 12/29/11 9:00PM Florence Speedway 29th Annual Sunoco Race Fuels North/South 100 Presented by Lucas Oil Florence, KY 8/13/11
SPEED TBA TBA Lucas Oil Speedway Diamond Nationals Wheatland, MO 7/16/11
SPEED TBA TBA Knoxville Raceway 8th Annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals Knoxville, IA 10/1/11
MavTV TBA TBA Dixie Speedway Lucas Oil Dixie Shootout Woodstock, GA 10/8/11
VERSUS TBA TBA Dixie Speedway Lucas Oil Dixie Shootout Woodstock, GA 10/8/11

2011 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

2011 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Supporters Include:

Allstar Performance, American Racer, Banshee Graphics, Bloomquist Race Cars, COMP Cams, Cornett Racing Engines, Cruise with the Champions, CV Products, DirtonDirt.com, Dominator Race Products, Dyers Top Rods, ECR Race Engines, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, Gaerte Engines, GRT Race Cars, Hawk Performance, Hypercoil, Janowski Insurance, Jay Dickens Racing Engines, JE Pistons, JRi Shocks, Keyser MFG, Longhorn Chassis, MasterSbilt Chassis, Öhlins, Outerwears, PBM/Erson Cams, Performance Bodies, Pierce Racecars, Pro Power Racing, Quarter Master, Race Engine Design, Red Buck Cigars, Rhyne Race Engines, Rick Schwallie Photography, Ringers Gloves, Rocket Chassis, Roush Yates Engines, Roush Yates Performance, Safety Solutions, Sweet Manufactuing, Vic Hill Race Engines, Warrior Race Cars, Weld Racing Wheels, Wiles Drive Shafts, Wrisco, 5150 Race Trailers.

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