SHAWANO, WI – Aug. 3, 2011 – Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., continued his mid-summer surge, rolling to victory in Wednesday night’s 50-lap World of Outlaws Late Model Series A-Main at Shawano Speedway.
The 41-year-old former series champion overtook Chad Simpson of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, for the lead on lap 26 and cruised to his second straight and seventh overall win of the 2011 season. He matched his single-season career-high win total on the national tour and moved within two triumphs of equaling Scott Bloomquist’s WoO LMS record of nine victories in 2004.
“We’ve just been doing our own little thing and it’s definitely been working,” said Lanigan, whose $10,775 win was his third in four starts over an eight-day span. “Our car’s been awesome.”
WoO LMS points leader Rick Eckert of York, Pa., finished second for the third time in the last four tour A-Mains, ending the race 0.924 of a second behind Lanigan after a lap-48 caution period gave him a chance to make a last-ditch bid. The green-white-checkered finish was necessitated by the misfortune of Simpson, who led laps 1-25 and appeared headed to a career-best WoO LMS finish until his car’s rearend gears broke as he held second place.
Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., placed third in Larry Moring’s car after slipping as far back as seventh from the fourth starting spot. He earned the $500 ‘Bonus Bucks’ cash for being the highest-finishing driver who hasn’t won a WoO LMS A-Main and isn’t ranked among the top 12 in the series points standings.
Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., charged forward from the 23rd starting spot to finish fourth after using a provisional to gain entry to the A-Main. A heat-race scrape and flat tire prompted him to park his Rocket car and drive his Capital Race Car in the B- and A-Mains.
Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., placed fifth after starting seventh. He was overtaken for fourth by Clanton racing toward the white flag.
Lanigan started on the pole position in his GottaRace.com Rocket, but he watched Simpson blast off the outside of the front row to assume command at the initial green flag. Simpson, 32, controlled the race’s first 25 laps before finally ceding the top spot to Lanigan, who ducked to the inside of the backstretch to make his winning move.
“He ran a good heat heat race and I knew he was gonna be the one to beat on the outside pole,” Lanigan said of Simpson. “We had a little bit harder tire than some of the people. I knew I was gonna be better the second half of the race, so I was kind of just biding my time (behind Simpson). As long as I could stay with him, I knew I could get around him there at the end.”
Lanigan was slowed by three of the race’s five caution periods after he grabbed the lead, but he never faltered on a restart. He held on for his 26 th career win on the WoO LMS and his third set of back-to-back victories on this year’s tour.
Simpson was unable to keep pace with Lanigan after losing the top spot but still had a firm grip on runner-up money until slowing with two laps to go.
“I was a little tight in the middle (of the corners), but other than that the car was rolling around there pretty good,” said Simpson, who was credited with a 17th-place finish. “I don’t know if the right-front (tire) gave up or what, but as the race went on I just got tighter in the middle of the corner and then I couldn’t rotate.”
How disappointed was he after his lap-48 misfortune?
“Flat out, it sucks,” said Simpson. “We had the best car we’ve ever had in a big show like this. We know we’re good enough to run with these guys but just never put the whole package together. We put it together tonight but got snakebit.”
Eckert, 45, took advantage of Simpson’s mechanical woes to add another bridesmaid finish to his ’11 ledger. With his closest pursuer in the points standings, two-time defending champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., finishing 11th after relinquishing third place to a cut left-rear tire on lap 33, Eckert extended his edge to 60 points through 22 events.
“Second pays the bills,” said Eckert, who started fifth. “We come to win, but if we can’t win second’s the next best thing. If we keep this up we might be able to pull something (his first-ever WoO LMS title) off.
“We had a car good enough to pass tonight, but I never really got a chance to run with Darrell,” he added. “From the two laps I was behind (following the lap-48 restart), I think I might have been as good as him through (turns) one and two, but I lost a little time getting into three because I had my shocks a little messed up to run through that choppiness and I’d get myself loose.
Richards was one of four WoO LMS regulars who ran into trouble during the A-Main. He was joined by Austin Hubbard of Seaford, who retired from the race on lap 12 when his Dale Beitler-owned car suffered terminal engine problems as he ran ninth; Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., who gave up ninth place to motor woes on lap 40; and Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., who held fourth when a broken right-rear shock mount knocked out his Victory Circle car and ended his streak of 12 consecutive top-10 finishes.
Finishing in positions 6-10 was Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill.; Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., whose advance from the 16th starting spot was assisted by attrition; 17th-starter Vic Coffey of Caledonia, N.Y.; Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga.; and Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, Wis.
Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., who finished third in last year’s WoO LMS A-Main at Shawano, was running sixth on lap 26 when a broken right-front lower control arm forced him out of the race.
Francis topped the 37-car Ohlins Shocks Time Trials session with a lap of 19.284 seconds. His first fast-time honor of 2011 earned him a $100 bonus from Mid-States Hydraulics and made him the second driver to record a fast time in every WoO LMS season since 2004, joining Richards in the elite group.
Heat winners were Francis, Richards, Lanigan and Simpson. The B-Mains were captured by Coffey and Chip Brindle of Chatsworth, Ga.
Among the non-qualifiers were Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., who won last year’s WoO LMS A-Main at Shawano, and DIRTcar UMP star Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill. Both drivers dropped out of the first B-Main – Moyer due to an overheating engine and Feger after spinning in a late-race tangle.
Next on the WoO LMS schedule is the 24th annual USA Nationals presented by U.S. Steel on Aug. 4-6 at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis. After a Cornbelt Clash Series event kicks off the weekend on Thurs., Aug. 4, the WoO LMS takes center stage with USA Nationals time trials, heats and a dash on Fri., Aug. 5, and then last-chance events and the 100-lap, $50,000-to-win A-Main on Sat., Aug. 6.
Details on the USA Nationals are available by logging on to www.cedarlakespeedway.com.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Results of WoO Late Model Series at Shawano Speedway (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):
1. (1) Darrell Lanigan/50 $10,775
2. (5) Rick Eckert/50 $5,650
3. (4) Don O’Neal/50 $3,500
4. (23) Shane Clanton/50 $3,050
5. (7) Steve Francis/50 $2,300
6. (9) Dennis Erb Jr./50 $1,700
7. (16) Chub Frank/50 $1,950
8. (17) Vic Coffey/50 $1,850
9. (14) Clint Smith/50 $1,750
10. (13) Dan Schlieper/50 $1,100
11. (3) Josh Richards/50 $1,700
12. (15) Pat Doar/50 $1,800
13. (11) Frankie Heckenast Jr./50 $950
14. (24) Ron Davies/50 $1,450
15. (19) Doug Blashe/50 $900
16. (21) John Lobb/50 $800
17. (2) Chad Simpson/48 $770
18. (6) Tim McCreadie/44 $1,300
19. (12) Tim Fuller/40 $1,280
20. (18) Chip Brindle/32 $700
21. (20) A.J. Diemel/31 $700
22. (8) Jimmy Mars/25 $700
23. (22) Brady Smith/25 $700
24. (10) Austin Hubbard/11 $1,250
* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses
Time of Race: 34 Mins., 11.880 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 0.924 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 6 (Laps 12, 26, 33, 40, 44, 48)
Lap Leaders: Simpson (1-25); Lanigan (26-50)
Provisional Starters: Clanton, Davies
Rookie of the Race: Doar ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: O’Neal ($500)
Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):
1. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 19.284
2. 25F-Jason Feger/Bloomington, IL 19.304
3. 99Jr-Frank Heckenast Jr./Orland Park, IL 19.402
4. 1d-Don O’Neal/Martinsville, IN 19.451
5. 28E-Dennis Erb Jr./Carpentersville, IL 19.469
6. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 19.499
7. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 19.514
8. 25s-Chad Simpson/Mt. Vernon, IA 19.524
9. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 19.530
10. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 19.532
11. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 19.535
12. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 19.569
13. 32c-Vic Coffey/Caledonia, NY 19.692
14. 28-Jimmy Mars/Menomonie, WI 19.712
15. 71d-Ron Davies/Warren, PA 19.760
16. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 19.774
17. 21M-Billy Moyer/Batesville, AR 19.781
18. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 19.788
19. 11-Pat Doar/New Richmond, WI 19.850
20. 2-Brady Smith/Solon Springs, WI 19.963
21. 9-Dan Schlieper/Sullivan, WI 19.999
22. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 20.014
23. 21B-Chip Brindle/Chatsworth, GA 20.027
24. 9T-Tim Isenberg/Marshfield, WI 20.105
25. 1b-Doug Blashe/Marion, WI 20.180
26. 7R-Kent Robinson/Bloomington, IN 20.211
27. 10-Pete Parker/Kaukauna, WI 20.229
28. 58-A.J. Diemel/Bonduel, WI 20.301
29. 1L-John Lobb/Frewsburg, NY 20.399
30. 8-Robert Cullen/Chilton, WI 20.576
31. 72-Justin Ritchie/New London, WI 20.602
32. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 20.640
33. 51-Chris Oertel/Marshfield, WI 20.860
34. 0-Jim Rychtik/Port Washington, WI 21.092
35. 81-Troy Springborn/Shawano, WI 21.673
36. 32-Nick Anvelink/Navarino, WI N/T
37. 21F-Todd Frank/Seymour, WI N/T
Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Francis, Eckert, Erb, Schlieper, Moyer, Coffey, Oertel, Blashe, Lobb, T. Frank
Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Richards, Mars, Hubbard, C. Smith, Robinson, Rychtik, Cullen, Clanton, Feger
Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Lanigan, McCreadie, Heckenast, Doar, Brindle, Davies, Springborn, Parker, Ritchie
Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Simpson, O’Neal, Fuller, C. Frank, Diemel, Isenberg, B. Smith, Anvelink, George
B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Coffey, Blashe, Lobb, Oertel, Cullen, Clanton, Robinson, Feger, Rychtik, Moyer, T. Frank
B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Brindle, Diemel, B. Smith, Anvelink, Isenberg, Springborn, Parker, Ritchie, George, Davies
World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:
Arizona Sports Shirts ($100 apparel certificate to 22nd fastest qualifier): Doug Blashe
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Dennis Erb Jr.
Comp Cams ($50 cash to A-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Rick Eckert
Comp Cams (certificate to 10th place in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Pat Doar
Eibach Springs (one free spring to each B-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Doug Blashe/Chip Brindle
JE Pistons ($50 cash to A-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Rick Eckert
JE Pistons (one set of Pro Seal rings to 11th-place or next highest w/decal, redeemable w/next purchase of one complete set of rings): Josh Richards
JE Pistons (one set of Pro Seal rings to 21st-place or next highest w/decal, redeemable w/next purchase of one complete set of rings): A.J. Diemel
MSD Ignition ($75 cash to A-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Darrell Lanigan
MSD Ignition ($25 cash to last-place in A-Main or next lowest w/decal): Austin Hubbard
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash to fast qualifier or next highest w/decal): Steve Francis
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate to A-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Rick Eckert
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate to 5th-place or next highest w/decal): Dennis Erb Jr.
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate to 15th-place or next highest w/decal): John Lobb
R2C Performance ($100 certificate to highest-finishing driver w/decal or $100 cash if race winner is using R2C filter and decal is displayed): Darrell Lanigan (cash)
STP ($50 cash to 2nd-place in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Rick Eckert
Superflow Dynos ($50 cash to 7th-place in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Chub Frank
VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash to winner of Heat 1 or next highest w/decal): Steve Francis
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (one five-gallon plastic fuel jugs to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main or next highest w/decal): Jason Feger
WIX Filters ($50 cash to 13th-place in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Doug Blashe
Wrisco Aluminum (Three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Darrell Lanigan
2011 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Aug. 3 – 22 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):
1. Rick Eckert 3202
2. Josh Richards 3142 (-60)
3. Darrell Lanigan 3076 (-126)
4. Tim McCreadie 3060 (-142)
5. Shane Clanton 2942 (-260)
6. Chub Frank 2932 (-270)
7. Clint Smith 2914 (-288)
8. Austin Hubbard 2912 (-290)
9. Tim Fuller 2788 (-414)
10. Vic Coffey 2772 (-430)
11. Pat Doar 2700 (-502)
12. Ron Davies 2550 (-652)
13. John Lobb 2442 (-760)
14. Jill George 1728 (-1474)
15. Steve Francis 1290 (-1912)
FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.
Over 4,700 fans are now WoO LMS ‘followers’ on Twitter. To sign-up and receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.
LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.
To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to http://www.dirtvision.com/welcome.php and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.
BLOGGING: WoO LMS fans can now read interesting stories from the road by checking out two blogs –‘Life As An Outlaw’ by series announcer Rick Eshelman and ‘The Scoop With Scoop’ by tour P.R. director Kevin Kovac. Both blogs can be accessed by clicking on the preceding links or the specific ‘Blog’ buttons on the right-hand side of http://www.woolms.com/.
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), Vicci (Official Uniform), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award), McCarthy’s One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning (Raye Vest Memorial Pill Draw Award), Chizmark Larson Insurance, Factory Value Parts and RacingJunk.com; in addition to contingency sponsors Comp Cams, Eibach Springs, JE Pistons, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance, Superflow Dynos, Wix Filters and Wrisco Aluminum.