JAMAICA, VA (September 18, 2011) – Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN took the lead for good on the 24th lap from Steve Francis of Ashland, KY. He went on to win the rain-shortened Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned USA 100 on Sunday afternoon at Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway. Bloomquist and Francis staged a terrific race for the lead in the first 24 laps of the race until Bloomquist began to pull away. Rain then hit the track and the main event was halted with 31 laps complete. Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN was third followed by Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN and Jamie Lathroum of Mechanicsville, MD.

Francis grabbed the lead at the start with Bloomquist and Steve Shaver in tow. Francis held the lead for most of the race with Bloomquist edging ahead of him on lap seven. Francis quickly charged back by Bloomquist for the lead. The two continued a side-by-side battle with Francis leading the way until lap 24 when Bloomquist passed him exiting turn four in traffic.

Bloomquist swiftly put three lapped cars between himself and Francis. Rain started to fall on lap 31, forcing a red-flag. With more precipitation on the way and being past the half-mark, VMS officials and Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series officials decided to call the event with 19 laps remaining out of the scheduled 50.

It was Bloomquist’ first ever win at Virginia Motor Speedway as he completed the weekend sweep in Virginia. “It sounds good to win both of these races; we had never won at either of these tracks. We knew we would get one eventually, the car was good all day, it was a little hard to pass in the heat race. The tire set up we chose worked great for getting to the bottom and get something done down there,” said the 47-year-old who captured his 13th series win of the year and the 39th of his career.

“Steve (Francis) was running well, he got boxed in some traffic and I was able to get under him. We raced close and clean, we both run Roush-Yates Engines and they were great today. Thanks to the fans for coming out today, it’s a shame the weather didn’t cooperate,” said Bloomquist, who with the win took back over the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points lead from Owens.

Bloomquist drives his own Bloomquist Race Cars Ford sponsored by Base Racing Fuels, Hawkeye Trucking, Sweet Mfg, Miller Brothers Construction, Hoosier Tires, Lane Automotive, Allstar Performance, Dixie Chopper and Ohlins. His win in the Sunday’s USA 100 was the third of his career with his previous victories coming in 1993 and 1994 when the event was held at Beckley (WV) Motor Speedway.

Francis in his Valvoline, Harbaugh Amusement, MasterSbilt #15 took second in the final results. “We had a real good car today, we went with the smaller motor thinking the track would slick up some and it did. I tried to hold my line there, if we just could have kept the lead for about five more laps we would’ve won, but once Scott got by me, I knew I was in trouble.”

Marlar in the Bryson Motorsports Rocket claimed third and was happy with his run. “To finish third to these guys, it is quite an accomplishment. We’ll take third and go to the next race, I was just waiting for the final 20 laps, and I felt like we had a car that could’ve won.”

Completing the top ten were John Blankenship of Williamson, WV; Steve Shaver of Vienna, WV; Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN; Jason Covert of York Haven, PA; and Dan Stone of Thompson, PA.

In preliminary action, Mike Marlar was the Red Buck Cigars fast qualifier among the 32 entrants. The two-25 lap qualifying heat races went to Steve Francis and Marlar. The B-mains were won by Gary Stuhler and Walker Arthur

The next Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event will be on Friday and Saturday, September 23 and 24 at Brownstown (N) Speedway. On Friday Night will be Red Buck Cigar Time Trials. On Saturday Night will be the heat races, b-mains and the 32nd Annual Jackson 100 paying $20,000 to win. For more information please visit www.brownstownspeedway.com.

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
Sunday, September 18th, 2011
USA 100
Virginia Motor Speedway – Jamaica, VA

Red Buck Cigars Fast Time:
Steve Francis / 17.720 seconds (Group A)
Mike Marlar / 17.363 seconds (Group B and Overall)

Wiles Driveshafts First Heat (25 Laps- Top 8 Advance): Steve Francis, Steve Shaver, Dale McDowell, Daniel Stone, Ray Cook, Don O’Neal, Kenny Moreland, Eric Wells, Gary Stuhler, Mark PettyJohn, Ryan Hackett, CS Fitzgerald, Steve Casebolt, Davis Lipscomb, Mason Zeigler, Kenny PettyJohn-DNS

Wiles Driveshafts Second Heat (25 Laps- Top 8 Advance): Mike Marlar, Scott Bloomquist, Jamie Lathroum, Brad Neat, Jimmy Owens, John Blankenship, Jason Covert, Earl Pearson Jr., Walker Arthur, Keith Jackson, Roland Mann, Garrett Shoulders, Jared Landers, Tyler Reddick, Ricky Elliott, Chad Hollenbeck-DNS

JRi Shocks First B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Gary Stuhler, Mark PettyJohn, Steve Casebolt, CS Fitzgerald, Davis Lipscomb, Ryan Hackett, Mason Zeigler-DNS, Kenny PettyJohn-DNS

Wrisco Aluminum Second B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Walker Arthur, Tyler Reddick, Jared Landers, Ricky Elliott, Roland Mann, Keith Jackson, Garrett Shoulders, Chad Hollenbeck-DNS

Feature Finish – 31 Laps
FINISH START CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN
1 4 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
2 1 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
3 2 5b Mike Marlar Winfield, TN
4 10 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
5 6 6L Jamie Lathroum Mechanicsville, MD
6 12 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
7 3 6 Steve Shaver Vienna, WV
8 11 71 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN
9 14 43a Jason Covert York Haven, PA
10 7 21d Daniel Stone Thompson, PA
11 23 88 Ricky Elliott Seaford, DE
12 22 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
13 17 17s Gary Stuhler Greencastle, PA
14 15 18e Eric Wells Hazard, KY
15 21 c9 Steve Casebolt Richmond, IN
16 20 11t Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
17 5 17m Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA
18 13 24 Kenny Moreland Waldorf, MD
19 8 41n Brad Neat Dunnville, KY
20 9 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
21 19 8ball Mark Pettyjohn Milton, DE
22 24 55 Roland Mann Chaptico, MD
23 16 44 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL
24 18 87 Walker Arthur Forest, VA

Race Statistics
Entrants: 32
Lap Leaders: Steve Francis (Laps 1 – 6); Scott Bloomquist (Lap 7); Steve Francis (Laps 8 – 23); Scott Bloomquist (Lap 24 – 31)
Caution Flags: Tyler Reddick (Lap 9); Ray Cook (Lap 53); Walker Arthur (Lap 12); RAIN (Lap 31)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: none
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: none
Red Buck Cigars Fast Time Provisionals: Ricky Elliott, Roland Mann
PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race: Ricky Elliott (Started 23rd; Finished 11th; Advanced 12 positions)
Allstar Performer of the Race: Steve Francis
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: Roush-Yates Race Engines
Janowski Insurance Feature Winner: Scott Bloomquist
Outerwears Challenger of the Race: Ricky Elliott
Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award: Brad Neat
DirtonDirt.com Crew Chief of the Race: Mike Price (Steve Francis)
Time of Race: 17 minutes 10 seconds

Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:

POS CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN POINTS
1 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 6100
2 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN 6070
3 71 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN 5475
4 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY 5220
5 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR 4860
6 44 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL 4800
7 41n Brad Neat Dunnville, KY 4730
8 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV 4725
9 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC 4570
10 11t Tyler Reddick Corning, CA 4510
11 17m Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA 4400
12 18e Eric Wells Hazard, KY 4130
13 57J Bub McCool Vicksburg, MS 3990
14 99jr Frank Heckenast, Jr. Frankfort, IL 3625
15 c9 Steve Casebolt Richmond, IN 3415

NETWORK AIR DATE AIR TIME VENUE EVENT NAME LOCATION EVENT DATE

SPEED 9/18/11 2:00 PM Lawrenceburg Speedway Geico Nationals presented byCanidae 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 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