Lanigan eyes win at West Virginia bullring for third year in a row

By Chris Tilley

MIDDLEBOURNE, W.Va. – May 20, 2014 – After a couple busy weekends of World of Outlaws Late Model Series racing below the Mason-Dixon line, the Mountaineer State will welcome one of its largest Dirt Late Model events of the season with the running of the Third Annual “Jackpot 100” at Tyler County Speedway on Saturday and Sunday (May 24-25).

The $20,000-to-win Memorial Day Weekend event is the World of Outlaws Late Model Series’ annual visit to the John Watson-promoted track known as the Bullring, and it’s the series’ only season visit to West Virginia.

Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., continues to lead the WoO LMS points by 98 markers over Rick Eckert of York, Pa. Lanigan will make a run at winning the Jackpot for the third consecutive season.

“We’ve had different cars most of the time we’ve been there (for the Jackpot 100),” Lanigan said. “You have to get up on the wheel and get it done. It’s a little tricky track, it gets really dirty and you gotta have a good setup.”

Lanigan’s small fleet of Club 29 Race Cars has not only been noticeable with the World of Outlaws, but around the country as well. “I think we’re definitely on top of the game right now, the cars are definitely great, got a good package under it, got a good team, good engine program going, you got to have a good program to put all the pieces together and if you get all the good pieces, it will definitely work.”

In regards to where Lanigan and team are with the building and putting more of his cars on the track, Lanigan says he’s fairly content with their program at this time.

“We’re branching out some, it’s definitely going to be in limited order this year,” Langian said. “We can only get so many cars done being on the road, definitely having Jimmy (Owens) out there helps, and Donald (McIntosh) and Kent Robinson, he’s been running well, we got a bunch of good drivers out there in the cars, they’re definitely helping our program and helping with feedback.”

Lanigan also feels the tire rule the series has in place has been helpful to the cost of their program and economical for everyone, especially as they roll into Tyler County this weekend.

“The tire situation is not that bad, starting on the (Hoosier) 1300’s definitely, I like that rule, it simplifies it a lot, takes some of the cost out of it, where you don’t have to have a bunch of that soft stuff with you. You gotta have good notes from the year before and know where you need to be,” Lanigan said.

Rick Eckert of York, Pa. sits in second spot behind Lanigan in the tour’s championship points and after a handful of top-five finishes in the Rocket Chassis House Car since the “Illini 100” Eckert is closing in on Lanigan for another series championship. Since Eckert’s move to the main Rocket in the stable, he hasn’t finished outside of the top-five except once with a fifth place run in his debut at Farmer City, Ill., fifth at Fayetteville, N.C., a third place finish at Lavonia, Ga., sixth at 201 Speedway and fourth in last Sunday’s event at Duck River Raceway Park in Tennessee.

But Lanigan says he is more worried about winning races right now and is not focused just yet on that elusive World of Outlaws crown at the end of the season.

“Honestly, we never look at the championship until we get towards the end of the year, right now we go out to win every race and it shows, we give it 100 percent no matter what it is and we’re there to win,” stated Lanigan.

Lanigan and Eckert lead the full-fendered crew of Outlaws into “Wild and Wonderful” West Virginia this weekend with Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., Shane Clanton of Zebulon, Ga. and Morgan Bagley of Tyler, Texas rounding out the top-five in the point standings. Rounding out the top-twelve in the series standings include: Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa. sixth, Eric Wells of Hazard, Ky. seventh, Frank Heckenast Jr. of Orland Park, Ill. eighth, Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga. ninth, Chase Junghans of Manhattan, Ks. tenth, Rick “Boom” Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa. 11^th while Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill. is 12^th.

For the Tyler County & upcoming Delaware event, teams will be allowed to race the Hoosier 1300 and up as well as the American Racer 44 and up. These tires must punch 40 or harder with the durometer.

An open practice on Friday Night May 23^rd will be held with Live Entertainment to follow as well as a full show for the Renegades of Dirt Modifieds ($1,000 to win) and Stars Mod Lite Tour ($500 to win).

On Saturday Night May 24^th the WoO LMS will be in action for Ohlins Shocks Time Trials and Heat Races followed by racing in the Stars Mod Lite Tour ($500 to win), Renegades of Dirt Modifieds (Twin $1,000 to win mains) and Heat Races for the Fastrak Pro Late Models.

On Sunday Night May 25^th the Last Chance Showdowns and the 75-lap “Jackpot 100” will run for the WoO LMS while the Hotmod “Doubledown” will pay $700 to win, the Stars Mod Lite Tour pays $500 to win, the Fastrak Pro Late Models will race for $1,000 to win in the “Viva La 30” event and the Renegades of Dirt Modifieds will compete for $5,555 in the Annual “Let it Ride 55” race.

Each day at Tyler County the pit gates will open at 2:00 pm, the general admission gates will swing open at 3:00 pm, hot laps will begin at 6:30 pm while qualifying is set for 7:00 on Friday & Saturday, racing at 7:00 on Sunday.

A three-day pit pass will be offered for $75 while a three-day general admission pass in the grandstands will be offered for $65. A three-day general admission pass for children will be offered for $15.

Single-day tickets are as follows: Friday May 23^rd pits $15, grandstand admission $10. Saturday May 24^th pits $35, grandstands $30. Sunday May 25^th pits $35, grandstands $30. Children six and under will be admitted free.

Further information on Tyler County Speedway can be found by visitingwww.tylercountyspeedwayonline.com, e-mail info@tylercountyspeedwayonline.com, call (304) 771-6874 or (304) 771-5661. Tyler County Speedway is located just three miles South of Middlebourne, W. Va. along Middle Island Creek on Route 18. Camping is available at the track.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com .

Fans can also follow the WoO LMS on Twitter at Twitter.com/WoOLateModels and Facebook at Facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws .

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Championship Standings

World of Outlaws Late Model Series 2014 Event Winners:

Darrell Lanigan (4), Brady Smith (1), Brandon Sheppard (1), Casey Roberts (1), Kyle Bronson (1), Billy Moyer Sr. (1), Mike Marlar (1), Shannon Babb (1), Tim McCreadie (1).

Upcoming World of Outlaws Late Model Series Events:

Sat/Sun May 24/25-Tyler County Speedway-Middlebourne, WV-$20,000 to win

Thur. May 29-Delaware International Speedway-Delmar, DE-$10,000 to win

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: American Racing Custom Wheels (Official Custom Wheel), Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), Lincoln Welders (Official Welder), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), VP Racing Fuel (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and McCarthy’s One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning (Raye Vest Memorial Pill Draw Award); in addition to contingency sponsors: Butlerbuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Mobil 1, MSD, Ohlins Shocks, QuarterMaster, Roush Yates Performance Parts, Superflow Dynos and Wrisco Aluminum; along with manufacturer sponsors Capital Race Cars, Integra Shocks, Jake’s Carts, Racing Electronics, Rocket Chassis and TNT Rescue.