PORTSMOUTH, OH (August 30, 2014) – Jackie Boggs blasted from third to first on a late restart and went on to win the Pepsi 50 River Days Rumble on Saturday Night at Portsmouth Raceway Park. Scott Bloomquist was in control of the race before a caution with 40 laps complete, setting up a thrilling finish in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned event.

Bloomquist had the dominant car from the start of the event, then over the last ten laps he developed fuel-pressure issues. He gave up the lead to Boggs on lap 43. Boggs brought the huge crowd to its feet with his high-side pass of Bloomquist as he pulled away for his third career LOLMDS victory. Steve Francis finished second for the third consecutive time in LOLMDS competition. Jared Landers finished third, followed by Eddie Carrier Jr., and Bloomquist, who faded to fifth at the finish.

“This car was just a frame on Monday morning, we worked all-week on this new Swartz car and I will tell you, this thing is fast,” said the winner, afterwards. “I think the paint just dried on the car today,” Boggs excitedly said. “We had gone so long without a caution. I was just content to hang on for third. But then the caution came out with ten to go and I thought well maybe we had another chance at Bloomquist.”

“I am not sure what happened to him [Bloomquist], but Steve [Francis] and I stayed right with him. His car was either not running right or it had a tire going down, not sure, but we went to the top and drove around him. It’s great win for our team, and I see from the crowd reaction, they liked it too. I can’t wait until the Dirt Track World Championship Race here in October. We had a real good car here last year and nearly won it… I think this car is better. I want to thank Audie Swartz, Kenny Hemman Racing Engines, McCoy Brothers Logging, Samuel Coal, Brown Medical, Matney’s Truck and Trailer, The Weld Shop and BPM Performance.”

Francis, who continues his late-season surge, backed up his runner-up finishes at Lawrenceburg and Attica at one of his favorite venues tonight. “We had another solid finish tonight for the Clint Bowyer Racing Team. If I could have gotten by Scott sooner, I might have had a chance at Jackie, but he was gone by the time I cleared Scott. I have to thank Georgia Boot, Peak Antifreeze and Motor Oil, Barry Wright Race Cars, and all of my crew. We are going to get back to victory lane here soon.”

Landers rallied to a third-place finish in the last few laps. “We had a good car all night. I really liked that cushion up top. We keep digging here and we are going to get a win. I have to thank Crop Production Services, Bad Boy Mowers, Mark Martin Automotive, and Big Dog Motorsports.”

Completing the top ten were John Blankenship, Don O’Neal, Jimmy Owens, Brian Birkhofer, and Earl Pearson Jr.

In preliminary action, Jackie Boggs set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group B) amongst the 34 entrants, with a lap of 14.394 seconds. Earl Pearson Jr. set the fastest time in Group A with a time of 14.427 seconds. Scott Bloomquist, Steve Francis, Jackie Boggs, and Jimmy Owens won their respective heat races. Chris Combs and Don O’Neal won their respective B-Mains.

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Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Saturday Night, August 30th, 2014
Portsmouth Raceway Park – Portsmouth, OH

Miller Welders Fast Time Group A: Earl Pearson Jr. / 14.427 seconds
Miller Welders Fast Time Group B: Jackie Boggs / 14.394 seconds

Fast Shafts Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Scott Bloomquist, Earl Pearson, Jr., Eddie Carrier, Jr., Dennis Erb, Jr., Chris Combs, Jason Hughes, Audie Swartz, Kenny McCann, Russ Frohnapfel

Eibach Springs Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Steve Francis, John Blankenship, RJ Conley, Rod Conley, Steve Lucas, Delmas Conley, Butch Dowdy, Avery Taylor

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jackie Boggs, Jared Landers, Jason Papich, Kevin Wagner, Don O’Neal, JT Conley, Jason Montgomery, Michael Howard, Doug Kenworthy

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jimmy Owens, Brian Birkhofer, Shannon Thornsberry, Kenneth Howell, Billy Staker, Doug Drown, Steve Casebolt , Mason Zeigler-DNS

JRi Shocks B-Main #1 (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer) Finish: Chris Combs, Jason Hughes, Delmas Conley, Steve Lucas, Audie Swartz, Avery Taylor, Kenny McCann, Butch Dowdy, Russ Frohnapfel-DNS

CV Products B-Main #2 (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer) Finish: Don O’Neal, Jason Montgomery, Mason Zeigler, Steve Casebolt, JT Conley, Doug Kenworthy, Billy Staker, Michael Howard, Doug Drown-DNS

Feature Finish (50 Laps):
FINISH START CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN
1 2 4b Jackie Boggs Grayson, KY
2 3 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
3 6 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
4 9 28 Eddie Carrier, Jr. Salt Rock, WV
5 1 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
6 7 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
7 18 5 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN
8 4 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
9 8 15b Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA
10 5 44 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL
11 10 91p Jason Papich Nipomo, CA
12 15 71R Rod Conley Wheelersburg, OH
13 13 28e Dennis Erb, Jr. Carpentersville, IL
14 19 12 Jason Hughes Watts, OK
15 24 2 Steve Lucas Charleston, WV
16 22 25Z Mason Zeigler Chalk Hill, PA
17 11 71c RJ Conley Wheelersburg, OH
18 12 17T Shannon Thornsberry Martin, KY
19 17 47 Chris Combs Isom, KY
20 21 71d Delmas Conley Wheelersburg, OH
21 20 21m Jason Montgomery Jackson, OH
22 14 33 Kevin Wagner Wheelersburg, OH
23 16 21h Kenneth Howell Lovely, KY
24 23 10 Audie Swartz Minford, OH

Race Statistics
Entrants: 34
Lap Leaders: Scott Bloomquist (Laps 1 – 42); Jackie Boggs (Laps 43 – 50)
Cautions: Kevin Wagner, Audie Swartz, Delmas Conley (Lap 1); Debris (Lap 31); Delmas Conley (Lap 40)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: n/a
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: n/a
Miller Welders Fast Time Provisionals: Audie Swartz, Steve Lucas
Wrisco Feature Winner: Jackie Boggs
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Don O’Neal (Started: 18th; Finished: 7th; Advanced 11 Positions)
Keyser Mfg Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Jimmy Owens
Allstar Performer of the Race: Jared Landers
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Steve Francis
Dunn Benson Ford Rookie of the Race: Jason Papich
Midwest Sheet Metal Highest Finishing Rookie: Jason Papich
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Kenny Hemman Race Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Barry Wright Race Cars
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Jason Durham (Jared Landers)
HAWK Performance Fastest Lap of the Race: Scott Bloomquist (Lap #2 – 15.538 seconds)
Time of Race: 24 minutes 13 seconds

Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:

POS CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN POINTS
1 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN 6490
2 5 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN 6445
3 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 6270
4 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY 5830
5 28 Eddie Carrier, Jr. Salt Rock, WV 5655
6 44 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL 5635
7 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV 5385
8 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR 5315
9 28e Dennis Erb, Jr. Carpentersville, IL 4950
10 12 Jason Hughes Watts, OK 4510
11 91p Jason Papich Nipomo, CA 4370

*Points are unofficial until Close of Business on the Tuesday following Race Day*