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Francis Fends Off Owens in Classic East Bay Finish

Discussion in 'Lucas Oil Late Model' started by LucasDirt.com, Feb 18, 2012.

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    TAMPA, FL (February 18, 2012) – Steve Francis of Ashland, KY outdueled defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion, Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN in an exciting finish at East Bay Raceway Park. Francis picked up $10,000 for his win in the finale of the 36th Annual DART Winternationals. He scored his second win of the week, in doing so. The duo was followed by Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN; Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN; and Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, IL. Erb earned the week-long DART Winternationals Championship. He won $5,000 for his efforts.
    He had to withstand Owens’ repeated efforts over the last four laps after a caution came out for Jason Riggs. On the restart Owens tried the inside of Francis several times, but Francis repelled him at each turn. Francis also won the Thursday night installment of the Winternationals. O’Neal was able to get by Bloomquist on the 60th and final lap to claim third after pitting for fresh tires on lap 27.
    “I want to apologize to Donnie (Moran) for getting into him. I knew we had a good car in open air, I was trying not to make a mistake and let Scott or Jimmy get by me. We were just looking for a caution to clear the track in front of us. I can’t say enough about Barry and Lance Wright. This team got together so late in the game, we have had to work our tails off to get ready. I was racing in Australia just a few weeks ago,” said Francis, who captured his tenth career win at East Bay.

    “The Barry Wright Race Cars and the Clements Engines, this week have been great. We could’ve won a couple more of these without the flat tires, but we’ll never know. Luckily they all held air tonight,” said the 44-year-old driver embarking on his second year with the LOLMDS. “I want to thank VP Race Fuels, Valvoline, Nichols Plumbing, AES Racing, Jri Shocks, and Mathis Farms.”

    Completing the top ten were Duke Whiseant of Texarkana, AR; Scott Creel of Franklinton, LA; Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL; Austin Hubbard of Seaford, DE; and Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA.

    In preliminary action John Blankenship took the Red Buck Cigars Fast Time award amongst the 41 entrants. Heat races were won by Donnie Moran, Randy Korte, Terry Casey, and Steve Francis. Duke Whiseant and Austin Hubbard won the B-Mains. Rookie Late Model driver, Shelby Miles captured the PRC Strawberry Dash.

    The next Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event will be on Saturday Night, March 24th at Brownstown Speedway in Brownstown, IN. The “Indiana Icebreaker” will pay $10,000 to win. For more information logon to www.brownstownspeedway.com.

    For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com.

    Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
    Race Summary
    Saturday Night, February 18, 2012
    36th Annual DART Winternationals
    East Bay Raceway Park – Tampa, FL

    Red Buck Cigars Fast Time:
    Donnie Moran / 14.440 seconds (Group A)
    John Blankenship / 14.398 seconds (Group B and Overall)

    Wiles Driveshafts First Heat (8 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Donnie Moran, Scott Bloomquist, Don O'Neal, Jonathan Davenport, Duke Whiseant, Tyler Reddick, Mark Andersen, Danny Mitchell, Justin Rattliff, Todd Frank, Roger Hammond

    U. S. Steel Second Heat (8 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Randy Korte, Jared Landers, Shannon Babb, Scott James, Jackie Nosbisch, Chris Brown, Josh McGuire, Leon Henderson, Eric Jacobsen, James O'Hara

    Simpson Performance Products Third Heat (8 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Terry Casey, John Blankenship, Jimmy Owens, Chad Stapleton, Morgan Bagley, Earl Pearson, Jr., Austin Hubbard, Eric Wells, Shane Cottle, Scott Creel

    HAWK Brakes Fourth Heat (8 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Steve Francis, Ray Cook, Dennis Erb, Jr., Jason Riggs, Bobby Pierce, Shelby Miles, Dillan White, Chad Hollenbeck, Travis Varnadore, Victor Lee-DNS

    JRi Shocks First B-Main (10 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Duke Whiseant, Jackie Nosbisch, Tyler Reddick, Josh McGuire, Chris Brown, Mark Andersen, Justin Rattliff, Danny Mitchell, James O'Hara, Todd Frank, Roger Hammond, Leon Henderson-DNS, Eric Jacobsen-DNS

    PAC Racing Springs Second B-Main (10 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Austin Hubbard, Morgan Bagley, Bobby Pierce, Dillan White, Shelby Miles, Chad Hollenbeck, Travis Varnadore, Shane Cottle, Earl Pearson, Jr.-DNS, Eric Wells-DNS, Scott CreeL-DNS, Victor Lee-DNS

    PRC Strawberry Dash Presented by DirtonDirt.com (6 Laps- Winner Advances): Shelby Miles, Shane Cottle, Chris Brown, James O’Hara, Travis Varnadore, Chad Hollenbeck

    Feature Finish – 60 Laps:
    FINISH
    START
    CAR #
    DRIVER NAME
    HOMETOWN
    1
    4
    15
    Steve Francis
    Ashland, KY
    2
    10
    20
    Jimmy Owens
    Newport, TN
    3
    9
    71
    Don O'Neal
    Martinsville, IN
    4
    5
    0
    Scott Bloomquist
    Mooresburg, TN
    5
    12
    28e
    Dennis Erb, Jr.
    Carpentersville, IL
    6
    17
    A1
    Duke Whiseant
    Texarkana, AR
    7
    25
    31
    Scott Creel
    Franklinton, LA
    8
    23
    44
    Earl Pearson, Jr.
    Jacksonville, FL
    9
    18
    11h
    Austin Hubbard
    Seaford, DE
    10
    13
    15d
    Jonathan Davenport
    Blairsville, GA
    11
    15
    81
    Scott James
    Lawrenceburg, IN
    12
    21
    11T
    Tyler Reddick
    Corning, CA
    13
    3
    81x
    Randy Korte
    Highland, IL
    14
    14
    32s
    Chad Stapleton
    Edinburgh, IN
    15
    6
    23
    John Blankenship
    Williamson, WV
    16
    24
    18e
    Eric Wells
    Hazard, KY
    17
    1
    99
    Donnie Moran
    Dresden, OH
    18
    22
    32
    Bobby Pierce
    Oakwood, IL
    19
    19
    01
    Jackie Nosbisch
    Valrico, FL
    20
    16
    81JR
    Jason Riggs
    Harrisburg, IL
    21
    7
    5
    Jared Landers
    Batesville, AR
    22
    8
    53
    Ray Cook
    Brasstown, NC
    23
    20
    14m
    Morgan Bagley
    Tyler, TX
    24
    26
    76
    Shelby Miles
    Bloomington, IN
    25
    2
    42c
    Terry Casey
    New London, WI
    26
    11
    18
    Shannon Babb
    Mowequa, IL


    Race Statistics
    Entrants: 41
    Lap Leaders: Donnie Moran (Laps 1 – 24); Steve Francis (Laps 25 – 60)
    Caution Flags: Tyler Reddick (Start); Duke Whiseant (Lap 11); Austin Hubbard (Lap 27); Pile Up (Lap 27); Jonathan Davenport (Lap 37); Jason Riggs (Lap 56)
    Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Earl Pearson Jr., Eric Wells
    DirtonDirt.com Fast Time Provisional: Scott Creel
    Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisional: n/a
    Performance Bodies First Non-Qualifier: Shane Cottle
    Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Scott Creel (Started 25th; Finished 7th; Advanced 18 positions)
    Allstar Performer of the Race: Duke Whiseant
    Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Jimmy Owens
    ASi Racewear Challenge Finisher: Steve Francis
    Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Austin Hubbard
    COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Roush Yates Racing Engines
    Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Barry Wright Race Cars
    Sweet Mfg Crew Chief of the Race: Lance Wright
    Time of Race: 56 minutes 58 seconds

    DART Winternationals Point Standings:

    POS
    CAR#
    DRIVER
    HOMETOWN
    POINTS
    1
    28e
    Dennis Erb, Jr.
    Carpentersville, IL
    1265
    2
    15
    Steve Francis
    Ashland, KY
    1255
    3
    71
    Don O'Neal
    Martinsville, IN
    1210
    4
    81x
    Randy Korte
    Highland, IL
    1125
    5
    53
    Ray Cook
    Dresden, OH
    1120
    6
    23
    John Blankenship
    Williamson, WV
    1110
    7
    0
    Scott Bloomquist
    Mooresburg, TN
    1095
    8
    42c
    Terry Casey
    New London, WI
    1015
    9
    18e
    Eric Wells
    Hazard, KY
    980
    10
    11T
    Tyler Reddick
    Corning, CA
    970

    Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:
    POS
    CAR #
    DRIVER NAME
    HOMETOWN
    POINTS
    1
    28e
    Dennis Erb, Jr.
    Carpentersville, IL
    455
    2
    20
    Jimmy Owens
    Newport, TN
    420
    3
    15
    Steve Francis
    Ashland, KY
    415
    4
    81x
    Randy Korte
    Highland, IL
    395
    5
    15d
    Jonathan Davenport
    Blairsville, GA
    390
    5
    11T
    Tyler Reddick
    Corning, CA
    390
    7
    11h
    Austin Hubbard
    Seaford, DE
    385
    8
    44
    Earl Pearson, Jr.
    Jacksonville, FL
    360
    8
    99
    Donnie Moran
    Dresden, OH
    360
    10
    71
    Don O'Neal
    Martinsville, IN
    345
    10
    23
    John Blankenship
    Williamson, WV
    345
    12
    0
    Scott Bloomquist
    Mooresburg, TN
    335
    12
    18e
    Eric Wells
    Hazard, KY
    335
    14
    32s
    Chad Stapleton
    Edinburgh, IN
    320
    14
    53
    Ray Cook
    Brasstown, NC
    320
    16
    31
    Scott Creel
    Franklinton, LA
    315
    17
    81
    Scott James
    Lawrenceburg, IN
    310
    18
    42c
    Terry Casey
    New London, WI
    300
    19
    5
    Jared Landers
    Batesville, AR
    275
    20
    18
    Shannon Babb
    Mowequa, IL
    270
    21
    32
    Bobby Pierce
    Oakwood, IL
    265
    22
    81JR
    Jason Riggs
    Harrisburg, IL
    255
    23
    A1
    Duke Whiseant
    Texarkana, AR
    250
    23
    76
    Shelby Miles
    Bloomington, IN
    250
    23
    41
    Josh McGuire
    Grayson, KY
    250
    26
    14m
    Morgan Bagley
    Tyler, TX
    240
    27
    85
    Mark Andersen
    Blanchard, MI
    235
    28
    54W
    Dillan White
    Crofton, KY
    230
    29
    5J
    Eric Jacobsen
    Watsonville, CA
    225
    30
    4-Ds
    Chad Hollenbeck
    Montrose, PA
    220
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