TAMPA, FL (February 14, 2012) – Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN captured $5,000 tonight with his second win at the DART Winternationals East Bay Raceway Park on Tuesday Night. O’Neal took command of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series sanctioned event and stormed on for his 14th career win at the 1/3 mile oval. John Blankenship of Williamson, WV passed Austin Hubbard of Seaford, DE on the final lap to place second. Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN and Steve Francis of Ashland, KY rounded out the top five.
The race got off to rough start with a false start. Then O’Neal and Shannon Babb, who started on the front row alongside each other, got together heading into turn number one on the second attempt to start the race. Babb suffered substantial damage, ending his night. In Victory Lane, O’Neal was subdued after the contact with Babb. “Man I hated that, Shannon and I are friends. I got in there and we got together, I drove it in wide-open. I think I blistered my tires again tonight as well. My hat’s off again to this MasterSbilt crew, they’ve built a great race car, and thanks to Jay Dickens for building us such a stout engine. We are off to a great start this season,” said the 47-year-old, who captured his 21st win in Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series competition.
O’Neal led all 25 laps, but a heated battle lasted the entire distance for second. All eyes were on Blankenship and Hubbard. Those two swapped the second spot four times during the race with Blankenship in the Coal America’s Energy, Cornett Racing Engines, Rocket Chassis going to the high-side, passing Hubbard coming off of turn number two on the final lap to capture the runner-up spot. Hubbard wound up third in the Tim Logan Racing, Trinity Logistics, Rocket Chassis Chevrolet.
O’Neal, who is fourth all-time in LOLMDS series wins, rode the cushion for most of the race and at times it appeared that both Blankenship and Hubbard were gaining ground on him. Once O’Neal reached traffic he was able to take command of the race. “Our goal is to win the Lucas Oil Series title this year and even though this doesn’t count toward the season-long points we are going to be ready for Friday and Saturday for sure.”
Bloomquist took fourth in his Hawkeye Trucking, Roush-Yates Racing Engines, Bloomquist Race Cars Ford. Francis grabbed fifth in the Valvoline, Clements Racing Engines, Barry Wright Race Cars Chevrolet.
Completing the top ten were Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, IL; Randy Korte of Highland, IL; Duke Whiseant of Texarkana, AR; Dillan White of Crofton, KY; and Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA.
In preliminary action, O’Neal was the Red Buck Cigars Fast Qualifier among the 43 entrants with a lap of 14.402 seconds. Heat races were won by O’Neal, Terry Casey, Shannon Babb, and John Blankenship. The B-main winners were Eric Jacobsen and Dillan White. The PRC Strawberry Dash was taken by Brandon Sheppard.
Coming up on Wednesday Night, February 15th will be night number three of the 36th Annual DART Winternationals for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series with a complete show featuring a $7,000 to win main event. For more information log on to www.eastbayracewaypark.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
Tuesday Night, February 14, 2012
36th Annual DART Winternationals
East Bay Raceway Park – Tampa, FL
Red Buck Cigars Fast Time:
Don O’Neal / 14.402 seconds (Group A)
Shannon Babb / 14.654 seconds (Group B and Overall)
Wiles Driveshafts First Heat (8 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Don O’Neal, Scott Bloomquist, Jared Landers, Jonathan Davenport, Eric Jacobsen, Scott James, Ray Cook, Morgan Bagley, Chris Brown, Terry Naugle, Robert Geiger-DNS
U. S. Steel Second Heat (8 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Terry Casey, Steve Francis, Randy Korte, Eric Wells, Scott Creel, Jason Riggs, Jackie Nosbisch, Danny Mitchell, Leon Henderson, Mark Andersen
Simpson Performance Products Third Heat (8 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Shannon Babb, Duke Whiseant, Dennis Erb, Jr., Daniel Stone, Justin Rattliff, Chad Stapleton, Chad Hollenbeck, James O’Hara, Todd Frank, Shane Cottle
HAWK Brakes Fourth Heat (8 Laps- Top 4 Advance): John Blankenship, Austin Hubbard, Josh McGuire, Bobby Pierce, Dillan White, Brandon Sheppard, Tyler Reddick, Travis Varnadore, Victor Lee, Doug Blashe
JRi Shocks First B-Main (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Eric Jacobsen, Scott Creel, Scott James, Jason Riggs, Ray Cook, Danny Mitchell, Morgan Bagley, Jackie Nosbisch, Leon Henderson, Chris Brown, Mark Andersen
PAC Racing Springs Second B-Main (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Dillan White, Justin Rattliff, Chad Hollenbeck, Tyler Reddick, Brandon Sheppard, Victor Lee, Shelby Miles, James O’Hara, Doug Blashe, Chad Stapleton, Todd Frank, Travis Varnadore
PRC Strawberry Dash Presented by DirtonDirt.com (Laps- Winner Advances): Brandon Sheppard, Victor Lee, Shelby Miles, Doug Blashe, James O’Hara
Feature Finish – 25 Laps:
| FINISH | START | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN |
| 1 | 1 | 71 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN |
| 2 | 4 | 23 | John Blankenship | Williamson, WV |
| 3 | 8 | 11h | Austin Hubbard | Seaford, DE |
| 4 | 5 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | Mooresburg, TN |
| 5 | 7 | 15 | Steve Francis | Ashland, KY |
| 6 | 10 | 28e | Dennis Erb, Jr. | Carpentersville, IL |
| 7 | 11 | 81x | Randy Korte | Highland, IL |
| 8 | 6 | A1 | Duke Whiseant | Texarkana, AR |
| 9 | 18 | 54W | Dillan White | Crofton, KY |
| 10 | 13 | 15d | Jonathan Davenport | Blairsville, GA |
| 11 | 14 | 21d | Daniel Stone | Thompson, PA |
| 12 | 25 | 53 | Ray Cook | Brasstown, NC |
| 13 | 12 | 41 | Josh McGuire | Grayson, KY |
| 14 | 17 | 5J | Eric Jacobsen | Watsonville, CA |
| 15 | 20 | 16 | Justin Rattliff | Campbellsville, KY |
| 16 | 22 | 4-Ds | Chad Hollenbeck | Montrose, PA |
| 17 | 15 | 18e | Eric Wells | Hazard, KY |
| 18 | 16 | 32 | Bobby Pierce | Oakwood, IL |
| 19 | 19 | 31 | Scott Creel | Franklinton, LA |
| 20 | 3 | 42c | Terry Casey | New London, WI |
| 21 | 21 | 81 | Scott James | Lawrenceburg, IN |
| 22 | 24 | 11T | Tyler Reddick | Corning, CA |
| 23 | 26 | b5 | Brandon Sheppard | Berlin, IL |
| 24 | 23 | 81JR | Jason Riggs | Harrisburg, IL |
| 25 | 9 | 5 | Jared Landers | Batesville, AR |
| 26 | 2 | 18 | Shannon Babb | Mowequa, IL |
Race Statistics
Entrants: 43
Lap Leaders: Don O’Neal (Laps 1 – 25)
Caution Flags: Shannon Babb (Lap 1); Jared Landers (Lap 1); Eric Wells (Lap 7)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: n/a
DirtonDirt.com Fast Time Provisional: Ray Cook
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisional: n/a
Performance Bodies First Non-Qualifier: Victor Lee
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Ray Cook (Started 25th; Finished 12th; Advanced 13 positions)
Allstar Performer of the Race: Austin Hubbard
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Austin Hubbard
ASi Racewear Challenge Finisher: Don O’Neal
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: n/a
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Jay Dickens Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: MasterSbilt Race Cars
Sweet Mfg Crew Chief of the Race: Tom Buckingham
Time of Race: 18 minutes 16 seconds