TAMPA, FL (February 15, 2012) – Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC returned to victory lane at East Bay Raceway Park on Wednesday Night at East Bay Raceway Park. The win was his first in 12 years as he captured the $7,000 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event. Cook took the lead for good on lap 31 from Steve Francis of Ashland, KY to win the DART Winternationals event. Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA passed Francis on the final lap to finish second. Francis, who ran the last laps of the race with a flat right front tire barely edged out Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN for third. Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, IL rounded out the top five.
In a spirited race for the top spot, three drivers took turns at leading the event with Davenport leading the first four laps until Francis took over the lead. Francis held the point until Cook, who started fourth took the lead for the first time in the race on lap 15. Cook and Francis then battled in traffic until Francis forged back ahead on lap 23. Francis then saw his right front tire start to lose air as Cook got by him for good on lap 31.
“It just goes to show you that anything with the Lord is possible,” said the elated Cook in victory lane. “These MasterSbilt Race Cars have run good the first nights with O’Neal winning, this whole team has been working extremely hard, Gary Winger with Integra Shocks, American Racer Tires, there has been a lot of people working a long time to finally get back in victory lane here and we finally did it,” said Cook who posted his tenth career win in Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series competition.
Reminiscing on his first and only win at East Bay 12 years ago, Cook said, “We started 21st and it was a 100-lapper, this year we’ve started off great and we hope to continue the momentum the rest of the season,” said the 40-year-old.
Don O’Neal, who was trying to win three in a row this week jumped the cushion in turn two on the first lap and slipped back to fifth. Cook, who started behind O’Neal took advantage of O’Neal’s slip. “Any time you get a chance to get by O’Neal you take it, he’s been running so well this week.”
Cook’s D&R Motorsports number 53 is sponsored by A+ Moving and Storage, VP Racing Fuels, Keyser Mfg., GW Performance, PRCF, Hicks, Ingle Company, and Superior Cleaning.
Davenport got by Francis on the final circuit to secure second in the Clint Bowyer Motorsports, Roush-Yates Racing Engines, Barry Wright Toyota. Francis in the Valvoline, Clements Racing Engines, Barry Wright Chevrolet barely hung on for third over Bloomquist in the Hawkeye Trucking, Roush-Yates Racing Engines, Bloomquist Race Cars Ford. Erb, who started 14th, finished fifth in his McBride Mack, Vic Hill Racing Engines, Bloomquist Race Cars entry.
Completing the top ten were Eric Jacobsen of Seacliffe Beach, CA; John Blankenship of Williamson, WV; Terry Casey of New London, WI; Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH; and Randy Korte of Highland, IL.
In preliminary action Don O’Neal was the Red Buck Cigar Fast Qualifier among the 45 entrants. Heat race winners were Jonathan Davenport, O’Neal, Steve Francis, and Ray Cook. The B-mains were taken by Duke Whiseant and Chris Brown. The PRC Strawberry Dash was won by Josh McGuire.
Awaiting the excited competitors in tomorrow night, Thursday, February 16th will be another $7,000 to win show for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series DART Winternationals at East Bay Raceway Park.
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
Wednesday Night, February 15, 2012
36th Annual DART Winternationals
East Bay Raceway Park – Tampa, FL
Red Buck Cigars Fast Time:
Jonathan Davenport/ 14.820 seconds (Group A)
Don O’Neal / 14.694 seconds (Group B and Overall)
Wiles Driveshafts First Heat (8 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Jonathan Davenport, Terry Casey, Austin Hubbard, Dillan White, Bobby Pierce, Jackie Nosbisch, Jay Morris, Scott James, Danny Mitchell, Doug Blashe, Todd Frank, Justin Rattliff
U. S. Steel Second Heat (8 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Steve Francis, Eric Jacobsen, Mark Andersen, Kevin Weaver, Duke Whiseant, Chad Hollenbeck, Jared Landers, Travis Varnadore, James O’Hara, Shannon Babb, Pat Ehlert
Simpson Performance Products Third Heat (8 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Don O’Neal, Scott Bloomquist, Randy Korte, Dennis Erb, Jr., Daniel Stone, Eric Wells, Victor Lee, Tyler Reddick, Shane Cottle, Scott Creel, Tim Lance, Shelby Miles
HAWK Brakes Fourth Heat (8 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Ray Cook, John Blankenship, Jason Riggs, Donnie Moran, Chris Brown, Brandon Sheppard, Morgan Bagley, Leon Henderson, Terry Naugle, Chad Stapleton, Josh McGuire
JRi Shocks First B-Main (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Duke Whiseant, Dillan White, Bobby Pierce, Jared Landers, Chad Hollenbeck, James O’Hara, Doug Blashe, Todd Frank, Scott James , Pat Ehlert, Travis Varnadore, Danny Mitchell, Shannon Babb-DNS, Jay Morris-DNS, Justin Rattliff-DNS
PAC Racing Springs Second B-Main (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Chris Brown, Eric Wells, Daniel Stone, Tyler Reddick, Brandon Sheppard, Scott Creel, Victor Lee, Leon Henderson, Josh McGuire, Shane Cottle, Tim Lance, Chad Stapleton, Terry Naugle, Morgan Bagley, Shelby Miles
PRC Strawberry Dash Presented by DirtonDirt.com (Laps- Winner Advances): Josh McGuire, Scott Creel, Tim Lance, Travis Varnadore, Pat Ehlert, Leon Hernderson.
Feature Finish – 35 Laps:
| FINISH | START | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN |
| 1 | 4 | 53 | Ray Cook | Brasstown, NC |
| 2 | 1 | 15d | Jonathan Davenport | Blairsville, GA |
| 3 | 3 | 15 | Steve Francis | Ashland, KY |
| 4 | 6 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | Mooresburg, TN |
| 5 | 14 | 28e | Dennis Erb, Jr. | Carpentersville, IL |
| 6 | 7 | 5J | Eric Jacobsen | Watsonville, CA |
| 7 | 8 | 23 | John Blankenship | Williamson, WV |
| 8 | 5 | 42c | Terry Casey | New London, WI |
| 9 | 16 | 99 | Donnie Moran | Dresden, OH |
| 10 | 10 | 81x | Randy Korte | Highland, IL |
| 11 | 11 | 85 | Mark Andersen | Blanchard, MI |
| 12 | 23 | 5 | Jared Landers | Batesville, AR |
| 13 | 13 | 01 | Jackie Nosbisch | Valrico, FL |
| 14 | 19 | 54W | Dillan White | Crofton, KY |
| 15 | 20 | 18e | Eric Wells | Hazard, KY |
| 16 | 21 | 32 | Bobby Pierce | Oakwood, IL |
| 17 | 18 | 21CB | Chris Brown | Spring, TX |
| 18 | 25 | b5 | Brandon Sheppard | Berlin, IL |
| 19 | 2 | 71 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN |
| 20 | 22 | 21d | Daniel Stone | Thompson, PA |
| 21 | 15 | B12 | Kevin Weaver | Gibson City, IL |
| 22 | 24 | 11T | Tyler Reddick | Corning, CA |
| 23 | 26 | 41 | Josh McGuire | Grayson, KY |
| 24 | 17 | A1 | Duke Whiseant | Texarkana, AR |
| 25 | 12 | 81JR | Jason Riggs | Harrisburg, IL |
| 26 | 9 | 11h | Austin Hubbard | Seaford, DE |
Race Statistics
Entrants: 46
Lap Leaders: Jonathan Davenport (Lap 1 – 5); Steve Francis (Laps 5 – 14); Ray Cook (Laps 15 – 22); Steve Francis (Laps 23 – 30); Ray Cook (Laps 31 – 35);
Caution Flags: Austin Hubbard (Lap 5)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: n/a
DirtonDirt.com Fast Time Provisional: Brandon Sheppard
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisional: n/a
Performance Bodies First Non-Qualifier: Scott Creel
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Jared Landers (Started 23rd; Finished 12th; Advanced 11 positions)
Allstar Performer of the Race: Steve Francis
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Donnie Moran
ASi Racewear Challenge Finisher: Ray Cook
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: n/a
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Race Engine Design
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: MasterSbilt Race Cars
Sweet Mfg Crew Chief of the Race: John Sexton (Ray Cook)
Time of Race: 16 minutes 47 seconds