ZANESVILLE, OH (July 3, 2013) – Devin Moran led all 50 laps in a hotly contested Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Budweiser 50 on Wednesday Night at Muskingum County Speedway. The 18-year-old son of Hall of Fame driver, Donnie Moran charged ahead of the pack and delivered a career-best $10,000 victory.
The second-generation racer crossed the finish line to the cheers of the home-track crowd just as his dad flipped in turn number two. The elder Moran escaped the flip uninjured and joined his son in victory lane. Earl Pearson Jr. finished second followed by Doug Drown, Steve Francis, and John Blankenship.
“I can’t believe it, I can’t thank my dad and grandpa enough for all of their support! This is a dream come true to win one of these Lucas Oil races! These guys are the best of the best, and to win here on my home track is super special,” said the youngster in Lucas Oil Victory Lane.
“The car was really good in one and two, but at one point, I thought I had given it away. I hit a rut and it almost took me over the bank in turn four. There were a lot of cautions and it was nerve-wracking, but the car handled so well all night. Hopefully one day we can run this Lucas Oil Series full-time! I have to thank all the fans who came out tonight and survived the rain.”
“I have to thank all my sponsors Custom Cutters, Bazell Race Fuels, Eddie’s Sunoco, Cameron Oil and Gas, Malcuit Engines, and MasterSbilt Race Cars.”
Completing the top ten were Don O’Neal, Eddie Carrier Jr., Jared Landers, Jimmy Owens and Dennis Erb, Jr.
In preliminary action, Earl Pearson Jr. set the overall time (Group A) amongst the 35 entrants, with a lap of 15.130 seconds. Doug Drown set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 15.189 seconds. Devin Moran, Steve Francis, Doug Drown, and Jacob Hawkins won their respective heat races. Josh McGuire and Jimmy Owens won their respective B-Mains.
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will be back in action tomorrow night, Thursday, July 4th, with the “Independence 50” at Portsmouth Raceway Park in Portsmouth, OH. The event will include RED BUCK Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains, and the 50-Lap, $10,000-to-win main event. For more information, log onto www.portsraceway.com.
For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com and follow the series on www.facebook.com/lucasdirt and www.twitter.com/#!/lucasdirt.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Wednesday Night, July 3rd, 2013
“Budweiser 50”
Muskingum County Speedway – Zanesville, OH
Red Buck Fast Time Group A: Earl Pearson Jr. / 15.130 seconds
Red Buck Fast Time Group B:
Wiles Drive Shafts Heat Race #1 (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Devin Moran, Earl Pearson Jr., Mike Marlar, Eddie Carrier Jr., Zack Dohm, JT Conley, Joe Ramey, Bryan Casey, Brad Malcuit
Eibach Springs Heat Race #2 (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Steve Francis, John Blankenship, Jason Papich, Billy Moyer Jr., Josh McGuire, Rod Conley, Dennis Erb Jr., Coby Bartram
Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Doug Drown, Donnie Moran, Don O’Neal, Wayne Chinn, Jerry Lierly, Craig Vosbergen, Scott Peltz, Michael Holmes, Doug Kenworthy, Danny Mitchell
FK Rod Ends Heat Race #4 (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jacob Hawkins, RJ Conley, Jared Hawkins, Jared Landers, Jimmy Owens, K.C. Burdette, Shane McLoughlin ,Steve Prince, Todd Brennan
CV Products B-Main #1 (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Josh McGuire, Rod Conley, Zack Dohm, JT Conley ,Joe Ramey, Coby Bartram, Dennis Erb Jr., Bryan Casey, Brad Malcuit-DNS
Wrisco Aluminum B-Main #2 (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Jimmy Owens, Jerry Lierly, Todd Brennan, Michael Holmes, K.C. Burdette, Craig Vosbergen, Shane McLoughlin, Doug Kenworthy, Steve Prince, Danny Mitchell, Scott Peltz
Feature Finish (50 Laps):
| FINISH | START | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN |
| 1 | 1 | 99m | Devin Moran | Dresden, OH |
| 2 | 5 | 44 | Earl Pearson Jr. | Jacksonville, FL |
| 3 | 2 | 63 | Doug Drown | Wooster, OH |
| 4 | 3 | 15 | Steve Francis | Ashland, KY |
| 5 | 7 | 23 | John Blankenship | Williamson, WV |
| 6 | 10 | 71 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN |
| 7 | 13 | 28 | Eddie Carrier Jr. | Salt Rock, WV |
| 8 | 16 | 5 | Jared Landers | Batesville, AR |
| 9 | 18 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN |
| 10 | 23 | 28e | Dennis Erb Jr. | Carpentersville, IL |
| 11 | 21 | 17d | Zack Dohm | Charleston, WV |
| 12 | 15 | 21JR | Billy Moyer Jr. | Batesville, AR |
| 13 | 6 | 99 | Donnie Moran | Dresden, OH |
| 14 | 20 | 7L | Jerry Lierly | Camp Point, IL |
| 15 | 17 | 41 | Josh McGuire | Grayson, KY |
| 16 | 14 | 1c | Wayne Chinn | Bradford, OH |
| 17 | 19 | 71R | Rod Conley | Wheelersburg, OH |
| 18 | 11 | 91P | Jason Papich | Nipomo, CA |
| 19 | 4 | 20H | Jacob Hawkins | Fairmont, WV |
| 20 | 9 | 5b | Mike Marlar | Winfield, TN |
| 21 | 12 | 37 | Jared Hawkins | Fairmont, WV |
| 22 | 22 | 30 | Todd Brennan | Zanesville, OH |
| 23 | 8 | 71c | RJ Conley | Wheelersburg, OH |
| 24 | 24 | 2r | Joe Ramey | Ironton, OH |
| 25 | 25 | 83 | Steve Prince | Newark, OH |
Race Statistics
Entrants: 35
Lap Leaders: Devin Moran (Laps 1 – 50)
Caution Flags: RJ Conley (Lap 1); Joe Ramey (Lap 8); Doug Drown (Lap 9); Jason Papich (Lap 13); Todd Brennan (Lap 19); Jared Hawkins (Lap 21); Jacob Hawkins (Lap 25); Jason Papich (Lap 27); Jerry Lierly (Lap 38)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Dennis Erb Jr.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: none
RED BUCK Fast Time Provisionals: Joe Ramey
Muskingum County Speedway Track Provisional: Steve Prince
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Dennis Erb Jr. (Started: 23rd, Finished: 10th, Advanced: 13 positions)
Allstar Performer of the Race: Devin Moron
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Earl Pearson Jr.
JRi Shocks/Dunn Benson Ford Rookie of the Race: Billy Moyer Jr.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: MasterSbilt Race Cars
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Matt Langston (Earl Pearson Jr.)
HAWK Performance Fastest Lap of the Race: Steve Francis (Lap # 4; 15.511 seconds)
Time of Race: 43 minutes 20 seconds
Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:
| POS | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN | POINTS |
| 1 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN | 3120 |
| 2 | 23 | John Blankenship | Williamson, WV | 3055 |
| 3 | 15 | Steve Francis | Ashland, KY | 2985 |
| 4 | 71 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | 2965 |
| 5 | 44 | Earl Pearson Jr. | Jacksonville, FL | 2950 |
| 6 | 28e | Dennis Erb Jr. | Carpentersville, IL | 2910 |
| 7 | 5 | Jared Landers | Batesville, AR | 2790 |
| 8 | 28 | Eddie Carrier Jr. | Salt Rock, WV | 2665 |
| 9 | 21JR | Billy Moyer Jr. | Batesville, AR | 2385 |
| 10 | 7L | Jerry Lierly | Camp Point, IL | 2180 |
*Points are unofficial until Close of Business on the Tuesday following Race Day*