PONTOOON BEACH, IL (July 12, 2013) – Steve Francis won his first feature of the season on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series tonight at Tri-City Speedway. Francis started third in the $10,000 to win “Battle at the Beach”. He took the lead on lap nine and was challenged all the way to the checkers by John Blankenship, who finished second. Trailing Francis and Blankenship to the finish were Chris Simpson, Don O’Neal, and Billy Moyer.
Francis; claimed six series wins last year; recorded his 12th career LOLMDS victory. He also became the 12th different winner on the tour in 2013. Blankenship, in the Coal World’s Energy Rocket stayed within striking distance until the end, and came up just short of his third win of the year. With his second place finish, Blankenship took over the series points lead from Jimmy Owens, who failed to make a lap in the main event due to transmission issues.
“The team worked really hard for this win,” said Francis, who registered his first ever win at Tri-City. “I told Kevin (Gundaker) earlier that I liked the old half-mile better, but not now! We had a meeting this week with Clint (Bowyer) and decided we wanted to finish the season strong, this is a very good start to that goal!”
Blankenship bolted to the lead and led the first eight circuits until Francis took to the outside and dashed by him. The race was slowed by three caution flags and remained close all the way with Blankenship cutting the lead on the final lap to less than one-car length. “Congrats to Steve, he drove a heck of a race! We switched cars before the night, and went with the car that had the smaller motor in it, Tom (Buckingham) made the right call on that and it nearly paid off! I didn’t even know Owens did not run a lap,” said Blankenship who leads the series points for the first time in his career.
Francis thanked a multitude of people in Lucas Oil Victory Lane and hopes the win can vault the team to bigger things. “Our goal every year is to win the championship. I have to thank all the crew, along with Lance and Barry Wright, Clint Bowyer, and everybody back at the shop. It’s a big win for my sponsors: Georgia Boot, Peak Motor Oil, Cometic Gasket, Toyota, VP, Clements Racing Engines, and of course Barry Wright Race Cars.”
Simpson, who was the runner-up in the Show-Me 100 back in May at Lucas Oil Speedway came home in another solid run. “Congrats to Steve for his win! John and I battled hard for second; we never touched the whole race! It’s great to able to compete with these guys, they do it on a weekly basis, we are getting our program to where we are a threat to win each time out,” said the driver of the Simpson Farms, Five Star Shop Service, MB Customs Chevrolet.
Completing the top ten were Brian Birkhofer, Billy Moyer Jr., Randy Korte, Jason Feger, and Tyler Reddick.
In preliminary action, Billy Laycock set the overall time (Group A) amongst the 33 entrants, with a lap of 15.506 seconds. Michael Kloos set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 15.774 seconds. John Blankenship, Steve Francis, Chris Simpson, and Jimmy Owens won their respective heat races. Craig Smith and Tim Manville won their respective B-Mains.
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will be back in action tomorrow night, July 13th. The series will head to the “Diamond of the Dirt Tracks” Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO for the annual running of the “CMH Diamond Nationals”. 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 ontowww.lucasoilspeedway.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
Friday Night, July 12th, 2013
“Battle at the Beach”
Tri-City Speedway – Pontoon Beach, IL
RED BUCK Fast Time Group A: Billy Laycock / 15.506 seconds
RED BUCK Fast Time Group B: Michael Kloos / 15.774 seconds
Wiles Driveshafts Heat Race #1 (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): John Blankenship, Don O’Neal, Billy Laycock, Tyler Reddick, Craig Smith, Jeff Herzog, Jason Zobrist, Steve Lampley
Eibach Springs Heat Race #2 (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Steve Francis, Billy Moyer, Billy Drake, Jason Feger, Jerry Lierly, Chris Fetter, Jared Landers, Jason Papich
Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Chris Simpson, Brian Birkhofer, Michael Kloos, Eddie Carrier Jr., Tim Manville, Dennis Erb Jr., Craig Vosbergen, Derek Fetter
FK Rod Ends Heat Race #4 (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jimmy Owens, Earl Pearson Jr., Randy Korte, Billy Moyer Jr., Timothy Culp, Scott Weber, Chris Shelton, Chad Zobrist
CV Products B-Main #1 (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Craig Smith, Jerry Lierly, Jared Landers, Jeff Herzog, Chris Fetter, Jason Zobrist, Jason Papich, Steve Lampley
Wrisco Aluminum B-Main #2 (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Tim Manville, Timothy Culp, Scott Weber, Dennis Erb Jr., Craig Vosbergen, Derek Fetter, Chris Shelton, Chad Zobrist, Jason Zobrist, Jason Papich, Steve Lampley
Feature Finish (50 Laps):
| FINISH | START | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN |
| 1 | 3 | 15 | Steve Francis | Ashland, KY |
| 2 | 1 | 23 | John Blankenship | Williamson, WV |
| 3 | 2 | 32x | Chris Simpson | Oxford, IA |
| 4 | 5 | 71 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN |
| 5 | 7 | 21 | Billy Moyer | Batesville, AR |
| 6 | 6 | 15b | Brian Birkhofer | Muscatine, IA |
| 7 | 16 | 21JR | Billy Moyer Jr. | Batesville, AR |
| 8 | 12 | 81K | Randy Korte | Highland, IL |
| 9 | 15 | 25F | Jason Feger | Bloomington, IL |
| 10 | 13 | 11T | Tyler Reddick | Corning, CA |
| 11 | 14 | 28 | Eddie Carrier Jr. | Salt Rock, WV |
| 12 | 8 | 44 | Earl Pearson Jr. | Jacksonville, FL |
| 13 | 23 | 28e | Dennis Erb Jr. | Carpentersville, IL |
| 14 | 11 | 75 | Billy Drake | Bloomington, IL |
| 15 | 9 | 82 | Billy Laycock | Marine, IL |
| 16 | 19 | 7L | Jerry Lierly | Camp Point, IL |
| 17 | 25 | 15x | Chris Fetter | Troy, MO |
| 18 | 26 | 32F | Derek Fetter | Troy, MO |
| 19 | 21 | 5 | Jared Landers | Batesville, AR |
| 20 | 20 | C8 | Timothy Culp | Prattsville, AR |
| 21 | 17 | 8x | Craig Smith | Godfrey, IL |
| 22 | 18 | 33T | Tim Manville | Highland, IL |
| 23 | 10 | 6k | Michael Kloos | Trenton, IL |
| 24 | 22 | 92w | Scott Weber | Festus, MO |
| 25 | 24 | 11 | Jeff Herzog | Herculaneum, MO |
| 26 | 4 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN |
Race Statistics
Entrants: 33
Lap Leaders: John Blankenship (Laps 1 – 8); Steve Francis (Laps 9 – 50)
Caution Flags: Michael Kloos (Lap 29); Craig Smith (Lap 36); Jared Landers (Lap 45)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Dennis Erb Jr.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: none
RED BUCK Fast Time Provisionals: Jeff Herzog
Tri City Speedway Track Provisionals: Chris Fetter, Derek Fetter
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Billy Moyer Jr. (Started: 16th, Finished: 7th, Advanced: 9 positions)
Allstar Performer of the Race: Steve Francis
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Billy Moyer
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: Barry Wright Race Cars
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Tommy Grecco (Steve Francis)
HAWK Performance Fastest Lap of the Race: Don O’Neal (Lap # 19; 16.514 seconds)
Time of Race: 32 minutes 35 seconds
Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:
| POS | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN | POINTS |
| 1 | 23 | John Blankenship | Williamson, WV | 3285 |
| 2 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN | 3245 |
| 3 | 15 | Steve Francis | Ashland, KY | 3235 |
| 4 | 71 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | 3175 |
| 5 | 44 | Earl Pearson Jr. | Jacksonville, FL | 3120 |
| 6 | 28e | Dennis Erb Jr. | Carpentersville, IL | 3075 |
| 7 | 5 | Jared Landers | Batesville, AR | 2925 |
| 8 | 28 | Eddie Carrier Jr. | Salt Rock, WV | 2840 |
| 9 | 21JR | Billy Moyer Jr. | Batesville, AR | 2580 |
| 10 | 7L | Jerry Lierly | Camp Point, IL | 2330 |
*Points are unofficial until Close of Business on the Tuesday following Race Day*