Richards Clinches Third Career World of Outlaws Late Model Series Title With Third-Place Finish
CONCORD, NC – Nov. 8, 2013 – Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., finally reached Victory Lane at The Dirt Track at Charlotte with a flawless performance in Friday night’s 50-lap World of Outlaws World Finals A-Main.
Hitting paydirt in his 21st career start at the four-tenths-mile oval, Lanigan burst off the pole position to grab the lead at the start of the event and never looked back. He kept Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., at bay late in the distance to register his long-awaited first-ever triumph at The Dirt Track and his tour-leading 12th win of the 2013 World of Outlaws Late Model Series campaign.
But while Lanigan, 43, beat Bloomquist to the finish line by 0.596 of a second for a victory worth $12,150, his year-long reign as WoO LMS champion came to an end. Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., finished third to clinch his third career World of Outlaws title.
Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., placed fourth and 2011 WoO LMS champion Rick Eckert of York, Pa., was fifth in a race that was contested before a massive capacity crowd on a chilly fall evening.
Mathematically still alive in the battle for the WoO LMS points crown entering the weekend (he trailed Richards by 106 points) but well aware that his chances of a comeback were slim, Lanigan focused primarily on breaking through for a checkered flag at The Dirt Track. He had little trouble achieving that goal after picking the number one starting spot in the redraw among heat winners.
Lanigan smoothly handled four restarts and a track surface that became bottom-dominant to record the 53rd WoO LMS win of his career. It was his second consecutive victory on the tour – though this one came nearly two months after his score in the last event on Sept. 21 at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Mich.
“We got a new setup on this (Rocket) car and it’s just been unbelievable since Berlin,” said Lanigan, whose last two WoO LMS wins sandwiched a $40,000 triumph in the Knoxville Late Model Nationals on Sept. 28 at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway. “The car was great tonight. When we had clear track we could really pick up the pace.”
The only hindrance for Lanigan was slower traffic, which he handled carefully late in the race. Bloomquist and Richards drew close to the leader, but Lanigan didn’t make a mistake.
“We got caught up there in the lapped traffic and just kind of followed them around,” said Lanigan, who became just the second WoO LMS to win a World Finals A-Main in the event’s seven-year history, joining Richards (2008). “I knew it was gonna be hard to pass anybody, but the car was great and we had to earn it (front row spot). That’s what it took.”
Bloomquist, 49, ultimately didn’t have the necessary speed to mount a serious bid to overtake Lanigan. He started third but grabbed second place from Richards on a lap-one restart and never relinquished the position.
“We had quite a stumble in our carburetor,” said Bloomquist, who has two career World Finals victories. “Coming off the corners you saw partial throttle – it just wouldn’t accelerate smooth and it was really messing up through the race.
“The car was good. We probably need to get a little bit stronger off the corner, but we had a good run tonight.”
Lanigan’s success allowed him to seize control of the second spot in the WoO LMS points standings entering Saturday night’s season finale. He ended the night 36 points ahead of Zebulon, Ga.’s Shane Clanton, who ceded 32 points to Lanigan with a 16th-place finish.
Lanigan hopes to cap his season by duplicating the World Finals sweep accomplished for the first time last year by Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., who has also won Saturday night’s World Finals finale in each of the past four years.
“We came down here to win both of ‘em,” said Lanigan. “We got one of ‘em and we’re gonna go for the other one tomorrow night.”
Richards, 25, failed to convert an outside-pole starting spot into his 10th win of the season, but his solid third-place finish brought him the big prize: the $100,000 WoO LMS championship. With a 100-point lead on Lanigan at the end of the night, he is assured of winning the title even if he were to not start Saturday night’s A-Main.
“It feels good to wrap up the title,” said Richards, who becomes the first driver in the tour’s World Racing Group era (2004-present) to win three championships. “Now I’d like to end the year with a win. I think if we can tweak it tomorrow we can definitely have something.”
Finishing in positions 6-10 was John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va.; teenager Tyler Reddick of DuQuoin, Ill.; Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville, Tenn.; DIRTcar big-block Modified star Billy Decker of Unadilla, N.Y.; and Owens, who unsuccessfully attempted to make the outside groove work throughout the race.
Eric Wells of Hazard, Ky., who finished 18th, clinched the 2013 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year award.
Four caution flags were needed during the race, all for minor problems. Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., brought out cautions on lap one (turn-four spin) and lap 24 (slowed on homestretch); Eric Jacobsen of Sea Cliff Beach, Calif., stopped on the lap-24 restart; and Steve Shaver of Vienna, W.Va., stopped in turn two on lap 28.
Heat winners were Richards, Eckert, Bloomquist, Lanigan, Reddick and O’Neal. The B-Mains were captured by Wells, Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, and Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del.
Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., who was the fastest qualifier in both rounds of time trials on Thursday night, saw his evening end quickly with a grinding crash on the opening lap of the first heat. He slammed the turn-two wall with the left side of his car and was noticeably shaken up.
The 56-year-old Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer was able to climb out of his car and walk gingerly to the ambulance with help from a member of the safety crew. But with Moyer dazed and complaining of pain in his neck and left elbow and hand, he was taken to a local hospital for a check-up.
After undergoing a couple hours of tests at the hospital, Moyer was allowed to leave and was back at the track by feature time. He was diagnosed with a possible concussion but no other significant injuries. He does not plan to compete on Saturday night, however.
The 2013 World of Outlaws World Finals Presented conclude on Saturday night (Nov. 9) with another tripleheader featuring the WoO LMS, the WoO Sprint Car Series and the Super DIRTcar Series for big-block Modifieds. Gates open at 3 p.m., hot laps are scheduled to start at4 p.m. and racing is set to begin at 5 p.m.
For more information, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com or www.charlottemotorspeedway.com
Results of World of Outlaws Late Model Series World Finals Night No. 1 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):
1. (1) Darrell Lanigan/50 $12,150
2. (3) Scott Bloomquist/50 $5,150
3. (2) Josh Richards/50 $3,150
4. (4) Don O’Neal/50 $3,000
5. (5) Rick Eckert/50 $2,200
6. (9) John Blankenship/50 $1,700
7. (6) Tyler Reddick/50 $1,500
8. (14) Billy Ogle Jr./50 $1,600
9. (12) Billy Decker/50 $1,350
10. (13) Jimmy Owens/50 $1,450
11. (16) Earl Pearson Jr./50 $1,250
12. (11) Chris Brown/50 $1,200
13. (10) Dennis Erb Jr./50 $1,200
14. (8) Ricky Elliott/50 $1,100
15. (20) Clint Smith/50 $1,100
16. (25) Shane Clanton/50 $1,050
17. (7) Kenny Moreland/50 $1,050
18. (19) Eric Wells/50 $1,300
19. (22) Eric Jacobsen/50 $1,000
20. (15) Steve Francis/50 $1,100
21. (24) Morgan Bagley/50 $1,050
22. (27) Chad Hollenbeck/49 $1,000
23. (18) Tim Fuller/46 $1,050
24. (26) Tim McCreadie/40 $1,150
25. (17) Steve Shaver/28 $1,000
26. (23) Austin Hubbard/22 $1,000
27. (21) Ryan Gustin/17 $1,000
* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses
Time of Race: 23 Mins., 30.277 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 0.596 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 4 (laps 1, 24, 24, 28)
Lap Leaders: Lanigan (1-50)
Provisional Starters: Clanton, McCreadie (WoO); Hollenbeck (fastest pre-entered non-qualifier from time trials)
Rookie of the Race: Wells ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: O’Neal ($500)
Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Josh Richards, 2. Kenny Moreland, 3. Jimmy Owens, 4. Eric Wells, 5. Bobby Pierce, 6. Bub McCool, 7. Chris Ferguson, 8. Dan Stone, 9. Don Gordon, 10. Mason Zeigler, 11. Pancho Lawler, 12. Billy Moyer
Heat No. 2 Finish (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Rick Eckert, 2. Ricky Elliott, 3. Billy Ogle Jr., 4. Jared Landers, 5. Clint Smith, 6. Shane Clanton, 7. Mike Marlar, 8. Chris Madden, 9. Vic Hill, 10. Bryan Force, 11. Brandon Sheppard, 12. Tim McCreadie
Heat No. 3 Finish (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Scott Bloomquist, 2. John Blankenship, 3. Steve Francis, 4. Ryan Gustin, 5. Jonathan Davenport, 6. Chad Hollenbeck, 7. Casey Roberts, 8. Mike Benedum, 9. Dennis ‘Rambo’ Franklin, 10. Brian Tavenner, 11. Kevin Wilson, 12. Jeff Babcock
Heat No. 4 Finish (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Darrell Lanigan, 2. Dennis Erb Jr., 3. Earl Pearson Jr., 4. Duane Chamberlain, 5. Jeremy Miller, 6. Eric Jacobsen, 7. Gregg Satterlee, 8. Chuck Harper, 9. Chub Frank, 10. Coleby Frye, 11. James O’Hara, 12. Brian Ledbetter
Heat No. 5 Finish (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Tyler Reddick, 2. Chris Brown, 3. Steve Shaver, 4. Morgan Bagley, 5. Austin Hubbard, 6. John Garvin, 7. J.T. Spence, 8. Will Vaught, 9. B.J. Robinson, 10. Kyle Hardy, 11. Matt Cochran, 12. Devin Moran
Heat No. 6 Finish (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Don O’Neal, 2. Billy Decker, 3. Tim Fuller, 4. Dale Hollidge, 5. Dale McDowell, 6. Jason Feger, 7. Rod Conley, 8. Andrew Reaume, 9. Chase Junghans, 10. Glenn Elliott, 11. Kerry King, 12. Walker Arthur
B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): 1. Eric Wells, 2. Clint Smith, 3. Jared Landers, 4. Shane Clanton, 5. Chris Ferguson, 6. Bobby Pierce, 7. Dan Stone, 8. Chris Madden, 9. Mike Benedum, 10. Bryan Force, 11. Don Gordon, 12. Tim McCreadie, 13. Bub McCool, 14. Will Vaught, 15. Brandon Sheppard, 16. Mike Marlar (DNS) Pancho Lawler, Billy Moyer
B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): 1. Ryan Gustin, 2. Eric Jacobsen, 3. Jonathan Davenport, 4. Chad Hollenbeck, 5. Chub Frank, 6. Gregg Satterlee, 7. Jeff Babcock, 8. Dennis ‘Rambo’ Franklin, 9. Mike Benedum, 10. Coleby Frye, 11. Brian Ledbetter, 12. Brian Tavenner, 13. James O’Hara, 14. Kevin Wilson, 15. Chuck Harper, 16. Jeremy Miller, 17. Duane Chamberlain, 18. Casey Roberts
B-Main No. 3 (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): 1. Austin Hubbard, 2. Morgan Bagley, 3. Dale McDowell, 4. J.T. Spence, 5. Dale Hollidge, 6. John Garvin, 7. Will Vaught, 8. Jason Feger, 9. Rod Conley, 10. B.J. Robinson, 11. Andrew Reaume, 12. Kyle Hardy, 13. Devin Moran, 14. Glenn Elliott, 15. Walker Arthur, 16. Chase Junghans, 17. Matt Cochran (DNS) Kerry King
World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners (awards presented to noted finisher/qualifier or next highest displaying decal:
Ohlins Shocks ($50 cash to fast qualifier): Billy Moyer
Eibach Springs (one free spring to each B-Main winner): Eric Wells/Chub Frank/Morgan Bagley
VP Race Fuels ‘Nice Jugs’ Award: (One VP 5-gallon container to fastest qualifier who misses A-Main): J.T. Spence
Wrisco Aluminum (3 sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner only): Darrell Lanigan
Armor All (One case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main): Don O’Neal
Comp Cams ($50 certificate to A-Main winner): Josh Richards
QuarterMaster ($100 certificate to A-Main winner): Josh Richards
MSD Ignition ($50 cash to A-Main winner): Darrell Lanigan
STP ($50 cash to 2nd-place finisher in A-Main): Scott Bloomquist
XS Power ($50 cash to 3rd-place finisher in A-Main): Jimmy Owens
Roush Yates ($50 cash to 4th-place finisher in A-Main): Rick Eckert
JE Pistons ($50 cash to 5th-place finisher in A-Main): Rick Eckert
Dominator ($50 cash to 6th-place finisher in A-Main): Billy Ogle Jr.
American Race Wheels ($50 cash to 7th-place finisher in A-Main): Billy Ogle Jr.
VP Race Fuels ($50 cash to 8th-place finisher in A-Main): Billy Ogle Jr.
Edelbrock Manifolds ($50 cash to 9th-finisher in A-Main): Jimmy Owens
Comp Cams ($50 cash to 10th-place finisher in A-Main): Jimmy Owens
XS Power ($60 product certificate to 11th-place finisher in A-Main): Kenny Moreland
Cometic Gasket ($50 cash to 12th-place finisher in A-Main): Dennis Erb Jr.
JRI Shocks ($50 cash to 13th-place finisher in A-Main): Billy Ogle Jr.
Super Flow Dynos ($50 cash to 14th-place finisher in A-Main): Shane Clanton
QuarterMaster ($25 certificate to 15th-place finisher in A-Main): Shane Clanton
JE Pistons (one complete set of JE Pro Seal rings to 16th-place finisher in A-Main, redeemable w/next purchase of set): Shane Clanton
Klotz Lubricants ($50 cash to 17th-place finisher in A-Main): Kenny Moreland
Roush Yates ($50 gift card to 18th-place finisher in A-Main): Eric Wells
QuarterMaster ($50 certificate to 19th-place finisher in A-Main): Morgan Bagley
Arizona Sport Shirts ($100 certificate to 20th-place finisher in A-Main): Morgan Bagley
JE Pistons (one complete set of JE Pro Seal rings to 21st-place finisher in A-Main, redeemable w/next purchase of set): Morgan Bagley
Roush Yates ($50 gift card to 22nd-place finisher in A-Main): Scott Bloomquist
MSD Ignition ($25 cash to 24th-place finisher in A-Main): Tim McCreadie
XS Power ‘Power Move of the Race’ ($60 product certificate): Darrell Lanigan
Roush Yates ($25 gift card to driver who leads most laps in the A-Main): Darrell Lanigan
2013 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Nov. 8 – 45 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):
1. Josh Richards 6244
2. Darrell Lanigan 6144 (-100)
3. Shane Clanton 6108 (-136)
4. Rick Eckert 6054 (-190)
5. Tim McCreadie 5726 (-518)
6. Eric Wells 5652 (-592)
7. Tim Fuller 5646 (-598)
8. Chub Frank 5534 (-710)
9. Morgan Bagley 5506 (-738)
10. Bub McCool 5496 (-748)
11. Clint Smith 5066 (-1178)
12. Dan Stone 2628 (-3616)
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: American Racing Custom Wheels (Official Custom Wheel), Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), KMC (Official Custom Truck Wheel), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), Vicci (Official Uniform), VP Racing Fuel (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and McCarthy’s One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning (Raye Vest Memorial Pill Draw Award); in addition to contingency sponsors: Butlerbuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Dominator Race Products, Edelbrock, Eibach Springs, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, QuarterMaster, Roush Yates Performance Parts, Superflow Dynos, Wrisco Aluminum and XS Power Racing Batteries; along with manufacturer sponsors Capital Race Cars, Integra Shocks, GRT Chassis, Jake’s Carts, Racing Electronics, Rocket Chassis, TNT Rescue, and Warrior Chassis.