Veteran Driver Tops 74-Car Field On Opening Night Of Blockbuster Event At The Dirt Track At Charlotte
CONCORD, NC – Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., made a spectacular debut at the World of Outlaws World Finals, sweeping fast-time honors in both rounds of Thursday’s Qualifying Night program at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.
The legendary driver was perfect in his first-ever World Finals appearance, topping an ultra-competitive field of 74 cars that were signed in for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series portion of the huge tripleheader weekend. The event also attracted 55 winged machines for the companion World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series meet and 49 entries for the Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified action.
World Finals Qualifying Night featured two rounds of WoO LMS time trials – the first to line upFriday night’s heat races and the second to align Saturday night’s preliminaries.
Moyer, 56, turned a lap of 15.413 seconds in Group ‘A’ during the first round of time trials and bettered that with a circuit of 15.304 seconds in Group ‘B’ during Round 2. His clockings were the overall fastest of both qualifying legs, giving him the 17th and 18th WoO LMS fast-time honors of his career.
The three-time WoO LMS champion also became the third Late Model driver to sweep both qualifying rounds of the seven-year-old World Finals, joining Steve Shaver of Vienna, W.Va. (2007) and Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga. (2010).
Moyer’s standout performance came in what was surprisingly his first stab at the World Finals. He traveled to Charlotte to compete in the 2009 weekend but headed home without even entering the Qualifying Night program after pulling out of the rescheduled WoO LMS Topless Showdown that preceded that year’s World Finals.
“I came out here last year just as a fan and watched,” said Moyer, who still holds the one-lap track record at The Dirt Track (14.672 seconds on April 18, 2008). “It was a good show to get to watch all of the classes and the track was good. That kinda made me want to go ahead and come back this year.”
With the evening’s large field split for both rounds of qualifying, drivers in Group ‘A’ competed for starting spots in Heats 1-3 on Friday and Saturday and those in Group ‘B’ qualified for positions in Heat 4-6 both nights. Moyer will start from the pole position in Friday night’s first heat and Saturday evening’s fourth preliminary.
“We haven’t been here for a while,” said Moyer, “but to come back and run as well as we have so far, that’s a good thing for sure.”
WoO LMS regulars Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., and Shane Clanton of Zebulon, Ga., also registered group fast times during Qualifying Night. Lanigan was quickest in Group ‘B’ during Round 1 with a lap of 15.484 seconds, while Clanton was best in Group ‘B’ during Round 2 with a circuit of 15.619 seconds.
Clanton’s strong showing during the second round was a complete turnaround from the problems he experienced earlier in the night. During Round 1 he was 35 th-fastest out of 37 qualifiers in Group ‘A’ after hitting a rut and breaking the right-front frame rail on his Kennedy Motorsports car.
WoO LMS points leader Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who sits on the cusp of clinching his third career WoO LMS championship, was fourth-fastest in his group during Round 1 and second-fastest in his group during Round 2. He will start Friday night’s first heat from the outside pole and Saturday night’s second heat from the pole position.
The World Finals continue on Friday and Saturday (Nov. 8-9), with gates opening at 3 p.m. and hot laps scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. each day. Each card will include a 50-lap A-Main for the WoO LMS, a 30-lap A-Main for the WoO STP Sprint Car Series and a 40-lap headliner for the Super DIRTcar Series big-block Modifieds.
For more information, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com or www.charlottemotorspeedway.com
Qualifying Night at the World of Outlaws World Finals:
Round 1 Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results For Fri., Nov. 8 Heat Races (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/
Group ‘A’
1. 21-Billy Moyer/Batesville, AR 15.413
2. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 15.582
3. 0-Scott Bloomquist/Mooresburg, TN 15.616
4. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 15.635
5. 201-Billy Ogle Jr./Knoxville, TN 15.687
6. 4ds-Chad Hollenbeck/Kingsley, PA/15.694
7. 20-Jimmy Owens/Newport, TN 15.714
8. 88-Ricky Elliott/Seaford, DE 15.811
9. 2-Dennis ‘Rambo’ Franklin/Gaffney, SC 15.825
10. 24-Kenny Moreland/Waldorf, MD 15.861
11. 1CAT-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 15.874
12. 23-John Blankenship/Williamson, WV 15.94
13. 2-Dan Stone/Thompson, PA 15.944
14. b5-Brandon Sheppard/New Berlin, IL 15.954
15. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 15.973
16. 21-Chris Ferguson/Mt. Holly, NC 16.043
17. 44-Chris Madden/Gray Court, SC 16.049
18. 49-Jonathan Davenport/Blairsville, GA 16.05
19. 32-Bobby Pierce/Oakwood, IL 16.083
20. 5-Jared Landers/Batesville, AR 16.135
21. 19-Ryan Gustin/Marshalltown, IA 16.174
22. 18W-Eric Wells/Hazard, KY 16.205
23. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 16.223
24. 25b-Mike Benedum/Salem, WV 16.24
25. 25z-Mason Zeigler/Chalk Hill, PA 16.257
26. 157-Mike Marlar/Winfield, TN 16.357
27. 1-Jeff Babcock/Wayne, OH 16.364
28. 57J-Bub McCool/Vicksburg, MS 16.409
29. 1V-Vic Hill/Morristown, TN 16.52
30. 101-Casey Roberts/Toccoa, GA 16.592
31. 17-Tim Allen/Kannapolis, NC 16.599
32. 31-Bryan Force/Indiana, PA 16.645
33. 37-Brian Tavenner/Winchester, VA 16.705
34. 93-Pancho Lawler/Glenville, PA 16.785
35. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 16.864
36. 618-Kevin Wilson/Stoneville, NC 17.061
37. 33-Don Gordon/Chatham, ONT 17.072
Group ‘B’
1. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 15.484
2. 21-Chris Brown/Spring, TX 15.71
3. 91-Billy Decker/Unadilla, NY 15.725
4. 28-Dennis Erb Jr./Carpentersville, IL 15.739
5. 11-Tyler Reddick/DuQuoin, IL 15.776
6. 71-Don O’Neal/Martinsville, IN 15.809
7. 1M-Jeremy Miller/Littlestown, PA 15.819
8. 6-Steve Shaver/Vienna, WV 15.896
9. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 15.907
10. 00H-Chuck Harper/Beverly, WV 15.952
11. 14M-Morgan Bagley/Longview, TX 15.953
12. 18c-Chase Junghans/Manhattan, KS 15.972
13. 44-Earl Pearson Jr./Jacksonville, FL 16.036
14. 11-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 16.041
15. 87-Walker Arthur/Forest, VA 16.043
16. 20-Duane Chamberlain/Richmond, IN 16.052
17. J4-John Garvin/Sarver, PA 16.09
18. 71R-Rod Conley/Wheelersburg, OH 16.091
19. 5-Eric Jacobsen/Sea Cliff Beach, CA 16.107
20. 91-J.T. Spence/Winchester, VA 16.142
21. 17M-Dale McDowell/Chickamauga, GA 16.188
22. 22-Gregg Satterlee/Rochester Mills, PA 16.201
23. 1V-Will Vaught/Crane, MO 16.202
24. 0-Dale Hollidge/Mechanicsville, MD 16.289
25. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 16.356
26. 16-Matt Cochran/Williamsport, PA 16.372
27. 25-Jason Feger/Bloomington, IL 16.408
28. 32-Coleby Frye/Dover, PA 16.431
29. F5-B.J. Robinson/Haughton, LA 16.594
30. 88-Andrew Reaume/Blenheim, ONT 16.99
31. 07-Brian Ledbetter/Dallas, NC 16.996
32. 19H-Kyle Hardy/Stephens City, VA 17.014
33. KB-Kerry King/Delmar, DE 17.346
34. 44s-James O’Hara/Covington, PA 19.039
35. 1K-Devin Moran/Dresden, OH N/T
36. 116-Randy Weaver/Crossville, TN N/T
37. 5-Glenn Elliott/Finksburg, MD N/T
Round 2 Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results For Sat., Nov. 9 Heat Races (Position/Driver/Best Lap):
Group ‘A’
1. Shane Clanton 15.619
2. Josh Richards 15.778
3. Tyler Reddick 15.792
4. Darrell Lanigan 15.813
5. Scott Bloomquist 15.817
6. Chad Hollenbeck 15.826
7. Jimmy Owens 15.834
8. Steve Francis 15.898
9. Duane Chamberlain 15.914
10. Billy Decker 15.93
11. Eric Wells 15.981
12. Pancho Lawler 16.01
13. Rod Conley 16.05
14. J.T. Spence 16.068
15. Tim McCreadie 16.073
16. Will Vaught 16.075
17. Mike Benedum 16.104
18. Casey Roberts 16.106
19. Chris Ferguson 16.132
20. Earl Pearson Jr. 16.144
21. Ryan Gustin 16.177
22. Chris Madden 16.187
23. Chuck Harper 16.207
24. Kenny Moreland 16.251
25. Chase Junghans 16.253
26. Jason Feger 16.28
27. Jeff Babcock 16.301
28. Dale Hollidge 16.392
29. Vic Hill 16.421
30. Dale McDowell 16.436
31. Kyle Hardy 16.509
32. Brian Tavenner 16.635
33. Don Gordon 17.087
34. James O’Hara 17.442
35. Kevin Wilson 17.857
36. Eric Jacobsen N/T
37. Tim Allen N/T
Group ‘B’
1. Billy Moyer 15.304
2. John Blankenship 15.469
3. Jeremy Miller 15.595
4. Billy Ogle Jr. 15.672
5. Gregg Satterlee 15.729
6. Steve Shaver 15.751
7. Dan Stone 15.759
8. Mike Marlar 15.862
9. Bub McCool 15.882
10. Morgan Bagley 15.884
11. Clint Smith 15.959
12. Jonathan Davenport 16.027
13. Rick Eckert 16.056
14. Dennis ‘Rambo’ Franklin 16.071
15. Bobby Pierce 16.108
16. Don O’Neal 16.144
17. Coleby Frye 16.156
18. Chris Brown 16.167
19. Dennis Erb Jr. 16.168
20. B.J. Robinson 16.191
21. Austin Hubbard 16.204
22. Tim Fuller 16.226
23. Chub Frank 16.246
24. Devin Moran 16.275
25. Walker Arthur 16.348
26. Andrew Reaume 16.363
27. Mason Zeigler 16.376
28. Brandon Sheppard 16.38
29. Glenn Elliott 16.471
30. Ricky Elliott 16.546
31. Matt Cochran 16.547
32. Bryan Force 16.645
33. Jared Landers 16.728
34. John Garvin 16.77
35. Kerry King 17.233
36. Brian Ledbetter 17.367
37. Randy Weaver N/T
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.