KNOXVILLE, IA (September 29, 2012) – Steve Francis of Ashland, KY grabbed the lead from Brady Smith of Solon Springs, WI on lap 71 and cruised on to win the 9th Annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals on Saturday Night at Knoxville, IA. Before the biggest crowd in the history of the event, Francis and team owner Barry Wright took home $40,000 for the victory in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned event.
The 100-lap event saw five different drivers taking their place at the front of the pack, but Francis, who started fifth, stormed by Smith in traffic and battled even more traffic the rest of the way to pick up the victory for the series regular. Smith finished second followed by Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA; Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN; and Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN.
“This is the best track for Late Models in the country, no disrespect to any other track, but this is just a phenomenal place to race, the payoff is awesome, you can start anywhere here and win, I don’t know what else to say, this is fantastic,” said the 45-year-old who added the win at Knoxville to his $40,000 victory in the COMP Cams Topless 10 at Batesville (AR) Motor Speedway back in August.
Francis, who finished third on Thursday Night and second in Friday Night’s preliminary, said the crew tweaked the car to get it to victory lane Saturday night. “This is my first win here, someone can be off by just a tick and run tenth, we made the right decisions these few days and it paid off, I had a heck of a battle with Birky there for a while and then I caught Brady in traffic. I had to watch it there at the end in traffic, but the car handled so well, I have to thank Barry and Lance Wright, this team just gets along so well.”
“I have to thank Valvoline, without them this wouldn’t be possible, Nichols Plumbing, JRI Shocks, AES Racing, Mathis Farms, VP Fuels and of course Barry Wright Race Cars and Clements Racing Engines.”
Completing the top ten were Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN; 29th starting, Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN; Billy Moyer of Batesville, AR; 28th starting, Chad Simpson of Mt. Vernon, IA; and Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Saturday Night, September 29th, 2012
9th Annual Lucas Oil “Late Model Knoxville Nationals”
Knoxville Raceway – Knoxville, IA
JRi Shocks D-Main (12 Laps – Top 7 Transfer to C-Main): Steve Lance, John Mason, Darrel DeFrance, Skip Frey, Chad Chenoweth, Curt Schroeder, Alonzo Grosse, Junior Coover, Mike Wallace, Scott Lewis, Jay Johnson-DNS, Walker Arthur-DNS, Nick Marolf-DNS, Jill George-DNS, Paul Glendenning-DNS, Dustin Walker-DNS
PAC Racing Springs C-Main (15 Laps – Top 4 Transfer to B-Main): Chris Simpson, Tyler Bruening, Tim Lance, Ryan Unzicker, Rob Moss, Mike Spatola, Andy Eckrich, Chase Junghaus, Jeff Larson, Jake Meier, Ray Moore, Rick Wendling, Brian Diede, John Duty, John Mason, Alonzo Grosse, Chad Chenoweth, Curt Schroeder, Kevin Sather, Charlie McKenna, Jason Utter, Darrel DeFrance, Skip Frey, Steve Lance
JRi Shocks B-Main (20 Laps – Top 6 Transfer to Feature): Dennis Erb, Jr., Donnie Moran, Tim McCreadie, Chad Simpson, Don O’Neal, Austin Hubbard, Eric Wells, Jared Landers, John Blankenship, Chris Simpson, Matt Furman, Tim Lance, Bobby Pierce, Tim Isenberg, Ray Guss, Jr., Billy Moyer, Jr., Rich Bell, Mike Fryer, Tyler Bruening, Ryan Unzicker, Jesse Stovall, Jason Rauen, JR Hotovy, Dave Eckrich
Feature Finish – 100 Laps
| FINISH | START | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN |
| 1 | 5 | 15 | Steve Francis | Ashland, KY |
| 2 | 4 | 2 | Brady Smith | Solon Springs, WI |
| 3 | 7 | 15b | Brian Birkhofer | Muscatine, IA |
| 4 | 1 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | Mooresburg, TN |
| 5 | 2 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN |
| 6 | 6 | 5b | Mike Marlar | Winfield, TN |
| 7 | 29 | 71 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN |
| 8 | 9 | 21 | Billy Moyer | Batesville, AR |
| 9 | 28 | 25c | Chad Simpson | Mt. Vernon, IA |
| 10 | 15 | 15d | Jonathan Davenport | Blairsville, GA |
| 11 | 21 | 1v | Will Vaught | Crane, MO |
| 12 | 25 | 28e | Dennis Erb, Jr. | Carpentersville, IL |
| 13 | 31 | 23 | John Blankenship | Williamson, WV |
| 14 | 19 | 2a | John Anderson | Omaha, NE |
| 15 | 10 | 7R | Kent Robinson | Bloomington, IN |
| 16 | 23 | 57J | Bub McCool | Vicksburg, MS |
| 17 | 26 | 99 | Donnie Moran | Dresden, OH |
| 18 | 11 | 11T | Tyler Reddick | Corning, CA |
| 19 | 32 | 5 | Jared Landers | Batesville, AR |
| 20 | 30 | 11h | Austin Hubbard | Seaford, DE |
| 21 | 20 | 99JR | Frank Heckenast, Jr. | Frankfort, IL |
| 22 | 27 | 39 | Tim McCreadie | Watertown, NY |
| 23 | 18 | 25F | Jason Feger | Bloomington, IL |
| 24 | 14 | 75 | Terry Phillips | Springfield, MO |
| 25 | 12 | 14m | Morgan Bagley | Tyler, TX |
| 26 | 8 | 18 | Shannon Babb | Mowequa, IL |
| 27 | 33 | 18e | Eric Wells | Hazard, KY |
| 28 | 22 | 44 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | Jacksonville, FL |
| 29 | 16 | 28m | Jimmy Mars | Menomonie, WI |
| 30 | 13 | 50 | Denny Eckrich | Tiffan, IA |
| 31 | 24 | 42c | Terry Casey | New London, WI |
| 32 | 17 | 15R | Mark Burgtorf | Quincy, IL |
| 33 | 3 | 3s | Brian Shirley | Chatham, IL |
Race Statistics
Entrants: 80
Lap Leaders: Jimmy Owens (Laps 1 – 2); Scott Bloomquist (Laps 3 – 12); Brady Smith (13 – 25); Brian Birkhofer (Lap 26); Brady Smith (Laps 27 – 70)Steve Francis (71 – 100)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: John Blankenship, Jared Landers
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisional: Eric Wells
Red Buck Fast Time Provisional: none
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Don O’Neal (Started 29th; Finished 7th; Advanced 22 positions)
Allstar Performer of the Race: Steve Francis
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Jimmy Owens
ASi Racewear Challenge Finisher: Steve Francis
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Jonathan Davenport
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Vic Hill Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Barry Wright Race Cars
Sweet Mfg Crew Chief of the Race: Lance Wright (Steve Francis)
Time of Race: 57 minutes 01 seconds
Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:
| POS | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN | POINTS |
| 1 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN | 7440 |
| 2 | 71 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | 7065 |
| 3 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | Mooresburg, TN | 7030 |
| 4 | 15 | Steve Francis | Ashland, KY | 6865 |
| 5 | 23 | John Blankenship | Williamson, WV | 6410 |
| 6 | 44 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | Jacksonville, FL | 6310 |
| 7 | 15d | Jonathan Davenport | Blairsville, GA | 6070 |
| 8 | 11T | Tyler Reddick | Corning, CA | 5935 |
| 9 | 5 | Jared Landers | Batesville, AR | 5870 |
| 10 | 18e | Eric Wells | Hazard, KY | 5755 |