Bloomquist Takes Spring Shootout at LaSalle Speedway

LaSalle, IL (May 18, 2017) – Defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion, Scott Bloomquist inherited the lead with five laps to go when race leader Josh Richards spun in turn number two, bringing out a caution flag. Bloomquist then led the rest of the way for his 81st career LOLMDS victory.

Bloomquist started on the outside front row and led the first 35 laps of the race until Richards worked his way around him in heavy lapped traffic. Richards began pulling away from the pack when he hooked the berm in turn number two causing him to spin sideways in front of the field. The caution came out and Richards had to restart on the tail end of the lead lap.

Bloomquist then held off pole sitter Mike Marlar for his fourth series win of the season. Marlar came home in second, with Dennis Erb Jr. charging from the 10th starting spot to finish third. Don O’Neal and Tim McCreadie completed the top-five.

“I would like to thank my crew; they have worked their butts off the last few weeks building a new car after we wrecked one in Ohio. The top line was fast tonight, but it was also treacherous in spots. A little below that there were some slick spots and I think maybe that’s what caused him [Richards] to spin.” (more…)

By |2017-06-05T21:12:29-04:00May 19th, 2017|Front Page News, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, National|Comments Off on Bloomquist Takes Spring Shootout at LaSalle Speedway

Sweet Works the Bottom of the Bowl for the Win

Fans & Superstars Honor the Legendary Lanny Edwards

MESQUITE, TX — April 15, 2017 — For the second night in a row, Brad Sweet worked his Kasey Kahne Racing 49 machine along the bottom of the high-banked half-mile oval at Devil’s Bowl Speedway, this time sticking it out for the win. With only five laps to go, Sweet stole the win from David Gravel, who led all previous laps but was having some trouble getting his CJB Motorsports No. 5 out of lap traffic. 

“Awesome race there with David [Gravel],” said Sweet. “Lap traffic was just crucial. My car seemed like it was a little bit better. We were just right on him. Once I got a little clean air I was able to start picking off those lap cars and it felt good.”

Gravel had been working on the bottom all race, but he got caught behind Shane Stewart and met his demise when he tried to go high to pass him. 

“I cleared a lot of lap cars really good, and then I got to Shane and I just could’t do anything with him,” said Gravel. “He was running the bottom in 3 and 4. I tried to pass him on the outside, and obviously the bottom of three and four was the best lane to be in. That’s where Brad was. That’s just the advantage sometimes of sitting back there watching, seeing what happens.” (more…)

By |2017-06-05T21:14:14-04:00April 18th, 2017|Front Page News, National, Sprint Cars|Comments Off on Sweet Works the Bottom of the Bowl for the Win

The Ragin’ Cajun Scores His First Devil’s Bowl Win

Second Win of the Season, Seventh Career Series Win

MESQUITE, TX — April 15, 2017 — Jason “the Ragin’ Cajun” Johnson dominated night one of the Texas Outlaw Nationals at Devil’s Bowl Speedway, leading all 25 laps of the evening’s Feature after winning the Craftsman Club Dash from the pole and running fastest in qualifying.

“It’s one of these nights you always imagine and you dream of,” said Johnson from Victory Lane. “We set quicktime, won a heat, won a dash, won a feature. That’s a first for me, so hats off to this crew: Jeff, Jacob, Phillip. They’re working their tails off, and it’s a lot of fun to drive right now,” he continued with a chuckle. “It feels great to be back in Victory Lane.”

Johnson’s second win of the season leaves him fourth in points standings and finally puts a little distance between him and Daryn Pittman. It’s also his seventh career series victory, the first one having been at Texas Motor Speedway fourteen years ago.  (more…)

By |2017-06-05T21:14:14-04:00April 18th, 2017|Front Page News, National, Sprint Cars|Comments Off on The Ragin’ Cajun Scores His First Devil’s Bowl Win

David Gravel Scores His Fourth Season Win at Gator Motorplex

Packed House Cheers on Haudenschild after Three Collisions

WILLIS, TX — April 14, 2017 — “It is official. David Gravel has cleared the scales in the CJB Motorsports No. 5, headed to Victory Lane!” cried Johnny Gibson over the P.A. at Gator Motorplex Thursday night. This was win number four of the season in the No. 5 machine, and a twentieth career win for Gravel.

He worked hard for this one, starting in ten and working the high side. While Jason Sides started on the pole, with NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne in second, it was Paul McMahan in the lead when Gravel finally took it in lap 30 — and he took it from below.

“I started tenth and was in second before I knew it,” said the inaugural Gator Bash champ. “I knew it was a 40-lap race. I tried to be really patient with Paul [McMahan]. The curve got really really really tricky as the race went on, and I almost bit the wall a couple of times.” (more…)

By |2017-06-05T21:14:14-04:00April 18th, 2017|Front Page News, National, Sprint Cars|Comments Off on David Gravel Scores His Fourth Season Win at Gator Motorplex

MCCREADIE WINS BAD BOY 98 AT BATESVILLE MOTOR SPEEDWAY

LOCUST GROVE, AR (April 8, 2017) – Tim McCreadie held off Scott Bloomquist to win the Bad Boy 98 on Saturday night at the Batesville Motor Speedway. McCreadie and his Sweeteners Plus, Pro Power Racing Engines, Longhorn Chassis earned $20,000 for the victory in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and COMP Cams Super Dirt Series co-sanctioned event.

McCreadie bolted to the lead at the start of the 98-lap main event and held off several challengers for his second LOLMDS win of the season. Bloomquist started ninth and finished second, followed by 14th starting Shannon Babb in the Donley Trucking, Petroff Towing, Rocket Chassis. Josh Richards’ Best Performance Motorsports, Dargie Racing Engines, Rocket Chassis came home in fourth. Don O’Neal’s Clint Bowyer Racing, Peak Antifreeze and Coolant, Club 29 completed the top five.

“I want to thank the fans for coming out tonight. I hope we put on a good show for them. It’s not the Topless 100, but it feels just as good to win this race. I am a little speed sensitive. The car felt good in clean air. I just didn’t know where to be. I am glad I had Phillip [Snellen], my crew chief down there helping me out by giving me signals. I got lost out there a little bit just running the top. Then I went back to the middle,” said McCreadie in Lucas Oil Victory Lane. (more…)

By |2017-06-05T21:12:29-04:00April 9th, 2017|Front Page News, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, National|Comments Off on MCCREADIE WINS BAD BOY 98 AT BATESVILLE MOTOR SPEEDWAY

O’NEAL CHARGES AHEAD FOR DUCK RIVER VICTORY

WHEEL, TN (April 2, 2017) – The former Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion, Don O’Neal outdueled defending National Champion, Scott Bloomquist on Sunday night at Duck River Raceway. O’Neal took the lead from Bloomquist for the final time on lap 38 to claim his first LOLMDS win of the season.

Trailing the two former series champions to the checkers was young-gun Tanner English – who recorded his best career LOLMDS finish. Brandon Overton came home fourth, followed by Dennis Erb Jr. rounding out the top five.

O’Neal made a clean sweep of the night – setting the overall fast time, winning his heat race, and claiming the 50-lap main event for his first series victory since April 2015. The 52-year-old, piloted a two-race old, Club 29 Race Car powered by a Clements Racing Engine for Clint Bowyer Racing.

In Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the forty-second time in his career, O’Neal was estatic with his hard-fought victory. “The crew has worked so hard on this car, people don’t realize how much work goes into these cars. Anthony Burroughs and “Big Snack,” they don’t get any days off it seems. Last night at East Alabama was the first time we ran this car. I never thought he [Bloomquist] would get around me on the outside and then he went to the bottom. When he did that I thought, I could do that as well and it worked out.”

“I have had so much bad luck recently, it feels great to get back to victory lane again. Thanks to Peak Antifreeze and Coolant, Cometic Gasket, Club 29 Race Cars, Crawford Outdoor, Clint Bowyer Autoplex, Traeger Wood Fire Grills, Penske Racing Shocks and Sunoco Race Fuels.” (more…)

By |2017-06-05T21:12:29-04:00April 3rd, 2017|Front Page News, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, National|Comments Off on O’NEAL CHARGES AHEAD FOR DUCK RIVER VICTORY

Schuchart Charges from Deep at Keller for First Victory of 2017

HANFORD, CA – April 1, 2017 –Shark Racing’s Logan Schuchart started the 35-lap Kings Outlaw Showdown from the 19th position at Keller Auto Speedway — the KSE Hard Charger award winner picked his way to the front of the 26-car field. Late in the race, Schuchart found the bottom groove of the 3/8th-mile oval to work his way past eventual runner-up, Ian Madsen on the final lap to score his first victory of the 2017 season.

After starting the season having overcome adversity when the teams tow-vehicle broke down on the way to the opening World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series event, the team relied on support from the racing industry to assist with getting them to each Outlaw event.

“This adds onto the excitement and the accomplishments. It doesn’t matter if you start from the pole or wherever, if you can win an Outlaws race, these things are really tough [to win] no matter where you go. I’m just happy for my team to be able to get a win and it just makes it that much more exciting to start from 19th. We just really need to thank [Ryan] Smith family for letting us use their toter-home to come all the way [to California] and everyone that donated to the GoFundMe, you never want to be in that position but we were in a tough spot and we wouldn’t be out here if it wasn’t for those people.” (more…)

By |2017-06-05T21:14:14-04:00April 3rd, 2017|Front Page News, National, Sprint Cars|Comments Off on Schuchart Charges from Deep at Keller for First Victory of 2017

Gravel Leads Green-to-Checkers for Third Win of 2017 Season

PERRIS, CA – April 1, 2017 – David Gravel was the driver to beat at Perris Auto Speedway for the SoCal Showdown bringing an end the spring California swing. As the track rubbered-up, Gravel was in the ideal position, out front. Running mainly the high-lane around the half-mile oval, Gravel was able to pull away on multiple restarts to take home his third World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series victory of the season.

“I’m happy I got the jump on the restarts and got the lead to manipulate the race for yourself,” said the driver of the No. 5 CJB Motorsports GoMuddy.com machine. “Just happy to get another win, this is definitely huge, this the most wins I’ve had this early in the season. Not that it takes the pressure off but you just want to keep it rolling.”

A top-five qualifying effort, a heat-race win, and a second in the Craftsman Club Dash, allowed for Gravel to start on the front row of tonight’s 30-lap Feature. The driver that started the SoCal Showdown from the pole was California-native, Brad Sweet. With Gravel checking-out on the initial start, Sweet had his hands full fending off the rookie-of-the-year contender, Sheldon Haudenschild for the second position. A red flag was displayed on Lap 10 when the No. 2x of Parker Price-Miller went for a tumble in Turn 2; Price-Miller walked away unscathed. (more…)

By |2017-06-05T21:14:14-04:00April 3rd, 2017|Front Page News, National, Sprint Cars|Comments Off on Gravel Leads Green-to-Checkers for Third Win of 2017 Season

BLOOMQUIST HANDLES THE FIELD AT EAST ALABAMA

PHENIX CITY, AL (April 1, 2017) – Scott Bloomquist made the win look easy on Saturday night as he led all 60 laps at East Alabama Motor Speedway. The win was also his second Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the season. The 53-year-old reigning series champion took the lead at the start of the main event and never looked back as he dominated the competition.

Jimmy Owens’ Ramirez Motorsports, E3 Spark Plugs, Rocket made a late-race charge while Bloomquist was negotiating heavy lapped traffic, but fell short at the checkers. Earl Pearson Jr., in his Dunn-Benson Ford, Lucas Oil Racing TV, Longhorn Chassis, claimed third. Don O’Neal brought his brand-new Club 29 car home in fourth after starting 13th in the Clint Bowyer Racing entry. Tim McCreadie rounded out the top five finishers.

“It’s been so long since we’ve won a race this year, maybe they felt sorry for me,” joked Bloomquist after receiving several thunderous ovations from the huge crowd on hand. I think they did the right thing in watering the track before we went out. Everbody was going to go out there with a hard-right rear tire. I know some changed tires after they watered the track.”

“The car worked really well in the heat race. The car was a little tight at the start of the feature, but it really was working freely for most of the race. Every time you come here, there’s something a little different with the track surface.”

“The track was about as slippery as I have seen it. The Penske Shocks we had on worked perfectly. Thanks to Crop Production Services, Mark Martin, Mike Reece, Sweet Manufacturing, Base, Horton Coal, Sorbera Chiropractic, Petroff Towing, and Crossfit by Overton.” (more…)

By |2017-06-05T21:12:29-04:00April 2nd, 2017|Front Page News, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, National|Comments Off on BLOOMQUIST HANDLES THE FIELD AT EAST ALABAMA

Pearson Powers to Lucas Oil Victory at Boyd’s Speedway

RINGGOLD, GA (March 31, 2017) – Earl Pearson Jr. led all 50 laps on Friday night at Boyd’s Speedway to win his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series race since May of 2015. The results will show Pearson led all 50 laps but the win never came easy as he had several challengers up front.

Current Lucas Oil point leader, Josh Richards charged from the 14th starting position to finish second in the Best Performance Motorsports, Dargie Racing Engines, Rocket. Jimmy Owens – in the Ramirez Motorsports, E3 Spark Plugs, Rocket – ran in the top three the entire race to finish in the third position. Thirteenth starting Tim McCreadie – in the Sweeteners Plus, Pro Power Racing Engines, Longhorn – finished fourth. Fifteenth place starter Darrell Lanigan – in the I-Racing, Clint Bowyer Racing, Club 29 – completed the top five.

Pearson made his way to Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the 31st time in his career and was elated afterwards, “I saw McIntosh early on, it looked like he could run anywhere on the track. Jimmy [Owens] was good tonight and Josh, [Richards] I know he came from deep in the pack. I was worried about him when he came to the leader board.”

“I just kept my line from the middle to the top. They weren’t going to pass me with the line I was running, except maybe on the bottom. This is a brand-new Longhorn Chassis. Everybody has been working their rear ends off and it’s been a long-time coming to get back to Lucas Oil Victory Lane. I would also like to thank Carlton and Kemp Lamm for giving me the opportunity to drive their car and Dunn-Benson Ford, Lucas Oil Racing TV, MAVTV, Penske Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuel, and Larry Wallace Racing Engines.” (more…)

By |2017-06-05T21:12:29-04:00April 1st, 2017|Front Page News, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, National|Comments Off on Pearson Powers to Lucas Oil Victory at Boyd’s Speedway