National | Karnac Racing News

U.S. District Court Dismisses Case of Suspended Dirt Late Model Dream Drivers

Drivers Can Return to Competition with Payment of Fines and Reinstatement of Suspended DIRTcar Membership

CONCORD, N.C. – Oct. 18, 2016 – U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino today issued a stipulation of dismissal in the case of plaintiffs Scott Bloomquist, Gregg Satterlee, Jimmy Owens, and Ricky Thornton vs World Racing Group and subsidiary DIRTcar Racing, Eldora Speedway, and its owner Tony Stewart regarding suspension following tire analysis after Eldora Speedway’s Dirt Late Model Dream.

Drivers will be allowed to return to competition with payment of the fine and fees imposed, following a request for reinstatement of their suspended DIRTcar membership.

“We’re happy this is over,” said DIRTcar Racing COO Tom Deery. “It is a waste of resources that should have been invested in the sport rather than damaging it and polarizing fans.” (more…)

By Scott|2017-06-05T21:14:14-04:00October 19th, 2016|Front Page News, National, World of Outlaws|Comments Off

SHEPPARD SENSATIONAL IN RHINO AG DIRT TRACK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

2016news_10-15 PORTSMOUTH, OH (October 15, 2016) – Brandon Sheppard charged from the 21st starting position to win his second career Dirt Track World Championship Race at Portsmouth Raceway Park on Saturday night. Sheppard earned a career-best $100,000 as he drove the Eric Brock-owned Best Performance Motorsports Team/Rocket Chassis to the victory.

Sheppard was third different leader of the event – taking over the top spot from Josh Richards on lap 72. Richards forged ahead again on lap 73 before Sheppard cleared Richards for good on lap 77, and never looked back in the final Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event of the season. Earl Pearson Jr. in the Dunn-Benson Ford/Lucas Oil Racing TV/Longhorn charged to second at the finish ahead of Richards, Gregg Satterlee, and Darrell Lanigan.

The 2016 LOLMDS National Champion, Scott Bloomquist, led the first 45 laps of the race until Richards passed him for the lead. Bloomquist, who came into the event seeking his third straight DTWC win at Portsmouth, fell to second and then six laps later yielded the spot to Sheppard.

Richards appeared to be pulling away from the field as he opened up his lead, but Sheppard slowly started to track down Richards and with 23 laps to go he had taken the lead away from him for the final time. (more…)

By Scott|2017-06-05T21:12:30-04:00October 19th, 2016|Front Page News, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, National|Comments Off

RICHARDS ROARS TO PITTSBURGHER 100 VICTORY

2016news_10-8 IMPERIAL, PA (October 8, 2016) – Josh Richards roared to the lead on lap 25 and never looked back – winning his second career Pittsburgher 100. The victory for his team was worth $20,000 on Saturday night at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. Richards took over the point from the early pace-setter and new track record holder, Michael Norris.

Richards’ Mark Richards Racing/Valvoline/Seubert Calf Ranches/Durham Race Engines/Rocket Chassis house-car captured his sixth Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the season over Scott Bloomquist, Gregg Satterlee, Don O’Neal, and Jimmy Owens.

Norris was making his first career LOLMDS start and looked strong early on in the race, but Richards went by him on lap 25. O’Neal then got by Norris for second as Bloomquist – who started tenth – began to make his way to the front. (more…)

By Scott|2017-06-05T21:12:31-04:00October 11th, 2016|Front Page News, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, National|Comments Off

BLOOMQUIST TAKES 15TH LUCAS OIL WIN OF THE SEASON AT ROME

2016news_10-2 ROME, GA (October 2, 2016) Scott Bloomquist raced to his 15th Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the 2016 season on Sunday night at Rome International Speedway. Bloomquist led every lap, but had to fight off a late-race challenge from Don O’Neal to pick up the win in the Lucas Oil Rome Showdown – piloting his Crop Production Services/Mark Martin Automotive/Reece Monument Company/Sweet-Bloomquist Chassis.

Trailing Bloomquist and O’Neal to the checkers were Brandon Overton, Chris Madden, and Jonathan Davenport.

“The car was awesome tonight! It [the car] was as smooth as could be and our Andy Durham engine ran great. When we got into traffic we had a few issues. The car wouldn’t get off the corners like I wanted it to. I never saw O’Neal at the end. I just tried to stay focused the best I could,” said Bloomquist. (more…)

By Scott|2017-06-05T21:12:31-04:00October 3rd, 2016|Front Page News, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, National|Comments Off

McDowell Wins First Lucas Oil Dixie Shootout Since 2001

2016news_10-1 WOODSTOCK, GA (October 1, 2016) – Dale McDowell won his first Lucas Oil Dixie Shootout since 2001 on Saturday Night at Dixie Speedway. McDowell took the lead on lap 43 from race-long leader Tim McCreadie and then sprinted away for the win, his third in the annual event.

McCreadie who led the first 42 laps of the race came home second in the Sweeteners Plus/Longhorn – followed by 6-time Dixie Shootout winner and current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points leader, Scott Bloomquist in his Crop Production Services/Reece Monument Company/Sweet-Bloomquist entry. Completing the top five were Brandon Overton and Darrell Lanigan.

“First off I have to thank my brother, Shane, he does all the work. Hats off to he and the guys at the shop. Thanks also to Scott [Bloomquist], we have been base-lining off of them back-and-forth, it’s been pretty good,” said the winner in Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the second time this season.

“Our mom passed away five years ago yesterday. This was one of her favorite places to come to. It’s awfully hard to stay in the lead at this track; he [McCreadie] was searching and searching to try to get around those lapped cars. Fortunately, we had that caution and it took us a couple of laps to get around him. I drove it in to turn one pretty hard a couple of times and it finally stuck and we were able to get by him.” (more…)

By Scott|2017-06-05T21:12:31-04:00October 2nd, 2016|Front Page News, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, National|Comments Off

Stewart Takes Night One at Gold Cup

Bixby, Oklahoma’s Shane Stewart Kicks Off Gold Cup Race of Champions in Victory Lane at Silver Dollar Speedway

(by Gary Thomas) CHICO, Calif. — Sept. 9, 2016 — Putting a recent string of bad luck behind him Bixby, Oklahoma’s Shane Stewart proceeded to score an emphatic victory on opening night of the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series sanctioned Gold Cup Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway on Friday.

Stewart has shown immense speed during the Western Swing, and it paid off with his sixth victory of the 2016 season aboard the Larson Marks Racing No. 2 machine. It was also the second straight season he opened the Gold Cup Race of Champions in victory lane.

“This has always been one of those events that I’ve wanted to win, so hopefully we can come back tomorrow and do the same,” Stewart commented following the race. “We’ve had some tough luck, but have gained a lot of speed lately, which has given me a lot of confidence. These races are so hard to win with the competition that it’s always a big deal when you can do it. My guys have worked really hard so I can’t thank them enough. We got through traffic pretty well in the main event, and the cautions fell our way. We’ll now try and do it again tomorrow.” (more…)

By Scott|2017-06-05T21:14:15-04:00September 12th, 2016|Front Page News, National, Sprint Cars|Comments Off

Super Matt is The Man To Beat

Clinches first Le RPM Speedway victory

lerpm_sheppard (By Mandee Pauch) ST. MARCEL DE RICHELIEU, QUE. – Sept. 9, 2016 – Matt Sheppard is no stranger to victory lane as he captured his third Super DIRTcar Series win in a row and his ninth overall Friday night at Le RPM Speedway.

“This car has been so good lately. We just unloaded it and it’s been fast all night. We set fast time, won the heat and drew a good starting spot for the feature. When you have a car that good it makes your life pretty easy,” Sheppard said.

Keith Flach and Sheppard led the 30-car field to the green. It didn’t take long for Sheppard to jump to an early lead as he pulled away from the field on the initial start.

It didn’t take long for Sheppard to catch lapped traffic on the ¼ mile as he caught the back end of the field on lap nine as he showed a comfortable lead over Flach.

A lap 21 restart saw Flach drive around the outside of Sheppard to take the top spot back.

Heavy lapped traffic got in the way of Flach as Sheppard took advantage and retook the lead off the bottom on lap 37. (more…)

By Scott|2017-06-05T21:14:15-04:00September 12th, 2016|Front Page News, National, Super DirtCar Series|Comments Off

David Gravel Gets Out the Broom & Sweeps the Outlaw Energy Showdown at Skagit Speedway

(by Gary Thomas) ALGER, Wash. — Sept. 3, 2016 — After winning on opening night at the Skagit Speedway, Watertown, Connecticut’s David Gravel returned on Saturday with confidence and raced to an entertaining late-race victory for the second evening in a row with the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series.

The opener of the Outlaw Energy Showdown on Friday had seen Gravel claim a final corner thriller, and on Saturday he was able to take advantage of heavy lapped traffic with just six-laps remaining, scooping up the lead that he would never relinquish. It marked the ninth triumph of the season for the CJB Motorsports/ Big Game Tree Stands No. 5 team. The 35-lap feature went green for 33-laps and showcased some outstanding racing in traffic on the well prepared Skagit oval.

“The track was awesome tonight, I don’t think you can ask for anything better,” Gravel commented. “It’s been such a great year for us that it almost feels unreal. I want to thank the whole CJB Motorsports team for giving me the opportunity to drive the 5 car this season. Tonight I could put this thing anywhere on the track and that’s a testament to Barry Jackson and my team. The cushion was the place to be, but to win these races you have to be capable of moving around. Luckily we had a break when Joey (Saldana) got caught up in traffic and were able to take advantage it.” (more…)

By Scott|2017-06-05T21:14:15-04:00September 4th, 2016|Front Page News, National, Sprint Cars|Comments Off

Out of this World: Mars wins at Lernerville’s Working Man

Bagley Records his Second Top Five Performance of 2016

090316_WOOLM_WM SARVER, Pa. – Sept. 3, 2016 – Jimmy Mars won the Working Man finale presented by GottaRace.com Saturday night at Lernerville Speedway. Mars started third in the 75-lap Craftsman Club® Feature, ultimately earning the $20,000 purse for the weekend.

“It’s awesome to be back at Lernerville,” Mars said. “We don’t get to race as much as we want to right now. Things are going good, and I have so many people to thank. We have a lot of great people behind us. Everything worked great.”

Mars’ last World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series victory came on July 2014. In a seven-caution spectacular, Mars fought a stout group of series regulars. Three-time Series Champion Josh Richards, who was seeking his record-breaking 18^th win of the season, swiftly led the 24-car field in the beginning laps of the race from fourth.

Richards led 64 laps of the main event, while the rest of the top five relentlessly battled for a chance to take on the red-hot driver out of Shinnston, W.V. Early on, it was Mars. Mars maintained a half-second behind Richards for the first eight laps. Thereon, he funneled back to as far as fourth place.

Mars’ greatest battle was between Defending Series Champion Shane Clanton. Clanton, who overtook Mars’ No. 28M Deppe Enterprises/ S&S Transport, Inc. MB Customs car on lap 67, began to trade third and fourth position with Mars. The Menomonie, Wisc. native solidified third on a lap 45 restart. Thereon, he looked toward 2011 Series Champion Rick Eckert for second place. Eckert earned one of the two $2,500-to-win qualifying features earlier in the weekend. (more…)

By Scott|2017-06-05T21:14:15-04:00September 4th, 2016|Front Page News, Late Models, National|Comments Off

Gravel Steals Skagit

David Gravel Steals One from Logan Shuchart on the Final Corner to Claim Opening Night of the Outlaw Energy Showdown at Skagit Speedway on Friday

(By Gary Thomas) ALGER, Wash. — Sept. 2, 2016 — The World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series return to the Pacific Northwest on Friday culminated in thrilling fashion, with David Gravel carving his way under Logan Schuchart in traffic to claim a final corner victory on opening night at the Skagit Speedway.

Gravel had stalked Schuchart’s bumper over the final half of the race, before finally making the outstanding move coming down for the checkered flag, winning by just 0.249 seconds. It was a great way for the Watertown, Connecticut native to open the Western Swing, as he is currently locked in a tight three-way battle for the runner spot in the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series standings.

“That sure was an exciting finish tonight so I hope all the fans enjoyed that one,” commented the driver the CJB Motorsports/ Big Game Tree Stands No. 5 machine. “I got a run and saw the opening, so I just went for it. I’m pretty pumped we were able to finally park it for BC tonight. I can’t Barry Jackson, my entire crew and all our sponsors enough for working so hard and giving me great cars. I haven’t competed here at Skagit Speedway a whole lot, but it hasn’t seemed to be my best track. Tonight the third time was the charm I guess. If we get a similar track tomorrow that keeps our confidence up and I think we’ll have a good shot to be back up here.” (more…)

By Scott|2017-06-05T21:14:15-04:00September 4th, 2016|Front Page News, National, Sprint Cars|Comments Off