RIPLEY, WV (August 31, 2014) – In a tremendous finish between the top two in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship points standings, Don O’Neal held off Jimmy Owens to win the 46th Annual Hillbilly Hundred on Sunday Night at I-77 Raceway Park. O’Neal fought off some tough challenges to claim the $25,000-victory in America’s oldest crown jewel event. The event was also part of the ASi Crown Jewel Cup presented by Dirtondirt.com and awarded valuable points towards the year end $10,000 cash award.

Steve Francis driving the Clint Bowyer Racing team car to O’Neal charged back from the tail to finish third after spinning out early while running second. 12th starting Dennis Erb Jr., finished fourth and Jonathan Davenport rounded out the top five.

“This is a pretty fun and interesting track to race on,” said the winner, who now sits just 25 points behind Owens in the race for the LOLMDS title. “There were so many caution flags out there. I felt like they hurt me because I’d get my rhythm going and then we would have another caution. Jimmy came up there near the end and made it closer than I wanted it to become. It feels good to win such a prestigious race; a lot of great drivers have won this one, and to win this for Clint Bowyer, Barry and Lance Wright, Jeremy Justice, and Tony Trent is a great way to top off the weekend.” (more…)

PORTSMOUTH, OH (August 30, 2014) – Jackie Boggs blasted from third to first on a late restart and went on to win the Pepsi 50 River Days Rumble on Saturday Night at Portsmouth Raceway Park. Scott Bloomquist was in control of the race before a caution with 40 laps complete, setting up a thrilling finish in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned event.

Bloomquist had the dominant car from the start of the event, then over the last ten laps he developed fuel-pressure issues. He gave up the lead to Boggs on lap 43. Boggs brought the huge crowd to its feet with his high-side pass of Bloomquist as he pulled away for his third career LOLMDS victory. Steve Francis finished second for the third consecutive time in LOLMDS competition. Jared Landers finished third, followed by Eddie Carrier Jr., and Bloomquist, who faded to fifth at the finish.

“This car was just a frame on Monday morning, we worked all-week on this new Swartz car and I will tell you, this thing is fast,” said the winner, afterwards. “I think the paint just dried on the car today,” Boggs excitedly said. “We had gone so long without a caution. I was just content to hang on for third. But then the caution came out with ten to go and I thought well maybe we had another chance at Bloomquist.” (more…)

ATTICA, OH (August 29, 2014) – Making his first ever visit to Attica Raceway Park, Scott Bloomquist survived a two-lap dash to the finish for his fifth Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the season. Bloomquist led all 50-laps in his Ole Smoky Moonshine, Lucas Oil Products sponsored Sweet-Bloomquist entry. Bloomquist earned his 51st career LOLMDS victory out dueling Steve Francis, Earl Pearson Jr., Jimmy Owens, and Mason Zeigler to round out the top five.

“This is our first time here; everyone knows our winning percentage at new tracks in my career is pretty good. This is really a nice track. I hoped the fans enjoyed this show,” said the 50-year-old veteran. “The front-stretch had some issues early in the night, but they went out and tried to fix it. I thought I felt a vibration or something going wrong on that last restart. We sure didn’t need that final caution. The car fired great nonetheless and we were able to pull away.”

“We are a little short of help this weekend, but everybody did a great job. I had to groove the tires and do some other things, but overall the car handled so well all night long. We have been so close to winning other races this year; I was determined to win this tonight. I have to thank Ole Smoky Moonshine, Penske Shocks, Hawkeye Trucking, Base Fuels, Lucas Oil Products, and Durham Race Engines.” (more…)

LAWRENCEBURG, IN (August 23, 2014) – Don O’Neal returned to his home-state of Indiana on Saturday Night and won the Whiskey City 50 at Lawrenceburg Speedway. It was O’Neal’s sixth Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the season, and is continues to close the gap on current point leader, Jimmy Owens, who came home sixth.

O’Neal grabbed the lead on lap four from his Clint Bowyer Racing teammate, Steve Francis, and charged to his 39th career LOLMDS victory. Francis finished second followed by pole-sitter, Scott Bloomquist. Steve Casebolt drove by Earl Pearson Jr. on the final lap to take fourth, as Pearson Jr. would round out the top five.

“The car was on a rail tonight, no doubt,” said O’Neal. “I have to thank Lance and Barry Wright, Jeremy Justice, and Tony Trent for all of the hard work they do. Clint’s going to be real happy with this one-two finish here tonight.”   

“We started fifth and the bottom was working real well there early on. I had a few moments there in traffic, but everybody gave each other plenty of room. It’s good to come back here and win, especially after missing last year’s race. I didn’t know how far Steve (Francis) was behind me, I was just concentrating on the traffic ahead.” (more…)

UNION, KY (May 31, 2014) – Jimmy Owens led a Club 29 Race Cars sweep of the top two spots Saturday Night at Florence Speedway. Owens took the lead from Duane Chamberlain just past the half-way mark and went on to win his third career Ralph Latham Memorial Race sanctioned by the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.

Darrell Lanigan, who builds the Club 29 Race Cars out of his shop just a few miles from the race track finished second to Owens followed by Don O'Neal, Scott Bloomquist, and John Blankenship.

"The car was just rolling," said the winner who has now captured three of out the last four LOLMDS events. "I was thankful they went out and re-did the bottom of the race track. Starting seventh, I felt a little bit better at my chances. The fans here always get to see a good show. He (Chamberlain) was running the top and I decided I could run the low line better during the mid-part of the race. Once I got by him, I moved back to the top. Last week we moved to the bottom and it kind of bit us."

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TAZEWELL, TN (May 30, 2014) – In a classic battle between two Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Champions, Jimmy Owens and Scott Bloomquist, Owens emerged victorious over Bloomquist Friday night at Tazewell Speedway.  Owens passed Bloomquist on the 36th lap and then sailed away for his second series win of the season in front of a huge crowd at the Toyota Knoxville 50.

Bloomquist led the first 36 laps of the event until he got trapped behind a lapped car and Owens swept by him on the outside coming off of turn number four.  Bloomquist then had to hold off hard-charging Chris Madden to finish second.  Current series point’s leader, Don O’Neal came home fourth, followed by 2-time track champion, Billy Ogle, Jr.

“The car was just great all night,” said the driver of the Club 29 Chassis owned by Mike Reece. “”The race got off to a rough start; I think it was a little bit slimy down low there in one and two, and when I saw Scott catch the traffic, I figured I might as well go in harder in turns three and four up top. It worked out for us!  It has been a long day, my mom had surgery this morning, and they may have to re-do it again tomorrow, so my thoughts are with her.”

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WHEATLAND, MO (May 24, 2014) – Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Points leader, Don O’Neal captured his first career Lucas Oil Show-Me 100 presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com on Saturday Night at Lucas Oil Speedway.  O’Neal fought off some stiff competition, including Jimmy Owens, who was trying to win the event for the fourth consecutive year.

After the final caution on lap 57, O’Neal found himself battling Owens who made his way around O’Neal to take over the lead.  O’Neal over took Owens for the final time on lap 64, then pulled away from Owens and never relinquished the lead again. O’Neal earned $30,000 for the win in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and Lucas Oil Midwest Latemodel Racing Association co-sanctioned event.

Earl Pearson Jr. held the fans attention for most of the race as he came from the 24th starting spot to finish second.  Bobby Pierce made his way to third in his second ever Show-Me 100 after starting 12th.  Scott Bloomquist made his way around Owens in the final laps to grab fourth spot. Owens faded to finish fifth in the final run-down.

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