WOODSTOCK, GA (October 6, 2012) – Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN won Saturday Night’s 23rd Annual Lucas Oil Dixie Shootout at Dixie Speedway. Owens, who started 13th on the grid, inherited the lead when Chris Madden of Gaffney, SC broke a wheel and spun in turn four while leading with three laps remaining in the race. Owens then cruised on for the victory for the first time in the annual event sanctioned by the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.

Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA took the Clint Bowyer Racing Team entry across the finish line in second followed closely by John Blankenship of Williamson, WV in the Coal America’s Energy ride. Eric Wells of Hazard, KY was fourth and Tony Knowles of Tyrone, GA was the top finishing home-state driver grabbing the fifth spot.

Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC was looking to sweep the activities for the night as he was the Red Buck Fast Qualifier and dominated his heat race, then led the first five laps until he left the race under caution with left front suspension issues.

Madden, who started fourth, was running second when Cook exited the race took the lead over. A massive pile-up occurred twice both in turn two which heavily damaged several contenders including former Shootout winners Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN and Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN. Steve Francis of Ashland, KY, last week’s winner at Knoxville (IA) Raceway was also involved suffering severe damage to his Barry Wright Race Cars entry. (more…)

WAYCROSS, GA (October 2, 2012) – The 2012 season for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series has produced another exciting year of racing as the season winds down to the final events of the year in October. The series will again visit two tracks that have been on the schedule every year since the series was formed in 2005. This weekend’s events will take place on Saturday Night, October 6th for the “Lucas Oil Dixie Shootout” in Woodstock, GA and Sunday Night, October 7th for the “Rome Rumble” at Rome Speedway in Rome, GA.

There will be a complete show both days with Red Buck Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains, and a $10,000 to win main event at each track. Scott Bloomquist is the defending “Dixie Shootout” champion at Dixie Speedway and Jimmy Owens is the defending race champion of the “Rome Rumble.” For more information on both race tracks you can visit www.dixiespeedway.com or call (770) 926-5315 and www.raceromespeedway.com or call (706) 235-2541. (more…)

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. (more…)

KNOXVILLE, IA (September 28, 2012) – Scoring his first career win at Knoxville Raceway, Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN completed a 25-lap journey to the checkered flag, leading all the way. Marlar, who started third in the event, bolted to the lead on the opening circuit and never looked back in taking his second Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event of the season.

Steve Francis of Ashland, KY came home in second followed by Brady Smith of Solon Springs, WI; Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN; and Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA.

“I have to thank Norman Bryson for giving me this opportunity to drive his race car, we won the Hillbilly 100 after starting last and to come here tonight and win at Knoxville, it’s sweet, it is one of the historic tracks in racing and to bring this Rocket Chassis to victory lane here is something I will never forget.”

“The car took off great at the start, it felt like it kind of slowed down there a little bit at the end, but I guess I had a big enough of a lead, that it didn’t really matter, but it is something to work on for tomorrow night’s 100-lapper,” said the 34-year-old racer. “I have to thank my sponsors SEG, LLC, Keyser Mfg, Integra Shocks, VP Fuels, GW Performance, Clements Race Engines and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption for all of their support.”

Francis, who finished third on Thursday Night, finished one spot higher in Friday’s preliminary to set-up a good starting spot for Saturday’s $40,000 to win finale. “We have really run well here this week, there are a few things we need to tweak on the car to get it to turn better, it’s Barry’s (Wright) birthday today and I was hoping to bring home a victory for him said the driver of the Valvoline, Barry Wright Race Cars Chevrolet. (more…)

KNOXVILLE, IA (September 27, 2012) – Billy Moyer of Batesville, AR swept to the win on the opening night of the 9th Annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals Thursday Night at Knoxville Raceway. The Hall-of-Famer took the lead on lap eight and pulled away for a convincing $7,000 victory, his 16th win overall this season.

Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, IL, who was looking for his first-ever win at the historic track finished second, followed by Steve Francis of Ashland, KY; Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA; and Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, WI.

Tyler Reddick of Corning, CA took the lead at the start of the 25-lap main event with Iowa native, Denny Eckrich of Tiffin, IA running in the second position. Reddick held the lead until lap six when Babb took over the top spot.

Babb then yielded the lead to Moyer on lap eight after the two ran side-by-side for a couple of circuits. Moyer, who started third then pulled away in the final 15 circuits to record his third Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the season. (more…)

WAYCROSS, GA (September 24, 2012) – The largest total purse in dirt late model racing awaits participants for the 9th Annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, IA on September 27, 28, and 29. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned event has a total purse over $260,000 with two-$7,000 to win preliminary events and a $40,000 to win championship race on Saturday night.

For the first time since the event has been sanctioned by the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, there is no limit on the number of entries accepted. This years mega-event is open to all dirt late model participant who would like to race on the hallowed grounds of Knoxville Raceway. No restrictions on entries for this year’s event.

“This event has truly grown in stature over the years,” said Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Director, Ritchie Lewis. “It is a great honor to be able to sanction this race at Knoxville Raceway. It is one of the great venues in dirt track racing and the fans love the action the Late Models have provided. With this year having unlimited entries, we should see several drivers come to Knoxville who have not raced here for a few years or never turned a lap here.” (more…)

BROWNSTOWN, IN (September 22, 2012) – Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN solidified his points lead in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series by sweeping the weekend at Brownstown Speedway as the defending series champion took home $20,000 for winning the 33rd Annual Jackson 100 on Saturday Night. Owens led all 100-laps Industrial Solutions Technology LLC sponsored event.

Steve Francis of Ashland, KY was the only car capable of staying with Owens early on in the race, but Owens’ margin of victory was nearly half-a-lap at the finish. Francis finished third, just ahead of 4-time Jackson 100 winner, Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN, who placed third. Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN survived a spirited battle with Earl Pearson, Jr. of Jacksonville, FL and Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN to claim the fourth spot.

Owens, who started off the weekend by setting fast time on Friday Night, withstood a side-by-side battle with Terry Casey of New London, WI in the first heat to earn the pole starting spot. Owens took the lead at the start of the race with pressure from Francis for the first 24 laps, until the first caution came out. (more…)

WAYCROSS, GA (September 22, 2012) – The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series sanctioned event from Batesville Motor Speedway, held August 17th and 18th , will air on SPEED Channel this Sunday, September 23rd at 4PM EST. The Canidae All Natural Pet Foods Presents the 20th Annual Comp Cams Topless 100 – was filmed for broadcast in High Definition by Lucas Oil Studios, a division of Lucas Oil Products, Inc.

Fans will want to tune in to watch this event that saw drivers from all across the country compete for the first place prize that paid $40,000. In front of a massive spectator crowd, this event had plenty of drama for the lead among several of the country’s top dirt late model drivers. Numerous camera angles, driver interviews, in-car cameras, technical segments, along with the 100-lap feature event, will be included in the SPEED Channel broadcast. SPEED Channel can be found on Dish Network on Channel 150 and channel 607 on Direct TV. Fans with cable service should check their local listings to find the SPEED Channel network.

“We want to encourage all of our great fans to watch the LOLMDS event on SPEED this Sunday. Lucas Oil Products and all of our Team Lucas partners, along with the fine folks at Comp Cams, have made it possible to bring dirt late model racing to TVs across the globe in 2012. We have a tremendous amount of quality within our shows and that’s a direct reflection of the leadership within Lucas Oil and Lucas Oil Studios, which makes for the best dirt racing on TV,” stated Ritchie Lewis, Series Director. (more…)

BROWNSTOWN, IN (September 21, 2012) – Reigning Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Champion and current point’s leader, Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN topped the 40-car field for Red Buck Time Trials for the 33rd Annual Jackson 100 on Friday Night at Brownstown Speedway.

Owens; Hillbilly 100 winner, Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN; Jared Landers of Batesville, AR; and Brad Neat of Dunnville, KY will be the pole-setters for Saturday Night’s four heat races.

Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN, the only four-time winner of Brownstown’s biggest race, is seeking an unprecedented third straight win in the annual event.  LOLMDS series regular and two-time track champion, Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN, who has won the Jackson 100 three times, timed in only 16th fastest in his group of qualifiers and will have to start deep in the field in the second heat on Saturday Night.

In preliminary action, Jimmy Owens set the Red Buck Cigars Fast Time amongst the 40 entrants, with a lap of 15.281 seconds. Jared Landers set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 15.563 seconds. (more…)

WAYCROSS, GA (September 17, 2012) – One of the Midwest’s traditional and most popular events, The Jackson 100 is set for Friday and Saturday, September 21st and 22nd at Brownstown Speedway in Brownstown, IN. The annual event promoted by Tim and Farrah Keithley will take place at the ¼ mile bull ring at the Jackson County Fairgrounds. This year’s event will again be sanctioned by the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and will pay $20,000 to win and $1,200 to start. This year’s event is sponsored by Industrial Solutions Technology out of Columbus, IN.

Race fans wanting to camp at the track can begin setting up on Thursday at 8am. Pit and grandstand gates will open up at 3PM on Friday. Racing action begins Friday Night, September 21st with Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series hot laps and Red Buck Time Trials. Also on the race program Friday will be UMP Modifieds and the Inaugural Jackson 50 for the Indiana Late Model Series. On Saturday, pit gates and grandstand gates open at 2PM with a special driver’s autograph session from 4:30 to 5:15 with racing action beginning at 6PM. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Heat Races, B-Mains, and the 33rd Annual Jackson 100 are scheduled for Saturday night. UMP Modifieds and Super Stocks will also be on the card for Saturday night as support classes. (more…)