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BURLINGTON, IA (May 13, 2011) - With his homestate fans on their
feet and cheering, Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IN ended the
four-race win streak of Scott Bloomquist. He captured the 50-lap
$10,000 to win Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event on Friday
Night at 34 Raceway. Bloomquist rebounded from a poor start to
finish second, but was several car lengths behind the winner at
the finish. Steve Francis of Ashland, KY finished third followed
by Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN and John Blankenship of Williamson,
WV.
"Man, to
win this race in front of my homestate crowd is just awesome! I
know they had to be cold up there, and to win for Johnny Johnson,
he put so much into this place, it's a great facility, I just
can't say enough for what that man did for me and the sport of
late model racing," said the 39-year-old Birkhofer, who was joined
by his sons Cruz and Creed in Lucas Oil Victory Lane.
Brad
Neat outgunned fellow Kentuckian Steve Francis to take the lead at
the start. Francis, who was debuting a new MasterSbilt Race Car
vaulted to the point a lap later. Francis held the top spot for
two circuits, when Birkhofer, who had started fourth, eased into
the lead.
Birkhofer's stay at the top of the scoring pylon was short-lived
as Francis blasted back by to regain the lead on lap seven. The
first of two caution flags came out for Billy Moyer, who spun in
turn two. The second came out for Tyler Reddick on the
backstretch on lap 23.
After
the caution for Moyer, Francis looked solid as he built a
seven-to-eight car length advantage over Birkhofer with 15 laps
scored. Birkhofer made up quite a bit of ground in a short period
of time, cutting Francis' lead to a car length by lap 21, a lap
later he was around Francis to take the lead for good.
Birkhofer then pulled out to a straightaway lead over Francis with
20 laps remaining and a few laps later he had picked up the tail
end of the field to begin lapping cars for the first time in the
race. Bloomquist powered by Francis in the top groove on lap 34,
but by then Birkhofer was well out in front. Bloomquist cut the
lead down as the two took the white flag, but Birkhofer held a
several car lengths lead at the finish.
"Thanks
to all my sponsors, we had a great car tonight. Anytime you beat
that Zero car you've done something. I have so much respect for
him. I didn't know if I could catch Francis there for a while, but
our car came into it. I am down on crew help here lately, but
thanks to everyone who pitched in tonight, and we will go get 'em
at La Salle tomorrow night.
It was
Birkhofer's 12th career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt
Series victory came aboard his J&J Steel, Zens Flooring, ASi
Racewear, VP Fuels, Pro Power Engines, MB Customs Chevrolet.
Bloomquist, who was attempting a series-record fifth consecutive
race, settled for second in his Base Racing Fuels, Bloomquist Race
Cars Ford. Francis in his Valvoline, Estes Racing Engines,
MasterSbilt Race Car placed third to move to fifth in the series
points.
Completing the top ten were Chris Simpson of Oxford, IA; Shannon
Babb of Moweaqua, IL; Brad Neat of Dunnville, KY; Mike Marlar of
Winfield, TN; and Scott James of Lawrenceburg, IN.
In
preliminary action Francis was the Red Buck Cigar Fast Qualifier
among the 37 entrants with a lap of 14.954 seconds. Heat race
winners were Francis, Bloomquist, Neat, and Birkhofer. The
B-mains went to Dale McDowell and Jared Landers.
The next
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event will be on Saturday Night,
May 14 for the Spring Shootout at La Salle Speedway in La Salle,
IL paying $10,000 to win. For more information, go to
www.lasallespeedway.com.
For the
latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log
onto
www.lucasdirt.com or call the series' office at (951)
532-2503.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race
Summary
Friday
Night, May 13th, 2011
34
Raceway - W. Burlington, IA
Red Buck
Cigars Fast Time:
Steve
Francis / 14.954 seconds (Group A and Overall)
Brad
Neat / 15.086 seconds (Group B)
Wiles
Driveshafts First Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Steve Francis,
Jimmy Owens, Scott James, Billy Moyer, Chad Simpson, Don O'Neal,
Dennis Erb Jr., Dan Schlieper, Mark Burgtorf, Jay Johnson
Wiles
Driveshafts Second Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Scott Bloomquist,
Chris Simpson, Shannon Babb, Bub McCool, Dale McDowell, Tyler
Reddick, Frank Heckenast Jr., Jeremiah Hurst, Jon Rogers
Sweet
Manufacturing Third Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Brad neat, John
Blankenship, Earl Pearson Jr., Mike Marlar, Jason Feger, Steve
Casebolt, Kent Robinson, Tyler Bruening, Denny Woodworth
HAWK
Brakes Fourth Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Brian Birkhofer, Eric
Wells, Jeep VanWormer, Ray Cook, Jared Landers, Darren Miller,
Chris Wall, Jason Utter, Tim Isenberg
JRi
Shocks First B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Dale McDowell, Chad
Simpson, Don O'Neal, Tyler Reddick, Dennis Erb Jr., Frank
Heckensast Jr., Mark Burgtorf, Dan Schlieper, Jeremiah Hurst, Jay
Johnson, Jon Rogers
Wrisco
Aluminum Second B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Jared Landers,
Jason Feger, Darren Miller, Chris Wall, Steve Casebolt, Kent
Robinson, Tim Isenberg, Tyler Bruening, Jason Utter, Denny
Woodworth
Feature
Finish - 50 Laps
|
FINISH |
START |
CAR # |
DRIVER NAME |
HOMETOWN |
|
1 |
4 |
15b |
Brian Birkhofer |
Muscatine, IA |
|
2 |
3 |
0 |
Scott Bloomquist |
Mooresburg, TN |
|
3 |
1 |
15 |
Steve Francis |
Ashland, KY |
|
4 |
5 |
20 |
Jimmy Owens |
Newport, TN |
|
5 |
6 |
23 |
John Blankenship |
Williamson, WV |
|
6 |
7 |
32x |
Chris Simpson |
Oxford, IA |
|
7 |
11 |
18 |
Shannon Babb |
Mowequa, IL |
|
8 |
2 |
41n |
Brad Neat |
Dunnville, KY |
|
9 |
14 |
36 |
Mike Marlar |
Winfield, TN |
|
10 |
9 |
81 |
Scott James |
Lawrenceburg, IN |
|
11 |
15 |
57J |
Bub McCool |
Vicksburg, MS |
|
12 |
20 |
25f |
Jason Feger |
Bloomington, IL |
|
13 |
25 |
71w |
Chris Wall |
Springfield, LA |
|
14 |
23 |
28e |
Dennis Erb, Jr. |
Carpentersville, IL |
|
15 |
21 |
71 |
Don O'Neal |
Martinsville, IN |
|
16 |
18 |
777 |
Jared Landers |
Batesville, AR |
|
17 |
12 |
55 |
Jeep VanWormer |
Pinconning, MI |
|
18 |
17 |
17m |
Dale McDowell |
Chickamauga, GA |
|
19 |
10 |
44 |
Earl Pearson, Jr. |
Jacksonville, FL |
|
20 |
22 |
32d |
Darren Miller |
Milledgeville, IL |
|
21 |
16 |
53 |
Ray Cook |
Brasstown, NC |
|
22 |
19 |
25c |
Chad Simpson |
Mt. Vernon, IA |
|
23 |
8 |
18e |
Eric Wells |
Hazard, KY |
|
24 |
24 |
11t |
Tyler Reddick |
Corning, CA |
|
25 |
26 |
99jr |
Frank Heckenast, Jr. |
Frankfort, IL |
|
26 |
13 |
21 |
Billy Moyer |
Batesville, AR |
Race Statistics
Entrants: 37
Lap
Leaders: Brad Neat (Lap 1); Steve Francis (Laps 2-5); Brian
Birkhofer (Lap 6); Steve Francis (Lap 7-21); Brian Birkhofer (Laps
22-50)
Caution
Flags: Lap 7 (Billy Moyer); Lap 23 (Tyler Reddick)
Lucas
Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Dennis Erb Jr.; Tyler
Reddick
Lucas
Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: Chris Wall;
Frank Heckenast Jr.
PBM/Erson
Cams Hard Charger of the Race: Chris Wall (Started 25th;
Finished 13th; Advanced 12 positions)
Allstar
Performer of the Race: John Blankenship
K&N
Filters Clean Pass of the Race: Brian Birkhofer
Quarter
Master Rookie of the Race: Bub McCool
COMP
Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Roush-Yates Race Engines
Outerwears Challenger of the Race: Jason Feger
Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award: Billy Moyer
DirtonDirt.com Crew Chief of the Race: Derrick Reese (Steve
Francis)
Time of
Race: 25 minutes 37 seconds
Lucas
Oil Championship Point Standings:
|
POS |
CAR # |
DRIVER NAME |
HOMETOWN |
POINTS |
|
1 |
0 |
Scott Bloomquist |
Mooresburg, TN |
1440 |
|
2 |
20 |
Jimmy Owens |
Newport, TN |
1300 |
|
3 |
71 |
Don O'Neal |
Martinsville, IN |
1265 |
|
4 |
44 |
Earl Pearson, Jr. |
Jacksonville, FL |
1115 |
|
5 |
15 |
Steve Francis |
Ashland, KY |
1100 |
|
6 |
36 |
Mike Marlar |
Winfield, TN |
1080 |
|
7 |
17m |
Dale McDowell |
Chickamauga, GA |
1065 |
|
8 |
57J |
Bub McCool |
Vicksburg, MS |
1045 |
|
8 |
28e |
Dennis Erb, Jr. |
Carpentersville, IL |
1045 |
|
10 |
41n |
Brad Neat |
Dunnville, KY |
1040 |
|
11 |
777 |
Jared Landers |
Batesville, AR |
1010 |
|
12 |
53 |
Ray Cook |
Brasstown, NC |
955 |
|
12 |
11t |
Tyler Reddick |
Corning, CA |
955 |
|
14 |
71w |
Chris Wall |
Springfield, LA |
930 |
|
15 |
23 |
John Blankenship |
Williamson, WV |
910 |
|
16 |
18e |
Eric Wells |
Hazard, KY |
895 |
|
17 |
99jr |
Frank Heckenast, Jr. |
Frankfort, IL |
860 |
|
18 |
9t |
Tim Isenberg |
Marshfield, WI |
790 |
|
19 |
c9 |
Steve Casebolt
|
Richmond, IN |
760 |
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