Owens Over Blankenship for Win!

WHEATLAND, MISSOURI (July 15, 2012) – In a battle similar to the DART Show-Me 100 on Memorial Day Weekend at Lucas Oil Speedway, Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN and John Blankenship of Williamson, WV thrilled the large crowd on hand Saturday Night at Lucas Oil Speedway. Owens held off Blankenship on the final circuit to gain the win in the 6th Annual CMH Diamond Nationals earning $10,000 for his win in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and Lucas Oil MLRA-sanctioned event.

Owens and Blankenship ran one-two from the 12th lap. Blankenship led briefly on laps 20 and 21, but Owens rebounded to retake the point on lap 22. The race was slowed by only one caution flag. The two drivers put on quite a show constantly running side-by-side around the 3/8ths mile track.

With lapped traffic playing a factor over the last half of the race, Blankenship chose the low line coming off of turn two on the final lap as Owens was up against the outside wall, but Owens changed lanes and went to the bottom heading into turn three. That move shut the door on Blankenship’s attempt for the win. Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN made a late-race charge and was almost within striking distance of both leaders as they headed to the checkered flag.

Owens has won back-to-back DART Show-Me 100’s at the track and was nearly breathless in victory after a hard-fought 50 laps of racing. “The last two or three times we have been here, it has been a heck of a race! It’s great for the fans, it keeps them coming back, I want to dedicate this win to Chad Bryant one of our crew guys, whose father just passed away, he is in our thoughts and prayers,” said Owens, who also accepted a diamond ring for his win.

“I am going to have to get on John (Blankenship), he is not supposed to be passing me,” said Owens, who sheepishly grinned toward Blankenship’s direction in victory lane. “Our car was real good tonight, we started off the race really well, every once in a while you will get a track you like. Tonight they worked on it, my hats off to them, they went out and smoothed it out a little bit,” said Owens, who maintains the top spot in the championship points standings

“I have to thank my car owner, Mike Reece, Reece Monument, Gantte Appraisals, Sunoco Race Fuels, Chris Davis from Midwest Sheet Metal, Ohlins Shocks and everybody else who makes this possible, my whole crew did a great job all weekend long, we had a second last night (at Tri-City) and to win tonight before this big crowd is something special.”

Blankenship, who finished second to Owens in the DART Show-Me 100 again, was the bridesmaid again tonight in the Coal America’s Energy, Rocket Chevrolet as he held off O’Neal in the Optima Batteries Chevrolet . Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN finished fourth ahead of Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race, Steve Francis of Ashland, KY in the Valvoline, Barry Wright Race Cars, Chevrolet.

Completing the top ten were: Billy Moyer of Batesville, AR; Brad Neat of Dunnville, KY; Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL; Tyler Reddick of Corning, CA; and Chris Simpson of Oxford, IA.

In Pitts Homes USRA A-Modified action, Terry Schultz from Sedalia, MO and Johnny Fennewald from Appleton City, MO crossed the finish line in near sync. Schultz edged out Fennewald for the win as he added a “W” to his season. Fennewald and Schultz swapped places a few times as the laps wound down at Lucas Oil Speedway on Saturday Night. Jason Russell from Henley, MO finished third, continuing with his streak of solid finishes.

The Diamond of Dirt Tracks will make-up the Casey’s General Stores Mid-Season Points Championship on Saturday July 21st during KTTS Night and the Ozarks Food Harvest Food Drive. After rain washed out the first attempt last week, drivers and fans are anxious to see who will claim the Mid-Season title.During the Ozarks Food Harvest Food Drive, a donation of four non-persishable food items will be accepted as admission into Saturday’s race. For complete event information visit www.LucasOilSpeedway.com.

CMH Diamond Nationals Results 7/14/12:
Red Buck Cigars Fast Time:
Jimmy Owens / 15.768 seconds (Group A)
Billy Moyer / 16.052 seconds (Group B)

Wiles Driveshafts First Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Jimmy Owens, Don O’Neal, Scott Bloomquist, Eric Wells, Eric Turner, Jonathan Davenport, Billy Moyer, Jr., Ron Johnson, Mark Dotson

U. S. Steel Second Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Brian Birkhofer, Tyler Reddick, Brad Neat, Steve Francis, Chris Simpson, John Anderson, Brandon McCormick, David Turner

Simpson Performance Products Third Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Billy Moyer, John Blankenship, Stacy Taylor, Kevin Sather, Tim Rivers, John Mason, Shawn Knuckles, Reid Millard, Patrick Johnson

HAWK Brakes Fourth Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Jared Landers, Will Vaught, Dennis Erb, Jr., Earl Pearson, Jr., Terry Phillips, Matt Brookshire, Larry Jones, Jesse Stovall

JRi Shocks First B-Main (12 Laps – Top 3 Advance): Eric Turner, Chris Simpson, Jonathan Davenport, John Anderson, Billy Moyer, Jr., Mark Dotson, Brandon McCormick, Ron Johnson, David Turner

PAC Racing Springs Second B-Main (12 Laps – Top 3 Advance): Terry Phillips, Tim Rivers, John Mason, Shawn Knuckles, Jesse Stovall, Patrick Johnson, Reid Millard, Larry Jones, Matt Brookshire

Feature Finish – 50 Laps

FINISH START CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN
1 1 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
2 6 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
3 5 71 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN
4 9 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
5 15 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
6 2 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR
7 11 41n Brad Neat Dunnville, KY
8 16 44 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL
9 7 11T Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
10 19 32x Chris Simpson Oxford, IA
11 18 75 Terry Phillips Springfield, MO
12 4 5 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
13 13 18e Eric Wells Hazard, KY
14 12 28e Dennis Erb, Jr. Carpentersville, IL
15 21 15d Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA
16 10 27t Stacy Taylor Jacksonville, AR
17 20 46 Tim Rivers Salem, IN
18 22 72 John Mason Millersburg, OH
19 24 2a John Anderson Omaha, NE
20 8 1v Will Vaught Crane, MO
21 25 21JR Billy Moyer, Jr. Batesville, AR
22 14 3E Kevin Sather Des Moines, IA
23 17 33x Eric Turner Hermitage, MO
24 26 6s Jesse Stovall Galena, MO
25 23 15T David Turner Creighton, MO
26 3 15b Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA

Pitts Homes USRA A-Modified Results 7/14/12
A-Feature:1. Terry Schultz (Sedalia, MO), 2. Johnny Fennewald (Appleton City, Mo), 3. Jason Russell (Henley, MO), 4. Chase Jones (Eldorado Springs, MO), 5. Travis Smith, 6. Lyle Shepard (Topeka, KS), 7. Jeff Cutshaw (Cross Timbers, MO), 8. Chris Tonoli (Hermitage, MO), 9. Paul Snyder (Wellsville, Ks), 10. Mitchell Keeter (Joplin, MO), 11. Robbie Bryant (Willard, MO), 12. Mickey Burrell (Fair Grove, MO), 13. Colson Kirk (Urbana, MO), 14. Jon Sheets (Nevada, MO), 15. Mark Hoover (Hopkins, MO), 16. Josh Griggs (Dewey, OK), 17. Dustin Campbell (Nevada, MO), 18. Jared Rogers (Berryton, KS), 19. Dennis Bunger (Harrisonville, MO), 20. Tracy Wolf (Buffalo, Mo), 21. Jamie Ragland (Lebanon, MO), 22. Brian Green (Pierce City, MO), 23. Jason Pursley (Wheatland, MO), 24. Justin Moon (Sedalia, MO),

B-Feature 1:1. Mickey Burrell (Fair Grove, MO), 2. Justin Moon (Sedalia, MO), 3. Jared Rogers (Berryton, KS), 4. Jason Pursley (Wheatland, MO), 5. Brandon Givens (Hutchinson, KS), 6. Luke Driskell (Stilwell, KS), 7. Daniel Franklin (Eurika Springs, MO), 8. Andrew Aust (Mt. Vernon, MO), 9. Donnie Fellers (Wheatland, MO), 10. Jim Cihy (Warsaw, MO), 11. Justin Rexwinkle (S. Coffeeville, OK), 12. Richard Payne, 13. Nathan Mayes (Springdale, AK),

B-Feature 2:1. Mark Hoover (Hopkins, MO), 2. Jon Sheets (Nevada, MO), 3. Dustin Campbell (Nevada, MO), 4. Jamie Ragland (Lebanon, MO), 5. Nic Bidinger (Perry, KS), 6. Craig Wood (Eldorado Springs, MO), 7. John Fellers (Flemington, MO), 8. Josh Woody (Wayneville, MO), 9. Tyler Brown (Richland, MO), 10. Mitchell Galloway (Batesville, AR), 11. Scott Crystal (Overland Park, KS), 12. Scotty Bough (Nevada, MO), 13. Kevin Morrow (Bronaugh, MO),

Heat 1:1. Jason Russell (Henley, MO), 2. Lyle Shepard (Topeka, KS), 3. Brian Green (Pierce City, MO), 4. Craig Wood (Eldorado Springs, MO), 5. Brandon Givens (Hutchinson, KS), 6. Kevin Morrow (Bronaugh, MO), 7. John Fellers (Flemington, MO), 8. Tyler Brown (Richland, MO), 9. Donnie Fellers (Wheatland, MO),

Heat 2:1. Tracy Wolf (Buffalo, Mo), 2. Colson Kirk (Urbana, MO), 3. Chris Tonoli (Hermitage, MO), 4. Mickey Burrell (Fair Grove, MO), 5. Dustin Campbell (Nevada, MO), 6. Luke Driskell (Stilwell, KS), 7. Jason Pursley (Wheatland, MO), 8. Daniel Franklin (Eurika Springs, MO), 9. Jamie Ragland (Lebanon, MO),

Heat 3:1. Johnny Fennewald (Appleton City, Mo), 2. Chase Jones (Eldorado Springs, MO), 3. Jeff Cutshaw (Cross Timbers, MO), 4. Josh Griggs (Dewey, OK), 5. Josh Woody (Wayneville, MO), 6. Andrew Aust (Mt. Vernon, MO), 7. Richard Payne, 8. Nic Bidinger (Perry, KS),

Heat 4:1. Terry Schultz (Sedalia, MO), 2. Travis Smith, 3. Robbie Bryant (Willard, MO), 4. Mark Hoover (Hopkins, MO), 5. Justin Moon (Sedalia, MO), 6. Scott Crystal (Overland Park, KS), 7. Mitchell Galloway (Batesville, AR), 8. Justin Rexwinkle (S. Coffeeville, OK),

Heat 5:1. Dennis Bunger (Harrisonville, MO), 2. Paul Snyder (Wellsville, Ks), 3. Mitchell Keeter (Joplin, MO), 4. Jared Rogers (Berryton, KS), 5. Jim Cihy (Warsaw, MO), 6. Scotty Bough (Nevada, MO), 7. Nathan Mayes (Springdale, AK), 8. Jon Sheets (Nevada, MO),

For current event information check out www.LucasOilSpeedway.com.

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