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O'Neal scores at Tri-City Speedway
By: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series PR
PONTOON BEACH, IL (July 17) - Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN powered himself
to victory in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series sanctioned Budweiser 50
on Friday Night at Tri-City Speedway. He earned $10,000 for his second
series win in the last three events. Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, GA
finished second followed by Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, IL; 11th
starting Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA; and Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, WI.
Babb and Billy Moyer started on the front row of the 50 lap main event.
Moyer led the first lap over Babb. Babb then took over the point a lap later
and motored to a half a lap lead at the start-finish line to score lap
number two. O’Neal, who started third held his spot followed by McDowell and
Erb.
Babb held a two-car length advantage over Moyer as the two combatants were
dicing it out for the lead on a track that had seen its share of rain over
the last week. As Babb and Moyer battled for the point, O’Neal held steady
in third and was receiving a challenge from McDowell.
With ten laps in the books, the first caution for debris came out. With the
field bunched up for a restart, the top five in the running order were Babb,
Moyer, O’Neal, McDowell, and the rim-riding Jason Feger who came from the
tenth starting spot to fifth in the first ten circuits.
On the restart Babb still held the point, with O’Neal getting around Moyer
to take over second. Moyer then slowed with a flat tire on lap 14 bringing
out the second caution of the race. Moyer pitted and returned to the race on
the tail end of the field.
On the restart Babb’s lead was taken away by O’Neal who grabbed the lead on
lap 15. O’Neal and Babb then put on quite a show racing for the lead as the
two encountered heavy traffic. Babb re-took the lead on lap 19 after running
high up against the wall.
Babb moved out to a three car length lead over O’Neal as traffic continued
to play a major role in the race as Babb’s lead went away on an ill-fated
lap 28. He suffered a right rear flat just as he crossed the start-finish
line as he slowed heading into turn number one bringing out the third
caution of the race.
With Babb going pitside, O’Neal was back in the lead with 22 laps remaining.
McDowell was up to second for the restart with Feger in third followed by
Erb. Jimmy Mars maintained fifth spot on the restart.
O’Neal had no problems on the restart. Only three laps into the run, Brad
Neat slowed and stopped in turn one. The flat for the Dunnville, KY racer
marked the fourth and final caution of the race. The single file restart saw
O’Neal open up a quick two car length over McDowell as the torrid race for
third continued on between Feger, Erb and Mars.
With ten laps to go, O’Neal’s lead looked safe. Erb was able to clear Feger
to get to third, still in sight of the second place running McDowell. O’Neal
saw McDowell and Erb cut his lead down in the final five circuits as he
drove a little more conservative, saving his equipment for the final run. He
withstood a final lap charge from both McDowell and Erb to take his 12th
career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event.
In the Lucas Oil Victory Lane, O’Neal did an interview with Dave Argabright
of SPEED Channel who was on hand to tape the race he was thankful to hold on
in the final laps. “I can’t thank my crew enough, this was a brand new car,
first time we’ve had it on the track and I couldn’t be happier with the
outcome, me and Babb had a good clean race out there until he had the flat
and to hold on out there with the way the track was, I know they did the
best they could with the track and with all the rain it was definitely
choppy but we survived,” said the 45-year -old racer who last week
celebrated his birthday by winning the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
event at North Alabama Speedway.
“I really like this new track they have over here and we’ve run good
everytime we’ve been here, I have to thank Tader Masters, Kirk Loudy from
Envy Suspensions, Superior Cleaning out of Iowa, Jay Dickens Racing Engines
and everyone on the Racing United Marketing Team for the win,” as he was
joined in victory lane by his sons Houston and Hudson. O’Neal’s number 71
car also receives sponsorship from Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Racing Tires,
Hanzo Logistics and Jeff and Buddy Massengill.
McDowell who with his second place finish at Tri-City moved back into second
place in the championship points standings in the Clint Bowyer
Racing/Cheerios/Warrior Race Cars Impala SS. “Oh yes we’ll take second
place, congratulations to Don for his good run, it was a good finish for us
and helps us in points, that’s our goal to win the championship and we just
keep inching up there ever so slightly,” said the former World 100 winner as
he is within 230 points of Scott Bloomquist, who finished ninth.
Erb coming off his third straight Summernationals title was happy with third
against a tough field of cars. “To run third with these guys that great, we
had a really good race with Feger out there we ran I don’t know how many
laps side-by-side and there at the end we closed on McDowell, but we just
ran out of laps,” said the 2009 DART Winternationals champion who drove his
Thomason Express/Rhyne Competition Racing Engines/C.J. Rayburn Impala SS.
Birkhofer was fourth in his S&S Concrete/Pro Power Engines/MB Custom Chassis
followed by the other MB Custom Chassis in the field driven by Mars.
Completing the top ten were Jason Feger of Bloomington, IL, 14th starting
Wendell Wallace of Batesville, AR, Randy Korte of Highland, IL, Scott
Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN and Rick Eckert of York, PA.
In preliminary events Shannon Babb was the PRC Fast Qualifier with a lap of
15.242 seconds among the 46 entrants on hand. Heat races were won by Shannon
Babb, Don O’Neal, Billy Moyer and Dale McDowell. The B-Mains were taken by
Rick Eckert and Eric Turner. Jimmy Owens claimed the PBM/Erson Cams Hard
Charger of the Race.
Late Models - Fast Time - 46 Cars
Car No Driver Tim
18 Shannon Babb 15.242
Late Models - A-Main
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
2 17M Dale McDowell ,
3 28 Dennis Erb, Jr. Carpentersville, IL
4 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA
5 28M Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI
6 25f Jason Feger Bloomington, IL
7 B1 Wendall Wallace Batesville, AR
8 00 Randy Korte Highland, IL
9 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
10 24 Rick Eckert ,
11 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
12 C9 Steve Casebolt Richmond, IN
13 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL
14 57J Bub McCool ,
15 5J Eric Jacobsen Watsonville, GA
16 41N Brad Neat Dunnville, KY
17 1V Will Vaught Crane, MO
18 53 Ray Cook ,
19 27M Rodney Melvin Benton, IL
20 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR
21 3S Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
22 99T Eric Turner ,
23 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
24 78 Chad Zobrist (L) Highland, IL
25 30 Mark Voigt (L) Marine, IL
26 82 Billy Laycock (L) Marine, IL
27 6K Michael Kloos Trenton, IL
28 66 Bill Frye ,
Late Models - B-Main 1
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 24 Rick Eckert ,
2 00 Randy Korte Highland, IL
3 57J Bub McCool ,
4 53 Ray Cook ,
5 S9 Dan Schlieper Sullivan, WI
6 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
7 82 Billy Laycock (L) Marine, IL
8 31U Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA
9 23 John Blankenship ,
10 72 John Mason Millersburg, OH
11 24T Dick Taylor Springfield, IL
12 15 Chris Fetter Troy, MO
13 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL
14 78 Chad Zobrist (L) Highland, IL
15 1HR Ron McQuerry Saint Albans, MO
16 6** Terry Casey New London, WI
Late Models - B-Main 2
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 99T Eric Turner ,
2 5J Eric Jacobsen Watsonville, GA
3 66 Bill Frye ,
4 54 David Breazeale ,
5 44C Clint Smith ,
6 55 Alan Mondus ,
7 9S Ken Schrader Concord, NC
8 11D Brian Diveley Springfield, IL
9 13 Dewayne Kiefer St. Genevieve, MO
10 64 Michael Walker ,
11 81 Craig Smith (L) Godfrey, IL
12 00F Freddy Smith Seymour, TN
13 30 Mark Voigt (L) Marine, IL
14 33 Tim Manville Highland, IL
Late Models - Heat 1
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
2 28 Dennis Erb, Jr. Carpentersville, IL
3 C9 Steve Casebolt Richmond, IN
4 41N Brad Neat Dunnville, KY
5 24 Rick Eckert ,
6 53 Ray Cook ,
7 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL
8 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
9 23 John Blankenship ,
10 78 Chad Zobrist (L) Highland, IL
11 15 Chris Fetter Troy, MO
12 1HR Ron McQuerry Saint Albans, MO
Late Models - Heat 2
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
2 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
3 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA
4 1V Will Vaught Crane, MO
5 00 Randy Korte Highland, IL
6 57J Bub McCool ,
7 S9 Dan Schlieper Sullivan, WI
8 6** Terry Casey New London, WI
9 82 Billy Laycock (L) Marine, IL
10 24T Dick Taylor Springfield, IL
11 31U Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA
12 72 John Mason Millersburg, OH
Late Models - Heat 3
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR
2 28M Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI
3 25f Jason Feger Bloomington, IL
4 B1 Wendall Wallace Batesville, AR
5 5J Eric Jacobsen Watsonville, GA
6 54 David Breazeale ,
7 66 Bill Frye ,
8 44C Clint Smith ,
9 30 Mark Voigt (L) Marine, IL
10 11D Brian Diveley Springfield, IL
11 00F Freddy Smith Seymour, TN
Late Models - Heat 4
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 17M Dale McDowell ,
2 6K Michael Kloos Trenton, IL
3 3S Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
4 27M Rodney Melvin Benton, IL
5 99T Eric Turner ,
6 55 Alan Mondus ,
7 9S Ken Schrader Concord, NC
8 64 Michael Walker ,
9 81 Craig Smith (L) Godfrey, IL
10 13 Dewayne Kiefer St. Genevieve, MO
11 33 Tim Manville Highland, IL
Modifieds - A-Main -- 32 Cars
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 21S Denny Schwartz Ashmore, IL
2 0x Steve Picou High Ridge, MO
3 55 Marty Smith Jr (M) Troy, IL
4 11 Dane Gundaker (M) Bridgeton, MO
5 1W Ray Walsh (M) Saint Louis, MO
6 4j Scott Weber (M) Festus, MO
7 22V Matt Mevert Steeleville, IL
8 51 Timmy Hill Pacific, MO
9 1 Tommie Seets Jr (M) Alton, IL
10 28 Michael Bolyard St. Peters, IL
11 5 Joe Dresch (M) Brighton, IL
12 14S Billy Smith Bonne Terre, MO
13 18B Rocky Berliew (M) Brighton, IL
14 11X Don Grimm (M) Worden, IL
15 377 Casey Pearson Hazelwood, MO
16 18M Matt Huddleston ,
17 36W Kenny Wallace Concord, NC
18 11H John Stanton (M) Alton, IL
19 42 Steve Lach (M) Brownstown, IL
20 M41 Steve Maisel House Springs, MO
21 49 Craig Kern Vandalia, Il
22 1D Dean Hoffman Troy, IL
23 N1 Gary Archambault Wright City, MO
Modifieds - B-Main
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 22V Matt Mevert Steeleville, IL
2 28 Michael Bolyard St. Peters, IL
3 1D Dean Hoffman Troy, IL
4 11X Don Grimm (M) Worden, IL
5 14S Billy Smith Bonne Terre, MO
6 42 Steve Lach (M) Brownstown, IL
7 36W Kenny Wallace Concord, NC
8 7J Josh Clack Hillsboro, MO
9 77 Kevin Lee Granite City, IL
10 87 Derek Dubree (M) Edwardsville, IL
11 40 Matt Politsch Wentzville, MO
12 22M Chucky Milam Granite City, IL
13 75W Georger "Terry" Wagner ,
14 51C Joe Cooksey Centralia, IL
15 E55 Chad Sellers Breese, IL
16 24 Mike Harrison Highland, IL
Modifieds - Heat 1
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 5 Joe Dresch (M) Brighton, IL
2 4j Scott Weber (M) Festus, MO
3 18M Matt Huddleston ,
4 N1 Gary Archambault Wright City, MO
5 51C Joe Cooksey Centralia, IL
6 42 Steve Lach (M) Brownstown, IL
7 87 Derek Dubree (M) Edwardsville, IL
8 22M Chucky Milam Granite City, IL
Modifieds - Heat 2
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 0x Steve Picou High Ridge, MO
2 1W Ray Walsh (M) Saint Louis, MO
3 51 Timmy Hill Pacific, MO
4 M41 Steve Maisel House Springs, MO
5 1D Dean Hoffman Troy, IL
6 E55 Chad Sellers Breese, IL
7 7J Josh Clack Hillsboro, MO
8 24 Mike Harrison Highland, IL
Modifieds - Heat 3
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 11 Dane Gundaker (M) Bridgeton, MO
2 18B Rocky Berliew (M) Brighton, IL
3 49 Craig Kern Vandalia, Il
4 377 Casey Pearson Hazelwood, MO
5 28 Michael Bolyard St. Peters, IL
6 40 Matt Politsch Wentzville, MO
7 14S Billy Smith Bonne Terre, MO
8 75W Georger "Terry" Wagner ,
Modifieds - Heat 4
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 21S Denny Schwartz Ashmore, IL
2 11H John Stanton (M) Alton, IL
3 55 Marty Smith Jr (M) Troy, IL
4 1 Tommie Seets Jr (M) Alton, IL
5 22V Matt Mevert Steeleville, IL
6 11X Don Grimm (M) Worden, IL
7 77 Kevin Lee Granite City, IL
8 36W Kenny Wallace Concord, NC
Pro (Crate) Late Models - A-Main -- 25 Cars
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 8 Randy Korte Highland, IL
2 67 Mark Oller (C) Highland, IL
3 59 Rodney Melvin Benton, IL
4 18D Bobby Dauderman (C) Alhambra, IL
5 58 Charlie Heck (C) Mt. Vernon, IL
6 r52 Rylan Dagg (C) Bluford, IL
7 20 Dustin Griffin Quincy, IL
8 10 DJ Cygan (C) Saint Jacob, IL
9 1A Steve Meyer Jr South Roxana, IL
10 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
11 77 Clay Baumann (C) Highland, IL
12 84 Tyler Deibert (C) Highland, IL
13 92s Matt Santel (C) New Memphis, IL
14 55 Daniel Heck (C) Mount Vernon, IL
15 74 John Crenshaw (C) Madison, IL
16 15 Will Hicks Saint Charles, MO
17 87 Jason Zobrist (C) Highland, IL
18 72 Brad Yotter (C) Bethalto, IL
19 36G Dave Grzywacz Caseyville, IL
20 48 Bobby Martintoni (C) Livingston, IL
21 95 Andrew Johns Belleville, IL
22 01 Casey Montague (C) Lebanon, IL
23 3 Craig Bessinger (C) Pacific, MO
Pro (Crate) Late Models - B-Main
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
2 92s Matt Santel (C) New Memphis, IL
3 20 Dustin Griffin Quincy, IL
4 36G Dave Grzywacz Caseyville, IL
5 3 Craig Bessinger (C) Pacific, MO
6 92K Brant Kehrer New Memphis, IL
7 30 Ryan Seger Saint Jacob, IL
Pro (Crate) Late Models - Heat 1
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 95 Andrew Johns Belleville, IL
2 87 Jason Zobrist (C) Highland, IL
3 r52 Rylan Dagg (C) Bluford, IL
4 18D Bobby Dauderman (C) Alhambra, IL
5 15 Will Hicks Saint Charles, MO
6 74 John Crenshaw (C) Madison, IL
7 92s Matt Santel (C) New Memphis, IL
8 3 Craig Bessinger (C) Pacific, MO
9 92K Brant Kehrer New Memphis, IL
Pro (Crate) Late Models - Heat 2
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 8 Randy Korte Highland, IL
2 67 Mark Oller (C) Highland, IL
3 1A Steve Meyer Jr South Roxana, IL
4 77 Clay Baumann (C) Highland, IL
5 84 Tyler Deibert (C) Highland, IL
6 72 Brad Yotter (C) Bethalto, IL
7 30 Ryan Seger Saint Jacob, IL
8 20 Dustin Griffin Quincy, IL
Pro (Crate) Late Models - Heat 3
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 55 Daniel Heck (C) Mount Vernon, IL
2 58 Charlie Heck (C) Mt. Vernon, IL
3 10 DJ Cygan (C) Saint Jacob, IL
4 59 Rodney Melvin Benton, IL
5 01 Casey Montague (C) Lebanon, IL
6 48 Bobby Martintoni (C) Livingston, IL
7 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
8 36G Dave Grzywacz Caseyville, IL
Street Stocks - A-Main -- 19 Cars
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 36 Danny Ems (S) Arnold, MO
2 94 Ed Lenhardt Brighton, IL
3 5j Josh Jackson (S) South Roxana, IL
4 68 Terry McCann (S) Cottage Hills, IL
5 21 Andy Beavers Alton, IL
6 17B Jim Bell (S) Godfrey, IL
7 14 Tommy Gaither (S) Alton, IL
8 63g Richie Gabriel (S) Jerseyville, IL
9 43 Stephen Flannery Jr Wood River, IL
10 93 Todd Erickson (S) Madison, IL
11 17L Buddy Love (S) Jerseyville, IL
12 48x Michael Jefferies (S) Bethalto, IL
13 00jr Dave Meyers Cottage Hills, IL
14 51 Brent Weaver Jerseyville, IL
15 313 Jordan Warren (S) Alton, IL
16 B11 Buddy Jeffries (S) Bethalto, IL
17 11b Fred Sparks Jr South Roxana, IL
18 17C AJ Cline Cottage Hills, IL
19 22g Tommy Gegg (S) Alton, IL
Street Stocks - Heat 1
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 36 Danny Ems (S) Arnold, MO
2 21 Andy Beavers Alton, IL
3 17B Jim Bell (S) Godfrey, IL
4 17L Buddy Love (S) Jerseyville, IL
5 43 Stephen Flannery Jr Wood River, IL
6 B11 Buddy Jeffries (S) Bethalto, IL
7 17C AJ Cline Cottage Hills, IL
8 11b Fred Sparks Jr South Roxana, IL
9 313 Jordan Warren (S) Alton, IL
10 14 Tommy Gaither (S) Alton, IL
Street Stocks - Heat 2
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 94 Ed Lenhardt Brighton, IL
2 68 Terry McCann (S) Cottage Hills, IL
3 5j Josh Jackson (S) South Roxana, IL
4 63g Richie Gabriel (S) Jerseyville, IL
5 48x Michael Jefferies (S) Bethalto, IL
6 93 Todd Erickson (S) Madison, IL
7 51 Brent Weaver Jerseyville, IL
8 22g Tommy Gegg (S) Alton, IL
9 00jr Dave Meyers Cottage Hills, IL
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