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Bloomquist Takes Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Win at La
Salle Speedway Before Huge Crowd
by: James Essex, Public Relations Coordinator
LA SALLE, IL (May 22, 2010) - Before one of the largest crowds in the
history of La Salle Speedway, reigning Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Champion, Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN raced to the win. This victory
marks his 21st career series win and the 390th of his Hall of Fame career.
The Annual Spring Shootout on Saturday Night earned Bloomquist $10,000 for
his triumph. Bloomquist crossed the line ahead of 11th starting Earl Pearson
Jr. of Jacksonville, FL. Pearson passed Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN on the
final lap for second. Owens saw his three-race win streak end by finishing
third. Eighteenth starting Matt Miller of Waterville, Oh finished fourth
followed by Doug Drown of Wooster, OH; who recorded his best ever LOLMDS
finish in fifth.
Red Buck Cigars Fast Qualifier Mark Burgtorf and Bloomquist made up the
front row for the eighth appearance for the LOLMDS at La Salle Speedway.
Bloomquist grabbed the early lead, setting the pace, followed by Burgtorf,
Mike Marlar, Drown and Ray Cook. Marlar challenged Drown for third as the
two went back-and-forth for three laps with Drown finally regaining the
spot.
Up front, Bloomquist held a narrow lead over Burgtorf, who was making his
first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series start of 2010. At the same time, a
tremendous battle for third was taking place between Drown, Marlar, and
Cook. Drown, who had broken away from Marlar, began to put the pressure on
Burgtorf for second by lap ten.
Drown cleared Burgtorf for second on lap eleven as he started to make a run
on the leader, Bloomquist. Bloomquist had started to pick-up the tail end of
the field by lap 15, allowing Drown to close even closer. Bloomquist put,
Quarter Master Rookie of the Year contender, Eric Wells, a lap down. Wells
then stayed between Bloomquist and Drown until the first caution of the race
came out on lap 25 for a spinning Dale McDowell.
On the restart, Bloomquist was out in front for the Delaware double-file
restart with Drown and Owens. With 30 laps in the books Bloomquist was
starting to receive some heavy heat from Owens and Pearson, who was now up
to third, as he had come from the inside of row number six. Matt Miller was
now in the hunt as the 18th starting spot driver had moved within striking
distance of the leaders.
A caution for debris on lap 36 slowed the field once more. Bloomquist had to
fight off challenges from both Owens and Pearson. On the restart Owens and
Pearson crowded Bloomquist on his deck lid as the duo made the Team Zero
captain work hard for the lead.
Owens tried lap after lap to sneak to the inside of Bloomquist coming off of
turn four. He pulled even with Bloomquist coming down the main straightaway
multiple times, but Owens could not clear Bloomquist to take over the lead.
With six laps to go, the final yellow came out for Steve Casebolt.
Bloomquist re-fired for the final restart of the race and pulled away from
Owens. Bloomquist went on unchallenged the remainder of the race to pick up
his fourth Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the season. The duo of
Bloomquist and Owens are now tied for the Lucas Oil Championship Points
Standings with 1565 points, and Pearson closely behind in third.
In the Sunoco Race Fuels Road to Wheatland Victory Lane, Bloomquist
mentioned that the last restart was to his benefit and felt that it killed
Owens' chance for the win. "The car fired real well out of the corner, we
had a push across the corner on the other side, I saw his nose a couple of
times before the caution, but under the caution we slowed down enough to
keep the tires warm, because I knew he (Owens) went with a little harder on
the left rear, I have to thank Tommy Hicks, my crew chief and the entire
crew, they did a great job getting this car ready, we've run the Jay Dickens
and the Vic Hill, both are great engines."
The 46-year-old Bloomquist drives his own Bloomquist Race Cars Monte Carlo
SS powered by a Vic Hill Racing Engine and sponsored by Miller Brothers
Construction/Hawkeye Trucking/Sweet Mfg/VP Racing Fuels/Hoosier
Tires/Arizona Sport Shirts/Ohlins and Lane Automotive.
Pearson finished second, passing Owens on the last lap, in the Bobby Labonte
Racing/Lucas Oil Products/MasterSbilt Dodge Charger to maintain third in the
points standings. Owens, who fell into a tie with Bloomquist for the points
lead after entering the event leading by 30, was third in the Mike
Reece/Reece Monument/Bloomquist Race Cars Ford Fusion.
Completing the top five were Miller, who charged from 18th to earn the PBM/Erson
Cams Hard Charger of the Race was fourth in the McCullough Industries/Gressman
Racing Engine/MasterSbilt; with Drown scoring his best ever Lucas Oil Late
Model Dirt Series finish in the Wooster Glass Company/Malcuit Racing
Engines/Lazer Chassis.
Completing the top ten were Dennis Erb, Jr. of Carpentersville, IL; Don
O'Neal of Martinsville, IN; Ray Cook of Brasstown,NC; Tim Isenberg of
Marshfield, WI; and John Blankenship of Williamson, WV.
For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log on
to www.lucasdirt.com or call the series office at (951) 532-2503.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Saturday Night, May 22nd, 2010
"Spring Shootout 50"
La Salle Speedway - La Salle, IL
Red Buck Cigars Fast Time: Mark Burgtorf / 13.243 seconds
Wiles Driveshaft's First Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Mark Brugtorf, Mike
Provenzano, Jason Hughes, Ryan Unzicker, Jason McBride, Kevin Weaver, Allen
Christy, Michael Walker, Randy Manos, Jr., Kerry Hansen, Will Vaught, Dan
Schlieper
AFCO Racing Products Second Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advances): Doug Drown, Jimmy
Owens, Earl Pearson, Jr., Mark Voigt, Bub McCool, Rich Bell, Chris Wall,
Bret Sievert, Mike Murphy, Gary Schalmo, John Provenzano, Gary Hunt
Allstar Performance Third Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Scott Bloomquist,
Ray Cook, Tim Isenberg, John Blankenship, Matt Miller, Brad Neat, Don
O'Neal, Steve Casebolt, Frank Heckenast., Jr., Jeff Larson, Brian Birkhofer,
Jeep VanWormer
SuperFlow Fourth Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Mike Marlar, Jason Feger,
Dale McDowell, Dennis Erb Jr., Mike Collins, Brian Shirley, Tyler Reddick,
Jimmy Mars, Jason Jaggers, Eric Wells, Shannon Babb, Todd Alexander-DNS
Hawk Brake First B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Transfers): Bub McCool, Chris Wall,
Kevin Weaver, Rich Bell, Jason McBride, Mike Murphy, Bret Sievert, Dan
Schlieper, Gary Schalmo, Will Vaught, Randy Manos, Jr., Kerry Hansen, Gary
Hunt, Allen Christy, Michael Walker, John Provenzano-DNS
Performance Rod and Custom (PRC) Second B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Transfers):
Matt Miller, Don O'Neal, Brad Neat, Steve Casebolt, Mike Collins, Brian
Shirley, Eric Wells, Tyler Reddick, Jeff Larson, Jason Jaggers, Frank
Heckenast, Jr., Shannon Babb, Jimmy Mars-DNS, Brian Birkhofer-DNS, Jeep
VanWormer-DNS, Todd Alexander-DNS
Finish - Start - Car Number - Driver Name - Hometown
FINISH START CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN
1 2 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
2 11 44 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL
3 7 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
4 18 7 Matt Miller Waterville, OH
5 3 12d Doug Drown Wooster, OH
6 16 28e Dennis Erb, Jr. Carpentersville, IL
7 20 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
8 6 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
9 10 9t Tim Isenberg Marshfield, WI
10 14 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
11 8 25f Jason Feger Bloomington, IL
12 17 57j Bub McCool Vicksburg, MS
13 1 7b Mark Burgtorf Quincy, IL
14 22 41n Brad Neat Dunnville, KY
15 19 71w Chris Wall Holden, LA
16 24 s9 Dan Schlieper Sullivan, WI
17 12 17m Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA
18 23 c9 Steve Casebolt Richmond, IN
19 25 18e Eric Wells Hazard, KY
20 4 157 Mike Marlar Winfield, TN
21 13 24 Ryan Unzicker El Paso, IL
22 21 b12 Kevin Weaver Gibson City, IL
23 9 12 Jason Hughes Watts, OK
24 15 30 Mark Voigt Marine, Il
25 5 m27 Mike Provenzano Grand Ridge, IL
Race Statistics
Entrants: 48
Lap Leaders: Scott Bloomquist (Laps 1-50)
Caution Flags: Lap 25 (Dale McDowell); Lap 36 (Debris); Lap 44 (Steve
Casebolt)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Steve Casebolt, Dan Schlieper
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisional: Eric Wells
PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race: Matt Miller (Started 18th; Finished
4th; Advanced 14 positions)
Ohlin's Shocks Performer of the Race: Doug Drown
K&N Filters Clean Pass of the Race: Matt Miller
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Tim Isenberg
Comp Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Vic Hill Racing Engines
Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award: Mike Marlar
DirtonDirt.com Crew Chief of the Race: Tommy Hicks (Scott Bloomquist)
E3 Spark Plugs TV Challenge All stars: n/a
Time of Race: 25 minutes, 14 seconds
Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:
POS CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN POINTS
1 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 1565
1 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN 1565
3 44 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL 1405
4 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN 1310
5 71w Chris Wall Holden, LA 1250
6 17m Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA 1220
7 c9 Steve Casebolt Richmond, IN 1190
8 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC 1185
9 s9 Dan Schlieper Sullivan, WI 1120
10 28e Dennis Erb, Jr. Carpentersville, IL 1085
11 18e Eric Wells Hazard, KY 1055
12 157 Mike Marlar Winfield, TN 1045
13 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV 1040
14 25f Jason Feger Bloomington, IL 1015
15 57j Bub McCool Vicksburg, MS 960
16 41n Brad Neat Dunnville, KY 940
16 1 Will Vaught Crane, MO 940
18 9t Tim Isenberg Marshfield, WI 875
19 3c Mike Collins Council Bluffs, IA 800
20 11t Tyler Reddick Corning, CA 770
21 64 Michael Walker Franklin, TN 705
2010 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Sponsors
ASI Racewear - "The Official Merchandise Vendor" of the Lucas Oil Late Model
Dirt Series
Canidae Pet Foods - "The Official Pet Foods" of the Lucas Oil Late Model
Dirt Series
DART Machinery - "The Official Engine Components" of the Lucas Oil Late
Model Dirt Series
E3 Spark Plugs - "The Official Spark Plug" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt
Series
Geico Power Sports - "The Official Insurance" of the Lucas Oil Late Model
Dirt Series
General Tire - "The Official Tire" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Hoosier Tire - "The Official Race Tire" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt
Series
K&N Filters - "The Official Filter" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Lucas Oil Products - "The Official Oil" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt
Series
Magnaflow Exhaust - "The Official Exhaust" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt
Series
MavTV - "The Official Men's Network" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
R&L Carrier - "The Official Carrier" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Rockstar Energy Drink - "The Official Drink" of the Lucas Oil Late Model
Dirt Series
Speedco - "The Official Truck Lube and Tire Center" of the Lucas Oil Late
Model Dirt Series
Sunoco Race Fuels - "The Official Fuel" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt
Series
2010 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Supporters Include: AFCO, Allstar
Performance, American Racer, Banshee Graphics, Bloomquist Race Cars, COMP
Cams, Cornett Racing Engines, Cruise with the Champions, Custom Race
Engines, DirtonDirt.com, Dominator Race Products, Dyers Top Rods, ECR Race
Engines, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, GRT Race Cars, Hawk Performance,
Hypercoil Springs, Jay Dickens Race Engines, JRi Shocks, Malcuit Race
Engines, MasterSbilt Chassis, Öhlins, Penske Shocks, PBM/Erson Cams,
Performance Bodies, Performance Rod & Custom, Pro Power Racing, Quarter
Master, Red Buck Cigars, Rhyne Race Engines, Rick Schwallie Photography,
Rocket Chassis, Safety Solutions, SuperFlow, Sweet Manufactuing, Vic Hill
Race Engines, Warrior Race Cars, Weld Racing Wheels, Wiles Drive Shafts,
Wrisco, WD Enterprises, 5150 Race Trailers.
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