Richards Dominates Again on Night #2 of the Knoxville Late Model Nationals!

Knoxville, IA (September 27, 2013) – The “Rocket Man”, Josh Richards, dominated the feature event on night #2 of the Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals Friday night at the Knoxville Raceway. He has put himself in position for a sweep of the event, as he will start outside of row one beside Dale McDowell in Saturday night’s $40,000 to win finale.

Jimmy Owens led at the outset of Friday night’s 25-lap main event. When the third place car of McDowell retired on lap four with a flat tire, Owens led Earl Pearson Jr., AJ Diemel, Richards and Darrell Lanigan.

Owens had take-off problems on the restart and Diemel shot into the lead. A lap later, contact between Richards and Lanigan sent the latter sideways and brought out the caution. The restart following the yellow flag period was chaotic and saw Billy Moyer, Don O’Neal, Shannon Babb and Chad Simpson retire.

Once under green, Richards took command on the high side. He grabbed third from Owens on lap six, second from Pearson on lap seven, and took the lead from Diemel on lap nine. At the halfway point, he led Diemel, Owens, Pearson and Scott Bloomquist.

Owens shot by Diemel on lap eighteen for second, before Chris Simpson stopped to bring out the race’s final caution on lap twenty. It didn’t phase Richards, who pulled away to win for the second night in a row and the third time in his career here. Owens was second, ahead of Diemel, Pearson and hard-charger, Tim McCreadie. Steve Francis, Jimmy Mars, Jason Feger, Ryan Gustin and John Blankenship rounded out the top ten.

Gustin posted quick time on the night, while Brady Smith, Francis, Chris Simpson, Ryan Unzicker, Lanigan and Babb won the heats. Denny Eckrich won the D, while Jason Rauen took the C and Gustin claimed the B.

“I slipped up off of two, and I lost a ton of ground,” said Richards of the final restart with five laps to go. “I had to stay on the cushion to keep it rolling. I thought I could hear somebody, but I knew if I got back on top and kept it rolling, I’d be o.k.”

Join us tomorrow night for final night of the Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals! For more information, visit www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com!

Late Models Results

Group A Time Trials (Qualifying Order), 2 laps: 1. 19R, Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, IA (20), 17.941; 2. 31, Jason Utter, Columbus Junction, IA (13), 17.946; 3. 0, Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, TN (3), 18.026; 4. 28M, Jimmy Mars, Menomonie, WI (12), 18.039; 5. 58D, AJ Diemel, Elk Mound, WI (16), 18.157; 6. 15K, Justin Kay, Wheatland, IA (6), 18.197; 7. 98, Jason Rauen, Farley, IA (14), 18.228; 8. 44, Earl Pearson Jr., Trinity, NC (25), 18.255; 9. 50, Denny Eckrich, Oxford, IA (28), 18.264; 10. 7, Ricky Weiss, Headingley, MB, Can. (1), 18.343; 11. 48, Tim Lance, Brimfield, IL (35), 18.359; 12. 32s, Chris Simpson, Marion, IA (5), 18.378; 13. 2, Brady Smith, Solon Springs, WI (27), 18.467; 14. 14m, Morgan Bagley, Longview, TX (29), 18.496; 15. 20x, Rodney Sanders, Happy, TX (11), 18.576; 16. 99JR, Frank Heckenast Jr., Frankfurt, IL (31), 18.585; 17. 56J, Tony Jackson Jr., Lebanon, MO (8), 18.611; 18. 11, Austin Hubbard, Laurel, DE (19), 18.611; 19. 25, Jason Feger, Bloomington, IL (9), 18.618; 20. 15, Steve Francis, Ashland, KY (21), 18.633; 21. 21B, Rich Bell, Sheffield, IL (32), 18.683; 22. 18, Chase Junghans, Manhattan, KS (22), 18.731; 23. 9T, Tim Isenberg, Marshfield, WI (4), 18.748; 24. 5m, Mike Fryer, Freeport, IL (30), 18.765; 25. 57J, Bub McCool, Vicksburg, MS (26), 18.818; 26. 99D, Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown, IA (18), 18.877; 27. 3x, Skip Frey, Ely, IA (33), 18.893; 28. 22B, Jonathan Brauns, Muscatine, IA (10), 18.896; 29. 21T, Travis Dickes, Madison, NE (17), 18.909; 30. 58, Dave Eckrich, Oxford, IA (23), 18.915; 31. 22, Charlie McKenna, Clear Lake, IA (15), 19.050; 32. 27, Greg Kimmons, Pleasant Plains, IL (34), 19.320; 33. 15c, Curt Schroeder, Ames, IA (7), 19.689; 34. s1, Michael Smith, Vienna, WV (24), 19.915; 35. 51E, Stewart Hayward, Calgary, ALB, Can. (2), 20.063   Group B Time Trials (Qualifying Order), 2 laps: 1. 23, John Blankenship, Morristown, TN (28), 18.021; 2. 29x, Darrell Lanigan, Union, KY (5), 18.031; 3. 7R, Kent Robinson, Bloomington, IN (12), 18.159; 4. 39, Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY (7), 18.168; 5. 5, Jared Landers, Lexington, NC (23), 18.184; 6. 1, Josh Richards, Shinnston, WV (3), 18.248; 7. 75, Terry Phillips, Springfield, MO (17), 18.351; 8. 3s, Brian Shirley, Chatham, IL (20), 18.389; 9. 71, Don ONeal, Martinsville, IN (14), 18.420; 10. 16, Tyler Bruening, Decorah, IA (1), 18.526; 11. 17M, Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, GA (6), 18.534; 12. 20, Jimmy Owens, Newport, TN (35), 18.562; 13. 21, Billy Moyer, Batesville, AR (31), 18.581; 14. 25x, Chad Simpson, Mount Vernon, IA (30), 18.595; 15. 18B, Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, IL (29), 18.598; 16. 77m, Jason McBride, Carbondale, IL (11), 18.607; 17. B5, Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, IL (8), 18.669; 18. 56E, Andy Eckrich, Iowa City, IA (22), 18.685; 19. 24, Ryan Unzicker, El Paso, IL (19), 18.804; 20. 32J, Jason Jaggers, Wyanet, IL (21), 18.825; 21. 29, Spencer Diercks, Davenport, IA (26), 18.832; 22. 51, Matt Furman, Columbus, OH (34), 18.840; 23. 28, Eddie Carrier Jr., Salt Rock, WV (27), 18.864; 24. 21JR, Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville, AR (16), 18.867; 25. 5B, Mike Marlar, Winfield, TN (18), 18.905; 26. 48x, Steve Lance Jr., Cuba, IL (2), 18.962; 27. 56, Chris Spieker, Massena, IA (25), 19.019; 28. 28E, Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, IL (33), 19.019; 29. 58x, Ray Guss Jr., East Moline, IL (24), 19.075; 30. 93, Jay Johnson, West Burlington, IA (4), 19.212; 31. 40, Joel Callahan, Dubuque, IA (10), 19.237; 32. 15B, Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, IA (9), 19.282; 33. R21, Ray Sveeggen, Beresford, SD (13), 19.378; 34. 77A, Dustin Walker, Peculiar, MO (32), 19.791; 35. 83, Dennis Vandermeesch, Springfield, IL (15), 19.816

Group A Heat one (started), 12 laps, NT: 1. Brady Smith (4); 2. Jason Feger (2); 3. Jimmy Mars (7) / 4. Ricky Weiss (5); 5. Ryan Gustin (8); 6. Chase Junghans (1) / 7. Bub McCool (9); 8. Jason Rauen (6); 9. Charlie McKenna (11) / 10. Jonathan Brauns (10); 11. Michael Smith (12); 12. Frank Heckenast Jr. (3)

Group A Heat two (started), 12 laps, 3:49.6: 1. Steve Francis (2); 2. AJ Diemel (7); 3. Earl Pearson Jr. (6) / 4. Morgan Bagley (4); 5. Jason Utter (8); 6. Tony Jackson Jr. (3) / 7. Tim Lance (5); 8. Travis Dickes (10); 9. Darrel DeFrance (9) / 10. Greg Kimmons (11); 11. Tim Isenberg (1); 12. Stewart Hayward (12)

Group A Heat three (started), 12 laps, NT: 1. Chris Simpson (5); 2. Scott Bloomquist (8); 3. Rodney Sanders (4) / 4. Rich Bell (2); 5. Justin Kay (7); 6. Austin Hubbard (3) / 7. Mike Fryer (1); 8. Skip Frey (9); 9. Dave Eckrich (10) / 10. Curt Schroeder (11); 11. Denny Eckrich (6)   Group B Heat one (started), 12 laps, NT: 1. Ryan Unzicker (2); 2. Billy Moyer (4); 3. Matt Furman (1) / 4. Tim McCreadie (7); 5. John Blankenship (8); 6. Mike Marlar (9) / 7. Dennis Erb Jr. (10); 8. Terry Phillips (6); 9. Jason McBride (3) / 10. Tyler Bruening (5); 11. Dustin Walker (12); 12. Joel Callahan (11)

Group B Heat two (started), 12 laps, NT: 1. Darrell Lanigan (8); 2. Eddie Carrier Jr. (1); 3. Dale McDowell (5) / 4. Chad Simpson (4); 5. Brandon Sheppard (3); 6. Brian Birkhofer (11) / 7. Jared Landers (7); 8. Jason Jaggers (2); 9. Ray Guss Jr. (10) / 10. Steve Lance Jr. (9); 11. Brian Shirley (6); 12. Dennis Vandermeesch (12)

Group B Heat three (started), 12 laps, NT: 1. Shannon Babb (4); 2. Josh Richards (7); 3. Jimmy Owens (5) / 4. Don ONeal (6); 5. Andy Eckrich (3); 6. Billy Moyer Jr. (1) / 7. Jay Johnson (10); 8. Spencer Diercks (2); 9. Ray Sveeggen (11) / 10. Kent Robinson (8); 11. Chris Spieker (9)

D main (started), 10 laps, NT: 1. Denny Eckrich (1); 2. Steve Lance Jr. (8); 3. Tyler Bruening (6); 4. Michael Smith (9) / 5. Kent Robinson (2); 6. Greg Kimmons (5); 7. Tim Isenberg (3); 8. Curt Schroeder (7); 9. Dustin Walker (12); 10. Joel Callahan (10); 11. Dennis Vandermeesch (13); 12. Stewart Hayward (11); 13. Brian Shirley (4); DNS – Frank Heckenast Jr., Jonathan Brauns, Chris Spieker

C main (started), 12 laps, 4:12.0: 1. Jason Rauen (1); 2. Jared Landers (2); 3. Terry Phillips (4); 4. Jason McBride (6) / 5. Bub McCool (7); 6. Tim Lance (3); 7. Mike Fryer (5); 8. Dennis Erb Jr. (12); 9. Jason Jaggers (8); 10. Ray Guss Jr. (14); 11. Spencer Diercks (10); 12. Dave Eckrich (15); 13. Denny Eckrich (19); 14. Travis Dickes (13); 15. Jay Johnson (16); 16. Tyler Bruening (21); 17. Darrel DeFrance (9); 18. Michael Smith (22); 19. Charlie McKenna (17); 20. Steve Lance Jr. (20); 21. Ray Sveeggen (18); 22. Skip Frey (11)

B main (started), 15 laps, 5:05.7: 1. Ryan Gustin (1); 2. John Blankenship (2); 3. Tim McCreadie (4); 4. Jason Utter (3); 5. Chad Simpson (8); 6. Don ONeal (6); 7. Brandon Sheppard (10); 8. Ricky Weiss (7); 9. Justin Kay (5); 10. Morgan Bagley (9); 11. Brian Birkhofer (18); 12. Andy Eckrich (12); 13. Tony Jackson Jr. (11); 16. Billy Moyer Jr. (14); 17. Mike Marlar (16); 19. Chase Junghans (17); 20. Rich Bell (15); 21. Austin Hubbard (13) DNS – Jared Landers

A main (started), 25 laps, NT: 1. Josh Richards (6); 2. Jimmy Owens (2); 3. AJ Diemel (3); 4. Earl Pearson Jr. (1); 5. Tim McCreadie (21); 6. Steve Francis (17); 7. Jimmy Mars (5); 8. Jason Feger (15); 9. Ryan Gustin (19); 10. John Blankenship (20); 11. Scott Bloomquist (7); 12. Brady Smith (11); 13. Jason Utter (22); 14. Eddie Carrier Jr. (18); 15. Chris Simpson (9); 16. Matt Furman (16); 17. Ryan Unzicker (14); 18. Rodney Sanders (13); 19. Darrell Lanigan (8); 20. Billy Moyer (10); 21. Shannon Babb (12); 22. Don ONeal (24); 23. Chad Simpson (23); 24. Dale McDowell (4). Lap Leaders: Owens 1-4, Diemel 5-8, Richards 9-25. Hard-charger: McCreadie.

10th Annual Lucas Oil Late Model Championship Lineups

A main

1. 17m, Dale McDowell 491 2. 1, Josh Richards 487 3. 29x, Darrell Lanigan 485 4. 58D, AJ Diemel 485 5. 25, Jason Feger 484 6. 39, Tim McCreadie 477 7. 28M, Jimmy Mars 476 8. 44, Earl Pearson Jr. 474 9. 0, Scott Bloomquist 473 10. 19R, Ryan Gustin 472 11. 71, Don O’Neal 471 12. 23, John Blankenship 470 13. 20, Jimmy Owens 470 14. 21, Billy Moyer 466 15. 31, Jason Utter 462 16. 57J, Bub McCool 460 17. 28, Eddie Carrier Jr. 459 18. B5, Brandon Sheppard 459 19. 25x, Chad Simpson 456 20. 5, Jared Landers 455 21. 2, Brady Smith 454 22. 15, Steve Francis 452 23. 32x, Chris Simpson 450 24. 99JR, Frank Heckenast Jr. 448

B main

1. 14m, Morgan Bagley 438 2. 24, Ryan Unzicker 432 3. 56J, Tony Jackson Jr. 432 4. 18B, Shannon Babb 432 5. 20x, Rodney Sanders 432 6. 11, Austin Hubbard 428 7. 51, Matt Furman 422 8. 40, Joel Callahan 418 9. 15K, Justin Kay 412 10. 50, Denny Eckrich 411 11. 7, Ricky Weiss 409 12. 18, Chase Junghans 405 13. 28E, Dennis Erb Jr. 404 14. 98, Jason Rauen 400 15. 77m, Jason McBride 397 16. 5B, Mike Marlar 394 17. 75, Terry Phillips 391 18. 3s, Brian Shirley 388

C main

1. 56E, Andy Eckrich 382 2. 21JR, Billy Moyer Jr. 375 3. 7R, Kent Robinson 365 4. 158E, Dave Eckrich 365 5. 21B, Rich Bell 363 6. 15B, Brian Birkhofer 353 7. 48, Tim Lance 352 8. 22, Charlie McKenna 349 9. 16, Tyler Bruening 336 10. 32J, Jason Jaggers 325 11. 5m, Mike Fryer 324 12. 56, Chris Spieker 321 13. 29, Spencer Diercks 319 14. 58x, Ray Guss Jr. 315 15. 21T, Travis Dickes 311 16. 9T, Tim Isenberg 302 17. 93, Jay Johnson 298 18. 99D, Darrel DeFrance 294

D main

1. 00, Jesse Stovall 290 2. S1, Michael Smith 286 3. 3x, Skip Frey 285 4. 48x, Steve Lance Jr. 285 5. 22B, Jonathan Brauns 280 6. 77A, Dustin Walker 274 7. R21, Ray Sveeggen 272 8. 27, Greg Kimmons 251 9. 15R, Brian Harris 251 10. 15c, Curt Schroeder 245 11. 83, Dennis Vandermeersch 240 12. 51E, Stewart Hayward 233

Category: Iowa, Knoxville Raceway