“Rocket Man” Richards Takes Off on First Night of Late Model Nationals!
Thursday, September 26, 2013 “Rocket Man” Richards Takes Off on First Night of Late Model Nationals!
by Bill Wright
KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA, September 26, 2013 – Josh Richards emerged victorious on night #1 of the Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals at the Knoxville Raceway. The Shinnston, West Virginia native earned $7,000 for his win, his second overall at the famous half-mile. It was his first appearance here in three years.
Pole-sitter Brandon Sheppard led the 25-lapper in the early going. Richard moved by Jared Landers into second on lap two, and Darrell Lanigan took third on the fourth circuit. The first caution of the night came out on lap seven when Dennis Erb Jr. and Joel Callahan collided, collecting Jimmy Owens.
Richards shot under Sheppard on the restart to take the lead with Lanigan in tow. Jason Feger moved into third on lap ten before Scott Bloomquist came to a stop on the frontstretch with fourteen laps in. Dale McDowell and Feger traded third a couple of times in a good battle, but Richards stayed on the point through a last restart for a stopped Frank Heckenast Jr. who was running ninth on lap 17.
Richards recorded the win ahead of Lanigan, Feger, McDowell and Bub McCool. Billy Moyer, Chad Simpson, hard-charger John Blankenship, Sheppard and Earl Pearson Jr. completed the top ten. McDowell was high point man on the night.
Don O’Neal and McDowell recorded quick times in their respective groups, while Moyer, McCool, Callahan, Tony Jackson Jr., Morgan Bagley and Steve Francis claimed heat races. Ryan Gustin claimed the D main, Shannon Babb won the C and Eddie Carrier Jr. won the B.
“I love this racetrack,” said Richards in Victory Lane. “Everyone here does a phenomenal job. We were a little tight early in the night. Brandon was doing a good job. We had good track position on the restart. I feel like we have a really good car for Saturday night, and we’ll definitely take the win tonight.”
Join us tomorrow night for night #2 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. 71, Don O’Neal, Martinsville, IN (2), 17.363; 2. 19R, Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, IA (23), 17.368; 3. 0, Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, TN (8), 17.436; 4. 25, Jason Feger, Bloomington, IL (33), 17.641; 5. 23, John Blankenship, Morristown, TN (6), 17.735; 6. 99JR, Frank Heckenast Jr., Frankfurt, IL (11), 17.740; 7. 5, Jared Landers, Lexington, NC (5), 17.798; 8. 18, Chase Junghans, Manhattan, KS (17), 17.804; 9. 5B, Mike Marlar, Winfield, TN (1), 17.841; 10. 98, Jason Rauen, Farley, IA (18), 17.925; 11. 32s, Chris Simpson, Marion, IA (21), 17.938; 12. B5, Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, IL (14), 18.013; 13. 21, Billy Moyer, Batesville, AR (24), 18.086; 14. 11, Austin Hubbard, Laurel, DE (4), 18.099; 15. 16, Tyler Bruening, Decorah, IA (9), 18.176; 16. 58x, Ray Guss Jr., East Moline, IL (15), 18.200; 17. 57J, Bub McCool, Vicksburg, MS (36), 18.221; 18. 58, Dave Eckrich, Oxford, IA (10), 18.259; 19. 20x, Rodney Sanders, Happy, TX (22), 18.277; 20. 24, Ryan Unzicker, El Paso, IL (13), 18.281; 21. 40, Joel Callahan, Dubuque, IA (3), 18.295; 22. 15R, Brian Harris, Davenport, IA (30), 18.331; 23. 56, Chris Spieker, Massena, IA (28), 18.374; 24. 7R, Kent Robinson, Bloomington, IN (26), 18.406; 25. 22, Charlie McKenna, Clear Lake, IA (27), 18.456; 26. 39, Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY (35), 18.590; 27. 3x, Skip Frey, Ely, IA (12), 18.674; 28. 7, Ricky Weiss, Headingley, MB, Can. (31), 18.705; 29. 15B, Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, IA (20), 18.707; 30. 58D, AJ Diemel, Elk Mound, WI (29), 19.136; 31. 77A, Dustin Walker, Peculiar, MO (19), 19.139; 32. s1, Michael Smith, Vienna, WV (32), 19.203; 33. 83, Dennis Vandermeesch, Springfield, IL (34), 19.730; 34. 15c, Curt Schroeder, Ames, IA (25), 20.146; 35. 51E, Stewart Hayward, Calgary, ALB, Can. (7), 20.414; 36. 27, Greg Kimmons, Pleasant Plains, IL (16), 20.909.
Group B Time Trials (Qualifying Order), 2 laps: 1. 17M, Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, GA (4), 17.718; 2. 00, Jesse Stovall, Billings, MO (36), 17.774; 3. 3s, Brian Shirley, Chatham, IL (22), 17.882; 4. 28, Eddie Carrier Jr., Salt Rock, WV (12), 17.894; 5. 20, Jimmy Owens, Newport, TN (14), 17.932; 6. 29x, Darrell Lanigan, Union, KY (11), 17.975; 7. 50, Denny Eckrich, Oxford, IA (6), 18.007; 8. 1, Josh Richards, Shinnston, WV (29), 18.101; 9. 28M, Jimmy Mars, Menomonie, WI (26), 18.125; 10. 44, Earl Pearson Jr., Trinity, NC (19), 18.132; 11. 77m, Jason McBride, Carbondale, IL (28), 18.167; 12. 15K, Justin Kay, Wheatland, IA (18), 18.184; 13. 31, Jason Utter, Columbus Junction, IA (15), 18.195; 14. 25x, Chad Simpson, Mount Vernon, IA (9), 18.288; 15. 15, Steve Francis, Ashland, KY (24), 18.306; 16. 18B, Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, IL (30), 18.320; 17. 2, Brady Smith, Solon Springs, WI (1), 18.322; 18. 21JR, Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville, AR (33), 18.328; 20. 14m, Morgan Bagley, Longview, TX (3), 18.340; 21. 29, Spencer Diercks, Davenport, IA (32), 18.411; 22. 51, Matt Furman, Columbus, OH (13), 18.485; 23. 48, Tim Lance, Brimfield, IL (10), 18.592; 24. 28E, Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, IL (17), 18.593; 25. 75, Terry Phillips, Springfield, MO (8), 18.597; 26. 48x, Steve Lance Jr., Cuba, IL (5), 18.641; 27. 21T, Travis Dickes, Madison, NE (34), 18.736; 28. 21B, Rich Bell, Sheffield, IL (23), 18.753; 29. 9T, Tim Isenberg, Marshfield, WI (16), 18.782; 30. 93, Jay Johnson, West Burlington, IA (20), 18.890; 31. 22B, Jonathan Brauns, Muscatine, IA (25), 18.894; 32. 99D, Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown, IA (21), 19.136; 33. R21, Ray Sveeggen, Beresford, SD (2), 19.965; 34. 32J, Jason Jaggers, Wyanet, IL (7), NT; 35. 5m, Mike Fryer, Freeport, IL (31), NT; 36. 56E, Andy Eckrich, Iowa City, IA (35), NT.
Group A Heat one (started), 12 laps, NT: 1. Billy Moyer (4); 2. Jared Landers (6); 3. Jason Feger (7) / 4. Don ONeal (8); 5. Jason Rauen (5); 6. Charlie McKenna (9) / 7. Ricky Weiss (10); 8. Ray Guss Jr. (3); 9. Dustin Walker (11) / 10. Brian Harris (1); 11. Curt Schroeder (12); 12. Rodney Sanders (2);
Group A Heat two (started), 12 laps, NT: 1. Bub McCool (3); 2. Ryan Unzicker (2); 3. Austin Hubbard (4) / 4. John Blankenship (7); 5. Brian Birkhofer (10); 6. Chase Junghans (6) / 7. Chris Simpson (5); 8. Chris Spieker (1); 9. Michael Smith (11) / 10. Stewart Hayward (12); 11. Tim McCreadie (9); 12. Ryan Gustin (8);
Group A Heat three (started), 12 laps, 4:01.3: 1. Joel Callahan (2); 2. Brandon Sheppard (5); 3. Frank Heckenast Jr. (7) / 4. Kent Robinson (1); 5. Scott Bloomquist (8); 6. Dave Eckrich (3) / 7. Mike Marlar (6); 8. AJ Diemel (10); 9. Tyler Bruening (4) / 10. Skip Frey (9); 11. Dennis Vandermeesch (11); 12. Greg Kimmons (12)
Group B Heat one (started), 12 laps, NT: 1. Tony Jackson Jr. (2); 2. Dale McDowell (8); 3. Jason Utter (4) / 4. Eddie Carrier Jr. (7); 5. Earl Pearson Jr. (5); 6. Denny Eckrich (6) / 7. Shannon Babb (3); 8. Terry Phillips (9); 9. Jonathan Brauns (11) / 10. Rich Bell (10); 11. Matt Furman (1); DNS – Jason Jaggers
Group B Heat two (started), 12 laps, NT: 1. Morgan Bagley (2); 2. Josh Richards (6); 3. Chad Simpson (4) / 4. Brady Smith (3); 5. Jimmy Owens (7); 6. Jason McBride (5) / 7. Tim Lance (1); 8. Darrel DeFrance (11); 9. Tim Isenberg (10) / 10. Steve Lance Jr. (9); 11. Jesse Stovall (8); DNS – Mike Fryer
Group B Heat three (started), 12 laps, 3:55.7: 1. Steve Francis (4); 2. Darrell Lanigan (7); 3. Dennis Erb Jr. (1) / 4. Jimmy Mars (6); 5. Justin Kay (5); 6. Billy Moyer Jr. (3) / 7. Brian Shirley (8); 8. Travis Dickes (9); 9. Jay Johnson (10) / 10. Ray Sveeggen (11); 11. Spencer Diercks (2); DNS – Andy Eckrich
D main (started), 10 laps, 3:12.0 (NTR): 1. Ryan Gustin (1); 2. Rodney Sanders (3); 3. Tim McCreadie (5); 4. Matt Furman (4) / 5. Spencer Diercks (2); 6. Rich Bell (8); 7. Mike Fryer (12); 8. Skip Frey (7); 9. Dennis Vandermeesch (9); 10. Ray Sveeggen (10); 11. Curt Schroeder (11); 12. Stewart Hayward (13); 13. Greg Kimmons (14); 14. Steve Lance Jr. (6); DNS – Jesse Stovall, Brian Harris, Jason Jaggers, Andy Eckrich
C main (started), 12 laps, NT: 1. Shannon Babb (4); 2. Mike Marlar (1); 3. Brian Shirley (2); 4. Terry Phillips (8) / 5. Ryan Gustin (17); 6. Tim Lance (6); 7. Tyler Bruening (5); 8. Chris Spieker (9); 9. Travis Dickes (10); 10. Tim Isenberg (12); 11. Jay Johnson (14); 12. Rodney Sanders (20); 13. Matt Furman (21); 14. AJ Diemel (13); 15. Michael Smith (15); 16. Darrel DeFrance (18); 17. Ricky Weiss (11); 18. Ray Guss Jr. (7); 19. Jonathan Brauns (16); 20. Tim McCreadie (19); 21. Chris Simpson (3); DNS – Dustin Walker
B main (started), 15 laps, 4:59.9: 1. Eddie Carrier Jr. (2); 2. Don ONeal (1); 3. Jimmy Owens (4); 4. Scott Bloomquist (3); 5. John Blankenship (5); 6. Earl Pearson Jr. (10) / 7. Denny Eckrich (6); 8. Jimmy Mars (8); 10. Jason McBride (12); 11. Jason Rauen (9); 12. Mike Marlar (20); 13. Brady Smith (16); 14. Billy Moyer Jr. (18); 15. Justin Kay (14); 16. Kent Robinson (13); 17. Shannon Babb (19); 18. Brian Birkhofer (17); 19. Dave Eckrich (11); 20. Charlie McKenna (15); 21. Brian Shirley (21); 22. Terry Phillips (22)
A main (started), 25 laps, NT: 1. Josh Richards (4); 2. Darrell Lanigan (6); 3. Jason Feger (7); 4. Dale McDowell (8); 5. Bub McCool (13); 6. Billy Moyer (9); 7. Chad Simpson (10); 8. John Blankenship (23); 9. Brandon Sheppard (1); 10. Earl Pearson Jr. (24); 11. Don ONeal (20); 12. Steve Francis (12); 13. Morgan Bagley (16); 14. Eddie Carrier Jr. (19); 15. Jason Utter (2); 16. Jared Landers (3); 17. Tony Jackson Jr. (14); 18. Ryan Unzicker (15); 19. Frank Heckenast Jr. (5); 20. Scott Bloomquist (22); 21. Austin Hubbard (11); 22. Joel Callahan (17); 23. Dennis Erb Jr. (18); 24. Jimmy Owens (21). Lap Leaders: Sheppard 1-7, Richards 8-25. Hard-charger: Blankenship.
Thursday Night Points
1. 17M, Dale McDowell 491
2. 29x, Darrell Lanigan 485
3. 25, Jason Feger 484
4. 1, Josh Richards 483
5. 71, Don O’Neal 471
6. 23, John Blankenship 469
7. 21, Billy Moyer 466
8. 57J, Bub McCool 460
9. B5, Brandon Sheppard 459
10. 28, Eddie Carrier Jr. 459
11. 25x, Chad Simpson 456
12. 5, Jared Landers 455
13. 44, Earl Pearson Jr. 452
14. 15, Steve Francis 450
15. 99JR, Frank Heckenast Jr. 448
16. 0, Scott Bloomquist 446
17. 31, Jason Utter 442
18. 14m, Morgan Bagley 438
19. 20, Jimmy Owens 434
20. 56J, Tony Jackson Jr. 432
21. 11, Austin Hubbard 428
22. 24, Ryan Unzicker 425
23. 40, Joel Callahan 418
24. 50, Denny Eckrich 411
25. 28M, Jimmy Mars 411
26. 18, Chase Junghans 405
27. 28E, Dennis Erb Jr. 404
28. 98, Jason Rauen 400
29. 77m, Jason McBride 397
30. 5B, Mike Marlar 394
31. 15K, Justin Kay 388
32. 3s, Brian Shirley 388
33. 2, Brady Smith 385
34. 21JR, Billy Moyer Jr. 375
35. 18B, Shannon Babb 370
36. 7R, Kent Robinson 365
37. 58, Dave Eckrich 365
38. 19R, Ryan Gustin 357
39. 22, Charlie McKenna 349
40. 15B, Brian Birkhofer 348
41. 75, Terry Phillips 339
42. 16, Tyler Bruening 336
43. 48, Tim Lance 328
44. 32s, Chris Simpson 322
45. 56, Chris Spieker 321
46. 58x, Ray Guss Jr. 315
47. 21T, Travis Dickes 311
48. 20x, Rodney Sanders 309
49. 51, Matt Furman 304
50. 9T, Tim Isenberg 302
51. 93, Jay Johnson 298
52. 7, Ricky Weiss 296
53. 58D, AJ Diemel 295
54. 00, Jesse Stovall 290
55. 99D, Darrel DeFrance 287
56. S1, Michael Smith 286
57. 39, Tim McCreadie 282
58. 22B, Jonathan Brauns 280
59. 77A, Dustin Walker 274
60. 29, Spencer Diercks 272
61. 21B, Rich Bell 259
62. 3x, Skip Frey 257
63. 15R, Brian Harris 251
64. 48x, Steve Lance Jr. 247
65. R21, Ray Sveeggen 241
66. 83, Dennis Vandermeersch 240
67. 5M, Mike Fryer 247
68. 15c, Curt Schroeder 234
69. 51E, Stewart Heyward 233
70. 27, Greg Kimmons 223
71. 32J, Jason Jaggers 219
72. 56E, Andy Eckrich 213
Category: Iowa, Knoxville Raceway
