9/18/2022
Fifth-place finish for EPJ in Knoxville Nationals finale
Earl Pearson Jr. followed the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS) to Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, Iowa) on Thursday evening for the 18th annual Knoxville Nationals opener. (Heath Lawson photos)
With 48 Late Models on the grounds for a pair of prelims leading up to Saturday’s main event, Pearson clocked in fourth-fastest in his group before placing third in his heat. Inching forward two spots in the 25-lap feature, Earl notched a second-place finish, which came behind Shane Clanton with Jonathan Davenport rounding out the podium.
On Friday, Earl’s fifth-to-third run in his heat race positioned him on the second row for the $7,000-to-win preliminary feature. Fading outside the Top-10 in the 25-lapper, Pearson Jr. crossed the line in 12th.
Earning the fifth-starting position for Sunday’s rain-delayed $50,000-to-win Knoxville Nationals finale via passing points from Thursday and Friday’s prelims, Pearson ran second laps 22-43 but dropped to fifth when the checkered flag flew in the 50-lap affair. He trailed Jonathan Davenport, Tyler Bruening, Brandon Sheppard, and Ricky Thornton Jr. to the checkers.
Earl remains in fifth in the latest LOLMDS point standings.
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