7/4/2009
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
McDowell Welcomes New Sponsors in Winning Style by Taking Series Event at Volunteer Speedway
BULLS GAP, TN (July 4, 2009) – Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, GA; driving for NASCAR Cup driver Clint Bowyer; won his second Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event of the season on Saturday Night at Volunteer Speedway as the 43-year-old veteran driver took home $10,000 in the Reece Monument Company 60. Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN chased McDowell for the last 50 laps of the race but never could get enough momentum to pass McDowell even as the two battled in heavy traffic. Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN finished third followed by series point’s leader Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN and 23rd starting Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL who rallied late in the race after taking a series provisional as he came home in fifth.
McDowell earned the pole starting position for the main event by winning the first heat race. Chris Madden started alongside of McDowell in row number one. McDowell got the great start he was looking for as he beat Madden into the first corner. He quickly opened up a two car length over Madden with Owens running in third followed by 2008 track champion, Jeff Maupin and David Breazeale.
Scott Bloomquist, who started fourth, got off to a rough start as he banged the second turn wall, losing three spots on his first lap skirmish with the concrete. McDowell and Madden then set a blistering pace as the two started to fight with the tail end of the field just eight circuits into the race.
McDowell was having some trouble clearing traffic and that allowed Madden to stay close to his left rear quarter panel. Just after McDowell had cleared Ricky Arms putting him a lap down, Madden made contact with Arms and spun around in turn four. Madden showed his displeasure with Arms under caution as he felt Arms did not give him enough room to make a pass.
After the initial Delaware double-file restart of the race, the second caution flew for Mark Douglas who was running inside the top ten when he got caught up in a wreck in turn four and coming to a stop in the middle of turn four. McDowell lined up in front on the restart, with Owens and Maupin side-by-side behind him.
When the green came back out again McDowell continued his early race dominance by pulling away from Owens who had cleared Maupin for second. Maupin then had Don O’Neal and David Breazeale to contend with in a torrid race for third.
The third caution came out for former track champion Kerry Jones as he spun-out heading into turn one. On the restart, McDowell again showed his strength as he built a lead of three car lengths on Owens as O’Neal was all over Maupin in the race for third with Bloomquist re-entering the picture as he was now running in fifth.
McDowell clicked off lap after lap in consistent fashion and that put him up to the rear of the field once again with 26 laps scored. Owens took advantage of McDowell’s traffic issues as the leader had cars running two wide in front of him, making passing them difficult. At the halfway mark McDowell was still on the point followed by Owens, Maupin, O’Neal and Bloomquist.
While McDowell not only had to concentrate on heavy traffic in front of him, Owens was now breathing down his neck as the 2009 Dirt Late Model Dream Winner was now focused on passing McDowell. Owens tried for several laps to pull alongside McDowell, but never could get enough momentum in traffic as McDowell picked off cars slowly but surely thwarting Owens’ efforts.
With 15 laps to go, Owens was still there hounding McDowell as the two raced hard around the high-banked track, still having to contend with other cars they were trying to lap. A break in the battle for the lead came as a caution for Ray Cook on lap 49; momentarily halting what was shaping up to be quite a finish.
While under caution, Maupin who had driven a superb race up until that point pulled out the race with fuel pressure problems ending hopes of a top three finish. This was the fourth and final caution of the race which set up an eleven lap dash to the checkers.
McDowell again bolted away from the pack with clear race track as pulled away from Owens in the waning laps to score his second Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the season and his third career on the series tour as he maintained second in the championship points standings behind Scott Bloomquist.
In the Lucas Oil Victory Lane, McDowell commented on the traffic and finally getting that second win of the season after a flat tire cost him one a few weeks ago at Swainsboro, GA “Everyone is so equal here (at Bulls Gap), with the way the race track is shaped and the traffic played such a role, we’ve been on top of things all night long, as long as I could keep the lapped cars between us I knew it would be tough for him (Owens) to pass me, we’ve got new sponsors this week with Dollar General and General Mills we’d like to thank them for coming on board and this win is for them and Clint,” said McDowell.
“The Warrior car all year long has been good all year, Larry Clark with Custom Race Engines they’ve been strong as well and I want to thank Hoosier Tires, my crew Tommy Grecco and Caleb Bauer, they did a great job as always and thanks to the fans for coming out tonight, I didn’t know there for a while if we could get this done it with the rain, but it all worked out and hope everyone enjoyed the show.”
McDowell is also sponsored by Chevrolet, Scheck Industries, Cometic Gasket, Downs Transportation, Allstar Performance and Sunoco Race Fuels.
Completing the top ten were Joe Armes of Petros, TN, Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN, Eric Jacobsen of Seacliffe Beach, CA, Chris Madden of Gaffney, SC and David Breazeale of Four Corners ,MS.
To find out more about 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, July 4th, 2009
“Reece Monument Co. 60”
Volunteer Speedway – Bulls Gap, TN
PRC Fast Time: Rick Rogers / 12.289 seconds
Hawk Brake First Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Dale McDowell, Jeff Maupin, Mark Douglas, Steve Smith, John Blankenship, Ricky Arms, Jeff Neubert, Rick Rogers, Vic Hill, Herman Goddard
Hawk Brake Second Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Jimmy Owens, Dan Schlieper, Ray Cook, Steve Casebolt, Freddy Smith, Earl Pearson Jr., Terry Wolfenbarger, Marty Calloway, Michael Smith, Chris Brown
AFCO Racing Products Third Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Chris Madden, David Breazeale, Don O’Neal, Chad Ogle, randy Weaver, Kerry Jones, Brad Neat, Shon Flanary, Chris Chandler, Billy Ogle-DNS
Tiger Rear Ends Fourth Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Scott Bloomquist, Eric Jacobsen, Joe Armes, Tommy Kerr, Mike Marlar, Skip Arp, Dale Ball, Jensen Ford, Michael Walker, Mark Vineyard
Mason Racin’ Rebel Shock Dyno First B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): John Blankenship, Ricky Arms, Rick Rogers, Terry Wolfenbarger, Jeff Neubert, Marty Calloway, Michael Smith, Chris Brown, Freddy Smith, Vic Hill-DNS, Herman Goddard-DNS
Wiles Drive Shafts Second B-Main (12 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Randy Weaver, Mike Marlar, Kerry Jones, Skip Arp, Dale Ball, Brad Neat, Jensen Ford, Shon Flanary, Mark Vineyard, Michael Walker, Chris Chandler, Billy Ogle-DNS
Feature Finish (50 Laps): Dale McDowell, Jimmy Owens, Don O’Neal, Scott Bloomquist, Earl Pearson Jr., Joe Armes, Steve Casebolt, Eric Jacobsen, Chris Madden, David Breazeale, John Blankenship, Chad Ogle, Dan Schlieper, Tommy Kerr, Brad Neat, Jeff Maupin, Ray Cook, Steve Smith, Kerry jones, Rick Rogers, Mark Douglas, Mike Marlar, Ricky Arms, Randy Weaver
Race Statistics
Entries: 40
Caution Flags: Chris Madden (Lap 10); Mark Douglas (Lap 10); Kerry Jones (Lap 16); Ray Cook (Lap 49)
Lap Leaders: Dale McDowell (Laps 1-60)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Earl Pearson Jr., Brad Neat
PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race: Earl Pearson Jr. (Started 23rd, Finished 5th; Advanced 18 Postions)
Allstar Performance Performer of the Race: Steve Casebolt
K&N Filters Clean Pass of the Race: Don O’Neal
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: David Breazeale
Comp Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Custom Racing Engines
Time of the Race: 36 minutes 8 seconds
Submitted By: Jeremy Shields