6/4/2010
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Brad Neat Takes Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Event Friday Night at Tazewell
TAZEWELL, TN (June 4, 2010) – Taking the lead on lap 17, Brad Neat of Dunnville, KY held on for nearly 60 laps to score his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of 2010 in the Toyota Knoxville 75 on Friday Night at Tazewell Speedway. Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN tried valiantly to get by Neat, but he had to settle for second. LOLMDS points’ leader, Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN held the third spot followed by Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville, TN and Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN.
Rodney Kiker and Casebolt made up the front row of the 10,000 to win 75-lap Toyota Knoxville 75 held before a huge crowd. Kiker started off quickly, grabbing the point on the opening lap as Neat, who started third moved into second ahead of Casebolt, Ogle, and Bloomquist. Kiker looked very good in the early laps of the race. Kiker held a three-car length lead over Neat and Casebolt in the first five laps of the race. Kiker then started to hit heavy traffic by lap 12 and his lead shrank to a car length as he had Neat and Casebolt breathing down his neck. In traffic, Neat overtook Kiker for the top spot on lap 17 and two circuits later Casebolt went by Kiker for second.
Kiker then began to fade even more as Ogle passed him on lap 20 for third. The first caution of the race came out on lap 24 for Mike Marlar’s flat tire. On the restart, Neat led the field to green, with Casebolt and Ogle lined up side-by-side for the restart.
The restart saw Ogle lose a spot to Bloomquist for third as the two frontrunners started to pull away. Casebolt kept the heat on Neat for several more laps until lap 41 when he was able to pull alongside Neat momentarily in the race for the lead. Neat was up to the challenge as he beat Casebolt to line to continue to stay in the lead. The top five with 45 laps scored remained Neat, Casebolt, Bloomquist, Ogle, and O’Neal. The top five were all running on the same straightaway as Neat started to get into heavy traffic once again.
With 25 laps remaining, Casebolt was all over Neat, he tried both low and high on the race track to get by Neat, but Neat held his line as he fought off repeated challenges from Casebolt. The second and final caution came out for Kiker’s flat tire on lap 54. Neat led the single file restart to the green. He quickly opened up a four car-length advantage over Casebolt with 15 laps to go. Neat looked to be in control of the race until he entered traffic again. Casebolt picked up the pace and closed right onto Neat’s deck lid in the final few laps.
Casebolt repeatedly put the pressure on Neat, waiting for him to make a mistake. Bloomquist closed on Casebolt as but held off the duo’s efforts and went on to record his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the year and his first while driving for car owner, Bobby Labonte.
In Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the first time since Hagerstown (MD) Speedway, last August, Neat first congratulated his crew for sticking it out with him in what has been an up and down season. “Man, I’ve got to thank this great crew of mine, they did a fabulous job tonight and they have done so all year. We haven’t had the results we would have liked to this season, but it feels good to win here at Tazewell, it’s always been a tough place for anyone to win at and we were just fortunate to get the lead when we did,” said the 30-year-old University of Kentucky graduate.
“We had pretty good year last year and we were looking forward to this year after teaming up with Bobby (Labonte) and Earl (Pearson Jr.), we’ve struggled at times and hopefully this will turn around our season and we can get some more wins and good finishes, it just helps everyone’s morale on the team when you run good like this,” said Neat, who’s win at Tazewell was his third career Lucas Oil Late Model Series victory.
Neat’s MasterSbilt Cadillac is powered by Cornett Racing Engines and sponsored by Red Buck Cigars/Lucas Oil Products/T&T Energy/Sunoco Race Fuels, PRC and Hoosier Racing Tires.
Casebolt, who’s primary car suffered mechanical issues in his pit before hot laps, brought out a back-up for time trials and won his heat race to earn the outside of the front row starting spot, finished a close second in the Bob Harris owned/Dixie Chopper/Rocket GTO. Taking third and maintaining his points lead was Bloomquist in his Miller Brothers Construction/Vic Hill Racing Engines/Bloomquist Race Cars Monte Carlo SS. Fourth was Ogle in the Kilby Equipment/Competition Racing Engines/GTO Corvette. O’Neal, who started 12th came home fifth in the Superior Cleaning/Jay Dickens Racing Engines/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo SS.
Completing the top ten were Vic Hill of Morristown, TN; Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN; John Blankenship of Williamson, WV; Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, WI; and Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, GA.
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
Friday Night, June 4th, 2010
“Toyota Knoxville 75”
Red Buck Cigars Fast Time: Scott Bloomquist / 11.519 seconds
Wiles Driveshaft’s First Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Rodney Kiker, Vic Hill, Steve Smith, Tommy Kerr, Mike Weeks, David Webb, Terry Wolfenbarger, Michael Walker
AFCO Racing Products Second Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Brad Neat, Dan Schlieper, Mike Marlar, Earl Pearson Jr., Eric Wells, Michael Smith, Tim Isenberg, Jeff Wolfenbarger-DNS
Allstar Performance Third Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Steve Casebolt, Scott Bloomquist, Dale McDowell, Rick Rogers, Chris Wall, Brian Smith, Tyler Reddick
SuperFlow Fourth Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Billy Ogle, Jimmy Owens, Don O’Neal, Ray Cook, Shane Clanton, Bryan Hendrix, Jason Trammell
Hawk Brake First B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Transfer): Mike Weeks, Eric Wells, Michael Smith, Terry Wolfenbarger, Tim Isenberg, David Webb, Michael Walker, Jeff Wolfenbarger
Performance Rod and Custom (PRC) Second B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Transfer): Rick Rogers, Shane Clanton, Chris Wall, Jason Trammell, Tyler Reddick, Brian Smith, Bryan Hendrix
Feature Finish - 75 Laps: 1. 41N-Brad Neat[3]; 2. C9-Steve Casebolt[2]; 3. 0-Scott Bloomquist[6]; 4. 201-Billy Ogle Jr[4]; 5. 71-Don O'Neal[12]; 6. 1V-Vic Hill[5]; 7. 20-Jimmy Owens[8]; 8. 23-John Blankenship[10]; 9. S9-Dan Schlieper[7]; 10. 17M-Dale McDowell[14]; 11. 53-Ray Cook[16]; 12. 3-Steve Smith[9]; 13. 44-Earl Pearson Jr[15]; 14. 71W-Chris Wall[22]; 15. 44X-Rick Rogers[18]; 16. 18E-Eric Wells[19]; 17. 9T-Tim Isenberg[23]; 18. 25K-Rodney Kiker[1]; 19. 4T-Tommy Kerr[13]; 20. 25C-Shane Clanton[20]; 21. 157-Mike Marlar[11]; 22. 11T-Tyler Reddick[24]; 23. 4S-Michael Smith[21]; 24. 22-Mike Weeks[17]
Race Statistics
Entrants: 31 Lap Leaders: Rodney Kiker (Laps 1-16); Brad Neat (Laps 17-75)
Caution Flags: Mike Marlar (Lap 24); Chris Wall (Lap 24); Tyler Reddick (Lap 24-Restart); Rodney Kiker (Lap 54)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Tim Isenberg, Tyler Reddick
PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race: Chris Wall (Started 22nd; Finished 14th; Advanced 8 positions)
Ohlin’s Shocks Performer of the Race: Don O’Neal
K&N Filters Clean Pass of the Race: Brad Neat
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Chris Wall
Comp Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing Engines
Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award: Tyler Reddick
DirtonDirt.com Crew Chief of the Race: Mark Hopper (Brad Neat)
Time of Race: 27 minutes, 11 seconds
Submitted By: Jeremy Shields
