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Pearson Makes Late Race Pass on Cook to Win “Budweiser 50” at Muskingum County

ZANESVILLE, OH (July 3, 2010) – Overhauling race leader, Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC, with five laps remaining Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL went on to record his fourth Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the season on Saturday Night at Muskingum County Speedway. Pearson, driving for NASCAR’s Bobby Labonte took home the $10,000 after winning the “Budweiser 50”. Following Pearson was Cook; point’s leader, Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN; defending track champion, Doug Dodd of Cambridge, OH; and Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN.

Cook and Jimmy Owens made up the front row before a packed house at the Ronnie Moran-promoted facility. Cook grabbed the early lead. Bloomquist, who started eighth, made up some impressive ground on the first lap coming up to fourth. A lap later Bloomquist was in third behind the frontrunning Cook and John Blankenship. Cook started to build on his lead as a good battle for second was developing between Blankenship and Bloomquist. Pearson was running fourth followed by O’Neal. The top three started to pull away from everyone as the leader started to pick-up the tail end of the field by the tenth circuit.

Both Blankenship and Bloomquist started to close on Cook in traffic as Cook was having trouble negotiating traffic. Bloomquist made the pass for second on lap 15, climbing into the runner-up slot. Pearson then started on his patented bottom-line. He was able to track down and eventually pass Blankenship for third on lap 18. Cook, who held as much as a 15-car length lead over the field, was having trouble getting past track provisional Shane McLaughlin, allowing both Bloomquist and Pearson to close the gap on him.

With 30 laps complete Cook still had almost a straightaway advantage over the last two series champions, but a caution came out for Doug Drown on lap 31. With 19 laps to go on the restart it was Cook, Bloomquist, Pearson, Blankenship, and O’Neal in the top five.

The restart was exciting as Cook held the lead; Pearson jumped into second followed by Bloomquist. Dodd became a threat as he moved to fourth after starting tenth. With tight battles all over the track, all eyes were on the race for the lead between Cook and Pearson and the race for third between Bloomquist and Dodd.

Pearson tried the inside line for several laps to get by Cook, but Cook thwarted Pearson every time. Dodd then started to catch the two frontrunners as he was brought along Bloomquist, making it a four-car race for the win. Pearson was finally able to clear Cook for the lead on lap 45 as Dodd and Bloomquist were duking it out for third. Pearson then pulled away in the final laps to record his 21st career win on the Lucas Oil lLate Model Dirt Series tour. Pearson is now second in all-time wins, behind Scott Bloomquist’s 22 victories. Bloomquist, meanwhile, was able to overtake Dodd with two laps to go to gain the third position at the finish.

In Lucas Oil Victory Lane, the 38-year-old second–generation racer was joined by his crew, his son Trey, and several fans joined in the celebration. “I’ll tell you what, that was a lot of fun racing there with Ray Cook, we were good when we unloaded today, the Hoosier tires worked real well today, and hat’s off to my crew. They continue to work their tails off on this car. Look at this crowd here, there’s not an empty seat here tonight; I hope they enjoyed that race,” said the victorious Pearson.

“On the restart Bloomquist took the bottom which kind of surprised me, but we restarted really well and then we caught up to Ray and ran with him side-by-side for several laps. We gave each other plenty of racing room out there, thanks to the track crew here, the Moran family for giving us a good track to race on. I probably wouldn’t have caught Ray without the yellow, Scott and I had a good race, but he was running my line and I couldn’t get by him, this is a nice recovery from Beckley. That was my fault what happened when I spun out there with eight laps to go and to come back here and run like we did it’s a credit to my crew,” which includes Matt Langston and team manager, Jason Fitzgerald who joined the winning driver in victory lane.

Pearson’s Bobby Labonte Racing MasterSbilt Dodger Charger is powered by a Larry Wallace Racing Engine and sponsored by Lucas Oil Products, Red Buck Cigars, PRC, Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Racing Tires, Asi Racewear and Ohlins Shocks.

Cook in the D&R Racing/Hicks and Ingle Company General Contracting/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo SS finished second followed by Bloomquist in his Miller Brothers Construction/Roush-Yates Racing Engines/Bloomquist Race Cars Monte Carlo SS. Dodd was fourth in his Southeastern Equipment/Vic Hill Racing Engines/Rocket Chassis with O’Neal making it three MasterSbilt cars in the top five taking fifth in the Superior Cleaning/Jay Dickens Racing Engines Monte Carlo SS.

Rounding out the top ten were Bart Hartman of Zanesville, OH, Steve Shaver of Vienna, WV, John Blankenship of Williamson, WV, Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN and Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN.

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
Saturday Night, July 3rd, 2010
"Budweiser 50"
Muskingum County Speedway – Zanesville, OH

Red Buck Cigars Fast Time: Ray Cook / 16.435 seconds

Wiles Driveshaft’s First Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Ray Cook, Steve Shaver, Chris Wall, Cody Parker, Dan Schlieper, Tim Isenberg, Zack Dohm, Rodney Kimes, Craig Vosberger

AFCO Racing Products Second Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): John Blankenship, Bart Hartman, Jason Covert, Kyle Bates, Steve Casebolt, Mark Banal, Bryan Casey, Doug Drown, Scott Shelhorn

Allstar Performance Third Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Jimmy Owens, Don O’Neal, Doug Dodd, Eric Wells, Tyler Reddick, Donnie Moran, Lance Elson, Cody Bartram, Russ Frohnapfel

SuperFlow Fourth Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Earl Pearson Jr., Scott Bloomquist, Dale McDowell, Brad Neat, Devin Moran, Anthony Kinkade, Shane McLoughlin, Rick Aukland-DNS

Hawk Brake First B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Transfer): Dan Schlieper, Tim Isenberg, Steve Casebolt, Mark Banal, Bryan Casey, Zack Dohm, Craig Vosberger, Doug Drown, Scott Shelhorn, Rodney Kimes

Performance Rod and Custom (PRC) Second B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Transfer): Tyler Reddick, Donnie Moran, Devin Moran, Lance Elson, Anthony Kinkade, Russ Frohnapfel, Cody Bartram, Shane McLoughlin, Rick Aukland-DNS

“Budweiser 50” Feature Finish: 1. 44-Earl Pearson Jr[4]; 2. 53-Ray Cook[1]; 3. 0-Scott Bloomquist[8]; 4. 12D-Doug Dodd[10]; 5. 71-Don O'Neal[6]; 6. 75-Bart Hartman[7]; 7. 6-Steve Shaver[5]; 8. 23-John Blankenship[3]; 9. 20-Jimmy Owens[2]; 10. C9-Steve Casebolt[21]; 11. 71W-Chris Wall[9]; 12. 17M-Dale McDowell[12]; 13. 18E-Eric Wells[14]; 14. 17D-Zack Dohm[24]; 15. S9-Dan Schlieper[17]; 16. 41N-Brad Neat[16]; 17. 63-Cody Parker[13]; 18. 11B-Kyle Bates[15]; 19. 9T-Tim Isenberg[19]; 20. 99-Donnie Moran[20]; 21. 11T-Tyler Reddick[18]; 22. 9M-Shane McLoughlin[25]; 23. 43A-Jason Covert[11]; 24. 99M-Devin Moran[22]; 25. 79-Doug Drown[23]

Race Statistics
Entrants: 35
Lap Leaders: Ray Cook (Laps 1-44); Earl Pearson Jr. (Laps 45-50)
Caution Flags: Doug Drown (Lap 31)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: none
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisional: none
Fast Time Provisionals: Doug Drown; Zack Dohm
Muskingum County Speedway Track Provisional: Shane McLoughlin
PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race: Steve Casebolt (Started 21st; Finished 10th; Advanced 11 positions)
Ohlin’s Shocks Performer of the Race: Scott Bloomquist
K&N Filters Clean Pass of the Race: Earl Pearson Jr.
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Chris Wall
Comp Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Larry Wallace Race Engines
Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award: Jason Covert
DirtonDirt.com Crew Chief of the Race: Jason Fitzgerald (Earl Pearson Jr.)
Time of Race: 22 minutes, 06 seconds

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