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Ferguson strikes late to capture 30th annual Show-Me 100, earning race-record $50,000 at Lucas Oil Speedway

WHEATLAND, MO. (May 28, 2022) - Chris Ferguson joined the prestigious club of Dirt Late Model crown-jewel winners Saturday night at Lucas Oil Speedway.

Ferguson, of Mount Holly, North Carolina, grabbed the lead from Jonathan Davenport with 12 laps remaining and went on to capture the 30th annual Show-Me 100 Presented by ProtecttheHarvest.com.

"Oh man, I don't know what to say. I'm speechless," Ferguson said in victory lane after the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win, in front of an estimated 8,000 fans. "God is so great. He put me in this situation. That was awesome. This is amazing and I'm so thankful to be here."

The 32-year-old Ferguson, who captured the 2020 Diamond Nationals in his first visit to Lucas Oil Speedway, became the 18th different winner of the Show-Me 100. He earned a race-record $50,000 by finishing 3.04 seconds in front of runner-up Ricky Thornton Jr. Third place went to Tim McCreadie and four-time Show-Me 100 winner Jimmy Owens finished fourth.

Ferguson started 10th and was able to work his way into contention by the midway point and advanced to third by lap 75. Davenport had dominated most of the way, leading all but eight of the first 87 laps as Ferguson closed in on him coming off turn two on lap 88.

Pulling just in front off the turn, Ferguson had to check up for the lapped car of Earl Pearson Jr. Davenport and Ferguson went into turn three side by side, but as the leaders cleared Pearson, they made contact.

Ferguson was able to keep his car pointed straight and Davenport, the 2015 Show-Me 100 winner, spun and had to go to the rear for the restart and his chances dashed. Davenport wound up finishing 16th.

"J.D. kind of got stuck behind the lapped cars there," Ferguson said of the preceding laps leading into the key moment. "I found a groove about a half-car out from everybody else and rolled him in (turns) one and two. I got door-to-door with him.

"I kind of picked up Earl down the backstretch and let him know I was there. He went down and I rolled to the outside of him and I think me and J.D. just kind of got in hot and we hit a little bit.

"It knocked the steering wheel out of my hand and I was able to grab it back and keep the lead. I guess he didn't make out so well. I hate it for him. I think we might have had a little better car than him, but it was a heck of a battle. It's fun when it comes down to the end like that."

Davenport led the opening nine laps before pole-starting Johnny Scott used a crossover move entering turn three to grab the top spot on lap 10. He didn’t hold it long as Davenport went back in front two laps later.

As the leaders battled heavy lapped traffic, Owens slipped by Scott for second. Meanwhile, Davenport built up a 3.7-second lead over Owens by lap 24 when the race’s first caution flag flew due to Kolby Vandenbergh’s spin in turn four.

With a clear track ahead of him, Davenport blazed away after the restart and needed only five laps to built a 3.1-second command over Owens with Hudson O’Neal moving into third. Bobby Pearce, who started 14th, advanced into fourth by lap 37 behind Davenport, O’Neal and Owens with the top four all being former Show-Me 100 winners.

Davenport’s lead was 3.6 seconds over O’Neal when action slowed on lap 44 for the second caution. Pearce was running third with Owens fourth and Ricky Thornton Jr. fifth.

But Pearce suddenly pulled off the track on lap 48 while battling among the top four, ending victory hopes for the 2017 race winner.

As the race hit the midpoint, Davenport held a two-second lead over Thornton with O’Neal third and Owens in fourth. With those behind him gaining ground on the bottom groove, Davenport’s lead over Thornton was down to less than a half second by lap 58. Running in lapped traffic, Davenport lost the lead on lap 63 as Thornton moved by coming out of turn four.

Thornton and Davenport were side-by-side when Davenport reclaimed the top spot on lap 67 with Ferguson close behind in third and McCreadie having advanced from 17th at the start to fourth.

Davenport rebuilt his lead to 1.7 seconds by lap 80, as Ferguson had moved into second. It was about that time that Ferguson began whittling into the margin to set up the drama of lap 88 that would decide the outcome.

Ferguson drove away the restart for Davenport's spin and opened a 2.1-second lead by lap 95. Without lapped traffic to contend with, he beat Thornton by just over three seconds seconds for the biggest victory of his career.

"All the people than don't realize it, our cars are fast," Ferguson said of his Team Zero chassis. "For a long time I've dreamed about being at this level. I feel like I can drive good enough to get it done now."

Thornton felt good about his runner-up finish, which resulted in a $20,000 payday for the Adel, Iowa, driver.

"We came really close and it kind of sucks to run second, but congrats to Fergy," Thornton said. "He is really good, especially late. We had a really good car yesterday and it put us in a good position for today."

Chad Simpson rounded out the top five in the running order. Defending champion O'Neal wound up seventh and 2020 race winner Payton Looney of Republic rallied from 20th to seventh. Six-time Show-Me 100 winner Scott Bloomquist started 15th and finished 10th.

Tony Jackson Jr. of Lebanon won the Midwest Sheet Metal Show-Me Challenge last-chance qualifier, but with transmission issues he elected to take the $2,500 prize rather than trade the check for a spot at the tail end of the Show-Me 100 feature lineup.

McCowan rolls to USRA Modifieds feature win: Dillon McCowan of Urbana dominated the Cedar Creek Beef Jerky USRA Modified portion of the program, leading all but one lap of the 30-lap main event to take home $1,500.

It was the fourth feature victory in six attempts this season at Lucas Oil Speedway for McCowan, the reigning track champion in the division.

McCowan started outside of row one and led until Matt Johnson slipped past him coming out of turn four on lap 19. But McCowan quickly regained command on the next circuit and drove away from there. He finished .767 seconds in front of runner-up Tyler Davis.

McCowan said it felt good to win a race that was part of the Show-Me 100 program, especially after coming up short on Friday night when his engine went sour.

"It feels really good to win one of these finally. I've been coming over here and watching these for I don't know how long," McCowan said. "The car was good and the track was good tonight. I'm really happy.

"Me and the guys stayed up until 3 a.m. putting this motor in this car. It was a lot of work, but it paid off."

Johnson wound up third with Dustin Hodges fourth and Jared Russell fifth.

LUCAS OIL SPEEDWAY UNOFFICIAL RESULTS (May 28, 2022)
30th annual Show-Me 100 Presented by ProtecttheHarvest.com
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series/Lucas Oil MLRA
A Feature - 1. 22F-Chris Ferguson[10]; 2. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[5]; 3. 39-Tim McCreadie[17]; 4. 20-Jimmy Owens[3]; 5. 25-Chad Simpson[12]; 6. 40B-Kyle Bronson[7]; 7. 71-Hudson O'Neal[4]; 8. 15L-Payton Looney[20]; 9. 89-Ashton Winger[6]; 10. 0-Scott Bloomquist[15]; 11. 58-Garrett Alberson[8]; 12. 1-Brandon Sheppard[11]; 13. 1T-Tyler Erb[21]; 14. 46-Earl Pearson Jr[16]; 15. 32S-Chris Simpson[28]; 16. 49-Jonathan Davenport[2]; 17. 1ST-Johnny Scott[1]; 18. 15V-Kolby Vandenbergh[9]; 19. 11T-Trevor Gundaker[31]; 20. 18D-Daulton Wilson[27]; 21. 7-Ross Robinson[26]; 22. 11-Spencer Hughes[25]; 23. 18-Shannon Babb[24]; 24. 04-Tad Pospisil[29]; 25. 21-Billy Moyer Jr[18]; 26. 3S-Brian Shirley[22]; 27. 91P-Jason Papich[13]; 28. 32-Bobby Pierce[14]; 29. 2S-Stormy Scott[30]; 30. 97-Cade Dillard[23]; 31. 1S-Jeremy Shaw[19]
B Main 1 Fast Shafts - 1. 1S-Jeremy Shaw[1]; 2. 3S-Brian Shirley[2]; 3. 56-Tony Jackson Jr[3]; 4. 86-Kyle Beard[4]; 5. 11-Spencer Hughes[5]; 6. 90-Brian Rickman[6]; 7. 12-Scott Crigler[15]; 8. 65-Jon Binning[14]; 9. 45-Kylan Garner[8]; 10. 65H-Dewaine Hottinger[10]; 11. 23-John Blankenship[11]; 12. 18P-Shannon Parker[9]; 13. 50C-Kaeden Cornell[7]; 14. 14M-Reid Millard[12]; 15. (DNS) 7J-Jay Fields
B Main 2 UNOH - 1. 15L-Payton Looney[1]; 2. 97-Cade Dillard[4]; 3. 2S-Stormy Scott[5]; 4. 18J-Chase Junghans[2]; 5. 7W-Cole Wells[7]; 6. 18D-Daulton Wilson[6]; 7. 10J-Joseph Joiner[14]; 8. 3-Brennon Willard[10]; 9. 10-Jacob Magee[9]; 10. 50K-Kayden Clatt[11]; 11. 04-Tad Pospisil[3]; 12. 22H-Daniel Hilsabeck[13]; 13. 11T-Trevor Gundaker[8]; 14. 6H-Al Humphrey[15]; 15. (DNS) 10W-John Willard
B Main 3 DirtonDirt.com - 1. 1T-Tyler Erb[3]; 2. 18-Shannon Babb[2]; 3. 21XXX-Neil Baggett[4]; 4. 93-Mason Oberkramer[9]; 5. 7-Ross Robinson[8]; 6. 11K-Jon Kirby[10]; 7. 78S-Steve Stultz[12]; 8. 1X-Aaron Marrant[7]; 9. 98-Ben Schaller[6]; 10. 14W-Dustin Walker[15]; 11. 36-Logan Martin[5]; 12. 9J-Joseph Gorby[11]; 13. 32S-Chris Simpson[14]; 14. (DNS) 157-Mike Marlar; 15. (DNS) 26-Glen Powell
Midwest Sheet Metal Show-Me Challenge - 1. 56-Tony Jackson Jr[1]; 2. 18J-Chase Junghans[4]; 3. 21XXX-Neil Baggett[2]; 4. 3-Brennon Willard[14]; 5. 90-Brian Rickman[7]; 6. 45-Kylan Garner[16]; 7. 14W-Dustin Walker[21]; 8. 10-Jacob Magee[17]; 9. 98-Ben Schaller[18]; 10. 11K-Jon Kirby[9]; 11. 78S-Steve Stultz[12]; 12. 18D-Daulton Wilson[8]; 13. 7W-Cole Wells[6]; 14. 86-Kyle Beard[3]; 15. 93-Mason Oberkramer[5]; 16. 12-Scott Crigler[10]; 17. 10J-Joseph Joiner[11]; 18. 65-Jon Binning[13]; 19. 50K-Kayden Clatt[20]; 20. (DNS) 1X-Aaron Marrant; 21. (DNS) 65H-Dewaine Hottinger; 22. (DNS) 23-John Blankenship; 23. (DNS) 22H-Daniel Hilsabeck; 24. (DNS) 36-Logan Martin

Cedar Creek Beef Jerky USRA Modifieds
A Feature - 1. 8-Dillon McCowan[2]; 2. 65-Tyler Davis[3]; 3. 1X-Matt Johnson[27]; 4. 22H-Dustin Hodges[14]; 5. 4R-Jared Russell[4]; 6. 16S-Eric Turner[17]; 7. 29-Dennis Elliott[24]; 8. 11B-Donnie Barnhart[5]; 9. 96-Cody Brill[18]; 10. 3J-Lewis Jackson[23]; 11. 51-Lucas Gibbs[16]; 12. 21-Johnny Fennewald[7]; 13. 38C-Jason Pursley[6]; 14. 130-Chase Allen[30]; 15. 98-Jeff Cutshaw[8]; 16. 155-Colson Kirk[29]; 17. 73-Mickey Burrell[10]; 18. 127-Paden Phillips[19]; 19. 21M-Ryan Middaugh[1]; 20. 7-Daniel Franklin[15]; 21. 23-Lucas Dobbs[12]; 22. 18JR-Chase Sigg[11]; 23. 88-Jimmy Dowell[31]; 24. 15W-Wyatt Gaggero[20]; 25. 75L-Lane Whitney[21]; 26. 28C-Thomas Creech[25]; 27. (DNF) 40-Jessy Willard[32]; 28. (DNF) 03-Chase Jones[9]; 29. (DNS) 247-Jarret Dotson; 30. (DNS) 91-Joe Duvall; 31. (DNS) 24D-Donnie Fellers; 32. (DNS) 21TW-Tracy Wolf

Show-Me 100 winners:
2022 - Chris Ferguson, Mount Holly, N.C.
2021 - Hudson O'Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
2020 - Payton Looney, Republic, Mo.
2019 - Canceled (storm damage)
2018 - Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2017 - Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
2016 - Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
2015 - Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
2014 - Don O'Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
2013 - Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
2012 - Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
2011 - Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
2010 - Ray Cook, Brasstown, N.C.
2009 - Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa
2008 - Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2007 - Wendell Wallace, Batesville, Ark.
2006 - Wendell Wallace, Batesville, Ark.
2005 - Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2004 - Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2003 - Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2002 - Wendell Wallace, Batesville, Ark.
2001 - Freddy Smith, Knoxville, Tenn.
2000 - Ray Cook, Brasstown, N.C.
1999 - Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
1998 - Freddy Smith, Knoxville, Tenn.
1997 - Rick Aukland, Fargo, N.C.
1996 - Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
1995 - Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
1994 - Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
1993 - Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.

Week off, then Weekly Racing Series and Drag Boats: Lucas Oil Speedway action will take a break next weekend before returning in a big way for a dirt-track/drag-boat doubleheader the following week.

The first of four Kentucky Drag Boat Association-sanctioned events on Lake Lucas, the KDBA Spring Opener, will see three days of action on the water June 10-12. The middle day also will include the Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series Round 4 on the dirt track on June 11 where it will be $5 Night at the Races Presented by KOLR. The Cedar Creek Beef Jerky USRA Modifieds will be running a special 25-lap, $1,000 to win main event as fans pay only $5 for grandstand admission. Kids 5-and-under are FREE as always.

To purchase tickets for the Show-Me 100 or any event on Lucas Oil Speedway's schedule, or to inquire about camping information, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 295-6043 or via email at nichole@lucasoilspeedway.com.

CONTACT:
Danny Lorton
Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager
Office: (417) 282-5984
DLorton@lucasoilspeedway.com
Complete Lucas Oil Speedway event information, archived race recaps, previews and driver features, along with ticket information and schedules can be found by visiting LucasOilSpeedway.com.

Lucas Oil Speedway is located at Highways 83 and 54 in Wheatland, Missouri. A campground with shower and bathroom facilities is also available. With its entrance located just outside the pit gate this sprawling scenic camping facility will continue to enhance the racing experience at the Diamond of Dirt Tracks.

Click LucasOilSpeedway.com for more information and detailed directions to the speedway or call the Track Hotline at (417) 282-5984. The Lucas Oil Speedway EZ Texting number is (417) 804-4141.

In addition, fans can get social with Lucas Oil Speedway by following @LucasSpeedway on Twitter, clicking "Like" at www.facebook.com/LucasOilSpeedway and on www.youtube.com/LucasOilSpeedway

About Lucas Oil Speedway
Lucas Oil Speedway is considered by fans, drivers and industry insiders to be one of the top five racing facilities in the nation. Located in Wheatland, Missouri, approximately an hour from Springfield, Missouri, and just an hour and a half from the Kansas City metro area, the "Diamond of Dirt Tracks" lives up to its title.

Twenty-One VIP Luxury Suites, HD Jumbo-Tron Screen, Stadium Style Musco Sports Lighting, a Bose Sound System, Go-Kart Slick Track, The Diamond Bar, Track Treasures Gift Shop, the best track food in the country and paved pits are a few of the spectacular amenities setting the Diamond of Dirt apart. This year marks the 12th season for the Liquid Quarter Mile Drag Racing Lake, "Lake Lucas." New for 2017 was all-purpose built Off Road facility featuring a host of regional events.

Lucas Oil Speedway's dirt oval track plays host to some of the largest and most-popular events in the Midwest with national and regional touring series appearing frequently including: The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, POWRi Midget National Series, Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League, United States Modified Touring Series, ASCS Sprint Cars and the Lucas Oil MLRA.

In addition to the special events, the Lucas Oil Speedway Weekly Racing Series features the Late Models, USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars and USRA B-Mods.

2022 Official Lucas Oil Speedway Marketing Partners

Arizona Sport Shirts
"The Official Merchandise Provider" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Bill Roberts Chevrolet-Buick
"The Official Truck" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Dixie Chopper
"The Official Mowers of Lucas Oil Speedway"

General Tire
"The Official Tire" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Lucas Oil Products
"The Official Oil" of Lucas Oil Speedway

MAVTV
"The Official Television Network" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Optima Batteries
"The Official Battery" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper
"The Official Soft Drink" of Lucas Oil Speedway

RacingJunk.com
"The Official Classifieds" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Rugged Radios
"The Official 2-Way Communications Provider" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Sunoco Race Fuels
"The Official Fuel" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Super Clean
"The Official Sponsor" of Lucas Oil Speedway

2022 Lucas Oil Speedway Supporters Include:
AM Pyrotechnics, Arizona Sport Shirts, Ash Grove Aggregates, Berry Tractor and Equipment Co., Big Adventure RV, Bill Roberts Chevrolet-Buick, Bolivar Auto Sales & Detailing, Bolivar Farmers Exchange-MFA, Boone's BBQ Barn, Boubin Tire/American Racer, Branstetter & Lightfoot LLC, Bridal Cave, BWI Sanitation, Camden on the Lake Resort, Candlelight Creations-Dick's Wild Root Horseradish, Casey's, Cedar Creek Beef Jerky, Citizens Memorial Healthcare, City Magnet, Clearlight Inn, Comfort Inn-Bolivar,DirtonDirt.com, Dixie Chopper, eBay Motors, Eibach Springs, Evans Pipe & Steel Co., Farmers Insurance Agent Kristy Reynolds, Fast Shafts by Axle Exchange, Foley Equipment-Cat Rental Store, Frog Signs, Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare, Hermitage Lumber, HICKAMO Country Store, Highway 54 RV Park, Hobbytime Motorsports, Hoosier Race Tires, Impact Signs Awnings Wraps, In the Garden of Eden, Kettle Treats, Keyser Manufacturing, Kluhsman Racing Components, Kona Ice, Lucas Cattle Company, Margaritaville Lake Resort, Midwest Sheet Metal, Miller Welding, Missouri Department of Tourism, Missouri Division of Tourism, MyRacePass, Nutrien Ag Solutions, OakStar Bank, O'Bannon Bank, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Ozark Golf Cars, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper, Ozarks Community Health Center, PEM, Pitts Homes, Pitts Realty, Pitts Cattle, ProThings Apparel, RACEceiver, Racinboys.com, RacinDirt.com, RacingJunk.com, Rains Ice Company, Real Racing Wheels, Rod End Supply, Ron Jenkins Accounting & Tax Service, Rugged Radios, Ryan E. Murphy Law Firm LLC, SBU Athletics, Safety Kleen, Scott Furniture, Simpson Racing Products, Southwest Electric Cooperative, Stillwater Resort, Sunoco Race Fuels, Sunflower Resort, TA/PETRO, US Army Corps of Engineers-Pomme de Terre, Vietti Marketing Group, Wheatland Motel, White's Marine Center, Wild Animal Safari, Woods Supermarkets, Wrisco Industries.

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