9/4/2005
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Owens is Outstanding in Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Win at Tazewell Speedway
TAZEWELL, TN (September 4, 2005)-Before one of the largest crowds in the 40 year history of Tazewell Speedway, Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN led all 75 laps in claiming the "Citizens Bank 75" for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series on Sunday Night. Owens earned $10,000 for the win as he became the 17th different winner in 27 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series events in 2005. Owens was behind the wheel of the Mach 2 Motorsports entry #20 sponsored by Ultra Pro Machining, PPM Racing Products, Carolina Finishing, VP Racing Fuels, Red Line Oil, West Haven Speed Equipment, Cornett Racing Engines, C.J. Rayburn Ford Taurus. Vic Hill of Morristown, TN was second in the Landair Transport Inc./Vic Hill Racing Engines/GRT Grand Prix with Anthony White of Clinton, TN a close third in the DWB Motorsports/Freddy White Masonry/DWB Race Cars Grand Prix. Taking the fourth spot at the finish was Brett Miller of Asheville, NC in the Donna Laws/Perg Leg Motorsports/GRT Monte and 24th starting, Tom Dohm of Cross Lanes, WV rounded out the top five in the Dohm Cycle Sales/Custom Race Engines/Rocket Monte Carlo. A total of 39 cars were on hand for the series' first ever visit to the Tennessee speedplant.
Jimmy Owens and Earl Pearson, Jr. would make up a strong starting contingent for the race as they would start from the front row. When chief starter Noel Hargis let fly with the green flag to start the race Owens immediately took charge taking the lead from Pearson heading off of turn two down the back straight. Local favorite Scott Sexton would take second from Pearson on the second lap with Pearson falling to third in front of Anthony White and Billy Ogle, Jr. Freddy Smith would be the first car out of the race heading pitside on lap three. Owens had set sail and was dominating the race as he was already picking up the tail end of the 24 car starting field by lap seven. A torrid battle for second was going on with Sexton and Pearson going at it side by side on several occasions on the super fast track. By lap 10 there were three cars out of the event with Rex Richey and Tommy Kerr joining Smith in the infield. Owens was setting a blistering pace working through traffic diving in and out all over the race track in lapping cars. By the 15th circuit Owens had cleared some heavy traffic and had plenty of free space in front of him on the race track. The Sexton and Pearson duel would see Pearson get back by Sexton on lap 15 to regain second place, but that race was not over yet as Sexton would mount another charge taking Pearson on the outside two laps later to go back into second. With Owens in complete control of the race by lap 20 the showdown for second was really exciting as Pearson would fight back and go by Sexton yet again on lap 20.
With 20 laps in the books it was still Owens showing the way followed by Pearson, Sexton, 8th place starter Mike Marlar and White in the top five. Owens was starting to pick up the back end of the field again by lap 22 and Pearson and Sexton would start to chop his lead down considerably. Lucas Oil late Model Dirt Series points leader, Don O'Neal was on the move. O'Neal had pulled out his backup car after a heat race incident and from the 21st starting spot without the aid of any cautions up until this point he was up to sixth place. The first caution of the race would wave on lap 22 when Frank Merritt slowed on the main straightaway. At this same point after the yellow came out Marlar who had just passed Sexton for third saw the coil quit in his car killing his motor which forced White and O'Neal to take evasive action as both cars had to stop to avoid Marlar. There was contact between the cars with O'Neal suffering some right side body damage on his mount.
Both O'Neal and White would continue in the race, but Marlar's night was done after making a strong charge to the front. With the field at caution, it was Owens, Pearson, Sexton, O'Neal and Vic Hill running in the top five order. On the restart it would be Owens again on a rail sprinting away from the field as the race for second place would keep the interest as Sexton and Pearson would race side by side again with Sexton moving into second once again on lap 25. O'Neal then would break into the top three on lap 26 getting by Pearson. O'Neal and Pearson, who are the top two in the series points standings would go neck and neck for several circuits with O'Neal holding the lead at the score line. With 32 laps in the books Owens was on a mission as he continued to dominate the event building a sizable lead with Sexton, O'Neal, Pearson and new fifth place runner, Scott James trying to catch him.
A caution on lap 33 for a slowed Brian Smith would be fateful for Sexton as he pulled his overheated machine to the infield pit and retired from the race. That would move O'Neal into second place on the restart with Pearson, James and Hill. Owens went to a straightaway advantage over O'Neal and the rest of the pack by lap 42. White would slow on lap 47 for a flat tire bringing out another yellow flag. The race would go green for five laps when O'Neal slowed and pitted after climbing to second place. With 54 laps scored it was Owens, Pearson, James, Hill and White in the top five running order. A caution for debris on lap 60 would only slow Owens momentarily. Pearson was a solid second and James had pulled away from Hill and White and was looking for a solid finish, but that would come to an end on lap 67 as he slowed on the race track causing a caution as he dived into the pit area with an overheating car. James would not return to the race. Pearson would also have problems and go pitside after a false restart as his night ended as well.
With eight laps to go and several of his main competitors out of the race Owens was hoping for no more cautions as he rode his mount around the top of the race track with eight perfect laps which took him to the checkered flag for his first career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win in front of the appreciative crowd. "The track was great tonight", said the winner on the victory podium. "We had the car freed up and it performed tremendous, it was little hairy there in traffic for a few laps, but we managed to get through that and really had no problems for the entire race." Hill the famed engine builder would come home in second followed by White, who despite two pit stops was third followed by Brett Miller and the hard charger of the race, Tim Dohm, who started in the 24th and last starting spot was fifth at the end.
Completing the top ten were Bobby Giffin, Ricky Arms, David Payne, Michael Smith and Pearson.
After Tazewell O'Neal holds a 110 point advantage over Pearson in the race for the championship with Donnie Moran, Matt Miller and Scott James rounding out the top five drivers.
The next Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event will take place on Saturday and Sunday, September 17 and 18 at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway in Pittsburgh, PA for the running of the 17th Annual Pittsburgher 100" paying $22,000 to win.
Race Summary
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN
Sunday Night, September 4, 2005
Fast Qualifier: Jeff Wolfenbarger 11.358 seconds
Heat #1: Earl Pearson, Jr., Brett Miller, Bobby Giffin, Frank Merritt, Ricky Arms, Don O'Neal, Jeff Wolfenbarger, Tim Dohm, David Payne, Joey McCoy,
Heat #2: Billy Ogle, Jr., Anthony White, Donnie Moran, Brian Smith, Ruben Mayfield, Freddy Smith, Jason Trammell, Chris Chandler, Matt Henderson-DNS, Brad Hall-DNS
Heat #3: Scott Sexton, Vic Hill, Jeff Neubert, Rex Richey, Marty Calloway, Michael Smith, Steve Carr, Steve Casebolt, Jr., Casey Roberts, Steve Smith-DNS
Heat #4: Jimmy Owens, Mike Marlar, Scott James, Terry Wolfenbarger, Tommy Kerr, David McCoy, Jason McCall, Doug Smith, Brandon Williams
1st B-Main: Ricky Arms, David Payne, Don O'Neal, Tim Dohm, Ruben Mayfield, Jason Trammell, Joey McCoy, Freddy Smith
2nd B-Main: Tommy Kerr, Michael Smith, Steve Casebolt, Jr., David McCoy, Steve Carr, Jason McCall, Doug Smith, Marty Calloway
"Citizens Bank 75" Main Event: Jimmy Owens, Vic Hill, Anthony White, Brett Miller, Tim Dohm, Bobby Giffin, Ricky Arms, David Payne, Michael Smith, Earl Pearson, Jr., Scott James, Terry Wolfenbarger, Don O'Neal, Donnie Moran, Steve Casebolt, Jr., Scott Sexton, Brian Smith, Mike Marlar, Billy Ogle, Jr., Frank Merritt, Tommy Kerr, Jeff Neubert, Rex Richey, Freddy Smith
Race Statistics:
Entries: 39
Cautions: 6
Red Flags: 0
Lap Leader: Jimmy Owens 1-75Weld Wheels Hard Charger of the Race: Tim Dohm (Started 24th and finished 5th) advanced 19 positions
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rookie of the Race: Tim Dohm
Series Provisionals: Freddy Smith and Tim Dohm
Submitted By: Jeremy Shields