Post by LMR on 03/24/12 at 9:51pm
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Indiana Icebreaker
Brownstown Speedway
March 24, 2012
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O’Neal over Owens in Indiana Icebreaker at Brownstown Speedway
by James Essex
BROWNSTOWN, IN (March 24, 2012) – Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN won his fourth career Indiana Icebreaker Presented by Bowman Auto Group on Saturday Night at the Brownstown Speedway. O’Neal started sixth in the 50-lap main event and went on to capture the $10,000 to win Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series sanctioned event in front of a huge crowd.
O’Neal and defending Series Champion Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN traded the lead four times, until O’Neal pulled ahead for good on lap 36. Owens held a good lead over O’Neal until lap 26 when O’Neal reeled Owens in as they went through lap traffic.
“I have to thank all the fans who came out tonight. Even though we had a lot of storms and rain last night, the track was excellent. We hurt the motor in time trials and had to pull out the back-up car and it performed flawlessly,” said the 47-year-old who captured his 22nd career LOLMDS victory. It was O’Neal’s 52nd career win at Brownstown Speedway.
“We started on the tail of the heat and got up to second. To start where we did in the feature, we were lucky. I knew we had a good shot at winning, Jimmy (Owens) is always tough no matter what track we are at, but I don’t know what happened to him once we got by. We started to catch up to him and then went back and forth for the lead. I sure hope the fans enjoyed that race,” said the veteran driver, who began his late model career at Brownstown in 1991.
“I have to thank all of our great sponsors, Optima Batteries, Independence Lumber, Seubert Calf Ranches, Super Cleaning, Jones Core, and Budda Bert Transmissions. A Jay Dickens Racing Engine powers the MasterSbilt house-car that O’Neal drives.
Owens in the Reece Monument Company, Cornett Racing Engines, Bloomquist Race Cars Ford finished second. With his second place showing, Owens is now tied with Dennis Erb Jr. for the series points lead. Greg Johnson of Bedford, IN made a late-race charge in the Jack Rainey, Bedford Transport, C.J. Rayburn Race Cars Chevrolet and passed Steve Francis of Ashland, KY on the final lap to finish third.
Francis in the Valvoline, Clements Racing Engines, Barry Wright Chevrolet came home fourth, just ahead of first-time Brownstown Speedway visitor, Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA in the Bowyer Motorsports, Georgia Boot, Barry Wright Toyota.
Completing the top ten were: Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, IL; Tim Isenberg of Marshfield, WI; Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN; Chris Simpson of Oxford, IA; and Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL. Both Bloomquist and Pearson rallied late in the race to score top ten finishes after taking series provisionals and starting 23rd and 24th.
In preliminary action Steve Francis was the Red Buck Cigars Fast Qualifier with a lap of 13.954 seconds. Heat race winners were Jimmy Owens, Jonathan Davenport, Francis, and Chris Simpson. Josh Richards and Terry Casey won the B-mains.
Coming up next weekend, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will be in action on Friday Night, March 30th at Jackson Motor Speedway in Jackson, MS and Saturday Night, March 31st at LoneStar Speedway in Kilgore, TX. Both events will pay $10,000 to win.
For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Saturday Night, March 24, 2012
Indiana Icebreaker
Brownstown Speedway – Brownstown, IN
A-Main
1 6 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN $10,000
2 1 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
3 7 49 Greg Johnson Bedford, IN
4 2 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
5 3 15 Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA
6 12 28 Dennis Erb Jr Carpentersville, IL
7 10 9I Steve Isenburg Marshfield, WI
8 23 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
9 4 32 Chris Simpson Oxford, IA
10 24 44 Earl Pearson Jr Jacksonville, FL
11 13 11 Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
12 17 25 Josh Richards Shinnston, WV
13 16 5 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
14 14 9 Mike Jewell Scottsburg, IN
15 8 41 Brad Neat Dunnville, KY
16 26 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
17 25 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
18 5 11 Austin Hubbard Seaford, DE
19 9 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
20 20 54 Dillon White Crofton, KY
21 15 32 Chad Stapleton Edinburgh, IN
22 19 96 Tanner English Benton, KY
23 21 7R Kent Robinson Bloomington, IN
24 11 25z Mason Ziegler Chalk Hill, PA
25 18 42 Terry Casey New London, WI
26 22 5b Mike Marlar Winfield, TN
27 27 Jeremy Hines
First Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Jimmy Owens, Austin Hubbard, Bobby Pierce, Tyler Reddick, Josh Richards, Duane Chamberlain, Tim Prince, Justin Rattliff, Shane Cottle, David Ross, Earl Pearson, Jr.
Second Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Jonathan Davenport, Greg Johnson, Mason Zeigler, Chad Stapleton, Tanner English, Kent Robinson, Zak Blackwood, Tyler Allen, Michael Chilton, Greg Kendall, Jerry Rice
Third Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Steve Francis, Don O'Neal ,Tim Isenberg, Mike Jewell, Dillan White, Ray Cook, Mike Marlar, Jeremy Hines, Joe Janowski, Chris Streeval, Thomas Ramey
Fourth Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Chris Simpson, Brad Neat, Dennis Erb, Jr., Jared Landers, Terry Casey, Josh McGuire, Tim Rivers, Matt Pickard, Eric Wells, John Blankenship, Scott Bloomquist
B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Josh Richards, Tanner English, Kent Robinson, Duane Chamberlain, Justin Rattliff, Zak Blackwood, Tyler Allen, Shane Cottle, Greg Kendall, David Ross, Michael Chilton, Earl Pearson, Jr., Tim Prince, Jerry Rice-NR
B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Terry Casey, Dillan White, Mike Marlar, Josh McGuire, Ray Cook, Tim Rivers, Jeremy Hines, Eric Wells, Joe Janowski, Matt Pickard, John Blankenship, Thomas Ramey, Scott Bloomquist, Chris Streeval
Red Buck Cigars Fast Time:
Austin Hubbard / 14.025 seconds (Group A)
Steve Francis / 13.954 seconds (Group B and Overall)
