Post by LMR on 07/13/12 at 9:53pm
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Tri-City Speedway
July 13, 2012
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Moyer Takes Lucas Oil Series Battle at the Beach 50 at Tri-City Speedway
by James Essex
PONTOON BEACH, IL (July 13) - Billy Moyer of Batesville, AR took the gloves off, and is taking home the trophy for the Battle of the Beach 50 at Tri-City Speedway. He led the first 17 laps of the race until O'Neal powered ahead of him, coming from his 12th starting spot to take the lead on lap 18. O'Neal then led Moyer until his left rear tire went flat on lap 27.
Moyer and pole setter Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN paced the field for the first 13 circuits of the race. The first caution of the race came out for Billy Moyer Jr. on lap 13, and momentarily halted a good battle for the lead in traffic between and the defending series champion, Owens and Moyer. On the restart, O'Neal, who was up to fifth place, shot to the bottom of the track and took over second on lap 14.
With O'Neal's demise from the lead Moyer paced the field over the last 22 laps of the race. He saw a green-white-checkered finish when Tyler Reddick brought out the final caution with two laps remaining. Moyer then held off Owens for his second Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series triumph of 2012 and his 15th career LOLMDS victory.
"We always like coming here, ever since they reconfigured the race track a few years ago. It's just the perfect size, and to win here again is just tremendous! Kevin (Gundaker) and his staff do a great job here," said the Hall of Fame driver.
Moyer also took notice when O'Neal passed him for the lead. "I knew he started way back, but he must have come up through the field awfully fast! The next thing I knew, he was in the lead. I thought I saw his tire starting to go down, don't know if he ran over something or what, and then he slowed in front of me," said the 54-year-old Moyer, who had to take evasive action when O'Neal slowed in front of him.
"It has been a pretty good year, and to beat these Lucas Oil guys is quite an accomplishment. I want to thank all the fans for coming out tonight, I think they saw a pretty good show," said Moyer to the loud applause from the big crowd on hand to witness the event.
For Moyer, it was his 14th overall win of the season, which tops all dirt late model drivers in the country. His Moyer Victory Circle Chevrolet is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Banner Valley Hauling, L&D Trucking, Watters Auto Land, and Sunoco Race Fuels.
Owens maintains the points lead with his second place finish in the Reece Monument Company, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bloomquist Race Cars Ford. Pearson in the Bobby Labonte, Lucas Oil Products, Longhorn Dodge edged out Steve Francis of Ashland, KY in the Valvoline, Barry Wright Race Cars Chevrolet. The young 15-year-old Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, IL had his best career finish in LOLMDS competition, coming home in fifth in the American Metal Supply, Pierce Race Cars, Chevrolet.
Completing the top ten were: Chris Simpson of Oxford, IA; Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN; O'Neal; Wendell Wallace of Batesville, AR; and Eric Wells of Hazard, KY.
In preliminary action, Brian Birkhofer set the Red Buck Cigars Fast Time amongst the 30 entrants with a lap of 14.552 seconds. Heat races were taken by: Jimmy Owens, Jared Landers, Billy Moyer, and Jonathan Davenport. Scott Bloomquist and Randy Korte won their respective B-Mains.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Friday Night, July 13th, 2012
"Battle at the Beach"
Tri City Speedway - Pontoon Beach, IL
A-Main
1 2 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR $10,000
2 1 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
3 9 44 Earl Pearson Jr Jacksonville, FL
4 8 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
5 6 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
6 7 32x Chris Simpson Oxford, IA
7 17 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
8 12 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
9 19 6m Wendell Wallace Batesville, AR
10 13 18 Eric Wells Hazard, KY
11 4 15 Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA
12 20 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
13 23 28 Dennis Erb Jr Carpentersville, IL
14 21 11 Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
15 25 20 Dustin Griffin Camp Point, IL
16 3 5 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
17 16 1v Will Vaught Crane, MO
18 5 15b Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA
19 11 8 Craig Smith Godfrey, IL
20 10 81 Kevin Cole Benton, IL
21 15 21jr Billy Moyer Jr Batesville, AR
22 22 27 Rodney Melvin Benton, IL
23 14 41 Brad Neat Dunnville, KY
24 18 00 Randy Korte Highland, IL
25 24 46 Tim Rivers Salem, IN
B-Main #1
1 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
2 6m Wendall Wallace Batesville, AR
3 11 Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
4 28 Dennis Erb Jr Carpentersville, IL
5 78 Chad Zobrist Highland, IL
6 72 John Mason Millersburg, OH
dns 92 Brant Kehrer New Memphis, IL
B-Main #2
1 00 Randy Korte Highland, IL
2 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
3 27 Rodney Melvin Benton, IL
4 20 Dustin Griffin Camp Point, IL
5 27 Stacy Taylor Jacksonville, AR
6 15 Chris Fetter Troy, MO
dns 46 Tim Rivers Salem, IN
Heat #1
1 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
2 15b Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA
3 44 Earl Pearson Jr Jacksonville, FL
4 18 Eric Wells Hazard, KY
5 28 Dennis Erb Jr Carpentersville, IL
6 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
7 11 Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
8 92 Brant Kehrer New Memphis, IL
Heat #2
1 5 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
2 25 Chris Simpson Oxford, IA
3 2 Brady Smith Solon Springs, WI
4 21jr Billy Moyer Jr Batesville, AR
5 6m Wendall Wallace Batesville, AR
6 78 Chad Zobrist Highland, IL
7 72 John Mason Millersburg, OH
Heat #3
1 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR
2 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
3 81 Kevin Cole Benton, IL
4 41 Brad Neat Dunnville, KY
5 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
6 27 Rodney Melvin Benton, IL
7 20 Dustin Griffin Camp Point, IL
8 46 Tim Rivers Salem, IN
Heat #4
1 15 Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA
2 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
3 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
4 1v Will Vaught Crane, MO
5 00 Randy Korte Highland, IL
6 27 Stacy Taylor Jacksonville, AR
7 15 Chris Fetter Troy, MO
Fast Time:
Brian Birkhofer / 14.552 seconds (Group A)
Billy Moyer / 14.891 seconds (Group B)
