41st Annual World 100
Eldora Speedway
September 10, 2011
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Owens Comes Out On Top Of Thrilling Late-Race Battle To Earn Second Career World 100 Triumph At Eldora Speedway



by Kevin Kovac
ROSSBURG, Ohio (September 10)  – Jimmy Owens was in a league of his own for most of Saturday night’s 41st annual World 100 at Eldora Speedway.

The final 10 laps, however, were a dogfight for the 39-year-old from Newport, Tenn., who had to turn back challenges from Darrell Lanigan, Don O’Neal and Eddie Carrier Jr. to secure his second career victory in the prestigious DIRTcar UMP-sanctioned event.

With his once flawless Team Zero by Bloomquist car slowed by damage it sustained in a late-race bout with the half-mile oval’s cushion, Owens used every bit of his ample ability to remain in front during a frenetic run to the finish that had the massive crowd roaring. He earned a $44,000 first-place check after beating Salt Rock, W.Va.’s Carrier to the checkered flag by 0.635 of a second.

Martinsville, Ind.’s O’Neal, who won Eldora’s $100,000 Dream in June, finished third. Union, Ky.’s Lanigan settled for fourth after nearly overtaking Owens on at least two occasions, and John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va., registered a career-best World 100 finish of fifth.

“To win (the World 100) once was an achievement,” said Owens, whose previous triumph came in 2007. “To do it again is unbelievable. You know, if we never win another race in our life, we’re proud of where we’re at right now.”

A four-time DIRTcar UMP Modified national champion who has been racing dirt Late Models fulltime for less than decade, Owens appeared headed to a runaway victory after he advanced from the fourth starting spot to pass polesitter Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., for the lead on lap 13. He effortlessly glided away from the field following six restarts between laps 39 and 67, building straightaway advantages in short order.

But something changed after the race’s seventh and final caution flag, on lap 82 for a turn-four incident that eliminated the third- and fourth-place drivers, Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., and a charging Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va. With the 10-to-go mark approaching, Lanigan, who had passed McDowell for second on lap 76, began edging noticeably closer to Owens’s Mike Reese-owned car.

“I guess when I jumped the cushion (in turn one) it knocked the bracing loose from my (right-side) door and that really slowed us down quite a bit,” said Owens, the current points leader of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. “When I would get within about six cars (lengths) of a lapped car, I would start losing it. All the air getting under the car (the door was bent) was just making the car ‘skatey.’ We couldn’t stick no more, where early in the race it didn’t faze us none.”



By lap 92, Lanigan was close enough to stick the nose of his Rocket car underneath Owens. The World of Outlaws Late Model Series regular was primed to sail by Owens to assume command in one quick burst.

“But when I caught him,” said Lanigan, “he actually caught them lapped cars at the same time and that kept me from doing a slide job. And that let O’Neal catch up too.”

O’Neal, who started eighth but ran inside the top five for the entire distance, slid under Lanigan rounding turns three and four on lap 93. The two drivers spent the ensuing laps swapping second place – and trading paint – to the benefit of Owens.

The deciding moment came on lap 98 when Lanigan dived to the inside of O’Neal through turns one and two and appeared to have plenty of momentum built up to pass Owens. But Lanigan ran up on Owens too fast in turn two and had to check up, causing a scramble with O’Neal that allowed Carrier to scoot into second on the inside and Owens to open enough room to carry him to the finish line.

“I knew we were hurting and a sitting duck,” said Owens. “But we were able to hold on and hold ‘em off.”

Carrier, 40, made a last-ditch bid to steal the lead from Owens rounding turns three and four on the final lap, but the Mountain State standout fell short. He still recorded by far his best finish in three career World 100 and pocketed $15,000.

“It got pretty wild there at the end,” said Carrier, who started 12th in Carl Grover’s Rocket car. “I seen Donnie and Lanigan start battling (for second), and then they kind of got together and lost some time over (in turn two), and I said, ‘Here’s my shot to get second.’

“Then Jimmy was kind of stuck behind the lapped cars and I caught him a little bit. I didn’t know if I had anything for him, but going in that last corner I just took a last dive at it to see if I could clear him. But I didn’t have him cleared and I wasn’t gonna drive through him. It’s the World 100, but it’s just not my deal to race like that. I wasn’t gonna run over a guy to get here.”

Owens realized that Carrier got precariously close on the last circuit.

“I seen Eddie below me,” said Owens. “My hat’s off to him for a good run.”



The victory was Owens’s third overall in Eldora’s pair of annual dirt Late Model majors, joining his 2009 success in the $100,000 Dream. This one tops his list of checkered flags at the high-banked track, however.

“Tonight was a whole lot more sentimental than the first (World 100 win),” said Owens, who ended a string of 10 consecutive first-time World 100 winners. “The first time we won we were still more of a Modified racer and when we won the Dream it just didn’t hit home to what we had done.

“Now that we’ve been in Late Models for awhile and been competitive, you realize the prestige of these races a whole lot more. This second one is a whole lot better than the first one. When you see what it means to all the other drivers and the fans, then you realize, ‘Hey, this is a pretty big deal. It’s pretty cool.’”

O’Neal, 47, was 0.917 of a second behind Owens at the finish line. While still winless in 11 career World 100 starts, the third-place finish was his fourth top-five.

Lanigan, 40, also remained winless in 18 career World 100 starts. The fourth-place finish was shy of his career-best runner-up outing in 1999 and a third in 2007.

The 30-year-old Blankenship, who started 14th in a Rocket machine, broke into the top five on lap 84 when 21st-starter Jared Landers of Batesville, Ark., relinquished the spot after slapping the turn-two wall. Blankenship’s previous World 100 finishes were 21st in 2009 and 11th in 2010.

Madden, who led laps 1-12, faded to sixth at the finish. Filling out the remainder of the top 10 spots was three-time World 100 winner Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., who started 13th and never climbed into serious contention; Jeep VanWormer of Pinconning, Mich., who got as high as sixth from the 10th starting spot; NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regular Austin Dillon of Welcome, N.C., who pitted on lap 62 after flattening a right-rear tire against the turn-one wall; and Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn.

Dillon brought out the race’s fifth caution flag when he got into the outside guardrail. Other drivers who triggered cautions included Steve Shaver of Vienna, W.Va., who slowed with right-front damage on lap 33; R.J. Conley of Wheelersburg, Ohio (stopped on lap 39); Jon Henry of Ada, Ohio, who slapped the turn-one wall on lap 48; Scott James of Lawrenceburg, Ind., who slowed on lap 58 while running sixth.

The only multi-car tangle occurred on lap 82 when McDowell and Richards went spinning in turn four. McDowell, who started second and never ran lower than third in NASCAR star Clint Bowyer’s car, was slowed late in the distance by a nosepiece he bent after hitting the cushion but hung on to third until the plastic folded back and locked up his right-front wheel on lap 82. He thus slowed abruptly against the turn-four cushion – unfortunately at the same time Richards was sliding ahead of O’Neal for third place. With a head of steam Richards, who started 19th, was unable to avoid McDowell’s stricken car, sending them both spinning out of the race.

Among the early casualties was Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., who retired from fifth place on lap 39 shortly after breaking a right-front shock, and defending World 100 champion Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., who started fifth but never climbed higher before dropping out on lap 56.

Bloomquist was fastest in Friday’s qualifying session with a lap of 15.009 seconds. It was his fourth career World 100 fast-time honor and first since 2004.

Heat winners on Saturday night were McCreadie, Moyer, Owens, Lanigan, McDowell and Madden. The B-Mains were captured by Landers and Bub McCool of Vicksburg, Miss.

A total of 112 cars were signed in for the event. Drivers represented 17 states, Canada and Australia.  

World 100 A-Main Results (Finish/Start/Driver/Lap Completed/Earnings):
1. (4) Jimmy Owens/100 $44,000
2. (12) Eddie Carrier Jr./100 $15,000
3. (8) Don O’Neal/100 $10,000
4. (3) Darrell Lanigan/100 $7,500
5. (14) John Blankenship/100 $6,000
6. (1) Chris Madden/100 $5,000
7. (13) Scott Bloomquist/100 $4,000
8. (10) Jeep VanWormer/100 $3,500
9. (7) Austin Dillon/100 $3,000
10. (20) Mike Marlar/100 $2,500
11. (30) Jimmy Mars/100 $2,250
12. (16) Mike Spatola III/100 $2,000
13. (24) R.J. Conley/99 $1,900
14. (28) Dennis Erb Jr./98 $1,800
15. (26) Dustin Neat/98 $1,750
16. (29) Brandon Sheppard/98 $1,725
17. (21) Jared Landers/89 $1,700
18. (2) Dale McDowell/81 $1,675
19. (19) Josh Richards/81 $1,650
20. (9) Scott James/75 $1,645
21. (5) Billy Moyer/56 $1,640
22. (18) Jon Henry/48 $1,635
23. (25) Chris Ferguson/39 $1,630
24. (6) Tim McCreadie/37 $1,625
25. (23) Gregg Satterlee/35 $1,620
26. (15) Earl Pearson Jr./32 $1,615
27. (17) Steve Shaver/32 $1,610
28. (11) Shannon Babb/24 $1,605
29. (22) Bub McCool/22 $1,600
30. (27) Kent Robinson/21 $1,600
Lap Leaders: Madden (1-12); Owens (13-100)
Caution Flags: 7 (Laps 33, 39, 48, 58, 62, 67, 82)
Fast-Time Provisional Starters: Richards, Marlar

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B-Main #1 (top 5 transfer to World 100)
1 777 Jared Landers
2 22 Gregg Satterlee
3 22 Chris Ferguson
4 44 Clint Smith
5 7R Kent Robinson
6 B5 Brandon Sheppard
7 11 Jeff Babcock
8 14 Tyrel Todd
9 49 Brian Ruhlman
10 18R Chris Ross
11 25 Steve Lance Jr
12 38 Chase Washington
13 4B Jackie Boggs
14 95j Jerry Bowersock
15 6m Dona Marcoullier
16 98 Jason Rauen
17 99G Jacob Grizzle
18 49 Victor Lee
19 12 Doug Drown
20 32 Chris Simpson
21 15 Steve Francis
22 91 Terry Babb

B-Main #2
1 57j Bub McCool
2 71c RJ Conley
3 25 Dustin Neat
4 28 Dennis Erb
5 28 Jimmy Mars
6 24 Rick Eckert
7 3s Brian Shirley
8 41 Ty Dillon
9 1* Chub Frank
10 99jr Frank Heckenast Jr
11 15b Brian Birkhoffer
12 25 Bart Hartman
13 1s Jack Sullivan
14 88 Andrew Reaume
15 72 John Mason
16 B12 Kevin Weaver
17 20 Matt Westfall
18 75 Dusty Moore
19 93 Jay Johnson
20 23v Ryan VanderVeen
21 19 Austin Hubbard
22 3 Steve Smith

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Heat #1  
1 39 Tim McCreadie (starts 6th in World 100)
2 3 Austin Dillon
3 0 Scott Bloomquist
4 25 Jason Feger
5 22 Chris Ferguson
6 7R Kent Robinson
7 12 Doug Drown
8 32 Chris Simpson
9 95J Jerry Bowersock
10 49 Victor Lee
11 25 Steve Lance Jr
12 101 Casey Roberts
13 11 Mike Hill
14 14 Terry Wolfenbarger
15 44 Jeff Watson
16 9 Larry Greer
17 69 John Mayes Jr
18 28H Jacob Hawkins
19 48 Tim Lance

Heat #2  
1 21 Billy Moyer (starts 5th in World 100)
2 71 Don O'Neal
3 23 John Blankenship
4 1G Mike Marlar
5 c9 Steve Casebolt
6 22 Gregg Satterlee
7 11 Jeff Babcock
8 49 Brian Ruhlman
9 B5 Brandon Sheppard
10 14 Tyrel Todd
11 6 Dona Marcoullier
12 99G Jacob Grizzle
13 15 Steve Francis
14 1 Duane Chamberlain
15 9R Curtis Roberts
16 8 Keith Gentz
17 6R Carl Ries
18 21 Gregg Haskell

Heat #3  
1 20 Jimmy Owens (starts 4th in World 100)
2 81 Scott James
3 44 Earl Pearson Jr
4 777 Jared Landers
5 98 Jason Rauen
6 44 Clint Smith
7 4B Jackie Boggs
8 38 Chase Washington
9 91 Terry Babb
10 11 D.J. Wells
11 27 David Hilliker
12 05 Klint Byars
13 302 Robert Stutts
14 34 Ky Harper
15 17 Shannon Thornsberry
16 99 Boom Briggs
17 18R Chris Ross
18 16 Justin Rattliff
19 s9 Dan Schlieper

Heat #4  
1 29 Darrell Lanigan (starts 3rd in World 100)
2 55 Jeep Van Wormer
3 89 Mike Spatola
4 71 R.J. Conley
5 28 Dennis Erb Jr
6 1 Josh Richards
7 28 Jimmy Mars
8 1* Chub Frank
9 B12 Kevin Weaver
10 13 J.R. Hotovy
11 WD40 Dusty Moore
12 72 John Mason
13 8 Anthony Adams
14 26 Bill Lewis
15 41 Brad Neat
16 21M Jason Montgomery
17 81 Brandon Fouts
18 1H Vic Hill
19 54 David Breazeale

Heat #5  
1 17m Dale McDowell (starts 2nd in World 100)
2 18 Shannon Babb
3 6 Steve Shaver
4 57j Bub McCool
5 19 Austin Hubbard
6 3s Brian Shirley
7 41 Ty Dillon
8 25 Bart Hartman
9 15b Brian Birkhoffer
10 25 Shane Clanton
11 23v Ryan VanderVeen
12 0 Geoff Phillips
13 10 Leon Henderson
14 25 Jarrod Breeding
15 26 Tony Knowles

Heat #6  
1 44 Chris Madden (starts 1st in World 100)
2 25 Dustin Neat
3 15 Jon Henry
4 28 Eddie Carrier Jr
5 24 Rick Eckert
6 99jr Frank Heckenast Jr
7 88 Andrew Reaume
8 20 Matt Westfall
9 1s Jack Sullivan
10 93 Jay Johnson
11 99 Donnie Moran
12 21jr Billy Moyer Jr
13 22 Jill George
14 11x Tom Ramey
15 5 Steven Breeding
16 18 Eric Wells
17 46 Tim Rivers

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Qualifying Results
1 0 Scott Bloomquist 15.009
2 71 Don O’Neal 15.167
3 20 Jimmy Owens 15.201
4 1 Josh Richards 15.233
5 18 Shannon Babb 15.332
6 44 Chris Madden 15.407
7 39 Tim McCreadie 15.462
8 5b Mike Marlar 15.471
9 5 Klint Byars 15.502
10 6 Steve Shaver 15.504
11 55 Jeep Van Wormer 15.504
12 99 Donnie Moran 15.509
13 3 Austin Dillon 15.550
14 21 Billy Moyer 15.553
15 777 Jared Landers 15.554
16 89 Mike Spatola III 15.560
17 17m Dale McDowell 15.563
18 25 Dustin Neat 15.592
19 25 Jason Feger 15.593
20 23 John Blankenship 15.593
21 44 Earl Pearson Jr 15.598
22 29 Darrell Lanigan 15.618
23 19 Austin Hubbard 15.629
24 24 Rick Eckert 15.648
25 32 Chris Simpson 15.655
26 c9 Steve Casebolt 15.656
27 81 Scott James 15.661
28 28 Dennis Erb 15.674
29 57j Bub McCool 15.677
30 18 Eric Wells 15.693
31 22 Chris Ferguson 15.698
32 15 Steve Francis 15.703
33 98 Jason Rauen 15.704
34 1 Vic Hill 15.713
35 99jr Frank Heckenast Jr 15.745
36 12 Doug Drown 15.755
37 22 Gregg Satterlee 15.759
38 11 DJ Wells 15.771
39 41 Brad Neat 15.771
40 25 Bart Hartman 15.784
41 15 Jon Henry 15.790
42 7R Kent Robinson 15.799
43 44 Clint Smith 15.810
44 9R Curtis Roberts 15.810
45 1* Chub Frank 15.827
46 26 Tony Knowles 15.828
47 3 Steve Smith 15.841
48 25 Steve Lance Jr 15.881
49 B5 Brandon Sheppard 15.882
50 38 Chase Washington 15.894
51 21 Jason Montgomery 15.896
52 25 Shane Clanton 15.900
53 88 Andrew Reaume 15.904
54 20H Jacob Hawkins 15.905
55 1 Duane Chamberlain 15.916
56 4B Jackie Boggs 15.932
57 3s Brian Shirley 15.957
58 72 John Mason 15.959
59 15b Brian Birkhoffer 15.967
60 28 Eddie Carrier Jr 16.005
61 95j Jerry Bowersock 16.014
62 99G Jacob Grizzle 16.060
63 99B Boom Briggs 16.063
64 28 Jimmy Mars 16.097
65 41 Ty Dillon 16.128
66 1s Jack Sullivan 16.129
67 11 Mike Hill 16.143
68 49 Brian Ruhlman 16.162
69 18R Chris Ross 16.177
70 23v Ryan VanderVeen 16.177
71 71c RJ Conley 16.177
72 46 Tim Rivers 16.186
73 9 Larry Greer 16.208
74 11 Jeff Babcock 16.223
75 17 Shannon Thornsberry 16.225
76 13 JR Hotovy 16.282
77 11b Stacy Boles 16.288
78 93 Jay Johnson 16.301
79 101 Casey Roberts 16.303
80 14 Tyrel Todd 16.308
81 16 Justin Rattliff 16.339
82 81 Brandon Fouts 16.341
83 1b Jerry Rice 16.354
84 21jr Billy Moyer Jr 16.420
85 49 Victor Lee 16.515
86 6m Dona Marcoullier 16.517
87 91 Terry Babb 16.569
88 B12 Kevin Weaver 16.650
89 10 Leon Henderson 16.658
90 5 Steven Breeding 16.686
91 44 Jeff Watson 16.713
92 6R Carl Ries 16.785
93 21H David Hilliker 16.793
94 75 Dusty Moore 16.836
95 25 Jarrod Breeding 16.860
96 20 Matt Westfall 16.887
97 8 Keith Gentz 16.918
98 14 Terry Wolfenberger 16.942
99 34 Ky Harper 17.150
100 8 Anthony Adams 17.331
101 0 Geoff Phillips 17.375
102 22 Jill George 17.390
103 69 John Mayes Jr 17.554
104 RH21 Gregg Haskell 17.579
105 302 Robert Stutts 17.626
106 26 Bill Lewis 17.856
107 11x Tom Ramey 18.393