8th Annual Knoxville Late Model Nationals
Knoxville Raceway
September 29, 2011
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Jimmy Owens Wins First Night of Lucas Oil Knoxville Nationals



by James Essex
KNOXVILLE, Iowa (September 29) - Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN captured the opening night of the 8th Annual Lucas Oil Knoxville Nationals Presented by Casey's General Stores on Thursday Night at Knoxville Raceway. Owens took the lead from Darrell Lanigan of Union, KY to score his first ever win at the historic oval. Austin Hubbard of Seaford, DE placed third followed by Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA and Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, IL.

Lanigan grabbed the lead at the start of the 25-lap main with Chad Simpson and Owens in tow. Owens, who started third on the grid quickly moved into contention for the lead as he raced past Simpson and began to challenge Lanigan for the top spot. Lanigan and Owens then battled it out for the race lead as Owens grabbed the point on lap nine. A circuit later, Lanigan charged back around Owens to regain the lead. Lanigan was only out in front for two more laps until Owens made the pass on the outside on lap 12.

Owens pulled away from a terrific battle for second between Lanigan, Hubbard, and Birkhofer. Owens made it look easy in the final laps as he took the Mike Reece-owned Bloomquist Race Cars to victory lane. "We've been here for the last two or three years, we've been decent, almost won here once before and Darrell (Lanigan) passed us late to win. To get a win here is special, this is such a nice place, we qualified kind of bad, but the invert helped us tonight," said the 39-year-old driver.



"We were pretty good in the heat; we made some changes for the feature. We came here with a completely different motor program from Cornett, we were able to capitalize on that restart and we were able to pass Darrell for the win, if they can keep this track in this kind of shape for the rest of the weekend, it would be great. We are using the same setup as before, we jumped down to the bottom after getting by Darrell, it was a great win for us," said Owens.

"We have to thank all of sponsors for their support, Reece Monument Company, Gantte Appraisals, Red Line Oil, Midwest Sheet Metal, Ohlins Shocks, C&C Trucking and Hoosier Tires, without them it would be difficult to do this."

Lanigan claimed second in the Mark Richard Enterprises, Kentucky Fuel, Rocket Chassis Chevrolet with Hubbard in one of his best runs of the year, taking third in the Dale Beitler, Reliable Painting, Rocket Chassis. Birkhofer in the J&J Steel, Pro Power Racing Engines, MB Customs entry came from seventh to finish fourth just ahead of Babb in the Petroff Towing, Pro Power Racing Engines, Moyer Victory Circle Chevrolet.



Completing the top ten were Scott James of Lawrenceburg, IN, Billy Moyer of Batesville, AR, Will Vaught of Crane, MO, Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN and Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, GA.

In preliminary action Scott Bloomquist was the Red Buck Cigars Fast Qualifier among the 64 entries. Heat races were won by Bloomquist, Brian Birkhofer, Austin Hubbard, Steve Francis and Jimmy Mars.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com or call the series' office at (951) 532-2503.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Thursday Night, September 29th, 2011
8th Annual Lucas Oil Knoxville Nationals
Knoxville Raceway - Knoxville, IA

A-Main
1 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, IN $7,000
2 1 Darrell Lanigan Union, KY 
3 19 Austin Hubbard Laurel, DE 
4 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA 
5 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL 
6 81 Scott James Lawrenceburg, IN 
7 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR 
8 1V Will Vaught Crane, MO 
9 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 
10 17M Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA 
11 32 Chris Simpson Marion, IA 
12 11T Tyler Reddick Corning, CA 
13 25 Chad Simpson Mount Vernon, IA 
14 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY 
15 28M Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI 
16 25F Jason Feger Bloomington, IL 
17 41 Brad Neat Trinity, NC 
18 23 John Blankenship Morristown, TN 
19 777 Jared Landers Welcome, NC 
20 s9 Dan Schlieper Sullivan, WI 
21 98 Jason Rauen Farley, IA 
22 18E Eric Wells Hazard, KY 
23 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY 
24 3s Brian Shirley Chatham, IL 

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B-Main
1 25F Jason Feger Bloomington, IL 
2 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY 
3 11T Tyler Reddick Corning, CA 
4 777 Jared Landers Welcome, NC 
5 7R Kent Robinson Bloomington, IN 
6 1m Rob Moss Iowa City, IA 
7 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Trinity, NC 
8 56 Andy Eckrich Iowa City, IA 
9 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr. Frankfurt, IL 
10 5 John Duty Happy Valley, OR 
11 15H Jeremiah Hurst Dubuque, IA 
12 27H Brian Harris Davenport, IA 
13 56x Chris Spieker Massena, IA 
14 25H Kerry Hansen Spencer, WI 
15 1s Jack Sullivan Greenbrier, AR 
16 16 Tyler Bruening Decorah, IA 
17 21B Rich Bell Sheffield, IL 
18 22M Charlie McKenna Clear Lake, IA 
19 58 Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA 
20 22 Jill George Cedar Falls, IA 
21 2 Brady Smith Solon Springs, WI 
22 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC 
23 33G Paul Glendenning Mt. Ayr, IA 
24 50 Denny Eckrich Oxford, IA 

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C-Main
1 56x Chris Spieker Massena, IA
2 1s Jack Sullivan Greenbrier, AR
3 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
4 58 Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA
5 5m Mike Fryer Freeport, IL
6 99D Darrel DeFrance Marshalltown, IA
7 48 Tim Lance Peoria, IL
8 6 Al Humphrey Giltner, NE
9 3 Kevin Sather Ankeny, IA
10 8 Mike Wallace Carter Lake, IA
11 21JR Billy Moyer Jr. Batesville, AR
12 99 Scott Lewis Brighton, CO
13 93 Jay Johnson West Burlington, IA
14 44zo Alonzo Grosse Council Bluffs, IA
15 33 Nick Marolf Moscow, IA
16 10 Junior Coover Norfolk, NE
17 15c Curt Schroeder Ames, IA
18 7c Chad Chenoweth Huron, SD

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Heat #1
1 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 
2 32 Chris Simpson Marion, IA 
3 25 Chad Simpson Mount Vernon, IA 
4 41 Brad Neat Trinity, NC 
5 777 Jared Landers Welcome, NC 
6 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY 
7 50 Denny Eckrich Oxford, IA 
8 27H Brian Harris Davenport, IA 
9 3 Kevin Sather Ankeny, IA 
10 48 Tim Lance Peoria, IL 
11 6 Al Humphrey Giltner, NE 
12 7c Chad Chenoweth Huron, SD 
13 56x Chris Spieker Massena, IA 

Heat #2  
1 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA 
2 1V Will Vaught Crane, MO 
3 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL 
4 18E Eric Wells Hazard, KY 
5 22M Charlie McKenna Clear Lake, IA 
6 15c Curt Schroeder Ames, IA 
7 21B Rich Bell Sheffield, IL 
8 5 John Duty Happy Valley, OR 
9 33G Paul Glendenning Mt. Ayr, IA 
10 c9 Steve Casebolt Richmond, IN 
11 57J Bub McCool Vicksburg, MS 
12 51 Matt Furman Columbus, OH 
13 5B Mike Marlar Winfield, TN 



Heat #3  
1 19 Austin Hubbard Laurel, DE 
2 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR 
3 81 Scott James Lawrenceburg, IN 
4 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, IN 
5 11T Tyler Reddick Corning, CA 
6 7R Kent Robinson Bloomington, IN 
7 15H Jeremiah Hurst Dubuque, IA 
8 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr. Frankfurt, IL 
9 1s Jack Sullivan Greenbrier, AR 
10 33 Nick Marolf Moscow, IA 
11 5m Mike Fryer Freeport, IL 
12 44zo Alonzo Grosse Council Bluffs, IA 

Heat #4  
1 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY 
2 23 John Blankenship Morristown, TN 
3 3s Brian Shirley Chatham, IL 
4 s9 Dan Schlieper Sullivan, WI 
5 1m Rob Moss Iowa City, IA 
6 2 Brady Smith Solon Springs, WI 
7 25H Kerry Hansen Spencer, WI 
8 56 Andy Eckrich Iowa City, IA 
9 93 Jay Johnson West Burlington, IA 
10 58 Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA 
11 99 Scott Lewis Brighton, CO 
12 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC 
13 8 Mike Wallace Carter Lake, IA 

Heat #5  
1 28M Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI 
2 17M Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA 
3 1 Darrell Lanigan Union, KY 
4 98 Jason Rauen Farley, IA 
5 25F Jason Feger Bloomington, IL 
6 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Trinity, NC 
7 22 Jill George Cedar Falls, IA 
8 16 Tyler Bruening Decorah, IA 
9 99D Darrel DeFrance Marshalltown, IA 
10 10 Junior Coover Norfolk, NE 
11 31 Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA 
12 71 Don ONeal Martinsville, IN 


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Qualifying Results
1 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN  17.335
2 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA  17.429
3 19 Austin Hubbard Laurel, DE  17.511
4 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY  17.570
5 71 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN  17.609
6 777 Jared Landers Welcome, NC  17.622
7 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL  17.625
8 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, IN  17.795
9 56 Andy Eckrich Iowa City, IA  17.818
10 1 Darrell Lanigan Union, KY  17.818
11 25 Chad Simpson Mount Vernon, IA  17.859
12 5B Mike Marlar Winfield, TN  17.905
13 81 Scott James Lawrenceburg, IN  17.942
14 3s Brian Shirley Chatham, IL  17.946
15 25F Jason Feger Bloomington, IL  18.025
16 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY  18.027
17 1V Will Vaught Crane, MO  18.027
18 11T Tyler Reddick Corning, CA  18.045
19 1m Rob Moss Iowa City, IA  18.049
20 17M Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA  18.073
21 27H Brian Harris Davenport, IA  18.082
22 c9 Steve Casebolt Richmond, IN  18.108
23 7R Kent Robinson Bloomington, IN  18.126
24 58 Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA  18.150
25 98 Jason Rauen Farley, IA  18.190
26 32 Chris Simpson Marion, IA  18.202
27 18E Eric Wells Hazard, KY  18.202
28 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR  18.249
29 2 Brady Smith Solon Springs, WI  18.318
30 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Trinity, NC  18.328
31 50 Denny Eckrich Oxford, IA  18.337
32 51 Matt Furman Columbus, OH  18.361
33 1s Jack Sullivan Greenbrier, AR  18.397
34 23 John Blankenship Morristown, TN  18.418
35 28M Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI  18.433
36 41 Brad Neat Trinity, NC  18.445
37 57J Bub McCool Vicksburg, MS  18.455
38 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr. Frankfurt, IL  18.478
39 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC  18.492
40 16 Tyler Bruening Decorah, IA  18.498
41 3 Kevin Sather Ankeny, IA  18.561
42 22M Charlie McKenna Clear Lake, IA  18.568
43 21JR Billy Moyer Jr. Batesville, AR  18.613
44 s9 Dan Schlieper Sullivan, WI  18.625
45 31 Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA  18.697
46 56x Chris Spieker Massena, IA  18.734
47 5 John Duty Happy Valley, OR  18.737
48 15H Jeremiah Hurst Dubuque, IA  18.823
49 25H Kerry Hansen Spencer, WI  18.833
50 22 Jill George Cedar Falls, IA  18.835
51 48 Tim Lance Peoria, IL  19.006
52 33G Paul Glendenning Mt. Ayr, IA  19.050
53 5m Mike Fryer Freeport, IL  19.116
54 8 Mike Wallace Carter Lake, IA  19.150
55 99D Darrel DeFrance Marshalltown, IA  19.235
56 6 Al Humphrey Giltner, NE  19.238
57 21B Rich Bell Sheffield, IL  19.307
58 44zo Alonzo Grosse Council Bluffs, IA  19.314
59 99 Scott Lewis Brighton, CO  19.338
60 10 Junior Coover Norfolk, NE  19.404
61 7c Chad Chenoweth Huron, SD  19.480
62 15c Curt Schroeder Ames, IA  20.277
63 33 Nick Marolf Moscow, IA  22.339