Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Rome Speedway
October 9, 2011
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Owens Regains Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Points Lead After Win at Rome

by James Essex
ROME, GA (October 9) - Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN inherited the lead on lap 37 when smoke began heavily barreling out race leader, Scott Bloomquist's, car. Owens then led the rest of the way for his first ever win at Rome. More importantly for him, he re-took the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series championship points by 50 heading into the season ending U.S. Steel Dirt Track World Championship presented by Sunoco at KC Raceway next weekend. Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, GA finished second, followed by Clint Smith of Senoia, GA; Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN; and Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL.

Bloomquist started on the outside of the front row, alongside 15-year-old Tyler Reddick, who was the polesitter. Bloomquist bolted to a quick early lead with McDowell, Smith, and Owens trailing. Bloomquist built a good-sized lead with just ten laps into the 50 lap event. The first caution of the race came out on lap 25 for Eric Wells. On the restart Bloomquist opened up a healthy advantage over McDowell. Owens took over the second slot on lap 26. With 20 to go in the race Bloomquist had built nearly a straightaway lead over Owens as a torrid battle for third was going on between McDowell, Smith, and O'Neal.

Bloomquist continued to be solid as he was looking to sweep the LOLMDS weekend in Georgia. He captured the Lucas Oil Dixie Shootout last night. Bloomquist' car started to smoke as he was just about to enter heavy lapped traffic again. Bloomquist then started to slow as heavy smoke was pouring from his car. Bloomquist eventually stopped on the track, bringing out the next caution.

Bloomquist headed pitside and as his crew took a close look at the car. It was apparent that there was a terminal problem. Owens inherited the top spot with 13 laps to go. He then pulled away from a terrific finish for second between three drivers.

In Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the 29th time in his career, Owens set himself up for his first LOLMDS title. "Scott had a good car, you know we hate to see that happen to anybody, but we'll take it anyway we can get it," said the 39-year old driver of the Mike Reece owned number 20.

"You have got to be there at the end to make it count, hats off to my crew, Chris (Fox) made a good decision on tires tonight. We were pretty good there at the end, and we look forward to heading into next weekend in Ohio, both of us have had a great year. It's going to come down to one race, he's been plagued by things that normally get us, it's all good. I'm glad to have all these fans here to cheer for us."

Owens' Bloomquist Race Cars Ford is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by Reece Monument Company, Gantte Appraisals, Red Line Oil, Midwest Sheet Metal, Ohlins, Hoosier and C&C Trucking.

McDowell finished second, barely edging out two other drivers for the spot. McDowell's Crawford Supply, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, Clint Bowyer Rocket Chevrolet. Smith was third in the JP Drilling, Racetek Race Engines, Rocket Chevrolet as he had a near-photo finish with O'Neal in the Magnaflow Exhaust, Jay Dickens Racing Engines, MasterSbilt Chevy.

Completing the top ten were Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, GA; Steve Francis of Ashland, KY, Chris Madden of Gaffney, SC; Chip Brindle of Chatsworth, GA; and Tyler Reddick of Corning, CA.

In preliminary action Scott Bloomquist was the Red Buck Cigar Fast Qualifier among the 39 entrants on hand. Heat race winners were Tyler Reddick, Dale McDowell, Scott Bloomquist and Steve Francis. The B-mains went to Tommy Kerr and Chris Brown.

The final Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will take place next Friday and Saturday, October 14th and 15th at KC Raceway in Chillicothe, OH for the U. S. Steel Dirt Track World Championship Presented by Sunoco paying $50,000 to win. For more information on tickets, visit www.kc-raceway.com.

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.

A-Main
1 6 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN $10,000
2 3 17m Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA
3 5 44 Clint Smith Senoia, GA
4 11 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
5 15 44 Earl Pearson Jr Jacksonville, FL
6 7 25 Shane Clanton Locust Grove, GA
7 4 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
8 20 44 Chris Madden Gaffney, SC
9 13 21 Chip Brindle Chatsworth, GA
10 1 11t Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
11 16 201 Billy Ogle Jr Knoxville, TN
12 12 49 Jonathan Davenport Cowpens, SC
13 17 4T Tommy Kerr Maryville, TN
14 19 5 Eric Jacobsen Seacliff, CA
15 9 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
16 24 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
17 21 8 David Payne Murphy, NC
18 18 21b Chris Brown Cleveland, TX
19 23 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
20 14 19X Tyler Millwood Kingston, GA
21 10 41n Brad Neat Dunnville, KY
22 2 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
23 8 c9 Steve Casebolt  Richmond, IN
24 22 101 Casey Roberts Toccoa, GA
25 25 18e Eric Wells Hazard, KY

Unofficial Points Standings
Owens 6975
Bloomquist 6925
ONeal 6290
Francis 5965
Landers 5550
Pearson 5440

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B-Main #1
1 4T Tommy Kerr Maryville, TN
2 5 Eric Jacobsen Seacliff, CA
3 8 David Payne Murphy, NC
4 48 Todd Morrow Cleveland, TN
5 18e Eric Wells Hazard, KY
6 81 Aaron Ridley Chatsworth, GA
7 24 Buster Goss Rome, GA
8 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
9 22 Chris Ferguson Holly Point, NC
10 07 Scott Hall Rome, GA
11 7 Lee Sutton Taylorsville, GA
12 3 Luther Jenkins

B-Main #2
1 21b Chris Brown Cleveland, TX
2 44 Chris Madden Gaffney, SC
3 101 Casey Roberts Toccoa, GA
4 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
5 66 Jake Knowles Tyrone, Ga
6 26 Tony Knowles Tyrone, Ga
7 1 Eddie Blackmon Kennesaw, GA
8  Snow
9  Matt Helbing

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Heat #1
1 11t Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
2 44 Clint Smith Senoia, GA
3 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
4 21 Chip Brindle Chatsworth, GA
5 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
6 5 Eric Jacobsen Seacliff, CA
7 48 Todd Morrow Cleveland, TN
8 22 Chris Ferguson Holly Point, NC
9 3 Luther Jenkins
10 24 Buster Goss Rome, GA

Heat #2
1 17m Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA
2 25 Shane Clanton Locust Grove, GA
3 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
4 44 Earl Pearson Jr Jacksonville, FL
5 4T Tommy Kerr Maryville, TN
6 18e Eric Wells Hazard, KY
7 8 David Payne Murphy, NC
8 7 Lee Sutton Taylorsville, GA
9 07 Scott Hall Rome, GA
10 81 Aaron Ridley Chatsworth, GA

Heat #3
1 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
2 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
3 41n Brad Neat Dunnville, KY
4 19X Tyler Millwood Kingston, GA
5 21b Chris Brown Cleveland, TX
6 1G Mike Marlar Winfield, TN
7 26 Tony Knowles Tyrone, Ga
8 66 Jake Knowles Tyrone, Ga
9 1 Eddie Blackmon Kennesaw, GA
10  Snow

Heat #4
1 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
2 c9 Steve Casebolt  Richmond, IN
3 49 Jonathan Davenport Cowpens, SC
4 201 Billy Ogle Jr Knoxville, TN
5 101 Casey Roberts Toccoa, GA
6 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
7 44 Chris Madden Gaffney, SC
8 24 Frank Ingram Woodstock, GA
9  Matt Helbing

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Group A Fast Time: Tyler Reddick 13.655
Group B Fast Time: Scott Bloomquist 13.382