Eldora Speedway
June 6, 2013
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Richards & Miller Open Dirt Late Model Dream XIX Weekend With Preliminary Feature Victories At Eldora Speedway
Tremendous Racing Highlights Start Of New Expanded Dream Format

by Kevin Kovac
ROSSBURG, OH (June 6) – Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., and Matt Miller of Whitehouse, Ohio, kicked off the new expanded Dirt Late Model Dream XIX Presented by Ferris Commercial Mowers weekend with victories in Thursday night’s Twin 25-lap features at Eldora Speedway.

With the DIRTcar UMP-sanctioned event’s 84-car field split in half by time-trial results, Richards captured the frenetic first A-Main for odd-numbered qualifiers and Miller soared to the checkered flag in the nightcap reserved for even-numbered qualifiers.

Richards, 25, pulled off a dramatic last-lap pass of Ashland, Ky.’s Steve Francis to grab the $2,500 top prize in the wildly-competitive first feature, which included seven lead changes among four drivers. A caution flag with two laps remaining put Richards on Francis’s outside for the restart and he took full advantage of the opportunity, surging by Francis off the top of turn two on the final circuit.

“It was a fun race,” said Richards, who started sixth driving a Valvoline-sponsored Rocket Chassis house car that he debuted last Saturday night. “The track had some speed to it even though it was hard, and you could really move around on it and race. You had to be aggressive if you were gonna pass somebody and that’s what we did at the end.”

After beating Francis to the finish line by about a car length, Richards admitted that he felt fortunate to earn his second career win at the high-banked, half-mile oval. He was nearly knocked from contention in an opening-lap scramble in turn two that stacked up several cars, including John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va.

“(Brian) Shirley slid up through there when we were racing and I got turned sideways (at the start) and I thought we were done right then,” said Richards, whose previous Eldora triumph came in an American Late Model Series event on May 25, 2008. “But somehow we survived that with only some cosmetic damage and we got to keep our spot.”

The victory gave Richards high hopes of enjoying an even greater celebration after Saturday night’s 100-lap Dream A-Main, which boasts a $100,000 winner’s purse. The current World of Outlaws Late Model Series points leader has made five Dream 100 starts since 2005 with a top finish of sixth in 2010.

“I didn’t really feel all that great hot-lapping, qualifying or heat-racing even though we were fast, but we changed our package around a little bit and actually I feel really comfortable now,” said Richards. “Just a few minor tweaks and I feel we’ll have something a lot better for Saturday than we have in the past.”

Francis settled for a runner-up finish after swapping the lead five times with Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga. Davenport passed outside-polesitter Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., for the lead on lap three and appeared primed for a breakthrough Eldora victory until Francis, who started seventh in NASCAR star Clint Bowyer’s Barry Wright car, moved in to start a dogfight for the top spot.

Francis gained control on lap 10, but Davenport returned the favor with an outside charge to move back ahead on lap 16. It was Francis on top on lap 18, Davenport on lap 19 and Francis again on lap 20.

Lanigan, who led laps 1-2, finished third. Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., broke into the top five following the final restart to place fourth and Davenport slipped back to fifth in the official rundown.

Miller flexed some serious muscle in the second 25-lapper, steering Rick Delong’s Rocket No. 3 around the extreme outside of the ‘Big E’ to take the lead from race-long pacesetter Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., on lap 11. The 2005 Dream winner never looked back en route to a 2.163-second victory over Owens, who outdueled Bub McCool of Vicksburg, Miss., for second-place money.

“This is one of those places where if you slow yourself down you lose your rhythm,” said Miller, who wasn’t seriously challenged once he took control of a race slowed by only a single caution flag on lap 20. “So I felt better just attacking. If I’m racing, I’m not thinking about laps.”

The $2,500 score put Miller in the right frame of mind for the remainder of the Dream XIX by Ferris weekend.

“That was fantastic,” said Miller, who since 2005 has won six American Late Model Series A-Mains at Eldora. “We came here a couple weeks (earlier this year) and struggled. There were some late nights sitting there sleepless trying to figure out how we could fix this thing, and the guys and I came together with Mark Richards and those guys (at Rocket Chassis) and that thing was on rails tonight.”

Owens, who started from the outside pole, exchanged the runner-up spot several times with McCool late in the distance before securing the second-place finish. Owens is one of only five drivers to win both of Eldora’s marquee dirt Late Model events, the Dream and World 100.

McCool’s third-place finish in Chad Stapleton’s car was an Eldora career-best, while Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., started and finished fourth and polesitter Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., completed the top five.

Defending Dream champion Shane Clanton of Zebulon, Ga., was the fastest qualifier in Thursday night’s multi-car time trials with a lap of 15.387 seconds, but after he spun a ‘4’ for the heat-race inversion he opted to park his Kennedy Motorsports Capital Race Car for the remainder of the night.

Among off-number qualifiers, heat-race winners were Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., Lanigan, Shirley and Davenport and the B-Mains were captured by Duane Chamberlain of Richmond, Ind., and R.J. Conley of Wheelersburg, Ohio. Even-number qualifier heat wins went to Erb, Owens, Miller and Bloomquist while Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., and Mason Zeigler of Chalk Hill, Pa., topped the B-Mains.

The Dream XIX by Ferris weekend continues on Friday night (June 7) with a second preliminary night of competition. Time trials will again split the field into two groups for heat races, B-Mains and 25-lap features that will pay $5,000 to win.

Heat races for Saturday night’s Dream XIX by Ferris will be aligned using drivers’ best qualifying laps from time trials on Thursday and Friday, putting plenty of importance on the second round against the clock on Friday night.

Hot laps are scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. on Friday with time trials to follow. Racing will get the green flag at 8 p.m.

Fans can obtain tickets information for the Dream XIX by Ferris by going online to www.EldoraSpeedway.com or contacting the Eldora offices at 937-338-3815.

A-Main #1  
1 1 Josh Richards
2 15 Steve Francis
3 29 Darrell Lanigan
4 3S Brian Shirley
5 49D Jonathan Davenport
6 55 Jeep VanWormer
7 15B Brian Birkhofer
8 32 Chris Simpson
9 18W Eric Wells
10 20C Duane Chamberlain
11 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr
12 89 Mike Spatola
13 21M Jason Montgomery
14 31 Nick Latham
15 48L Tim Lance
16 20H Jacob Hawkins
17 71C R J Conley
18 28M Jimmy Mars
19 6 Dustin Neat
20 17M Dale McDowell
21 75P Terry Phillips
22 17 Shannon Thornsberry
23 23 John Blankenship
24 27 Jeff Provinzino

A-Main #2  
1 3 Matt Miller
2 20 Jimmy Owens
3 57J Bub McCool
4 0 Scott Bloomquist
5 28 Dennis Erb Jr
6 25 Chad Simpson
7 21 Billy Moyer
8 1J Jeff Babcock
9 11 Tyler Reddick
10 1G Scott James
11 B5 Brandon Sheppard
12 20JB Jerry Bowersock
13 63 Doug Drown
14 21JR Billy Moyer Jr
15 5 Jared Landers
16 75M Dusty Moore
17 14M Morgan Bagley
18 1WC Wayne Chinn
19 32S Chad Stapleton
20 25Z Mason Zeigler
21 20R Jeremy Payne
22 7R Kent Robinson
23 99 Donnie Moran
24 39 Tim McCreadie


Odd Qualifiers to Twin 25 Main #1
Even Qualifiers to Twin 25 Main #2

Odd Qualifiers B-Main #1  
1 20C Duane Chamberlain
2 27 Jeff Provinzino
3 48L Tim Lance
4 89 Mike Spatola
5 M14 Brandon Thirlby
6 18D Danny Mitchell

Even Qualifiers B-Main #1  
1 B5 Brandon Sheppard
2 99 Donnie Moran
3 5 Jared Landers
4 14M Morgan Bagley
5 11S Ryan Sutter
6 15J Greg Johnson
7 88 Andrew Reaume
8 2 Justin Chance
9 79U Shane Unger

Odd Qualifiers B-Main #2  
1 71C R J Conley
2 32 Chris Simpson
3 31 Nick Latham
4 21M Jason Montgomery
5 116 Randy Weaver
6 11H Austin Hubbard
7 3N Ross Nicastri
8 19 Chad Smith
9 4C Ernie Cordier
10 44 Earl Pearson Jr

Even Qualifiers B-Main #2
1 25Z Mason Zeigler
2 20JB Jerry Bowersock
3 32S Chad Stapleton
4 75M Dusty Moore
5 555 Justin Coulter
6 93 Jay Johnson
7 91E Tyler Erb
8 99M Devin Moran
9 32P Bobby Pierce
10 33 Don Gordon

Odd Qualifiers Heat #1
1 28M Jimmy Mars
2 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr
3 75P Terry Phillips
4 6 Dustin Neat
5 48L Tim Lance
6 89 Mike Spatola
7 25S Jason Smith
dns 25C Shane Clanton
dns c9 Steve Casebolt
dns 46 Tim Rivers
dns 22 Gregg Satterlee

Even Qualifiers Heat #1
1 28 Dennis Erb Jr
2 25 Chad Simpson
3 39 Tim McCreadie
4 1G Scott James
5 99 Donnie Moran
6 5 Jared Landers
7 14M Morgan Bagley
8 2 Justin Chance
9 15H Jon Henry
10 79U Shane Unger
dns 41 Brad Neat

Odd Qualifiers Heat #2
1 29 Darrell Lanigan
2 1 Josh Richards
3 20H Jacob Hawkins
4 55 Jeep VanWormer
5 20C Duane Chamberlain
6 44M Chris Madden
7 M14 Brandon Thirlby
8 27 Jeff Provinzino
9 18D Danny Mitchell
10 11R James Rice
dns 19 Tim Fuller

Even Qualifiers Heat #2
1 20 Jimmy Owens
2 63 Doug Drown
3 7R Kent Robinson
4 1WC Wayne Chinn
5 B5 Brandon Sheppard
6 88 Andrew Reaume
7 11S Ryan Sutter
8 360 Michael Asberry
9 15J Greg Johnson
dns 71 Don O'Neal
dns 28C Eddie Carrier Jr

Odd Qualifiers Heat #3
1 3S Brian Shirley
2 15 Steve Francis
3 15B Brian Birkhofer
4 18W Eric Wells
5 71C R J Conley
6 11H Austin Hubbard
7 32 Chris Simpson
8 31 Nick Latham
9 19 Chad Smith
dns 72 John Mason

Even Qualifiers Heat #3
1 3 Matt Miller
2 57J Bub McCool
3 11 Tyler Reddick
4 21 Billy Moyer
5 25Z Mason Zeigler
6 75M Dusty Moore
7 20JB Jerry Bowersock
8 93 Jay Johnson
9 91E Tyler Erb
10 33 Don Gordon

Odd Qualifiers Heat #4
1 49D Jonathan Davenport
2 23 John Blankenship
3 17M Dale McDowell
4  Shannon Thornsberry
5 21M Jason Montgomery
6 116 Randy Weaver
7 3N Ross Nicastri
8 44 Earl Pearson Jr
9 4C Ernie Cordier
10 18 Shannon Babb

Even Qualifiers Heat #4
1 0 Scott Bloomquist
2 21JR Billy Moyer Jr
3 1J Jeff Babcock
4 20R Jeremy Payne
5 32S Chad Stapleton
6 555 Justin Coulter
7 8 Craig Smith
8 6S Steve Shaver
9 32P Bobby Pierce
dns 99M Devin Moran

19th Annual Dirt Late Model Dream by Ferris Time Trials Results (Unofficial)
1 25-Shane Clanton/Zebulon, GA 15.387
2 15-Jon Henry/Ada, OH 15.430
3 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 15.483
4 18-Shannon Babb/Moweaqua, IL 15.544
5 28-Dennis Erb Jr./Carpentersville, IL 15.591
6 3s-Brian Shirley/Chatham, IL 15.628
7 21-Billy Moyer/Batesville, AR 15.628
8 1b-Jeff Babcock/Wayne, OH 15.659
9 99Jr-Frankie Heckenast Jr./Orland Park, IL 15.674
10 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 15.691
11 44-Chris Madden/Gray Court, SC 15.703
12 71-Don O'Neal/Martinsville, IL 15.719
13 15b-Brian Birkhofer/Muscatine, IA 15.738
14 25z-Mason Zeigler/Chalk Run, PA 15.790
15 17M-Dale McDowell/Chickamauga, GA 15.791
16 0-Scott Bloomquist/Mooresburg, TN 15.822
17 C9-Steve Casebolt Jr./Richmond, IN 15.915
18 5-Jared Landers/Batesville, AR 15.918
19 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 15.935
20 20-Jimmy Owens/Newport, TN 15.957
21 71c-R.J. Conley/Wheelersburg, OH 15.966
22 49-Jonathan Davenport/Blairsville, GA 15.982
23 21Jr-Billy Moyer Jr./Batesville, AR 15.988
24 6-Dustin Neat/Campbellsville, KY 15.995
25 3-Matt Miller/Whitehouse, OH 16.021
26 41-Brad Neat/Dunnville, KY 16.026
27 55-Jeep VanWormer/Pinconning, MI 16.048
28 1wc-Wayne Chinn/Bradford, OH 16.074
29 19-Chad Smith/Miamisburg, OH 16.079
30 20J-Jerry Bowersock/Wapakoneta, OH 16.092
31 23-John Blankenship/Williamson, WV 16.093
32 6-Steve Shaver/Vienna, WV 16.094
33 75-Terry Phillips/Springfield, MO 16.148
34 28-Eddie Carrier Jr./Salt Rock, WV 16.149
35 20H-Jacob Hawkins/Fairmont, WV 16.155
36 18-Eric Wells/Hazard, KY 16.190
37 57J-Bub McCool/Vicksburg, MS 16.205
38 44-Earl Pearson Jr./Jacksonville, FL 16.206
39 20r-Jeremy Payne/Springfield, MO 16.210
40 28M-Jimmy Mars/Menomonie, WI 16.214
41 25-Chad Simpson/Mt. Vernon, IA 16.220
42 63-Doug Drown/Wooster, OH 16.231
43 20c-Duane Chamberlain/Richmond, IN 16.241
44 21-Jason Montgomery/Jackson, OH 16.280
45 99-Donnie Moran/Dresden, OH 16.304
46 7R-Kent Robinson/Bloomington, IN 16.341
47 11-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 16.361
48 11-Tyler Reddick/DuQuoin, IL 16.373
49 32-Bobby Pierce/Oakwood, IL 16.430
50 89-Mike Spatola/Manhattan, IL 16.448
51 14M-Morgan Bagley/Longview, TX 16.461
52 360-Michael Asbury/Crossville, TN 16.479
53 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 16.494
54 15-Greg Johnson/Bedford, IN 16.509
55 72-John Mason/Millersburg, OH 16.522
56 75-Dusty Moore/Swanton, OH 16.575
57 17-Shannon Thornsberry/Martin, KY 16.589
58 555-Justin Coulter/Leamington, ONT 16.618
59 48-Tim Lance/Brimfield, IL 16.623
60 M14-Brandon Thirlby/Traverse City, MI 16.636
61 32-Chris Simpson/Oxford, IA 16.652
62 91-Tyler Erb/Magnolia, TX 16.723
63 3-Russ Nicastri/Smithfield, NSW, AUS 16.767
64 8-Craig Smith/Brighton, IL 16.805
65 46-Tim Rivers/Salem, IN 16.833
66 2-Justin Chance/Lexington, OH 16.839
67 11r-James Rice/Verona, KY 16.861
68 11-Ryan Sutter/Coldwater, OH 16.935
69 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 16.960
70 93-Jay Johnson/W. Burlington, IA 16.984
71 116-Randy Weaver/Crossville, TN 17.014
72 32-Chad Stapleton/Edinburgh, IN 17.099
73 25s-Jason Smith/Seymour, IN 17.185
74 1g-Scott James/Bright, IN 17.257
75 28-Jeff Provinzino/Hibbing, MN 17.409
76 88-Andrew Reaume/Blenheim, ONT 17.506
77 31-Nick Latham/Winchester, OH 17.748
78 33-Don Gordon/Chatham, ONT 18.259
79 4c-Ernie Cordier/Brodhead, JY 18.891
80 99M-Devin Moran/Dresden, OH 19.013
81 22-Gregg Satterlee/Rochester Mills, PA 19.043
82 79-Shane Unger/Versailles, OH 19.267
83 18-Danny Mitchell/Clarksburg, WV 19.316
84 B5-Brandon Sheppard/New Berlin, IL N/T