Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Knoxville Raceway
September 26, 2013
_______________________________________
Josh Richards Wins Opening Night of Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals 
by James Essex
KNOXVILLE, IA (September 26) - In his first visit to Knoxville Raceway since 2010, Josh Richards captured the opening night of the 10th Annual Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals presented by Casey's General Stores. Richards took the lead from Brandon Sheppard on lap eight and led the remainder of the race, for the $7,000 victory in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned event.
Richards took the Mark Richards Racing, Valvoline, Roush-Yates Racing Engines, Rocket Chassis Ford to Lucas Oil Victory Lane ahead of Darrell Lanigan, Jason Feger, Dale McDowell, and Bub McCool.
"It's great to be back here, I love this place! It's hard to believe it has been three years!The track was great as always, and it's one of my favorite tracks, no doubt," said the 25-year-old racer. I could hear him (Lanigan) a few times, but I just kept my line. I had a couple of issues in turn two and he was able to pull along-side me a few times."
Sheppard took the lead at the start of the 25 lapper and looked dominant in the early going. A red-flag for a multi-car accident involving Jimmy Owens, Dennis Erb Jr., and Joel Callahan halted the action with seven laps complete. All drivers escaped unharmed, but their cars were done for the night.
When the race went green again, Richards made the pass for the lead on Sheppard. Richards then had to fight off several challenges from Lanigan as he held the lead to the finish. Feger made it close towards the end, rallying on the topside to earn a podium finish.
"We had a really good car! He (Richards) was just a tick better tonight! We aren't used to this hard-tire rule, but it's the same for everyone!The crew did a great job. The track was great as always here! We got some good points tonight, so we'll tune on the car even more tomorrow," said Lanigan.
Feger nearly stole the win from the top two, but his efforts came up just short. "We really like running here! That berm was a little tricky tonight, but we had a good car,Like Josh and Darrell said, we have to get used to these harder tires. My car was better as the race went on. I think with some more work we can win one of the next two nights," said Feger.
Completing the top ten were Billy Moyer, Chad Simpson, John Blankenship, Brandon Sheppard, and Earl Pearson Jr.
In preliminary action Don O'Neal set the RED BUCK Fast Time (Group A) with a lap of 17.363 seconds. Dale McDowell set the RED BUCK Fast Time (Group B) with a lap of 17.718 seconds. Billy Moyer, Bub McCool, Joel Callahan, Tony Jackson Jr., Morgan Bagley, and Steve Francis won their respective heat races. Ryan Gustin won the D-Main. Shannon Babb won the C-Main. Eddie Carrier Jr. won the B-Main.
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will return to action tomorrow night for the second preliminary night at the Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey's General Store. There will be Time Trials, Heat Races, last chance races, and another 25 Lap main event. The weekend will conclude on Saturday, September 28th, with a D-Main, C-Main, B-Main, and the $40,000-to-win 100-Lap main event. For more information, log on to
www.knoxvilleraceway.com.
For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto
www.lucasdirt.com A-Main
1 4 1 Josh Richards Shinnston, WV $7,000
2 6 29x Darrell Lanigan Union, KY
3 7 25 Jason Feger Bloomington, IL
4 8 17M Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA
5 13 57J Bub McCool Vicksburg, MS
6 9 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR
7 10 25x Chad Simpson Mount Vernon, IA
8 23 23 John Blankenship Morristown, TN
9 1 B5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL
10 24 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Trinity, NC
11 20 71 Don ONeal Martinsville, IN
12 12 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
13 16 14m Morgan Bagley Longview, TX
14 19 28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Salt Rock, WV
15 2 31 Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA
16 3 5 Jared Landers Lexington, NC
17 14 56J Tony Jackson Jr. Lebanon, MO
18 15 24 Ryan Unzicker El Paso, IL
19 5 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr. Frankfurt, IL
20 22 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
21 11 11 Austin Hubbard Laurel, DE
22 17 40 Joel Callahan Dubuque, IA
23 18 28E Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL
24 21 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, IN
B-Main
1 28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Salt Rock, WV
2 71 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN
3 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
4 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
5 23 John Blankenship Morristown, TN
6 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Trinity, NC
7 50 Denny Eckrich Oxford, IA
8 28M Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI
9 18 Chase Junghans Manhattan, KS
10 77m Jason McBride Carbondale, IL
11 98 Jason Rauen Farley, IA
12 5B Mike Marlar Winfield, TN
13 2 Brady Smith Solon Springs, WI
14 21JR Billy Moyer Jr. Batesville, AR
15 15K Justin Kay Wheatland, IA
16 7R Kent Robinson Bloomington, IN
17 18B Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
18 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA
19 58 Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA
20 22 Charlie McKenna Clear Lake, IA
21 3s Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
22 75 Terry Phillips Springfield, MO
C-Main
1 18B Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
2 5B Mike Marlar Winfield, TN
3 3s Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
4 75 Terry Phillips Springfield, MO
5 19R Ryan Gustin Marshalltown, IA
6 48 Tim Lance Brimfield, IL
7 16 Tyler Bruening Decorah, IA
8 56 Chris Spieker Massena, IA
9 21T Travis Dickes Madison, NE
10 9T Tim Isenberg Marshfield, WI
11 93 Jay Johnson West Burlington, IA
12 20x Rodney Sanders Happy, TX
13 51 Matt Furman Columbus, OH
14 58D AJ Diemel Elk Mound, WI
15 s1 Michael Smith Vienna, WV
16 99D Darrel DeFrance Marshalltown, IA
17 7 Ricky Weiss Headingley, MB, Can.,
18 58x Ray Guss Jr. East Moline, IL
19 22B Jonathan Brauns Muscatine, IA
20 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY
21 32s Chris Simpson Marion, IA
22 77A Dustin Walker Peculiar, MO
D-Main
1 19R Ryan Gustin Marshalltown, IA
2 20x Rodney Sanders Happy, TX
3 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY
4 51 Matt Furman Columbus, OH
5 29 Spencer Diercks Davenport, IA
6 21B Rich Bell Sheffield, IL
7 5m Mike Fryer Freeport, IL
8 3x Skip Frey Ely, IA
9 83 Dennis Vandermeesch Springfield, IL
10 R21 Ray Sveeggen Beresford, SD
11 15c Curt Schroeder Ames, IA
12 51E Stewart Hayward Calgary, ALB, Can.,
13 27 Greg Kimmons Pleasant Plains, IL
14 48x Steve Lance Jr. Cuba, IL
15 0 Jesse Stovall Billings, MO
16 15R Brian Harris Davenport, IA
17 32J Jason Jaggers Wyanet, IL
18 56E Andy Eckrich Iowa City, IA
Group A Heat #1
1 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR
2 5 Jared Landers Lexington, NC
3 25 Jason Feger Bloomington, IL
4 71 Don ONeal Martinsville, IN
5 98 Jason Rauen Farley, IA
6 22 Charlie McKenna Clear Lake, IA
7 7 Ricky Weiss Headingley, MB, Can.,
8 58x Ray Guss Jr. East Moline, IL
9 77A Dustin Walker Peculiar, MO
10 15R Brian Harris Davenport, IA
11 15c Curt Schroeder Ames, IA
12 20x Rodney Sanders Happy, TX
Group A Heat #2
1 57J Bub McCool Vicksburg, MS
2 24 Ryan Unzicker El Paso, IL
3 11 Austin Hubbard Laurel, DE
4 23 John Blankenship Morristown, TN
5 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA
6 18 Chase Junghans Manhattan, KS
7 32s Chris Simpson Marion, IA
8 56 Chris Spieker Massena, IA
9 s1 Michael Smith Vienna, WV
10 51E Stewart Hayward Calgary, ALB, Can.,
11 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY
12 19R Ryan Gustin Marshalltown, IA
Group A Heat #3
1 40 Joel Callahan Dubuque, IA
2 B5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL
3 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr. Frankfurt, IL
4 7R Kent Robinson Bloomington, IN
5 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
6 58 Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA
7 5B Mike Marlar Winfield, TN
8 58D AJ Diemel Elk Mound, WI
9 16 Tyler Bruening Decorah, IA
10 3x Skip Frey Ely, IA
11 83 Dennis Vandermeesch Springfield, IL
12 27 Greg Kimmons Pleasant Plains, IL
Group B Heat #1
1 56J Tony Jackson Jr. Lebanon, MO
2 17M Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA
3 31 Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA
4 28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Salt Rock, WV
5 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Trinity, NC
6 50 Denny Eckrich Oxford, IA
7 18B Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
8 75 Terry Phillips Springfield, MO
9 22B Jonathan Brauns Muscatine, IA
10 21B Rich Bell Sheffield, IL
11 51 Matt Furman Columbus, OH
12 32J Jason Jaggers Wyanet, IL
Group B Heat #2
1 14m Morgan Bagley Longview, TX
2 1 Josh Richards Shinnston, WV
3 25x Chad Simpson Mount Vernon, IA
4 2 Brady Smith Solon Springs, WI
5 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
6 77m Jason McBride Carbondale, IL
7 48 Tim Lance Brimfield, IL
8 99D Darrel DeFrance Marshalltown, IA
9 9T Tim Isenberg Marshfield, WI
10 48x Steve Lance Jr. Cuba, IL
11 0 Jesse Stovall Billings, MO
12 5m Mike Fryer Freeport, IL
Group B Heat #3
1 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
2 29x Darrell Lanigan Union, KY
3 28E Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL
4 28M Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI
5 15K Justin Kay Wheatland, IA
6 21JR Billy Moyer Jr. Batesville, AR
7 3s Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
8 21T Travis Dickes Madison, NE
9 93 Jay Johnson West Burlington, IA
10 R21 Ray Sveeggen Beresford, SD
11 29 Spencer Diercks Davenport, IA
12 56E Andy Eckrich Iowa City, IA
Group A Time Trials
1 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN 17.363
2 19R Ryan Gustin Marshalltown, IA 17.368
3 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 17.436
4 25 Jason Feger Bloomington, IL 17.641
5 23 John Blankenship Morristown, TN 17.735
6 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr. Frankfurt, IL 17.740
7 5 Jared Landers Lexington, NC 17.798
8 18 Chase Junghans Manhattan, KS 17.804
9 5B Mike Marlar Winfield, TN 17.841
10 98 Jason Rauen Farley, IA 17.925
11 32s Chris Simpson Marion, IA 17.938
12 B5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL 18.013
13 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR 18.086
14 11 Austin Hubbard Laurel, DE 18.099
15 16 Tyler Bruening Decorah, IA 18.176
16 58x Ray Guss Jr. East Moline, IL 18.200
17 57J Bub McCool Vicksburg, MS 18.221
18 58 Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA 18.259
19 20x Rodney Sanders Happy, TX 18.277
20 24 Ryan Unzicker El Paso, IL 18.281
21 40 Joel Callahan Dubuque, IA 18.295
22 15R Brian Harris Davenport, IA 18.331
23 56 Chris Spieker Massena, IA 18.374
24 7R Kent Robinson Bloomington, IN 18.406
25 22 Charlie McKenna Clear Lake, IA 18.456
26 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY 18.590
27 3x Skip Frey Ely, IA 18.674
28 7 Ricky Weiss Headingley, MB, Can., 18.705
29 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA 18.707
30 58D AJ Diemel Elk Mound, WI 19.136
31 77A Dustin Walker Peculiar, MO 19.139
32 s1 Michael Smith Vienna, WV 19.203
33 83 Dennis Vandermeesch Springfield, IL 19.730
34 15c Curt Schroeder Ames, IA 20.146
35 51E Stewart Hayward Calgary, ALB, Can., 20.414
36 27 Greg Kimmons Pleasant Plains, IL 20.909
Group B Time Trials
1 17M Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA 17.718
2 00 Jesse Stovall Billings, MO 17.774
3 3s Brian Shirley Chatham, IL 17.882
4 28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Salt Rock, WV 17.894
5 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN 17.932
6 29x Darrell Lanigan Union, KY 17.975
7 50 Denny Eckrich Oxford, IA 18.007
8 1 Josh Richards Shinnston, WV 18.101
9 28M Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI 18.125
10 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Trinity, NC 18.132
11 77m Jason McBride Carbondale, IL 18.167
12 15K Justin Kay Wheatland, IA 18.184
13 31 Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA 18.195
14 25x Chad Simpson Mount Vernon, IA 18.288
15 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY 18.306
16 18B Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL 18.320
17 2 Brady Smith Solon Springs, WI 18.322
18 21JR Billy Moyer Jr. Batesville, AR 18.328
19 56J Tony Jackson Jr. Lebanon, MO 18.332
20 14m Morgan Bagley Longview, TX 18.340
21 29 Spencer Diercks Davenport, IA 18.411
22 51 Matt Furman Columbus, OH 18.485
23 48 Tim Lance Brimfield, IL 18.592
24 28E Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL 18.593
25 75 Terry Phillips Springfield, MO 18.597
26 48x Steve Lance Jr. Cuba, IL 18.641
27 21T Travis Dickes Madison, NE 18.736
28 21B Rich Bell Sheffield, IL 18.753
29 9T Tim Isenberg Marshfield, WI 18.782
30 93 Jay Johnson West Burlington, IA 18.890
31 22B Jonathan Brauns Muscatine, IA 18.894
32 99D Darrel DeFrance Marshalltown, IA 19.136
33 R21 Ray Sveeggen Beresford, SD 19.965
34 32J Jason Jaggers Wyanet, IL No Time
35 5m Mike Fryer Freeport, IL No Time
36 56E Andy Eckrich Iowa City, IA No Time
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