Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Knoxville Raceway
September 27, 2013
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Richards Goes Back-to-Back in Winning Friday Night at Knoxville Nationals 
by James Essex
KNOXVILLE, IA (September 27) - Josh Richards showed his speed at Knoxville Raceway, winning the $7,000-to-win feature event on Friday Night. Richards also captured Thursday Nights' preliminary feature. On Saturday Night, Richards can become the second driver in the history of the Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals to sweep all three nights. Billy Moyer completed the feat in 2010.
Jimmy Owens came home in second followed by A.J. Diemel, Earl Pearson Jr., and 21st starting, Tim McCreadie.
The 25 lap main event got off to a rocky start with a pair of caution flags during the first five laps of the race. Jimmy Owens led the first four laps, until A.J. Diemel took over the point. Diemel held the lead for four circuits until Richards powered by him on lap nine.
"It was a crazy start to the race," said Richards, who is racing at Knoxville for the first time in three years. "Our car was real good again tonight. This track suits our driving style, and we go into the turns wide-open and let the car rotate through the turns. As I said last night, this is one of my favorite tracks. I certainly have missed coming here the last three years, and to win the first two nights, it's just unbelievable."
Richards held a sizable lead over Diemel and Owens with ten laps to go. Owens tried several times to get around Diemel. Finally, with seven to go, Owens made the pass on Diemel for second, coming out of turn number two. A caution with five laps to go set-up a dash between Richards and Owens, but Richards would prevail, holding off Owens for the victory.
"I have to thank Valvoline, Seubert Calf Ranches, Ernie D's Enterprises, Ace Metal Works and Sunoco Race Fuels. This Roush-Yates Ford engine has been solid all-year long," said the driver of the Mark Richards Racing Rocket Chassis house-car.
Owens, the 2-time LOLMDS National Champion, commented, "We were having electrical problems on the restarts, it was cracking and popping, I thought it was going to die on us, and then finally it ran like it should towards the end. We got around him (Diemel), but Josh was already so far out in front, we weren't going to catch him. We got that caution with five to go, and I was going to try a move going into one, but if I couldn't clear him, I wasn't going to take a chance of tearing us both up".
Diemel had his best career finish at Knoxville, earning a podium finish. "We are extremely happy to come home third against these Lucas guys. I thought maybe early on we had a real good chance to win tonight. We learned so much here the last two nights. It builds our confidence heading into Saturday Night's big race."
Completing the top ten were Steve Francis, Jimmy Mars, Jason Feger, Ryan Gustin, John Blankenship.
In preliminary action Ryan Gustin set the RED BUCK Fast Time (Group A) with a lap of 17.941 seconds. John Blankenship set the RED BUCK Fast Time (Group B) with a lap of 18.021 seconds. Brady Smith, Steve Francis, Chris Simpson, Ryan Unzicker, Darrell Lanigan, and Shannon Babb won their respective heat races. Denny Eckrich won the D-Main. Jason Rauen won the C-Main. Ryan Gustin won the B-Main.
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will return to action tomorrow night, 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 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Friday Night, September 27th, 2013
Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey's General Stores
Knoxville Raceway - Knoxville, IA
A-Main
1 1 Josh Richards Shinnston, WV $7,000
2 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
3 58D AJ Diemel Elk Mound, WI
4 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Trinity, NC
5 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY
6 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
7 28M Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI
8 25 Jason Feger Bloomington, IL
9 19R Ryan Gustin Marshalltown, IA
10 23 John Blankenship Morristown, TN
11 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
12 2 Brady Smith Solon Springs, WI
13 31 Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA
14 28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Salt Rock, WV
15 32s Chris Simpson Marion, IA
16 51 Matt Furman Columbus, OH
17 24 Ryan Unzicker El Paso, IL
18 20x Rodney Sanders Happy, TX
19 29x Darrell Lanigan Union, KY
20 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR
21 18B Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
22 71 Don ONeal Martinsville, IN
23 25x Chad Simpson Mount Vernon, IA
24 17M Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA
B-Main
1 19R Ryan Gustin Marshalltown, IA
2 23 John Blankenship Morristown, TN
3 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY
4 31 Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA
5 25x Chad Simpson Mount Vernon, IA
6 71 Don ONeal Martinsville, IN
7 B5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL
8 7 Ricky Weiss Headingley, MB, Can.,
9 15K Justin Kay Wheatland, IA
10 14m Morgan Bagley Longview, TX
11 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA
12 56E Andy Eckrich Iowa City, IA
13 56J Tony Jackson Jr. Lebanon, MO
14 75 Terry Phillips Springfield, MO
15 77m Jason McBride Carbondale, IL
16 21JR Billy Moyer Jr. Batesville, AR
17 5B Mike Marlar Winfield, TN
18 98 Jason Rauen Farley, IA
19 18 Chase Junghans Manhattan, KS
20 21B Rich Bell Sheffield, IL
21 11 Austin Hubbard Laurel, DE
22 5 Jared Landers Lexington, NC
C-Main
1 98 Jason Rauen Farley, IA
2 5 Jared Landers Lexington, NC
3 75 Terry Phillips Springfield, MO
4 77m Jason McBride Carbondale, IL
5 57J Bub McCool Vicksburg, MS
6 48 Tim Lance Brimfield, IL
7 5m Mike Fryer Freeport, IL
8 28E Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL
9 32J Jason Jaggers Wyanet, IL
10 58x Ray Guss Jr. East Moline, IL
11 29 Spencer Diercks Davenport, IA
12 58 Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA
13 50 Denny Eckrich Oxford, IA
14 21T Travis Dickes Madison, NE
15 93 Jay Johnson West Burlington, IA
16 16 Tyler Bruening Decorah, IA
17 99D Darrel DeFrance Marshalltown, IA
18 s1 Michael Smith Vienna, WV
19 22 Charlie McKenna Clear Lake, IA
20 48x Steve Lance Jr. Cuba, IL
21 R21 Ray Sveeggen Beresford, SD
22 3x Skip Frey Ely, IA
D-Main
1 50 Denny Eckrich Oxford, IA
2 48x Steve Lance Jr. Cuba, IL
3 16 Tyler Bruening Decorah, IA
4 s1 Michael Smith Vienna, WV
5 7R Kent Robinson Bloomington, IN
6 27 Greg Kimmons Pleasant Plains, IL
7 9T Tim Isenberg Marshfield, WI
8 15c Curt Schroeder Ames, IA
9 77A Dustin Walker Peculiar, MO
10 40 Joel Callahan Dubuque, IA
11 83 Dennis Vandermeesch Springfield, IL
12 51E Stewart Hayward Calgary, ALB, Can.,
13 3s Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
14 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr. Frankfurt, IL
15 22B Jonathan Brauns Muscatine, IA
16 56 Chris Spieker Massena, IA
Group A Heat #1
1 2 Brady Smith Solon Springs, WI
2 25 Jason Feger Bloomington, IL
3 28M Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI
4 7 Ricky Weiss Headingley, MB, Can.,
5 19R Ryan Gustin Marshalltown, IA
6 18 Chase Junghans Manhattan, KS
7 57J Bub McCool Vicksburg, MS
8 98 Jason Rauen Farley, IA
9 22 Charlie McKenna Clear Lake, IA
10 22B Jonathan Brauns Muscatine, IA
11 s1 Michael Smith Vienna, WV
12 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr. Frankfurt, IL
Group A Heat #2
1 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
2 58D AJ Diemel Elk Mound, WI
3 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Trinity, NC
4 14m Morgan Bagley Longview, TX
5 31 Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA
6 56J Tony Jackson Jr. Lebanon, MO
7 48 Tim Lance Brimfield, IL
8 21T Travis Dickes Madison, NE
9 99D Darrel DeFrance Marshalltown, IA
10 27 Greg Kimmons Pleasant Plains, IL
11 9T Tim Isenberg Marshfield, WI
12 51E Stewart Hayward Calgary, ALB, Can.,
Group A Heat #3
1 32s Chris Simpson Marion, IA
2 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
3 20x Rodney Sanders Happy, TX
4 21B Rich Bell Sheffield, IL
5 15K Justin Kay Wheatland, IA
6 11 Austin Hubbard Laurel, DE
7 5m Mike Fryer Freeport, IL
8 3x Skip Frey Ely, IA
9 58 Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA
10 15c Curt Schroeder Ames, IA
11 50 Denny Eckrich Oxford, IA
Group B Heat #1
1 24 Ryan Unzicker El Paso, IL
2 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR
3 51 Matt Furman Columbus, OH
4 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY
5 23 John Blankenship Morristown, TN
6 5B Mike Marlar Winfield, TN
7 28E Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL
8 75 Terry Phillips Springfield, MO
9 77m Jason McBride Carbondale, IL
10 16 Tyler Bruening Decorah, IA
11 77A Dustin Walker Peculiar, MO
12 40 Joel Callahan Dubuque, IA
Group B Heat #2
1 29x Darrell Lanigan Union, KY
2 28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Salt Rock, WV
3 17M Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA
4 25x Chad Simpson Mount Vernon, IA
5 B5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL
6 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA
7 5 Jared Landers Lexington, NC
8 32J Jason Jaggers Wyanet, IL
9 58x Ray Guss Jr. East Moline, IL
10 48x Steve Lance Jr. Cuba, IL
11 3s Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
12 83 Dennis Vandermeesch Springfield, IL
Group B Heat #3
1 18B Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
2 1 Josh Richards Shinnston, WV
3 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
4 71 Don ONeal Martinsville, IN
5 56E Andy Eckrich Iowa City, IA
6 21JR Billy Moyer Jr. Batesville, AR
7 93 Jay Johnson West Burlington, IA
8 29 Spencer Diercks Davenport, IA
9 R21 Ray Sveeggen Beresford, SD
10 7R Kent Robinson Bloomington, IN
11 56 Chris Spieker Massena, IA
Group A Time Trials
1 19R Ryan Gustin Marshalltown, IA
2 31 Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA
3 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
4 28M Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI
5 58D AJ Diemel Elk Mound, WI
6 15K Justin Kay Wheatland, IA
7 98 Jason Rauen Farley, IA
8 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Trinity, NC
9 50 Denny Eckrich Oxford, IA
10 7 Ricky Weiss Headingley, MB, Can.,
11 48 Tim Lance Brimfield, IL
12 32s Chris Simpson Marion, IA
13 2 Brady Smith Solon Springs, WI
14 14m Morgan Bagley Longview, TX
15 20x Rodney Sanders Happy, TX
16 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr. Frankfurt, IL
17 56J Tony Jackson Jr. Lebanon, MO
18 11 Austin Hubbard Laurel, DE
19 25 Jason Feger Bloomington, IL
20 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
21 21B Rich Bell Sheffield, IL
22 18 Chase Junghans Manhattan, KS
23 9T Tim Isenberg Marshfield, WI
24 5m Mike Fryer Freeport, IL
25 57J Bub McCool Vicksburg, MS
26 99D Darrel DeFrance Marshalltown, IA
27 3x Skip Frey Ely, IA
28 22B Jonathan Brauns Muscatine, IA
29 21T Travis Dickes Madison, NE
30 58 Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA
31 22 Charlie McKenna Clear Lake, IA
32 27 Greg Kimmons Pleasant Plains, IL
33 15c Curt Schroeder Ames, IA
34 s1 Michael Smith Vienna, WV
35 51E Stewart Hayward Calgary, ALB, Can.,
Group B Time Trials
1 23 John Blankenship Morristown, TN
2 29x Darrell Lanigan Union, KY
3 7R Kent Robinson Bloomington, IN
4 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY
5 5 Jared Landers Lexington, NC
6 1 Josh Richards Shinnston, WV
7 75 Terry Phillips Springfield, MO
8 3s Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
9 71 Don ONeal Martinsville, IN
10 16 Tyler Bruening Decorah, IA
11 17M Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA
12 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
13 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR
14 25x Chad Simpson Mount Vernon, IA
15 18B Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
16 77m Jason McBride Carbondale, IL
17 B5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL
18 56E Andy Eckrich Iowa City, IA
19 24 Ryan Unzicker El Paso, IL
20 32J Jason Jaggers Wyanet, IL
21 29 Spencer Diercks Davenport, IA
22 51 Matt Furman Columbus, OH
23 28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Salt Rock, WV
24 21JR Billy Moyer Jr. Batesville, AR
25 5B Mike Marlar Winfield, TN
26 48x Steve Lance Jr. Cuba, IL
27 56 Chris Spieker Massena, IA
28 28E Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL
29 58x Ray Guss Jr. East Moline, IL
30 93 Jay Johnson West Burlington, IA
31 40 Joel Callahan Dubuque, IA
32 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA
33 R21 Ray Sveeggen Beresford, SD
34 77A Dustin Walker Peculiar, MO
35 83 Dennis Vandermeesch Springfield, IL
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