Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Knoxville Raceway
September 28, 2013
_______________________________________
Lanigan Wins $40,000 in Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals 
by James Essex
KNOXVILLE, IA (September 28) - Darrell Lanigan used a late-race restart to his advantage, passing Josh Richards on lap 95 and leading the remainder of the race to win the 10th Annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville Raceway. Lanigan earned $40,000 for his first career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory.
Josh Richards won the preliminary feature events on Thursday and Friday and was looking to become the second driver in the history of the event to sweep all three nights along with Billy Moyer in 2010. Richards would have to settle for a runner-up finish tonight in the 100-lap feature event followed by Tim McCreadie, defending race winner, Steve Francis, and Billy Moyer rounded out the top five finishers.
Richards led the first six laps of the race until Dale McDowell took over the point for one circuit. Richards fought back and regained the top spot on lap eight. Richards held the lead until Lanigan took over on lap 20. After the top five drivers battled fiercely for most of the race up front, the final caution came out for Jason Feger who was running third on lap 93 but was collected in a violent crash that included Don O"Neal, Dale McDowell and Scott Bloomquist. This set up a six-lap shootout to the finish as both Richards and Lanigan would lead the field back to green. On the restart, Lanigan dove to the bottom as he and Richards raced side-by-side down the backstretch.
Lanigan passed Richards before the cars entered turn three on lap 95, allowing him to carry his momentum to the victory. "I wanted to win this race so bad," said the 43-year old Kentucky native. "Our car was good all weekend here. We didn't make the trip last year, but to come back and win this race for the first time, is phenomenal. Knoxville is right up there among the elite tracks in dirt track racing and they do a tremendous job with the racing surface', stated an ecstatic Lanigan in victory lane.
Lanigan went onto compliment the facility and his team on his crown jewel victory. "This race continues to grow every year and really is a great event with a great purse. We are just honored to be able to come here, and to beat these guys says a lot about our race team, our Club 29 Rocket, Cornett Racing Engines, and all of the people that help us out. Thanks to all the fans for coming out this weekend," said Lanigan.
Richards now has 3-second place finishes in this event was disappointed with his second place finish as he thought he had a car capable of winning. "We started off real good, the car worked well, then we slowed the pace a little bit, and that's when Darrell caught me and got by me the first time. That red flag with six laps to go really hurt us, I am kicking myself a little bit. When he got by me on that restart, I knew I was in some trouble, because I couldn't turn the car in the corners"
McCreadie had a good performance on Friday Night and backed it up with a solid third-place in the 100-lap finale. "We haven't run that well for about a month. To come here and get third is almost like a win for us. I know we have won this race before, but hopefully it's a big step forward to close out the year. This is such a good-paying race, everyone needs to support these kinds of events', stated McCreadie.
Completing the top ten were John Blankenship, Brady Smith, Scott Bloomquist, Jimmy Owens, and Chad Simpson.
In preliminary action Steve Lance won the D-Main. Brian Birkhofer won the C-Main. Morgan Bagley won the B-Main.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Saturday Night, September 28th, 2013
Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey's General Stores
Knoxville Raceway - Knoxville, IA
A-Main
1 3 29x Darrell Lanigan Union, KY $40,000
2 2 1 Josh Richards Shinnston, WV
3 6 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY
4 22 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
5 14 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR
6 12 23 John Blankenship Morristown, TN
7 21 2 Brady Smith Solon Springs, WI
8 9 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
9 13 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
10 19 25x Chad Simpson Mount Vernon, IA
11 15 31 Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA
12 29 24 Ryan Unzicker El Paso, IL
13 31 28E Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL
14 5 25 Jason Feger Bloomington, IL
15 11 71 Don ONeal Martinsville, IN
16 1 17M Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA
17 17 28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Salt Rock, WV
18 10 19R Ryan Gustin Marshalltown, IA
19 24 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr. Frankfurt, IL
20 26 50 Denny Eckrich Oxford, IA
21 32 21JR Billy Moyer Jr. Batesville, AR
22 20 5 Jared Landers Lexington, NC
23 7 28M Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI
24 8 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Trinity, NC
25 18 B5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL
26 4 58D AJ Diemel Elk Mound, WI
27 27 18B Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
28 25 14m Morgan Bagley Longview, TX
29 23 32s Chris Simpson Marion, IA
30 16 57J Bub McCool Vicksburg, MS
31 30 15K Justin Kay Wheatland, IA
32 28 56J Tony Jackson Jr. Lebanon, MO
B-Main (top 6 transfer to A-Main)
1 14m Morgan Bagley Longview, TX
2 50 Denny Eckrich Oxford, IA
3 18B Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
4 56J Tony Jackson Jr. Lebanon, MO
5 24 Ryan Unzicker El Paso, IL
6 15K Justin Kay Wheatland, IA
7 11 Austin Hubbard Laurel, DE
8 18 Chase Junghans Manhattan, KS
9 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA
10 98 Jason Rauen Farley, IA
11 20x Rodney Sanders Happy, TX
12 77m Jason McBride Carbondale, IL
13 16 Tyler Bruening Decorah, IA
14 5m Mike Fryer Freeport, IL
15 40 Joel Callahan Dubuque, IA
16 75 Terry Phillips Springfield, MO
17 28E Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL
18 3s Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
19 56E Andy Eckrich Iowa City, IA
20 58 Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA
21 51 Matt Furman Columbus, OH
22 56 Chris Spieker Massena, IA
23 21B Rich Bell Sheffield, IL
24 29 Spencer Diercks Davenport, IA
C-Main
1 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA
2 56E Andy Eckrich Iowa City, IA
3 58 Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA
4 16 Tyler Bruening Decorah, IA
5 21B Rich Bell Sheffield, IL
6 29 Spencer Diercks Davenport, IA
7 5m Mike Fryer Freeport, IL
8 56 Chris Spieker Massena, IA
9 93 Jay Johnson West Burlington, IA
10 21T Travis Dickes Madison, NE
11 48x Steve Lance Jr. Cuba, IL
12 s1 Michael Smith Vienna, WV
13 99D Darrel DeFrance Marshalltown, IA
14 21JR Billy Moyer Jr. Batesville, AR
15 77A Dustin Walker Peculiar, MO
16 7R Kent Robinson Bloomington, IN
17 3x Skip Frey Ely, IA
18 22 Charlie McKenna Clear Lake, IA
19 9T Tim Isenberg Marshfield, WI
20 48 Tim Lance Brimfield, IL
21 58x Ray Guss Jr. East Moline, IL
22 32J Jason Jaggers Wyanet, IL
D-Main
1 48x Steve Lance Jr. Cuba, IL
2 3x Skip Frey Ely, IA
3 s1 Michael Smith Vienna, WV
4 77A Dustin Walker Peculiar, MO
5 15c Curt Schroeder Ames, IA
6 R21 Ray Sveeggen Beresford, SD
7 27 Greg Kimmons Pleasant Plains, IL
8 83 Dennis Vandermeesch Springfield, IL
9 51E Stewart Hayward Calgary, ALB
---
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will return to action next weekend October 5th and 6th, with a pair of events in the "Peach State". On Friday, Oct. 5th, the series will head to Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, GA for the Lucas Oil Dixie Shootout. Then, on Sunday, Oct. 6th, the series will make an appearance at Rome International Speedway in Rome, GA for the Rome Showdown. Both events will feature RED BUCK Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains, and 50-Lap, $10,000-to-win main events.
For more information, log on to
www.dixiespeedway.com and
www.raceromespeedway.com.
For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto
www.lucasdirt.com
Pages: 1