Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
East Bay Raceway Park
February 15, 2014
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Davey Johnson Wins Thriller at East Bay Raceway Park



LOLMDS Media
TAMPA, FL (February 15) - Davey Johnson returned to East Bay Raceway Park's victory lane tonight, for the first time since the 2001. The veteran driver took the lead on lap 12 and held off a hard charging Earl Pearson Jr. in the closing laps for his first career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win. Trailing Johnson and Pearson to the finish line in the 38th Winternationals finale was Don O'Neal, Eddie Carrier Jr., and Jimmy Owens.
 
"We had to work on the car most of the night to get it ready for today. I want to thank Austin Hargrove, we brought him in during the off-season and he has made a big difference in our race team. Our business slowed down a little last year, and we were able to travel more and run some bigger shows. I think we are ready for a really good season," said Johnson.
 
"We have always liked coming down here to East Bay. The last time we won here was in the Rocket House Car in 2001. The track was really racy tonight! Our car worked better on the bottom, and then we moved up the track late in the race, and it was still fast. Man, it feels good to win here again."
 
Jimmy Owens led the first eleven laps of the race until Johnson took over the point. Johnson held a steady pace as Scott Bloomquist started to apply some pressure. Johnson and Bloomquist ran one-two until a caution on lap 49.
 
On the restart Pearson soared past Bloomquist on the outside to take over second. In the final 11 laps Pearson tried hard to run-down Johnson, but Johnson was able to withstand Pearson's challenges and take his car to Lucas Oil Victory Lane. "I have to thank my sponsors, Imperial Towing, Reliable Painting, Johnson Boat Brokers, Craiger Racing Engines and Rocket Chassis for all of their support," said the 50-year-old Johnson.
 


"That was a heck of a race," said Pearson afterwards. "I don't know if that caution hurt or helped us. We got around Scott, and I then thought I had enough laps to catch Davey, but we didn't. This Bobby Labonte Racing Team and everyone at Longhorn Chassis should be proud of what we have done so far this season." Pearson retains the point lead heading into the series next event at Brownstown (IN) Speedway on March 22nd.
 
O'Neal started tenth, and made a late-race charge to claim third. "I saw Earl get up against the cushion, so I decided I was going to try it as well. The bottom was working well for us, but the top got faster, we were in the right spot at the right time. It was another good point night for the Clint Bowyer, Peak Oil Team, and we will be ready for Brownstown next month."
 
Completing the top ten were Steve Francis, Gregg Satterlee, Bobby Pierce, Scott Bloomquist, and Ray Cook.

In preliminary action, Billy Moyer set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group B) amongst the 40 entrants, with a lap of 14.362 seconds. Dennis Erb Jr. set the fastest time in Group A with a time of 14.648 seconds. Jimmy Owens, John Blankenship, Davey Johnson, and Scott Bloomquist won their respective heat races. Jason Hughes and Randy Weaver won their respective B-Mains.
 
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
Saturday Night, February 15th, 2014
38th Annual East Bay Winternationals
East Bay Raceway Park - Tampa, FL

A-Main
1 2 1J Davey Johnson Greensburg, PA $10,000
2 6 44 Earl Pearson Jr Jacksonville, FL
3 10 5 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
4 8 28 Eddie Carrier Jr Salt Rock, WV
5 1 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
6 13 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
7 14 22 Gregg Satterlee Rochester Mills, PA
8 19 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
9 4 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
10 9 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
11 3 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
12 21 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
13 24 21d Dan Stone Thompson, PA
14 18 116 Randy Weaver Crossville, TN
15 7 81 Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
16 26 81jr Jason Riggs Harrisburg, IL
17 22 25x Mike Benedum Salem, WV
18 5 28 Dennis Erb Jr Carpentersville, IL
19 20 89 Booper Bare Rockbridge Baths, VA
20 15 99m Devin Moran Dresden, OH
21 25 4D Chad Hollenbeck Montrose, PA
22 11 2 Dennis Franklin Gaffney, SC
23 12 4J John Mollick Totonto, OH
24 17 12 Jason Hughes Westville, OK
25 16 b12 Kevin Weaver Gibson City, IL
26 23 91p Jason Papich Arroyo Grande, CA


B-Main #1  
1 12 Jason Hughes Westville, OK
2 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
3 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
4 5j Eric Jacobsen Seacliff Beach, CA
5 7 Ricky Weiss Headingley, MB
6 27 Joe Denby Tullahoma, TN
7 10 Leon Henderson Laurel, MS
8 38b Bob Geiger Laurel, MS
9 21d Dan Stone Thompson, PA
10 16 Justin Rattliff Campbellsville, KY

B-Main #2  
1 116 Randy Weaver Crossville, TN
2 89 Booper Bare Rockbridge Baths, VA
3 25x Mike Benedum Salem, WV
4 81jr Jason Riggs Harrisburg, IL
5 77m Jay Morris Pittwood, IL
6 38 Kenny Pettyjohn Millsboro, DE
7 92 Nick Davis Gumboro, DE
8 91p Jason Papich Arroyo Grande, CA

Heat #1  
1 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
2 28 Dennis Erb Jr Carpentersville, IL
3 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
4 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
5 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
6 5j Eric Jacobsen Seacliff Beach, CA
7 7 Ricky Weiss Headingley, MB
8 27 Joe Denby Tullahoma, TN
9 16 Justin Rattliff Campbellsville, KY

Heat #2  
1 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
2 81 Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
3 2 Dennis Franklin Gaffney, SC
4 99m Devin Moran Dresden, OH
5 12 Jason Hughes Westville, OK
6 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
7 21d Dan Stone Thompson, PA
8 10 Leon Henderson Laurel, MS
9 38b Bob Geiger Laurel, MS

Heat #3  
1 1J Davey Johnson Greensburg, PA
2 44 Earl Pearson Jr Jacksonville, FL
3 5 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
4 22 Gregg Satterlee Rochester Mills, PA
5 116 Randy Weaver Crossville, TN
6 25x Mike Benedum Salem, WV
7 38 Kenny Pettyjohn Millsboro, DE
8 91p Jason Papich Arroyo Grande, CA
9 92 Nick Davis Gumboro, DE

Heat #4  
1 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
2 28 Eddie Carrier Jr Salt Rock, WV
3 4J John Mollick Totonto, OH
4 b12 Kevin Weaver Gibson City, IL
5 89 Booper Bare Rockbridge Baths, VA
6 81jr Jason Riggs Harrisburg, IL
7 77m Jay Morris Pittwood, IL
8 4D Chad Hollenbeck Montrose, PA