Don O'Neal Wins Thriller in First Hillbilly Hundred Victory at I-77 Raceway

LOLMDS PR
RIPLEY, WV (August 31) - In a tremendous finish between the top two in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship points standings, Don O'Neal held off Jimmy Owens to win the 46th Annual Hillbilly Hundred on Sunday Night at I-77 Raceway Park. O'Neal fought off some tough challenges to claim the $25,000-victory in America's oldest crown jewel event.
 
Schedule/Results | 2014 Point Standings

Steve Francis driving the Clint Bowyer Racing team car to O'Neal charged back from the tail to finish third after spinning out early while running second. 12th starting Dennis Erb Jr., finished fourth and Jonathan Davenport rounded out the top five.
 
"This is a pretty fun and interesting track to race on," said the winner, who now sits just 25 points behind Owens in the race for the LOLMDS title. "There were so many caution flags out there. I felt like they hurt me because I'd get my rhythm going and then we would have another caution. Jimmy came up there near the end and made it closer than I wanted it to become. It feels good to win such a prestigious race; a lot of great drivers have won this one, and to win this for Clint Bowyer, Barry and Lance Wright, Jeremy Justice, and Tony Trent is a great way to top off the weekend."
 
Mason Zeigler led the first nine laps from his pole starting spot. O'Neal passed Zeigler for the lead on lap ten. O'Neal then held the top spot until Francis charged to the point on lap 15. The frantic race for the lead continued with O'Neal surging back ahead with 19 laps scored.
 
"Early on, that was a great race for the lead. I was trying to keep the car on the bottom as I was working my way up there. These corners are so tight. This is such a demanding track, physically, and you have to be up on the wheel at all times that for sure. I have to thank Peak Antifreeze and Motor Oil, Crawford Supply/Traeger Grills, Cometic Gasket, Ohlins, Georgia Boot, Toyota, and Clements Racing Engines."
 
Francis and Scott Bloomquist dueled side-by-side for second until Francis brought out a caution on lap 42 as he spun in turn number two. Carrier eventually unseated Bloomquist for the second spot on lap 73. Owens then got by Bloomquist and moved up to second around Carrier just two circuits later. With 76 laps complete Bloomquist suddenly slowed with a problem as he went pit-side. The race was under a red-flag on lap 82 when the 2-time Hillbilly Hundred winner, Mike Marlar, flipped in turn three. He escaped uninjured after the crash.
 
Several cautions in the remaining 18 laps kept the field bunched up. O'Neal and Owens then went at it tooth-and-nail to the checkers as Owens pulled even with O'Neal several times in turn four, but could never clear O'Neal to take over the lead.
 
"I ran the car hard into four, but left him plenty of room. I wasn't going to wreck either one of us. That was a heck of finish. I hoped the fans enjoyed the race. I think we all put on a pretty good show," said the driver of the Mike Reece-owned, Reece Monument Company, Club 29 Ford.
 
Francis restarted 24th after his spin and recovered nicely to finish a close third. "I really messed up by spinning, but I was able to drive through the field. I thought for a while that we might have a shot at winning this thing. We have tried so long to win this race. I go back to the Pennsboro days in trying to win this. We had a car good enough to win tonight, but it's another podium finish for the Georgia Boot #15."
 
Completing the top ten were Devin Moran, Tim Dohm, Eddie Carrier Jr., Corey Conley, and John Blankenship.

In preliminary action, Eddie Carrier Jr. set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group A) amongst the 42 entrants, with a lap of 13.044 seconds. Steve Francis set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 13.444 seconds. Mason Zeigler, Earl Pearson Jr., Don O'Neal, and Scott Bloomquist won their respective heat races. Jared Landers and John Blankenship 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
Sunday Night, August 31st, 2014
I-77 Raceway Park - Ripley, WV
 
A-Main
1 2 5 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN
2 7 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
3 6 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
4 12 28 Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL
5 14 6 Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA
6 11 99m Devin Moran Dresden, OH
7 9 6t Tim Dohm Cross Lanes, WV
8 5 28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Salt Rock, WV
9 16 14 Corey Conley Wheelersburg, WV
10 18 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
11 15 44j Jeremy Berwanger Murry City, OH
12 10 17d Zach Dohm Cross Lanes, WV
13 13 37 Jared Hawkins Fairmont, WV
14 17 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
15 19 12 Jason Hughes Watts, OK
16 26 20r Harold Redman Jr Charleston, WV
17 3 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL
18 22 1j Davey Johnson Greensburg, PA
19 23 91p Jason Papich Arroyo Grande, CA
20 4 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
21 8 157 Mike Marlar Winfield, TN
22 1 25z Mason Zeigler Uniontown, PA
23 25 42 Chris Garnes Evans, WV
24 24 79 Steve Shaver Vienna, WV
25 21 c4 Freddie Carpenter Parkersburg, WV
26 20 4b Jackie Boggs Grayson, KY

B-Main #1
1 3 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
2 1 12 Jason Hughes Watts, OK
3 4 c4 Freddie Carpenter Parkersburg, WV
4 8 28c Tyler Carpenter Parkersburg, WV
5 2 2 Steve Lucas Charleston, WV
6 6 25x Mike Benedum Salem, WV
7 5 79 Steve Shaver Vienna, WV
8 7 1FC Brock Morris Parkersburg, WV
9 9 5b Buddy Brogan Washington, WV
10 10 19 Dylan Bledsoe Ripley, WV
11 11 411 Will Brogan Charleston, WV
dns 42 Chris Garnes Evans, WV
dns 21r Ryan Casto Ripley, WV

B-Main #2
1 2 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
2 1 4b Jackie Boggs Grayson, KY
3 4 1j Davey Johnson Greensburg, PA
4 12 12b Travis Brookover Kenna, WV
5 9 44 KC Burdette Parkersburg, WV
6 3 20r Harold Redman Jr Charleston, WV
7 7 17 Kenny Newhouse Elkview, WV
8 10 16g Rod Gibson Charleston, WV
9 5 11 Jimmy Cobb S Charleston, WV
10 8 6n Nick Dohm Cross Lanes, WV
11 6 21b Billy Beachler Franklin, WV
dns 91p Jason Papich Arroyo Grande, CA
dns 15b Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA

Heat #1
1 2 25z Mason Zeigler Uniontown, PA
2 1 28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Salt Rock, WV
3 3 6t Tim Dohm Cross Lanes, WV
4 4 37 Jared Hawkins Fairmont, WV
5 5 12 Jason Hughes Watts, OK
6 8 2 Steve Lucas Charleston, WV
7 6 c4 Freddie Carpenter Parkersburg, WV
8 7 25x Mike Benedum Salem, WV
9 9 28c Tyler Carpenter Parkersburg, WV
10 10 19 Dylan Bledsoe Ripley, WV
11 11 21r Ryan Casto Ripley, WV

Heat #2
1 2 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL
2 1 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
3 3 99m Devin Moran Dresden, OH
4 7 44j Jeremy Berwanger Murry City, OH
5 6 42 Chris Garnes Evans, WV
6 4 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
7 5 79 Steve Shaver Vienna, WV
8 8 1FC Brock Morris Parkersburg, WV
9 10 5b Buddy Brogan Washington, WV
10 9 411 Will Brogan Charleston, WV

Heat #3
1 3 5 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN
2 1 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
3 4 17d Zach Dohm Cross Lanes, WV
4 2 6 Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA
5 6 4b Jackie Boggs Grayson, KY
6 5 20r Harold Redman Jr Charleston, WV
7 9 11 Jimmy Cobb S Charleston, WV
8 10 17 Kenny Newhouse Elkview, WV
9 8 44 KC Burdette Parkersburg, WV
10 7 91p Jason Papich Arroyo Grande, CA
15b Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA

Heat #4
1 1 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
2 4 157 Mike Marlar Winfield, TN
3 2 28 Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL
4 7 14 Corey Conley Wheelersburg, WV
5 5 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
6 3 1j Davey Johnson Greensburg, PA
7 6 21b Billy Beachler Franklin, WV
8 8 6n Nick Dohm Cross Lanes, WV
9 9 16g Rod Gibson Charleston, WV

Fast Time Group A: Eddie Carrier Jr. / 13.044 seconds
Fast Time Group B: Steve Francis / 13.444 seconds