10/10/2010
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Clanton Takes Series Event at Rome Speedway
ROME, GA (October 10, 2010) – Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, GA won his third career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event on Sunday Night at Rome Speedway. The 35-year-old second generation racer earned $10,000 for his win in the “Rome Showdown” before a huge crowd. Clanton took the lead on lap 26 from Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN and then went unchallenged the rest of the way for the win. Chris Madden of Gaffney, SC finished second followed by Steve Francis of Ashland, KY; Brady Smith of Solon Springs, WI; and O’Neal.
“I went with a little softer left rear tire than anybody else, O’Neal was strong early on, but once we were able to get some heat in the tire we were able to catch him and get by him,” said Clanton. “I have to give a big thanks to Marshall Green for this win; he came over before the feature and changed some things on the car. He has a lot of laps here, and the changes he made are why we are here in victory lane. I want to thank Rocket Chassis, Brad Malcuit at Malcuit Race Engines, RSD Enterprises, SAE Parts, VP, and Allstar Performance for their support. It’s good to get a win here in front of the homestate crowd.”
O’Neal and Francis started on the front row of the 50-lap main event. O’Neal quickly jumped to the lead. O’Neal put on a dominating performance in the early stages of the race. He held a six-car length advantage over Clanton, who started fourth. Clanton slowly reeled in O’Neal as the leader slipped out of the racing groove with 20 laps complete.
Clanton and O’Neal came across the scoring line dead-even at the halfway mark. Clanton charged ahead a lap later as O’Neal fell to second. O’Neal then gave up the second position to Madden on lap 34.
Clanton had to withstand two cautions in the final 14 circuits to secure the win. He became the 13th different winner of the season on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series tour. Madden came home in second. He drives the Hamrick’s of Gaffney, Cornett Racing Engines, Bloomquist Race Cars entry. Francis, in the Valvoline, Estes Racing Engines, Barry Wright Race Cars #15 came home in third. Smith in the Mid-States Equipment Hydraulics Inc. Vic Hill Racing Engines, Bloomquist Team Zero car barely nipped O’Neal at the finish line for fourth.
Completing the top ten were Josh Richards of Shinnston, WV; Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN; Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN; Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, WI; and Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN.
In preliminary action, Don O’Neal was the overall Red Buck Cigar Fast Qualifier with a lap of 13.327 seconds among the 47 entrants. Heat race winners were O’Neal, Chris Madden, Steve Francis and Shane Clanton. The B-Mains went to Eric Wells and Ray Cook.
Bloomquist entered the event as the 2010 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Champion by virtue of his win on Saturday Night in the Lucas Oil “Dixie Shootout” at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, GA. Bloomquist will pocket $75,000 for his second consecutive series championship. Jimmy Owens will take home second place in the final series standings for the second year in a row, followed by 4-time series winner, Earl Pearson, Jr. of Jacksonville, FL, Don O’Neal and Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC.
Chris Wall of Springfield, LA clinched the Quarter Master “Rookie of the Year” after his performance in the Lucas Oil “Dixie Shootout”. Wall will earn $10,000 for his feat. Eric Wells of Hazard, KY will finish second in the Quarter Master Rookie Chase, followed by Tim Isenberg of Marshfield, WI.
The event held at Rome Speedway concluded the 2010 racing season for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. The series will hold its’ annual awards banquet on Saturday Night, November 20th at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN.
For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log on to www.lucasdirt.com or call the series office at (951) 532-2503.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary Sunday Night, October 10th, 2010 Lucas Oil “Rome Showdown” Rome International Speedway – Rome, GA
Red Buck Cigars Fast Time: Don O’Neal / 13.327 seconds (Overall and Group A); Scott Bloomquist / 13.507 seconds (Group B)
Wiles Driveshaft’s First Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Don O’Neal, Josh Richards, Bub McCool, Aaron Ridley, Eric Wells, Randy Weaver, Clint Smith, Frank Ingram, Robert Gant, Tommy Kerr, Tyler Millwood, Wayne Echols
AFCO Racing Products Second Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Chris Madden, Brady Smith, Earl Pearson, Jr., Shannon Babb, Brad Neat, Casey Roberts, Chris Wall, John Blankenship, Chad Ogle, Brian Reese, Jake Knowles, Jill George
Allstar Performance Third Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Steve Francis, Scott Bloomquist, Tim Isenberg, Dan Schlieper, Ray Cook, Tony Knowles, Chris Brown, Tyler Reddick, Daniel Baggerly, Duane Treadwell, Matt Helbing, Luther Jenkins - DNS
Superflow Fourth Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Shane Clanton, Dale McDowell, Steve Casebolt, Jimmy Owens, David Payne, Jonathan Davenport, Scott Creel, Derek Ellis, Mark Douglas, Mike Collins, Scott Hall
Hawk Brake First B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Eric Wells, Randy Weaver, Chris Wall, Brad Neat, Clint Smith, Tommy Kerr, Tyler Millwood, Brian Reese, Jill George, Casey Roberts, John Blankenship, Jake Knowles, Frank Ingram – DNS, Robert Gant – DNS, Chad Ogle – DNS, Wayne Echols - DNS
Performance Rod and Custom (PRC) Second B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Ray Cook, David Payne, Jonathan Davenport, Tony Knowles, Tyler Reddick, Chris Brown, Derek Ellis, Scott Creel, Mike Collins, Daniel Baggerly, Duane Treadwell, Matt Helbing, Scott Hall, Mark Douglas, Luther Jenkins - DNS
Feature Finish – 50 Laps: 1. 25C-Shane Clanton[4]; 2. 44M-Chris Madden[3]; 3. 15-Steve Francis[2]; 4. 2-Brady Smith[7]; 5. 71-Don O'Neal[1]; 6. 25-Josh Richards[5]; 7. 0-Scott Bloomquist[6]; 8. 20-Jimmy Owens[16]; 9. S9-Dan Schlieper[14]; 10. C9-Steve Casebolt[12]; 11. 49-Jonathan Davenport[22]; 12. 23-John Blankenship[23]; 13. 116-Randy Weaver[19]; 14. 8P-David Payne[20]; 15. 41N-Brad Neat[24]; 16. 18E-Eric Wells[17]; 17. 9T-Tim Isenberg[10]; 18. 71W-Chris Wall[21]; 19. 53-Ray Cook[18]; 20. 44-Earl Pearson Jr[11]; 21. 81-Aaron Ridley[13]; 22. 17M-Dale McDowell[8]; 23. 57J-Bub McCool[9]; 24. 18-Shannon Babb[15]
Race Statistics
Entrants: 47 Lap Leaders: Don O’Neal (Laps 1-25); Shane Clanton (Laps 26-50)
Caution Flags: Chris Wall (Lap 4); Bub McCool (Lap 32); Ray Cook (Lap 36); Earl Pearson Jr. (Lap 43); Ray Cook (Lap 48)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: John Blankenship, Brad Neat
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisional: none
PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race: John Blankenship (Started 23rd; Finished 12th; Advanced 11 positions)
Ohlin’s Shocks Performer of the Race: Don O’Neal
K&N Filters Clean Pass of the Race: Dan Schlieper
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Eric Wells
Comp Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Malcuit Racing Engines
Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award: Earl Pearson Jr.
DirtonDirt.com Crew Chief of the Race: Jason Palubicki (Dan Schlieper)
Time of Race: 28 minutes 32 seconds
Submitted By: Jeremy Shields