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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23rd, 2009
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Announces 2010 Schedule
The 2010 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series national tour will kick off at the "Clay by the Bay" February 1st with the six straight nights of action packed racing of the 34th Annual Dart Winternationals at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, FL. The Dart Winternationals will begin the 3rd Annual Sunoco Race Fuels Road to Wheatland, which will conclude Memorial Day weekend at the "The Diamond of Dirt Tracks", Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO.
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will again be sanctioning some of the sports biggest events such as the Diamond Nationals, Comp Cams Topless 100, Sunoco Race Fuels North/South 100, and the 42nd Annual Hillbilly Hundred.
In addition, the series will be making its first ever visits to Beckley Motor Speedway in West Virginia, Wythe Raceway in Virginia, 34 Raceway in Iowa, and Fonda Speedway in New York. Rejoining the tour is Bill Sawyers' Virginia Motor Speedway, as they return to the series schedule with a $15,000 to win event in September.
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series takes great pride in the fact that 86 percent of the tracks that will host events in 2010 have hosted events in the five year history of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. A majority of the tracks that hosted events in 2009 will be on the slate again for '10. "We are blessed to sanction events at really great tracks every year, and 2010 looks to be no exception" said series director Ritchie Lewis.
"We added a few new venues to the LOLMDS 2010 schedule. We think the schedule looks great" said Lewis. "We feel we have the best show in Dirt Late Model Racing, and I can't thank my staff, our drivers, our car owners, our fans, the best promoters and our loyal sponsors enough for making the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series the premier national touring series in the country."
For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com or by calling the series' office at (951) 532-2503.
2010 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Tour Schedule
February 1, East Bay Raceway Park - Gibsonton, FL - $5,000 to win
February 2, East Bay Raceway Park - Gibsonton, FL - $5,000 to win
February 3, East Bay Raceway Park - Gibsonton, FL - $5,000 to win
February 4, East Bay Raceway Park - Gibsonton, FL - $10,000 to win
February 5, East Bay Raceway Park - Gibsonton, FL - $10,000 to win
February 6, East Bay Raceway Park - Gibsonton, FL - $12,000 to win - TV
March 6, Volunteer Speedway - Bulls Gap, TN - $10,000 to win
March 7, Cherokee Speedway - Gaffney, SC - $10,000 to win
March 27, Brownstown Speedway - Brownstown, IN - $10,000 to win
April 23, Bedford Speedway - Bedford, PA - $10,000 to win
April 24, Hagerstown Speedway - Hagerstown, MD - $10,000 to win
May 1, Paducah International Raceway - Paducah, KY - $10,000 to win - TV
May 14, Beckley Motor Speedway - Mount Hope, WV - $10,000 to win
May 15, Wythe Raceway - Rural Retreat, VA - $10,000 to win
May 21, 34 Raceway - Burlington, IA - $10,000 to win
May 22, LaSalle Speedway - LaSalle, IL - $10,000 to win
May 28 & 29, Lucas Oil Speedway - Wheatland, MO - $30,000 to win - TV
May 30, Tri-City Speedway - Pontoon Beach, IL - $10,000 to win
June 4, Tazewell Speedway - Tazewell, TN - $10,000 to win
June 5, Florence Speedway - Union, KY - $10,000 to win
June 18, Cleveland Speedway - Cleveland, TN - $10,000 to win
June 19, Volunteer Speedway - Bulls Gap, TN - $10,000 to win - TV
July 3, Muskingum Co. Speedway - Zanesville, OH - $10,000 to win
July 4, Portsmouth Raceway Park - Portsmouth, OH - $10,000 to win
July 9 & 10, Columbus Speedway - Columbus, MS - $20,000 to win - TV
July 16, Tri-City Speedway - Pontoon Beach, IL - $10,000 to win - TV
July 17, Lucas Oil Speedway - Wheatland, MO - $10,000 to win
July 27, Fonda Speedway - Fonda, NY - $10,000 to win
July 29, Utica Rome Speedway - Vernon, NY - $10,000 to win
July 31, Hagerstown Speedway - Hagerstown, MD - $10,000 to win
August 13 & 14, Florence Speedway - Union, KY - $50,000 to win - TV
August 20 & 21, Batesville Motor Speedway - Batesville, AR - $40,000 to win - TV
August 27, Lawrenceburg Speedway - Lawrenceburg, IN - $10,000 to win - TV
August 28, Bluegrass Speedway - Bardstown, KY - $10,000 to win
September 4, Portsmouth Raceway Park - Portsmouth, OH - $10,000 to win - TV
September 5, West Virginia Motor Speedway - Mineral Wells, WV - $42,000 to win
September 18, Virginia Motor Speedway - Saluda, VA - $15,000 to win
September 24 & 25, Brownstown Speedway - Brownstown, IN - $20,000 to win - TV
October 8, Talladega Short Track - Talladega, AL - $10,000 to win - TV
October 9, Dixie Speedway - Woodstock, GA - $10,000 to win - TV
October 10, Rome Speedway - Rome, GA - $10,000 to win
Ford romps to Volunteer Speedway Fastrak ‘Grand Nationals’ victory
By Robert Walden
BULLS GAP, Tenn. (Oct. 22) — Volunteer Speedway opened its 36th season of racing back in April with Jensen Ford of Piney Flats, Tenn., winning the Fastrak Dirt Late Model Series Southern/Smoky Mountain/Mideast Touring Series event. Ford, who will celebrate his 22nd birthday on Oct. 24, closed the curtains on the 2009 racing season at the high-banked East Tennessee speedplant Thursday night in style by easily outdistancing himself from the stellar field of competitors assembled from 10 states to win Round 2 of the $250,000 Fastrak Dirt Late Model Series Grand Nationals – “National Championship Shootout at The Gap.”
During Wednesday night’s preliminaries, Ford used home-track knowledge to his advantage in touring the high banks at 13.373-seconds to set fast-time in qualifying over 49 entries. Ford’s quick-time also established a new track record for crate-engine Pro Late Models, lowering the previous standard of 13.426-seconds held by Ty Dillon of Lewisville, N.C., set on Aug. 2, 2008. Dillon is the teenage grandson of NASCAR multi-car and championship team owner Richard Childress. Dave Fieber of Neenah, Wis., also eclipsed Dillon's record as he ran a fast lap of 13.395 to time-in second behind Ford.
Five Fastrak Dirt Late Model Series heat races opened the racing program Thursday night, with Barry Arnold of Max Meadows, Va., taking the checkers to win Heat 1. Heat 2 was won by Mike Pegher Jr. of Wetford, Pa., with Heat 3 going to Max Blair of Titusville, Pa. Brandon Umberger of Rural Retreat, Va., captured the win in Heat 4, with Owen Osteen of Woodruff, S.C., winning Heat 5.
Three last-chance B-mains transferred the final drivers into the 24-car starting field, with Matt Long of Concord, N.C., David Smith of Inman, S.C., and A.J. Diemel of Bonduel, Wis., winning respective 15-lap races.
Following the pyrotechnics display that illuminated the nighttime skies during parade laps for the 50-lap main event, Arnold grabbed the lead at the drop of the green flag over Pegher and Umberger, with Ford and Blair running side-by-side back around at the stripe to complete the opening lap. Ford disposed of Blair on the second circuit to take over fourth in the running order.
Arnold pulled out to a six car-length advantage in the first five laps over Pegher, Umberger and Ford. Just behind the lead quartet, on lap 6 Osteen got around Blair racing off turn four to move into fifth place.
With Arnold, Pegher and Umberger running in the middle- to lower-grooves through the corners on both ends of the track, Ford began working the high-line. The top paid off for Ford on lap 12 when he rode around the outside of Umberger racing off turn two to move into third, setting his sights ahead on Pegher and Arnold.
Still riding up top around the high banks racing off turn two on lap 16, Ford drove around Pegher into the runner-up spot. But he wasn’t through, as he drove in hard on the outside of Arnold entering the third turn to pull alongside Arnold. As they raced off the fourth turn Ford powered into a lead he would never relinquish.
Ford led Arnold, Pegher, Umberger and Osteen halfway on lap 25. Blair, Blake Bentley, Kenny Peeples Jr., Shanon Buckingham and Bobby Mays held down positions six through ten in the running order.
After observing Ford’s success running the high groove, racing off the fourth turn on lap 26 Umberger drove around the outside of Pegher to move into third place. Just two circuits later Umberger completed a pass on Arnold to take over the runner-up position.
With the leaders working lapped traffic, the event’s first caution waved on lap 31 for a horrendous crash on the front straightaway racing off the fourth turn that collected Arnold and Blair after they tangled with a car they were attempting to lap. Arnold was turned head-on into the outside concrete retaining wall, getting high up in the air and flipping before finally coming to rest on the track just below the flagstand. While the cars of both Arnold and Blair were destroyed by heavy impact, most importantly they both were able to climb from their machines after assistance from Fastrak officials and emergency medical personnel to the relieved applause from the crowd.
Ford was riding alone out front on the Delaware Double-File Restart, with Umberger and Pegher door-to-door behind, followed by Osteen and the teenager Bentley. Back under green Ford quickly began to distance himself from Umberger, Pegher and Peeples. Just outside the top five the action was heated for position, as Bentley, Mays and Lee Cooper lost spots following the restart while Buckingham, Dale Ball and Jerry Broyles were on the move.
While drivers were battling for position as the laps wound down, no one could catch Ford, who is co-owner along with his parents Tony and Teresa Ford of TNT Race Cars & Parts, as he had the cruise-control on en route to chauffeuring the Byrd’s Radiator/Metcalf Tree Service/AFCO Shocks/Bert Transmission/Sweet Mfg./Hy-Tec Specialty Coatings/Wilwood Racing Products/Quickcar/Simpson/Primetime Designs - Get Wrapped! Race Car Body Wraps/TNT Race Cars & Parts/No. 83 Mercedes to an impressive victory. Rounding out the top-five behind Ford were Umberger, Pegher, Peeples and Buckingham.
Completing the top 10 finishers were Osteen, Ball, Broyles, Mays and Cooper.
“What an awesome early birthday present, to be able to win this prestigious race here at my home-track,” said the smiling Ford after jumping down from the roof of his car to begin celebrating with his family and friends in victory lane. “We tweaked on the car a little during the open practice last night prior to qualifying and really got it (car) dialed-in. We were fastest in practice and then we went out and backed it up during qualifying to establish a new track record. We knew the track would change some for tonight’s racing action, so we made some slight adjustments on the chassis. We finished second in our heat race, but we knew we’d be good in the feature. I could drive the car anywhere I needed on the track. Having to pass the cars who won heat races, I just tried to be patient in the early laps. I could see some room up above where the other cars ahead of me were running in the corners, and from running here regularly I knew my car would stick up in the high groove. That’s how I picked all the cars off I passed to get into the lead, going above them and passing them on the outside.
“Man, what a really strong field of competitors here for this race … drivers from all over the country. We won the Fastrak race here back at the first of the season, and while that was a really big win … this one tonight is huge. This is the 25th year for our family-owned business (TNT Race Cars & Parts), and we’re really proud of our cars we build because we’ve got a proven product. Our cars have won races this year in several states. And it’s been a good season overall for myself, as I’ve won races here at Volunteer, at Wythe Raceway and at Mountain Raceway Park. I really want to thank my mom and dad, my uncle (Mick Ford) and all the rest of our family and friends for their support.”
The third and final round of the 2009 Fastrak Dirt Late Model Series $250,000 Grand Nationals is slated for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23-24 at Wythe Raceway, just a close drive from Volunteer Speedway up Interstate 81 to Rural Retreat, Va.
Dustin Shaver of Morristown, a two-time “McDonald’s” Hobby Stock track champion, held off Chuck Johnson, Jamie Whitt, Jon Cook and Jason Long to record his first feature win of the season, due to only racing a partial schedule at the track this year.
FASTRAK DIRT LATE MODEL SERIES GRAND NATIONALS – “NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SHOOTOUT AT THE GAP”
1. Jensen Ford #83-Piney Flats, TN
2. Brandon Umberger #54B-Rural Retreat, VA
3. Mike Pegher Jr. #1C-Wetford, PA
4. Kenny Peeples Jr. #k22-Rural Retreat, VA
5. Shanon Buckingham #50-Morristown, TN
6. Owen Osteen #20-Woodruff, SC
7. Dale Ball #2D-Johnson City, TN
8. Jerry Broyles #72-Jonesborough, TN
9. Bobby Mays #19-Jonesborough, TN
10. Lee Cooper #57-Woodruff, SC
11. Blake Bentley #12-Duncan, SC
12. Justin Hirt #27H-Tigerton, WI
13. Brandon Haley #51-Lavonia, GA
14. A.J. Diemel #58-Bonduel WI
15. Chris Steele #2s-York, SC
16. Ron Parker #8-Lawndale, NC
17. David Smith #11D-Inman, SC
18. David Scott #100-Garland, PA
19. Billy James #5jr-Sikeston, MO
20. Dennis Lunger #17L-Albion, PA
21. Bud Watson #2-Conneaut, OH
22. Barry Arnold #16-Max Meadows, VA
23. Max Blair #111-Titusville, PA
24. Matt Long #25-Concord, NC
B-MAIN #1 (15 laps – Top 3 Transfer)
1. Matt Long #25-Concord, NC
2. Billy James #5jr-Sikeston, MO
3. Justin Hirt #27H-Tigerton, WI
4. Dave Fieber #1-Neenah, WI
5. Stephen Segars #45-Colbert, GA
6. John Broce Jr. #44w-Falls Mills, VA
7. Bryan Force #69-Indiana, PA
8. John Watson #48-Conneaut, OH
9. Nick Black #17-Van Buren, MO
10. Chris Force #68-Indiana, PA
Did Not Start: Royce Bray #21-Hull, GA
Did Not Start: Vic Chandler #88-Weaverville, NC
B-MAIN #2 (15 laps – Top 3 Transfer)
1. David Smith #11D-Inman, SC
2. Jerry Broyles #72-Jonesborough, TN
3. Chris Steele #2s-York, SC
4. Jonathan Taylor #2T-Toccoa, GA
5. Butch Lambert #27-Mars, PA
6. Mike Blose #5-New Bethlehem, PA
7. Joe Martin #55-Mayport, PA
8. Tim Byrd #24-Jonesborough, TN
9. Jake Eaton #29-Bland, VA
10. Steve Cooke #17c-Mt. Airy, NC
11. Ronnie Mosely Jr. #6-Chester, SC
B-MAIN #3 (15-laps – Top 3 Transfer)
1. A.J. Diemel #58-Bonduel, WI
2. Dennis Lunger #17L-Albion, PA
3. David Scott #100-Garland, PA
4. Daniel Angelicchio #14-New Staton, PA
5. Larry Timms #54T-Hodges, SC
6. Mike Faykus #6F-Prosperity, WV
7. Steven Adkins Jr. #18-Hinton, WV
8. Joel Prosser #77-New Martinsville, WV
9. Todd Casper #42-Gresham, WI
10. Troy Shields #11-Acme, PA
Did Not Start: David Watts #6w-Buchanan, VA
HEAT #1 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer)
1. Barry Arnold #16-Max Meadows, VA
2. Jensen Ford #83-Piney Flats, TN
3. Lee Cooper #57-Woodruff, SC
4. Billy James #5jr-Sikeston, MO
5. Dennis Lunger #17L-Albion, PA
6. Jonathan Taylor #2T-Toccoa, GA
7. John Broce Jr. #44w-Falls Mills, VA
8. Mike Faykus #6F-Prosperity, WV
9. Ronnie Mosely Jr. #6-Chester, SC
Did Not Start: Royce Bray #21-Hull, GA
HEAT #2 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer)
1. Mike Pegher Jr. #1C-Wetford, PA
2. Kenny Peeples Jr. #k22-Rural Retreat, VA
3. Dale Ball #2D-Johnson City, TN
4. Jerry Broyles #72-Jonesborough, TN
5. Dave Fieber #1-Neenah, WI
6. Daniel Angelicchio-New Staton, PA
7. Mike Blose #5-New Bethlehem, PA
8. Stephen Segars #45-Colbert, GA
9. Steven Adkins Jr. #18-Hinton, WV
10. Butch Lambert #27-Mars, PA
HEAT #3 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer)
1. Max Blair #111-Titusville, PA
2. Blake Bentley #12-Duncan, SC
3. Bud Watson #2-Conneaut, OH
4. A.J. Diemel #58-Bonduel, WI
5. Steve Cooke #17c-Mt. Airy, NC
6. John Watson #48-Conneaut, OH
7. Troy Shields #11-Acme, PA
8. Joe Martin #55-Mayport, PA
9. Chris Force #68-Indiana, PA
Did Not Start: David Watts #6w-Buchanan, VA
HEAT #4 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer)
1. Brandon Umberger #54B-Rural Retreat, VA
2. Shanon Buckingham #50-Morristown, TN
3. Brandon Haley #51-Lavonia, GA
4. Matt Long #25-Concord, NC
5. David Scott #100-Garland, PA
6. Chris Steele #2s-York, SC
7. Bryan Force #69-Indiana, PA
8. Joel Prosser #77-New Martinsville, WV
9. Jake Eaton #29-Bland, VA
10. Vic Chandler #88-Weaverville, NC
HEAT #5 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer)
1. Owen Osteen #20-Woodruff, SC
2. Bobby Mays #19-Jonesborough, TN
3. Ron Parker #8-Lawndale, NC
4. David Smith #11D-Inman, SC
5. Justin Hirt #27H-Tigerton, WI
6. Larry Timms #54T-Hodges, SC
7. Tim Byrd #24-Jonesborough, TN
8. Nick Black #17-Van Buren, MO
9. Todd Casper #42-Gresham, WI
NON-QUALIFIERS RACE (10 laps)
1. Daniel Angelicchio #14-New Staton, PA
2. Stephen Segars #45-Colbert, GA
3. Jonathan Taylor #2T-Toccoa, GA
4. Butch Lambert #27-Mars, PA
5. Joe Martin #55-Mayport, PA
6. Bryan Force #69-Indiana, PA
7. John Watson #48-Conneaut, OH
8. Steven Adkins Jr. #18-Hinton, WV
9. Joel Prosser #77-New Martinsville, WV
10. Jake Eaton #29-Bland, VA
11. Chris Force #68-Indiana, PA
12. Todd Casper #42-Gresham, WI
Did Not Start: Dave Fieber #1-Neenah, WI
Did Not Start: Larry Timms #54T-Hodges, SC
Did Not Start: John Broce Jr. #44w-Falls Mills, VA
Did Not Start: Mike Blose #5-New Bethlehem, PA
Did Not Start: Mike Faykus #6F-Prosperity, WV
Did Not Start: Tim Byrd #24-Jonesborough, TN
Did Not Start: Nick Black #17-Van Buren, MO
Did Not Start: Steve Cooke #17c-Mt. Airy, NC
Did Not Start: Troy Shields #11-Acme, PA
Did Not Start: Ronnie Mosely Jr. #6-Chester, SC
Did Not Start: Vic Chandler #88-Weaverville, NC
Did Not Start: David Watts #6w-Buchanan, VA
Did Not Start: Royce Bray #21-Hull, GA
“MCDONALD’S” HOBBY STOCK (20 laps)
1) Dustin Shaver #7; 2) Chuck Johnson #17; 3) Jamie Whitt #1j; 4) Jon Cook #0z; 5) Jason Long #15; 6) Devin Helton #17H; 7) Roger Hunter #7-11; 8) Ray Jarnigan #73; 9) Dennis Metcalf #55; 10) Bobby Reed #54; 11) Dave Smith #10; 12) Jim Canning Jr. #31; 13) Josh Odom #14; 14) Jason Light #50; 15) Charlie Bates #27; 16) Jesse Wilder #79; 17) Mike Kelley #8; 18) Daniel Reese #66; 19) Jesse Helton #4; 20) Patrick Flannery #88; 21) Tony Spoon #10 – Did Not Start: Dale Reed #52
Fastrak Dirt Late Model Racing Series: (678) 935-7304 www.FastrakRacing.com
Fastrak Dirt Late Model Racing Series: CEO Stan Lester (706) 244-2732
Volunteer Speedway: (423) 235-5020 www.VolunteerSpeedway.com
Track Office - Weekdays Only 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.: (423) 378-5942
Phyllis Loven: (423) 676-9081
Race Director David Bryant: Race Shop (423) 235-5420 ... Cell (865) 978-1752
Robert Walden-Media/Public Relations Director: (423) 928-9644 robwald@prodigy.net
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