WAYNESVILLE, GA (February 2, 2019) - Earl Pearson Jr. ran down Scott Bloomquist and took the lead on lap 33 en route to victory on Saturday night during the Rhino Ag Super Bowl of Racing presented by General Tire.

Pearson, the four-time series champion, won for the 38th time in his Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series career. He leaves Golden Isles with the series points lead heading to East Bay Raceway Park next week. Jonathan Davenport finished second in the main event and trails Pearson by 30 points in the championship chase.

Scott Bloomquist started on the pole and led 23 laps during the feature, ultimately claiming third. Tyler Erb, who won the afternoon event, took fourth, and Brandon Sheppard rounded out the top five.

In a race that saw three different leaders, Jimmy Owens led the first nine laps of the race until Bloomquist forged ahead of him. The two frontrunners then made contact with Owens spinning and getting collected along with Josh Richards. Both cars had to pit for repairs.

With Bloomquist solidly in front and seemingly pulling away, Pearson, who started fifth began to close the gap on the three-time series champion. Pearson tracked down Bloomquist using the high-side of the race track passing him on the outside coming off of turn number two on lap 33. Pearson then saw the race go caution-free until the checkers as he went to victory lane for the first-time in 2019.

In Lucas Oil Victory Lane, Pearson first mentioned his car owner Ronnie Stuckey. "He's been awful sick the past few months. This one's for him. It's always great to win here for my home fans. Me, Scott [Bloomquist] and [Jonathan] Davenport had a heck of a race," said Pearson before the cheers of the fans at the track, which is less than an hour from his home in Jacksonville, Florida.

"Scott just got caught up there with all the lapped traffic. Our car has been good all weekend. Thanks to Lucas Oil and Sunoco and all my guys who came out to help with weekend. It's a dream come true to win here again at Brunswick. I have seen so many guys that I used to race with down here. It is kind of like a home coming for us."

"Just like today when we got on top up there and kind of cleaned off the top. Our car worked great up top, we weren't as good on the bottom. The car has been good every time we have unloaded it this weekend."

Davenport who led the series with nine wins a year ago came home in second after starting alongside Pearson in row number three. "Running the top just seemed to kill our tires. My tires got so hot I almost felt like I was getting a flat tire. I had to get off the top and get back down on the track. I cooled my tires off and then got back up top."

Pearson's Black Diamond house car is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by: Lucas Oil Products, Tegeler Wrecker and Crane, Sunoco Race Fuels, Moring Motorsports, Etchberger Trucking and P&W Sales.

Completing the top ten were Don O'Neal, Dennis Erb Jr., Gregg Satterlee, Chase Junghans and Jason Jameson.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Saturday, February 2nd, 2019  
Rhino Ag Super Bowl of Racing presented by General Tire
Golden Isles Speedway - Waynesville, Ga.

Miller Welders Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Earl Pearson Jr. / 14.914 seconds (overall)
Fast Time Group B: Jonathan Davenport / 15.059 seconds

Penske Race Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Scott Bloomquist, Earl Pearson, Jr., Brandon Sheppard, Kyle Bronson, Brandon Overton, Jason Jameson, Billy Moyer, Jr., Mark Whitener, Blair Nothdurft

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Josh Richards, Ryan King, Dennis Erb, Jr., Devin Moran, Hudson O'Neal, Allen Murray, Matt Cosner, Blake Spencer, Devin Gilpin

Simpson Race Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jimmy Owens, Jonathan Davenport, Don O'Neal, Morgan Bagley, Shanon Buckingham, Steven Roberts, Jason Fitzgerald, Ivedent Lloyd, Jr., Joel Callahan

Lucas Oil Products Penetrating Oil Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Tyler Erb, Chase Junghans, Jeff Mathews, Gregg Satterlee, Tim McCreadie, Justin Williams, Stormy Scott, Austin Rettig, Colton Flinner

Lucas Oil Products Red "N" Tacky Spray Grease B-Main #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Hudson, O'Neal, Brandon Overton, Jason Jameson, Billy Moyer, Jr., Allen Murray, Matt Cosner, Blake Spencer, Blair Nothdurft, Mark Whitener, Devin Gilpin-DNS

FAST Shafts B-Main #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Tim McCreadie, Shanon Buckingham, Steven Roberts, Justin Williams, Stormy Scott, Austin Rettig, Colton Flinner, Ivedent Lloyd, Jr.-DNS, Jason Fitzgerald-DNS, Joel Callahan-DNS

Lucas Oil Feature Finish (50 Laps):

Race Statistics
Entrants: 37
Lap Leaders: Jimmy Owens (Laps 1 - 9); Scott Bloomquist (Laps 10 - 32); Earl Pearson Jr. (Laps 33 - 50)
Wrisco Feature Winner: Earl Pearson Jr.
Margin of Victory: 0.526 seconds
Cautions: Ryan King, Morgan Bagley, Kyle Bronson (Lap 2); Hudson O'Neal (Lap 5); Jimmy Owens, Josh Richards (Lap 10); Jimmy Owens (Lap 37)
Miller Welders Fast Time Provisionals: Matt Cosner, Ivedent Lloyd
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Jason Jameson (Advanced 11 Positions)
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Jonathan Davenport
Allstar Performance Power Move of the Race: Jonathan Davenport
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Earl Pearson Jr.
Eibach Springs Rookie of the Race: n/a
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Clements Race Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Black Diamond Chassis
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Garrett Alberson (Earl Pearson Jr.)
Dirty Girl Racewear Fastest Lap of the Race: Scott Bloomquist (Lap #15 - 15.056 seconds)
Hot Rod Processing Tough Break of the Race: Jimmy Owens
STEEL-IT Most Laps Led: Scott Bloomquist (23 Laps)
PFC Brakes Pole Award: Scott Bloomquist
Time of Race: 28 minutes 11 seconds

Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:

WAYNESVILLE, GA (February 2, 2019) - Tyler Erb, in his debut as driver of the Best Performance Motorsports #1, made his way to victory lane in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series season opener at Golden Isles Speedway.

Erb took the lead from Hudson O'Neal on lap 13 and held the point to claim the Rhino Ag Super Bowl of Racing presented General Tire opener.

Earl Pearson Jr. tried to track down Erb in the final ten laps of the race, but settled for second in the Lucas Oil Products, Clements-powered, Black Diamond Chassis for Ronnie and Terri Stuckey. Jonathan Davenport was third in the Nutrien Ag Solutions, Longhorn for Lance Landers Motorsports.

Completing the top five were Josh Richards and Brandon Sheppard.

Hudson O'Neal, who set a new track record in qualifying on Friday night, started from the pole and led the first 12 laps of the race. O'Neal held the point until he slipped a bit in turn two allowing three drivers to get by him. O'Neal recovered and made his way back to second until he got into the turn one wall, ending his race on lap 27.

Erb then set a steady pace for the remainder of the final 23 laps. Erb encountered lap traffic with ten laps to go. Pearson cut Erb's nearly three second lead down to just five-car lengths at the checkered flag.

Erb was ecstatic in Lucas Oil Victory Lane. "I want to thank Eric and Kelly Brock and Randall Edwards for having faith in me to drive their car. This is a great way to start the season! There is so much tough competition here. I was a little worried in traffic, but those guys gave me plenty of room to get by. It was fast today, for sure. I want to thank Wayne Childress of New Point Lighting and Design, and Billy Franklin for helping us out this year."

Pearson, gave the winner his best shot at the end, but ran out of laps. "I figured I would have to run the top to catch him and we were. We just ran out of time and laps. I was hoping that Davenport would clean off the top for me, but overall it was a good start to the season for us and we will come back tonight and hopefully be one spot better."

Davenport, the two-time and defending series champion, said he should have gone to the top earlier in the race. "I waited too long to get there. Once we were there the car was really good. I tried to follow Earl [Pearson] up and catch him [Erb], but he was really good today. We have had a lot of success here. Maybe tonight we can pick up the win."

The winner's Best Performance Motorsports, Durham-powered Rocket Chassis is sponsored by: Roberts Bee Company, New Point Lighting and Design, Bazell Race Fuels, Sunoco, Franklin Enterprises, Valvoline, Keyser, and KBC Graphix.

Completing the top ten were Don O'Neal, Scott Bloomquist, Devin Moran, Chase Junghans, and Dennis Erb Jr.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Friday and Saturday, February 1st and 2nd, 2019  
Rhino Ag Super Bowl of Racing presented by General Tire
Golden Isles Speedway - Waynesville, Ga.

Miller Welders Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Hudson O'Neal / 14.864 seconds (overall)
Fast Time Group B: Brian Shirley / 14.944 seconds

Penske Race Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Hudson O'Neal, Brandon Sheppard, Brandon Overton, Tim McCreadie, Jason Jameson, Billy Moyer, Jr., Dennis Erb, Jr., Allen Murray, Austin Rettig, Jason Fitzgerald, Ryan King

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Earl Pearson, Jr., Jonathan Davenport, Jimmy Owens, Chase Junghans, Matt Cosner, Gregg Satterlee, Colton Flinner, Coleby Frye, Colton Horner, Ivedent Lloyd, Jr.

Simpson Race Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Josh Richards, Devin Moran, Brian Shirley, Devin Gilpin, Jeff Mathews, Kerry King, Shanon Buckingham, Don O'Neal, Brian Connor, Blair Nothdurft, Mark Whitener-DNS

Lucas Oil Products Penetrating Oil Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Tyler Erb, Chris Ferguson, Kyle Bronson, Scott Bloomquist, Justin Williams, Steven Roberts, Joel Callahan, Stormy Scott, Ray Cook, Blake Spencer

Lucas Oil Products Red "N" Tacky Spray Grease B-Main #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Jason Jameson, Dennis Erb, Jr., Matt Cosner, Colton Flinner, Jason Fitzgerald, Ryan King, Billy Moyer, Jr., Allen Murray, Austin Rettig, Coleby Frye, Gregg Satterlee, Colton Horner, Ivedent Lloyd, Jr.-DNS

FAST Shafts B-Main #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Shanon Buckingham, Don O'Neal, Stormy Scott, Justin Williams, Blake Spencer, Kerry King, Blair Nothdurft, Joel Callahan, Jeff Mathews, Steven Roberts, Ray Cook, Brian Connor, Mark Whitener

Lucas Oil Feature Finish (50 Laps):

 
Race Statistics
Entrants: 42
Lap Leaders: Hudson O'Neal (Laps 1 - 12); Tyler Erb (Laps 13 - 50)
Wrisco Feature Winner: Tyler Erb
Margin of Victory: 0.961 seconds
Cautions: Devin Moran (Lap 1); Stormy Scott (Lap 12); Stormy Scott (Lap 17); Tim McCreadie (Lap 19); Tim McCreadie, Jimmy Owens (Lap 20); Brian Shirley, Ryan King, Jason Jameson (Lap 20); Hudson O'Neal (Lap 27)
Series Provisional: Gregg Satterlee
Miller Welders Fast Time Provisional: Ryan King
Series Emergency Provisionals: n/a
Golden Isles Speedway Provisional: n/a
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Don O'Neal (Advanced 14 Positions)
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Jonathan Davenport
Allstar Performance Power Move of the Race: Earl Pearson Jr.
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Tyler Erb
Eibach Springs Rookie of the Race: n/a
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Durham Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Rocket Chassis
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Randall Edwards (Tyler Erb)
Dirty Girl Racewear Fastest Lap of the Race: Hudson O'Neal (Lap #3 - 14.781 seconds)
Hot Rod Processing Tough Break of the Race: Hudson O'Neal
STEEL-IT Most Laps Led: Tyler Erb (38 Laps)
PFC Brakes Pole Award: Hudson O'Neal
Time of Race: 41 minutes 05 seconds

Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings: