Pearson Takes Third Career Indiana Icebreaker at Brownstown Speedway

BROWNSTOWN, IN (March 21, 2015) – Earl Pearson Jr. claimed his third Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Indiana Icebreaker on Saturday Night at Brownstown Speedway. In front of a standing-room-only crowd, Pearson took the lead on lap two from Devin Moran and led the rest of the way for his second LOLMDS victory of the season in the Carlton and Kemp Lamm, Dunn-Benson Ford, Lucas Oil Products-sponsored Black Diamond Chassis.

Scott Bloomquist moved past Moran on lap 31 and chased down Pearson, but never found enough room to overtake him. Moran finished third, followed by Jimmy Owens, and the defending race winner, Don O’Neal.

“I knew getting to the front was critical,” said the winner afterwards in Lucas Oil Victory Lane. “It’s Kemp Lamm’s birthday, so what a way to celebrate by winning here at Brownstown! With all the bad winter weather they have had here, they did a good job getting the track smooth. They had a heck of a crowd here tonight.”

“I wanted to get the jump on Moran quickly. The car felt good all night. The heat race we ran was a good one, and winning that sure helped us tonight, because we were able to start on the front row. It’s great to win with the Lamms being here. Andy Durham builds a great engine and I want to thank him for all of the horsepower he is providing us this year.”

Bloomquist; in one of his best runs of the season on the LOLMDS tour; was pleased with his runner-up finish. “Our car hasn’t been that bad this year. We just haven’t had the finishes to show for it. We needed a good run here tonight and we got it. I didn’t know if I could get around Moran. Once I was able to do so, I tried to run down Earl. We caught him there, but with passing at a premium, we just had to settle for second and get a good finish.”

“I want to thank all of my sponsors this year. We have several new ones including Reece Monument Company, Mark Martin Automotive, Sorbera Chiropractic, and Horton Coal. Hopefully we can build on our momentum from this race and get back in the points chase.”

Moran, who last year had an 18-win season, was looking for his first-ever win at Brownstown. He started on the pole and led the opening lap. “I thought maybe tonight was the night we could get that first win here. I tried my best to hold Earl off, but he had enough momentum on the outside to get by me. I slipped just enough later on to allow Bloomquist to get by, but we will gladly take a top three here. It’s the best we have ever finished here. I want to thank Dow Cameron Oil and Gas, Eddie’s Sunoco, and Donnie Moran Driving School for all of their help. To run third with these guys, I am tickled to death.”

Completing the top ten were Chris Simpson, Brandon Sheppard, Eddie Carrier Jr., Steve Casebolt, and Steve Francis.

In preliminary action, Jimmy Owens set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group A) amongst the 41 entrants, with a lap of 14.108 seconds. Jonathan Davenport set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 14.384 seconds. Devin Moran, Scott Bloomquist, Earl Pearson Jr., and Don O’Neal won their respective heat races. Kent Robinson and Matt Westfall won their respective B-Mains.

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Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Race Summary
Saturday, March 21st, 2015
Indiana Icebreaker
Brownstown Speedway – Brownstown, IN

Miller Welders Fast Time Group A: Jimmy Owens / 14.108 seconds

Miller Welders Fast Time Group B: Jonathan Davenport / 14.384 seconds

Eibach Springs Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Devin Moran Jimmy Owens, Mike Marlar, Mason Zeigler, Duane Chamberlain, Jeep VanWormer, Chris Brown, Justin Rattliff, Steve Barnett, Ted Nobbe, Toby Massie

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Scott Bloomquist, Chris Simpson, Billy Moyer, Jr., Dustin Linville, Dennis Erb, Jr., Kent Robinson, Greg Johnson, Shane Cottle, Tim Dohm , Matt Boknecht
Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Earl Pearson, Jr.

Brandon Sheppard, Steve Casebolt, Jonathan Davenport, Josh Richards, Matt Westfall, Jared Landers, Jeremy Hines, Joe Janowski, Tom Colini
QA1 Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Don O’Neal, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Steve Francis, Tim McCreadie, Bobby Pierce, Mike Benedum, Chad Stapleton, Austin Rettig, Dustin Nobbe, Chris Keller

Fast Shafts B-Main #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Kent Robinson, Dennis Erb, Jr., Duane Chamberlain, Chris Brown, Steve Barnett, Greg Johnson, Justin Rattliff ,Tim Dohm, Jeep VanWormer, Ted Nobbe, Matt Boknecht, Shane Cottle, Toby Massie

Keyser MFG B-Main #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Matt Westfall, Josh Richards, Bobby Pierce, Jared Landers, Mike Benedum, Joe Janowski, Austin Rettig, Chris Keller, Chad Stapleton, Dustin Nobbe, Tom Colini, Jeremy Hines

Feature Finish (50 Laps):

Race Statistics

Entrants: 41

Lap Leaders: Devin Moran (Lap 1); Earl Pearson Jr. (Laps 2 – 50)
Cautions: none
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Jared Landers; Chris Brown
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: Mike Benedum; Austin Rettig
Miller Welders Fast Time Provisionals: n/a
Wrisco Feature Winner: Earl Pearson Jr.
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Josh Richards (Started: 20th; Finished: 13th; Advanced 7 Positions)
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Jonathan Davenport
Allstar Performer of the Race: Earl Pearson Jr.

Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Earl Pearson Jr.

Rookie of the Race: n/a
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Durham Racing Engines

Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Black Diamond Chassis

Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Brian Imler (Scott Bloomquist

CV Products Fastest Lap of the Race: Jared Landers (Lap # 41 – 15.276 seconds)
Hot Rod Processing Most Laps Led: Earl Pearson Jr. (49 Laps)
PFC Brakes Tough Break Award: Mason Zeigler

Time of Race: 13 minutes 19 seconds