Steve Francis Tops Silver Dollar Nationals Preliminaries

Steve Francis Tops Silver Dollar Nationals Preliminaries

Story By: Jeremy Shields/LOLMDS

Photos By: Heath Lawson/LOLMDS & Pete MacDonald/RacersGuide.com

GREENWOOD, NE (July 21, 2017) – A total of 51 entrants were on hand for Friday night’s qualifying program for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Lucas Oil MLRA co-sanctioned, 7th Annual Silver Dollar nationals at I-80 Speedway. Two rounds of passing point heat races highlighted the racing action; with ten different drivers taking the checkered flag.

In the first heat of round one, Chad Simpson took the lead at the start of the race. Simpson led the entire distance for the victory in the Brinkman Motorsports, Liebe Trucking, Black Diamond entry. The current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points leader, Josh Richards – in only his second-ever appearance at I-80 Speedway – finished a close second. Earl Pearson Jr. was the big mover in this heat, as he came from ninth to finish in third.

In heat number two, the inaugural Silver Dollar Nationals winner, Don O’Neal took the lead at the start of the 12-lap race and went on unchallenged for the win in the Peak Antifreeze and Coolant, Club 29 entry for Clint Bowyer Dirt Motorsports. Shannon Babb came from the sixth starting spot to take second behind O’Neal. Brian Shirley roared from ninth to finish third.

The third heat of round one would go to veteran driver, Steve Francis, who started in third. Francis’ Rhino Ag, Josh Roberts Trucking, Capital Race Cars entry became the first driver from outside of the front row to win a heat race. Terry Phillips finished in second with 16-year-old, Hudson O’Neal coming home in third after starting in fifth.

Darrell Lanigan shot from his fifth starting spot to take the early lead in heat number four. Lanigan’s Clint Bowyer Dirt Motorsports, I-Racing.com, Club 29 Race Car pulled away from the field for a convincing win. Tony Jackson Jr. finished in second with seventh starting Jason Krohn gaining the third spot on the final lap.

The fifth and final heat race of round one saw Dennis Erb Jr. lead all 12 laps for the win. Erb’s Vomac Truck Sales, McBride Mack, Black Diamond Chassis won over Chase Junghans and ninth-place starter, Scott Bloomquist.

Brian Shirley claimed the victory in heat number one of round two in his Bob Cullen, Thomason Express, Rocket Chassis. Steve Francis came from eighth to conclude a solid night, with Jason Krohn finishing in third.

The second heat of round two belonged to Tim McCreadie as he stormed on for an impressive win in the Sweeteners Plus, Pro Power Racing Engines, Longhorn Chassis. Kyle Berck, the winner on Thursday Night at I-80 Speedway in the Malvern Bank Super Late Model Series, narrowly held off Timothy Culp for second. Culp in his first-ever appearance at I-80 Speedway came from seventh to finish in third.

Scott Bloomquist took the lead at the start of heat number three and ran away with the win in the Crop Production Services, Reece Monument Company, Sweet-Bloomquist Race Car. Bloomquist, the only 2-time winner of the Silver Dollar Nationals, won his heat over Earl Pearson Jr. and Billy Moyer.

Rodney Sanders, who is leading the Lucas Oil MLRA Rookie of the Year chase, led all the way to capture heat four in the Swan Energy, MB Customs entry. Don O’Neal charged from the tenth starting spot to finish in second. Tad Pospisil was third.

The fifth and final heat of the night went to Brandon Sheppard in the Seubert Calf Ranches, Valvoline, Rocket House Car after overcoming problems in round one. Kyle Bronson in his first-ever I-80 Speedway appearance was second with Corey Zeitner taking third.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Friday, July 21st, 2017
Silver Dollar Nationals
I-80 Speedway – Greenwood, NE

Eibach Springs Heat Race #1 – ROUND ONE Finish: Chad Simpson, Josh Richards, Earl Pearson, Jr., Mike Marlar, Chris Simpson, Randy Timms, Timothy Culp, Boom Briggs, Bob King, Allan Hopp, Kyle Berck

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 – ROUND ONE Finish: Don O’Neal, Shannon Babb, Brian Shirley, Mason Zeigler, Justin Duty, Joey Moriarty, Brantlee Gotschall, Mike Stadel, JC Wyman, Brandon Sheppard

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 – ROUND ONE Finish: Steve Francis, Terry Phillips, Hudson O’Neal, Billy Moyer, Clay Daly, Ben Schaller, Jimmy Mars, Tad Pospisil, Matt Buller, Al Humphrey

QA1 Heat Race #4 – ROUND ONE Finish: Darrell Lanigan, Tony Jackson, Jr., Jason Krohn, Jesse Stovall, Rodney Sanders, Kyle Bronson, Austin Siebert, Dave Eckrich, John Duty, Bill Leighton, Jr.

ASi Racewear Heat #5 – ROUND ONE Finish: Dennis Erb, Jr., Chase Junghans, Scott Bloomquist, Jimmy Owens, Gregg Satterlee, Tim McCreadie, Corey Zeitner, Jake O’Neil, Jeremy Grady, Brian Kosiski

Eibach Springs Heat Race #1 – ROUND TWO Finish: Brian Shirley, Steve Francis, Jason Krohn, Chase Junghans, Jimmy Mars, Mike Marlar, Joey Moriarty, Jeremy Grady, Randy Timms, Austin Siebert, Boom Briggs

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 – ROUND TWO Finish: Tim McCreadie, Kyle Berck, Timothy Culp, Jake O’Neil, Clay Daly, Tony Jackson, Jr., Terry Phillips, JC Wyman, John Duty, Brantlee Gotschall

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 – ROUND TWO Finish: Scott Bloomquist, Earl Pearson, Jr., Billy Moyer, Darrell Lanigan, Mason Zeigler, Al Humphrey, Dave Eckrich, Allan Hopp, Jimmy Owens, Justin Duty

QA1 Heat Race #4 – ROUND TWO Finish: Rodney Sanders, Don O’Neal, Tad Pospisil, Hudson O’Neal, Gregg Satterlee, Chris Simpson, Josh Richards, Brian Kosiski, Mike Stadel, Bill Leighton, Jr.

ASi Racewear Heat #5 – ROUND TWO Finish: Brandon Sheppard, Kyle Bronson, Corey Zeitner, Shannon Babb, Chad Simpson, Dennis Erb, Jr., Ben Schaller, Bob King, Matt Buller, Jesse Stovall

Penske Racing Shocks B-Main #1 Line Up (Top 3 Transfer):
DRIVER
INSIDE
OUTSIDE
DRIVER
Josh Richards
1R
c8
Timothy Culp
Gregg Satterlee
22
26jr
Corey Zeitner
Tad Pospisil
04
2T
Jake O’Neil
Ben Schaller
98
51M
Joey Moriarty
Jesse Stovall
75s
58
Dave Eckrich
Justin Duty
15x
43
Jeremy Grady
Bob King
45
4w
JC Wyman
Matt Buller
1b
52x
Brian Kosiski
Bill Leighton Jr.
24x
Fast Shafts B-Main #2 Line Up (Top 3 Transfer):
DRIVER
INSIDE
OUTSIDE
DRIVER
Terry Phillips
75p
157
Mike Marlar
Clay Daly
32b
32c
Chris Simpson
Brandon Sheppard
1s
28m
Jimmy Mars
Jimmy Owens
20
14b
Kyle Berck
Randy Timms
5t
6H
Al Humphrey
Brantlee Gotschall
4G
16A
Austin Siebert
Mike Stadel
81s
99b
Boom Briggs
Allan Hopp
80
5d
John Duty

Feature Line Up (80 Laps):
DRIVER
INSIDE
OUTSIDE
DRIVER
Steve Francis
15
5
Don O’Neal
Brian Shirley
3s
0
Scott Bloomquist
Earl Pearson Jr.
1
14
Darrell Lanigan
Chad Simpson
25
18J
Chase Junghans
Shannon Babb
18
7K
Jason Krohn
Rodney Sanders
20x
28e
Dennis Erb Jr.
Billy Moyer
21
71
Hudson O’Neal
Tim McCreadie
39
56
Tony Jackson Jr.
Kyle Bronson
40B
25z
Mason Zeigler
B-Main 1 – 1st Place
19th
20th
B-Main 2 – 1st Place
B-Main 1 – 2nd Place
21st
22nd
B-Main 2 – 2nd Place
B-Main 1 – 3rd Place
23rd
24th
B-Main 2 – 3rd Place
LOLMDS Provisional
25th
26th
LOLMDS Provisional
MLRA Provisional
27th
28th
MLRA Provisional
I-80 Provisional – 1
29th
30th
I-80 Provisional – 2
Belt Bash – 1st Place
31st
32nd
Belt Bash – 2nd Place
Belt Bash – 3rd Place
33rd