Owens Holds Off Richards at Tri-City

Owens Holds Off Richards at Tri-City

Story By: Jeremy Shields/LOLMDS

Photos By: Heath Lawson/LOLMDS

GRANITE CITY, Ill. (July 12, 2019) – Jimmy Owens fought off challenges from both Shannon Babb and Josh Richards to win the NAPA Know How 50 – Presented by Schoenfeld Headers on Friday night at Tri-City Speedway.

Owens earned his first-ever win at the Kevin and Tammy Gundaker-promoted facility. It was Owens’ second Lucas Oil win of the season and the 62nd of his career for the 3-time national champion.

Owens held the point for the first 11 laps of the race until Babb forged ahead for a lap. Owens and Babb went back-and-forth until just past the half-way mark of the race. Babb held the second spot until he suddenly slowed on the 32nd lap and retired from the race.

Richards picked up the challenge for the lead as he pulled even with Owens on several occasions, but never managed to take the top spot. Earl Pearson Jr. charged by Richards to take the runner-up position on the final lap. Pearson and Richards joined Owens on the podium as Stormy Scott recorded his best career series finish by taking fourth ahead of 23rd starting Devin Moran, rounding out the top five.

“I want to thank all of my crew, my car owner Leon Ramirez and his family for giving me this opportunity to drive their car. Thanks to the fans for coming I hope they enjoyed the show. This will give us a lot of momentum heading to Wheatland tomorrow night. We have been leading a lot this year and things have happened. We had a good car last night. We made a few tweaks for tonight and everything went our way.”

Pearson topped off a spirited run with his last lap pass of Richards. “I got too tight around the bottom, so I went to the top. I could run right through the middle and the car wasn’t so tight. To come home second after starting 15th,we worked hard to get there. I really love this track; it’s been good to us in the past. It races so good.”

Richards, who came into the weekend with back-to-back second place finishes was pleased with his third-place run. “Last night we got into the tire barrier and it cost us a good finish. I felt like tonight I should have moved up sooner. Jimmy had a good car. I felt like I could have got him, but he was just better tonight.”

The winner’s Leon Ramirez-owned, Rocket Chassis is powered by a Durham Racing Engine and sponsored by: Rhino Ag, Boomtest Well Service, Reece Monument Company, Tommy Pope Construction, FK Rod Ends, Red Line Oil, Sunoco Race Fuels, and Midwest Sheet Metal.

Completing the top ten were Tim McCreadie, Michael Norris, Gordy Gundaker, Scott Bloomquist, and Hudson O’Neal.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Friday, July 12, 2019
NAPA Know How 50 – Presented by Schoenfeld Headers
Tri-City Speedway – Granite City, Ill.

Miller Welders Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Billy Moyer Jr. / 15.294 seconds
Fast Time Group B: Scott Bloomquist / 15.193 seconds (overall)

Penske Race Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jimmy Owens, Gordy Gundaker, Billy Moyer, Jr., Tim McCreadie, Rick Eckert, Jesse Stovall, Rick Salter, Daryn Klein-DNS

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Shannon Babb, Josh Richards, Michael Kloos, Earl Pearson, Jr., Tyler Erb ®, Billy Moyer, Kyle Bronson, Reid Millard-DNS

Simpson Race Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jonathan Davenport, Scott Bloomquist, Hudson O’Neal, Mike Marlar, Austin Rettig, Dewayne Kiefer, Steve Casebolt , Devin Moran ®-DNS

Lucas Oil Products Penetrating Oil Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Stormy Scott, Michael Norris, Shanon Buckingham, Tony Jackson, Jr., Chris Simpson, Jeff Herzog, Jeremy Conaway, Mike Hammerle

Lucas Oil Products Red “N” Tacky Spray Grease B-Main #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Tyler Erb ®, Rick Eckert, Billy Moyer, Kyle Bronson, Jesse Stovall, Daryn Klein, Rick Salter-DNS, Reid Millard-DNS

FAST Shafts B-Main #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Austin Rettig, Chris Simpson, Jeremy Conaway, Steve Casebolt , Dewayne Kiefer, Mike Hammerle, Devin Moran ®, Jeff Herzog

Lucas Oil Feature Finish (50 Laps):
FINISH
START
CAR #
DRIVER NAME
HOMETOWN
EARNINGS
1
1
20
Jimmy Owens
Newport, TN
$12,800
2
15
1
Earl Pearson, Jr.
Jacksonville, FL
$6,300
3
7
14
Josh Richards
Shinnston, WV
$4,300
4
4
2s
Stormy Scott
Las Cruses, NM
$3,450
5
23
1M
Devin Moran ®
Dresden, OH
$3,050
6
13
39
Tim McCreadie
Watertown, NY
$2,500
7
8
5
Michael Norris
Sarver, PA
$1,500
8
5
11G
Gordy Gundaker
St. Charles, MO
$1,300
9
6
0
Scott Bloomquist
Mooresburg, TN
$1,200
10
10
71
Hudson O’Neal
Martinsville, IN
$1,800
11
12
50
Shanon Buckingham
Morristown, TN
$1,775
12
19
2e
Rick Eckert
York, PA
$1,050
13
14
157
Mike Marlar
Winfield, TN
$1,025
14
24
40B
Kyle Bronson
Brandon, FL
$1,700
15
17
1T
Tyler Erb ®
New Waverly, TX
$1,700
16
2
49
Jonathan Davenport
Blairsville, GA
$2,100
17
9
21JR
Billy Moyer, Jr.
Batesville, AR
$1,700
18
18
94
Austin Rettig
Sikeston, MO
$1,000
19
3
18
Shannon Babb
Mowequa, IL
$1,000
20
22
F15
Jeremy Conaway
Rochester, IL
$1,000
21
20
32
Chris Simpson
Oxford, IA
$1,000
22
21
21
Billy Moyer
Batesville, AR
$1,000
23
16
56
Tony Jackson, Jr.
Lebanon, MO
$1,000
24
25
10K
Daryn Klein
Fairview Height, IL
$1,000
25
11
6K
Michael Kloos
Trenton, IL
$1,000

Race Statistics
Entrants: 31
Lap Leaders: Jimmy Owens (Laps 1 – 11); Shannon Babb (Laps 12 – 13); Jimmy Owens (Lap 14); Shannon Babb (Lap 15); Jimmy Owens (Laps 16 – 23); Shannon Babb (Laps 24 – 25); Jimmy Owens (Laps 26 – 50)
Wrisco Feature Winner: Jimmy Owens
Margin of Victory: 1.986 seconds
Cautions: Shannon Buckingham (Lap 11); Jeremy Conaway (Lap 20); Shannon Babb (Lap 32); Debris (Lap 32)
Series Provisionals: Devin Moran, Kyle Bronson
Tri-City Speedway Track Provisionals: Daryn Klein
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Devin Moran (Advanced 18 Positions)
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Jonathan Davenport
Allstar Performance Power Move of the Race: Tim McCreadie
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Jimmy Owens
Eibach Springs Rookie of the Race: Devin Moran
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Durham Race Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Rocket Chassis
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Jeff Strope (Jimmy Owens)
Dirty Girl Racewear Fastest Lap of the Race: Jimmy Owens (Lap #1 – 16.370 seconds)
Hot Rod Processing Tough Break of the Race: Shannon Babb
STEEL-IT Most Laps Led: Jimmy Owens ( 45Laps)
PFC Brakes Pole Award: Jimmy Owens
Time of Race: 26 minutes 48 seconds