Earl Pearson Wires The Field For Hard Fought Win At Boyd’s Speedway
Story By: LONNIE WHEATLEY / LUCAS LATE MODEL SERIES MEDIA
Photos By: HEATH LAWSON / RACERSGUIDE.COM
RINGGOLD, GA- April 1, 2017 – Earl Pearson Jr. led all 50 laps on Friday night at Boyd’s Speedway to win his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series race since May of 2015. The results will show Pearson led all 50 laps but the win never came easy as he had several challengers up front.
Current Lucas Oil point leader, Josh Richards charged from the 14th starting position to finish second in the Best Performance Motorsports, Dargie Racing Engines, Rocket. Jimmy Owens – in the Ramirez Motorsports, E3 Spark Plugs, Rocket – ran in the top three the entire race to finish in the third position. Thirteenth starting Tim McCreadie – in the Sweeteners Plus, Pro Power Racing Engines, Longhorn – finished fourth. Fifteenth place starter Darrell Lanigan – in the I-Racing, Clint Bowyer Racing, Club 29 – completed the top five.
Pearson made his way to Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the 31st time in his career and was elated afterwards, “I saw McIntosh early on, it looked like he could run anywhere on the track. Jimmy [Owens] was good tonight and Josh, [Richards] I know he came from deep in the pack. I was worried about him when he came to the leader board.”
“I just kept my line from the middle to the top. They weren’t going to pass me with the line I was running, except maybe on the bottom. This is a brand-new Longhorn Chassis. Everybody has been working their rear ends off and it’s been a long-time coming to get back to Lucas Oil Victory Lane. I would also like to thank Carlton and Kemp Lamm for giving me the opportunity to drive their car and Dunn-Benson Ford, Lucas Oil Racing TV, MAVTV, Penske Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuel, and Larry Wallace Racing Engines.”
Richards made his first ever appearance at Boyd’s Speedway and charged to a second place finish. “Earl and those guys did a great job tonight, congrats to them on the win. I had never seen this track until I got here today. I had seen maybe 20 seconds of highlights. I felt like I struggled for the whole race, we must have missed about 14 wrecks out there to get a good finish.”
Owens had another solid finish – coming home in third place. “I tried to keep my tires warm under those cautions and that was probably a bad idea. McIntosh had a good car and I could see him spinning his tires and they were sealing over and Earl’s weren’t. Hats-off to Earl for a great job and to Josh for coming from the back.”
Completing the top ten were Scott Bloomquist, Dale McDowell, Donald McIntosh, Jonathan Davenport and Brandon Overton.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Friday, March 31, 2017
Boyd’s Speedway – Ringgold, GA
Miller Welders Fast Time Group A: Earl Pearson Jr. / 13.981 seconds
Miller Welders Fast Time Group B: Donald McIntosh / 13.947 seconds
Eibach Springs Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Earl Pearson, Jr., Michael Page, Dale McDowell, Tim McCreadie, Shanon Buckingham, Steve Francis, Boom Briggs, Colton Flinner
FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jimmy Owens, Jonathan Davenport, Derek Ellis, Darrell Lanigan, Bob Gardner, Billy Ogle Jr., Jason Croft, Riley Hickman
Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Donald McIntosh, Scott Bloomquist, Jason Hiett, Josh Richards, David Breazeale, Robby Moses, Dennis Erb, Jr., GR Smith
QA1 Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Don O’Neal, Mike Marlar, Brandon Overton, Hudson O’Neal, Gregg Satterlee, Jason Fitzgerald, Timothy Culp, Austin Arnold
Penske Racing Shocks B-Main #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Shanon Buckingham, Steve Francis, Boom Briggs, Bob Gardner, Billy Ogle Jr., Jason Croft, Colton Flinner, Riley Hickman
Fast Shafts B-Main #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Gregg Satterlee, David Breazeale, Timothy Culp, Dennis Erb, Jr., Jason Fitzgerald, Austin Arnold, Robby Moses, GR Smith
Feature Finish (50 Laps):
FINISH START CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN EARNINGS
1 1 1 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL $10,900
2 14 1R Josh Richards Shinnston, WV $6,300
3 3 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN $3,500
4 13 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY $4,300
5 15 14 Darrell Lanigan Union, KY $2,950
6 6 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN $2,800
7 9 17m Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA $1,500
8 2 7m Donald McIntosh Dawsonville, GA $1,300
9 7 49 Jonathan Davenport Williamson, SC $2,000
10 12 116 Brandon Overton Evans, GA $1,100
11 23 28E Dennis Erb, Jr. Carpentersville, IL $1,775
12 19 15 Steve Francis Bowling Green, KY $1,750
13 8 157 Mike Marlar Winfield, TN $1,025
14 18 22 Gregg Satterlee Rochester Mills, PA $1,700
15 20 54 David Breazeale Starkville, MS $950
16 10 1J Jason Hiett Oxford, AL $925
17 21 99B Boom Briggs Bear Lake, PA $900
18 24 75 Colton Flinner Allison Park, PA $1,575
19 22 C8 Timothy Culp Prattsville, AR $850
20 16 71 Hudson O’Neal Martinsville, IN $825
21 5 18x Michael Page Villa Rica, GA $800
22 11 99 Derek Ellis Chatsworth, GA $800
23 4 5 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN $1,600
24 17 50 Shanon Buckingham Morristown, TN $800
Race Statistics
Entrants: 32
Lap Leaders: Earl Pearson Jr. (Laps 1 – 50)
Cautions: Derek Ellis (Lap 1); Mike Marlar (Lap 1); Jason Hiett (Lap 19); Jonathan Davenport, Shanon Buckingham, Don O’Neal, Mike Marlar (Lap 19); Jason Hiett (Lap 30); Michael Page (Lap 33); Hudson O’Neal (Lap 39)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Dennis Erb Jr., Colton Flinner
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: n/a
Wrisco Feature Winner: Josh Richards
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Josh Richards (Started: 14th; Finished: 2nd; Advanced 12 Positions)
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Josh Richards
Allstar Performance Power Move of the Race: David Breazeale
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Earl Pearson Jr.
Hot Rod Processing Rookie of the Race: n/a
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Larry Wallace Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn Chassis
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Taylon Center (Earl Pearson Jr.)
Fastest Lap of the Race: Jimmy Owens (Lap #3 – 14.925 seconds)
Safecraft Most Laps Led: Earl Pearson Jr. (50 Laps)
PFC Brakes Pole Award: Earl Pearson Jr.
Time of Race: 41 minutes 59 seconds
Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:
POS CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN POINTS EARNINGS
1 1R Josh Richards Shinnston, WV 1100 $37,150
2 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 1055 $29,100
3 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY 1030 $25,250
4 49 Jonathan Davenport Williamson, SC 1010 $14,700
5 1 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL 970 $24,350
6 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN 935 $16,450
7 14 Darrell Lanigan Union, KY 835 $10,500
8 28E Dennis Erb, Jr. Carpentersville, IL 830 $12,600
9 5 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN 775 $12,675
10 15 Steve Francis Bowling Green, KY 765 $9,150
11 99B Boom Briggs Bear Lake, PA 745 $5,100
12 71 Hudson O’Neal Martinsville, IN 720 $6,475
13 7m Donald McIntosh Dawsonville, GA 685 $3,375
14 116 Brandon Overton Evans, GA 660 $14,800
15 22 Gregg Satterlee Rochester Mills, PA 640 $5,650
16 75 Colton Flinner Allison Park, PA 635 $5,225
17 1S Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL 625 $20,675
18 22* GR Smith Statesville, NC 600 $3,025
19 C8 Timothy Culp Prattsville, AR 575 $2,250
*Points are unofficial until Close of Business on the Tuesday following Race Day*
For the latest breaking news concerning the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, including the latest series standings, 2017 tour schedule, driver information, and more visit the official website at: www.lucasdirt.com.
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Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Official Sponsors Include:
ASi Racewear – “The Official Merchandise Vendor” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Bad Boy Mowers – “The Official Mower” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Dunn Benson Ford – “The Official Pace Truck” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
E3 Spark Plugs – “The Official Spark Plug” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Fast Orange – “The Official Hand Cleaner” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
GEICO – “The Official Insurance” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
General Tire – “The Official Tire” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Hoosier Tire – “The Official Race Tire” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
K&N Engineering – “Official Sponsor” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Lucas Oil Products – “The Official Oil” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Lucas Oil Racing TV – “Official Sponsor” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
MAVTV Motorsports Network – “The Official TV Network” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Miller Welders – “The Official Welder” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Nitro-Bee PLUS – “The Official Race Receiver” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Optima Batteries – “The Official Battery” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
ProtectTheHarvest.com – “Official Sponsor” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Ram Mounts – “Official Sponsor” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
RhinoAg – “Official Sponsor” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Rugged Radios – “The Official Communications” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Safecraft – “The Official Fire Suppression System” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Sunoco Race Fuels – “The Official Fuel” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Spray Nine – “Official Sponsor” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Super Clean – “Official Sponsor” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
United Rentals – “Official Sponsor” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Wrisco Aluminum – “Official Sponsor” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Zotto – “Official Sponsor” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Marketing Partners Include:
Allstar Performance, Andy Durham Race Engines, AR Bodies, Black Diamond Chassis, Sweet-Bloomquist Race Cars, BRODIX, Capital Race Cars, COMP Cams, Cornett Racing Engines, CV Products, DirtonDirt.com, Earnhardt Technologies Group, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, FK Rod Ends, Heath Lawson Photography, Hot Rod Processing, JRi Shocks, Keyser MFG, Longhorn Chassis, Midwest Sheet Metal, Öhlins Shocks, Outerwears, Performance Bodies, Penske Shocks, PFC Brakes, Pierce Race Cars, Pro Power Racing Engines, QA1, Rocket Chassis, Simpson Race Products, Sweet Manufacturing, Wallace Engines, WELD Racing, 5150 Race Trailers
