Lucas Oil Series: Points Battle Will Go To the Wire After Owens Win at
Rome
James
Essex
ROME, Ga. – Oct. 9. The championship points battle underwent another shakeup Sunday night as Jimmy Owens
of Newport, Tenn. inherited the lead on lap 37 when smoke began heavily barreling out race leader Scott
Bloomquist’s car, then then led the rest of the way for his first ever win at Rome Speedway.
More importantly for Owens, he retook the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series championship points by 50
heading into the season ending U.S. Steel "Dirt Track World Championship" at KC Raceway next weekend. Dale
McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga. finished second, followed by Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., Don O’Neal of
Martinsville, Ind., and Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla.
Bloomquist started on the outside of the front row alongside 15-year-old Tyler Reddick.
Bloomquist bolted to a quick early lead with McDowell, Smith, and Owens trailing. Bloomquist built a
good-sized lead just ten laps into the 50-lap event.
The first caution of the race came out on lap 25 for Eric Wells, and on the restart, Bloomquist opened up
a healthy advantage over McDowell. Owens took over the second slot on lap 26. With 20 to go in the race
Bloomquist had built nearly a straightaway lead over Owens as a torrid battle for third was going on between
McDowell, Smith, and O’Neal.
Bloomquist continued to be solid as he was looking to sweep the LOLMDS weekend in Georgia, having
captured Saturday's "Dixie Shootout". Bloomquist’ car started to smoke as he was just about to enter
heavy lapped traffic again. He then started to slow as heavy smoke was pouring from his car, and he
eventually stopped on the track, bringing out the next caution.
Bloomquist headed pitside as it was apparent that there was a terminal problem. Owens inherited the
top spot with 13 laps to go. He then pulled away from a terrific finish for second between three
drivers.
In Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the 29th time in his career, Owens set himself up for his first LOLMDS
title. “Scott had a good car, you know we hate to see that happen to anybody, but we’ll take it anyway we
can get it,” said the 39-year old driver of the Mike Reece owned number 20.
“You have got to be there at the end to make it count, hats off to my crew, Chris (Fox) made a good
decision on tires tonight. We were pretty good there at the end, and we look forward to heading into next
weekend in Ohio, both of us have had a great year. It’s going to come down to one race, he’s been plagued by
things that normally get us, it’s all good. I’m glad to have all these fans here to cheer for us.”
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Scott James battles #13 Barry Doss in heat race action at Florence (Ky.) Speedway, but in the $2,000-to-win feature, the only thing anyone saw was the tail end of James' #81 car. (Roy Walker)
After plenty of trash-talking via the electronic media between Jeff Matthews and Ivedent Lloyd last week, it was #21 Lloyd who got the final word as he reeled in #33 Matthews to win Friday's LM feature at Oclala, Fla.'s Bubba Raceway Park. (R.E. Wing)
Fans at Markleysburg, Pa.'s Roaring Knob Motorsports Comlex were treated to dual LM features Saturday - one a makeup from a May 5th rainout. (Above) Tim Senic challenges eventual regular feature winner Chuck Harper, while Jared Hawkins (below) claimed the makeup race. (Tommy Micheals)
Henley, Missouri's Jason Russell leads the way to Victory Lane in the ULMS Late Model feature at Lucas Oil Speedway Saturday. (Chris Bork)
Some fierce racing action at Lucas Oil speedway. (Chris Bork)
Dalton, Ga.'s Craig Reece returned to Dixie Speedway Saturday and led all the way to win the Crate LM victory. (Steve Hixson)
Ray Guss Jr. races last week's Quad City Speedway winner, Mike Murphy, Jr. This time, it was advantage Guss. (Chris Damitz)
With a strong motor back into his mount, Veteran Lamar Scoggins claimed last Friday's Crate LM victory at Boyd's Speedway. (Steve Hixson)
Veteran racer Lance Matthees navigates Spring Lake, Minnesota's Deer Creek Speedway before taking Saturday's WISSOTA Late Model checkers. (Jason Durst)
Racing hard at mid-pack, it's the dueling 55s of Cory Mahder (inside) and Greg Nippoldt at Deer Creek. (Jason Durst)
Ryan King (above and below) swept both the Ltd. Late Model and Crate Late Model features Saturday at 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, Tenn. (Chad Wells)
Still riding his wave in Iowa, Mike Murphy, Jr. in early action before taking the main event win at Davenport last Friday. (Chris Damitz)
Jason Jameson ran a gauntlet to finally capture another win Friday night at Moler
Raceway Park (see main page). (Roy
Walker)
After holding back a charge from Alex Ferree, Chub Frank drove home with a Friday night win at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa. (John Stivason)
Bobby Pierce, Brett Sievert, and Mike Glynn race in a tight pack in Kankakee (Ill.) Speedway's "Crosstown Cup", but (below) it was ultimately Shawn Toczek (42) here racing the high side of Mike Provenzano, who sailed to the win. (Dan Simpson)
A-Team Leaders from 1997-2011 (Click on link for complete rundown)
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