FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

GAFFNEY, SC (July 8, 2016) - Scott Bloomquist won his third straight Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event on Friday Night at Cherokee Speedway by leading all but one lap of the main event. After a 4-hour rain delay, the standing room only crowd saw Bloomquist take the win in the Grassy Smith Memorial, also marking his 70th career LOLMDS win.

Casey Roberts came home in second, followed by Johnny Pursley, Brandon Sheppard, and 18th-starting Jonathan Davenport.

Chris Madden managed to lead lap 18, marking the only lead change throughout the long battle between himself and Bloomquist. Madden took the lead in heavy traffic much to the pleasure of his home-track crowd, but under the ensuing caution Madden's right rear tire went flat and he was forced to pit. He never returned to the track.

"I know we have finished later at some tracks," said the winner after the race that ended at about 3:20 am local time. "At the start, I kind of just settled in on the bottom. I really couldn't see where the cushion was. I think we were still fast enough and could have gotten it done."

"The track crew did a good job getting the track back into shape. It's tough getting that initial glaze off the track. Once we started back up again it was good. The track was smooth; you could race all over it. We stayed up high most of the race and when we went down low, it was no problem."

"This Sweet-Bloomquist car ran superbly. The Andy Durham engine ran great as well. I would like to thank Mike Reece of Reece Monument Company, Crop Production Services, Mark Martin Automotive, Horton Coal, Sorbera Chiropractic, Petroff Towing, Dyna Gro Seed, and Penske Shocks."

Roberts and Pursley tried their best after several caution flags to stay with Bloomquist, but both drivers were pleased with their podium finishes.

"I probably had a third place car here tonight," said Roberts. "The track was super-fast after the rain. It was really smooth. They did a good job getting it back in shape. It was a really good race early-on with Scott, Chris, and Johnny. Our car worked better on the bottom, but Scott was just too tough. We are happy with second and we will head to Smoky Mountain tomorrow and see what we can do."

It was the best career LOLMDS finish for the home-state driver Pursley as he held off a torrid battle with Brandon Sheppard to place third. "To be able to stick with these guys tonight says a lot about our team. We sometimes struggle here. But tonight we had a car that ran third against this caliber of drivers that was an honor. I have been coming here a long time and that was the biggest crowd I think I have ever seen here."

Completing the top ten were Brett Hamm, Dennis Erb Jr., Steve Francis, Chris Ferguson and Don O'Neal.

In preliminary action, Scott Bloomquist set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time amongst the 26 entrants with a lap of 14.804 seconds. Scott Bloomquist, Chris Madden, and Casey Roberts won their respective heat races. Donald Bradsher won the B-Main.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, including the latest series standings, 2016 tour schedule, driver information, and more visit the official website at: www.lucasdirt.com.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Friday, July 8th, 2016
18th Annual Grassy Smith Memorial
Cherokee Speedway - Gaffney, SC

Miller Welders Fast Time Group A: Scott Bloomquist / 14.804 seconds
Miller Welders Fast Time Group B: Brett Hamm / 15.222 seconds

Eibach Springs Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Scott Bloomquist, Johnny Pursley, Ross Bailes, Steve Francis, Dennis Erb, Jr., Earl Pearson, Jr., Donald Bradsher, Josh Langley, Dustin Mitchell

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Chris Madden, Brett Hamm, Brandon Sheppard, Jimmy Owens, Don O'Neal, Tim McCreadie, Jared Landers, Anthony Sanders, Colton Flinner

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Casey Roberts, GR Smith, Dennis Franklin, Chris Ferguson, Darrell Lanigan, Jonathan Davenport, Doug Sanders, Kenny Collins

Fast Shafts B-Main Finish (12 Laps, Top 6 Transfer): Donald Bradsher, Jared Landers, Anthony Sanders, Josh Langley, Kenny Collins, Dustin Mitchell, Colton Flinner, Doug Sanders

Feature Finish (50 Laps):


FINISH

START

CAR #

DRIVER NAME

HOMETOWN

EARNINGS

1

1

0

Scott Bloomquist

Mooresburg, TN

$11,000

2

3

101

Casey Roberts

Toccoa, GA

$5,500

3

4

09

Johnny Pursley

Clover, SC

$3,500

4

8

B5

Brandon Sheppard

New Berlin, IL

$3,450

5

18

6

Jonathan Davenport

Mount Airy, NC

$3,250

6

5

18

Brett Hamm

Newberry, SC

$1,800

7

13

28E

Dennis Erb, Jr.

Carpentersville, IL

$2,200

8

10

15F

Steve Francis

Bowling Green, KY

$1,300

9

12

22F

Chris Ferguson

Mount Holly, NC

$1,200

10

14

5

Don O'Neal

Martinsville, IN

$1,900

11

17

39

Tim McCreadie

Watertown, NY

$1,775

12

21

421

Anthony Sanders

Spartanburg, SC

$1,050

13

15

15L

Darrell Lanigan

Union, KY

$1,725

14

19

93

Donald Bradsher

Burlington, NC

$1,000

15

7

87

Ross Bailes

Clover, SC

$950

16

11

20

Jimmy Owens

Newport, TN

$1,725

17

23

75

Colton Flinner

Allison Park, PA

$1,000

18

24

42

Doug Sanders

McAdenville, NC

$875

19

20

777

Jared Landers

Batesville, AR

$1,550

20

6

22*

GR Smith

Statesville, NC

$825

21

2

44

Chris Madden

Gaffney, SC

$800

22

9

2F

Dennis Franklin

Gaffney, SC

$800

23

22

7L

Josh Langley

Lancaster, SC

$800

24

16

1

Earl Pearson, Jr.

Jacksonville, FL

$1,600

Race Statistics
Entrants: 26
Lap Leaders: Scott Bloomquist (1-17); Chris Madden (Lap 18); Scott Bloomquist (Laps 19 - 50)
Cautions: Earl Pearson Jr. (Lap 1); Ross Bailes (Lap 18); Chris Ferguson (Lap 20); Jared Landers (Lap 22); Jared Landers (Lap 31)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Colton Flinner
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: n/a
Miller Welders Fast Time Provisional: Doug Sanders
Wrisco Feature Winner: Scott Bloomquist
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Jonathan Davenport (Started: 18th; Finished: 5th; Advanced 13 Positions)
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Scott Bloomquist
Allstar Performance Power Move of the Race: Chris Ferguson
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Jonathan Davenport
Hot Rod Processing Rookie of the Race: Colton Flinner
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Andy Durham Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Sweet-Bloomquist Race Cars
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Kevin Rumley (Jonathan Davenport)
Fastest Lap of the Race: Scott Bloomquist (Lap #5 - 15.1154 seconds)
Most Laps Led: Scott Bloomquist (49 Laps)
PFC Brakes Tough Break Award: Chris Madden
Time of Race: 38 minutes 12 seconds

Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:


POS

CAR #

DRIVER NAME

HOMETOWN

POINTS

EARNINGS

1

0

Scott Bloomquist

Mooresburg, TN

4420

$204,425

2

6

Jonathan Davenport

Mount Airy, NC

4260

$146,500

3

777

Jared Landers

Batesville, AR

3955

$81,025

4

B5

Brandon Sheppard

New Berlin, IL

3950

$74,975

5

39

Tim McCreadie

Watertown, NY

3820

$61,875

6

15L

Darrell Lanigan

Union, KY

3780

$63,925

7

28E

Dennis Erb, Jr.

Carpentersville, IL

3750

$56,275

8

5

Don O'Neal

Martinsville, IN

3680

$63,675

9

20

Jimmy Owens

Newport, TN

3670

$92,950

10

15F

Steve Francis

Bowling Green, KY

3455

$41,625

11

1

Earl Pearson, Jr.

Jacksonville, FL

3440

$55,575

12

75

Colton Flinner

Allison Park, PA

2475

$16,425

*Points are unofficial until Close of Business on the Tuesday following Race Day*