Birkhofer Best in Silver Dollar Nationals at I-80 Speedway

GREENWWOD, NE (July 21, 2012) - Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA completed a perfect weekend at I-80 Speedway, taking home the Second Annual Silver Dollar Nationals on Saturday Night. He earned $26,000 for his victory in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and Lucas Oil MLRA sanctioned event. Birkhofer dominated the race after taking the lead from Billy Moyer of Batesville, AR on lap 11.

Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN got around Steve Francis of Ashland, KY with five laps to go, to finish second. Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN came from 16th to finish fourth. Last year's Silver Dollar Nationals winner, Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN finished fifth.

Birkhofer earned more passing points than anyone in Friday Night's preliminary action and started on the pol, then bolted to an early lead. Moyer challenged Birkhofer for the lead, briefly taking the top spot away on lap six. Moyer and Birkhofer then exchanged the lead over the next five circuits with Birkhofer pulling ahead with 11 laps scored.

O'Neal took over the second spot from Moyer and stayed there until Francis passed him on lap 39. Francis and O'Neal then battled again for several circuits for second with Francis finally clearing O'Neal on lap 50. Birkhofer had built a huge lead over the field when a caution came out with 51 laps complete.

With 29 laps remaining, Owens was the car on the move. He made his way through the field and he climbed to third on lap 53, and then challenged Francis for several more laps all while Birkhofer powered to a straightaway lead over the field. Bloomquist, who started seventh, was then able to get by Owens with ten laps to go and he set his sights on Francis. Bloomquist tracked down Francis, taking the runner-up position on lap 75.

"Those restarts were something else, the car was either too tight or too free, depending on where I was on the track, O'Neal got a run on me down the backstretch and I didn't see him and then we made contact. It moved me up the track and the car for whatever reason felt better, I don't know about the lapped cars, they raced me hard the whole time, it seemed, but they are out there doing their job trying to make a dollar."

"I can't thank Zach and T-Ray enough; I want to thank the Kosiski's. I think they have a jewel of a race track here, if someone doesn't like coming here to race, they don't know what racing is like," said the 40-year-old driver, who earned his 15th career LOLMDS victory in his Zens Flooring, ASi Racewear, J&J Steel, Cheap Cars sponsored MB Customs Chassis with a Pro Power Racing Engine.

Birkhofer survived a scary moment in the last ten laps of the race when he made contact with the lapped car of Jonathan Davenport. "Yes I got in there a little hot and I got into him, I was worried that I might cut down a tire or something, but apparently not, that was my fault, but I was trying to protect the lead, I didn't know how much I was out in front, it could have cost us."

Completing the top ten were Moyer; Chris Simpson of Oxford, IA; Tyler Reddick of Corning, CA; John Blankenship of Williamson, WV; and Terry Phillips of Springfield, MO.

In preliminary action, Jimmy Owens, Eric Wells, Steve Francis, Tyler Reddick, and Brian Birkhofer won their respective heat races in the first round. Billy Moyer, Brian Birkhofer, Tyler Reddick, Chris Simpson, and Don O'Neal won their respective heat races in the second round. Earl Pearson Jr. and Will Vaught won their respective B-Mains.

Tomorrow night, July 21st, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series caps off the "2nd Annual Silver Dollar Nationals" at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, NE. The drivers meeting will take place at 7:00PM, Hot Laps will follow at 7:20PM, and B-Mains will begin at 8:00PM, followed by the 12-lap Al Belt Custom Homes Builders Bash for the non-qualifiers. The 80-Lap Silver Dollar Nationals main event will top off another night of action packed racing at the Joe Kosiski-promoted facility.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com and be sure to follow the series at www.facebook.com/lucasdirt and www.twitter.com/#!/lucasdirt.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Fri Night, July 20th, 2012
"2nd Annual Silver Dollar Nationals"
I-80 Speedway - Greenwood, NE

Round 1 - Wiles Driveshafts First Heat (11 Laps): Jimmy Owens, Scott Bloomquist, Jimmy Mars, Dave Eckrich, Earl Pearson Jr., Mark Dotson, Ryan Gustin, Brian Kenkel

Round 1 - U. S. Steel Second Heat (11 Laps): Eric Wells, Terry Phillips, Denny Eckrich, Chris Simpson, Eric Turner, John Anderson, Jonathan Davenport, Rob Moss, Mike Stadel

Round 1 - Simpson Performance Products Third Heat (11 Laps): Steve Francis, Tommy Weder, Kyle Berck, Chris Spieker, Bill Koons, Scott Lewis, Junior Coover, Michael Walker, Alonzo Grosse

Round 1 - HAWK Brakes Fourth Heat (11 Laps): Tyler Reddick, Don O'Neal, Bill Leighton Jr., John Blankenship, Travis Dickes, Corey Zeitner, Mike Wiarda, Mike Collins, Steve Kempt

Round 1 - Wiles Driveshafts Fifth Heat (11 Laps): Brian Birkhofer, Billy Moyer, Will Vaught, Chad Simpson, Jared Landers, Wendell Wallace, Justin Zeitner, Jason O'Brien, Kevin Sather

Round 2 - Wiles Driveshafts First Heat (10 Laps): Billy Moyer, Steve Francis, Earl Pearson Jr., Rob Moss, Mike Collins, Will Vaught, Mike Stadel, Michael Walker, Ryan Gustin-DNS

Round 2 - U. S. Steel Second Heat (11 Laps): Brian Birkhofer, Scott Bloomquist, John Anderson, Travis Dickes, Eric Wells, Wendell Wallace, Mike Wiarda, Tommy Weder, Brian Krenkel

Round 2 - Simpson Performance Products Third Heat (11 Laps): Tyler Reddick, John Blankenship, Chris Spieker, Dave Eckrich, Justin Zeitner, Denny Eckrich, Jimmy Owens, Kevin Sather, Alonzo Grosse

Round 2 - HAWK Brakes Fourth Heat (11 Laps): Chris Simpson, Terry Phillips, Mark Dotson, Jason O'Brien, Kyle Berck, Corey Zeitner, Junior Coover, Steve Kempt, Jared Landers

Round 2 - Wiles Driveshafts Fifth Heat (11 Laps): Don O'Neal, Chad Simpson, Tim Isenberg, Jonathan Davenport, Bill Leighton Jr., Jimmy Mars, Eric Turner, Scott Lewis, Bill Koons

JRi Shocks First B-Main (16 Laps - Top 3 Transfer): Earl Pearson Jr., Jared Landers, Dave Eckrich, Mike Collins, Justin Zeitner, Mike Wiarda, Steve Kempt, Michael Walker, Travis Dickes, Kevin Sather, Rob Moss, Corey Zeitner, Alonzo Grosse, Mark Dotson

PAC Racing Springs Second B-Main (14 Laps - Top 3 Transfer): Will Vaught, John Anderson, Tommy Weder, Jonathan Davenport, Eric Turner, Bill Koons, Brian Krenkel, Mike Stadel, Scott Lewis, Junior Coover, Wendell Wallace, Jason O'Brien

Al Belt Custom Homes Builders Non-Qualifiers Bash (12 Laps): Bill Koons, Scott Lewis, Steve Kempt, Brian Krenkel, Corey Zeitner, Junior Coover, Mike Stadel, Michael Walker

Feature Finish - 80 Laps

Race Statistics
Entrants: 45
Lap Leaders: Brian Birkhofer (Laps 1 - 5); Billy Moyer (Lap 6); Brian Birkhofer (Lap 7); Billy Moyer (Laps 8 - 10); Brian Birkhofer (Laps 11 - 80)
Caution Flags: Jared Landers, John Anderson (Lap 1); Dave Eckrich (Lap 40: Wendell Wallace (Lap 51)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Jonathan Davenport, Wendell Wallace
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisional: none
Lucas Oil MLRA Series Provisionals: Mark Dotson, Kevin Sather
I-80 Speedway Track Provisionals: Travis Dickes, Justin Zeitner, Mike Collins, Robb Moss, Jason O'Brien, Mike Wiarda, Eric Turner
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Jimmy Owens (Started 16th; Finished 4th; Advanced 12 positions)
Allstar Performer of the Race: Scott Bloomquist
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Jimmy Owens
ASi Racewear Challenge Finisher: Brian Birkhofer
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Jonathan Davenport
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Pro Power Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Bloomquist Race Cars
Sweet Mfg Crew Chief of the Race: Zack Frields (Brian Birkhofer)
Traeger Grills Bonus (Most Points at Diamond Nationals and Silver Dollar Nationals): Jimmy Owens
Time of Race: 44 minutes 23 seconds

Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:

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

Related Links 

2012 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Tour Schedule 

2012 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series TV Schedule 

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Lucas Oil Products

MAVTV
   

2012 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Sponsors
    
ASI Racewear - "The Official Merchandise Vendor" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
      
Canidae Pet Foods - "The Official Pet Foods" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series     

DART Machinery - "The Official Engine Components" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series     

E3 Spark Plugs - "The Official Spark Plug" 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
   
Lucas Oil Products - "The Official Oil" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series 
MAVTV - "The Official TV Network" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series   
Optima Batteries - "The Official Battery" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
     
Speedco - "The Official Truck Lube and Tire Center" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series       

Sunoco Race Fuels - "The Official Fuel" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

U. S. Steel - "The Official Steel Manufacturer" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
 
2012 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Supporters Include:

Allstar Performance, American Racer, Banshee Graphics, Barry Wright Race Cars, Bloomquist Race Cars, COMP Cams, Chizmark Larson Insurance, Cornett Racing Engines,Crawford Supply, CV Products, DirtonDirt.com, Dunn-Benson Ford, Dyers Top Rods, Edlebrock,  Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, FK Rod Ends, Gaerte Engines, Hawk Performance, Jay Dickens Racing Engines, JE Pistons, JRi Shocks, Keyser MFG, Longhorn Chassis, MasterSbilt Chassis, Öhlins, Outerwears, PBM/Erson Cams, PAC Racing Springs, Performance Bodies, Pierce Racecars, PRC, Pro Power Racing, Quarter Master, Race Engine Design, Red Buck Cigars, Rick Schwallie Photography, Ringers Gloves, Rocket Chassis, Roush Yates Engines, Roush Yates Performance Parts, Simpson Performance Products, Sweet Mfg, Traeger Grills, Vic Hill Race Engines, Weld Racing Wheels, Wiles Drive Shafts, Wiley X Sunglasses, Wrisco, 5150 Race Trailers.

James Essex, Public Relations Coordinator, jessex@lucasdirt.com