WAYCROSS, GA (December 5, 2012) - The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will host its championship awards banquet this Thursday night December 6th at the Lucas Estate in Carmel, IN. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will honor and celebrate the 2012 season and series champion Jimmy Owens. The series will also honor the 2012 Quarter Master Rookie of the Year - Jonathan Davenport, along with the top ten drivers in the series national points standings. Also on tap is the Kentucky based Nashville recording group "Borrowed Blue" that will perform an exclusive concert at the conclusion of the award ceremonies.
Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN won seven (7) Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series sanctioned events during the 2012 season. Owens recorded eleven (11) runner-up finishes, along with an amazing 37 top-ten finishes out of 38 points paying series events in 2012. The lone finish out of the top-ten was a 16th place finish at Rome International Speedway, only after leading most of the event to suffer a flat tire that set him back in the field and out of the top ten. He finished every event without any DNF's in LOLMDS sanctioned events during 2012. His wins came at Batesville Motor Speedway (AR) in May (Bad Boy 98); Lucas Oil Speedway (MO) in May (Show-Me 100) and July (Diamond Nationals); Lawrenceburg Speedway (IN) in August (Whiskey City 50); Brownstown Speedway (IN) in September (Jackson 100); Dixie Speedway (GA) in October (Dixie Shootout); and the season finale - Red Buck Dirt Track World Championship - presented by "Borrowed Blue" at Portsmouth Raceway Park (OH) in October, where he took home a cool $50,000.
Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN led the series with 11 wins and finished second in the final Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings. This season marks the third time in his career that O'Neal has finished runner-up in a national touring series points championship. O'Neal had 25 top-five finishes with 30 top-ten finishes in the series in 2012. His biggest victories this season came at Magnolia Motor Speedway in July (Clash at the Mag) and Florence Speedway (KY), where he won the Sunoco North/South 100 - presented by Lucas Oil and the $50,000 first place prize.
Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN, the two-time series champion of 09' and 10', finished third in the final points standings for 2012. Bloomquist recorded three (3) wins, seven (7) runner-up finishes, 24 top-five finishes and 33 top-ten finishes in 2012. Bloomquist bagged the $25,000 first place prize by winning this year's Commonwealth 100 at Virginia Motor Speedway (VA).
Steve Francis of Ashland, KY finished fourth in the series final points standings for 2012. Francis won six (6) LOLMDS sanctioned events while recording 22 top-five finishes and 32 top-ten finishes in the series in 2012. His two biggest wins came at the COMP Cams Topless 100 at Batesville Motor Speedway (AR) and the prestigious Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals at Knoxville Raceway (IA) with both events paying $40,000 to win.
John Blankenship of Williamson, WV finished fifth in the final series national points standings in 2012. Blankenship had his best year on the tour in 2012, winning three sanctioned events. He also recorded 11 top-five finishes and 25 top-ten finishes in 2012, establishing himself as a major contender.
Four time Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Champion (05', 06', 07' and 08), Earl Pearson Jr, of Jacksonville, FL, finished in 6th position of the series final points standings of 2012. Pearson recorded 10 top-five finishes and 22 top-ten finishes in the series this year.
Jonathan Davenport, of Blairsville, GA finished in 7th position in the series final points standings and won the Quarter Master Rookie of the Year Award for 2012. Davenport, driving the Georgia Boot Clint Bowyer Racing team #15, recorded 10 top-five finishes and 21 top-ten finishes in 2012.
Tyler Reddick of Corning, CA finished in 8th place in the series final points standings for 2012. Reddick, who is 16 years old, had several strong runs in 2012 but just couldn't manage a trip to victory lane. He recorded 3 top-five finishes and 15 top-ten finishes on the series in 2012.
Jared Landers of Batesville, AR, finished 9th in the series final points standings. Landers, the 2011 Quarter Master Rookie of the Year, captured one (1) win in 2012, along with 5 top-five finishes and 14 top-ten finishes on the series in 2012.
Eric Wells, of Hazard, KY rounded out the top ten in points, finishing in 10th place in 2012. Wells recorded 3 top-five finishes and 15 top-ten finishes in the series in 2012.
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will also hand out numerous other special awards during the banquet. The series will honor the Ohlin's Top Chassis Builder of the Year. Bloomquist Chassis earns the award for the fourth year in a row. Cornett Racing Engines will be honored as the COMP Cams Top Engine Builder of the Year, winning the prestigious award for the fourth time as well.
John Blankenship will receive the Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Year award, after earning the most Optima Batteries points during the season. Jimmy Owens will be honored as the top driver in the Sunoco Race for Gas points. Don O'Neal will be honored as the Allstar Performer of the Year. Scott Bloomquist earned the most Red Buck Fast Time points and he will receive a special cash award from Red Buck at the banquet.
Jimmy Owens will receive a cash award for winning the E3 Spark Plugs TV Points Challenge. Wiles Drive Shafts will also award a product award to him for winning the most heat races this season. Don O'Neal will receive a special award from ASI Racewear for winning the ASI Points Challenge in 2012 in the series.
In a new points category for this year, Don O'Neal will also receive a check from DirtonDirt.com for winning the DirtonDirt.com Crown Jewel Cup points standings in 2012.
Sweet Manufacturing will honor two crew chiefs this year with cash awards. Cody Mahoney will receive the "Crew Chief of the Year " award (O'Neal) and Chris Fox will be honored and receive a check as the "Champion Crew Chief" (Owens) in 2012.
Jimmy Owens will not only collect the lion's share of the series points fund and product awards, but will also receive an impressive diamond ring from Dan Robinson of Lucas Oil Speedway for winning this year's Diamond Nationals.
"The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is incredibly honored to have so many companies involved with the series and offering incentives and special awards to drivers that follow the series. We want to thank all of our kind sponsors for their commitment and support of the series and for their willingness to reward drivers that follow our series throughout the year," stated Ritchie Lewis, Director of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.
For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, visit www.lucasdirt.com.
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About Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series: Founded in 2005, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is the nations' premier dirt late model sanctioning organization. The series will sanction 46 events in 20 states in 2013 and receives national exposure through taped-delayed series events that are shown on CBS, CBS Sports, SPEED, NBC Sports, and MAVTV.
About Lucas Oil Products: Founded in 1989 by Forrest and Charlotte Lucas, Lucas Oil Products, Inc. has established itself as one of the fastest-growing lubrication product lines in the consumer automotive aftermarket, featuring a line of engine oils, greases, gear lubes, problem-solving additives, and car-care products. Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil has established itself as a worldwide leader in the lubrication industry. Motorsports has always been part of the Lucas Oil culture and the cornerstone of the company's marketing strategy. Such passion for motorsports has inspired Lucas Oil to sponsor many race teams, events and series at all levels, including, NHRA, IRL, ASCS, NASCAR, IHRA and many more. Lucas Oil has also taken ownership and operational control of a number of high profile racing properties, such as: Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, Lucas Oil Drag Boat Series, Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Lucas Oil Modified Series, Lucas Oil Midwest Latemodel Racing Association, Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO. and the Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway in Blythe, CA.
In 2007 Lucas Oil founded its own production house, Lucas Oil Production Studios, dedicated to producing high action motorsports television. Currently Lucas Oil Production Studios produces over 300 hours of original programming for networks such as CBS, CBS Sports, NBC Sports, SPEED, and MAVTV. More information on Lucas Oil Products, Inc. can be found by visiting www.lucasoil.com.
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