Jimmy Owens Gets Dirty with $20,000 Triumph at I-55 in NDRL Slugfest

Pevely, Missouri (April 13, 2013) While his night might have not started with the best of scenarios, when the final checkered flag dropped on the finale Jimmy Owens was all smiles after claiming the $20,000 triumph with the National Dirt Racing League (NDRL) at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Missouri.

A beautiful afternoon graced the Let's Get Dirty 75 at the Missouri oval as fifty of the nation's best Super Late Models rolled into Pevely, Missouri for the huge event.  Friday night's winner at Paducah International Raceway, Josh Richards, began the night by registering the Keyser Manufacturing Fast Time Award with a 13.457 second lap around the 1/3 mile oval.  He would go on to win the first heat race and was joined by fellow heat winners, Eddie Carrier Jr., Jimmy Mars, Dennis Erb Jr., Jason Feger, and Billy Moyer, in the evening's redraw for the 75 lap finale. 

The redraw found Eddie Carrier Jr. receiving the pole position for the feature with Billy Moyer joining him on the front.  When the green flag dropped, Moyer, who has enjoyed considerable success at the facility, jumped to the lead with Mars, Carrier Jr., and Richards in tow.  Moyer paced the early laps as Mars fended advances from Richards for the second position.

The event was slowed for the first time on lap 8 when Scott Bloomquist slowed with rear end issues, and at the time of the caution the top five running order consisted of Moyer, Mars, Richards, Carrier Jr., and Feger.  On the restart Moyer raced away from the pack, and three laps later Richards found his way into second.  By lap 20 the field was approaching lap traffic, and Richards narrowed the gap between himself and Moyer.  Three laps later the Shinnston, West Virginia piloted bolted to the lead.

With Richards out front the race endured a long, green flag run, and onlookers began to note that 23rd starting Tim Fuller found his way into the top ten by lap 24.  The next several laps saw great racing throughout not only the top ten but also the field.  Brian Birkhofer worked his way into the third spot by lap 32 and set his sights on Moyer and leader, Richards.  Behind the front four Brandon Sheppard quickly made his presence known as he and Tim Fuller diced for position in the top five.

Another driver on the move was twelfth starting, Jimmy Owens, who overcame struggles in qualifying to race from the sixth starting spot in his heat to a second place finish.  Owens found his way into the top five on lap 34 as he glued his mount to the low side of the track.  Seven laps later he advanced to the third spot, and two laps later Owens passed Jimmy Mars for second.  As Owens began to get faster Richards began to slow, and the Newport, Tennessee racer jumped to the lead on lap 46.  Three laps later Richards slowed with a flat tire as he headed pit side for a fresh right-rear tire. 

The ensuing restart saw Owens come under fire from Jimmy Mars and Brian Birkhofer, but as the race again went through another long green flag run Jimmy Owens motored away to the feature win.  Brian Birkhofer secured the second position in the closing laps and was followed across the finish line by Jimmy Mars, Billy Moyer, and Brandon Sheppard.

"I really let my crew down in time trials because I didn't do my job, but I think this win makes up for it," Jimmy Owens said with a smile in victory lane.  "This place was really racy tonight, and I caught myself racking my brain trying to decide where I needed to be.  I hope the fans really enjoyed the show because it was a lot of fun."

In the UMP Open Wheel Modified feature, former Super Late Model national standout Mark Miner, raced from his pole starting spot to claim the feature win over Jason Krohn, Matt Mevert, Kenny Rumble, and Michael Long.  A talent-laden of forty-two competitors entered the program.   
The NDRL's Let's Get Dirty 75 at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Full Results

NDRL Let's Get Dirty Qualifying

Heat Race #1: 1R-Josh Richards, B5-Brandon Sheppard, 25C-Shane Clanton, 23-John Blankenship, 81K-Randy Korte, 11-Jeff Herzog, 54D-Dane Dacus, 16S-Chris Shelton, 50-Ed Dixon

Heat Race #2: 28-Eddie Carrier Jr., 32H-Austin Hubbard, 0-Scott Bloomquist, 5-Jared Landers, 1s-Jack Sullivan, 57J-Bub McCool, 77M-Jason McBride, 7Z-Matt Zimmerly

Heat Race # 3: 28-Jimmy Mars, 33M-Tim Manville, 15-Steve Francis, 19F-Tim Fuller, 1J-Davey Johnson, 87-Walker Arthur, 61-Caleb Ashby, 7P-Chris Parmer

Heat Race #4: 25-Jason Feger, 15B-Brian Birkhofer, 18-Shannon Babb, 1D-Don O'Neal, 32S-Chris Simpson, 0K-Dewayne Kiefer, 116-Randy Weaver, 92W-Scott Weber

Heat Race #5: 28E-Dennis Erb Jr., 32P-Bobby Pierce, 3S-Brian Shirley, 18W-Eric Wells, 30V-Mark Voight, 21JR Billy Moyer Jr., 7L-Jerry Lierly, 1HR-Ron McQuerry

Heat Race #6: 21-Billy Moyer, 20-Jimmy Owens, 7K-Rodney Sanders, 32C-Vic Coffey, 99-Donnie Moran, 8-Craig Smith, 2J-Mike Johnson, 28P-Jeff Provinzino

B-Main # 1: 5-Jared Landers, 23-John Blankenship, 19F-Tim Fuller, 1S-Jack Sullivan, 87-Walker Arthur, 54D-Dane Dacus, 81K-Randy Korte, 77M-Jason McBride, 57J-Bub McCool, 61-Caleb Ashby, 11-Jeff Herzog, 7P-Chris Palmer, 1J-Davey Johnson, 7Z-Matt Zimmerly

B-Main #2: 1D-Don O'Neal, 18W-Eric Wells, 32S-Chris Simpson, 32-Vic Coffey, 0K-Dewayne Keifer, 28P-Jeff Provinzino, 99-Donnie Moran, 21JR-Billy Moyer Jr., 116-Randy Weaver, 92W-Scott Weber, 8-Craig Smith, 7L-Jerry Liery, 1HR-Ron McQuerry, 2J-Mike Johnson, 30V-Mark Voight

2013 NDRL Let's Get Dirty Tour Point Standings (as of April 13, 2013)
1. 20 - Jimmy Owens 396
2. 28 - Jimmy Mars 388
3. 21 - Billy Moyer 384
4. 15B - Brian Birkhofer 380
5. 1 - Josh Richards 374
6. 28 - Dennis Erb Jr. 366
7. 18 - Shannon Babb 362
8. 32 - Bobby Pierce 358
9. 25 - Eddie Carrier Jr. 356
10. 15 - Steve Francis 352
11. 25 - Shane Clanton 350
12. 1 - Don O'Neal 344
13. 0 - Scott Bloomquist 342
14. 18 - Eric Wells 340
15. 23 - John Blankenship 332
16. 25 - Jason Feger 326
17. 19 - Tim Fuller 323
(t) 18. 32 - Chris Simpson 322
(t) 18. 5B - Brandon Sheppard 322
20. 5 - Jared Landers 316

Official NDRL's 'Let's Get Dirty Tour' Sponsors:

VP Race Fuels: The Official Fuel of the NDRL's 'Let's Get Dirty Tour'

Slavic Custom Racing Shirts and Decals: The Official Merchandise Supplier of the NDRL's Let's Get Dirty Tour'

Bug Band: The Official Insect Repellant of the NDRL's 'Let's Get Dirty Tour'

Official NDRL's 'Let's Get Dirt Tour' Associate Sponsors:
American Racer Tires, Bell Helmets, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Capital Race Cars, DirtonDirt.com, Driven Racing Oil, Genesis Racing Shocks, Hoosier Racing Tires, JNJ Motorsports Media, Keyser Manufacturing, MSR Mafia, and Responsible Racers.