Bloomquist wins Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Reece Monument Co. $10,000 ‘Scorcher 100’ finale at Volunteer Speedway

BULLS GAP, Tenn. (June 19) —  Reigning Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series national champion Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN has won several races over the years at Volunteer Speedway, but hadn’t visited victory lane since May of 2008 at “The Gap.” Saturday night Bloomquist recorded his fifth series event win of 2010 on night number two of the Scorcher 100 presented by Reece Monument Co., a victory worth $10,000.

Bloomquist moved to the point when race leader Dale McDowell broke a bolt in the lift-bar on lap 32, after he had led the first 31 laps of the race. Chris Madden of Gaffney, SC finished second followed by Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA; Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC; and Eric Wells of Hazard, KY.

Bloomquist inherited the outside front row of the 50 lap feature event and started alongside pole-sitter McDowell. Originally, Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, WI, the fast qualifier for the night and also winner of the third heat, was scheduled to start outside of the front row but he had to withdraw from the race after being transported to a local hospital for a medical issue.

McDowell grabbed the point at the start of the race followed by Bloomquist, Wells, Steve Casebolt and Ray Cook. Madden started eighth and was making headway early on as he climbed to fifth around Cook on lap two. Madden was then able to corral Casebolt and pass him on lap four to take over the fourth position.

Up front, McDowell was setting a blistering pace. By the ninth lap he had already caught the tail-end of the field. Bloomquist was able to close some ground on McDowell as they had a lapped car between them, when the first caution of the race came out on lap 11 for Chris Brown.

On the restart, Wells looked like he was going to beat Bloomquist into turn one for the second spot, but Bloomquist executed a slide-job at Wells in turn two to regain the position.

McDowell was looking solid as he was seeking his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the year in the Clint Bowyer-owned car. McDowell built a six car length lead over Bloomquist by lap 23 as more traffic was playing havoc with the front-runners.

Bloomquist was able to cut into McDowell’s lead, narrowing it to two car lengths with 28 laps scored.  Meanwhile Wells, who had held the third spot from the beginning of the race, dropped two positions back to fifth in the running order as both Madden and Davenport passed him on lap 28.

With 30 laps complete it was still McDowell holding a three car-length advantage over Bloomquist, Madden, Davenport and Wells. McDowell led lap 31, but sparks appeared from the back-end of his car as the bolt in the lift-bar broke, sending McDowell rolling slowly into the pits ending his strong run at front of the field.

Bloomquist picked up the lead, a lead he would never relinquish, with Madden moving into second followed by Davenport, Wells and Casebolt. With no caution flags on the horizon Bloomquist looked to have clear sailing to the finish line, but again traffic would enter into the equation as Bloomquist was being held up, allowing both Madden and Davenport to cut into his advantage.

Bloomquist was able to keep a four car-length advantage over the duo in the closing laps as he was able to win without receiving any late race pressure. For Bloomquist the win was the 22nd series victory of his career which ranks him first all-time; and he also extended his points lead over Jimmy Owens, who finished 14th after having to run his back-up car after he collided with the backstretch wall in his primary car during time trials

Bloomquist parked in Lucas Oil victory lane for the fifth time this year, but for the first time for his new engine builders, NASCAR’s Roush-Yates out of North Carolina.

“No doubt, the engine worked real well tonight. We went home and worked on the car from last night and everything worked great. The track was real good tonight, they worked on it following Friday night’s ‘Scorcher’ opener. I saw sparks coming from under the rear of Dale’s (McDowell) car and I knew he was in trouble. We hadn’t won one here in a while and it was a good points night to go along with the win,” said the 46-year-old Bloomquist who was joined in victory lane by his crew chief, Tommy Hicks.

”I have to thank Jay Dickens, he put this together (the Roush-Yates deal) and they have worked real hard on it. We obviously are pleased so far with the program and hope to get many more wins,” said Bloomquist, who drives his own self-designed Bloomquist Race Cars Chassis sponsored by Miller Brothers Construction, Hawkeye Trucking, Sweet Mfg, VP Racing Fuels, Hoosier Tires, Arizona Sport Shirts, Ohlins and Lane Automotive. The win for Bloomquist was the 491st of his career.

Madden, driving the Century Plastics/Hamrick’s of Gaffney/Bloomquist Race Cars Monte Carlo SS finished in the runner-up spot followed by Davenport in the Baird Transport/Clements Racing Engines/Barry Wright Race Cars entry. Cook came home fourth in the D&R Racing/Hicks and Ingle Company general Contracting/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo SS, with Wells finishing fifth in the Cox Wrecker Service/Custom Race Engines/Rocket Monte Carlo SS.

Completing the top ten finishers were Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN; Vic Hill of Morristown, TN; Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN; Brad Neat of Dunnville, KY; and Chris Wall of Holden, LA.

Jensen Ford of Piney Flats launched into the lead at the drop of green flag in the 25-lap Fastrak Racing Series-sanctioned Pro Late Model feature and never looked back en route to a strong flag-to-flag run for his second victory on the season. Chasing Ford to the checkers were John King II, Jerry Broyles, Dale Ball and Stephen Rogers.

LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL DIRT SERIES – VOLUNTEER SPEEDWAY – BULLS GAP, TN – $10,000-TO-WIN “SEVENTH ANNUAL SCORCHER 100” PRESENTED BY REECE MONUMENT CO. – JUNE 19, 2010

Showing Finish Position, Starting Position In Parentheses, Driver Name, Car Number, Hometown

1. (2) Scott Bloomquist #0-Mooresburg, TN
2. (8) Chris Madden #44m-Gaffney, SC
3. (10) Jonathan Davenport #49-Blairsville, GA
4. (6) Ray Cook #53-Brasstown, NC
5. (3) Eric Wells #18e-Hazard, KY
6. (4) Steve Casebolt #c9-Richmond, IN
7. (5) Vic Hill #1v-Morristown, TN
8. (7) Don O'Neal #71-Martinsville, IN
9. (9) Brad Neat #41n-Dunnville, KY
10. (12) Chris Wall #71w-Holden, LA
11. (13) Shanon Buckingham #50-Morristown, TN
12. (18) Jared Landers #777-Lexington, NC
13. (16) Eric Jacobsen #5-Watsonville, CA
14. (23) Jimmy Owens #20-Newport, TN
15. (25) John Blankenship #23-Williamson, WV
16. (17) Mark Vineyard #4v-Powell, TN
17. (24) Earl Pearson Jr. #44-Jacksonville, FL
18. (14) Jeff Maupin #0m-Greeneville, TN
19. (15) Tyler Reddick #11t-Corning, CA
20. (21) Tim Isenberg #9t-Marshfield, WI
21. (1) Dale McDowell #17m-Chickamauga, GA
22. (20) Randy Weaver #116-Crossville, TN
23. (11) Michael Smith #4s-Rogersville, TN
24. (19) Terry Wolfenbarger #14-Powell, TN
25. (22) Chris Brown #21-Cleveland, TX

Race Statistics

Entrants: 43
Lap Leaders: Dale McDowell (Laps 1-31); Scott Bloomquist (Laps 32-50)
Caution Flags: Lap 11 (Chris Brown)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Jimmy Owens, Earl Pearson Jr.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisional: John Blankenship
PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race: John Blankenship (Started 25th; Finished 15th; Advanced 10 positions)
Ohlin's Shocks Performer of the Race: Eric Wells
K&N Filters Clean Pass of the Race: Ray Cook
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Eric Wells
Comp Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Roush Yates Engines
Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award: Dan Schlieper
DirtonDirt.com Crew Chief of the Race: Tommy Hicks (Scott Bloomquist)
Time of Race: 19 minutes, 02 seconds
Red Buck Cigars Fast Time: Dan Schlieper / 13.525 seconds

Wiles Driveshaft’s First Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Dale McDowell, Vic Hill, Brad Neat, Shanon Buckingham, Mark Vineyard, Mark Douglas, Brandon Kinzer, Donald Bradsher, Lee Sutton, Jeff Smith, Tony Schrimsher

AFCO Racing Products Second Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Eric Wells, Don O’Neal, Michael Smith, Tyler Reddick, Terry Wolfenbarger, Tim Isenberg, Jordan Bland, Dean Bowen, Chad Ogle, John Blankenship, Michael Walker-DNS

Allstar Performance Third Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Dan Schlieper, Steve Casebolt, Chris Madden, Chris Wall, Jared Landers, Earl Pearson Jr., Steve Smith, Jimmy Owens, Rick Rogers, Kerry Jones, Tommy Kerr

SuperFlow Fourth Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Scott Bloomquist, Ray Cook, Jonathan Davenport, Jeff Maupin, Eric Jacobsen, Randy Weaver, Chris Brown, Jeff Neubert, Jeff Wolfenbarger, Mike Marlar

Hawk Brake First B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Transfer): Mark Vineyard, Terry Wolfenbarger, Tim Isenberg, Mark Douglas, Jordan Bland, Brandon Kinzer, Donald Bradsher, John Blankenship, Lee Sutton, Dean Bowen, Jeff Smith, Chad Ogle, Tony Schrimsher-DNS, Michael Walker-DNS

Performance Rod and Custom (PRC) Second B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Transfer):  Eric Jacobsen, Jared Landers, Randy Weaver, Chris Brown, Steve Smith, Rick Rogers, Jeff Neubert, Tommy Kerr, Kerry Jones, Jeff Wolfenbarger, Earl Pearson Jr., Mike Marlar, Jimmy Owens-DNS

PRO LATE MODEL (25-laps)

1) Jensen Ford #83; 2) John King II #21; 3) Jerry Broyles #72; 4) Dale Ball #2; 5) Stephen Rogers #44; 6) Todd Brooks #T1; 7) Jackie Hughes #27; 8) James Cole #5c; 9) Daniel Baggerly #16; 10) Keith Helton #5; 11) Eddie Morris #m14; 12) Brent Hensley #70; 13) Danny Moore #5m; 14) Ricky Moore #75; 15) Richard Adkins #73 – Did Not Start: Tim Byrd #24
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Owens passes Schlieper on white flag lap for night one Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series ‘Scorcher 100’ presented by Reece Monument Co. $10,000 victory at Volunteer Speedway

BULLS GAP, Tenn. (June 18) — Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN won his second straight Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event in dramatic fashion on Friday night as he captured night number one of the Scorcher 100 presented by Reece Monument Co. at Volunteer Speedway.  He passed Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, WI heading to the white flag as he went on to beat Schlieper to the finish line for his fifth series win of the year.  Schlieper, who led 48 of the 50 laps, finished second followed by Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA; Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC; and Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL.

Davenport and Schlieper made up the front row for the $10,000 to win main event. Schlieper pulled out to an early lead as a terrific battle for second place was going on between Davenport and Billy Ogle Jr. Schlieper built a huge ten car-length advantage only five laps into the race as Davenport and Ogle exchanged the second spot twice within a three lap period.
Schlieper's lead began to melt away as traffic started to enter the picture by the tenth circuit. The top five were Schlieper, Davenport, Ogle, Cook and Owens. The top five stayed the same until lap 26, when Ogle went pitside for the night.

Schlieper still held a good six car-length lead even in traffic until the first caution came out for Mike Marlar who was up against the turn two wall on lap 29. On the restart, Schlieper had Davenport and Cook lined up side-by-side behind him for the Delaware double-file restart.

Owens was the benefactor of the restart as he moved into third, advancing two spots in the running order. The second and final caution of the race appeared for John Blankenship, who slowed on the front straightaway on lap 31.

On the restart, Schlieper again sprinted out to a four car-length lead with 15 laps remaining in the race as Davenport and Owens would battle door-to-door for five consecutive laps for the runner-up slot. Schlieper then moved into some heavy traffic, and with ten laps to go, he still held a big enough lead that it looked like neither Davenport or Owens was going to able to catch him. Owens tried unsuccessfully for several laps to pass Davenport, but was finally able to clear the young Georgia hotshoe on lap 43 to take over second.

With five laps to go, Schlieper was seven car lengths ahead of Owens and appeared to be on his way for his first series win since July 3, 2008 at Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, OH. Schlieper was having trouble negotiating around traffic, allowing Owens to cut into his lead with four laps remaining.

Owens was able to get within striking distance of Schlieper and it looked like Owens was going to be able to catch Schlieper in time, but could he pass him? Owens dove to the inside of Schlieper with three laps to go, but Schlieper shut the door and the pair headed down the backstretch. Coming to the white flag, Owens set Schlieper up into turn three and was able to get to the inside of Schlieper coming off of turn number four as he took the lead.

Owens then held off Schlieper on the final lap and picked up his second straight Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the weekend. He was coming off a win on Thursday night at Cleveland (TN) Speedway in the Fourth Annual Car Smart Race for the Cure (Juvenile Diabetes). For Owens, racing at his home-track at Volunteer Speedway, it was his 18th career series win, which is third all-time in series history.

In Lucas Oil victory lane Owens was extremely happy to accept the winner's check after a hard earned victory. "I said last night at Cleveland that I hoped the fans got their money's worth, well I think tonight we did them one better here," said Owens, who started fifth and was joined in victory lane by a bevy of well wishers including his son, Nathan.

"I have to thank my crew, headed by Chris Fox, and all the guys did a great job as usual. We set fast time, ran second in our heat and we had just enough laps to catch Dan there at the end. We had a good race with Davenport and I wasn't sure we could catch him (Schlieper), but in traffic we were able to close on him and were able to get underneath of him coming to the white flag. Winning at Bulls Gap is special and with Reece Monument Co. presenting this event, it's great to win for Mike Reece and everybody there," said the 38-year-old driver who now trails point leader Scott Bloomquist by just 50 points heading into night two of the Scorcher 100 presented by Reece Monument Co. at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, TN.

Owens, who drives for Tazewell, TN's Mike Reece drives a Bloomquist Race Cars Ford Fusion powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by Reece Monument Co., Gantte Appraisals, Red Line Oil, VP Racing Fuels, Byrd's Radiator, C&C Trucking, Ohlins and Alwee Trucking.

Schlieper drove the Rockstar Energy Drink/Pro Power Race Engines/Bloomquist Race Cars Ford Fusion to his second runner-up finish of 2010 was disappointed in second as he thought he had the car to beat. "It's a bitter pill to swallow, I got there in traffic and then I saw Jimmy there and I knew I was in some trouble not only having to battle him, but lapped traffic. The car was super all race long, we just came up two laps short at the end," said Schlieper who scored his best finish since the final night of the DART Winternationals at East Bay Raceway back in February.

Davenport was third in the Baird Transport/Clements Racing Engines/Barry Wright Race Cars entry with Cook finishing fourth in the Danny Dishman and Ron Ivey/A+ Moving and Storage/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo SS, and Pearson came home fifth in the Bobby Labonte Racing/Lucas Oil Products/MasterSbilt Dodge Charger.

Completing the top ten finishers were Chris Wall of Holden, LA; Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, GA; Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN; Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN; and Chris Madden of Gaffney, SC.

Dale Reed of Whitesburg showed the way out front the entire distance in winning the 20-lap Hobby Stock feature over Dustin Shaver, Devin Helton, Robbie Woods and Sue Curl.

LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL DIRT SERIES – VOLUNTEER SPEEDWAY – BULLS GAP, TN – $10,000-TO-WIN “SEVENTH ANNUAL SCORCHER 100” PRESENTED BY REECE MONUMENT CO. – JUNE 18, 2010

Showing Finish Position, Starting Position In Parentheses, Driver Name, Car Number, Hometown

1. (5) Jimmy Owens #20-Newport, TN
2. (2) Dan Schlieper #s9-Sullivan, WI
3. (1) Jonathan Davenport #49-Blairsville, GA
4. (3) Ray Cook #53-Brasstown, NC
5. (8) Earl Pearson,Jr. #44-Jacksonville, FL
6. (6) Chris Wall #71w-Holden, LA
7. (7) Dale McDowell #17m-Chickamauga, GA
8. (9) Scott Bloomquist #0-Mooresburg, TN
9. (10) Steve Casebolt #c9-Richmond, IN
10. (15) Chris Madden #44m-Gaffney, SC
11. (17) Don O'Neal #71-Martinsville, IN
12. (11) Brad Neat #41-Dunnville, KY
13. (13) Rick Rogers #44r-Knoxville, TN
14. (16) Vic Hill #1-Morristown, TN
15. (18) Eric Wells #18e-Hazard, KY
16. (21) Mark Vineyard #4v-Powell, TN
17. (19) Eric Jacobsen #5-Watsonville, CA
18. (24) Tyler Reddick #11t-Corning, CA
19. (14) John Blankenship #23-Williamson, WV
20. (12) Mike Marlar #157-Winfield, TN
21. (20) Shanon Buckingham #50-Morristown, TN
22. (4) Billy Ogle Jr. #201-Knoxville, TN
23. (23) Tim Isenberg #9t-Marshfield, WI
24. (22) Jared Landers #777-Lexington, NC
25. (25) Michael Walker #64-Franklin, TN

Race Statistics
Entrants: 47
Lap Leaders: Dan Schlieper (Laps 1-48); Jimmy Owens (Laps 49-50)
Caution Flags: Mike Marlar (Lap 29); John Blankenship (Lap 31)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Tim Isenberg, Tyler Reddick
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisional: Michael Walker
PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race: Don O'Neal (Started 17th; Finished 11th; Advanced 6 positions)
Ohlin's Shocks Performer of the Race: Dan Schlieper
K&N Filters Clean Pass of the Race: Earl Pearson Jr.
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Chris Wall
Comp Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing Engines
Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award: Billy Ogle Jr.
DirtonDirt.com Crew Chief of the Race: Chris Fox (Jimmy Owens)
Time of Race: 21 minutes, 23 seconds
Red Buck Cigars Fast Time: Jimmy Owens / 13.940 seconds 
Wiles Driveshaft's First Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Jonathan Davenport, Jimmy Owens, Scott Bloomquist, Rick Rogers, Don O'Neal, Mark Vineyard, Bryan Hendrix, Brandon Kinzer, Donald Bradsher, Daniel Baggerly, Dean Bowen, John Tweed
AFCO Racing Products Second Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Ray Cook, Dale McDowell, Brad Neat, Chris Madden, Eric Jacobsen, Tim Isenberg, Terry Wolfenbarger, Jeff Maupin, Tommy Kerr, Lee Sutton, John Mason, Michael Walker
Allstar Performance Third Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Dan Schlieper, Chris Wall, Steve Casebolt, John Blankenship, Shanon Buckingham, Jared Landers, Tyler Reddick, Chris Brown, Chad Ogle, Stacey Boles, Jordan Bland, Tony Schrimsher
SuperFlow Fourth Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Billy Ogle Jr., Earl Pearson Jr., Mike Marlar, Vic Hill, Eric Wells, Mark Douglas, Michael Smith, Kerry Jones, Rodney Kiker, Jeff Neubert, Jeff Smith
Hawk Brake First B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Transfer): Don O'Neal, Eric Jacobsen, Mark Vineyard, Tim Isenberg, Jeff Maupin, Terry Wolfenbarger, Bryan Hendrix, Brandon Kinzer, Tommy Kerr, Lee Sutton, Michael Walker, John Mason, Donald Bradsher, Dean Bowen, Daniel Baggerly-DNS, John Tweed-DNS
Performance Rod and Custom (PRC) Second B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Transfer): Eric Wells, Shanon Buckingham, Jared Landers, Mark Douglas, Michael Smith, Tyler Reddick, Jeff Neubert, Chris Brown, Jeff Smith, Jordan Bland, Chad Ogle, Tony Schrimsher, Kerry Jones, Rodney Kiker, Stacy Boles-DNS

HOBBY STOCK (20 laps)

1) Dale Reed #52; 2) Dustin Shaver # 7; 3) Devin Helton #17H; 4) Robbie Woods #2; 5) Sue Curl #5; 6) Chuck Johnson #17; 7) Jesse Wilder #79; 8) Jamie Whitt #1; 9) Dennis Metcalf #55; 10) Charlie Bates #27; 11) Blake Kelley #K5; 12) Bobby Reed #54; 13) Daniel Reece #66; 14) Eddie Adams #9; 15) Terry Dean #47; 16) Danny Helton #88; 17) Jon Cook #0z; 18) Dustin Heinz #57; 19) Chuck Killian #96; 20) Tim Brewer #77; 21) Patrick Flannery #38
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