John Blankenship dazzled the impressive crowd on-hand at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., Saturday night in the 7th Annual CMH Diamond Nationals co-sanctioned by the Lucas Oil MLRA. Blankenship took the points lead from Jimmy Owens last night, and came into tonight's event atop the standings for the first time in his career.
He and Owens had a fierce battle for the lead until lap 28 when Blankenship finally put some distance between himself and the "Newport Nightmare." Blankenship went unchallenged the rest of the way in the race that had no cautions.
Blankenship's third LOLMDS victory of the season also marked his first-ever at the track. He took home $10,000 for the win and put an end to Owens' reign over the facility. Owens entered the event having won six out of the last seven LOLMDS races at Lucas Oil Speedway, including three Show-Me 100 crowns.
Trailing Blankenship and Owens to the finish line were Tony Jackson Jr., Earl Pearson Jr. and Steve Francis.
In preliminary action, Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, earned the Red Buck Fast Time Award amongst the 38 entrants with a lap of 16.347 seconds. Mechanical problems in his heat race and the main event saddled the two-time defending USMTS national champion with a 23rd-place finish in the feature.
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will continue its July Midwest swing next week. On Tuesday, July 16, the series will make its first appearance at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City, Iowa, will host its first-ever LOLMDS event on Wednesday, July 17. Both events will include Red Buck Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains and a 50-lap, $10,000-to-win main event.
The series will round out the week with the 3rd Annual Silver Dollar Nationals at the I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb. The event will include a practice session on Thursday, July 18. There will be two rounds of heats on Friday night, July 19, and capping off the trip on Saturday, July 20, there will be B-Mains and the 80-lap feature event paying $27,000 to win.
For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com.
RESULTS
Red Buck Fast Time: Ryan Gustin, 16.347 seconds.
Wiles Drive Shafts Heat Race #1 (10 laps, top 4 transfer): Eric Turner, John Blankenship, Steve Francis, Craig Vosbergen, Mark Dotson, Mark Banal, Patrick Johnson, Jay Brunson, Ryan Gustin, Brantlee Gotschall
Eibach Springs Heat Race #2 (10 laps, top 4 transfer): Will Vaught, Jesse Stovall, Wendell Wallace, Jared Landers, Jack Sullivan, Billy Moyer, Timothy Culp, Brandon McCormick, Brad Looney
Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 (10 laps, top 4 transfer): Jimmy Owens, Tony Jackson Jr., John Anderson, Terry Phillips, Eddie Carrier Jr., Jerry Lierly, Chase Junghaus, Jason Bodenhamer, Travis Dickes, Reid Millard
FK Rod Ends Heat Race #4 (10 laps, top 4 transfer): Dennis Erb Jr., Tyler Reddick, Earl Pearson Jr., Jason Feger, Billy Moyer Jr., Don O'Neal, Tommy Weder, Jason Papich, Larry Jones
CV Products B-Main #1 (12 laps, top 3 transfer): Mark Dotson, Jack Sullivan, Billy Moyer, Timothy Culp, Ryan Gustin, Brandon McCormick, Jay Brunson, Patrick Johnson, Mark Banal
Wrisco Aluminum B-Main #2 (12 laps, top 3 transfer): Eddie Carrier Jr., Billy Moyer Jr., Don O'Neal, Jerry Lierly, Tommy Weder, Chase Junghaus, Jason Bodenhamer, Travis Dickes, Jason Papich, Reid Millard, Larry Jones
Feature:
1. (5) 23 John Blankenship, Williamson, WV
2. (2) 20 Jimmy Owens, Newport, TN
3. (6) 56 Tony Jackson Jr., Lebanon, MO
4. (16) 44 Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville, FL
5. (9) 15 Steve Francis, Ashland, KY
6. (4) 28e Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, IL
7. (11) 6m Wendell Wallace, Batesville, AR
8. (22) 71 Don O'Neal, Martinsville, IN
9. (7) 00s Jesse Stovall, Billing, MO
10. (14) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, MO
11. (3) 1v Will Vaught, Crane, MO
12. (10) 2a John Anderson, Omaha, NE
13. (8) 11T Tyler Reddick, Corning, CA
14. (1) 33x Eric Turner, Hermitage, MO
15. (18) 28 Eddie Carrier Jr., Salt Rock, WV
16. (19) 1x Jack Sullivan, Greenbrier, AR
17. (17) 85d Mark Dotson, Cameron, MO
18. (20) 21JR Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville, AR
19. (15) 5 Jared Landers, Batesville, AR
20. (26) 21T Travis Dickes, Madison, NE
21. (13) 8 Craig Vosbergen, Western Australia
22. (23) 7L Jerry Lierly, Camp Point, IL
23. (24) 19R Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, IA
24. (12) 25F Jason Feger, Bloomington, IL
25. (25) 14 Brad Looney, Republic, MO
26. (21) 21 Billy Moyer, Batesville, AR
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