Bloomquist edges Moore, Gustin in terrific finish at Ark-La-Tex Speedway

VIVIAN, La, -- Scott Bloomquist raced to his 47th career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win on Saturday night at Ark-La-Tex Speedway in thrilling fashion. Bloomquist took the lead on the 48th lap and led Ray Moore and Ryan Gustin to the checkered flag in a close finish. Bloomquist took over the second spot on lap 20 and trailed Moore until the two entered lapped traffic in the final 10 laps when he began closing on Moore's rear bumper.

"This is our first time here," said Bloomquist, who became the 10th different winner in 11 LOLMDS races this season. "I heard the racing would be two- and three-wide easily here. Well it is definitely true! I hope the crowd enjoyed that one. Our Sweet-Bloomquist car has been good all year. I have to thank Hawkeye Trucking, Durham Racing Engines, Lucas Oil Products and Penske Shocks."

"The track in the heat races was great and we could run anywhere, then the top started getting dominant during the feature. We set up our car for the end with our tire choice. When we caught him (Moore), there were a few cars in front of us, and I just picked the right line to get by him. He drove a heck of a race, we had just enough laps to catch him and pass him," said Bloomquist afterwards.

Moore and Gustin battled with Bloomquist to the very end.

"This would have been the biggest win of my career with the competition that was here tonight. We won the Pelican here and that was huge for us. Scott is just too good. Once he got by me; I knew I was in trouble. I was trying to hang on for second ahead of Gustin," said the driver of the Moore Wireline MB Customs entry. "I really wanted to win for the home-state fans as well as they have been behind me since I started my racing career. We came up a little short tonight, but we will be back and try again."

Gustin, in his first-full year of Late Model racing, nearly stole the win at the end.

"We were coming up quickly in the final five laps. The top was going away, and our car just didn't work as well on the bottom to middle part of the track. To run third against these guys says a lot about our team as we continue to grow. We have a lot to learn about these cars, but I think once we get the hang of it, we are going to get some big wins," said the driver of Gressel Racing Rocket Chassis, #19r.

Jimmy Owens, the three-time and reigning series champion, charged from 18th to fourth and fast qualifier Don O'Neal rounded out the top five. Completing the top 10 were Chris Wall, Brian Shirley, Tim McCreadie, Ray Cook and Earl Pearson Jr.

In preliminary action, O'Neal set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group B) amongst the 51 entrants, with a lap of 13.607 seconds. Gustin set the fastest time in Group A with a time of 14.095 seconds. Morgan Bagley, Eddie Carrier Jr., McCreadie, Moore, Bloomquist and Billy Moyer won their respective heat races. Kyle Bronson and Pearson won their respective B-Mains.

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

Tomorrow night's event at Outlaw Motorsports Park has been postponed due to impending weather being forecast for tomorrow evening. Officials of Outlaw Motorsports Park and the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series hope to find a suitable make-up date for this season, if not it will be tentatively rescheduled for 2015.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Ark-La-Tex Speedway, Vivian, La.
Saturday, April 5, 2014

Miller Welders Fast Time Group A: Ryan Gustin, 14.095 seconds.
Miller Welders Fast Time Group B: Don O'Neal, 13.607 seconds.

Fast Shafts Heat Race #1 (10 laps, top 3 transfer): Morgan Bagley, Ryan Gustin, John Blankenship, Jon Mitchell, Jeff Chanler, Brett Frazier, Odie Green, Tommy Surrett, Rick Hearnsberger.

Eibach Springs Heat Race #2 (10 laps, top 3 transfer): Eddie Carrier Jr., Ray Cook, Shane Hebert, Kyle Bronson, Billy Moyer Jr., Bub McCool, Robbie Stuart, Lee Davis.

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 (10 laps, top 3 transfer): Tim McCreadie, Jack Sullivan, Randy Weaver, Dennis Erb Jr., Clay Fisher, Chandler Petty, Kody Mea, Shannon Scott.

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #4 (10 laps, top 3 transfer): Ray Moore, Don O'Neal, Jesse Stovall, Kyle Beard, Anthony Burroughs, Allen Murray, Steve Francis, Chris Brown, Kevin Ray.

Fast Shafts Heat Race #5 (10 laps, top 3 transfer): Scott Bloomquist, Chris Wall, Brian Shirley, Earl Pearson Jr., Robert Baker, B.J. Robinson, Wendell Wallace, Brandon Smith, Lynn Beach.
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Eibach Springs Heat Race #6 (10 laps, top 3 transfer): Billy Moyer, Jason Papich, Jimmy Owens, Jared Landers, Jason Hughes, Timothy Culp, Raymond Merrill, David Payne.

JRi Shocks B-Main #1 (12 laps, top 2 transfer): Kyle Bronson, Dennis Erb Jr., Jon Mitchell, Bub McCool, Jeff Chanler, Tommy Surrett, Clay Fisher, Billy Moyer Jr., Robbie Stuart, Brett Frazier, Kody Mea, Shannon Scott, Rick Hearnsberger, Lee Davis, Odie Green, DNS - Chandler Petty.

CV Products B-Main #2 (12 laps, top 2 transfer): Earl Pearson Jr., Kyle Beard, Jared Landers, Robert Baker, Jason Hughes, Steve Francis, Anthony Burroughs, Timothy Culp, B.J. Robinson, Wendell Wallace, Raymond Merrill, Brandon Smith, Lynn Beach, Kevin Ray, Chris Brown, Allen Murray, David Payne.

A-Main (50 laps):
1. (4) 0 Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2. (2) 93m Ray Moore, Haughton, La.
3. (7) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
4. (18) 20 Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
5. (8) 5 Don O'Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
6. (10) 71w Chris Wall, Springfield, La.
7. (16) 81 Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
8. (5) 39 Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
9. (9) 53 Ray Cook, Brasstown, N.C.
10. (20) 44 Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.
11. (21) 28e Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
12. (1) 14m Morgan Bagley, Tyler, Texas.
13. (12) 91p Jason Papich, Nipomo, Calif.
14. (27) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
15. (22) 86 Kyle Beard, Trumann, Ark.
16. (13) 23 John Blankenship, Williamson, W. Va.
17. (24) 777 Jared Landers, Batesville, Ark.
18. (3) 28 Eddie Carrier Jr., Salt Rock, W. Va.
19. (19) 40b Kyle Bronson, Tampa, Fla.
20. (17) 116 Randy Weaver, Crossville, Tenn.
21. (15) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La.
22. (26) 99 Clay Fisher, Dewitt, Ark.
23. (25) 47 Chandler Petty, Austin, Ark.
24. (28) 21jr Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville, Ark.
25. (6) 21 Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
26. (23) 15 Steve Francis, Ashland, Ky.
27. (14) 00s Jesse Stovall, Billing, Mo.
28. (11) 18 Jack Sullivan, Greenbrier, Ark.

Entrants: 51.
Time of Race: 23 minutes, 21 seconds.
Lap Leaders: Moore 1-47, Bloomquist 48-50.
Cautions: Weaver (lap 9); Bronson, Petty, Stovall, Sullivan (lap 11); Bronson (lap 21).
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Francis, Landers.
COMP Cams Series Provisionals: Petty, Fisher.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: Hughes, Moyer Jr.
Wrisco Feature Winner: Bloomquist.
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Owens (started 18th, finished 4th).
Keyser Manufacturing Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: O'Neal.
Allstar Performer of the Race: Owens.
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Owens.
Dunn Benson Ford Rookie of the Race: Papich.
Midwest Sheet Metal Highest Finishing Rookie: Papich.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Durham Race Engines.
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Bloomquist Race Cars.
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Matt Salmons (Bloomquist).
Hawk Performance Fastest Lap of the Race: Owens, 14.785 seconds, lap 48.

Lucas Oil Championship Points Standings:
1. 5 Don O'Neal, Martinsville, Ind. ... 1310
2. 44 Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville, Fla. ... 1250
3. 28 Eddie Carrier Jr., Salt Rock, W. Va. ... 1195
4. 15 Steve Francis, Ashland, Ky. ... 1190
5. 20 Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn. ... 1105
6. 0 Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn. ... 1085
6. 53 Ray Cook, Brasstown, N.C. ... 1085
8. 23 John Blankenship, Williamson, W. Va. ... 1055
9. 81 Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill. ... 970
10. 777 Jared Landers, Batesville, Ark. ... 945
11. 28e Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill. ... 935
12. 116 Randy Weaver, Crossville, Tenn. ... 850
13. 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla. ... 840
14. 91p Jason Papich, Nipomo, Calif. ... 755
14. 21jr Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville, Ark. ... 755