Ryan Gustin and the #19R Gressel Racing team competed in the co-sanctioned Lucas Oil MLRA/Late Model Dirt Series "Battle at the Beach 50" on Friday night at the Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill. After a second-place finish in his heat race behind Scott Bloomquist, Gustin was scheduled to roll off seventh, but the team was late to staging and was forced to start at the rear of the 28-car field for the 50-lap main event. All that did was make "The Reaper" mad and he stole the show with an amazing run back up to a seventh-place finish. The team heads for the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., on Saturday for the $10,000-to-win CMH Diamond Nationals.
O'Neal wins terrific "Battle at the Beach 50" at Tri-City Speedway
GRANITE CITY, Ill. -- A day after celebrating his birthday, current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points leader, Don O'Neal gave himself quite a present by winning the Battle at the Beach 50 on Friday Night at Tri-City Speedway. O'Neal took the lead from his teammate Steve Francis on lap 26 and withstood challenges from Jimmy Owens and Scott Bloomquist for the win.
In a battle amongst the top three in LOLMDS points standings, O'Neal held on for his fifth series win of the season. Bloomquist snuck by Owens at the end to finish second. Owens came home third, followed by 12th starting, Brian Birkhofer, and Francis rounded out the top five.
"What a win for this Clint Bowyer Race Team tonight! I saw Jimmy pull alongside a few times and I thought I had better get going. That top line was going away. The car handled really well whether we ran low, in the middle, or the top. It got pretty loose there at the end. I kept my pace pretty good, there were a few lapped cars that actually helped up keep the lead. The track was in excellent shape tonight, and I hope the fans got their money's worth," said the winner.
"Steve [Francis] got off to a good start. He had a really good car. I just kept digging and digging, and was finally able to get by him. I want to thank my crew chief Jeremy Justice, Tony Trent, Barry and Lance Wright. Lance couldn't be here tonight. He is with his daughter who just had surgery. Thanks to Peak Antifreeze and Motor Oil, Crawford Supply, Traeger Grills, Cometic Gasket, Ohlins, Georgia Boot, Toyota, and Clements Race Engines."
Bloomquist was able to overcome a few early setbacks; falling to fifth at one point; to collect the second place money. "We had a really good car; the track was just spectacular all night. I had a run there a few times, and I thought I was going to get both Don and Jimmy for the lead. Another second place finish for us tonight. It feels good knowing we have a car capable of winning every time out. I have to thank Ole Smoky Moonshine, Penske Shocks, Base, Andy Durham Engines and Randy Sweet. We will head to Wheatland tomorrow night and hopefully come home with a victory."
Owens was in the hunt trying to make it back-to-back wins after a stunning run from 17th place to win at 201 last Saturday. "Wow what a race, at one point there was five of us racing for the lead. I tried a few times to slide up there in front of him [O'Neal], but I was going to race him clean. Then I got into the wall and that ended any chance I had of passing him for the win. Then here comes Scott and he got underneath me for second. We had a good point's night and we'll head down to Wheatland tomorrow and try to get us another win there. Thanks my Mike Reece, Reece Monument Company, Sunoco, FORD, and everybody else on this car."
Completing the top ten were Jared Landers, Ryan Gustin, Chad Simpson, Billy Moyer Jr. and Terry Phillips.
In preliminary action, Jim Shereck set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group A) amongst the 37 entrants, with a lap of 14.733 seconds. Steve Francis set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 15.066 seconds. Billy Moyer Jr., Scott Bloomquist, Steve Francis, and Don O'Neal won their respective heat races. Brandon Overton and Jared Landers won their respective B-Mains.
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Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Friday, July 11, 2014
"Battle at the Beach 50"
Tri-City Speedway, Granite City, Ill.
Miller Welders Fast Time Group A: Jim Shereck, 14.733 seconds.
Miller Welders Fast Time Group B: Steve Francis, 15.066 seconds.
Fast Shafts Heat Race #1 (10 laps, top 4 transfer): Billy Moyer Jr., Jimmy Owens, Jim Shereck, Earl Pearson Jr., Brandon Overton, Jeremy Payne, Scott Weber, Kolby Vandenbergh, Bob Martintoni, Paul Schrempf.
Eibach Springs Heat Race #2 (10 laps, top 4 transfer): Scott Bloomquist, Ryan Gustin, Jason Hughes, Dennis Erb Jr., Travis Dickes, Tim Manville, Chris Fetter, Scott Lewis, Derek Fetter.
Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 (10 laps, top 4 transfer): Steve Francis, Eddie Carrier Jr., Randy Korte, Chad Simpson, Jack Sullivan, Tony Jackson Jr., Jason Papich, Craig Vosbergen, Gavin Landers.
FK Rod Ends Heat Race #4 (10 laps, top 4 transfer): Don O'Neal, John Blankenship, Brian Birkhofer, Terry Phillips, Jared Landers, Billy Laycock, Michael Kloos, Steven Karnes, Paul Bailey.
JRi Shocks B-Main #1 (12 laps, top 3 transfer): Brandon Overton, Tim Manville, Travis Dickes, Jeremy Payne, Scott Weber, Chris Fetter, Scott Lewis, Bob Martintoni, Derek Fetter, Paul Schrempf, Kolby Vandenbergh.
CV Products B-Main #2 (12 laps, top 3 transfer): Jared Landers, Jack Sullivan, Tony Jackson Jr., Jason Papich, Michael Kloos, Billy Laycock, Gavin Landers, Steven Karnes.
Feature Finish (50 laps):
1. (4) 5 Don O'Neal, Martinsville, IN
2. (3) 0 Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, TN
3. (5) 20 Jimmy Owens, Newport, TN
4. (11) 15b Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, IA
5. (2) 15 Steve Francis, Ashland, KY
6. (17) 777 Jared Landers, Batesville, AR
7. (28) 19R Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, IA
8. (13) 25c Chad Simpson, Mt. Vernon, IA
9. (1) 21jr Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville, AR
10. (15) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, MO
11. (8) 17 Jim Shereck, St. Charles, MO
12. (16) 5e Brandon Overton, Appling, GA
13. (18) 33T Tim Manville, Highland, IL
14. (12) 44 Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville, FL
15. (14) 28e Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, IL
16. (19) 18x Jack Sullivan, Greenbrier, AR
17. (21) 56 Tony Jackson Jr., Lebanon, MO
18. (22) 91p Jason Papich, Nipomo, CA
19. (10) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, OK
20. (27) 5A Paul Schrempf, St. Louis, MO
21. (26) 6k Michael Kloos, Trenton, IL
22. (6) 28 Eddie Carrier Jr., Salt Rock, WV
23. (7) 23 John Blankenship, Williamson, WV
24. (20) 6T Travis Dickes, Madison, NE
25. (9) 00 Randy Korte, Highland, IL
26. (24) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, MO
27. (23) 92w Scott Weber, Festus, MO
28. (25) 99L Scott Lewis, Henderson, CO
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