Ryan Gustin and the #19R Gressel Racing team competed with the Lucas Oil MLRA/Late Model Dirt Series on Saturday, July 12, for the 8th Annual CMH Diamond Nationals at the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo. A third-place finish in his heat race put "The Reaper" on the outside of the sixth row for the start of the 50-lap main event. The race saw only one caution flag and that was for a multi-car accident four laps into the race. Gustin went on to finish 13th. The team heads to the Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., on Tuesday, July 15, for the "Clash of the Titans 2.0" at the half-mile dirt oval where Gustin hopes his experience at the half-mile oval can get the blue and gold Rocket chassis into victory lane.
Owens wins CMH Diamond Nationals at Lucas Oil Speedway
WHEATLAND, Mo. -- Jimmy Owens returned to dominance on Saturday Night at Lucas Oil Speedway by winning the 8th Annual CMH Diamond Nationals. With car owner Mike Reece looking on, Owens ran away from Scott Bloomquist to record his 50th career win with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. The event was co-sanctioned with the Lucas Oil MLRA Late Models.
Both Owens and Bloomquist entered the event with 49 wins, each, in series history. Owens initially took the lead on lap three from Earl Pearson Jr. and then had to fight off the challenges of Bloomquist. Owens and Bloomquist ran side-by-side for a handful of laps in heavy traffic. Bloomquist led for four laps until Owens pulled ahead for good on lap 19. The race saw only one caution flag and that was for a multi-car accident four laps into the race.
Jesse Stovall charged from the16th starting spot to finish fourth. He survived a torrid battle with Don O'Neal, who entered the event as the LOLMDS points leader and finished fifth.
"Man, I don't know what to say. The car was super good all night. It's great to win here in front of my car owner and this tremendous crowd. The track was probably the best I have ever seen it from start to finish. We could run anywhere on it. I don't know what it is about this place, but for some reason we can get around here pretty good", stated Jimmy Owens in victory lane.
"I got by Earl early on, and then we had that one caution. Then I got into some big-time traffic and Scott caught me. We had a heck of a race for a while. Everybody out there was giving everybody plenty of room to maneuver. Once we got back in front, I was hoping the race would stay green and it did. That's just a testament to the drivers that raced tonight and the track conditions. I have to thank Reece Monument Company, Edge Services, Ohlins, Sunoco, Red Line Oil, FORD, and Keyser. It was a great win for us", Owens concluded. With his sixth series victory of 2014, Owens moved ahead of O'Neal in the series championship point standings by just five points heading into Tuesday's event at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas.
Bloomquist recorded yet another second -place finish, but could not keep pace with Owens over the last half of the race. "He [Owens] was really good tonight; I kind of made some adjustments on the car that didn't turn out liked I had hoped. The car has been solid no doubt. The track was just outstanding to race on tonight. Everyone could race from the bottom to the top. We needed to be a little freer with the car. But man one spot again, that's all we need. We have a few days off to regroup before we head to Lakeside, so we will hope for better results then. I have to thank Ole Smoky Moonshine, Penske Shocks, Andy Durham Race Engines, and Randy Sweet."
Pearson led the first two circuits, and then managed to stay in the top three for the rest of the race, coming home third behind Owens and Bloomquist. "What a great crowd tonight! Having Forrest Lucas was here tonight was a real honor. The track was just was superb tonight. Gary Hubert and his crew are really doing a great job with the track prep. We were good early on and could stay up there with those two, but I went to the top and got faster, but I had lost so much ground to them, I wasn't going to able to catch them without a caution flag. I have to thank Bobby Labonte, Lucas Oil Products, MAVTV American Real, Sunoco and everyone else on the team."
Completing the top ten were Steve Francis, Will Vaught, John Blankenship, Brandon Overton, and Terry Phillips.
In preliminary action, Justin Asplin set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group A) amongst the 41 entrants, with a lap of15.263 seconds. Scott Lewis set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 15.439 seconds. Earl Pearson Jr., Jimmy Owens, Scott Lewis, and Scott Bloomquist won their respective heat races. Jeremy Payne and Josh Hughes won their respective B-Mains.
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Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Saturday Night, July 12th, 2014
CMH Diamond Nationals
Lucas Oil Speedway - Wheatland, MO
Miller Welders Fast Time Group A: Justin Asplin / 15.263 seconds
Miller Welders Fast Time Group B: Scott Lewis/ 15.439 seconds
Fast Shafts Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Earl Pearson Jr., Justin Asplin, Dennis Erb Jr., Don O'Neal, Austin Rettig, Chad Simpson, Jack Sullivan, Austin Siebert, Craig Vosbergen, Clay Fisher, Jason Sivils-DNS
Eibach Springs Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jimmy Owens, Brandon Overton, Terry Phillips, Mark Dotson, Jeremy Payne, Garrett Alberson, Reid Millard, Mark Daye, Farrel Skelton, Larry Jones
Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Scott Lewis, Will Vaught, Tony Jackson Jr., Jason Hughes, Jason Hughes, Jared Landers, Eddie Carrier Jr., Josh Hughes, Jason Papich, John Blankenship
FK Rod Ends Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Scott Bloomquist, Steve Francis, Ryan Gustin, Jesse Stovall, Brantlee Gotschall, Travis Dickes, Jason Bodenhamer, Brandon McCormick, Cody Holtkamp, Gavin Landers
JRi Shocks B-Main #1 (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer) Finish: Jeremy Payne, Chad Simpson, Garrett Alberson, Austin Rettig, Jack Sullivan, Austin Siebert, Clay Fisher, Mark Daye, Reid Millard, Farrel Skelton, Larry Jones
CV Products B-Main #2 (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer) Finish: Josh Hughes, Travis Dickes, Jason Bodenhamer, Eddie Carrier Jr., Brantlee Gotschall, Jared Landers, Jason Hughes, Brandon McCormick, Jason Papich, Cody Holtkamp, John Blankenship, Gavin Landers
Feature Finish (50 Laps):
1 3 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
2 4 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
3 1 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL
4 16 00s Jesse Stovall Billing, MO
5 13 5 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
6 8 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
7 6 1V Will Vaught Crane, MO
8 24 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
9 7 5e Brandon Overton Appling, GA
10 11 75 Terry Phillips Springfield, MO
11 19 25c Chad Simpson Mt. Vernon, IA
12 9 28e Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL
13 12 19R Ryan Gustin Marshalltown, IA
14 10 56 Tony Jackson Jr. Lebanon, MO
15 27 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
16 5 77A Justin Asplin Birch Tree, MO
17 23 28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Salt Rock, WV
18 14 12 Jason Hughes Watts, OK
19 18 7H Josh Hughes West Plains, MO
20 20 6T Travis Dickes Madison, NE
21 28 91p Jason Papich Nipomo, CA
22 25 16 Austin Siebert Grandview, MO
23 21 43 Garrett Alberson Las Cruces, NM
24 26 14m Reid Millard Jefferson City, MO
25 2 99L Scott Lewis Henderson, CO
26 17 186 Jeremy Payne Springfield, MO
27 15 85d Mark Dotson Cameron, MO
28 22 2b Jason Bodenhamer Centerview, MO
Race Statistics
Entrants: 41
Lap Leaders: Earl Pearson Jr. (Laps 1 - 2); Jimmy Owens (Laps 3 - 14); Scott Bloomquist (Laps 15 - 18); Jimmy Owens (Laps 19 - 50)
Caution Flags: Jeremy Payne, Jason Papich, Jason Bodenhamer (Lap 4)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Eddie Carrier Jr., John Blankenship
Lucas Oil Midwest Latemodel Racing Association Provisionals: Austin Siebert, Reid Millard
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: Jared Landers, Jason Papich
Wrisco Feature Winner: Jimmy Owens
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: John Blankenship (Started: 24th; Finished: 8th; Advanced 16 Positions)
Bad Boy Mowers TV Challenge Winner: Jimmy Owens
Keyser Mfg Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Jimmy Owens
Allstar Performer of the Race: John Blankenship
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Jimmy Owens
Dunn Benson Ford Rookie of the Race: Jason Hughes
Midwest Sheet Metal Highest Finishing Rookie: Jason Hughes
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Club 29 Race Cars
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Chris Fox (Jimmy Owens)
HAWK Performance Fastest Lap of the Race: Jimmy Owens (Lap #2 - 16.176 seconds)
Time of Race: 21 minutes 11 seconds
Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:
1 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN 4835
2 5 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN 4830
3 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 4435
4 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL 4320
5 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY 4260
6 28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Salt Rock, WV 4145
7 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV 3860
8 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR 3790
9 28e Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL 3550
10 12 Jason Hughes Watts, OK 3320
11 91p Jason Papich Nipomo, CA 3200
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