“Newport Nightmare” Jimmy Owens Captures Late Model Nationals Night #1!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
“Newport Nightmare” Jimmy Owens Captures Late Model Nationals Night #1!
by Bill Wright
KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA, September 29, 2011 – Jimmy Owens of Newport, Indiana snatched the win in the opening night of the 8th Annual Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals Thursday night at the Knoxville Raceway. The win was Owens’ first at the famous half-mile oval and was worth $7,000.
Darrell Lanigan led the 25-lap feature early from his starting spot outside of row one. By lap five, Owens was second, ahead of Steve Francis, Chad Simpson and Austin Hubbard. Francis’ solid run came to an end with seven laps in the books when he broke going down the front stretch in a battle with Owens for second.
The restart saw Lanigan leading Owens, Hubbard, Simpson and Shannon Babb back to green. Owens pulled ahead of the leader down the backstretch, but Lanigan maintained the lead when passing the flagstand.
On lap nine, Owens found a line on the cushion to his liking, and the lead pair exchanged the lead three times, before Owens took control for good on lap twelve. One final caution slowed the event when Jason Rauen spun with thirteen laps down. The lead trio of Owens, Lanigan and Hubbard held their ground the rest of the way.
“We’ve been here the last two or three years, and we’ve been close a time or two,” said Owens in Victory Lane. “To win this main event, is pretty good. Maybe we can get it going the rest of the weekend. We didn’t qualify well, we were pretty good in the heat, and things went our way in the feature. I think we capitalized on having a good car.”
Brian Birkhofer finished fourth and emerged as the high point man for the night, along with Hubbard (492 points). Babb was fifth, and Scott James, Billy Moyer, Will Vaught, Scott Bloomquist and Dale McDowell completed the top ten.
Bloomquist registered quick time and won the first heat. Other heat winners included Birkhofer, Hubbard, Francis and Jimmy Mars. Chris Spieker won the C main and Jason Feger took the B.
Drivers will get a chance to improve their scores on Friday, with action starting at 6:45 p.m. in the second night of action! Tickets still remain, and can be purchased at www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com, or by calling 641 842-5431!
Points for Night #1
1 15B Birkhofer, Brian Muscatine, IA 492
2 19 Hubbard, Austin Laurel, DE 492
3 0 Bloomquist, Scott Mooresburg, TN 484
4 20 Owens, Jimmy Newport, TN 477
5 18 Babb, Shannon Moweaqua, IL 474
6 1 Lannigan, Darrell Union, KY 474
7 81 James, Scott Lawrenceburg, IN 460
8 1V Vaught, Will Crane, MO 451
9 15 Francis, Steve Ashland, KY 450
10 25 Simpson, Chad Mount Vernon, IA 450
11 777 Landers, Jared Welcome, NC 442
12 17M McDowell, Dale Chicamauga, GA 441
13 11T Reddick, Tyler DuQuoin, IL 432
14 21 Moyer, Sr., Bill Batesville, AR 431
15 25F Feger, Jason Bloomington, IL 430
16 39 McCready, Tim Watertown, NY 429
17 32 Simpson, Chris Oxford, IA 427
18 3S Shirley, Brian Chatham, IL 422
19 28M Mars, Jimmy Menomonie, WI 404
20 98 Rauen, Jason Farley, IA 403
21 56 Eckrich, Andy Iowa City, IA 399
22 18E Wells, Eric Hazard, KY 397
23 23 Blankenship, John Morristown, TN 397
24 1M Moss, Rob Iowa City, IA 392
25 41 Neat, Brad Trinity, NC 389
26 7R Robinson, Kent Bloomington, IN 383
27 27H Harris, Brian Davenport, IA 367
28 S9 Schlieper, Dan Oak Creek, WI 367
29 44 Pearson, Jr., Earl Trinity, NC 365
30 58 Eckrich, Dave Oxford, IA 341
31 2 Smith, Brady Solon Springs, WI 339
32 99JR Heckenast, Jr., Frank Frankfert, IL 339
33 1S Sullivan, Jack Greenbrier, AR 334
34 50 Eckrich, Denny Tiffin, IA 326
35 71 O'Neal, Don Martinsville, IN 323
36 22M McKenna, Charlie Clear Lake, IA 322
37 5 Duty, John Happy Valley, OR 322
38 16 Bruening, Tyler Decorah, IA 321
39 15H Hurst, Jeremiah Dubuque, IA 318
40 25H Hansen, Kerry Spencer, WI 310
41 5B Marlar, Mike Winfield, TN 304
42 56X Spieker, Chris Massena, IA 300
43 53 Cook, Ray Brasstown, NC 299
44 22 George, Jill Cedar Falls, IA 296
45 C9 Casebolt, Steve Richmond, IN 291
46 21B Bell, Rich Sheffield, IL 291
47 33G Glendenning, Paul Mt. Ayr, IA 283
48 3 Sather, Kevin Ankeny, IA 280
49 51 Furman, Matt Columbus, OH 263
50 48 Lance, Tim Peoria, IL 261
51 21JR Moyer, Jr., Billy Batesville, AR 260
52 5M Fryer, Mike Freeport, IL 258
53 99D DeFrance, Darrel Marshalltown, IA 258
54 57J McCool, Bub Vicksburg, MS 254
55 6 Humphrey, Al Giltner, NE 246
56 8 Wallace, Mike Carter Lake, IA 240
57 31 Utter, Jason Columbus Junction, IA 236
58 99 Lewis, Scott Brighton, CO 232
59 44ZO Grosse, Alonzo Council Bluffs, IA 227
60 93 Johnson, Jay West Burlington, IA 226
61 10 Coover, Junior Norfolk, NE 225
62 15C Schroeder, Curt Ames, IA 222
63 33 Marlof, Nick Moscow, IA 221
64 7C Chenoweth, Chad Huron, SD 213
Late Models Results
Time Trials (Group Qualifying): 1. 0, Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, TN, 17.335; 2. 15B, Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, IA, 17.429; 3. 19, Austin Hubbard, Laurel, DE, 17.511; 4. 15, Steve Francis, Ashland, KY, 17.570; 5. 71, Don O’Neal, Martinsville IN, 17.609; 6. 777, Jared Landers, Welcome, NC, 17.622; 7. 18, Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, IL, 17.625; 8. 20, Jimmy Owens, Newport, IN, 17.795; 9. 56, Andy Eckrich, Iowa City, IA, 17.818; 10. 1, Darrell Lanigan, Union, KY, 17.818; 11. 25, Chad Simpson, Mount Vernon, IA, 17.859; 12. 5B, Mike Marlar, Winfield, TN, 17.905; 13. 81, Scott James, Lawrenceburg, IN, 17.942; 14. 3s, Brian Shirley, Chatham, IL, 17.946; 15. 25F, Jason Feger, Bloomington, IL, 18.025; 16. 39, Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY, 18.027; 17. 1V, Will Vaught, Crane, MO, 18.027; 18. 11T, Tyler Reddick, Corning, CA, 18.045; 19. 1M, Rob Moss, Iowa City, IA, 18.049; 20. 17M, Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, GA, 18.073; 21. 27H, Brian Harris, Davenport, IA, 18.082; 22. C9, Steve Casebolt, Richmond, IN, 18.108; 23. 7R, Kent Robinson, Bloomington, IN, 18.126; 24. 58, Dave Eckrich, Oxford, IA, 18.150; 25. 98, Jason Rauen, Farley, IA, 18.190; 26. 25, Chris Simpson, Marion, IA, 18.202; 27. 18E, Eric Wells, Hazard, KY, 18.202; 28. 21, Billy Moyer, Batesville, AR, 18.249; 29. 2, Brady Smith, Solon Springs, WI, 18.318; 30. 44, Earl Pearson Jr., Trinity, NC, 18.328; 31. 50, Denny Eckrich, Oxford, IA, 18.337; 32. 51, Matt Furman, Columbus, OH, 18.361; 33. 1s, Jack Sullivan, Greenbrier, AR, 18.397; 34. 23, John Blankenship, Morristown, TN, 18.418; 35. 28M, Jimmy Mars, Menomonie, WI, 18.433; 36. 41, Brad Neat, Trinity, NC, 18.445; 37. 57J, Bub McCool, Vicksburg, MS, 18.455; 38. 99JR, Frank Heckenast Jr., Frankfurt, IL, 18.478; 39. 53, Ray Cook, Brasstown NC, 18.492; 40. 16, Tyler Bruening, Decorah, IA, 18.498; 41. 3, Kevin Sather, Ankeny, IA, 18.561; 42. 22M, Charlie McKenna, Clear Lake, IA, 18.568; 43. 21JR, Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville, AR, 18.613; 44. S9, Dan Schlieper, Sullivan, WI, 18.625; 45. 31, Jason Utter, Columbus Junction, IA, 18.697; 46. 56x, Chris Spieker, Massena, IA, 18.734; 47. 5, John Duty, Happy Valley, OR, 18.737; 48. 15H, Jeremiah Hurst, Dubuque, IA, 18.823; 49. 25H, Kerry Hansen, Spencer, WI, 18.833; 50. 22, Jill George, Cedar Falls, IA, 18.835; 51. 48, Tim Lance, Peoria, IL, 19.006; 52. 33G, Paul Glendenning, Mt. Ayr, IA, 19.050; 53. 5M, Mike Fryer, Freeport, IL, 19.116; 54. 8, Mike Wallace, Carter Lake, IA, 19.150; 55. 99D, Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown, IA, 19.235; 56. 6, Al Humphrey, Giltner, NE, 19.238; 57. 21B, Rich Bell, Sheffield, IL, 19.307; 58. 44zo, Alonzo Grosse, Council Bluffs, IA, 19.314; 59. 99, Scott Lewis, Brighton, CO, 19.338; 60. 10, Junior Coover, Norfolk, NE, 19.404; 61. 7c, Chad Chenoweth, Huron, SD, 19.480; 62. 15c, Curt Schroeder, Ames, IA, 20.277; 63. 33, Nick Marolf, Moscow, IA, 22.339; 64. 93, Jay Johnson, West Burlington, IA, NT.
Heat one (started), 12 laps, 3:50.4: 1. Scott Bloomquist (10) 2. Chris Simpson (5) 3. Chad Simpson (8) 4. Brad Neat (3) / 5. Jared Landers (9) 6. Tim McCreadie (7) 7. Denny Eckrich (4) 8. Brian Harris (6) / 9. Kevin Sather (2) 10. Tim Lance (11) 11. Al Humphrey (12) 12. Chad Chenoweth (13) 13. Chris Spieker (1)
Heat two (started), 12 laps, 3:46.8: 1. Brian Birkhofer (10) 2. Will Vaught (7) 3. Shannon Babb (9) 4. Eric Wells (5) / 5. Charlie McKenna (2) 6. Curt Schroeder (13) 7. Rich Bell (12) 8. John Duty (1) / 9. Paul Glendenning (11) 10. Steve Casebolt (6) 11. Bub McCool (3) 12. Matt Furman (4) 13. Mike Marlar (8)
Heat three (started), 12 laps, 3:51.1: 1. Austin Hubbard (8) 2. Billy Moyer (5) 3. Scott James (6) 4. Jimmy Owens (9) / 5. Tyler Reddick (7) 6. Kent Robinson (4) 7. Jeremiah Hurst (1) 8. Frank Heckenast Jr. (3) / 9. Jack Sullivan (2) 10. Nick Marolf (12) 11. Mike Fryer (11) 12. Alonzo Grosse (10) DNS – Billy Moyer Jr.
Heat four (started), 12 laps, 3:51.2: 1. Steve Francis (10) 2. John Blankenship (4) 3. Brian Shirley (8) 4. Dan Schlieper (2) / 5. Rob Moss (7) 6. Brady Smith (5) 7. Kerry Hansen (1) 8. Andy Eckrich (9) / 9. Jay Johnson (13) 10. Dave Eckrich (6) 11. Scott Lewis (12) 12. Ray Cook (3) 13. Mike Wallace (11)
Heat five (started), 12 laps, NT: 1. Jimmy Mars (4) 2. Dale McDowell (7) 3. Darrell Lanigan (9) 4. Jason Rauen (6) / 5. Jason Feger (8) 6. Earl Pearson Jr. (5) 7. Jill George (1) 8. Tyler Bruening (3) / 9. Darrel DeFrance (11) 10. Junior Coover (12) 11. Jason Utter (2) 12. Don O’Neal (10)
C main (started), 15 laps, 5:05.1: 1. Chris Spieker (5) 2. Jack Sullivan (2) 3. Ray Cook (3) 4. Dave Eckrich (1) / 5. Mike Fryer (7) 6. Darrel DeFrance (9) 7. Tim Lance (6) 8. Al Humphrey (10) 9. Kevin Sather (4) 10. Mike Wallace (8) 11. Billy Moyer Jr. (18) 12. Scott Lewis (12) 13. Jay Johnson (17) 14. Alonzo Grosse (11) 15. Nick Marolf (16) 16. Junior Coover (13) 17. Curt Schroeder (15) 18. Chad Chenoweth (14) DNS – Don O’Neal, Mike Marlar, Steve Casebolt, Matt Furman, Bub McCool, Jason Utter
B main (started), 20 laps, NT: 1. Jason Feger (3) 2. Tim McCreadie (4) 3. Tyler Reddick (5) 4. Jared Landers (1) / 5. Kent Robinson (8) 6. Rob Moss (6) 7. Earl Pearson Jr. (10) 8. Andy Eckrich (2) 9. Frank Heckenast Jr. (12) 10. John Duty (15) 11. Jeremiah Hurst (16) 12. Brian Harris (7) 13. Chris Spieker (21) 14. Kerry Hansen (17) 15. Jack Sullivan (22) 16. Tyler Bruening (13) 17. Rich Bell (20) 18. Charlie McKenna (14) 19. Dave Eckrich (24) 20. Jill George (18) 21. Brady Smith (9) 22. Ray Cook (23) 23. Paul Glendenning (19) 24. Denny Eckrich (11)
A main (started), 25 laps, NT: 1. Jimmy Owens (3) 2. Darrell Lanigan (2) 3. Austin Hubbard (6) 4. Brian Birkhofer (7) 5. Shannon Babb (4) 6. Scott James (9) 7. Billy Moyer (16) 8. Will Vaught (11) 9. Scott Bloomquist (8) 10. Dale McDowell (12) 11. Chris Simpson (14) 12. Tyler Reddick (23) 13. Chad Simpson (1) 14. Tim McCreadie (22) 15. Jimmy Mars (18) 16. Jason Feger (21) 17. Brad Neat (19) 18. John Blankenship (17) 19. Jared Landers (24) 20. Dan Schlieper (20) 21. Jason Rauen (13) 22. Eric Wells (15) 23. Steve Francis (5) 24. Brian Shirley (10). Lap Leaders: Lanigan 1-8, Owens 9, Lanigan 10-11, Owens 12-25.
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