Pearson and Erb on Front Row Saturday Night for Bad Boy 98 at Batesville

LOCUST GROVE, AR (May 17, 2013) – Four-time Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion, Earl Pearson Jr. and Dennis Erb Jr. will make-up the front row for Saturday Night’s Bad Boy 98 at Batesville Motor Speedway. The two veteran drivers captured wins in heats one and three during tonight’s preliminary action of the $20,000-to-win event.

Pearson was the fastest qualifier among the 40 entrants and led wire-to-wire in the first heat. He helmed the Bobby Labonte Racing, Lucas Oil Products –sponsored Longhorn Chassis Chevrolet during the heat. Current LOLMDS point’s leader, Don O’Neal slipped back to third at the start of the 12-lap race, but recovered to finish second. Other transfers from the Wiles Drives Driveshafts first heat were first-time Batesville visitor, Eddie Carrier Jr. and Chris Simpson.

In the second heat race, defending COMP Cams Topless 100 winner, Steve Francis soared to the win. Brady Smith, last week’s LOLMDS winner at LaSalle, finished second. Jared Landers finished third followed by Jesse Stovall.

Dennis Erb Jr. raced to the victory in heat three. Bobby Pierce, in his Batesville debut was running second, until he slowed and went pitside. John Blankenship rallied late to finish second. Timothy Culp earned the third spot just ahead of Tyler Reddick.

Wendell Wallace dominated the fourth heat, taking the win. Jimmy Mars and Eric Jacobsen had a fierce battle for second the entire distance, with Mars edging Jacobsen at the stripe. Hall of Famer, Billy Moyer grabbed the fourth and final transfer spot from his son late in the race. Scott Bloomquist was running second and suffered the same fate as Bobby Pierce, early in the heat.

In preliminary action, Earl Pearson Jr. set the overall time (Group A) amongst the 40 entrants, with a lap of 13.679 seconds. Bobby Pierce set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 13.738 seconds. Earl Pearson Jr., Steve Francis, Dennis Erb Jr., and Wendell Wallace won their respective heat races.

The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will be back in action tomorrow night, Saturday, May 18th, to close-out the Bad Boy 98 at Batesville Motor Speedway in Batesville, AR. The event will be packed with B-Mains, and the 98-Lap, $20,000-to-win main event. For more information on Batesville Motor Speedway, log onto www.batesvillemotorspeedway.net.

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.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Race Summary

Friday Night, May 17th, 2013
Bad Boy 98 – Batesville Motor Speedway – Batesville, AR

Red Buck Fast Time Group A: Earl Pearson Jr. / 13.679 seconds

Red Buck Fast Time Group B: Bobby Pierce / 13.738 seconds

Wiles Drive Shafts Heat Race #1 (12 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Earl Pearson Jr., Don O’Neal, Eddie Carrier Jr., Chris Simpson, Jimmy Owens, Brandon Smith, Jack Sullivan, Jay Brunson, Shawn Knuckles, Robert Baker

Eibach Springs Heat Race #2 (12 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Steve Francis, Brady Smith, Jared Landers, Jesse Stovall, Chris Wall, David Breazeale, Stacy Taylor, Jerry Lierly, Braden Mitchell, Brian Ritchie

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 (12 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Dennis Erb Jr., John Blankenship, Timothy Culp, Tyler Reddick, Kyle Beard, Keith Craft, Terry Phillips, Jeff Floyd, BJ Robinson, Bobby Pierce

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #4 (12 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Wendell Wallace, Jimmy Mars, Eric Jacobsen, Billy Moyer, Billy Moyer Jr., AJ Diemel, Mark Whitener, Brian Birkhofer, Austin Rettig, Scott Bloomquist

CV Products B-Main #1 (15 Laps, Top 3 Transfer):

CV Products – “B” MAIN #1 LINE UP
DRIVER	INSIDE	OUTSIDE	DRIVER
Jimmy Owens	20	71w	Chris Wall
Brandon Smith	115	54	David Breazeale
Jack Sullivan	1x	27T	Stacy Taylor
Jay Brunson	23B	7L	Jerry Lierly
Shawn Knuckles	14JR	64	Braden Mitchell
Robert Baker	17m	3	Brian Ritchie

Wrisco Aluminum B-Main #2 (15 Laps, Top 3 Transfer):

Wrisco Aluminum – “B” MAIN #2 LINE UP
DRIVER	INSIDE	OUTSIDE	DRIVER
Kyle Beard	86	21JR	Billy Moyer Jr.
Keith Craft	8c	58	AJ Diemel
Terry Phillips	75	58w	Mark Whitener
Jeff Floyd	F1	15b	Brian Birkhofer
BJ Robinson	F5	01	Austin Rettig
Bobby Pierce	32	0	Scott Bloomquist

Feature Line Up (98 Laps):

“A” MAIN LINE UP
DRIVER	INSIDE	OUTSIDE	DRIVER
Earl Pearson Jr.	44	28e	Dennis Erb Jr.
Steve Francis	15	6m	Wendell Wallace
Don O’Neal	71	23	John Blankenship
Brady Smith	2	28m	Jimmy Mars
Eddie Carrier Jr.	28	C8	Timothy Culp
Jared Landers	5	5J	Eric Jacobsen
Chris Simpson	32x	11T	Tyler Reddick
Jesse Stovall	14w	21	Billy Moyer