GRANITE CITY, IL (May 1, 2015)- Scott Bloomquist reached Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory lane for the first time this season on Friday Night. Bloomquist held on to win the “Spring Spectacular” at Tri-City Speedway after taking the lead from Bobby Pierce on lap 37, and fighting off a late-race surge from Earl Pearson Jr.
The win is the 55th of his career in LOLMDS competition. He becomes the ninth different winner this season on the tour. Earl Pearson Jr. made a last lap run on Bloomquist but came up a car length short at the checkered flag. Brandon Sheppard raced his way from eighth to finish third, followed by Clint Bowyer Racing teammates, Don O’Neal and Steve Francis.
“I have to thank my crew and all of my sponsors. We changed cars last night after Macon and we came here. This car ran just spectacular. The car was great tonight. Kevin Gundaker and his crew do an outstanding job prepping this track.”
Bloomquist started third and had a front row seat for the first 35 laps of the race while a terrific battle for the lead among the top five was going on. “I was just sitting there enjoying the way the race was unfolding. I am sure the crowd really was enjoying it was well. We got to second couple of times, then we faded back to third or fourth.”
With 35 laps complete, the first and only caution of the race came out. Up until that point, Pierce had been in front from the third lap on and looked to have a handle on the field. Just a lap after the restart, Pierce started to fade as his hopes of going to victory lane were rapidly disappearing.
Bloomquist was able to wrestle the lead from Pierce on lap 37. Pearson slowly climbed from his ninth starting spot throughout the race and was now running second. Bloomquist battled through lapped traffic in the last five laps holding off Pearson at the finish line.
“I would like to thank Crop Production Services and Dyna-Gro for coming on board in the last week. I also want to thank Reece Monument Company, Mark Martin Automotive, Penske Shocks, Base Racing Fuel, Lucas Oil Products, Horton Coal, and Sorbera Chiropractic,” said the 51-year-old Hall-of-Fame driver who drives a Sweet-Bloomquist Chassis powered by an Andy Durham Racing Engine.
Pearson re-gained the points lead over Jonathan Davenport with his runner-up finish. “I’d like to thank Carlton and Kemp Lamm, Dunn-Benson Ford, Lucas Oil Products, and Black Diamond Chassis. It’s a team effort and those people make it possible to do this.”
Sheppard kept his car glued to the top of the track for most of the 50 laps to secure his third place finish. “Yes it was a real good points night. We just didn’t have enough for Scott and Earl there at the end. I have to thank my dad and grandpa for making this possible and a big thanks to Valvoline, Kid’s Castle Learning Center, Champion Spark Plus, and Mark Richards at Rocket Chassis.”
Completing the top ten were Jimmy Mars Dennis Erb Jr., Ryan Unzicker, Jonathan Davenport, and Billy Laycock.
In preliminary action, Shannon Babb set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group A) amongst the 45 entrants, with a lap of 14.794 seconds. Dennis Erb Jr. set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 15.232 seconds. Shannon Babb, Scott Bloomquist, Dennis Erb Jr., and Bobby Pierce won their respective heat races. Jason Feger and Chris Brown won their respective B-Mains.
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Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Friday, May 1st, 2015
Spring Spectacular
Tri-City Speedway – Granite City, IL
Miller Welders Fast Time Group A: Shannon Babb / 14.794 seconds
Miller Welders Fast Time Group B: Dennis Erb Jr. / 15.232 seconds
Eibach Springs Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Shannon Babb, Jonathan Davenport, Earl Pearson, Jr., Jimmy Owens, Jason Feger, Chris Simpson, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Spencer Diercks, Jeremy Sneed, Austin Rettig, Kevin Cole, Chip Morgan
FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Scott Bloomquist, Steve Francis, Tim Manville, Jared Landers, Dewayne Kiefer, Billy Laycock, Matt Westfall, Devin Moran, Scott Weber, Kolby Vandenbergh, Mike Hammerle
Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Dennis Erb, Jr., Jimmy Mars, Billy Drake, Darrel Moser, Ryan Unzicker, Jim Shereck, Wendell Wallace, Jason Riggs, Mike Benedum, Chris Fetter, Claude Walker
QA1 Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Bobby Pierce, Brandon Sheppard, Don O’Neal, Billy Moyer, Chris Brown, Michael Kloos, Jeremy Payne, Cody Conner, Jeff Herzog, Ken Rumble, Scott Henseler
Fast Shafts B-Main #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Jason Feger, Dewayne Kiefer, Matt Westfall, Chris Simpson, Devin Moran, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Spencer Diercks, Billy Laycock, Scott Weber, Kolby Vandenbergh, Mike Hammerle, Jeremy Sneed, Austin Rettig, Kevin Cole, Chip Morgan
Keyser MFG B-Main #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Chris Brown, Ryan Unzicker, Jeremy Payne, Michael Kloos, Jim Shereck, Mike Benedum, Jason Riggs, Cody Conner, Ken Rumble, Claude Walker, Jeff Herzog, Scott Henseler, Chris Fetter, Wendell Wallace
Feature Finish (50 Laps):
| FINISH | START | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN |
| 1 | 3 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | Mooresburg, TN |
| 2 | 9 | 1 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | Jacksonville, FL |
| 3 | 8 | B5 | Brandon Sheppard | New Berlin, IL |
| 4 | 12 | 5 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN |
| 5 | 7 | 15 | Steve Francis | Ashland, KY |
| 6 | 6 | 28m | Jimmy Mars | Menomonie, WI |
| 7 | 2 | 28e | Dennis Erb, Jr. | Carpentersville, IL |
| 8 | 20 | 24x | Ryan Unzicker | El Paso, IL |
| 9 | 5 | 6 | Jonathan Davenport | Mount Airy, NC |
| 10 | 25 | 82 | Billy Laycock | Marine, IL |
| 11 | 23 | 99m | Devin Moran | Dresden, OH |
| 12 | 13 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN |
| 13 | 18 | 21b | Chris Brown | Spring, TX |
| 14 | 21 | 54 | Matt Westfall | Pleasant Hill, OH |
| 15 | 4 | 32 | Bobby Pierce | Oakwood, IL |
| 16 | 10 | 75 | Billy Drake | Bloomington, IL |
| 17 | 19 | 0K | Dewayne Kiefer | Bloomsdale MO |
| 18 | 24 | 28 | Eddie Carrier, Jr. | Salt Rock, WV |
| 19 | 27 | 25 | Mike Benedum | Salem, WV |
| 20 | 17 | 25F | Jason Feger | Bloomington, IL |
| 21 | 11 | 33T | Tim Manville | Highland, IL |
| 22 | 15 | 777 | Jared Landers | Batesville, AR |
| 23 | 16 | 21 | Billy Moyer | Batesville, AR |
| 24 | 22 | 186 | Jeremy Payne | Springfield, MO |
| 25 | 1 | 18 | Shannon Babb | Mowequa, IL |
| 26 | 26 | 15V | Kolby Vandenbergh | Ashland, IL |
| 27 | 14 | 22 | Darrel Moser | New Haven, MO |
Race Statistics
Entrants: 45
Lap Leaders: Shannon Babb (Laps 1 – 2); Bobby Pierce (Laps 3 – 36); Scott Bloomquist (Laps 37 – 50)
Cautions: Jared Landers (Lap 35)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Devin Moran, Eddie Carrier Jr.
Tri-City Speedway Track Provisionals: Billy Laycock; Kolby Vandenbergh
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: Mike Benedum
Miller Welders Fast Time Provisionals: n/a
Wrisco Feature Winner: Scott Bloomquist
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Billy Laycock (Started: 25th; Finished: 10th; Advanced 15 Positions)
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Jonathan Davenport
Allstar Performer of the Race: Earl Pearson Jr.
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Earl Pearson Jr.
Rookie of the Race: Brandon Sheppard
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Durham Race Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Sweet-Bloomquist Race Cars
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: John Pfeffer (Earl Pearson Jr.)
CV Products Fastest Lap of the Race: Jonathan Davenport (Lap #5 – 15.4059 seconds)
Hot Rod Processing Most Laps Led: Bobby Pierce (34 Laps)
PFC Brakes Tough Break Award: Jared Landers
Time of Race: 20 minutes 05 seconds