Don O’Neal Wins His Fourth Jackson 100 Saturday Night at Brownstown Speedway

 BROWNSTOWN, IN (September 21, 2013) – Don O’Neal picked up his fourth career Jackson 100 victory, at the historic Jackson County Fairgrounds bullring. O’Neal took the lead from defending race winner, Jimmy Owens after a lap 68 restart and pulled away from the field for the $15,000 win in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned event. The 34^th Annual Jackson 100 at Brownstown Speedway was also part of the ASi Crown Jewel Cup Presented by DirtonDirt.com.

Dustin Linville charged from his ninth starting spot to finish second.  John Blankenship came home third, followed by Owens and 23rd starting, Steve Francis rounding out the top five.  

“I can’t believe it,” said O’Neal, who had missed almost a month of the LOLMDS season after suffering a back injury in August.  “This is my home track; it’s great to win here in front of these fans.  The track was a little rough with the rain, but it was extremely racy.  After that last caution, I don’t know what happened to the 20 car, but once we were out front, it was smooth sailing,” said O’Neal in Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the 33rd time in his career.

“I just took a deep breath on that caution, Jimmy was running a good line there, and it was going to be tough to catch him and pass him.  When the race restarted I just went by him, and then found a fast line.  I have to thank Tader Masters, MasterSbilt Race Cars, Jay Dickens Racing Engines, Optima Batteries, Seubert Calf Ranches, Tarpy Trucking, Superior Cleaning, and Independence Lumber and all of our great product sponsors that make this possible.”

O’Neal now ties Scott Bloomquist as the only 4-time winner of the track’s most prestigious race. The win also marked O’Neal’s 53rd career win at Brownstown, trailing only Jim Curry and John Gill on the track’s all-time win list.

Owens grabbed the lead at the start of the 100-lap main event and held the point until he and O’Neal swapped the lead during laps 16-19.  Once out in front, Owens looked to be on his way to back-to-back Jackson 100 wins until a fateful caution on lap 68.  Owens lost several spots on the restart, dropping back to fifth at one point.  Owens rebounded to finish fourth, just ahead of Francis at the finish line.

Linville had his best ever LOLMDS finish and was extremely pleased with his effort.  “I have to thank Audie Swartz from Swartz Race Cars, Bullock Engines and everybody else for all of their help. To run with Don and to pass the World 100 winner (Blankenship) is just unbelievable.  I just love to come up here and race.  The track crew did a great job with all the rain they have had in the last couple of days.”

Blankenship ran as high as second in the race and had a couple of opportunities to steal the win away from O’Neal, but his main focus was trying to hold off the youngster, Linville.  “He (Linville) drove a heck of race; I don’t know where he came from.  Jimmy looked like the car to beat there for a while.  Once Don got out in front, we were all chasing him.”

Francis amazed the capacity-crowd with a Top-5 finish, after his car nearly flipped during his heat race.  He was taken to the hospital for tests and was then cleared to race.  He took a provisional and started 23rd and came home in fifth.

Completing the top ten were Greg Johnson, Scott Bloomquist, Steve Shaver, Dennis Erb Jr., and Earl Pearson Jr.

In preliminary action, John Blankenship set the overall RED BUCK fast time (Group A) amongst the 46 entrants, with a lap of 14.506 seconds. Scott Bloomquist set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 14.549 seconds. Jimmy Owens, Earl Pearson Jr., Don O’Neal, and Dale McDowell won their respective heat races. Greg Johnson and Billy Moyer won their respective B-Mains.

Up next for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will be the 10th Annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Stores at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, IA. The event will take place from Thursday, September 26th through Saturday September 28th, 2013. Both Thursday and Friday Night will feature RED BUCK Time Trials, Heat Races, a D-Main, C-Main, B-Main, and $7,000-to-win 25 lap A-Mains. Saturday will feature a D-Main, C-Main, B-Main, and the $40,000-to-win 100 Lap A-Main to round out the weekend. For more information, log on towww.knoxvilleraceway.com.

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

Saturday Night, September 21st, 2013
Jackson 100
Brownstown Speedway – Brownstown, IN

RED BUCK Fast Time Group A: John Blankenship / 14.506 seconds

RED BUCK Fast Time Group B: Scott Bloomquist / 14.549 seconds

Wiles Drive Shafts Heat Race #1 (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jimmy Owens, John Blankenship, Dustin Linville, Steve Shaver, Greg Johnson, Dustin Neat, Justin Rattliff, Jeremy Hines, Greg Kendall, Steve Barnett, Tim Rivers, Jeff Herbert

Eibach Springs Heat Race #2 (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Earl Pearson Jr., Jared Landers, Duane Chamberlain, Billy Moyer Jr., Michael Chilton, Chad Stapleton, Mike Jewell, Brad Neat, Edgar Godsey, Tim Prince, Zak Blackwood

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Don O’Neal, Eddie Carrier Jr., Scott Bloomquist, Dennis Erb Jr., Billy Moyer, Mike Marlar, Chris Simpson, Dennis Roberson, Tyler Allen, Joe Janowski, Walker Arthur, Tom Ault

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #4 (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Dale McDowell, Kent Robinson, Wayne Chinn, Victor Lee, Josh McGuire, James Rice, Shelby Miles, Jason Smith, Jeff Babcock, Steve Godsey, Steve Francis

CV Products B-Main #1 (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Greg Johnson, Michael Chilton, Chad Stapleton, Brad Neat, Steve Barnett, Zak Blackwood, Justin Rattliff, Jeff Herbert, Jeremy Hines, Dustin Neat, Tim Rivers, Edgar Godsey, Mike Jewell, Greg Kendall

Wrisco Aluminum B-Main #2 (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Billy Moyer, Josh McGuire, Mike Marlar, Chris Simpson, James Rice, Dennis Roberson, Jeff Babcock, Shelby Miles, Joe Janowski, Tyler Allen, Jason Smith, Steve Godsey, Tom Ault

Feature Finish (100 Laps):

Race Statistics

Entrants: 46

Lap Leaders: Jimmy Owens (Laps 1 – 15); Don O’Neal (Laps 16 – 18); Jimmy Owens (Laps 19 – 68); Don O’Neal (Laps 69 – 100)

Caution Flags: Eddie Carrier Jr. (Lap 7); Billy Moyer (Lap 23); Jared Landers (Lap 27); Greg Johnson (Lap 67); Duane Chamberlain, Jared Landers (Lap 68); Greg Johnson (Lap 82)

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Steve Francis

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: none

RED BUCK Fast Time Provisionals: James Rice

Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Steve Francis (Started: 23rd, Finished: 5th, Advanced: 18 positions)

Keyser Mfg Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Jimmy Owens

Allstar Performer of the Race: Steve Francis

Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Jimmy Owens

JRi Shocks/Dunn Benson Ford Rookie of the Race: Billy Moyer Jr.

COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Jay Dickens Racing Engines

Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: MasterSbilt Race Cars

Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Tader Masters (Don O’Neal)

HAWK Performance Fastest Lap of the Race: Jimmy Owens (Lap # 3; 14.783 seconds)

Time of Race: 46 minutes 32 seconds