UNION, KY (August 9, 2014) – Earning the biggest win of his career, Eddie Carrier Jr. took home $50,000 for winning 32nd Annual Sunoco North South100 Presented by Lucas Oil on Saturday Night at Florence Speedway. Carrier, in the Carl Grover Motorsports, Optima Batteries, Rocket Ford led the final three laps to take the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned crown jewel event. Scott Bloomquist led the first 73 laps of the race and finished second, followed by Jimmy Mars, John Blankenship and Jared Landers rounded out the top five.
“I can’t believe I just won the North South 100,” exclaimed Carrier. “I have been coming to this race for years. I’ve watched my dad run pretty good in this race and one day I wanted to say I was a North/South 100 Champion, and now I can,” said Carrier, who was given a standing ovation in victory lane from the huge crowd on hand.
Bloomquist led almost three-quarters of the race until Jimmy Owens took the lead away from Bloomquist on lap 74 and started to pull away from the field. Owens was looking to become the first 4-time winner of the race until a caution with 89 laps scored changed the complexion of the race for Carrier.
Tim McCreadie slowed on the track with a flat tire as Bloomquist and Mike Marlar got together in turn four while battling for second. Another caution ensued and Carrier came from fifth to second in the skirmish. On the restart, Carrier stayed with Owens as the crowd began to sense something big was about to happen. Owens and Carrier put on a fantastic duel for the lead as the two raced side-by-side for several circuits. The crowd came to its feet as the two drivers rubbed several times as they raced for the lead. Carrier led lap 94, but a lap later Owens retook the lead as the crowd cheered at every pass for the lead.
The two went door-to-door in turn number one with 97 laps complete, Owens drifted up the track and made contact with the turn two wall as Carrier roared pass Owens down the back straight away and retook the lead. Owens right rear tire went flat as they raced into turn four and Owens brought out a caution. Owens had to pit for a new tire and rejoined the field on the tail as his chances for victory were now gone.
Carrier pulled away on the restart and prevented any late race heroics from Bloomquist, Mars, and Blankenship over the final laps. Carrier crossed the finish line to earn his richest payday of his career. “I have to thank my car owner, Carl Grover; he gave me a chance to drive his car ten or 12 years ago. He has stuck with me through thick and thin and to win this race, I am sure he is proud. I also have to thank my dad [Eddie Sr.]. He tried for several years to win this race. He did a great job in setting up the car. All these fans that came out here, this is just unbelievable. I know that maybe Jimmy and I touched a few times, but it was good hard racing. We were going for $50,000 and I wasn’t backing out of it.”
Bloomquist was not happy with Marlar after the contact with his fellow Tennessee driver which dashed his hopes for a win. “He [Marlar] came in there all bonsai and hit me. We had a really good car for most of the race. Even when Jimmy passed me, I thought maybe with a caution or something, I still had a chance. Congratulations to Eddie and his dad, I have known them a long time. He drove a heck of race,” said the driver of the Ole Smoky Moonshine, Sweet-Bloomquist entry.
Mars, a former winner of the event, came on late in the race to get around Blankenship and finish third. “We had a really good car. It took a while to get going. I really like running here. We have been running strong here lately,” said Mars, who started tenth.
Completing the top ten were Steve Francis, Randy Weaver, Dennis Erb Jr., Dustin Linville, and Owens.
In the 25 lap non-qualifiers race, Scott James came home with the win. Steve Shaver led the first half of the race, then James powered by him to take the victory in his Danny Lucas, Powell Motorsports, Rocket Chevrolet.
Amongst the 52 entrants, Scott Bloomquist, Jason Jameson, Steve Francis, Michael Chilton, and Jared Landers won their respective first-round heat races. Scott Bloomquist, Dustin Linville, Gregg Satterlee, Jimmy Owens, and John Blankenship won their respective second-round heat races. Michael Chilton and Matt Miller won their respective B-Mains.
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Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Friday Night, August 8th, 2014
32nd Annual Sunoco “North/South 100” presented by Lucas Oil
Florence Speedway – Union, KY
Round 1 Fast Shafts Heat Race #1 Finish: Scott Bloomquist, Mason Zeigler, Doug Drown, John Blankenship, Randy Weaver, Earl Pearson, Jr., Steve Shaver, Dustin Linville, Ted Nobbe, Skylar Marlar, Steve Landrum
Round 1 Eibach Springs Heat Race #2 Finish: Jason Jameson, Dennis Erb, Jr., Dale McDowell, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Jason Hughes, Gregg Satterlee, Wayne Chinn, Michael Asberry, Brad Neat, Ray Cook, Nick Latham
Round 1 Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish: Steve Francis, Jimmy Mars, Chris Stotts, James Rice, Jesse Lay, Duane Chamberlain, Jason Papich, Dan Schlieper, Jeff Alsip, Gary Christian
Round 1 FK Rod Ends Heat Race #4 Finish: Michael Chilton, Don O’Neal, Mike Marlar, Brandon Overton, Robby Hensley, Tim Tungate, Scott James, Dustin Neat, Brian Gray, Zak Blackwood
Round 1 Miller Welders Heat Race #5 Finish: Jared Landers, Jimmy Owens, Tim McCreadie, Steve Casebolt, Dingus Griffin, Matt Miller, Chad Smith, Stephen Breeding, Jay Shell, Mike Fryer
Round 2 Fast Shafts Heat Race #1 Finish: Scott Bloomquist, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Nick Latham, Tim McCreadie, Steve Francis, Dennis Erb, Jr., Ted Nobbe, Dan Schlieper, Tim Tungate, Jay Shell, Brian Gray
Round 2 Eibach Springs Heat Race #2 Finish: Dustin Linville, Brandon Overton, Steve Casebolt , Doug Drown, Jared Landers, Jason Hughes, Michael Chilton, Gary Christian, Steve Landrum, Brad Neat, Jeff Alsip
Round 2 Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish: Gregg Satterlee, Matt Miller, Randy Weaver, Jimmy Mars, Scott James , Ray Cook, James Rice, Steve Shaver, Chad Smith, Robby Hensley
Round 2 FK Rod Ends Heat Race #4 Finish: Jimmy Owens, Mike Marlar, Don O’Neal, Earl Pearson, Jr., Dale McDowell, Jason Papich, Mason Zeigler, Jason Jameson, Chris Stotts, Dingus Griffin
Round 2 Miller Welders Heat Race #5 Finish: John Blankenship, Jesse Lay, Duane Chamberlain, Stephen Breeding, Wayne Chinn, Michael Asberry, Mike Fryer, Dustin Neat, Zak Blackwood, Skylar Marlar
JRi Shocks B-Main #1 Finish (20 Laps – Top 3 Transfer): Michael Chilton, Dustin Linville, Steve Casebolt, Earl Pearson, Jr., James Rice, Scott James, Ray Cook, Nick Latham, Chad Smith, Duane Chamberlain, Ted Nobbe, Tim Tungate, Mike Fryer, Jay Shell, Chris Stotts, Brian Gray, Robby Hensley, Steve Landrum
CV Products B-Main #2 Finish (20 Laps – Top 3 Transfer): Matt Miller, Jason Papich, Jason Jameson, Jason Hughes, Steve Shaver, Dennis Erb, Jr., Dan Schlieper, Mason Zeigler, Skylar Marlar, Michael Asberry, Stephen Breeding, Zak Blackwood, Dingus Griffin, Wayne Chinn, Jeff Alsip, Dustin Neat-DNS, Brad Neat-DNS, Gary Christian-DNS
Inside Row Feature Dash Finish (6 Laps): Scott Bloomquist, John Blankenship, Steve Francis, Don O’Neal, Jared Landers, Doug Drown, Randy Weaver, Tim McCreadie
Outside Row Feature Dash Finish (6 Laps): Jimmy Owens, Mike Marlar, Eddie Carrier Jr., Brandon Overton, Jimmy Mars, Dale McDowell, Gregg Satterlee, Jesse Lay
Feature Finish (80 Laps):
| FINISH | START | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN |
| 1 | 6 | 28 | Eddie Carrier, Jr. | Salt Rock, WV |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | Mooresburg, TN |
| 3 | 10 | 28m | Jimmy Mars | Menomonie, WI |
| 4 | 3 | 23 | John Blankenship | Williamson, WV |
| 5 | 9 | 777 | Jared Landers | Batesville, AR |
| 6 | 5 | 15 | Steve Francis | Ashland, KY |
| 7 | 13 | 116 | Randy Weaver | Crossville, TN |
| 8 | 24 | 28e | Dennis Erb, Jr. | Carpentersville, IL |
| 9 | 19 | D8 | Dustin Linville | Lancaster, KY |
| 10 | 2 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN |
| 11 | 15 | 39 | Tim McCreadie | Watertown, NY |
| 12 | 11 | 20d | Doug Drown | Wooster, OH |
| 13 | 22 | 12j | Jason Jameson | Lawrenceburg, IN |
| 14 | 26 | 12 | Jason Hughes | Watts, OK |
| 15 | 23 | 44 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | Jacksonville, FL |
| 16 | 7 | 5 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN |
| 17 | 4 | 157 | Mike Marlar | Winfield, TN |
| 18 | 14 | 22s | Gregg Satterlee | Rochester Mills, PA |
| 19 | 18 | 3 | Matt Miller | Waterville, OH |
| 20 | 8 | 5e | Brandon Overton | Appling, GA |
| 21 | 21 | c9 | Steve Casebolt | Richmond, IN |
| 22 | 16 | 63 | Jesse Lay | Walton, KY |
| 23 | 12 | 17m | Dale McDowell | Chickamauga, GA |
| 24 | 17 | 97 | Michael Chilton | Salvisa, KY |
| 25 | 20 | 91p | Jason Papich | Nipomo, CA |
| 26 | 25 | 18 | Steve Landrum | Erlanger, KY |
Non-Qualifier’s Race Finish (30 Laps): Scott James, Steve Shaver, Ray Cook, Skylar Marlar, Nick Latham, James Rice, Ted Nobbe, Duane Chamberlain, Chris Stotts, Stephen Breeding, Dingus Griffin, Chad Smith, Wayne Chinn, Zak Blackwood, Mike Fryer, Jeff Alsip, Jay Shell, Dan Schlieper, Tim Tungate, Brian Gray
Race Statistics
Entrants: 52
Lap Leaders: Scott Bloomquist (Laps 1 – 73); Jimmy Owens (Laps 74 – 93); Eddie Carrier Jr. (Lap 94); Jimmy Owens (Laps 95 – 96); Eddie Carrier Jr. (Laps 97 – 100)
Cautions: Jason Papich (Laps 36); Don O’Neal (Lap 37); Don O’Neal (Lap 47); Matt Miller (Lap 88); Tim McCreadie, Gregg Satterlee (Lap 89); Jimmy Owens (Lap 97)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Earl Pearson Jr.; Dennis Erb Jr.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: Jason Hughes
Miller Welders Fast Time Provisionals: n/a
Wrisco Feature Winner: Eddie Carrier Jr.
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Dennis Erb Jr. (Started: 24th; Finished: 8th; Advanced 16 Positions)
Keyser Mfg Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Jimmy Owens
Allstar Performer of the Race: Eddie Carrier Jr.
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Jared Landers
Dunn Benson Ford Rookie of the Race: Randy Weaver
Midwest Sheet Metal Highest Finishing Rookie: Randy Weaver
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Grover Race Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Rocket Chassis
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Eddie Carrier Sr.
HAWK Performance Fastest Lap of the Race: Scott Bloomquist (Lap #6 – 16.999 seconds)
Time of Race: 54 minutes 42 seconds