O’Neal Outlasts Francis in Hot Battle at Hagerstown

HAGERSTOWN, MD (July 28 2012) – Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN earned the victory in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series 31^st Annual “Conococheague 50” on Saturday Night at Hagerstown Speedway.

O’Neal withstood a furious rally by Steve Francis of Ashland, KY to take the $10,000 victory; his 10^th series win of the year. Francis finished second followed by 12^th starting, Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN; 18^th starter, Tyler Reddick of Corning, CA; and Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN.

O’Neal, who’s night started off on the wrong foot as he developed water pump problems in his main ride, had to bring out his back-up car in which he qualified third fastest in group A. O’Neal then finished second in his heat, earning the inside of the third row starting position for the feature event.

Francis, the pole sitter, led the first five laps of the race until O’Neal zipped past him on lap six for the lead. O’Neal pulled away from Francis as the two drivers opened up a several car length advantage over the rest of the field. Francis started to make a late-race charge as he went to the top side of the track, chasing down O’Neal, who kept his car on the bottom side of the track.

O’Neal and Francis then put on a show over the last ten laps of the race. O’Neal and Francis exchanged the lead at least a half-dozen times with Francis officially leading 8 laps. O’Neal regained the lead for good on lap 46 and pulled away from O’Neal and went on to become the seventh different winner in the seven Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series events at Hagerstown.

“I have to thank the crew, they did a tremendous job getting the back-up car ready after hot laps. I hadn’t run that car much since the Icebreaker at Brownstown back in March. We had to change a lot on the car, and it was fast all night, we took off real good and I knew when I got past Scott (Bloomquist) there early we would have a good car. I had to move up on the track there at the end, because he (Francis) was fast on the outside,” said O’Neal, who vaulted to second in the series points standings.

“I have to thank all my sponsors, Tarpy Trucking is here tonight, Optima Batteries, Independence Lumber, Seubert Calf Ranches, Superior Cleaning, Budda Bert Transmissions, Dragon Race Fuel and Ohlins.” O’Neal’s MasterSbilt House Car Chevrolet is powered by a Jay Dickens Racing Engines.

Completing the top ten were: Gary Stuhler of Greencastle, PA; Eric Wells of Hazard, KY; John Blankenship of Williamson, WV; Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, PA; and Jerry Bard of Shippensburg, PA.

In preliminary action Steve Francis, Scott Bloomquist, Steve Shaver, and John Blankenship won their respective Heat Races. Earl Pearson Jr. and Tyler Reddick won their respective B-Mains.

After taking next weekend off, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will get back in action to start the month of August off at Florence Speedway in Union, KY for the Sunoco Race Fuels North/South 100 presented by Lucas Oil Products, Inc on Friday and Saturday August 10^th and 11^th. For more information, log ontowww.florencespeedway.com.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com and be sure to follow the series at www.facebook.com/lucasdirt and www.twitter.com/#!/lucasdirt.

Race Summary

Saturday Night, July 28^th, 2012
“Conococheague 50”

Hagerstown Speedway – Hagerstown, MD

Red Buck Cigars Fast Time Group A: Steve Francis / 18.337 seconds

Red Buck Cigars Fast Time Group B: / seconds

Wiles Driveshafts First Heat (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer): Steve Francis, Don O’Neal, Rick Eckert, Jamie Lathroum, Marvin Winters, Austin Hubbard, Alan Sagi, Roy Deese, Jr.

U. S. Steel Second Heat (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer): Scott Bloomquist, Eric Wells, Jared Landers, Gregg Satterlee, Earl Pearson, Jr., Nick Dickson, Brandon Sheppard, Kenny Moreland

Simpson Performance Products Third Heat (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer): Steve Shaver, Jonathan Davenport, Daniel Stone, Ronnie DeHaven, Jr., Jerry Bard, Brian Tavenner, Rusty Sites, Pancho Lawler

HAWK Brakes Fourth Heat (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer): John Blankenship, Gary Stuhler, Jimmy Owens, Jeremy Miller, Tyler Reddick, Jason Covert, Frank Plessinger

JRi Shocks First B-Main (12 Laps – Top 3 Transfer): Earl Pearson Jr., Marvin Winters, Austin Hubbard, Nick Dickson, Brandon Sheppard, Alan Sagi, Roy Deese, Jr., Kenny Moreland-NR

PAC Racing Springs Second B-Main (12 Laps – Top 3 Transfer): Tyler Reddick, Jerry Bard, Jason Covert, Brian Tavenner, Kenny Moreland, Frank Plessinger, Rusty Sites, Pancho Lawler