CORONA, CA (October 6, 2009) – The 2009 racing season for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series began back in February, concludes this weekend. The three-race swing includes two SPEED Channel races and the crowning of the series champion.

 

On the verge of clinching his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion, Mooresburg, TN’s Scott Bloomquist holds a 210-point lead over his nearest rival, Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN heading into to the two-state, three-race events this weekend.  Bloomquist, who has 16 career series wins, is still in search of his first main event victory this season on the Lucas Oil Series tour.  Bloomquist hopes his momentum from his $40,000 win at the Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals at Knoxville (IA) Raceway this past weekend will continue.  Owens is 190 points ahead of the third place driver in the points, Earl Pearson, Jr. of Jacksonville, FL who has won the series title the last four years.  Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, GA in his first full season running with the Lucas Oil Series is fourth in points followed by Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN a two-time series runner-up in his career.

 

The remainder of the top ten heading to Alabama and Georgia this weekend are Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC; Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN; Brad Neat of Dunnville, KY; Eric Jacobsen of Seacliffe Beach, CA; and John Blankenship of Williamson, WV.

 

Blankenship has a strangle-hold on the Quarter Master Rookie of the Year points chase, as he has wrapped that award up.  David Breazeale of Four Corners, MS and Michael Walker of Franklin, TN are second and third, behind Blankenship.

 

The first of three consecutive nights of racing will begin on Friday Night, October 9^th at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL for the “Talladega Short Track Nationals” featuring the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series with a $7,000 to win event on tap.  Originally scheduled for June, the event was rained out and re-scheduled to be part of the championship weekend that winds up the 2009 season for the series.  The cameras of SPEED Channel will be on hand to tape the event, which will be shown on a date and time to be announced in the future.  For more information, go to www.talladegashorttrack.com.

 

The series then heads to Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, GA on Saturday Night, October 10^th for the 20^th Annual Lucas Oil Dixie Shootout paying $10,000 to win.  There will be a complete show at Dixie with PRC Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains and the Dixie Shootout main event, which will be taped in front of the cameras of SPEED Channel.  Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, IL is the defending Dixie Shootout champion.  In fact, Babb has won three of the last four Dixie Shootouts.

 

The weekend wraps up on Sunday Night, October 11^th with a visit to Rome Speedway in Rome, GA for the Lucas Oil Rome Showdown, paying $10,000 to win.  There will be a complete show at Rome for the LOLMDS with PRC Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains and the Rome Showdown main event.

 

Admission each night at Rome and Dixie will be grandstand $25/Trackside $35 and Pit Pass is $35.  Fans can save $10 on advance tickets for both Dixie and Rome by calling the track office at (770) 926-5315 from 9 AM – 4 PM.  For further information, go to the combined website for both tracks, which is www.dixiespeedway.com.

 

The tire rule for all three events this weekend for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will be the same; American Racer-SD44 or any compound harder SD-44 must punch a minimum of 40.  Hoosier-1300 or any compound harder 1300 must punch a minimum of 40.

 

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, point your browser to www.lucasdirt.com or call the series office at (951) 532-2503.

 

 

Previous Dixie Shootout Winners

 

1990 – Bill Ingram

1991 – Tony Reaid

1992 – Buddy Morris

1993 – Scott Bloomquist

1994 – Scott Bloomquist

1995 – Bill Frye

1996 – Wendell Wallace

1997 – Billy Moyer

1998 – Tim Hitt

1999 – Dale McDowell

2000 – Scott Bloomquist

2001 – Dale McDowell

2002 – Chub Frank

2003 – Don O’Neal

2004 – Shannon Babb

2005 – Shannon Babb

2006 – Scott Bloomquist

2007 – NO RACE

2008 – Shannon Babb

 

Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings

 

1. Scott Bloomquist (Mooresburg, TN) – 6905
2. Jimmy Owens (Newport, TN) – 6695
3. Earl Pearson Jr. (Jacksonville, FL) – 6505
4. Dale McDowell (Chickamauga, GA) – 6375
5. Don O’Neal (Martinsville, IN) – 6280
6. Ray Cook (Brasstown, NC) – 6065
7. Steve Casebolt (Richmond, IN) – 5645
8. Brad Neat (Dunnville, KY) – 5605
9. Eric Jacobsen (Seacliffe Beach, CA) – 5200

10. John Blankenship (Williamson, WV) – 5130

 

 

Current Quarter Master Rookie of the Year Points Standings

 

1. John Blankenship (Williamson, WV) – 5130
2. David Breazeale (Four Corners, MS) – 3880
3. Michael Walker (Franklin, TN) – 3320