Richards Wins Dirt Track World Championship; Clinches First Lucas Oil Title

PORTSMOUTH, OH (October 21, 2017) - Josh Richards completed a dream night at Portsmouth Raceway Park on Saturday night. The West Virginia native won his first-career Rhino Ag Dirt Track World Championship - Presented by Optima Batteries, worth $100,000, and the 2017 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Championship, worth $75,000.

Richards became the fourth different leader of the race when he passed race leader and defending DTWC winner, Brandon Sheppard for the lead after a lap 46 restart. Richards led the rest of the way to take his tenth series win of the season over Sheppard, Jonathan Davenport, Mike Marlar, and Jared Hawkins.

Jonathan Davenport started on the pole and led early on. Sheppard took over the point on lap 36, and then began pulling away from the field until a caution on lap 46 slowed his pace. On the restart, Richards; who was running third; went around Sheppard to take over the lead and stayed in front until the checker flag waved.

Tim McCreadie entered the race as the series point leader by 40 points over Richards and 75 ahead of Bloomquist. During the race McCreadie suffered two flat tires and Bloomquist had a tire go down while running second to Richards. Bloomquist finished the race in 12th and McCreadie was credited with a 17th place finish.

In Lucas Oil Victory Lane after the biggest win of his career, the 29-year-old was emotional when being interviewed. “I have to collect my thoughts right now. I can’t thank everyone enough for this opportunity. I made a tough decision last year to switch teams. We didn’t know what was going to happen. We started the year off well, and then we went to a bunch of new tracks and kind of fell off a little. We struggled a little bit, but so did those other guys. We got on a hot streak in July though.”

“Coming into this weekend we felt pretty good and I know Scott [Bloomquist] and Timmy [McCreadie] did too. Thanks to Best Performance Motorsports, Eric and Kelly Brock for giving me this opportunity.
It’s been a crazy year. Randall Edwards has done such a great job as crew chief. There are so many people behind this team and that supported me. I felt everything in the last four or five laps. I have been through this scenario enough to know. I knew the tires were slipping away, but fortunately they held up to the end.”

The Best Performance Motorsports, Rocket Chassis entry is powered by an Andy Durham Racing Engine and sponsored by: Bulk Material Lift.com, Corey Frazier-State Farm Insurance, Alexander Lawn and Landscaping, Ultimate Firepit, Sunoco, Integra, Keyser, Riggs Motorsports, and Valvoline.

Sheppard, the runner-up and defending DTWC winner, joined Richards in Victory Lane with another podium finish in the crown jewel event. “We had a pretty good car. Josh got around me on that restart and he did a good job out in front. I look up to him a lot. I drive for his dad. It’s been a dream come true driving for Mark [Richards], we have had a great year. Being able to learn from Josh has been great. We would have liked to get the win tonight, but there’s nobody else I’d like to finish second to than Josh.”

Davenport, who was sporting the Flintstone Flyer scheme commemorating the late Mike Duvall, came home in third in the G.R. Smith-owned, Rocket Chassis entry. “Congrats to Josh and Brandon on their run tonight. We were good early on. I just don’t have this place down pat yet for some reason. We keep getting closer.”

Completing the top ten were Zack Dohm, Chub Frank, Brandon Overton, Darrell Lanigan, and Dennis Erb Jr.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Saturday, October 21st, 2017
RhinoAg Dirt Track World Championship – presented by Optima Batteries
Portsmouth Raceway Park – Portsmouth, OH

Eibach Springs Heat Race #1 – ROUND ONE Finish: Hudson O'Neal, Jonathan Davenport, Kyle Bronson, Josh Bocook, Lee Logan, Mark Frazier, Jared Miley, Byron Meeks, Ronnie Whitt

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 – ROUND ONE Finish: Scott Bloomquist, Dennis Erb, Jr., Gregg Satterlee, Eric Wells, Tyler Erb, Colton Flinner, Jason Montgomery , RJ Conley, Corey Conley

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 – ROUND ONE Finish: Jackie Boggs, Devin Gilpin, Ben Adkins, Doug Drown, Zack Dohm, Kyle Hardy, Kirk Phillips, Jeff Arnold, Clint Keenan

QA1 Heat Race #4 – ROUND ONE Finish: Don O'Neal, Earl Pearson, Jr., Brandon Overton, Rod Conley, Jason Feger, Jason Jameson, Chris Hackett, Stephen Breeding, Brandon Fouts

ASi Racewear Heat #5 – ROUND ONE Finish: Jared Hawkins, Jimmy Owens, Chub Frank, Steve Francis, Audie Swartz, Billy Staker, Shane Hitt, Billy Gullion, Frank Heckenast, Jr.

DirtOnDirt.com Heat #6 – ROUND ONE Finish: Tim McCreadie, Michael Brown, Mike Marlar, Tyler Carpenter, Darrell Lanigan, Robbie Scott, Dale McDowell, Larry Holbrook, Steve Stollings

Rhino Ag Heat #7 – ROUND ONE Finish: Brandon Sheppard, Josh Richards, Mason Zeigler, Chris Ferguson, Devin Moran, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Mike Benedum, Dave Hornikel, Jason Perry

Optima Batteries Heat #8 – ROUND ONE Finish: Delmas Conley, Jason Covert, Steve Casebolt , Boom Briggs, Tim Dohm , Shannon Thornsberry, Kevin Wagner, Charlie Jude, Craig Wolford

Eibach Springs Heat Race #1 – ROUND TWO Finish: Eddie Carrier, Jr., Earl Pearson, Jr., Brandon Sheppard, Scott Bloomquist, Jared Hawkins, Ben Adkins, Craig Wolford, Steve Stollings, Ronnie Whitt

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 – ROUND TWO Finish: Dale McDowell, Jason Perry, Shannon Thornsberry, Jason Montgomery , Jason Feger, Michael Brown, Kirk Phillips, Byron Meeks, Frank Heckenast, Jr.

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 – ROUND TWO Finish: Jimmy Owens, Steve Casebolt , Tyler Carpenter, Jared Miley, Jason Jameson, Colton Flinner, Jeff Arnold, Dave Hornikel, Billy Gullion

QA1 Heat Race #4 – ROUND TWO Finish: Rod Conley, Josh Richards, Boom Briggs, Don O'Neal, Kyle Bronson, Jackie Boggs, RJ Conley, Audie Swartz, Darrell Lanigan

ASi Racewear Heat #5 – ROUND TWO Finish: Doug Drown, Mike Marlar, Chris Ferguson, Gregg Satterlee, Devin Gilpin, Chris Hackett, Billy Staker, Kevin Wagner, Lee Logan

DirtOnDirt.com Heat #6 – ROUND TWO Finish: Zack Dohm, Brandon Overton, Steve Francis, Devin Moran, Tyler Erb, Hudson O'Neal, Dennis Erb, Jr., Jason Covert, Robbie Scott

Rhino Ag Heat #7 – ROUND TWO Finish: Jonathan Davenport, Brandon Fouts, Chub Frank, Tim McCreadie, Josh Bocook, Delmas Conley, Eric Wells, Mike Benedum, Kyle Hardy, Optima Batteries

Heat #8 – ROUND TWO Finish: Tim Dohm , Mark Frazier, Shane Hitt, Clint Keenan, Stephen Breeding, Larry Holbrook, Charlie Jude, Mason Zeigler, Corey Conley

Penske Racing Shocks B-Main #1 Finish (Top 2 Transfer): Tim Dohm, Tyler Carpenter, Kyle Bronson, Devin Moran, Delmas Conley, Kyle Hardy, Steve Stollings, Chris Hackett, Craig Wolford, Clint Keenan, Kirk Phillips, Jared Miley, Jason Jameson, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Josh Bocook, Robbie Scott, Shane Hitt, Jason Perry, Frank Heckenast, Jr.

Fast Shafts B-Main #2 Finish (Top 2 Transfer): Chris Ferguson, Dennis Erb, Jr., Jason Covert, Dale McDowell, Boom Briggs, Tyler Erb, Jason Feger, Dave Hornikel, Audie Swartz, Hudson O'Neal, Gregg Satterlee, Billy Staker, Darrell Lanigan, Jason Montgomery , Larry Holbrook, Jeff Arnold, Mike Benedum-DNS, Billy Gullion-DNS, Corey Conley-DNS

Sunoco B-Main #3 Finish (Top 2 Transfer): Devin Gilpin, Eric Wells, Jackie Boggs, Steve Francis, RJ Conley, Mark Frazier, Michael Brown, Lee Logan, Colton Flinner, Kevin Wagner, Byron Meeks, Brandon Fouts, Charlie Jude, Mason Zeigler, Shannon Thornsberry, Ronnie Whitt, Ben Adkins-DNS, Stephen Breeding-DNS

Non-Qualifiers Race Finish: Jackie Boggs, Jason Covert, Mason Zeigler, Boom Briggs, RJ Conley, Kyle Bronson, Kyle Hardy, Jason Feger, Michael Brown, Kirk Phillips, Mark Frazier, Tyler Erb, Chris Hackett, Craig Wolford, Colton Flinner, Jason Jameson, Dale McDowell, Byron Meeks, Dave Hornikel, Audie Swartz, Steve Stollings, Clint Keenan, Larry Holbrook, Lee Logan

Feature Finish (100 Laps):

Race Statistics
Entrants: 72
Lap Leaders: Jonathan Davenport (Laps 1 – 34); Brandon Sheppard (Laps 35 – 46); Josh Richards (Laps 47 – 100)
Cautions: Gregg Satterlee (Lap 12); Hudson O’Neal, Brandon Fouts (Lap 16); Devin Gilpin, Jackie Boggs, Hudson O’Neal, Tim McCreadie, Brandon Overton (Lap 16); Gregg Satterlee (Lap 18); Jimmy Owens, Gregg Satterlee (Lap 40); Jimmy Owens (Lap 42); Tim Dohm (Lap 45); Earl Pearson Jr. (Lap 46); Jimmy Owens (Lap 53); Tyler Carpenter (Lap 67); Chris Ferguson (Lap 83); Scott Bloomquist (Lap 92); Tim McCreadie (Lap 92)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Darrell Lanigan, Hudson O’Neal
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: Gregg Satterlee, Steve Francis
Wrisco Feature Winner: Josh Richards
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Darrell Lanigan (Started: 23rd; Finished: 9th; Advanced 14 Positions)
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Tim McCreadie
Allstar Performance Power Move of the Race: Mike Marlar
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Josh Richards
Hot Rod Processing Rookie of the Race: Hudson O’Neal
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Durham Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Rocket Chassis
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Randall Edwards (Josh Richards)
Fastest Lap of the Race: Jonathan Davenport (Lap #31 – 15.3499 seconds)
Safecraft Most Laps Led: Josh Richards (54 Laps)
PFC Brakes Pole Award: Jonathan Davenport
Time of Race: 79 minutes 28 seconds

Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:

*Points are unofficial until Close of Business on the Tuesday following Race Day*

For the latest breaking news concerning the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, including the latest series standings, 2017 tour schedule, driver information, and more visit the official website at: www.lucasdirt.com.

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Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Official Sponsors Include:

ASi Racewear - "The Official Merchandise Vendor" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Bad Boy Mowers - "The Official Mower" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Dunn Benson Ford - "The Official Pace Truck" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
E3 Spark Plugs - "The Official Spark Plug" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Fast Orange - “The Official Hand Cleaner” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
GEICO - "The Official Insurance" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
General Tire - "The Official Tire" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Hoosier Tire - "The Official Race Tire" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
K&N Engineering - "Official Sponsor" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Lucas Oil Products - "The Official Oil" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Lucas Oil Racing TV - "Official Sponsor" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
MAVTV Motorsports Network - "The Official TV Network" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Miller Welders - "The Official Welder" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Nitro-Bee PLUS - "The Official Race Receiver" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Optima Batteries - "The Official Battery" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
ProtectTheHarvest.com - "Official Sponsor” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Ram Mounts - “Official Sponsor” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
RhinoAg - “Official Sponsor” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Rugged Radios - “The Official Communications” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Safecraft - "The Official Fire Suppression System" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Sunoco Race Fuels - "The Official Fuel" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Spray Nine - “Official Sponsor” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Super Clean - “Official Sponsor” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
United Rentals - “Official Sponsor” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Wrisco Aluminum - “Official Sponsor” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Zotto - “Official Sponsor” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Marketing Partners Include:

Allstar Performance, Andy Durham Race Engines, AR Bodies, Black Diamond Chassis, Sweet-Bloomquist Race Cars, Boyd Bilt Fabrication, BRODIX, Capital Race Cars, COMP Cams, Cornett Racing Engines, CV Products, DirtonDirt.com, Earnhardt Technologies Group, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, FK Rod Ends, Heath Lawson Photography, Hot Rod Processing, JRi Shocks, Keyser MFG, Longhorn Chassis, Midwest Sheet Metal, Öhlins Shocks, Outerwears, Performance Bodies, Penske Shocks, PFC Brakes, Pierce Race Cars, Pro Power Racing Engines, QA1, Rocket Chassis, Simpson Race Products, Sweet Manufacturing, Wallace Engines, WELD Racing, 5150 Race Trailers

About Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Founded in 2005, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is the nation’s premier dirt late model sanctioning organization.  In 2016, the LOLMDS will sanction 53 events in 19 states.  The series is owned by the parent company Lucas Oil Products Inc. and receives national exposure through a TV package filmed, produced and edited by Lucas Oil Production Studios.  LOLMDS events will be broadcast on four TV Networks including CBS, NBC Sports, CBS Sports Network and the MAVTV Motorsports Network.  For more information about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series visit the official website at: www.LucasDirt.com. 

About Lucas Oil Racing TV

The Future of Motorsports is HERE! Get Lucas Oil Racing TV and experience racing excitement like you've never seen! Lucas Oil Racing TV is the online app for all your favorite devices like Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Android Devices and more! No matter where you are or when you want to watch, you can stream the best and most exciting motor racing on the planet!

Lucas Oil Racing TV has all your favorite motorsports - from grass roots to international competition, as well as exclusive LIVE EVENTS and behind the scenes interviews and footage that you won't see anywhere else! But that's just the beginning! Lucas Oil Racing TV brings you some of motorsports greatest broadcasters and build specialists... from Dave Despain to the mechanics of Two Guys Garage, as well as all the latest news, reviews, and interviews from every genre of racing.

Lucas Oil Racing TV is the Exclusive, Unlimited, 24/7 All-Access Motorsports App and it's available NOW! For more information or to sign up, go to: www.LucasOilRacing.TV.

About MAVTV Motorsports Network

Owned and operated by Lucas Oil Products, MAVTV is a television network with its roots deep in the automotive world. MAVTV offers an unparalleled line-up of exclusive motorsports, that includes prestigious events such as the Chili Bowl, The AMA Pro Motocross series, the Lucas Oil Challenge Cup and NHRA Drag Racing. But MAVTV goes far beyond the national mainstream events and also covers multitudes of grassroots series' from across the globe: Drag boats, sprint boats, drag racing, pro pulling, rally racing, drifting, dirt racing, ice racing and everything in between.

MAVTV also knows you don't have to be a race fan to be an automotive enthusiast, which is why we have developed a package of automotive reality and custom build shows that is truly second to none. If it has a motor, it's on MAVTV...MAVTV is THE motorsports network. To learn more about MAVTV go to: www.MAVTV.com.

About Lucas Oil Products

Founded in 1989 by Forrest and Charlotte Lucas, Lucas Oil Products, Inc. has established itself as one of the fastest-growing lubrication product lines in the consumer automotive aftermarket, featuring a line of engine oils, greases, gear lubes, problem-solving additives, and car-care products.  Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil has established itself as a worldwide leader in the lubrication industry.  Motorsports has always been part of the Lucas Oil culture and the cornerstone of the company's marketing strategy.  Such passion for motorsports has inspired Lucas Oil to sponsor many race teams, events and series at all levels, including, NHRA, IRL, ASCS, NASCAR, IHRA and many more.  Lucas Oil has also taken ownership and operational control of a number of high profile racing properties, such as: Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, Lucas Oil Drag Boat Series, Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Lucas Oil Modified Series, Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO. and the Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway in Blythe, CA.

In 2007 Lucas Oil founded its own production house, Lucas Oil Production Studios, dedicated to producing high action motorsports television.  Currently Lucas Oil Production Studios produces over 300 hours of original programming for networks such as CBS, CBS Sports, NBC Sports and MAVTV.  More information about Lucas Oil Products, Inc. visit the company website at:  www.LucasOil.com.