KNOXVILLE, Iowa (September 12, 2019) – Shane Clanton came from the seventh starting spot to win Thursday night’s preliminary event at Knoxville Raceway.
For the 44-year-old Georgia native, it was his first-ever win at the historic venue. He also became the sixteenth different winner this season on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series tour.
Clanton was the fourth different leader of the 25-lap race. The A-Main was slowed by only one caution flag for Jonathan Davenport on lap four. Ricky Thornton Jr. led the first lap in the Chad Stapleton-owned Club 29 Race Car. His place atop the leader board was short-lived as outside front-row starter Devin Moran took the lead on lap number two.
Moran led until Tyler Erb took the lead away from him on lap five. Clanton charged from the inside of row number four and grabbed the lead away from Erb on lap fourteen.
Clanton pulled away from Erb and went on to pick up the preliminary night victory. Erb crossed the finish line in second, followed by a close finish between Darrell Lanigan and Ricky Weiss for third and fourth. Thornton was fifth.
Clanton; in Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the first time in 2019; thanked his chassis builder Marshall Green for his set-up advice over the phone before the start of the race. “Our car has been good all night long. We just made the right adjustments. I was biding my time behind Terbo [Erb], and it looked like he was hurting his tires. I went to the middle and the car stuck, and we went by him, then that was all she wrote.”
“To win here at Knoxville is a dream come true,” Clanton added. “I have seen Donny Schatz win here so many times and I would like to start my own legacy here. This is a team effort, all the way to everybody with Marshall back at the shop. Penske Shocks and Keith Berner from Accu-Force tested with us earlier in the year and it has made a difference in our program. Thanks to Greg Bruening for letting me drive his race car. This is a big win for him as well because he’s from Iowa. It’s hard to beat what we had here tonight for a track. Hats off to all of the Knoxville crew for a great job.”
Erb led nine laps but came home in the runner-up spot. “There wasn’t a whole lot I could do in the last ten or fifteen laps, he [Clanton] had a better car. He could maneuver through a lot better than I could. My car felt really good. It’s the same kind of issue we have been having. The longer we go, the tires just get hot. We are going to work on it. It was a good run. This is my favorite racetrack that we come to.”
Lanigan edged out Weiss at the finish line to round out the podium. “The car got really good through the middle and the bottom. I would have liked to have seen a caution to see if we could have made a late-race charge. It’s just awesome to come out here and run well.”
The winner’s fourth career Lucas Oil victory came in the Greg Bruening-owned Capital Race Cars entry powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by: Bruening Rock Products, Skyline Materials, LTD, Bennett Explosives, Super K Express, Olson Explosives, Freeman Plumbing, M&S Concrete, and Truck Country.
Completing the top ten were Tyler Bruening, Brandon Sheppard, Devin Moran, Bobby Pierce, and Chris Simpson.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Thursday, September 12, 2019
Knoxville Raceway – Knoxville, Iowa
Miller Welders Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Shane Clanton / 17.932 seconds (overall)
Fast Time Group B: Jimmy Owens / 18.087 seconds
Penske Race Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Shanon Buckingham, Brian Birkhofer, Shane Clanton, Jimmy Mars, Stormy Scott, Mike Mataragas, Jason Feger, Cody Laney, Reid Millard, Jared Landers-DNS
FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Bobby Pierce, Jeremiah Hurst, Chris Simpson, Earl Pearson, Jr., Billy Moyer, Jr., Dave Eckrich, Corey Zeitner, JC Wyman, Tim Simpson
Simpson Race Products Heat Race #3 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Ricky Thornton Jr., Frank Heckenast, Jr., Darrell Lanigan, Spencer Diercks, Charlie McKenna, Scott Bloomquist, Dustin Nobbe, Jake Neal, Chase Junghans
Lucas Oil Products Penetrating Oil Heat Race #4 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Shannon Babb, Jonathan Davenport, Tyler Erb ®, Hudson O'Neal, Jimmy Owens, Billy Moyer, Jeremy Grady, Brian Harris, Jonathan Brauns
Simpson Race Products Heat Race #5 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Josh Richards, Tyler Bruening, Devin Moran ®, Chris Madden, Chad Simpson, Johnny Scott, Brent Larson, Mike Fryer, Junior Coover
Lucas Oil Products Penetrating Oil Heat Race #6 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Brandon Sheppard, Dennis Erb, Jr., Ricky Weiss, Don O'Neal, Kyle Bronson, Chad White, Nick Marolf, David Webster, Tim McCreadie-DNS
Lucas Oil Products Red “N” Tacky Spray Grease B-Main #1 Finish (15 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Stormy Scott, Earl Pearson, Jr., Billy Moyer, Jr., Jimmy Mars, Scott Bloomquist, Mike Mataragas, Spencer Diercks, Charlie McKenna, Jason Feger, Corey Zeitner, Cody Laney, Dave Eckrich, JC Wyman, Reid Millard, Jake Neal, Dustin Nobbe, Tim Simpson-DNS, Chase Junghans-DNS, Jared Landers-DNS
FAST Shafts B-Main #2 Finish (15 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Jimmy Owens, Chad Simpson, Kyle Bronson, Hudson O'Neal, Don O'Neal, Chris Madden, Johnny Scott, Brent Larson, Brian Harris, Jeremy Grady, Nick Marolf, Jonathan Brauns, Mike Fryer, Chad White, David Webster, Billy Moyer, Junior Coover, Tim McCreadie-DNS
Lucas Oil Feature Finish (25 Laps):
| FINISH | START | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN | EARNINGS |
| 1 | 7 | 25 | Shane Clanton | Zebulon, GA | $7,000 |
| 2 | 4 | 1T | Tyler Erb ® | New Waverly, TX | $4,000 |
| 3 | 5 | 29 | Darrell Lanigan | Union, KY | $3,000 |
| 4 | 6 | 7w | Ricky Weiss | Headingley, MB | $2,000 |
| 5 | 1 | 20RT | Ricky Thornton Jr. | Sedgwick, KS | $1,500 |
| 6 | 10 | 16T | Tyler Bruening | Decorah, IA | $1,000 |
| 7 | 12 | 1S | Brandon Sheppard | New Berlin, IL | $900 |
| 8 | 2 | 1d | Devin Moran ® | Dresden, OH | $800 |
| 9 | 11 | 32P | Bobby Pierce | Oakwood, IL | $700 |
| 10 | 3 | 32s | Chris Simpson | Oxford, IA | $600 |
| 11 | 18 | 28 | Dennis Erb, Jr. | Carpentersville, IL | $580 |
| 12 | 13 | 99JR | Frank Heckenast, Jr. | Frankfort, IL | $560 |
| 13 | 16 | 14 | Josh Richards | Shinnston, WV | $540 |
| 14 | 19 | 2s | Stormy Scott | Las Cruses, NM | $620 |
| 15 | 21 | 1 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | Jacksonville, FL | $500 |
| 16 | 20 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN | $490 |
| 17 | 9 | 50 | Shanon Buckingham | Morristown, TN | $480 |
| 18 | 24 | 40B | Kyle Bronson | Brandon, FL | $470 |
| 19 | 14 | 18 | Shannon Babb | Mowequa, IL | $460 |
| 20 | 15 | 15B | Brian Birkhofer | Muscatine, IA | $450 |
| 21 | 22 | 1c | Chad Simpson | Mt. Vernon, IA | $440 |
| 22 | 23 | 21JR | Billy Moyer, Jr. | Batesville, AR | $530 |
| 23 | 17 | 58 | Jeremiah Hurst | Dubuque, IA | $410 |
| 24 | 8 | 49 | Jonathan Davenport | Blairsville, GA | $400 |
Race Statistics
Entrants: 55
Lap Leaders: Ricky Thornton Jr. (Lap 1); Devin Moran (Laps 2 – 4); Tyler Erb (Laps 5 – 13); Shane Clanton (Laps 14 – 25)
Wrisco Feature Winner: Shane Clanton
Margin of Victory: 3.627 seconds
Cautions: Jonathan Davenport (Lap 4)
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Dennis Erb Jr. (Advanced 7 Positions)
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Jonathan Davenport
Allstar Performance Power Move of the Race: Ricky Weiss
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Tyler Erb
Eibach Springs Rookie of the Race: Tyler Erb
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Clements Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Capital Race Cars
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Randall Edwards (Tyler Erb)
Dirty Girl Racewear Fastest Lap of the Race: Shane Clanton (Lap #4 – 19.4930 seconds)
Hot Rod Processing Tough Break of the Race: Jonathan Davenport
STEEL-IT Most Laps Led: Shane Clanton (12 Laps)
PFC Brakes Pole Award: Ricky Thornton Jr.
Time of Race: 10 minutes 37 seconds
Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals Night One Point Standings:
| Overall Pos | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN | Night #1 POINTS |
| 1 | 25 | Shane Clanton | Zebulon, GA | 494 |
| 2 | 29 | Darrell Lanigan | Union, KY | 486 |
| 3 | 20RT | Ricky Thornton Jr. | Sedgwick, KS | 482 |
| 4 | 1T | Tyler Erb ® | New Waverly, TX | 474 |
| 5 | 7w | Ricky Weiss | Headingley, MB | 472 |
| 6 | 32s | Chris Simpson | Oxford, IA | 468 |
| 7 | 16T | Tyler Bruening | Decorah, IA | 461 |
| 7 | 1 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | Jacksonville, FL | 461 |
| 9 | 1S | Brandon Sheppard | New Berlin, IL | 460 |
| 9 | 1d | Devin Moran ® | Dresden, OH | 460 |
| 11 | 32P | Bobby Pierce | Oakwood, IL | 458 |
| 11 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN | 458 |
| 13 | 2s | Stormy Scott | Las Cruses, NM | 456 |
| 13 | 50 | Shanon Buckingham | Morristown, TN | 456 |
| 15 | 40B | Kyle Bronson | Brandon, FL | 450 |
| 16 | 99JR | Frank Heckenast, Jr. | Frankfort, IL | 447 |
| 17 | 1c | Chad Simpson | Mt. Vernon, IA | 446 |
| 18 | 14 | Josh Richards | Shinnston, WV | 444 |
| 19 | 28 | Dennis Erb, Jr. | Carpentersville, IL | 443 |
| 20 | 49 | Jonathan Davenport | Blairsville, GA | 439 |
| 21 | 18 | Shannon Babb | Mowequa, IL | 434 |
| 22 | 21JR | Billy Moyer, Jr. | Batesville, AR | 432 |
| 23 | 15B | Brian Birkhofer | Muscatine, IA | 429 |
| 23 | 71 | Hudson O'Neal | Martinsville, IN | 429 |
| 25 | 5 | Don O'Neal | Martinsville, IN | 423 |
| 26 | 58 | Jeremiah Hurst | Dubuque, IA | 421 |
| 27 | 0m | Chris Madden | Gray Court, SC | 417 |
| 28 | 1st | Johnny Scott | Las Cruces, NM | 415 |
| 29 | 28m | Jimmy Mars | Menomonie, WI | 411 |
| 30 | 1m | Mike Mataragas | DeKalb, IL | 407 |
| 31 | 58E | Dave Eckrich | Oxford, IA | 393 |
| 32 | 43 | Jeremy Grady | Story City, IA | 390 |
| 33 | 29d | Spencer Diercks | Davenport, IA | 389 |
| 34 | 14J | Jake Neal | Omaha, NE | 385 |
| 35 | B1 | Brent Larson | Lake Elmo, MN | 380 |
| 36 | 22C | Charlie McKenna | Ames, IA | 378 |
| 37 | 99 | Brian Harris | Davenport, IA | 377 |
| 38 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | Mooresburg, TN | 375 |
| 39 | 25F | Jason Feger | Bloomington, IL | 374 |
| 40 | 32B | Cody Laney | Torrance, CA | 373 |
| 41 | 6z | Corey Zeitner | Omaha, NE | 370 |
| 41 | 18J | Chase Junghans | Manhattan, KS | 370 |
| 41 | 39 | Tim McCreadie | Watertown, NY | 370 |
| 44 | 20w | Chad White | Benton Harbor, MI | 369 |
| 45 | 5N | Dustin Nobbe | Batesville, IN | 368 |
| 46 | 33 | Nick Marolf | Moscow, IA | 366 |
| 47 | 21 | Billy Moyer | Batesville, AR | 363 |
| 48 | 54 | Mike Fryer | Freeport, IL | 361 |
| 49 | 17 | Tim Simpson | Iowa City, IA | 356 |
| 49 | 22B | Jonathan Brauns | Muscatine, IA | 356 |
| 51 | 4W | JC Wyman | Griswold, IA | 355 |
| 52 | 14m | Reid Millard | Jefferson City, MO | 352 |
| 53 | 44w | David Webster | Monroe, WI | 349 |
| 54 | 10C | Junior Coover | Norfolk, NE | 344 |
| 55 | 777 | Jared Landers | Batesville, AR | 333 |
For the latest breaking news concerning the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, including the latest series standings, 2019 tour schedule, driver information, and more visit the official website at: www.lucasdirt.com.
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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 2019, the LOLMDS will sanction 65 events in 22 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.
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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.
