Weekend Sweep: Lanigan Scores Fourth Win Of Young Season In ‘My Old Kentucky Home Shootout’ At Bluegrass Speedway
By Kevin Kovac, WoO LMS P.R. Director
BARDSTOWN, KY – April 30, 2011 – The early-season beat rolled on for Union, Ky.’s Darrell Lanigan on Saturday night at Bluegrass Speedway.
Racing at a half-mile oval just two hours from his home, Lanigan completed a sweep of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series’s weekend doubleheader with a victory in the caution-free 50-lap ‘My Old Kentucky Old Home Shootout.’
Lanigan, 40, led the entire distance of the ninth annual event after starting from the pole position in his GottaRace.com Rocket car. He repelled challenges from two-time defending WoO LMS champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., and Scott James of Greendale, Ind., to earn his tour-leading fourth win in six starts this season.
“It’s good to come back here to Kentucky and win one,” said Lanigan, who captured the inaugural ‘My Old Kentucky Home Shootout’ at Bluegrass in 2003. “We didn’t qualify very well (30th after timing late in the session), but we ran a good heat race (finishing second) and then drew the number one (for the feature). That definitely helped, but like I’ve said – the car’s been good all year, and we’re just doing everything we can to win every race and get back in the points.”
Lanigan, who missed the WoO LMS season opener on Feb. 17 at Volusia Speedway Park due to a medical issue and finished 15th in his first tour outing of 2011 two days later, hasn’t finished outside the top three since leaving the Florida track. He has climbed all the way back to fourth in the points standings and, with Saturday’s $10,775 score, has already topped $60,000 in earnings.
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Coming off a spectacular charge to victory using the outside lane on Friday night at Hartford (Mich.) Motor Speedway, Lanigan utilized a more methodical approach at Bluegrass. He had to calmly hold his line and avoid catching lapped cars throughout a race that was completed without interruption in just over 14 minutes.
Lanigan crossed the finish line 0.479 of a second ahead of James, who slipped underneath Richards for the runner-up spot on lap 37 and marched on to a career-best performance on the WoO LMS driving the Riggs Motorsports Rocket.
The 23-year-old Richards settled for a close third-place finish in the Rocket house car, veteran Mike Jewell of Scottsburg, Ind., was fourth in a self-owned MasterSbilt mount and 19-year-old sensation Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., placed fifth in Dale Beitler’s Rocket machine.
Lanigan, who competed all weekend virtually free of the lower-back pain that has plagued him throughout the season after receiving a cortisone shot for his fractured tailbone, recognized that the Bluegrass surface had become locked down and played the conditions to perfection.
“I was rubber racing,” said Lanigan, who sits third on the WoO LMS win list since 2004 with 23 career victories. “I didn’t really want to go up there and pressure those lapped cars because when you get on a guy’s bumper it takes the air off your nose, so I just rolled out of it in the corners and closed back up on the straightaways.
“I knew that somebody was close, but I didn’t know who it was and I knew it would be hard to pass me if I didn’t make a mistake or get myself messed up with lapped cars.”
James, 39, never drew close enough to offer Lanigan a serious challenge. His hard-compound tire choice helped him come on as the race progressed but he couldn’t pull off his first-ever WoO LMS triumph.
“I’m happy,” said James, whose previous best finish in WoO LMS action was third, on both Feb. 17 and 19, 2005, at Volusia Speedway Park. “It would’ve been nice to get it tonight, but any time you can come out of here with a top three in this crowd your car’s pretty good.”
Richards, meanwhile, fell short in his bid to reach Victory Lane for the first time in WoO LMS competition this season. He moved from the fourth starting spot to second by lap two and threatened Lanigan several times, but his hopes disintegrated after he slid high in turn four and ceded the bridesmaid position to James.
“I felt like we were way better than Darrell,” said Richards, who has a 32-point edge over Lanigan in the WoO LMS standings. “I got up to him and I got clear up behind his quarter-panel (on lap 37), but I got a little bit of an aero-push so I just kind of tried to carry it to the outside of (turn) four. I thought the track was rubbered wider than it was, but it was really narrow and I was like, ‘Uh oh, that was bad.’ I didn’t realize Scott James was that close and he got by.
“We were going for the win,” he added. “I’m really hungry for a win right now, so I tried to make something happen. It didn’t work, but we still ended up third out of it – and knowing we were that close, or even better, than a guy who’s been dominating makes me feel a lot better.”
Jewell, who turns 53 in July, was the feel-good story of the night. He slipped backward one position to finish fourth after starting on the inside of the second row but was still beaming following the checkered flag.
“I took a gamble and ran a harder tire and those guys sort of got away at the start,” said Jewell, an accomplished Midwestern racer who registered a career-best WoO LMS finish. “But then I moved up there to the top, got faster and got some momentum, and I started running those guys (Lanigan and Richards) down. I thought, Man, I’ve got something here. But Scott slid under me (for third) before I got down there in that rubber and then we were done.
“I had a good car all night, so I was real pleased. These guys are on top of their game – they’re professionals, and this is their living. We’re just kind of weekend warriors, so I’m just glad to get to run with them.”
Kent Robinson of Bloomington, Ind., finished sixth – a career-best WoO LMS run by the young graduate of the DIRTcar UMP Modified ranks. Rick Eckert of York, Pa., remained second in the tour points standings with a seventh-place finish after starting 12th; 14th-starter Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., survived a first-lap scrape that crunched his car’s left-rear sheet metal to place eighth; Tim Rivers of Salem, Ind., was ninth for his first-ever top-10 finish in a WoO LMS event; and Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., took 10th.
The race’s only noteworthy casualty was Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., who relinquished fourth place on lap four due to a broken rearend in his BPG Inc.-sponsored car.
A field of 42 cars assembled for the event, which kicked off the 2011 season at Bluegrass.
James was quickest in Ohlins Shocks Time Trials with a lap of 15.593 seconds. It was his first-ever fast-time honor on the WoO LMS.
Heat winners were Richards, Jewell, Kent Robinson and Hubbard. The B-Mains were captured by Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., who did not record a lap in time trials due to a right-front wheel problem, and Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Results of WoO Late Model Series ‘My Old Kentucky Home Shootout’ at Bluegrass Speedway (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):
1. (1) Darrell Lanigan/50 $10,775
2. (2) Scott James/50 $5,550
3. (4) Josh Richards/50 $3,750
4. (3) Mike Jewell/50 $2,500
5. (6) Austin Hubbard/50 $2,550
6. (7) Kent Robinson/50 $1,700
7. (12) Rick Eckert/50 $1,950
8. (14) Chub Frank/50 $1,850
9. (8) Tim Rivers/50 $1,200
10. (9) Brady Smith/50 $1,100
11. (18) Clint Smith/50 $1,600
12. (13) Jason Feger/50 $1,550
13. (10) Victor Lee/50 $950
14. (15) Tim McCreadie/50 $1,550
15. (23) Shane Clanton/50 $1,400
16. (16) Greg Johnson/50 $800
17. (11) Vic Coffey/50 $1,320
18. (20) Pat Doar/50 $1,000
19. (17) Jonathan Davenport/50 $730
20. (19) Terry English/50 $700
21. (22) Dustin Neat/50 $750
22. (21) Justin Rattliff/50 $700
23. (26) Ron Davies/50 $0***
24. (25) Tim Tungate/33 $700
25. (5) Tim Fuller/4 $1,200
26. (24) Brent Robinson/1 $1,225
* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses
*** Davies forfeited start money by gaining entry to the A-Main with an WoO emergency provisional available once during the season to non-contracted WoO drivers who have perfect attendance after the sixth race
Time of Race: 14 Mins., 22.205 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 0.479 Secs.
Yellow Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Lanigan (1-50)
Provisional Starters: Clanton, B. Robinson (WoO); Davies (WoO emergency); Tungate (track)
Rookie of the Race: Doar ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: James ($500)
Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):
1. 81-Scott James/Greendale, IN 15.593
2. 9J-Mike Jewell/Scottsburg, IN 15.840
3. 32c-Vic Coffey/Caledonia, NY 15.932
4. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 15.962
5. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 16.008
6. 88-Victor Lee/Standford, KY 16.044
7. 25N-Dustin Neat/Dunnville, KY 16.059
8. 46-Tim Rivers/Salem, IN 16.240
9. 2-Brady Smith/Solon Springs, WI 16.251
10. 18T-Tim Tungate/Campbellsville, KY 16.283
11. 9G-Larry Greer/Bowling Green, KY 16.345
12. 18K-Brandon Kinzer/Allen, KY 16.452
13. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 16.453
14. d8-Dustin Linville/Brownsville, KY 16.460
15. 7R-Kent Robinson/Bloomington, IN 16.529
16. 44W-Jeff Watson/Campbellsville, KY 16.532
17. 96-Terry English/Benton, KY 16.539
18. 1L-John Lobb/Frewsburg, NY 16.563
19. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 16.701
20. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 16.718
21. 25F-Jason Feger/Bloomington, IL 16.729
22. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 16.741
23. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 16.767
24. 5M-Whitney McQueary/Liberty, KY 16.785
25. 21-Chris Brown/Cleveland, TX 16.809
26. 21B-Chip Brindle/Chatsworth, GA 16.814
27. 16d-Joey Daniel/Liberty, KY 16.850
28. 11d-Pat Doar/New Richmond, WI 16.914
29. 16-Justin Rattliff/Campbellsville, KY 16.932
30. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 16.944
31. 13W-David Webb/Nicholasville, KY 17.021
32. 49J-Greg Johnson/Bedford, IN 17.082
33. 41J-Jarryd Holshouser/Boaz, KY 17.101
34. 56-Rohn Moon/Greenwood, IN 17.102
35. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 17.129
36. 97-Michael Chilton/Salusa, KY 17.212
37. 71d-Ron Davies/Warren, PA 17.257
38. 96T-Tanner English/Benton, KY 17.385
39. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 17.661
40. 38-Kevin Colston/Frankfort, KY 17.719
41. 49-Jonathan Davenport/Blairsville, GA N/T
42. 3-Brent Robinson/Smithfield, VA N/T
Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Richards, James, B. Smith, Feger, Davenport, Terry English, Rattliff, Davies, Brown, Holshouser, Clanton
Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Jewell, Lanigan, Lee, Frank, Tungate, Brindle, Tanner English, Linville, Moon, Lobb (DNS) B. Robinson
Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): K. Robinson, Fuller, Coffey, McCreadie, C. Smith, Webb, Neat, Daniel, George, Greer
Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Hubbard, Rivers, Eckert, G. Johnson, Doar, Kinzer, McQueary, Watson, Chilton, Colston
B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Davenport, Terry English, Rattliff, Brindle, Brown, Tanner English, Clanton, Davies, Linville, Moon, Holshouser, Tungate (DNS) Lobb
B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): C. Smith, Doar, Neat, Kinzer, Chilton, Webb, McQueary, Colston, Watson, George, Daniel, B. Robinson (DNS) Greer
World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:
Arizona Sports Shirts ($100 apparel certificate to 22nd fastest qualifier): Clint Smith
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Mike Jewell
Comp Cams ($50 cash to A-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Josh Richards
Comp Cams (certificate to 11th place in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Clint Smith
Eibach Springs (one free spring to each B-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Jarryd Holshouser/Jill George
JE Pistons ($50 cash to A-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Josh Richards
JE Pistons (one set of Pro Seal rings to 11th-place or next highest w/decal, redeemable w/next purchase of one complete set of rings): Clint Smith
JE Pistons (one set of Pro Seal rings to 21st-place or next highest w/decal, redeemable w/next purchase of one complete set of rings): Tim Fuller
MSD Ignition ($75 cash to A-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Darrell Lanigan
MSD Ignition ($25 cash to last-place in A-Main or next lowest w/decal): Brent Robinson
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash to fast qualifier or next highest w/decal): Dustin Neat
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate to A-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Darrell Lanigan
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate to 5th-place or next highest w/decal): Austin Hubbard
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate to 15th-place or next highest w/decal): Shane Clanton
R2C Performance ($100 certificate to highest-finishing driver w/decal or $100 cash if race winner is using R2C filter and decal is displayed): Darrell Lanigan (cash)
STP ($50 cash to 2nd-place in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Josh Richards
Superflow Dynos ($50 cash to 7th-place in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Rick Eckert
VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash to winner of Heat 1 or next highest w/decal): Scott James
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (one five-gallon plastic fuel jugs to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main or next highest w/decal): John Lobb
WIX Filters ($50 cash to 13th-place in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Tim McCreadie
Wrisco Aluminum (Three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Darrell Lanigan
2011 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of April 30 – 7 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):
1. Josh Richards 1076
2. Rick Eckert 1060 (-16)
3. Austin Hubbard 1046 (-30)
4. Darrell Lanigan 1044 (-32)
5. Jason Feger 1010 (-66)
6. (tie) Shane Clanton 982 (-94)
6. (tie) Tim McCreadie 982 (-94)
8. Chub Frank 976 (-100)
9. Clint Smith 968 (-108)
10. Tim Fuller 898 (-178)
11. Brent Robinson 882 (-194)
12. Vic Coffey 872 (-204)
13. Pat Doar 868 (-208)
14. Ron Davies 798 (-278)
15. Steve Francis 752 (-324)
16. Jonathan Davenport 744 (-332)
17. (tie) John Lobb 726 (-350)
17. (tie) Jill George 726 (-350)
19. Billy Moyer 596 (-480)
20. Scott Bloomquist 570 (-506)
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), Vicci (Official Uniform), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award), McCarthy’s One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning (Raye Vest Memorial Pill Draw Award), Chizmark Larson Insurance, Factory Value Parts and RacingJunk.com; in addition to contingency sponsors Comp Cams, Eibach Springs, JE Pistons, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance, Superflow Dynos, Wix Filters and Wrisco Aluminum.
