Lanigan Earns First-Ever Win At The Dirt Track At Charlotte In Friday’s World of Outlaws World Finals A-Main
Richards Clinches Third Career World of Outlaws Late Model Series Title With Third-Place Finish
By Kevin Kovac, WoO LMS P.R. Director
CONCORD, NC – Nov. 8, 2013 – Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., finally reached Victory Lane at The Dirt Track at Charlotte with a flawless performance in Friday night’s 50-lap World of Outlaws World Finals A-Main.
Hitting paydirt in his 21st career start at the four-tenths-mile oval, Lanigan burst off the pole position to grab the lead at the start of the event and never looked back. He kept Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., at bay late in the distance to register his long-awaited first-ever triumph at The Dirt Track and his tour-leading 12th win of the 2013 World of Outlaws Late Model Series campaign.
But while Lanigan, 43, beat Bloomquist to the finish line by 0.596 of a second for a victory worth $12,150, his year-long reign as WoO LMS champion came to an end. Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., finished third to clinch his third career World of Outlaws title.
Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., placed fourth and 2011 WoO LMS champion Rick Eckert of York, Pa., was fifth in a race that was contested before a massive capacity crowd on a chilly fall evening.
Mathematically still alive in the battle for the WoO LMS points crown entering the weekend (he trailed Richards by 106 points) but well aware that his chances of a comeback were slim, Lanigan focused primarily on breaking through for a checkered flag at The Dirt Track. He had little trouble achieving that goal after picking the number one starting spot in the redraw among heat winners.
Lanigan smoothly handled four restarts and a track surface that became bottom-dominant to record the 53rd WoO LMS win of his career. It was his second consecutive victory on the tour – though this one came nearly two months after his score in the last event on Sept. 21 at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Mich.
“We got a new setup on this (Rocket) car and it’s just been unbelievable since Berlin,” said Lanigan, whose last two WoO LMS wins sandwiched a $40,000 triumph in the Knoxville Late Model Nationals on Sept. 28 at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway. “The car was great tonight. When we had clear track we could really pick up the pace.”
The only hindrance for Lanigan was slower traffic, which he handled carefully late in the race. Bloomquist and Richards drew close to the leader, but Lanigan didn’t make a mistake.
“We got caught up there in the lapped traffic and just kind of followed them around,” said Lanigan, who became just the second WoO LMS to win a World Finals A-Main in the event’s seven-year history, joining Richards (2008). “I knew it was gonna be hard to pass anybody, but the car was great and we had to earn it (front row spot). That’s what it took.”
Bloomquist, 49, ultimately didn’t have the necessary speed to mount a serious bid to overtake Lanigan. He started third but grabbed second place from Richards on a lap-one restart and never relinquished the position.
“We had quite a stumble in our carburetor,” said Bloomquist, who has two career World Finals victories. “Coming off the corners you saw partial throttle – it just wouldn’t accelerate smooth and it was really messing up through the race.
“The car was good. We probably need to get a little bit stronger off the corner, but we had a good run tonight.”
Lanigan’s success allowed him to seize control of the second spot in the WoO LMS points standings entering Saturday night’s season finale. He ended the night 36 points ahead of Zebulon, Ga.’s Shane Clanton, who ceded 32 points to Lanigan with a 16th-place finish.
Lanigan hopes to cap his season by duplicating the World Finals sweep accomplished for the first time last year by Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., who has also won Saturday night’s World Finals finale in each of the past four years.
“We came down here to win both of ’em,” said Lanigan. “We got one of ’em and we’re gonna go for the other one tomorrow night.”
Richards, 25, failed to convert an outside-pole starting spot into his 10th win of the season, but his solid third-place finish brought him the big prize: the $100,000 WoO LMS championship. With a 100-point lead on Lanigan at the end of the night, he is assured of winning the title even if he were to not start Saturday night’s A-Main.
“It feels good to wrap up the title,” said Richards, who becomes the first driver in the tour’s World Racing Group era (2004-present) to win three championships. “Now I’d like to end the year with a win. I think if we can tweak it tomorrow we can definitely have something.”
Finishing in positions 6-10 was John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va.; teenager Tyler Reddick of DuQuoin, Ill.; Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville, Tenn.; DIRTcar big-block Modified star Billy Decker of Unadilla, N.Y.; and Owens, who unsuccessfully attempted to make the outside groove work throughout the race.
Eric Wells of Hazard, Ky., who finished 18th, clinched the 2013 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year award.
Four caution flags were needed during the race, all for minor problems. Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., brought out cautions on lap one (turn-four spin) and lap 24 (slowed on homestretch); Eric Jacobsen of Sea Cliff Beach, Calif., stopped on the lap-24 restart; and Steve Shaver of Vienna, W.Va., stopped in turn two on lap 28.
Heat winners were Richards, Eckert, Bloomquist, Lanigan, Reddick and O’Neal. The B-Mains were captured by Wells, Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, and Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del.
Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., who was the fastest qualifier in both rounds of time trials on Thursday night, saw his evening end quickly with a grinding crash on the opening lap of the first heat. He slammed the turn-two wall with the left side of his car and was noticeably shaken up.
The 56-year-old Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer was able to climb out of his car and walk gingerly to the ambulance with help from a member of the safety crew. But with Moyer dazed and complaining of pain in his neck and left elbow and hand, he was taken to a local hospital for a check-up.
After undergoing a couple hours of tests at the hospital, Moyer was allowed to leave and was back at the track by feature time. He was diagnosed with a possible concussion but no other significant injuries. He does not plan to compete on Saturday night, however.
The 2013 World of Outlaws World Finals Presented conclude on Saturday night (Nov. 9) with another tripleheader featuring the WoO LMS, the WoO Sprint Car Series and the Super DIRTcar Series for big-block Modifieds. Gates open at 3 p.m., hot laps are scheduled to start at 4 p.m. and racing is set to begin at 5 p.m.
For more information, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com or www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.
Results of World of Outlaws Late Model Series World Finals Night No. 1 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):
1. (1) Darrell Lanigan/50 $12,150
2. (3) Scott Bloomquist/50 $5,150
3. (2) Josh Richards/50 $3,150
4. (4) Don O’Neal/50 $3,000
5. (5) Rick Eckert/50 $2,200
6. (9) John Blankenship/50 $1,700
7. (6) Tyler Reddick/50 $1,500
8. (14) Billy Ogle Jr./50 $1,600
9. (12) Billy Decker/50 $1,350
10. (13) Jimmy Owens/50 $1,450
11. (16) Earl Pearson Jr./50 $1,250
12. (11) Chris Brown/50 $1,200
13. (10) Dennis Erb Jr./50 $1,200
14. (8) Ricky Elliott/50 $1,100
15. (20) Clint Smith/50 $1,100
16. (25) Shane Clanton/50 $1,050
17. (7) Kenny Moreland/50 $1,050
18. (19) Eric Wells/50 $1,300
19. (22) Eric Jacobsen/50 $1,000
20. (15) Steve Francis/50 $1,100
21. (24) Morgan Bagley/50 $1,050
22. (27) Chad Hollenbeck/49 $1,000
23. (18) Tim Fuller/46 $1,050
24. (26) Tim McCreadie/40 $1,150
25. (17) Steve Shaver/28 $1,000
26. (23) Austin Hubbard/22 $1,000
27. (21) Ryan Gustin/17 $1,000
* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses
Time of Race: 23 Mins., 30.277 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 0.596 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 4 (laps 1, 24, 24, 28)
Lap Leaders: Lanigan (1-50)
Provisional Starters: Clanton, McCreadie (WoO); Hollenbeck (fastest pre-entered non-qualifier from time trials)
Rookie of the Race: Wells ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: O’Neal ($500)
Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Josh Richards, 2. Kenny Moreland, 3. Jimmy Owens, 4. Eric Wells, 5. Bobby Pierce, 6. Bub McCool, 7. Chris Ferguson, 8. Dan Stone, 9. Don Gordon, 10. Mason Zeigler, 11. Pancho Lawler, 12. Billy Moyer
Heat No. 2 Finish (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Rick Eckert, 2. Ricky Elliott, 3. Billy Ogle Jr., 4. Jared Landers, 5. Clint Smith, 6. Shane Clanton, 7. Mike Marlar, 8. Chris Madden, 9. Vic Hill, 10. Bryan Force, 11. Brandon Sheppard, 12. Tim McCreadie
Heat No. 3 Finish (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Scott Bloomquist, 2. John Blankenship, 3. Steve Francis, 4. Ryan Gustin, 5. Jonathan Davenport, 6. Chad Hollenbeck, 7. Casey Roberts, 8. Mike Benedum, 9. Dennis ‘Rambo’ Franklin, 10. Brian Tavenner, 11. Kevin Wilson, 12. Jeff Babcock
Heat No. 4 Finish (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Darrell Lanigan, 2. Dennis Erb Jr., 3. Earl Pearson Jr., 4. Duane Chamberlain, 5. Jeremy Miller, 6. Eric Jacobsen, 7. Gregg Satterlee, 8. Chuck Harper, 9. Chub Frank, 10. Coleby Frye, 11. James O’Hara, 12. Brian Ledbetter
Heat No. 5 Finish (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Tyler Reddick, 2. Chris Brown, 3. Steve Shaver, 4. Morgan Bagley, 5. Austin Hubbard, 6. John Garvin, 7. J.T. Spence, 8. Will Vaught, 9. B.J. Robinson, 10. Kyle Hardy, 11. Matt Cochran, 12. Devin Moran
Heat No. 6 Finish (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Don O’Neal, 2. Billy Decker, 3. Tim Fuller, 4. Dale Hollidge, 5. Dale McDowell, 6. Jason Feger, 7. Rod Conley, 8. Andrew Reaume, 9. Chase Junghans, 10. Glenn Elliott, 11. Kerry King, 12. Walker Arthur
B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): 1. Eric Wells, 2. Clint Smith, 3. Jared Landers, 4. Shane Clanton, 5. Chris Ferguson, 6. Bobby Pierce, 7. Dan Stone, 8. Chris Madden, 9. Mike Benedum, 10. Bryan Force, 11. Don Gordon, 12. Tim McCreadie, 13. Bub McCool, 14. Will Vaught, 15. Brandon Sheppard, 16. Mike Marlar (DNS) Pancho Lawler, Billy Moyer
B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): 1. Ryan Gustin, 2. Eric Jacobsen, 3. Jonathan Davenport, 4. Chad Hollenbeck, 5. Chub Frank, 6. Gregg Satterlee, 7. Jeff Babcock, 8. Dennis ‘Rambo’ Franklin, 9. Mike Benedum, 10. Coleby Frye, 11. Brian Ledbetter, 12. Brian Tavenner, 13. James O’Hara, 14. Kevin Wilson, 15. Chuck Harper, 16. Jeremy Miller, 17. Duane Chamberlain, 18. Casey Roberts
B-Main No. 3 (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): 1. Austin Hubbard, 2. Morgan Bagley, 3. Dale McDowell, 4. J.T. Spence, 5. Dale Hollidge, 6. John Garvin, 7. Will Vaught, 8. Jason Feger, 9. Rod Conley, 10. B.J. Robinson, 11. Andrew Reaume, 12. Kyle Hardy, 13. Devin Moran, 14. Glenn Elliott, 15. Walker Arthur, 16. Chase Junghans, 17. Matt Cochran (DNS) Kerry King
World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners (awards presented to noted finisher/qualifier or next highest displaying decal:
Ohlins Shocks ($50 cash to fast qualifier): Billy Moyer
Eibach Springs (one free spring to each B-Main winner): Eric Wells/Chub Frank/Morgan Bagley
VP Race Fuels ‘Nice Jugs’ Award: (One VP 5-gallon container to fastest qualifier who misses A-Main): J.T. Spence
Wrisco Aluminum (3 sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner only): Darrell Lanigan
Armor All (One case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main): Don O’Neal
Comp Cams ($50 certificate to A-Main winner): Josh Richards
QuarterMaster ($100 certificate to A-Main winner): Josh Richards
MSD Ignition ($50 cash to A-Main winner): Darrell Lanigan
STP ($50 cash to 2nd-place finisher in A-Main): Scott Bloomquist
XS Power ($50 cash to 3rd-place finisher in A-Main): Jimmy Owens
Roush Yates ($50 cash to 4th-place finisher in A-Main): Rick Eckert
JE Pistons ($50 cash to 5th-place finisher in A-Main): Rick Eckert
Dominator ($50 cash to 6th-place finisher in A-Main): Billy Ogle Jr.
American Race Wheels ($50 cash to 7th-place finisher in A-Main): Billy Ogle Jr.
VP Race Fuels ($50 cash to 8th-place finisher in A-Main): Billy Ogle Jr.
Edelbrock Manifolds ($50 cash to 9th-finisher in A-Main): Jimmy Owens
Comp Cams ($50 cash to 10th-place finisher in A-Main): Jimmy Owens
XS Power ($60 product certificate to 11th-place finisher in A-Main): Kenny Moreland
Cometic Gasket ($50 cash to 12th-place finisher in A-Main): Dennis Erb Jr.
JRI Shocks ($50 cash to 13th-place finisher in A-Main): Billy Ogle Jr.
Super Flow Dynos ($50 cash to 14th-place finisher in A-Main): Shane Clanton
QuarterMaster ($25 certificate to 15th-place finisher in A-Main): Shane Clanton
JE Pistons (one complete set of JE Pro Seal rings to 16th-place finisher in A-Main, redeemable w/next purchase of set): Shane Clanton
Klotz Lubricants ($50 cash to 17th-place finisher in A-Main): Kenny Moreland
Roush Yates ($50 gift card to 18th-place finisher in A-Main): Eric Wells
QuarterMaster ($50 certificate to 19th-place finisher in A-Main): Morgan Bagley
Arizona Sport Shirts ($100 certificate to 20th-place finisher in A-Main): Morgan Bagley
JE Pistons (one complete set of JE Pro Seal rings to 21st-place finisher in A-Main, redeemable w/next purchase of set): Morgan Bagley
Roush Yates ($50 gift card to 22nd-place finisher in A-Main): Scott Bloomquist
MSD Ignition ($25 cash to 24th-place finisher in A-Main): Tim McCreadie
XS Power ‘Power Move of the Race’ ($60 product certificate): Darrell Lanigan
Roush Yates ($25 gift card to driver who leads most laps in the A-Main): Darrell Lanigan
2013 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Nov. 8 – 45 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):
1. Josh Richards 6244
2. Darrell Lanigan 6144 (-100)
3. Shane Clanton 6108 (-136)
4. Rick Eckert 6054 (-190)
5. Tim McCreadie 5726 (-518)
6. Eric Wells 5652 (-592)
7. Tim Fuller 5646 (-598)
8. Chub Frank 5534 (-710)
9. Morgan Bagley 5506 (-738)
10. Bub McCool 5496 (-748)
11. Clint Smith 5066 (-1178)
12. Dan Stone 2628 (-3616)
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: American Racing Custom Wheels (Official Custom Wheel), Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), KMC (Official Custom Truck Wheel), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), Vicci (Official Uniform), VP Racing Fuel (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and McCarthy’s One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning (Raye Vest Memorial Pill Draw Award); in addition to contingency sponsors: Butlerbuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Dominator Race Products, Edelbrock, Eibach Springs, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, QuarterMaster, Roush Yates Performance Parts, Superflow Dynos, Wrisco Aluminum and XS Power Racing Batteries; along with manufacturer sponsors Capital Race Cars, Integra Shocks, GRT Chassis, Jake’s Carts, Racing Electronics, Rocket Chassis, TNT Rescue, and Warrior Chassis.
LIVE UPDATES 11/8: World of Outlaws World Finals At The Dirt Track At Charlotte
CONCORD, NC – Nov. 8, 2013 – The World of Outlaws Late Model Series gets down to serious business tonight, contesting the first half of the World of Outlaws World Finals doubleheader at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.
Heat-race lineups were set by the first round of last night’s Ohlins Shocks Time Trials, and a 50-lap, $12,000-to-win A-Main will top the full-fender division’s card at the four-tenths-mile oval. The first-place payoff for this year’s pair of WoO LMS features has been bumped up by $2,000 from the six previous seasons.
For live updates of all the news, pit notes and results from tonight’s action, click the ‘Full Story’ link below. Be sure to refresh your browser throughout the night to see the latest information.
It’s all Lanigan
10:30 p.m. – Darrell Lanigan was flawless in the 50-lap A-Main, leading all the way to register his 12th WoO LMS win of 2013 and his first-ever triumph at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.
Scott Bloomquist drew close to Lanigan late in the race but couldn’t make a serious bid for the lead and settled for second place.
Josh Richards, meanwhile, placed third — a run that allowed him to clinch his third career WoO LMS title. He takes an insurmountable 100-point lead over Lanigan into Saturday night’s action.
A-Main Finish: 1. Darrell Lanigan, 2. Scott Bloomquist, 3. Josh Richards, 4. Don O’Neal, 5. Rick Eckert, 6. John Blankenship, 7. Tyler Reddick, 8. Billy Ogle Jr., 9. Billy Decker, 10. Jimmy Owens, 11. Earl Pearson Jr., 12. Chris Brown, 13. Dennis Erb Jr., 14. Ricky Elliott, 15. Clint Smith, 16. Shane Clanton, 17. Kenny Moreland, 18. Eric Wells, 19. Eric Jacobsen, 20. Steve Francis, 21. Morgan Bagley, 22. Chad Hollenbeck, 23. Tim Fuller, 24. Tim McCreadie, 25. Steve Shaver, 26. Austin Hubbard, 27. Ryan Gustin
Lanigan mid-race leader
10:05 p.m. – With a caution flag flying on lap 24 for Austin Hubbard’s slow car on the homestretch, Darrell Lanigan sits in the top spot. The race’s polesitter has led the entire distance, keeping Scott Bloomquist and Josh Richards at bay while negotiating lapped traffic.
Bloomquist sits second, followed by Richards, Don O’Neal, Rick Eckert, John Blankenship, Tyler Reddick, Jimmy Owens, Kenny Moreland and Billy Ogle Jr.
Modified action complete
9:45 p.m. – New Jersey short-track superstar Brett Hearn emerged victorious in the hotly-contested 40-lap big-block Modified feature, which ended moments ago. It was the 115th Super DIRTcar Series big-block Modified win of his career, his third career triumph at the Dirt Track and essentially clinched him the overall 2013 DIRTcar big-block Modified championship.
Modified/Late Model double-duty racers made little impact. Billy Decker finished ninth (from the 19th starting spot); Tim Fuller placed 25th after retiring on lap 26; and Tim McCreadie was 27th in the final rundown.
McCreadie’s big-block Modified run came to an end on lap 20. While running 14th, T-Mac found himself spinning between turns one and two after receiving rearend contact from New Yorker Danny Johnson. McCreadie took exception to Johnson’s driving tactics and rammed the DIRTcar Modified veteran several times in the rear bumper under caution – and as a result, DIRTcar officials sent McCreadie off the track for the remainder of the big-block Modified feature.
The 27-car field for the 50-lap WoO LMS A-Main will be rolling onto the track after the completion of big-block Modified Victory Lane ceremonies.
Spectacular show
8:50 p.m. – Moments the packed house of fans was thrilled with the ‘3-by-4-wide’ salute, which put the Late Model, Sprint Car and big-block Modified starting fields on the track for a simultaneous four-wide pace lap. Cell-phone cameras were out in force as the cars circled the oval and pyro exploded from the infield.
Familiar faces on front row
8:05 p.m. – Darrell Lanigan and Josh Richards will start first and second, respectively, in the 50-lap A-Main following the redraw, setting up another battle for supremacy between the friendly rivals.
The WoO STP Sprint Car Dash is currently on the racetrack. It will be followed by the Sprint Car B-Main; the wildly-popular ‘3-by-4-wide’ salute to the fans in which the starting fields of all three divisions will take to the track simultaneously for a four-wide pace lap; the Super DIRTcar Series big-block Modified 40-lapper; the WoO LMS A-Main; and the WoO Sprint Car headliner.
A-Main Lineup
Row 1: Darrell Lanigan/Josh Richards
Row 2: Scott Bloomquist/Don O’Neal
Row 3: Rick Eckert/Tyler Reddick
Row 4: Kenny Moreland/Ricky Elliott
Row 5: John Blankenship/Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 6: Chris Brown/Billy Decker
Row 7: Jimmy Owens/Billy Ogle Jr.
Row 8: Steve Francis/Earl Pearson Jr.
Row 9: Steve Shaver/Tim Fuller
Row 10: Eric Wells/Clint Smith
Row 11: Ryan Gustin/Eric Jacobsen
Row 12: Austin Hubbard/Morgan Bagley
Row 13: Shane Clanton/Tim McCreadie
Row 14: Chad Hollenbeck
Pink cars run wild
7:55 p.m. – Austin Hubbard and Morgan Bagley — both running pink-accented cars — finished one-two in the third 12-lap B-Main.
With qualifying complete, the two WoO LMS points provisional starters will be Shane Clanton and Tim McCreadie. Chad Hollenbeck, meanwhile, has received the track provisional that goes to the fastest non-qualifier from time trials who was pre-entered.
WoO LMS regulars Chub Frank and Bub McCool failed to qualify and do not have any emergency provisionals left to use, so they will watch the A-Main from the sidelines.
B-Main No. 3 (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): 1. Austin Hubbard, 2. Morgan Bagley, 3. Dale McDowell, 4. J.T. Spence, 5. Dale Hollidge, 6. John Garvin, 7. Will Vaught, 8. Jason Feger, 9. Rod Conley, 10. B.J. Robinson, 11. Andrew Reaume, 12. Kyle Hardy, 13. Devin Moran, 14. Glenn Elliott, 15. Walker Arthur, 16. Chase Junghans, 17. Matt Cochran (DNS) Kerry King
Rising young star shines
7:45 p.m. – Ryan Gustin, a 22-year-old USMTS Modified sensation from Marshalltown, Iowa, who is beginning to make his mark on dirt Late Model racing, scored an impressive victory in the second 12-lap B-Main. Eric Jacobsen placed second, inheriting the spot after Jeremy Miller hit the wall between turns one and two on a lap-seven restart.
B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): 1. Eric Wells, 2. Clint Smith, 3. Jared Landers, 4. Shane Clanton, 5. Chris Ferguson, 6. Bobby Pierce, 7. Dan Stone, 8. Chris Madden, 9. Mike Benedum, 10. Bryan Force, 11. Don Gordon, 12. Tim McCreadie, 13. Bub McCool, 14. Will Vaught, 15. Brandon Sheppard, 16. Mike Marlar (DNS) Pancho Lawler, Billy Moyer
B-Main No. 1 to Wells
7:20 p.m. – WoO LMS rookie Eric Wells won the first 12-lap B-Main over fellow tour regular Clint Smith, moving both drivers in the A-Main.
The last-chance event included a multi-car tangle on lap six that swept up, among others, Brandon Sheppard, Vic Hill, Will Vaught and Mike Marlar.
WoO LMS regulars Shane Clanton, Tim McCreadie and Bub McCool, who stopped on the track after the lap-six wreck and was towed off, failed to qualify. Clanton and and McCreadie will start the A-Main using WoO LMS points provisionals, however.
The WoO STP Sprint Car D-Main is currently on the track, with the second WoO LMS B-Main to follow.
B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): 1. Eric Wells, 2. Clint Smith, 3. Jared Landers, 4. Shane Clanton, 5. Chris Ferguson, 6. Bobby Pierce, 7. Dan Stone, 8. Chris Madden, 9. Mike Benedum, 10. Bryan Force, 11. Don Gordon, 12. Tim McCreadie, 13. Bub McCool, 14. Will Vaught, 15. Brandon Sheppard, 16. Mike Marlar (DNS) Pancho Lawler, Billy Moyer
Moyer update
6:45 p.m. – Following his wreck on the first lap of the opening lap, Billy Moyer left the track to visit a local medical center with two friends, Lance Landers (father of racer Jared Landers) and Arkansas racer Jack Sullivan, for a check-up.
According to a text from Moyer’s son, Billy Jr., who is not attending the World Finals, the Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer “is dazed and his neck hurts” and he is complaining of pain in his left hand and elbow.
O’Neal caps qualifying
6:25 p.m. – Don O’Neal cruised to victory in the sixth heat, beating New Yorkers Billy Decker and Tim Fuller to the finish line.
Heat No. 6 Finish (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Don O’Neal, 2. Billy Decker, 3. Tim Fuller, 4. Dale Hollidge, 5. Dale McDowell, 6. Jason Feger, 7. Rod Conley, 8. Andrew Reaume, 9. Chase Junghans, 10. Glenn Elliott, 11. Kerry King, 12. Walker Arthur
Teenage terror
6:15 p.m. – Tyler Reddick, the 17-year-old product of Corning, Calif., who is expected to announce big news about his career racing plans in the near future, was victorious in the sixth heat. Texan Chris Brown finished a strong second and Steve Shaver placed third after taking the spot from WoO LMS rookie Morgan Bagley heading to the white flag.
Heat No. 5 Finish (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Tyler Reddick, 2. Chris Brown, 3. Steve Shaver, 4. Morgan Bagley, 5. Austin Hubbard, 6. John Garvin, 7. J.T. Spence, 8. Will Vaught, 9. B.J. Robinson, 10. Kyle Hardy, 11. Matt Cochran, 12. Devin Moran
Lanigan looking good
6:10 p.m. – Darrell Lanigan controlled the fourth heat, beating Dennis Erb Jr. to the finish line as he gears up to chase his long-awaited first-ever A-Main win at Charlotte. Earl Pearson Jr. placed third to move into the feature.
Heat No. 4 Finish (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Darrell Lanigan, 2. Dennis Erb Jr., 3. Earl Pearson Jr., 4. Duane Chamberlain, 5. Jeremy Miller, 6. Eric Jacobsen, 7. Gregg Satterlee, 8. Chuck Harper, 9. Chub Frank, 10. Coleby Frye, 11. James O’Hara, 12. Brian Ledbetter
Bloomquist confident
6:05 p.m. – Scott Bloomquist said he feels good about his chances for victory tonight after keeping John Blankenship at arm’s length to win the third heat. Steve Francis finished third, a few car lengths farther back.
Heat No. 3 Finish (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Scott Bloomquist, 2. John Blankenship, 3. Steve Francis, 4. Ryan Gustin, 5. Jonathan Davenport, 6. Chad Hollenbeck, 7. Casey Roberts, 8. Mike Benedum, 9. Dennis ‘Rambo’ Franklin, 10. Brian Tavenner, 11. Kevin Wilson, 12. Jeff Babcock
Scrub dominates
6 p.m. – In a talent-laden second heat that included four WoO LMS regulars, Rick Eckert was untouchable. The 2011 WoO LMS champion easily drove away from the field to take the checkered flag, easily outdistancing Delaware’s Ricky Elliott after a lap-nine caution flag for the slowing Brandon Sheppard. Billy Ogle Jr. grabbed the final transfer spot.
Heat No. 2 Finish (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Rick Eckert, 2. Ricky Elliott, 3. Billy Ogle Jr., 4. Jared Landers, 5. Clint Smith, 6. Shane Clanton, 7. Mike Marlar, 8. Chris Madden, 9. Vic Hill, 10. Bryan Force, 11. Brandon Sheppard, 12. Tim McCreadie
Josh rolls in Heat 1
5:50 p.m. – With Moyer eliminated quickly from contention, Josh Richards rolled off the outside pole to score a dominant victory in the first heat. Maryland’s Kenny Moreland was an impressive runner-up and Jimmy Owens grabbed the third and final transfer spot.
Heat No. 1 Finish (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Josh Richards, 2. Kenny Moreland, 3. Jimmy Owens, 4. Eric Wells, 5. Bobby Pierce, 6. Bub McCool, 7. Chris Ferguson, 8. Dan Stone, 9. Don Gordon, 10. Mason Zeigler, 11. Pancho Lawler, 12. Billy Moyer
Trouble for Moyer
5:45 p.m. – Billy Moyer’s night appears to be over after just one lap of heat action. The driver who swept both fast-time awards last night spun hard into the turn-two wall on the first lap of the opening heat, making hard contact with the left side of his car.
Moyer was alert in his car when safety crews arrived, but he took some time to gather himself before slowly climbing out of the cockpit and walking gingerly to the ambulance with the help of a safety team member. He rode back to the pit in the ambulance; an update on his condition with be made when available.
T-Mac makes Mod main
5:30 p.m. – WoO LMS regular Tim McCreadie started his night off on a strong note, winning the first of two Super DIRTcar Series big-block Modified consolations to gain entry to tonight’s 40-lap, $8,000-to-win feature. The former big-block Modified standout struggled in the first round of last night’s big-block heats with a two-race-old 4-Star Racing machine, but he rebounded to win his Saturday-night heat and take tonight’s consie.
McCreadie does have a worry with his Modified, however. After taking the checkered flag, he reported that the car was overheating.
Mr. World Finals fast
5:05 p.m. – Jimmy Owens, who has won a record five World Finals A-Mains (including an unprecedented sweep of last year’s program), appears primed for another run at Victory Lane tonight. He was the quickest driver in tonight’s hot-lap session with a circuit of 15.594 seconds.
Josh Richards — the only WoO LMS regular to win a World Finals A-Main in the event’s six-year history — was second-fastest in practice at 15.611 seconds. Scott Bloomquist (two-time World Finals victor) was third-fastest (15.637 seconds), Steve Francis was fourth (15.722) and Chris Madden was fifth (15.744).
Opening ceremonies have now begun in front of a rapidly-filling grandstand. Two Super DIRTcar Series big-block Modified consolations will kick off the program after the pre-race festivities are completed and then the six WoO LMS heat races will begin.
Looking to clinch
4:35 p.m. – Only the wildest turn of events this weekend could cause Josh Richards to lose the 2013 WoO LMS championship – like last-place finishes in both A-Mains combined with a sweep of the two features by Darrell Lanigan or Shane Clanton.
But until that $100,000 title is officially clinched, Richards, his father Mark and the rest of the Rocket Chassis house car team aren’t going to totally relax. Which is why they’d like to just put the championship chase to bed tonight – and if things go right for him, that’s a possibility.
Richards currently leads Lanigan by 106 points and Clanton by 110 points. If Richards leads Clanton by 90 or more points or Lanigan by 92 or more points after tonight’s program, then he can’t be overtaken for the title on Saturday. Even if he were physically unable to start the feature (or compete on Saturday, for that matter), he would still receive 60 non-qualifier points because he already made his qualifying attempt in Thursday’s time trials.
Moving on
3:55 p.m. – Ross Robinson’s two-year odyssey as a fulltime mechanic for the Kennedy Motorsports team – first working with John Lobb and then, for the past year-and-a-half, with Tim Fuller – is coming to an end this weekend.
Robinson, 23, of Georgetown, Del., recently informed team owner John Kennedy and Fuller that he won’t be back touring the dirt Late Model circuit alongside Fuller in 2014. He said he’s returning to his home in the First State to pursue his own dirt Late Model driving career, which got a big boost last month when he landed a ride in the Delaware-based, Charles Jarvis-owned No. 45 car and steered it to a feature win on Oct. 26 at his hometown’s Georgetown Speedway.
“That win was a big thrill,” said Robinson. “I’ve won crate (Late Model) races at Georgetown before, but that was my first Super Late Model win there. It meant a lot to me.”
Robinson, who began driving a crate Late Model at the age of 15 and moved to Super Late Models at 17, will split his time between Jarvis’s machine and his family’s racing equipment next year. He hopes to travel to events across the Northeast, including some WoO LMS shows when the tour visits his home region.
“I missed racing for the last couple years,” Robinson said of his time spent with Kennedy Motorsports. “But I learned a lot, made a lot of good friends and had a great time the last couple years.
“I’m grateful for everything John Kennedy, Tim Fuller and (Kennedy Motorsports team member) Shane Clanton have done for me. They gave me a heck of an opportunity and I’m thankful for it.”
Up-and-down
3:35 p.m. – Shane Clanton experienced both ends of the racing spectrum during last night’s World Finals qualifying program.
During the first round of time trials used to line up tonight’s heat races, Clanton caught a rut in turn two with such force that it folded his Capital Race Car’s right-front nose under and cracked its frame rail. It came on his first lap, so he didn’t get in a complete circuit and was left with the 35th-fastest time out of 37 cars in Group ‘A’ – a result that lines him up last (12th) in tonight’s second heat race.
But after undertaking a major rebuilding effort in the pit area that included bolting on a new nose and welding the car’s damaged frame, Clanton went out in the second round of qualifying and turned the fastest lap in Group ‘B.’ That puts him on the pole of Saturday night’s fourth heat.
“The car was good after we fixed it,” said Clanton. “I think we’ll be O.K. now, but we’re gonna have to run hard to get up through there tonight.”
With Clanton involved in a tight battle for second place in the WoO LMS points standings with Darrell Lanigan, he can’t afford to let Lanigan gain an edge. Lanigan starts the night with one, though, since he’ll take the green flag from the pole position in Heat 4.
Lineups! Lineups
3:05 p.m. – With tonight’s drivers’ meeting just moments away, anticipation is building in the pit area as teams make final preparations for heat-race action.
Hot laps are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. with the WoO STP Sprint Cars heading onto the track first. The Super DIRTcar Series big-block Modifieds and WoO LMS will follow with practice sessions.
Six 10-lap heat races will be contested tonight, with the lineups set from last night’s first round of time trials. The top-three finishers from each will transfer to the A-Main and each winner will redraw for a starting position in the top six of the feature. Three 12-lap B-Mains sending two more drivers from each to the A-Main will be run, and three provisionals (two WoO points, one reserved for the fastest pre-entered driver from time trials who doesn’t qualify) will complete the field.
Lineups for the heat races are below:
Heat 1
Row 1: Billy Moyer/Josh Richards
Row 2: Jimmy Owens/Kenny Moreland
Row 3: Dan Stone/Chris Ferguson
Row 4: Bobby Pierce/Eric Wells
Row 5: Mason Zeigler/Bub McCool
Row 6: Tim Allen/Pancho Lawler
Row 7: Don Gordon
Heat 2
Row 1: Rick Eckert/Billy Ogle Jr.
Row 2: Ricky Elliott/Clint Smith
Row 3: Brandon Sheppard/Chris Madden
Row 4: Jared Landers/Tim McCreadie
Row 5: Mike Marlar/Vic Hill
Row 6: Bryan Force/Shane Clanton
Heat 3
Row 1: Scott Bloomquist/Chad Hollenbeck
Row 2: Dennis ‘Rambo’ Franklin/John Blankenship
Row 3: Steve Francis/Jonathan Davenport
Row 4: Ryan Gustin/Mike Benedum
Row 5: Jeff Babcock/Casey Roberts
Row 6: Brian Tavenner/Kevin Wilson
Heat 4
Row 1: Darrell Lanigan/Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 2: Jeremy Miller/Chuck Harper
Row 3: Earl Pearson Jr./Duane Chamberlain
Row 4: Eric Jacobsen/Gregg Satterlee
Row 5: Chub Frank/Coleby Frye
Row 6: Brian Ledbetter/James O’Hara
Heat 5
Row 1: Chris Brown/Tyler Reddick
Row 2: Steve Shaver/Morgan Bagley
Row 3: Austin Hubbard/John Garvin
Row 4: J.T. Spence/Will Vaught
Row 5: Matt Cochran/B.J. Robinson
Row 6: Kyle Hardy/Devin Morann
Heat 6
Row 1: Billy Decker/Don O’Neal
Row 2: Tim Fuller/Chase Junghans
Row 3: Walker Arthur/Rod Conley
Row 4: Dale McDowell/Dale Hollidge
Row 5: Jason Feger/Andrew Reaume
Row 6: Kerry King/Glenn Elliott
