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KNOXVILLE, IA (September 30) – Brian Birkhofer, the 2007 over-all winner of this event, captured the Friday night Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals feature event and in so doing accrued the top points for preliminary racing action. The win in the 25-lap event placed Birkhofer on the pole for Saturday’s 100 lap Lucas Oil $40,000-to-win finale. Young Austin Hubbard will share that front row. “I gotta work on some things but I’m glad to get the biggest paycheck of the night,” Birkhofer said in victory lane. “I love winning in my home state.” Birkhofer is from Muscatine (Iowa). Friday’s 25-lap finale saw front row starter Jason Rauen take the point for the first two laps with Birkhofer in tow. A yellow for a Jared Landers swipe with the wall slowed the field but on the ensuing restart Birkhofer grabbed the lead as he and Rauen roared out of turn two and down the backstretch. Rauen stayed with the powerful Birkhofer machine for several laps but could not keep up as he was passed by Darrell Lanigan and Will Vought who had a race-long battle with each other. By lap ten Birkhofer entered lap traffic. Behind him the Lanigan/Vought battle raged with the latter gaining the edge at that point. Two laps later Lanigan regained the runner-up spot but neither seemed to have the muscle for Birkhofer. On the sixteenth go-around Vought had regained the upper hand as the trio of front runners pushed into heavy lap traffic. Birkhofer had held a half a straight away lead but the back markers helped second and third place runners to close in on him. With five to go, Birkhofer had a scare as he put a lap on a slower car. Heading down the backstretch he inched by on the outside of the unsuspecting driver and banged paneling and fence with gusto. It was also at that time that Lanigan gained the second spot for good in his race-long battle with Vought. Burkhofer had driven into a clear track situation and would not face any lap cars until he headed for the checkered flags coming out of turn four on the final lap. He won by a fifteen car-length margin and gained $7,000 for his efforts. Lanigan and Vought remain that way at the end as eighth starter Scott Bloomquist took fourth. Rauen held for fifth, Bill Moyer was sixth and Bub McCool placed seventh. Rounding out the top ten were Tim McCreadie, Don O’Neal and Mike Marlar. Both Moyer and O’Neal transferred from the B Main and were the fastest cars on the track.
Late Models RESULTS Time Trial 1, 1. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg TN, 17.805; 2. Austin Hubbard, Laurel DE, 17.986; 3. Shannon Babb, Moweaqua IL, 18.175; 4. Don ONeal, Martinsville IN, 18.204; 5. Jimmy Owens, Newport IN, 18.218; 6. Jared Landers, Welcome NC, 18.227; 7. Darrell Lanigan, Union KY, 18.286; 8. Will Vaught, Crane MO, 18.288; 9. Mike Marlar, Winfield TN, 18.315; 10. Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine IA, 18.348; 11. Tyler Reddick, Corning CA, 18.379; 12. Kent Robinson, Bloomington IN, 18.428; 13. Denny Eckrich, Oxford IA, 18.439; 14. Billy Moyer, Batesville AR, 18.459; 15. Steve Francis, Ashland KY, 18.5; 16. Jimmy Mars, Menomonie WI, 18.538; 17. Matt Furman, Columbus OH, 18.545; 18. Kevin Sather, Ankeny IA, 18.548; 19. Brian Harris, Davenport IA, 18.565; 20. Andy Eckrich, Iowa City IA, 18.573; 21. Jason Rauen, Farley IA, 18.585; 22. Rob Moss, Iowa City IA, 18.588; 23. Brian Shirley, Chatham IL, 18.606; 24. Eric Wells, Hazard KY, 18.702; 25. Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville AR, 18.723; 26. Scott James, Lawrenceburg IN, 18.727; 27. Dave Eckrich, Oxford IA, 18.746; 28. Earl Pearson Jr., Trinity NC, 18.802; 29. Tyler Bruening, Decorah IA, 18.832; 30. Jay Johnson, West Burlington IA, 18.844; 31. Brady Smith, Solon Springs WI, 18.856; 32. Mike Fryer, Freeport IL, 18.871; 33. Chad Simpson, Mount Vernon IA, 18.937; 34. Jason Feger, Bloomington IL, 18.94; 35. Ray Cook, Brasstown NC, 18.944; 36. Steve Casebolt, Richmond IN, 18.947; 37. Mike Wallace, Carter Lake IA, 18.97; 38. John Duty, Happy Valley OR, 18.995; 39. Nick Marolf, Moscow IA, 19.01; 40. Paul Glendenning, Mt. Ayr IA, 19.016; 41. Tim McCreadie, Watertown NY, 19.036; 42. Bub McCool, Vicksburg MS, 19.048; 43. Brad Neat, Trinity NC, 19.111; 44. John Blankenship, Morristown TN, 19.114; 45. Jack Sullivan, Greenbrier AR, 19.134; 46. Dan Schlieper, Sullivan WI, 19.148; 47. Chris Simpson, Marion IA, 19.164; 48. Kerry Hansen, Spencer WI, 19.229; 49. Frank Heckenast Jr., Frankfurt IL, 19.24; 50. Rich Bell, Sheffield IL, 19.313; 51. Al Humphrey, Giltner NE, 19.351; 52. Tim Lance, Peoria IL, 19.381; 53. Chris Spieker, Massena IA, 19.428; 54. Jill George, Cedar Falls IA, 19.429; 55. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown IA, 19.507; 56. Charlie McKenna, Clear Lake IA, 19.522; 57. Junior Coover, Norfolk NE, 19.704; 58. Scott Lewis, Brighton CO, 19.822; 59. Chad Chenoweth, Huron SD, 19.849; 60. Jeremiah Hurst, Dubuque IA, 20.296; 61. Curt Schroeder, Ames IA, 21.195; 62. Alonzo Grosse, Council Bluffs IA, No Time; Heat 1, 12 laps, 3:52.3: 1. Jason Rauen, Farley IA; 2. Tim McCreadie, Watertown NY; 3. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg TN; 4. Dan Schlieper, Sullivan WI; 5. Scott James, Lawrenceburg IN; 6. Jimmy Mars, Menomonie WI; 7. Steve Casebolt, Richmond IN; 8. Brady Smith, Solon Springs WI; 9. Tyler Reddick, Corning CA; 10. Jimmy Owens, Newport IN; 11. Al Humphrey, Giltner NE; 12. Charlie McKenna, Clear Lake IA; 13. Curt Schroeder, Ames IA; Heat 2, 12 laps, 3:52.2: 1. Chris Simpson, Marion IA; 2. Darrell Lanigan, Union KY; 3. Bub McCool, Vicksburg MS; 4. Rob Moss, Iowa City IA; 5. Dave Eckrich, Oxford IA; 6. Tim Lance, Peoria IL; 7. Mike Fryer, Freeport IL; 8. Kent Robinson, Bloomington IN; 9. Mike Wallace, Carter Lake IA; 10. Austin Hubbard, Laurel DE; 11. Junior Coover, Norfolk NE; Heat 3, 12 laps, No Time: 1. Chad Simpson, Mount Vernon IA; 2. Kerry Hansen, Spencer WI; 3. Will Vaught, Crane MO; 4. Brian Shirley, Chatham IL; 5. Shannon Babb, Moweaqua IL; 6. Denny Eckrich, Oxford IA; 7. John Duty, Happy Valley OR; 8. Brad Neat, Trinity NC; 9. Kevin Sather, Ankeny IA; 10. Chris Spieker, Massena IA; 11. Scott Lewis, Brighton CO; Heat 4, 12 laps, No Time: 1. Frank Heckenast Jr., Frankfurt IL; 2. John Blankenship, Morristown TN; 3. Nick Marolf, Moscow IA; 4. Mike Marlar, Winfield TN; 5. Don ONeal, Martinsville IN; 6. Billy Moyer, Batesville AR; 7. Jason Feger, Bloomington IL; 8. Brian Harris, Davenport IA; 9. Eric Wells, Hazard KY; 10. Tyler Bruening, Decorah IA; 11. Chad Chenoweth, Huron SD; 12. Jill George, Cedar Falls IA; Heat 5, 12 laps, No Time: 1. Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine IA; 2. Rich Bell, Sheffield IL; 3. Jared Landers, Welcome NC; 4. Jack Sullivan, Greenbrier AR; 5. Andy Eckrich, Iowa City IA; 6. Steve Francis, Ashland KY; 7. Ray Cook, Brasstown NC; 8. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown IA; 9. Paul Glendenning, Mt. Ayr IA; 10. (Car Number Not On File); 11. Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville AR; 12. Jay Johnson, West Burlington IA; C Feature, 15 laps, No Time: 1. Earl Pearson Jr., Trinity NC; 2. Tyler Reddick, Corning CA; 3. Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville AR; 4. Chris Spieker, Massena IA; 5. Eric Wells, Hazard KY; 6. Tyler Bruening, Decorah IA; 7. Jay Johnson, West Burlington IA; 8. Mike Wallace, Carter Lake IA; 9. Scott Lewis, Brighton CO; 10. Chad Chenoweth, Huron SD; 11. Curt Schroeder, Ames IA; 12. Paul Glendenning, Mt. Ayr IA; 13. Alonzo Grosse, Council Bluffs IA; 14. Matt Furman, Columbus OH; 15. Kevin Sather, Ankeny IA; 16. Junior Coover, Norfolk NE; 17. Charlie McKenna, Clear Lake IA; 18. Al Humphrey, Giltner NE; B Feature 1, 20 laps, No Time: 1. Shannon Babb, Moweaqua IL; 2. Billy Moyer, Batesville AR; 3. Jimmy Mars, Menomonie WI; 4. Don ONeal, Martinsville IN; 5. Steve Francis, Ashland KY; 6. Scott James, Lawrenceburg IN; 7. Kent Robinson, Bloomington IN; 8. Andy Eckrich, Iowa City IA; 9. Brady Smith, Solon Springs WI; 10. Mike Fryer, Freeport IL; 11. Ray Cook, Brasstown NC; 12. John Duty, Happy Valley OR; 13. Tyler Reddick, Corning CA; 14. Denny Eckrich, Oxford IA; 15. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown IA; 16. Dave Eckrich, Oxford IA; 17. Tim Lance, Peoria IL; 18. Brian Harris, Davenport IA; 19. Chris Spieker, Massena IA; 20. Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville AR; 21. Earl Pearson Jr., Trinity NC; 22. Steve Casebolt, Richmond IN; 23. Jason Feger, Bloomington IL; A Feature , 25 laps, No Time: 1. Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine IA; 2. Darrell Lanigan, Union KY; 3. Will Vaught, Crane MO; 4. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg TN; 5. Jason Rauen, Farley IA; 6. Billy Moyer, Batesville AR; 7. Bub McCool, Vicksburg MS; 8. Tim McCreadie, Watertown NY; 9. Don ONeal, Martinsville IN; 10. Mike Marlar, Winfield TN; 11. Chad Simpson, Mount Vernon IA; 12. Shannon Babb, Moweaqua IL; 13. Jack Sullivan, Greenbrier AR; 14. Rob Moss, Iowa City IA; 15. Chris Simpson, Marion IA; 16. Frank Heckenast Jr., Frankfurt IL; 17. John Blankenship, Morristown TN; 18. Nick Marolf, Moscow IA; 19. Dan Schlieper, Sullivan WI; 20. Brian Shirley, Chatham IL; 21. Rich Bell, Sheffield IL; 22. Kerry Hansen, Spencer WI; 23. Jared Landers, Welcome NC; 24. Jimmy Mars, Menomonie WI; Lap Leaders: 1-2 Rauen; 3-25 Birkhofer
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