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Bloomquist Wins CMH Diamond Nationals after Francis Breaks
WHEATLAND, MO (July 16, 2011) - Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN inherited
the top spot when race leader, Steve Francis had driveline failure with six
laps to go. He went on to lead the rest of the way in the 5th Annual CMH
Diamond Nationals on Saturday Night at Lucas Oil Speedway. John Blankenship
of Williamson, WV finished second, followed by Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN.
Polesitter, Tyler Reddick of Corning, CA and Bub McCool of Vicksburg, MS
rounded out the top-five. The event was sanctioned by the Lucas Oil Late
Model Dirt Series and the Lucas Oil MLRA Late Model Series.
Reddick led the first 15 laps of the race until Bloomquist took over the top
spot with 18 laps scored. Bloomquist's lead was short-lived as Francis took
his car to the high-side of the track and swept by Bloomquist for the lead
on lap 21.
Francis pulled away from Bloomquist as he continued to power around the top
side of the track. Bloomquist ran a solid second during this stretch as a
terrific battle for third was going between Reddick, Blankenship, Owens, and
McCool went back-and-forth for the rest of the race.
With Francis in command, he held an eight-to-ten car length lead over
Bloomquist and appeared to be on his way to his first win of the year.
Francis had two lapped cars between himself and Bloomquist as the sizable
lead looked strong enough at the time.
With six laps to go Francis slowed suddenly on the backstretch as his
driveline failed ending his night. Bloomquist then inherited the lead, but a
caution with five laps to go for Jared Landers set up a five-lap dash to the
finish. Reddick held second briefly but a three-wide race between Reddick,
Blankenship, and Owens resulted in Reddick getting shuffled back.
Blankenship and Owens tried their best to stay with Bloomquist, who went on
to win for the ninth time in LOLMDS competition this season. He extended his
points lead to 60 over Owens. "Sometimes you have to be lucky and we were
tonight, Francis went to the top before I could get there and he was strong
tonight no doubt about it. It looked like we were going to finish second
again here, but to come home with the win, it feels good. The car is running
exceptionally well with Lucas Oil in the Roush-Yates Ford."
Blankenship matched his career best in the Coal America's Energy, Rocket.
Owens followed suit in his Mike Reece-owned, Reece Monument Company,
Bloomquist Ford. Reddick came home fourth in his Broken Bow Records,
Bloomquist Chevrolet and McCool's Southern Belle, Moyer Victory Circle
capped off the night with the fifth spot.
Completing the top ten were Billy Moyer of Batesville, AR; Chris Simpson of
Oxford, IA; Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN; Brad Neat of Dunnville, KY and
Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC.
In preliminary action Tyler Reddick captured his first career Red Buck
Cigars Fast Time among the 36 entrants. Heat race winners were Reddick,
Francis, Bloomquist and Bloomquist. The B-Mains went to Terry Phillips and
Earl Pearson Jr.
The event was taped by Lucas Oil Production Studios to air on SPEED at a
later date.
The series will round out the month of July with an East Coast tripleheader.
On Wednesday, July 27th the series will make its second appearance at the
historic Fonda Speedway in Fonda, NY . On Thursday, July 28th the series
heads back to Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon, NY and rounds out the month on
Saturday, July 30th at "The Capitol of Dirt Track Racing" Hagerstown
Speedway in Hagerstown, MD. All three shows will pay $10,000 to win.
For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log
onto www.lucasdirt.com or call the series' office at (951) 532-2503.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Saturday Night, July 16th, 2011
"5th Annual Diamond Nationals"
Lucas Oil Speedway - Wheatland, MO
Red Buck Cigars Fast Time:
Tyler Reddick / 15.180 seconds (Group A and Overall)
Scott Bloomquist / 15.579 seconds (Group B)
Wiles Driveshafts First Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Tyler Reddick, Bub
McCool, Ray Cook, Brad Neat, John Anderson, Terry Phillips, Eric Turner,
Bill Koons, Reid Millard
Wiles Driveshafts Second Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Steve Francis, Billy
Moyer, Jared Landers, David Turner, Don O'Neal, Frank Heckenast Jr., Dustin
Walker, Steve Casebolt, Jason Sivils
Sweet Manufacturing Third Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Scott Bloomquist,
Jimmy Owens, Chris Simpson, Jeremy Payne, John Mason, Tim Isenberg, Bryon
Allison, Jarry Jones, Patrick Johnson
HAWK Brakes Fourth Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): John Blankenship, Eric
Wells, Dale McDowell, Al Purkey, Earl Pearson Jr., Kyle Berck, Brant
Goldsmith, Chris Brown, Joe Walkenhorst
JRi Shocks First B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Terry Phillips, Steve
Casebolt, Frank Heckenast Jr., John Anderson, Eric Turner, Bill Koons, Jason
Sivils, Don O'Neal, Dustin Walker, Reid Millard-DNS
Wrisco Aluminum Second B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Earl Pearson Jr.,
Kyle Berch, Tim Isenberg, John Mason, Bryant Goldsmith, Larry Jones, Patrick
Johnson, Chris Brown, Joe Walkenhorst, Bryon Allison
Feature Finish - 50 Laps
FINISH START CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN
1 2 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
2 4 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
3 6 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
4 1 11t Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
5 5 57J Bub McCool Vicksburg, MS
6 7 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR
7 10 32x Chris Simpson Oxford, IA
8 23 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
9 13 41n Brad Neat Dunnville, KY
10 9 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
11 19 c9 Steve Casebolt Richmond, IN
12 11 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
13 8 18e Eric Wells Hazard, KY
14 18 44 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL
15 21 99jr Frank Heckenast, Jr. Frankfort, IL
16 3 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
17 12 17m Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA
18 22 9t Tim Isenberg Marshfield, WI
19 16 33 Al Purkey Coffeyville, KS
20 20 14 Kyle Berck Marquette, NE
21 24 2a John Anderson Omaha, NE
22 14 74 Jeremy Payne Springfield, MO
23 15 15t David Turner Creighton, MO
24 17 75 Terry Phillips Springfield, MO
25 25 33x Eric Turner Hermitage, MO
26 26 24g Bryant Goldsmith Corning, IA
Race Statistics
Entrants: 36
Lap Leaders: Tyler Reddick (Laps 1 - 15); Scott Bloomquist (Laps 16 - 20);
Steve Francis (Laps 21 - 44); Scott Bloomquist (Laps 45 - 50)
Caution Flags: Bryant Goldsmith, Frank Heckenast Jr. (Lap 7); Steve Francis
(Lap 44); Jared Landers (Lap 45)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Don O'Neal
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: none
Red Buck Cigars Fast Time Provisional: Eric Turner
Lucas Oil Midwest Latemodel Racing Association Provisionals: Bryant
Goldsmith, John Anderson
PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race: Don O'Neal (Started 23rd; Finished
8th; Advanced 15 positions)
Allstar Performer of the Race: Scott Bloomquist
K&N Filters Clean Pass of the Race: Steve Francis
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Tyler Reddick
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Roush-Yate Race Engines
Janowski Insurance Feature Winner: Scott Bloomquist
Outerwears Challenger of the Race: Steve Casebolt
Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award: Steve Francis
DirtonDirt.com Crew Chief of the Race: Tom Buckingham (John Blankenship)
Time of Race: 27 minutes 5 seconds
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