Don O’Neal Wins Thrilling Hillbilly 100 At I-77 Raceway Park

RIPLEY, WV (August 31, 2014) – In a tremendous finish between the top two in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship points standings, Don O’Neal held off Jimmy Owens to win the 46th Annual Hillbilly Hundred on Sunday Night at I-77 Raceway Park. O’Neal fought off some tough challenges to claim the $25,000-victory in America’s oldest crown jewel event. The event was also part of the ASi Crown Jewel Cup presented by Dirtondirt.com and awarded valuable points towards the year end $10,000 cash award.

Steve Francis driving the Clint Bowyer Racing team car to O’Neal charged back from the tail to finish third after spinning out early while running second. 12th starting Dennis Erb Jr., finished fourth and Jonathan Davenport rounded out the top five.

“This is a pretty fun and interesting track to race on,” said the winner, who now sits just 25 points behind Owens in the race for the LOLMDS title. “There were so many caution flags out there. I felt like they hurt me because I’d get my rhythm going and then we would have another caution. Jimmy came up there near the end and made it closer than I wanted it to become. It feels good to win such a prestigious race; a lot of great drivers have won this one, and to win this for Clint Bowyer, Barry and Lance Wright, Jeremy Justice, and Tony Trent is a great way to top off the weekend.”

Mason Zeigler led the first nine laps from his pole starting spot. O’Neal passed Zeigler for the lead on lap ten. O’Neal then held the top spot until Francis charged to the point on lap 15. The frantic race for the lead continued with O’Neal surging back ahead with 19 laps scored.

“Early on, that was a great race for the lead. I was trying to keep the car on the bottom as I was working my way up there. These corners are so tight. This is such a demanding track, physically, and you have to be up on the wheel at all times that for sure. I have to thank Peak Antifreeze and Motor Oil, Crawford Supply/Traeger Grills, Cometic Gasket, Ohlins, Georgia Boot, Toyota, and Clements Racing Engines.”

Francis and Scott Bloomquist dueled side-by-side for second until Francis brought out a caution on lap 42 as he spun in turn number two. Carrier eventually unseated Bloomquist for the second spot on lap 73. Owens then got by Bloomquist and moved up to second around Carrier just two circuits later. With 76 laps complete Bloomquist suddenly slowed with a problem as he went pit-side. The race was under a red-flag on lap 82 when the 2-time Hillbilly Hundred winner, Mike Marlar, flipped in turn three. He escaped uninjured after the crash.

Several cautions in the remaining 18 laps kept the field bunched up. O’Neal and Owens then went at it tooth-and-nail to the checkers as Owens pulled even with O’Neal several times in turn four, but could never clear O’Neal to take over the lead.

“I ran the car hard into four, but left him plenty of room. I wasn’t going to wreck either one of us. That was a heck of finish. I hoped the fans enjoyed the race. I think we all put on a pretty good show,” said the driver of the Mike Reece-owned, Reece Monument Company, Club 29 Ford.

Francis restarted 24th after his spin and recovered nicely to finish a close third. “I really messed up by spinning, but I was able to drive through the field. I thought for a while that we might have a shot at winning this thing. We have tried so long to win this race. I go back to the Pennsboro days in trying to win this. We had a car good enough to win tonight, but it’s another podium finish for the Georgia Boot #15.”

Completing the top ten were Devin Moran, Tim Dohm, Eddie Carrier Jr., Corey Conley, and John Blankenship.

In preliminary action, Eddie Carrier Jr. set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group A) amongst the 42 entrants, with a lap of 13.044 seconds. Steve Francis set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 13.444 seconds. Mason Zeigler, Earl Pearson Jr., Don O’Neal, and Scott Bloomquist won their respective heat races. Jared Landers and John Blankenship won their respective B-Mains.

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Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Sunday Night, August 31st, 2014
I-77 Raceway Park – Ripley, WV

Miller Welders Fast Time Group A: Eddie Carrier Jr. / 13.044 seconds
Miller Welders Fast Time Group B: Steve Francis / 13.444 seconds

Fast Shafts Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Mason Zeigler, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Tim Dohm , Jared Hawkins, Jason Hughes, Steve Lucas, Freddie Carpenter, Mike Benedum, Tyler Carpenter, Dylan Bledsoe, Ryan Casto

Eibach Springs Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Earl Pearson, Jr., Jimmy Owens, Devin Moran, Jeremy Berwanger, Chris Garnes, Jared Landers, Steve Shaver, Brock Morris, Buddy Brogan, III, Will Brogan

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Don O’Neal, Steve Francis, Zack Dohm, Jonathan Davenport, Jackie Boggs, Harold Redman, Jr., Jimmy Cobb, Kenny Newhouse, K.C. Burdette, Jason Papich, Brian Birkhofer-DNS

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Scott Bloomquist, Mike Marlar, Dennis Erb, Jr., Corey Conley, John Blankenship, Davey Johnson, Travis Brookover, Billy Beachler, Nick Dohm, Rod Gibson

JRi Shocks B-Main #1 (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer) Finish: Jared Landers, Jason Hughes, Freddie Carpenter, Tyler Carpenter, Steve Lucas, Mike Benedum, Steve Shaver, Brock Morris, Buddy Brogan, III, Dylan Bledsoe, Will Brogan, Ryan Casto-DNS, Chris Garnes-DNS

CV Products B-Main #2 (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer) Finish: John Blankenship, Jackie Boggs, Davey Johnson, Travis Brookover, K.C. Burdette, Harold Redman, Jr., Kenny Newhouse, Rod Gibson, Jimmy Cobb, Nick Dohm, Billy Beachler, Jason Papich-DNS, Brian Birkhofer-DNS

Feature Finish (100 Laps):

FINISH START CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN
1 2 5 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN
2 7 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
3 6 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
4 12 28e Dennis Erb, Jr. Carpentersville, IL
5 14 6 Jonathan Davenport Mount Airy, NC
6 11 99m Devin Moran Dresden, OH
7 9 6T Tim Dohm Charleston, WV
8 5 28 Eddie Carrier, Jr. Salt Rock, WV
9 16 14 Corey Conley Wellsburg, WV
10 18 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
11 15 44J Jeremy Berwanger Murray City, OH
12 10 17d Zack Dohm Charleston, WV
13 13 37 Jared Hawkins Fairmont, WV
14 17 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
15 19 12 Jason Hughes Watts, OK
16 26 17N Kenny Newhouse Elkview, WV
17 27 20R Harold Redman, Jr. Cross Lanes, WV
18 3 44 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL
19 22 1J Davey Johnson Greensburg, PA
20 23 91p Jason Papich Nipomo, CA
21 4 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
22 8 157 Mike Marlar Winfield, TN
23 1 25Z Mason Zeigler Chalk Hill, PA
24 25 42 Chris Garnes Evans, WV
25 24 79 Steve Shaver Vienna, WV
26 21 c4 Freddie Carpenter Parkersburg, WV
27 20 4b Jackie Boggs Grayson, KY
Race Statistics
Entrants: 42
Lap Leaders: Mason Zeigler (Laps 1 – 9); Don O’Neal (Laps 10 – 14); Steve Francis (Laps 15 – 18); Don O’Neal (Laps 19 – 100)
Cautions: Jackie Boggs (Lap 11); Mason Zeigler (Lap 24); Freddie Carpenter (Lap 25); Steve Shaver (Lap 31); Debris (Lap 33); Steve Francis (Lap 42); Harold Redman Jr. (Lap 72), Scott Bloomquist (Lap 76); Debris (Lap 79); Jeremy Berwanger (Lap 79); Mike Marlar (Lap 82); Kenny Newhouse, Jason Papich (Lap 84); Jason Paich (Lap 84); Debris (Lap 87)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Jason Papich
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: n/a
Miller Welders Fast Time Provisionals: Steve Shaver
I-77 Raceway Park Provisionals: Chris Garnes, Kenny Newhouse, Harold Redman Jr.
Wrisco Feature Winner: Don O’Neal
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Kenny Newhouse (Started: 26th; Finished: 16th; Advanced 10 Positions)
Keyser Mfg Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Jimmy Owens
Allstar Performer of the Race: Steve Francis
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Don O’Neal
Dunn Benson Ford Rookie of the Race: Jason Hughes
Midwest Sheet Metal Highest Finishing Rookie: Jason Hughes
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Clements Race Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Barry Wright Race Cars
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Jeremy Justice (Don O’Neal)
HAWK Performance Fastest Lap of the Race: Mason Zeigler (Lap #2 – 14.727 seconds)
Time of Race: 1 hour 21 minutes 23 seconds
Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:

POS CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN POINTS
1 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN 6720
2 5 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN 6695
3 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 6395
4 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY 6060
5 28 Eddie Carrier, Jr. Salt Rock, WV 5855
6 44 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL 5775
7 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV 5565
8 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR 5475
9 28e Dennis Erb, Jr. Carpentersville, IL 5160
10 12 Jason Hughes Watts, OK 4665
11 91p Jason Papich Nipomo, CA 4500
*Points are unofficial until Close of Business on the Tuesday following Race Day*