4/16/2005
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Terry English Wins Hoosier Dirt Classic at Brownstown Speedway in Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Racing
BROWNSTOWN, IN (April 16, 2005)- In what turned out to be Matt Miller's heartbreak was Terry English's elation as English would take advantage of Miller's flat tire with 12 laps to go as the 42 year old Benton, KY driver would inherit the lead and go on to win the 22nd Annual Hoosier Dirt Classic on Saturday Night at the Brownstown Speedway in Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series action. English earned $7,000 for his second career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the season and his first ever at Brownstown.
English drove his familiar number 96 C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo sponsored by AAA Fence, Inc., Larry Seay Chevrolet, Buick, Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep, Murtco Incorporated, Wild Side Custom Trailers, Garner Inc., Hoosier Tires and with power from Runion Race Engines. Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN charged from the 16th starting spot to finish second in the Well Pict Berries/Jay Dickens Race Engines/C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo. Third was Dennis Erb, Jr. of Carpentersville, IL behind the wheel of the Petroff Towing/Malcuit Engines/C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo with fourth place going to defending NARA champion, Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, IL in the Car City/J&J Steel/C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo. Rounding out the top five was Billy Drake of Bloomington, IL in the Steidinger Construction/Mullvain Engines/MasterSbilt Grand Prix. A total of 51 cars were on hand for the event with a standing room crowd in attendance.
The 50 lap Hoosier Dirt Classic main event would turn out to be an exciting one as two and three wide racing was commonplace through out the race. The race started off with veteran drivers John Gill and Mike Jewell on the pole as the two former Hoosier Dirt Classic winners and Brownstown track champions would go side by side for the lead for the first six laps of the race. Gill would have the lead at the scoring line barely nipping Jewell each time they crossed. Jewell would be scored the leader on lap seven, then a lap later Gill emerged back with the point. As those two went side by side lap after lap, Bart Hartman was lurking in third with Darrell Lanigan and Terry English staying close. Jewell would clear Gill for good by the 10th lap opening up a slight advantage over Gill, but Hartman would make his presence known as the pair of number 75 drivers went door to door in the battle for second Hartman would grab the second slot on lap 13 and start to close on Jewell. As the field approached the 15 laps completed mark, Jewell was within two laps of picking up the tail end of the lead pack of cars, but a caution for debris in turn two would allow for a clear path restart for Jewell. With double file restarts the norm for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Jewell would be out front by himself with Hartman and a new challenger in Matt Miller lined up behind Jewell. Miller, who started seventh would quickly go to the outside of the race track and move by the race leader, Jewell on lap 17. Miller then started to get away from Jewell, who would see Hartman get by him for second place a lap later. English, who started fifth, was quietly hanging around the top four at this point of the race.
With the halfway mark shown it was Miller on the point with Hartman running second followed by English, Dennis Erb, Jr. and Don O'Neal, who had started in 16th. Miller was working his way beautifully around the 1/4 mile track maintaining a comfortable margin over Hartman. The top five would remain in the same running order, until disaster struck for the race leader, Miller on lap 37. The header on Miller's car had come off and he ran over it causing a flat tire, which forced him to stop in turn four. Miller quickly darted to the pits under caution to change the tire, but his dream for a big win at Brownstown was now gone. With the lineup realigned on the restart English, who had passed Hartman a lap before Miller's misfortune to gain second was now the new race leader. On the restart English would be out in front by himself, but had tough contenders Erb and O'Neal on his doorstep. With 13 laps to go English would bolt into turn one with Erb and O'Neal staying right with him. A caution with seven laps to go would momentarily halt the furious action up front. The three way race for the lead would pick back up again after this final caution of the race. O'Neal would go to the outside of Erb passing him with six to go, he would then move alongside of English coming off of the turns, but English would maintain his lead on the straight-aways. O'Neal just could not get enough grip to overtake English in the final handful of laps as the top two drivers in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series would cross the finish line with English taking his first ever win at Brownstown and O'Neal earning the hard charger kudos for coming from 16th to second. Erb would finish a close third with Babb taking fourth and 10th place starter, Billy Drake taking fifth.
"It feels good to get a win here at Brownstown," said English in victory circle. "We've been coming here since 1989 and been close a couple of times, but just couldn't break through, with the competition here tonight it is really satisfying to win this race." "I don't think anybody had anything for Miller once he was in the lead, but that was a bad break for him and I guess good for us, but I just had to drive harder in the final laps cause I knew those two guys behind me (O'Neal and Erb), were coming on." "I want to thank Lucas Oil and everybody with this series, my crew, family, sponsors and of course, C.J. Rayburn, who is here tonight, I am glad to win for him as well."
Completing the top ten were Bart Hartman, Earl Pearson, Jr., Steve Shaver, John Gill and Tim Tungate.
In preliminary action English, would be the first of the 51 cars to qualify and his time of 14.582 seconds would stand up throughout time trials as the fastest for the Fast Time Award. The four Heat Race winners were John Gill, Darrell Lanigan, Mike Jewell and Bart Hartman. The First B-Main went to Scott James and PBM Performance Products Second B-Main was won by R.J. Conley.
The next event for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will be on Saturday Night, May 14 the Tazewell Speedway in Tazewell, Tennessee.
Race Summary Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Brownstown Speedway-Brownstown, Indiana Saturday Night, April 16, 2005
Fast Time: Terry English 14.582
Heat #1: John Gill, Terry English, Greg Johnson, Earl Pearson, Jr., Donnie Moran, Brent Londeree, Steve Barnett, Frankie Coomer, Scott Graham, Tim Prince, Justin Shaw, Jordan Bland, Shannon Reed
Heat #2: Darrell Lanigan, Shannon Babb, Billy Drake, Steve Shaver, Scott James, Tim Dohm, Bryan Barber, Steve Hillard, Michael England, Mark Barber, Rickey Riggle, Gary Harden, Derek Ramp
Heat #3: Mike Jewell, Matt Miller, Tim Tungate, Brad Neat, John Mason, Brad Barrow, Dan Sturgeon, Justin Blackwell, Doug Ault, Joe Godsey, Brian Wilhite, Mike Bechelli
Heat #4: Bart Hartman, Dennis Erb, Jr., Mike Marlar, Don O'Neal, R.J. Conley, C.J. Rayburn, Johnny Wheeler, Freddy Smith, Jeff Wilson, Brad Erwin, Greg Ault, Ryan Eads
Shock Dyno First B-Main: Scott James, Donnie Moran, Brent Londeree, Steve Barnett, Tim Dohm, Steve Hillard, Tim Prince, Scott Graham, Frankie Coomer, Mark Barber, Shannon Reed, Michael England, Gary Harden, Rickey Riggle, Derek Ramp, Bryan Barber, Jordan Bland, Justin Shaw
Second B-Main: R.J. Conley, Freddy Smith, Brad Barrow, Dan Sturgeon, John Mason, C.J. Rayburn, Brad Erwin, Doug Ault, Joe Godsey, Justin Blackwell, Jeff Wilson, Greg Ault, Brian Wilhite, Ryan eads, Mike Bechelli, Johnny Wheeler
22nd Annual Hoosier Dirt Classic Main: (50 Laps): Terry English, Don O'Neal, Dennis Erb, Jr., Shannon Babb, Billy Drake, Bart Hartman, Earl Pearson, Jr., Steve Shaver, John Gill, Tim Tungate, Matt Miller, Freddy Smith, Greg Johnson, R.J. Conley, Mark Barber, John Mason, Brad Neat, Tim Dohm, Brent Londeree, Mike Jewell, Mike Marlar, Brad Barrow, Donnie Moran, Darrell Lanigan, Scott James
Race Statistics: Entries: 51 Cautions: 5 Red Flags: None Lap Leaders: John Gill 1-6, Mike Jewell 7, Gill 8-9, Jewell 10-16, Matt Miller 17-37, Terry English 38-50 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Tim Dohm and John Mason Track Provisional: Mark Barber Weld Racing Wheels Hard Charger of the Race: Don O'Neal (started 16th and finished second) advanced 14 positions
Submitted By: Jeremy Shields