2/12/2015
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Billy Moyer Marches into Victory Lane Thursday Night at East Bay Raceway Park
TAMPA, FL (February 12, 2015) – Billy Moyer took the lead on lap 6 and never looked back as he marched on to his 24th Winternationals win Thursday night at East Bay Raceway Park. Billy Moyer and Brandon Sheppard battled back and forth for several laps until Moyer finally mastered a consistent line around the famed “Clay by the Bay” and set-sail on his way to victory lane. Following Moyer to the stripe were Mike Benedum, Brandon Sheppard, Steve Casebolt, and Dennis Franklin.
“It feels good to get back to victory lane at East Bay, They went out and worked on the track after the B-mains, and it turned out pretty much how I thought it would. We have led every night down here, and we were finally able to get the finish we wanted. I want to thank my crew for all of their hard work.”
Sheppard led the first lap, but Moyer charged by him for the lead on the second circuit. Sheppard then fought back to regain the point by lap five as the duo raced side-by-side around the 1/3rd mile clay oval. Moyer finally forged ahead of Sheppard on lap 6 and distanced himself from Sheppard.
Benedum; in his best career run in a LOLMDS event would make it a three-car battle for the lead. Moyer entered heavy traffic by lap 18, and Moyer maneuvered his way through lap-traffic until a caution came out on lap 25 that cleared the way. Benedum got the jump on Sheppard as he pounced on the second spot during the ensuing restart. Moyer darted away from the field and maintained a safe distance the rest of the race to take his first victory of the season, and the 791st of his Hall of Fame career.
“I want to thank all of my sponsors; there are a bunch of them; Henderson Motorsports, Garnant Family Farms, Messilla Valley Transportation, Karl Performance, Clements Racing Engines, Longhorn Chassis, and everyone else who helps with our race team.”
Benedum was extremely happy with his finish and was overwhelmed with emotion in victory lane. “To run with guys like Moyer, O’Neal, Owens, and those guys, I am tickled to death. We have switched back-and-forth between the Rocket and Longhorn in the last two weeks. We had the Rocket out here tonight. I can’t thank my crew enough; they have worked so hard on the car. This is just unbelievable.”
Completing the top ten were; Bobby Pierce, Jared Landers, Stormy Scott, Jimmy Owens, and David Fieber.
In preliminary action, Billy Moyer Jr. set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group A) amongst the 44 entrants, with a lap of 15.797 seconds. Brandon Sheppard set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 16.036 seconds. Billy Moyer Jr., Don O’Neal, Brandon Sheppard and Billy Moyer won their respective heat races. Vic Hill and Dennis Franklin won their respective B-Mains.
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Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Thursday, February 12th, 2015
39th Annual Winternationals
East Bay Raceway Park – Tampa, FL
Miller Welders Fast Time Group A: Billy Moyer Jr. / 15.797 seconds
Miller Welders Fast Time Group B: Brandon Sheppard / 16.036 seconds
Eibach Springs Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Billy Moyer, Jr., Jason Papich, Chris Brown, Tim Dohm, Vic Hill, Freddie Carpenter, Kyle Bronson, Doug Blashe, Austin Rettig, James O'Hara, Charlie LaPlant
FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Don O'Neal, Earl Pearson, Jr., Allen Murray, Terry English, Davey Johnson, Stormy Scott, Mark Dotson, Nick Davis, Steve Francis, Chad Hollenbeck, Gregg Hill
Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Brandon Sheppard, Mike Benedum, Devin Moran, Steve Casebolt, Jonathan Davenport, Dennis Franklin, Wendell Wallace, Scott Bloomquist, Dan Stone, Dustin Mitchell, Jimmy Owens
QA1 Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Billy Moyer, Bobby Pierce, Dennis Erb, Jr., Jared Landers, Mason Zeigler, Gregg Satterlee, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Ricky Weiss, David Fieber, Dan Schlieper, Kenny PettyJohn-DNS
Fast Shafts B-Main #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Vic Hill, Steve Francis, Stormy Scott, Davey Johnson, Doug Blashe, Kyle Bronson, Mark Dotson, Freddie Carpenter, Austin Rettig, Nick Davis, Chad Hollenbeck, Charlie LaPlant, James O'Hara, Gregg Hill
Keyser MFG B-Main #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Dennis Franklin, Mason Zeigler, Jonathan Davenport, Jimmy Owens, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Gregg Satterlee, Ricky Weiss, Wendell Wallace, David Fieber, Dan Schlieper, Dustin Mitchell, Dan Stone, Scott Bloomquist-DNS, Kenny PettyJohn-DNS
Feature Finish (45 Laps): 1. 21-Billy Moyer Sr; 2. 25-Mike Benedum; 3. B5-Brandon Sheppard; 4. C9-Steve Casebolt; 5. 2F-Dennis Franklin; 6. 32-Bobby Pierce; 7. 777-Jared Landers; 8. 2S-Stormy Scott; 9. 20-Jimmy Owens; 10. 1F-David Fieber; 11. 6-Jonathan Davenport; 12. 25Z-Mason Zeigler; 13. 21JR-Billy Moyer Jr; 14. 21B-Chris Brown; 15. 96-Terry English; 16. 6T-Tim Dohm; 17. 94-Austin Rettig; 18. 28E-Dennis Erb Jr; 19. 1-Earl Pearson Jr; 20. 99M-Devin Moran; 21. 5-Don O'Neal; 22. 15-Steve Francis; 23. 91P-Jason Papich; 24. 7H-Vic Hill; 25. 2M-Allen Murray; 26. 1J-Davey Johnson
Race Statistics
Entrants: 44
Lap Leaders: Brandon Sheppard (Lap 1); Billy Moyer (Laps 2 – 4); Brandon Sheppard (Lap 5); Billy Moyer (Laps 6 – 40)
Cautions: Allen Murray (Lap 1); Davey Johnson (Lap 25); Dennis Erb Jr., Earl Pearson Jr., Don O’Neal, Steve Francis (Lap 25)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: n/a
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: n/a
Miller Welders Fast Time Provisional: Austin Rettig
DirtonDirt.com Strawberry Dash Provisional: David Fieber
Wrisco Feature Winner: Billy Moyer
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Davie Fieber (Started: 26th; Finished: 10th; Advanced 16 Positions)
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Earl Pearson Jr.
Allstar Performer of the Race: Mike Benedum
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Billy Moyer
Rookie of the Race: n/a
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Clements Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn Chassis
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Amber Williams (Mike Benedum)
CV Products Fastest Lap of the Race: Dennis Erb Jr. (Lap #2 – 16.494 seconds)
Hot Rod Processing Most Laps Led: Billy Moyer (43 Laps)
PFC Brakes Tough Break Award: Dennis Erb Jr.
Time of Race: 33 minutes 44 seconds
Submitted By: Jeremy Shields
