8/11/2016
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Bloomquist Banks Big in 30th Annual Ralph Latham Memorial
UNION, KY (August 11, 2016) – Scott Bloomquist took over the lead on lap five and never looked back as he went on to win the 30th Annual Ralph Latham Memorial on Thursday night at Florence Speedway. The two-time Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion and current point leader earned $30,000 for his victory. It was his first Ralph Latham Memorial win since 2006.
In a close race for second at the finish, it was Don O’Neal in the Clint Bowyer Racing/Peak Antifreeze and Motor Oil, Club 29 taking the runner-up spot. He was just ahead of Dennis Erb Jr. in the Vomac Truck Sales/Black Diamond, Bobby Pierce in the Allgayer Inc./Bob Pierce Race Car, and Jared Landers in the Crop Production Services/Sweet-Bloomquist entry.
Bloomquist had to hold off a furious charge from O’Neal, Erb and Pierce at the end to get the job done. “I got the signal they were gaining on me towards the end. I didn’t want to get on top of that cushion. You can’t take a chance of messing up and getting into the fence. I stayed right in the middle even in the slick. I can’t say enough about Randy Sweet and all of my other sponsors,” said Bloomquist who maintains the points lead with his series-leading 10th win of the season.
“I had to be really careful to not spin the tires, it took a lot of poise. I think I got cramps in my legs from pulling back on the accelerator. It’s been a good year so far, and we hope that we can keep it up. We need to get us a North/South win on Saturday!” Bloomquist has not won the $50,000 to win crown jewel event since 2000.
Jackie Boggs took the lead at the start of the race and led the first two laps until he dropped out of the race under a caution flag. Landers then picked up the lead and led for two circuits before Bloomquist, who started sixth took assumed the point for good.
The trio of O’Neal, Erb, and Pierce had a terrific battle for second with Erb getting by Pierce at the flagstand to claim third.
O’Neal was looking for his first LOLMDS win of the season and made a strong statement with his second place finish. “Man I just had to drive too hard up there on the cushion. You really needed to be down low like Scott was. We were good enough for second. We need to be a little bit better here for Saturday night to get the win. I really didn’t want to see those caution flags. I think we had something for him in lapped traffic.”
Erb came home in third place for his best-ever finish at the 1/2-mile oval. “We had a good run tonight and were able to get up and grab third at the end. We had a really good car, and now we just want to get in the field on Saturday night. I think we’ve got a good enough car to win the $50,000.”
Completing the top ten were Billy Moyer, Tim McCreadie, Devin Moran, Jonathan Davenport, and Ricky Weiss.
In preliminary action, Billy Moyer set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group A) amongst the 65 entrants, with a lap of 16.050 seconds. Jackie Boggs set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 16.361 seconds. Jared Landers, Darrell Lanigan, Brandon Sheppard, Jackie Boggs, Chris Madden, and Scott Bloomquist won their respective heat races. Jimmy Owens and Jason Feger won their respective B-Mains.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Thursday, August 10th, 2016
30th Annual Ralph Latham Memorial
Florence Speedway – Union, KY
Miller Welders Fast Time Group A: Billy Moyer / 16.050 seconds
Miller Welders Fast Time Group B: Jackie Boggs / 16.361 seconds
Eibach Springs Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Jared Landers, Billy Moyer, Timothy Culp, Matt Miller, Dale McDowell, Robby Hensley, Justin Rattliff, Tim Dohm, Adam Bowman, Daniel Dial, Chad Stapleton
FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Darrell Lanigan, Kent Robinson, Earl Pearson, Jr., Dustin Linville, John Whitney, Chris Brown, John Gill, Kayne Hickman, Nick Latham, Joe Godsey, Austyn Mills-DNS
Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Brandon Sheppard, Jonathan Davenport, Dennis Erb, Jr., Jimmy Owens, Ray Cook, Gregg Satterlee, Doug Drown, Kyle Bronson, Colton Flinner, Stan Freeman, Mike Benedum-DNS
QA1 Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Jackie Boggs, Tim McCreadie, Ricky Weiss, Devin Moran, Mason Zeigler, Tommy Bailey, Jesse Lay, Jeff Alsip, Jason Jameson, Trevor Landrum, Mike Marlar
Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Race #5 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Chris Madden, Don O'Neal, Michael Chilton, Josh Rice, Kolby Vandenbergh, Jake O'Neil, Ethan Burgess, Scott James, Zak Blackwood, Jerry Gibson, Jr., James Lay
ASi Racewear Heat Race #6 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Scott Bloomquist, RJ Conley, Bobby Pierce, Jason Feger, Steve Francis, Cody Mahoney, Nick Hoffman, Steve Landrum, Dustin Nobbe, Nathan Vawter
Fast Shafts B-Main #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): Jimmy Owens, Dustin Linville, John Whitney, Dale McDowell, Gregg Satterlee, Matt Miller, Ray Cook, Doug Drown, Chris Brown, Robby Hensley, Colton Flinner, Chad Stapleton, John Gill, Adam Bowman, Tim Dohm , Nick Latham, Kyle Bronson, Joe Godsey, Kayne Hickman, Stan Freeman, Justin Rattliff, Daniel Dial-DNS, Austyn Mills-DNS, Mike Benedum-DNS
Keyser MFG B-Main #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): Jason Feger, Devin Moran, Steve Francis, Jake O'Neil, Mason Zeigler, Tommy Bailey, Jesse Lay, Cody Mahoney, Kolby Vandenbergh, Mike Marlar, Jason Jameson, Ethan Burgess, Scott James , Nick Hoffman, Zak Blackwood, Steve Landrum, Dustin Nobbe, Trevor Landrum, Jerry Gibson, Jr., Nathan Vawter, Josh Rice, James Lay, Jeff Alsip
Feature Finish (75 Laps):
FINISH START CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN EARNINGS
1 6 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN $30,100
2 10 5 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN $5,500
3 17 28E Dennis Erb, Jr. Carpentersville, IL $3,500
4 18 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL $2,750
5 1 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR $2,250
6 7 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR $1,800
7 8 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY $1,500
8 22 99m Devin Moran Dresden, OH $1,400
9 11 6 Jonathan Davenport Mount Airy, NC $1,300
10 14 7w Ricky Weiss Headingley, MB $1,280
11 16 97 Michael Chilton Salvisa, KY $1,260
12 12 71c RJ Conley Wheelersburg, OH $1,240
13 9 7R Kent Robinson Bloomington, IN $1,220
14 23 15F Steve Francis Bowling Green, KY $1,200
15 13 C8 Timothy Culp Prattsville, AR $1,200
16 19 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN $1,200
17 24 75 Colton Flinner Allison Park, PA $1,300
18 15 1 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL $1,200
19 5 B5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL $1,200
20 20 25F Jason Feger Bloomington, IL $1,200
21 3 15L Darrell Lanigan Union, KY $1,200
22 25 18L Trevor Landrum Erlanger, KY $1,200
23 21 D8 Dustin Linville Lancaster, KY $1,200
24 2 4B Jackie Boggs Grayson, KY $1,200
25 4 44 Chris Madden Gaffney, SC $1,200
Race Statistics
Entrants: 65
Lap Leaders: Jackie Boggs (Laps 1 – 2); Jared Landers (Laps 3 – 4); Scott Bloomquist (Laps 5 – 75)
Cautions: Chris Madden (Lap 2); Colton Flinner, Trevor Landrum (Lap 2); Earl Pearson Jr. (Lap 13); Dustin Linville (Lap 14); Jared Landers (Lap 49); Jason Feger (Lap 60)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Steve Francis; Colton Flinner
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: n/a
Wrisco Feature Winner: Scott Bloomquist
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Dennis Erb Jr. (Started: 17th; Finished: 3rd; Advanced 14 Positions)
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Scott Bloomquist
Allstar Performance Power Move of the Race: Dennis Erb Jr.
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Don O’Neal
Hot Rod Processing Rookie of the Race: Colton Flinner
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Andy Durham Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Sweet-Bloomquist Race Cars
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Jeremy Justice (Don O’Neal)
Fastest Lap of the Race: Jackie Boggs (Lap #1 – 17.2118 seconds)
Most Laps Led: Scott Bloomquist (70 Laps)
PFC Brakes Tough Brake Award: Brandon Sheppard
Time of Race: 54 minutes 13 seconds
Submitted By: Jeremy Shields
