6/3/2006
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Scott Bloomquist Wins Ralph Latham Memorial Race the Final Lap at Florence Speedway
UNION, KY (June 3, 2006)- In an unbelievable ending to the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series 20th Annual Ralph Latham Memorial Race on Saturday Night at the Florence Speedway Scott Bloomquist passed Darrell Lanigan on the white flag when Lanigan slipped in turn number two which allowed Bloomquist to go by and beat Lanigan to the finish line by one car length in an exciting finish.
Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN driving his Bloomquist Race Cars Chevrolet sponsored by Vic Hill Racing Engines/Miller Brothers Coal/Hawkeye Trucking/Sweet Manufacturing/Allstar Performance/Ohlins and Hoosier Racing Tires picked up his fourth series win of 2006 in the thriller which was taped before the cameras of SPEED Channel. Lanigan of Union, KY led 48 of the 50 laps was second in his Accutex Signs and Banners/Cornett Engines/Rocket Taurus with Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, WI placing third in the Miller Brothers Coal/Pro Power/C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo. Rounding out the top five were Wendell Wallace of Batesville, AR in the J&J Steel/Gaerte Engines/GRT GTO and 19th starting Earl Pearson, Jr. of Jacksonville, FL in the Lucas Oil Products/Larry Wallace Race Engines/MasterSbilt Taurus. A total of 68 cars were on hand at the King Family promoted facility as Greg Johnson of Bedford, IN was crowned the 2006 Kentucky Speedweek Points Champion.
Jesse James Lay and Darrell Lanigan would make up the front row for the feature which saw Lanigan take the lead coming off of turn number two on the opening lap with Lay, fifth place starter Bloomquist, Greg Johnson and Steve Hillard in the top five after one lap was scored. By the second go round Bloomquist was quickly into second past Lay and eighth place starter, Dan Schlieper was up four spots to fourth place.
By the fourth circuit Lanigan had built a five car length lead over Bloomquist as Schlieper would pass Lay taking over the third spot. The first caution of the race flew after four laps were complete for a four car accident in turn number two. On the restart Rick Eckert would loose a right rear tire forcing him out of the race. When the race resumed Lanigan would still be in front followed by Bloomquist, Schlieper, Lay and Johnson. Bloomquist would slip underneath Lanigan momentarily coming off of turn number four on lap six to lead the lap. But Lanigan was up to the challenge retaking the point on the lap. Wendell Wallace then started to make his presence known as he raced his way into the top five and eventually by Lay for fourth on lap eight.
The race would go green until the third caution of the race came out on lap 21 for Bill Blair, Jr. At this point Lanigan had built a four car length lead over Bloomquist with Schlieper running a close third followed by Wallace and Lay. On the restart Earl Pearson, Jr. continued his march to the front vaulting into the fifth slot on lap 22. Pearson, who had started 19th, had methodically worked his way to the front by several cars.
The fourth caution appeared on lap 27, which would turn out to be the final caution of the event. With 23 racing laps to go it would set up a dandy ending as Lanigan continued to hold the top spot with Bloomquist, Schlieper, Wallace and Pearson all within striking distance. On this last restart Lanigan was unable to pull away like he did on the previous restarts as a terrific battle was really starting to take shape with five cars in contention for the win. Shane Clanton, who started 14th, was now running side by side with Pearson for the fifth spot as the two would exchange the position several times over the last part of the race.
With 10 laps remaining Bloomquist, Schlieper and Wallace were right there giving Lanigan all he wanted. Bloomquist kept running the top groove of the track and Lanigan would then switch the line he was running which prevented Bloomquist from the pass for the lead. With plenty of racing room at Florence, Lanigan was doing everything he could to keep the lead as Bloomquist would try inside and out to pass him, but Lanigan was doing what he had to do and when the frontrunners took the white flag he was just one car length in front of Bloomquist.
As Lanigan entered turn number two suddenly his car drifted up the track and out of the groove and that bobble allowed Bloomquist to go underneath him and take over the lead. Lanigan would then fire one last ditch effort in turn four to retake the lead, but his visions of victory went by the wayside as Bloomquist beat him to the line by one car length for the win. Schlieper would come home a close third with Wallace right on him at the finish. Pearson would outlast the duel with Clanton to take fifth.
"Wow what a finish" said the 42 year old Bloomquist in victory circle as he was joined by sponsors Bob and Barb Miller and the Latham Family. "I don't know what exactly happened to him (Lanigan) on the final lap, it looked like he possibly hit something there on the track and it caused him to drift up, but I just kept my foot in it off of two and brought it home." "It's always a great show here at Florence, the track is always the same when you come here and the fans really enjoy watching the racing here."
Completing the top ten were Clanton, Jerry Rice, Don O'Neal, Jesse James Lay and Greg Johnson.
In preliminary action six-time Florence Speedway track champion Steve Landrum was the Comp Cams fast time award winner with a lap of 17.070 seconds around the half mile oval. The PBM Performance Products Heat Race Winners were: Steve Hillard, Jesse James Lay, Greg Johnson, Scott Bloomquist, Rod Conley and Darrell Lanigan. The Mason Racin' Rebel Shock Dyno First B-Main went to Earl Pearson, Jr. and the Penske Shocks second B-Main was won by Jack Sullivan. The K&N Engineering "Clean Pass of the Race" went to Scott Bloomquist. The K&N Engineering "Clean Pass of the Race" is awarded at each Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event and can be made during a heat, consy or feature event during the night.
After the conclusion of the Ralph Latham Memorial feature event, Greg Johnson of Bedford, IN was named the 2006 Kentucky Speedweek Champion. The originally scheduled week was to have five events scheduled, but due to rain three events were held with Johnson winning on May 29 at Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway in Calvert City, KY, Mike Jewell of Scottsburg, IN taking the victory on June 1 at the Richmond (KY) Raceway and Scott Bloomquist winning at Florence. Johnson would outdistance Scott James, Mike Jewell, Tim Tungate and a fifth place tie between Justin Rattliff and Jack Sullivan as Johnson becomes the very first Kentucky Speedweek Champion in the John Hall owned/J&H Construction/Outlaw Graphics/Hall's Angus Farms/Pro Power Engines/Intimidator Pontiac Grand Prix.
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will next be in action on Friday and Saturday, June 16 and 17 at the Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, WI with back to back $10,000 to win events. The cameras of SPEED Channel will be on hand to tape Saturday Night's events which will be shown on a date and time to be announced in the future. For more information on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series you can visit their website at www.lucasdirt.com.
Race Summary Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Saturday Night, June 3, 2006 Florence Speedway-Union, KY
Comp Cams Fast Time: Steve Landrum 17.070 seconds
PBM Performance Products First Heat: (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Steve Hillard, Mike Marlar, Steve Landrum, Earl Pearson Jr., Josh Williams, Justin Rattliff, Michael England, Garrett Durrett, John Gill, Tim Dohm, John Holt, Jason Jameson
PBM Performance Products Second Heat: (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Jesse James Lay, Dan Schlieper, Shane Clanton, Scott James, Chub Frank, Steve Casebolt, Wayne Chinn, Mike McWilliams, Jordan Bland, Doug Horton, Brian Stinson
PBM Performance Products Third Heat: (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Greg Johnson, Jerry Rice, Dale McDowell, Bryan Barber, Steve Francis, John Mason, Roger Williams, Audie McWilliams, Adrian Nichols, Rodney Combs, Chris Combs
PBM Performance Products Fourth Heat: (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Scott Bloomquist, Wendell Wallace, Rick Corbin, Joey Tackett, Don O'Neal, Corey Conley, Mike Balzano, Barry Doss, Larry Pickelheimer Jr., Glenn Bell, Devin Sebree
PBM Performance Products Fifth Heat: (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Rod Conley, Dan Hoard, Rick Eckert, Jack Sullivan, Rick Aukland, Brady Smith, Donnie Moran, Steve Shaver, Jason Smith, Josh McGuire, Bill Williams
PBM Performance Products Sixth Heat: (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Darrell Lanigan, Mike Jewell, Robby Hensley, Matt Miller, Ted Nobbe, Tim Tungate, Bill Blair, Jr., Blake Chinn, Anthony Ferguson, Jeff Alsip, Marty Stepp
Mason Racin' Rebel Shock Dyno First B-Main: (12 Laps-Top 2 Advance): Earl Pearson, Jr., Scott James, Chub Frank, Steve Casebolt, Steve Francis, Josh Williams, Justin Rattliff, Bryan Barber, John Mason, Michael England, Roger Williams, John Gill, Tim Dohm, John Holt, Garrett Durrett, Mike McWilliams, Jordan Bland, Doug Horton, Jason Jameson, Rodney Combs, Adrian Nichols, Chris Combs, Freddy Smith, Audie McWilliams
Penske Shocks Second B-Main (12 Laps-Top 2 Advance): Jack Sullivan, Don O'Neal, Rick Aukland, Matt MIller, Ted Nobbe,, Corey Conley, Tim Tungate, Brady Smith, Donnie Moran, Steve Shaver, Larry Pickelheimer, Jr., Barry Doss, Blake Chinn, Jeff Alsip, Anthony Ferguson, Jason Smith, Devin Sebree, Bill Williams, Glenn Bell, Marty Stepp, Josh McGuire, Joey Tackett, Mike Balzano, Bill Blair, Jr.
20th Annual Ralph Latham Memorial Feature: (50 Laps): Scott Bloomquist, Darrell Lanigan, Dan Schlieper, Wendell Wallace, Earl Pearson, Jr., Shane Clanton, Jerry Rice, Don O'Neal, Jesse James Lay, Greg Johnson, Matt MIller, Scott James, Rod Conley, Steve Hillard, Robby Hensley, Dan Hoard, Donnie Moran, Jack Sullivan, Bill Blair, Jr., Mike Marlar, Steve Landrum, Rick Eckert, Dale McDowell, Mike Jewell, Rick Corbin
Race Statistics Entries: 68 Caution Flags: 4 Red Flags: 0 Lap Leaders: Darrell Lanigan 1-5, Scott Bloomquist 6, Lanigan 7-49, Bloomquist 50 Allstar Performance Performer of the Race: Earl Pearson, Jr. (started 19th and finished 5th, advanced 14 positions) K&N Engineering "Clean Pass of the Race: Scott Bloomquist Hawk Brake Tough Brake Award: Rick Corbin Quarter Master Move of the Race: Scott Bloomquist Weld Wheels Award: Greg Johnson On the Edge Graphics Fastest Non-Qualifier: Josh Williams Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Donnie Moran and Matt Miller Track Provisional: Bill Blair, Jr.
Submitted By: Jeremy Shields