---

Pierce Banks $20,000 Pittsburgher Prize

IMPERIAL, PA - Making his first career start in the Pittsburgher 100 at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, Bobby Pierce roared to the lead on lap 91 and then pulled away for the $20,000 victory.

Pierce started tenth on the grid and pitted on lap 44 for a fresh right rear tire before charging through the field and finally overtaking Owens in the final nine laps of the race - securing his fourth Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the season. Owens crossed the line in second-place with Earl Pearson Jr. taking third. Jonathan Davenport and Josh Richards completed the top five.

"I am so out of breath right now," said the 21-year-old in Lucas Oil Victory Lane. "It was really nerve-racking out there. I was just trying to keep it out of the guardrail. I am speechless right now. We were so close at I-80, the Dirt Million, and Knoxville, but to win another big race after Brownstown is great. I want to thank my family and crew. I saw my dad waving his sticks frantically which meant for me to pit under that one caution. I didn't have a tire down so there was no courtesy laps. The crew had to hustle to get me back out there. Fortunately, there were a bunch of us who pitted at the same time."

"It was a perfect time to pit because it gave me a lot of race left to get to the front," Pierce added. "After I pitted I thought I was a sitting duck because I was running in the back there for a while. Then I started running up top a line further than I was before and that helped. When I caught the top two it looked like Sheppard was hanging on and Owens was going to be hard to beat. He is so good in these 100-lap races."

"Our car was better on longer runs. I didn't know how this race would turn out since this is my first time ever racing here. It is truly a momentum track and it turned out to be a great race. I hope we get to come back here next year," said the winner.

Owens took the lead on lap 88 from Sheppard and held the point until Pierce's momentum catapulted him ahead. "Congrats to Bobby Pierce and that entire team. When I got by Sheppard, I thought I could lead to the end, I sure didn't think that someone could pass me on the outside, but he slid under me in one and cleared me. There was nothing I could do about it when he went by. We held on for second, but that was a pretty exciting race for the fans, I'm sure."

Pearson pitted on lap 37 and also came through the field to finish in third. "We got a couple of lucky breaks there on some of those restarts. Our car was really good towards the end. Congrats to Bobby and the Dunn-Benson team on the win. A couple of weeks ago at Brownstown, Pierce and I came through the field quickly. It was good run for us today."

The winner's Dunn-Benson Motorsports, Rocket Chassis is powered by a Pro Power Engine and sponsored by: Campbell University, Allgayer Inc., Hoker Trucking LLC, Premier Waste Services, Dunn-Benson Ford, Berger's Marina, Sunoco Race Fuels, Messilla Valley Transportation, Schoenfeld Headers, and Carnaghi Towing.

Completing the top ten were Tim McCreadie, Ricky Thornton Jr., Don O'Neal, Dennis Erb Jr., and Darrell Lanigan.

About Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Founded in 2005, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is the nation's premier dirt late model sanctioning organization. In 2018, the LOLMDS will sanction 60 events in 22 states. The series is owned by the parent company Lucas Oil Products Inc. and receives national exposure through a TV package filmed, produced and edited by Lucas Oil Production Studios. LOLMDS events will be broadcast on four TV Networks including CBS, NBC Sports, CBS Sports Network and the MAVTV Motorsports Network. For more information about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series visit the official website at: www.LucasDirt.com.

About Lucas Oil Racing TV
The Future of Motorsports is HERE! Get Lucas Oil Racing TV and experience racing excitement like you've never seen! Lucas Oil Racing TV is the online app for all your favorite devices like Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Android Devices and more! No matter where you are or when you want to watch, you can stream the best and most exciting motor racing on the planet!

Lucas Oil Racing TV has all your favorite motorsports - from grass roots to international competition, as well as exclusive LIVE EVENTS and behind the scenes interviews and footage that you won't see anywhere else! But that's just the beginning! Lucas Oil Racing TV brings you some of motorsports greatest broadcasters and build specialists... from Dave Despain to the mechanics of Two Guys Garage, as well as all the latest news, reviews, and interviews from every genre of racing.

Lucas Oil Racing TV is the Exclusive, Unlimited, 24/7 All-Access Motorsports App and it's available NOW! For more information or to sign up, go to: www.LucasOilRacing.TV.

About MAVTV Motorsports Network
Owned and operated by Lucas Oil Products, MAVTV is a television network with its roots deep in the automotive world. MAVTV offers an unparalleled line-up of exclusive motorsports, that includes prestigious events such as the Chili Bowl, The AMA Pro Motocross series, the Lucas Oil Challenge Cup and NHRA Drag Racing. But MAVTV goes far beyond the national mainstream events and also covers multitudes of grassroots series' from across the globe: Drag boats, sprint boats, drag racing, pro pulling, rally racing, drifting, dirt racing, ice racing and everything in between.

MAVTV also knows you don't have to be a race fan to be an automotive enthusiast, which is why we have developed a package of automotive reality and custom build shows that is truly second to none. If it has a motor, it's on MAVTV...MAVTV is THE motorsports network. To learn more about MAVTV go to: www.MAVTV.com.

About Lucas Oil Products
Founded in 1989 by Forrest and Charlotte Lucas, Lucas Oil Products, Inc. has established itself as one of the fastest-growing lubrication product lines in the consumer automotive aftermarket, featuring a line of engine oils, greases, gear lubes, problem-solving additives, and car-care products. Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil has established itself as a worldwide leader in the lubrication industry. Motorsports has always been part of the Lucas Oil culture and the cornerstone of the company's marketing strategy. Such passion for motorsports has inspired Lucas Oil to sponsor many race teams, events and series at all levels, including, NHRA, IRL, ASCS, NASCAR, IHRA and many more. Lucas Oil has also taken ownership and operational control of a number of high profile racing properties, such as: Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, Lucas Oil Drag Boat Series, Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Lucas Oil Modified Series, Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO. and the Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway in Blythe, CA.

In 2007 Lucas Oil founded its own production house, Lucas Oil Production Studios, dedicated to producing high action motorsports television. Currently Lucas Oil Production Studios produces over 300 hours of original programming for networks such as CBS, CBS Sports, NBC Sports and MAVTV. More information about Lucas Oil Products, Inc. visit the company website at: www.LucasOil.com.

Back to News