10/11/2006
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
"Mr. Smooth" Billy Moyer Wins the Jani-King Southern Showdown at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway
CONCORD, NC (October 11, 2006)- Billy Moyer of Batesville, AR raced to his third Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of 2006 as he captured the Jani-King Southern Showdown on Wednesday Night at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway.
The 48 year old National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame member earned $10,000 for his first ever win at the Concord, NC facility. Moyer took the lead on the 20th lap from Mike Balzano and then went on to take the win in front of a capacity crowd. Moyer behind the wheel of his J&J Steel/Banner Valley Hauling/Petroff Towing/Karl Chevrolet/Watters Auto Land/Red Line Oil/Platinum Motors and RV's/McCarthy's One Hour Heating and Air/ Pro Power Engines/C.J. Rayburn Race Cars Monte Carlo. Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, IL would trail Moyer across the line in second in the Car City/J&J Steel/C.J. Rayburn Race Cars Monte Carlo. Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Points Leader, Earl Pearson, Jr. of Jacksonville, FL came from his 12th starting position to finish third in the Carlton and Kemp Lamm/Lucas Oil Products/Dunn Benson Ford MasterSbilt Ford Fusion with Mike Balzano of Parkersburg, WV claiming fourth in his Biscotti's Restaurant/Polino Contracting/Rocket Monte Carlo and York, PA's Rick Eckert completed the top five in the Raye Vest Contracting/Cornett Engines/Rocket Ford Fusion. A total of 67 cars were entered in the event which was presented by Ferris Commercial Mowers.
Larry Blankenship and Mike Balzano would win the draw from the top three in passing points in each of the six heat races as they would start on the front row of the 50 lap main event. The event rolled to green earlier that scheduled due to lightning in the distance and the increasing threat of rain. Balzano would take the point on the first lap with Blankenship, third starting Billy Moyer, Jackie Boggs and Shannon Babb the top five after one lap. The running order would stay the same for one circuit with Moyer passing Blankenship for the second spot on lap three. Babb would then go from fifth to third by the fourth circuit as he and Moyer were beginning to put some heat on Balzano.
Moyer would go wheel to wheel with Balzano for two circuits with Balzano holding the lead at the scoring line. Rookie Damon Eller would make some early noise coming to fifth in the first part of the race and then advancing to fourth by lap eight. Blankenship who started on the pole would see his night end on lap nine when he slowed and collected Jackie Boggs, who had nowhere to go when Blankenship's car slowed on the backstretch. Both cars would be eliminated from the race.
On the restart Balzano would again show the way leading Moyer, Babb, 10th place starter Donnie Moran and Eller in the chase for the lead. Balzano would start to get into lap traffic by lap 20 and that would allow both Moyer and Babb to close. On the 20th lap Moyer would pass Balzano and take over the lead with Balzano fighting back two laps later to go even with Moyer at the line. The third caution of the race fell on lap 22 for a slowed Mike Marlar that would set up another double file choose restart. Moyer with the inside row restart would sprint ahead of Balzano and start to stretch his lead by lap 28.
At the 30 lap completed mark and with weather threatening Moyer held a five car length lead with Balzano and Babb duking it out for second. Moran was in fourth with Earl Pearson, Jr. now in the thick of things running in fifth after starting 12th. The fourth caution of the race for debris on lap 31 would set another showdown on the restart between Moyer and Balzano. Moyer again would gain the advantage heading into turn one with Balzano in second and Babb hot his heels. Babb would dive by Balzano on lap 37 to take second with Pearson coming along to get by Balzano.
The fifth and final caution came on lap 42 for a stalled Jonathan Davenport on the front stretch that would then set up an eight lap shootout. Moyer and Babb would make up the front row on the restart with Moyer again showing his strength muscling his way to the point. Moyer would see Babb challenge him for a few laps but eventually would open enough breathing room that would land the Batesville, AK driver in victory lane for the first ever at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Babb would finish second followed by Pearson, Balzano and Rick Eckert, who passed Moran with seven to go to claim the fifth finishing spot. In victory lane Moyer was complimentary of several people who helped out in the win "They did the track up real good here tonight, it was in good shape and we really could race on it." "I want to thank my crew chief Steve Norris and everybody on the crew, they always do a great job in setting up the car and tonight everything worked really well and also a big thanks to my engine builder, Bill Schlieper for building such a great motor."
Completing the top ten were Donnie Moran, Steve Francis, Damon Eller, Billy Hicks and Scott James.
In preliminary action the PBM Performance Products Heat Race Winners were Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, Donnie Moran, Vic Hill, Earl Pearson, Jr., Shannon Babb and Rick Eckert. The Mason Racin' Rebel Shock Dyno First B-Main was won by Chris Madden, the Penske Shocks Second B-Main was taken by Garrett Durrett and the Mason Racin' Rebel Shock Dyno Third B-Main saw Michael England the winner. The K&N Engineering "Clean Pass of the Race" went to Billy Moyer for his pass on race leader Mike Balzano on lap 20 to take over the lead which he held the remainder of the 30 laps to take the win. The K&N Engineering "Clean Pass of the Race" is awarded at each Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event in 2006 and can take place during a heat race, B-Main or feature event.
The final two Lucas Oil late Model Dirt Series events for '06 will take place at the Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway in Calvert City, KY on Friday, October 27 and Saturday, October 28. There will be separate complete shows each night with the "Bluegrass Nationals" set to take place on Friday Night and the 10th Annual "Commonwealth Cup" rolls off on Saturday Night. Both events will pay $10,000 to win and the cameras of SPEED Channel will be on hand to tape the action. For information on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series you can log onto www.lucasdirt.com or call the series office at (951) 532-2503.
Event Summary
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Wednesday Night, October 11, 2006
The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway-Concord, NC
PBM Performance Products First Heat: (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, Brad Neat, Billy Moyer, Chris Madden, Furman Parton, Chuck Harper, Ed Gibbons, Ed Basey, Ricky Arms, Doug Sanders, Mike Duvall, Tim McCreadie DNS
PBM Performance Products Second Heat: (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Donnie Moran, Josh Richards, Larry Blankenship, Jeep VanWormer, Steve Casebolt, Greggie Oliver, Scott James, Josh McGuire, Ken Schrader, Matt Miller
PBM Performance Products Third Heat: (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Vic Hill, Dan Stone, Garrett Durrett, Petey Ivey, Ricky Weeks, G.R. Smith, Shane Tankersley, Daniel Miller, Scott Shirey, Bill Bray, James Tesch
PBM Performance Products Fourth Heat: (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Earl Pearson, Jr., Damon Eller, Steve Francis, Stacy Holmes, Jimmy Owens, Ray Cook, Richard Jarvis, Jordan Bland, Troy Eads, Phillip Gann, Mike Benedum
PBM Performance Products Fifth Heat: (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Shannon Babb, Mike Marlar, Billy Hicks, Jimmy McCormick, Michael England, Dennis Franklin, Rob Bailey, Brian Ledbetter, Greg Roberson, Freddy Smith, Jonathan Davenport
PBM Performance Products Sixth Heat: (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Rick Eckert, Mike Balzano, Jackie Boggs, Scott Bloomquist, Dick Schiltz, Tim Dohm, Gerald Mintz, Clint Smith, Jeff Smith, Steve Shaver, Elliott Nutthall
Mason Racin' Rebel Shock Dyno First B-Main: (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Chris Madden, Chuck Harper, Jeep VanWormer, Furman Parton, Ricky Arms, Mike Duvall, Ed Gibbons, Doug Sanders, Matt Miller, Steve Casebolt, Greggie Oliver, Ed Basey, Scott James
Penske Shocks Second B-Main: (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Garrett Durrett, Ricky Weeks, Jimmy Owens, G.R. Smith, Ray Cook, Stacy Holmes, Shane Tankersley, Daniel Miller, Richard Jarvis, Mike Benedum, Bill Bray, Scott Shirey, Jordan Bland
Mason Racin' Rebel Shock Dyno Third B-Main: (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Michael England, Dennis Franklin, Jonathan Davenport, Tim Dohm, Jimmy McCormick, Jeff Smith, Gerald Mintz, Brian Ledbetter, Rob Bailey, Freddy Smith, Dick Schiltz, Greg Roberson
Jani-King Southern Showdown Feature: (50 Laps): Billy Moyer, Shannon Babb, Earl Pearson, Jr., Mike Balzano, Rick Eckert, Donnie Moran, Steve Francis, Damon Eller, Billy Hicks, Scott James, Vic Hill, Garrett Durrett, Dennis Franklin, Chuck Harper, Matt Miller, Jonathan Davenport, Brad Neat, Petey Ivey, Jimmy Owens, Mike Marlar, Jeep VanWormer, Jackie Boggs, Larry Blankenship, Dan Stone, Ricky Weeks, Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, Michael England, Chris Madden, Josh Richards
Event Statistics
Entries: 67
Caution Flags: 5
Red Flags: 0
Lap Leaders: Mike Balzano 1-19, Billy Moyer 20-50
Allstar Performance Performer of the Race: Scott James (Started 29th and finished 10th, advanced 19 positions)
K&N Engineering Clean Pass of the Race: Billy Moyer
Hawk Brake Tough Brake Award: Mike Marlar
Quarter Master Move of the Race: Shannon Babb
Weld Wheels Award: Scott James
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rookie of the Race: Damon Eller
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Matt Miller and Scott James
Submitted By: Jeremy Shields
