Earl Pearson, Jr.

Mark Oller

Michael Long

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PONTOON BEACH, IL (July 16th, 2010)- Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL won a series record, fourth straight Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event, tonight at Tri-City Speedway. He took home the $10,000 payday in winning the “Budweiser 50”. Pearson withstood a mid-race challenge from several drivers as he went on to lead all 50 laps of the event. It was his seventh series win of the year.

Finishing second was Billy Moyer of Batesville, AR; followed by series point’s leader, Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN. Completing the top five were Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA and Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN. Birkhofer managed to get by Owens as the duo approached the finish line on the final lap.

“I want to thank all the fans for coming out tonight,” exclaimed Pearson in Lucas Oil Victory Lane, “I would like to give credit to my crew for all of their hard work, and the guys back at the race shop. I also want to thank Bobby Labonte, Lucas Oil Products, Red Buck Cigars, Larry Wallace Racing Engines, and MasterSbilt Race Cars.”

In the early stages of the race, the top five set a blistering pace with Pearson breaking away from the rest of the field. Pearson held a comfortable lead over Bloomquist, Moyer, Chris Wall, and Don O’Neal. It wasn’t until a lap 21 caution for Tyler Reddick, that the dynamics of the race changed for the remainder of the event.

After the restart, Pearson maintained his patented bottom shelf around the track. Bloomquist and Owens found traction on the top groove of the racing surface, allowing them to close in on Pearson by the halfway mark. Moyer made it a three-car battle for second, using the same line as Pearson. After starting tenth, Birkhofer made a mid-race surge into the top five as he went around O’Neal on lap 31. In the waning laps of the event, Pearson managed to distance himself from Moyer, who had passed Bloomquist with four laps to go to take over the second spot.

Coming home in sixth was O’Neal of Martinsville, IN. Twenty-third starting, Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, GA finished seventh. During time trials, McDowell got into the wall coming off of turn four and flipped his primary car. He went to a back-up car and was involved in a wreck during his heat race. His crew managed to repair the damage in time for him to take a series provisional for the main event. John Blankenship of Williamson, WV finished eighth, followed by Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, WI; and Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC.

In preliminary action, Earl Pearson Jr. set the Red Buck Cigars Fast Time among the 42 entrants. Heat race winners were Pearson, Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN; Billy Moyer, and Don O’Neal. The B-Mains were won by Bub McCool and Brad Neat.

Tonight’s event will be featured as an hour-long broadcast on SPEED at 1 PM (Eastern) on Saturday, August 7th.

The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will be back in action tomorrow night, July 17th at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO for the Fourth Annual “CMH Diamond Nationals”. The event will pay $10,000 to win and will feature a full racing program with Red Buck Cigars Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains, and the 50-lap main event.

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Mark Oller of Highland, Illinois claimed his first UMP Pro Late Model feature win of 2010 at Tri-City Speedway. A huge opening lap crash would collect no less than ten cars in turn two. Many cars suffered damage and the crash eliminated Casey Montague, Kyle Hammer and Jerry Lierly from competition. Bobby Pierce would take the lead at the drop of the green flag and lead the first few opening circuits before Mark Oller made his move underneath Pierce to take over the top spot. The two would battle for several laps until Pierce suffered front end damage from hitting one of the big tires on the inside of the track. Pierce would have problems steering and entering turn one, his car would not turn and pushed all the way to the outside wall and came to a stop with the nose of his car facing the turn one wall. Scott Weber couldn’t avoid the stopped car of Pierce and slammed into the rear of Pierce’s car with the right side of his machine. The impact severely damaged both Pierce and Weber’s cars. Once the race was restarted, it would go the rest of the distance caution free and Oller would sail to victory. Matt Santel would cross the line in second with Bobby Martintoni third. Bobby Dauderman would finish fourth and Gordy Gundaker rounded out the top five.

The UMP DIRTcar Modifieds would provide a thrilling twenty-five lap main event that featured several different drivings fighting for the top spot. The always tough Michael Long would take the lead at the drop of the green flag and would be challenged for the lead for all twenty-five laps. Jeff Leka provided the pressure on the opening laps as he and Long raced side-by-side. Then Denny Schwartz used the high side to move in on the two leaders. Schwartz would briefly get the lead from Long but Long would not give up easy and retook the top spot on the next circuit. As the race continued on, Schwartz would begin to fade and Mike Harrison would move into position to battle for the top spot. As Long, Leka and Harrison battled for the top spot, Matt Mevert was methodically working his way toward the front. As the laps would wind down, Harrison was all over the rear bumper of Long while Leka was using the low side making it a three way race. Harrison would jump the cushion with three laps remaining and lose momentum and fall out of contention for the win. Leka meanwhile pulled even with Long for the lead as the two had a classic battle down to the finish as they raced side by side with Leka on the low side and Long up on the top. Lapped traffic would come into play on the final lap. The lapped car of Steve Stotler was running the low side and forced Leka to move into the middle of the track. That allowed Long to clear Leka for the top spot and take the win. Leka would finish second with Mevert third. Harrison would take fourth and Tommie Seets, Jr. was fifth.

Tri City Speedway – Pontoon Beach, IL
Race Results for 7/16/2010

Late Models – A-Main — 42 Cars
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Archdale, NC Ovarall Fast Time: 14.752
2 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR
3 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
4 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA
5 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
6 71 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN
7 17M Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA
8 23 John Blankenship ,
9 28M Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI
10 53 Ray Cook ,
11 C9 Steve Casebolt Richmond, IN
12 71W Chris Wall ,
13 2 Brady Smith ,
14 41N Brad Neat Dunnville, KY
15 9T Tim Isenberg ,
16 75 Terry Phillips Springfield, MO
17 88 Wendall Wallace Batesville, AR
18 7B Mark Burgtorf Quincy, IL
19 18W Eric Wells Hazard, KY
20 78 Chad Zobrist (L) Highland, IL
21 S9 Dan Schlieper Oak Creek, WI
22 81 Craig Smith (L) Godfrey, IL
23 57J Bub McCool Vicksburg , MS
24 11 Tyler Reddick DuQuoin, IL
25 21JR Billy Moyer Jr Batesville, AR

Late Models – B-Main 1
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 57J Bub McCool Vicksburg , MS
2 78 Chad Zobrist (L) Highland, IL
3 88 Wendall Wallace Batesville, AR
4 11D Pat Doar ,
5 33F Rickey Frankel, (L) Quincy, IL
6 82 Billy Laycock (L) Marine, IL
7 441 Brian Wolfmeier House Springs, MO
8 00W Kevin Weaver Gibson City, IL
9 11z Bryan Collins Elsberry, MO
10 76 Butch Kruckeberg (L) Edwardsville, IL
11 11 Tyler Reddick DuQuoin, IL
12 74 Jeremy Payne Springfield, MO
13 95 Aaron Ricketts ,

Late Models – B-Main 2
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 41N Brad Neat Dunnville, KY
2 21JR Billy Moyer Jr Batesville, AR
3 75 Terry Phillips Springfield, MO
4 30 Mark Voigt (L) Marine, IL
5 3S Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
6 2A John Anderson ,
7 15 Chris Fetter (L) Troy, MO
8 35 Claude Walker (L) Moro, IL
9 81 Craig Smith (L) Godfrey, IL
10 58 Dave Eckrich ,
11 13 Dewayne Kiefer (L) St. Genevieve, MO
12 27M Rodney Melvin Benton, IL
13 17M Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA

Late Models – Heat 1
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Archdale, NC
2 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
3 9T Tim Isenberg ,
4 2 Brady Smith ,
5 57J Bub McCool Vicksburg , MS
6 88 Wendall Wallace Batesville, AR
7 78 Chad Zobrist (L) Highland, IL
8 11 Tyler Reddick DuQuoin, IL
9 33F Rickey Frankel, (L) Quincy, IL
10 82 Billy Laycock (L) Marine, IL
11 76 Butch Kruckeberg (L) Edwardsville, IL

Late Models – Heat 2
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 C9 Steve Casebolt Richmond, IN
2 71W Chris Wall ,
3 53 Ray Cook ,
4 23 John Blankenship ,
5 11D Pat Doar ,
6 11z Bryan Collins Elsberry, MO
7 00W Kevin Weaver Gibson City, IL
8 441 Brian Wolfmeier House Springs, MO
9 74 Jeremy Payne Springfield, MO
10 95 Aaron Ricketts ,

Late Models – Heat 3
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR
2 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
3 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA
4 S9 Dan Schlieper Oak Creek, WI
5 21JR Billy Moyer Jr Batesville, AR
6 2A John Anderson ,
7 81 Craig Smith (L) Godfrey, IL
8 30 Mark Voigt (L) Marine, IL
9 13 Dewayne Kiefer (L) St. Genevieve, MO
10 35 Claude Walker (L) Moro, IL
11 3S Brian Shirley Chatham, IL

Late Models – Heat 4
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 71 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN
2 28M Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI
3 18W Eric Wells Hazard, KY
4 7B Mark Burgtorf Quincy, IL
5 41N Brad Neat Dunnville, KY
6 75 Terry Phillips Springfield, MO
7 27M Rodney Melvin Benton, IL
8 58 Dave Eckrich ,
9 15 Chris Fetter (L) Troy, MO
10 17M Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA

Modifieds – A-Main — 25 Cars
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 18L Michael Long Quincy, IL
2 3JL Jeff Leka Buffalo, IL
3 22V Matt Mevert Steeleville, IL
4 24H Mike Harrison (M) Highland, IL
5 1 Tommie Seets Jr Alton, IL
6 241D Dean Hoffman Troy, IL
7 21S Denny Schwartz Ashmore, IL
8 44 Jared Kneemiller Saint Peters, MO
9 36W Kenny Wallace Concord, NC
10 4UW Bobby Regot III (M) Saint Peters, MO
11 87 Derek Dubree (M) Edwardsville, IL
12 14 Rick Conoyer (M) Saint Peters, MO
13 05 David Wietholder Liberty, IL
14 5 Joe Dresch (M) Brighton, IL
15 20 Cody Clark Vandalia, IL
16 70 Josh Russell Festus, MO
17 11H John Stanton East Alton, IL
18 45 Trista Stevenson Pocahontas, IL
19 16s Steve Stotler O’ Fallon, MO
20 000 Kyle Steffens Saint Charles, MO
21 0C Brad Crosby Decatur, IL
22 38 Stephen Flannery Jr Wood River, IL
23 11B Kyle Byerline Dawson, IL
24 24L Steve Lach Brownstown, IL
25 1W Ray Walsh (M) Saint Louis, MO

Modifieds – Heat 1
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 3JL Jeff Leka Buffalo, IL
2 21S Denny Schwartz Ashmore, IL
3 22V Matt Mevert Steeleville, IL
4 05 David Wietholder Liberty, IL
5 5 Joe Dresch (M) Brighton, IL
6 11B Kyle Byerline Dawson, IL
7 20 Cody Clark Vandalia, IL
8 11H John Stanton East Alton, IL
9 0C Brad Crosby Decatur, IL

Modifieds – Heat 2
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 18L Michael Long Quincy, IL
2 36W Kenny Wallace Concord, NC
3 241D Dean Hoffman Troy, IL
4 14 Rick Conoyer (M) Saint Peters, MO
5 44 Jared Kneemiller Saint Peters, MO
6 38 Stephen Flannery Jr Wood River, IL
7 000 Kyle Steffens Saint Charles, MO
8 1W Ray Walsh (M) Saint Louis, MO

Modifieds – Heat 3
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 1 Tommie Seets Jr Alton, IL
2 24H Mike Harrison (M) Highland, IL
3 45 Trista Stevenson Pocahontas, IL
4 16s Steve Stotler O’ Fallon, MO
5 70 Josh Russell Festus, MO
6 87 Derek Dubree (M) Edwardsville, IL
7 24L Steve Lach Brownstown, IL
8 4UW Bobby Regot III (M) Saint Peters, MO

Pro (Crate) Late Models – A-Main — 27 Cars
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 67 Mark Oller (L) Highland, IL
2 92s Matt Santel (C) New Memphis, IL
3 48 Bobby Martintoni (C) Livingston, IL
4 18D Bobby Dauderman Alhambra, IL
5 11 Gordy Gundaker (C) St. Charles, MO
6 55 Daniel Heck Mount Vernon, IL
7 36 Eric Gowin Jerseyville, IL
8 3 Craig Bessinger Pacific, MO
9 72 Brad Yotter Bethalto, IL
10 r52 Rylan Dagg (C) Wayne City, IL
11 59 Danny Jolly Christopher, IL
12 74 Tim Hancock (CR) Granite City, IL
13 59R Aaron Heck Mount Vernon, IL
14 24 Dick Taylor Riverton, IL
15 5J Josh Jackson (CR) South Roxana, IL
16 32 Derek Fetter Troy, MO
17 4 Jason Suhre (CR) Alhambra, IL
18 87 Jason Zobrist (C) Highland, IL
19 11S Andy Scoles (CR) St. Charles, MO
20 95 Jeremy Nash (C) Marine, IL
21 1A Steve Meyer Jr South Roxana, IL
22 92K Brant Kehrer New Memphis, IL
23 32P Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
24 8BALL Scott Weber (C) Festus, MO
25 01 Casey Montague (C) Lebanon, IL
26 7L Jerry Lierly Camp Point, IL
27 45 Kyle Hammer Clinton, IL

Pro (Crate) Late Models – Heat 1
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 67 Mark Oller (L) Highland, IL
2 92s Matt Santel (C) New Memphis, IL
3 8BALL Scott Weber (C) Festus, MO
4 11S Andy Scoles (CR) St. Charles, MO
5 r52 Rylan Dagg (C) Wayne City, IL
6 7L Jerry Lierly Camp Point, IL
7 95 Jeremy Nash (C) Marine, IL
8 45 Kyle Hammer Clinton, IL
9 18D Bobby Dauderman Alhambra, IL

Pro (Crate) Late Models – Heat 2
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 32P Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
2 48 Bobby Martintoni (C) Livingston, IL
3 1A Steve Meyer Jr South Roxana, IL
4 11 Gordy Gundaker (C) St. Charles, MO
5 72 Brad Yotter Bethalto, IL
6 24 Dick Taylor Riverton, IL
7 87 Jason Zobrist (C) Highland, IL
8 5J Josh Jackson (CR) South Roxana, IL
9 32 Derek Fetter Troy, MO

Pro (Crate) Late Models – Heat 3
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 55 Daniel Heck Mount Vernon, IL
2 92K Brant Kehrer New Memphis, IL
3 3 Craig Bessinger Pacific, MO
4 01 Casey Montague (C) Lebanon, IL
5 59R Aaron Heck Mount Vernon, IL
6 4 Jason Suhre (CR) Alhambra, IL
7 74 Tim Hancock (CR) Granite City, IL
8 36 Eric Gowin Jerseyville, IL
9 59 Danny Jolly Christopher, IL