 Tampa FL - Dale McDowell would make his first ever visit to East Bay Raceway Park’s victory lane on the third night of Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series’ 30th Annual Winter Nationals.
The win by McDowell in the RaceTek Engine powered Dover Cylinder Heads/ J and J Steel/ New Vision Graphics/ Hennessey Rental Tools/ Hoosier Tires sponsored number 17m Rocket by Shaw Grand Prix would mark the third different winner in the first three nights of racing at East Bay.
McDowell was able to make the pass on the Petroff Towing sponsored Rayburn of Tuesday night’s winner Billy Moyer on lap two and then go on unchallenged the rest of the way to pick up the $5,000 first place prize.
“I can’t believe it! Am I actually at East Bay?” said an elated McDowell in victory lane.” It feels good getting our first victory here, the place has been very, very challenging for me, but I guess you have to keep coming to places that are challenging in order to make you a better racer. I felt good after last nights second and we made some changes and it just feels so good to finally win here.” The 39 year old Chickamauga, GA racing veteran would go on to say after his first ever Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win before another packed grandstand on Wednesday night.
Billy Moyer jumped to the lead on the first lap of racing action. McDowell would then pull alongside Moyer and make the move under Moyer for the lead coming off of turn number two on the second lap. Moyer would then fall behind the Sweeteners Plus sponsored Rocket of Tim McCreadie until passing him back and leaving McCreadie to battle with Donnie Moran. A slowing Scott James would bring out the first and only caution of the race on lap eight.. When the green flag flew again the eighth starting Petroff Towing sponsored number 28 Rayburn of Dennis Erb, Jr. would pull into the top five. Erb would then set his sights on McCreadie before making his pass for third position to battle with second place running Moyer. The two would battle for second up to the last lap where Moyer would win the position by a thin margin over the third place finisher Dennis Erb. Tim McCreadie would hang on the fourth spot beating out Donnie Moran to round out the top five. The 17th starting Earl Pearson Jr. would work his way through the field to bring home the sixth spot and the hard charger of the night was the car of Don O’Neal who worked his way to seventh from the 19th starting position on the grid. The 18th starter, Steve Francis would finish in eighth while Marshall Green and Eddie Carrier, Jr.
Completed the top ten drivers
89 cars were on hand for the third night of competition at East Bay Raceway Park with Benton Arkansas’ Jared Landers setting fast time at 15.185 seconds around the 3/8th mile oval. Heat race winners were Justin Rattliff, Dennis Erb, Jr., Donnie Moran, Jimmy Mars, Billy Moyer, Wendell Wallace, Tim McCreadie and Dale McDowell. The B-Main winners of the evening were Earl Pearson Jr., Steve Francis, Don O’Neal, and Brian Birkhofer. The winner of the Wednesday night Strawberry Dash was Dan Stone.
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will kick it up a notch on Thursday February 9th with a $7,000 to win 40 lap feature event. The fourth night of late model racing action at East Bay will also mark the beginning of the 2006 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Car Series points championship as the defending champion Earl Pearson Jr. along with all the other stars and cars of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series begin their quest for the series title as the side by side, dirt slingin’ action kicks off what promises to be an exciting season of racing.
Race Summary
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Wednesday, February 8th, 2006
East Bay Raceway Park – Tampa, FL
Comp Cams Fast Time – Jared Landers – 15:185
PBM Performance Products Heat Race #1- Justin Rattliff, Marshall Green, John VanDenBerg, Jason Montgomery, Tim Dohm, Sonny Conley, Bo Feathers, Richard Wheelihan, Jared Landers, Ricky Arms
PBM Performance Products Heat Race #2- Dennis Erb, Jr., Clint Smith, Earl Pearson, Jr., Rick Eckert, Dan Schlieper, Doug Horton, Davey Johnson, Ricky Elliott, Jason Flory, Clint Coffman, Scott Riggs
DART Machinery Heat Race #3- Donnie Moran, Shannon Babb, Gerald Davis, Terry English, Bart Hartman, Darren Miller, Daniel Stone, Joe Morris, Joey Tanner, Kristin Flory
DART Machinery Heat Race #4- Jimmy Mars, Matt Miller, Steve Francis, Jackie Boggs, Vic Coffey, Dean Carpenter, Wayne Johnson, Larry Smith, Dave Hess, Rodney Melvin, Don Hammer
Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Race #5- Billy Moyer, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Don O’ Neal, Terry Casey, Jordan Bland, Bryan Collins, Robbie Blair, Chub Frank, Brent Robinson, Charlie Duncan, Bob Geiger
Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Race #6- Wendell Wallace, Brad Neat, Randy Korte, Mike Johnson, Garrett Durrett, Freddy Smith, Anthony Rushing, Marshall Austin, John Mason, Wade Witherspoon, Jeff Gress
K&N Engineering Heat Race #7- Tim McCreadie, Brady Smith, Brian Birkhofer, David Scott, Butch McGill, Jimmy Owens, Tim Fuller, Anthony White, Corey Conley, Christian Rayburn, CJ Rayburn
K&N Engineering Heat Race #8- Dale McDowell, Scott James, Kevin Cole, Michael England, Damon Eller, Freddie Carpenter, Tim Senic, Lynn Chapman, Ray Cook, Patrick Sheltra, Brian Shirley
Mason Racin’ Rebel Shock Dyno B-Main #1- Earl Pearson, Jr., Rick Eckert, Dan Schlieper, Tim Dohm, Davey Johnson, Ricky Elliott, Sonny Conley, Bo Feathers, John VanDenBerg, Jason Flory, Doug Horton, Clint Coffman, Jared Landers, Richard Wheelihan, Scott Riggs, Jason Montgomery
Penske Shocks B-Main #2- Steve Francis, Jackie Boggs, Daniel Stone, Darren Miller, Gerald Davis, Bart Hartman, Dean Carpenter, Rodney Melvin, Terry English, Vic Coffey, Kristin Flory, Joey Tanner, Don Hammer, Bob Geiger, Larry Smith, Wayne Johnson, Joe Morris
Mason Racin’ Rebel Shock Dyno B-Main #3- Don O’ Neal, Bryan Collins, Randy Korte, Chub Frank, Garrett Durrett, Robbie Blair, Marshall Austin, Mike Johnson, John Mason, Anthony Rushing, Jordan Bland, Charles Duncan, Terry Casey, Brent Robinson, Wade Witherspoon, Jeff Gress, Freddy Smith
Penske Shocks Dyno B-Main #4- Brian Birkhofer, David Scott, Butch McGill, Jimmy Owens, Ray Cook, Damon Eller, Tim Fuller, Christian Rayburn, Corey Conley, CJ Rayburn, Freddie Carpenter, Lynn Chapman, Kevin Cole, Michael England
Gulf Coast Produce Strawberry Dash- Dan Stone, Sonny Conley, Terry Casey, Terry English, Corey Conley, Christian Rayburn, Clint Coffman, Doug Horton, Scott Riggs
Feature (30 Laps) – Dale McDowell, Billy Moyer, Dennis Erb Jr., Tim McCreadie, Donnie Moran, Earl Pearson, Jr., Don O’ Neal, Steve Francis, Marshall Green, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Brian Birkhofer, Wendell Wallace, Bryan Collins, Brady Smith, Matt Miller, Rick Eckert, Clint Smith, Justin Rattliff, Jackie Boggs, Jimmy Mars, David Scott, Brad Neat, Shannon Babb, Scott James
Race Statistics:
Entries: 89
Cautions: 1
Red Flags: 0
Lap Leaders: Billy Moyer 1, Dale McDowell 2-30
All-Star Performer of the Race: Don O’Neal (started 19th and finished 7th) Advanced 12 positions
Hawk Tough Break Award: Steve Hillard
Quarter Master Clutch Move of the Race: Jimmy Mars
After Three Events:
Top Ten in DART Machinery Winternationals Points Standings
1. Earl Pearson Jr. - 640
2. Dale McDowell - 590
3. Donnie Moran - 580
4. Billy Moyer - 580
5. Dennis Erb Jr - 565
6. Tim McCreadie - 550
7. Clint Smith - 515
8. Rick Eckert - 495
9. Brian Birkhofer - 485
10. Dan Schlieper - 480
DART Winternationals “Engine Builders Challenge” Points After Three Events
1.PRO POWER24
2.LARRY WALLACE18
3.MALCUIT16
4.SMS14
5.CUSTOM11
6.CORNETT9
7.JAY DICKENS9
8.CARL GROVER7
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series “Chassis Builders Challenge”
1.RAYBURN17
2.ROCKET15
3.MASTERSBILT13
4.GRT8
5.WARRIOR6
6.LAZER4
Sunoco “Race For Gas”Points After Two Events
1.BILLY MOYER 8
2.DALE McDOWELL8
3.EARL PEARSON JR6
4.RICK ECKERT3
5.DAVEY JOHNSON
ALLSTAR Performance “Performer of the Race” Points After Two Events
1.DON O’NEAL12
2.RICK ECKERT10
3.DOUG HORTON8
COMP Cams “Fast Time Award” Points After Three Events
1.DONNIE MORAN2
2.JARED LANDERS1
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