|
SOUTHERN
SHORT TRACK RACING NEWS
| Earl Pearson Jr. Finishes 2nd at Lowes, Heads to Indy to Be Crowned 2008 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Champion | ARCHDALE, NC (November 6, 2008)- Earl Pearson Jr. and the Bobby Labonte Racing Team competed in their final event in 2008 this past weekend in North Carolina at the Lowe's Dirt Track in the World of Outlaws season finale. Earl would finish 8th in the feature on Friday night. On Saturday night with the SPEED Channel cameras broadcasting "live" the event from Lowes Dirt Track, Earl would put on an impressive show coming from 5th to win his heat race to earn the outside front row starting position for the 50-lap main event paying $10,000 to win.
Earl would contend for the win throughout the feature event leading several laps before being passed by Josh Richards. Earl would try to make a last lap pass on Richards for the lead but Richards would block his line and Earl would settle for a strong 2nd place finish to end his 2008 season.
Earl has won six feature events in 2008 including four wins on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and his fourth Lucas Oil Series national championship and fifth national touring series in a row. Earl's stats for the 2008 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series include a tie for the most wins on the series with 4 wins, 21 top 5 finishes, 28 top 10 finishes and 3 Fast Time awards in 40 sanctioned events in 2008. Earl also won the PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger Points Category in 2008 and will receive a special award for that along with being crowned the 2008 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion on November 7th at the series year-end banquet.Festivities will begin at 6pm (EST), with a Cocktail and Reception Hour, to be held from 6 pm until 7pm.
Following the Cocktail and Reception Hour will be Dinner, which will be served at 7pm and last until 8pm. Capping off the evening will be the Awards Ceremony which will begin shortly after, at 8pm.Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series officials have released the SPEED Channel broadcast airdate schedule of 14 series telecasts that were taped during the 2008 racing season. The programs are produced by Newave Video Productions, and will air on selected Saturdays starting on December 6th.To see all the results and information about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series visit their website at www.lucasdirt.com.
"It's been a great year for our whole team. I can't thank my crew enough. Randall, Matt, Keith and Devine have really made my job easy this year. When I got hurt they kept me going and made the car comfortable as much as possible until I was 100% again. I have to thank Bobby Labonte for giving me this opportunity to drive for him now in our second year together. I couldn't ask for a better car owner. Mark Hughes has been a leader back in the shop and supported us in everyway. Everyone at Bobby Labonte Racing has contributed to this championship and I wouldn't be champion without all the people that work for Bobby. I have to thank all our sponsors for their support this year. Without sponsors this wouldn't be possible as well. LifeLong Locks and Lucas Oil have been great companies to be associated with and I cant' thank Larry Wallace enough for the awesome power he has given me this year with these Dodge engines. Sunoco Race Fuels, Allstar Performance, Mastersbilt Racecars, Mopar, Tiger Rear Ends, SHY Suspensions and all my product sponsors have been instrumental in helping me achieve another championship. We run these products not because they sponsor us but because we feel they are the best products on the market today. I want to also thank all the series officials and fellow racers for making 2008 another great season", stated Earl.
Earl and the Bobby Labonte Racing Team would like to thank all their sponsors in 2008 for their support including LifeLong Locks, Lucas Oil, Mastersbilt Race Cars, Larry Wallace Engines, Mopar, Sunoco Race Fuels, Allstar Performance, Tiger Rear End, BERT, Butlerbuilt, Hyperco, SHY, Wilwood, Woodward, TWM, Dyers Top Rods, Weld, Hoosier Tire, PRC, Wrisco, Sparco, Bell, Mechanix Wear, Oakley, Cheerios, Coke, Dunn-Benson Racing Supply, ASI Racewear, WRT Web Designs, The Decal Source, Rick Schwallie Photography and WD Enterprises.
For more information about LifeLong Locks and the strongest locks on the market today, visit www.lifelonglocks.com. To purchase Earl Pearson Jr. merchandise and for more information about Earl Pearson Jr. and the Bobby Labonte Racing Team visit their official website at www.bobbylabontemotorsports.com.
SPEED is available through cable television providers nationwide, DISH Network (Channel 150) and DIRECTV (Channel 607).
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series SPEED Channel Broadcasts:
12/06/08, 3:00pm EST- East Bay, Florida
12/13/08, 3:00pm EST- Golden Isles, Georgia
12/20/08, 3:00pm EST- KC Raceway, Ohio
01/03/09, 7:30pm EST- Wheatland, Missouri
01/10/09, 7:30pm EST- Talladega, Alabama
01/31/09, 7:30pm EST- Columbus, Mississippi
02/14/09, 7:30pm EST- Tri City, Illinois
02/21/09, 7:30pm EST- Florence, Kentucky
02/28/09, 7:30pm EST- Batesville, Arkansas
03/07/09, 7:30pm EST- Bardstown, Kentucky
03/14/09, 7:30pm EST- Brownstown, Indiana
03/28/09, 7:30pm EST- Rome, Georgia
TBD (but after 04/11/09), TBD - 1 Hour Dixie Special
TBD (but after 04/11/09), TBD - 1 Hour Best of Season 2008 Special
Have an opinion on this story? E-MAIL KARNAC to send a letter to the editor!
|