Richards Wins Dirt Track World Championship; Clinches First Lucas Oil LM Dirt Series Title
Story By: JAMES ESSEX / LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL DIRT SERIES – PORTSMOUTH, OH – Josh Richards completed a dream night at Portsmouth Raceway Park on Saturday night. The West Virginia native won his first-career Rhino Ag Dirt Track World Championship – Presented by Optima Batteries, worth $100,000, and the 2017 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Championship, worth $75,000.
Race Summary
Saturday, October 21st, 2017
RhinoAg Dirt Track World Championship – presented by Optima Batteries
Portsmouth Raceway Park – Portsmouth, OHEibach Springs Heat Race #1 – ROUND ONE Finish: Hudson O’Neal, Jonathan Davenport, Kyle Bronson, Josh Bocook, Lee Logan, Mark Frazier, Jared Miley, Byron Meeks, Ronnie Whitt
FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 – ROUND ONE Finish: Scott Bloomquist, Dennis Erb, Jr., Gregg Satterlee, Eric Wells, Tyler Erb, Colton Flinner, Jason Montgomery , RJ Conley, Corey Conley
Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 – ROUND ONE Finish: Jackie Boggs, Devin Gilpin, Ben Adkins, Doug Drown, Zack Dohm, Kyle Hardy, Kirk Phillips, Jeff Arnold, Clint Keenan
QA1 Heat Race #4 – ROUND ONE Finish: Don O’Neal, Earl Pearson, Jr., Brandon Overton, Rod Conley, Jason Feger, Jason Jameson, Chris Hackett, Stephen Breeding, Brandon Fouts
ASi Racewear Heat #5 – ROUND ONE Finish: Jared Hawkins, Jimmy Owens, Chub Frank, Steve Francis, Audie Swartz, Billy Staker, Shane Hitt, Billy Gullion, Frank Heckenast, Jr.
DirtOnDirt.com Heat #6 – ROUND ONE Finish: Tim McCreadie, Michael Brown, Mike Marlar, Tyler Carpenter, Darrell Lanigan, Robbie Scott, Dale McDowell, Larry Holbrook, Steve Stollings
Rhino Ag Heat #7 – ROUND ONE Finish: Brandon Sheppard, Josh Richards, Mason Zeigler, Chris Ferguson, Devin Moran, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Mike Benedum, Dave Hornikel, Jason Perry
Optima Batteries Heat #8 – ROUND ONE Finish: Delmas Conley, Jason Covert, Steve Casebolt , Boom Briggs, Tim Dohm , Shannon Thornsberry, Kevin Wagner, Charlie Jude, Craig Wolford
Eibach Springs Heat Race #1 – ROUND TWO Finish: Eddie Carrier, Jr., Earl Pearson, Jr., Brandon Sheppard, Scott Bloomquist, Jared Hawkins, Ben Adkins, Craig Wolford, Steve Stollings, Ronnie Whitt
FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 – ROUND TWO Finish: Dale McDowell, Jason Perry, Shannon Thornsberry, Jason Montgomery , Jason Feger, Michael Brown, Kirk Phillips, Byron Meeks, Frank Heckenast, Jr.
Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 – ROUND TWO Finish: Jimmy Owens, Steve Casebolt , Tyler Carpenter, Jared Miley, Jason Jameson, Colton Flinner, Jeff Arnold, Dave Hornikel, Billy Gullion
QA1 Heat Race #4 – ROUND TWO Finish: Rod Conley, Josh Richards, Boom Briggs, Don O’Neal, Kyle Bronson, Jackie Boggs, RJ Conley, Audie Swartz, Darrell Lanigan
ASi Racewear Heat #5 – ROUND TWO Finish: Doug Drown, Mike Marlar, Chris Ferguson, Gregg Satterlee, Devin Gilpin, Chris Hackett, Billy Staker, Kevin Wagner, Lee Logan
DirtOnDirt.com Heat #6 – ROUND TWO Finish: Zack Dohm, Brandon Overton, Steve Francis, Devin Moran, Tyler Erb, Hudson O’Neal, Dennis Erb, Jr., Jason Covert, Robbie Scott
Rhino Ag Heat #7 – ROUND TWO Finish: Jonathan Davenport, Brandon Fouts, Chub Frank, Tim McCreadie, Josh Bocook, Delmas Conley, Eric Wells, Mike Benedum, Kyle Hardy, Optima Batteries
Heat #8 – ROUND TWO Finish: Tim Dohm , Mark Frazier, Shane Hitt, Clint Keenan, Stephen Breeding, Larry Holbrook, Charlie Jude, Mason Zeigler, Corey Conley
Penske Racing Shocks B-Main #1 Finish (Top 2 Transfer): Tim Dohm, Tyler Carpenter, Kyle Bronson, Devin Moran, Delmas Conley, Kyle Hardy, Steve Stollings, Chris Hackett, Craig Wolford, Clint Keenan, Kirk Phillips, Jared Miley, Jason Jameson, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Josh Bocook, Robbie Scott, Shane Hitt, Jason Perry, Frank Heckenast, Jr.
Fast Shafts B-Main #2 Finish (Top 2 Transfer): Chris Ferguson, Dennis Erb, Jr., Jason Covert, Dale McDowell, Boom Briggs, Tyler Erb, Jason Feger, Dave Hornikel, Audie Swartz, Hudson O’Neal, Gregg Satterlee, Billy Staker, Darrell Lanigan, Jason Montgomery , Larry Holbrook, Jeff Arnold, Mike Benedum-DNS, Billy Gullion-DNS, Corey Conley-DNS
Sunoco B-Main #3 Finish (Top 2 Transfer): Devin Gilpin, Eric Wells, Jackie Boggs, Steve Francis, RJ Conley, Mark Frazier, Michael Brown, Lee Logan, Colton Flinner, Kevin Wagner, Byron Meeks, Brandon Fouts, Charlie Jude, Mason Zeigler, Shannon Thornsberry, Ronnie Whitt, Ben Adkins-DNS, Stephen Breeding-DNS
Non-Qualifiers Race Finish: Jackie Boggs, Jason Covert, Mason Zeigler, Boom Briggs, RJ Conley, Kyle Bronson, Kyle Hardy, Jason Feger, Michael Brown, Kirk Phillips, Mark Frazier, Tyler Erb, Chris Hackett, Craig Wolford, Colton Flinner, Jason Jameson, Dale McDowell, Byron Meeks, Dave Hornikel, Audie Swartz, Steve Stollings, Clint Keenan, Larry Holbrook, Lee Logan
Feature Finish (100 Laps):
FINISH | START | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN | EARNINGS |
1 | 5 | 1R | Josh Richards | Shinnston, WV | $100,800 |
2 | 4 | 1S | Brandon Sheppard | New Berlin, IL | $20,000 |
3 | 1 | F1 | Jonathan Davenport | Williamston, SC | $10,000 |
4 | 9 | 157 | Mike Marlar | Winfield, TN | $7,000 |
5 | 14 | 11H | Jared Hawkins | Fairmont, WV | $5,000 |
6 | 15 | 17D | Zack Dohm | Cross Lanes, WV | $3,500 |
7 | 16 | 1* | Chub Frank | Bear Lake, PA | $3,200 |
8 | 11 | 116 | Brandon Overton | Evans, GA | $3,000 |
9 | 23 | 14 | Darrell Lanigan | Union, KY | $3,500 |
10 | 21 | 26 | Dennis Erb, Jr. | Carpentersville, IL | $3,200 |
11 | 20 | 28C | Tyler Carpenter | Parkersburg, WV | $2,450 |
12 | 6 | 18 | Scott Bloomquist | Mooresburg, TN | $3,400 |
13 | 10 | 71R | Rod Conley | Wheelersburg, OH | $2,350 |
14 | 24 | 71HU | Hudson O’Neal ® | Martinsville, IN | $3,100 |
15 | 28 | B1 | Josh Bocook | Wheelersburg, OH | $2,250 |
16 | 22 | 18E | Eric Wells | Hazard, KY | $2,200 |
17 | 8 | 39 | Tim McCreadie | Watertown, NY | $2,950 |
18 | 27 | 81F | Brandon Fouts | Kite, KY | $2,100 |
19 | 18 | 22F | Chris Ferguson | Mount Holly, NC | $2,075 |
20 | 7 | 71 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | $2,860 |
21 | 13 | C9 | Steve Casebolt | Richmond, IN | $2,050 |
22 | 2 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN | $2,840 |
23 | 3 | 28 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | Jacksonville, FL | $2,830 |
24 | 17 | 6T | Tim Dohm | Cross Lanes, WV | $2,020 |
25 | 26 | 15 | Steve Francis | Bowling Green, KY | $810 |
26 | 25 | 22 | Gregg Satterlee ® | Rochester Mills, PA | $800 |
27 | 19 | 1G | Devin Gilpin | Columbus, IN | $2,000 |
28 | 12 | 240 | Doug Drown | Wooster, OH | $2,000 |
29 | 29 | 4B | Jackie Boggs | Grayson, KY | $2,000 |
Entrants: 67
Lap Leaders: Jonathan Davenport (Laps 1 – 34); Brandon Sheppard (Laps 35 – 46); Josh Richards (Laps 47 – 100)
Cautions: Gregg Satterlee (Lap 12); Hudson O’Neal, Brandon Fouts (Lap 16); Devin Gilpin, Jackie Boggs, Hudson O’Neal, Tim McCreadie, Brandon Overton (Lap 16); Gregg Satterlee (Lap 18); Jimmy Owens, Gregg Satterlee (Lap 40); Jimmy Owens (Lap 42); Tim Dohm (Lap 45); Earl Pearson Jr. (Lap 46); Jimmy Owens (Lap 53); Tyler Carpenter (Lap 67); Chris Ferguson (Lap 83); Scott Bloomquist (Lap 92); Tim McCreadie (Lap 92)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Darrell Lanigan, Hudson O’Neal
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: Gregg Satterlee, Steve Francis
Wrisco Feature Winner: Josh Richards
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Darrell Lanigan (Started: 23rd; Finished: 9th; Advanced 14 Positions)
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Tim McCreadie
Allstar Performance Power Move of the Race: Mike Marlar
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Josh Richards
Hot Rod Processing Rookie of the Race: Hudson O’Neal
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Durham Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Rocket Chassis
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Randall Edwards (Josh Richards)
Fastest Lap of the Race: Jonathan Davenport (Lap #31 – 15.3499 seconds)
Safecraft Most Laps Led: Josh Richards (54 Laps)
PFC Brakes Pole Award: Jonathan Davenport
Time of Race: 79 minutes 28 seconds
Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:
POS | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN | POINTS | EARNINGS |
1 | 1R | Josh Richards | Shinnston, WV | 8345 | $321,050 |
2 | 39 | Tim McCreadie | Watertown, NY | 8280 | $286,550 |
3 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | Mooresburg, TN | 8230 | $268,925 |
4 | 5 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | 7675 | $165,935 |
5 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN | 7665 | $169,365 |
6 | 14 | Darrell Lanigan | Union, KY | 7495 | $138,950 |
7 | 1 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | Jacksonville, FL | 7400 | $141,145 |
8 | 28e | Dennis Erb, Jr. | Carpentersville, IL | 6985 | $108,100 |
9 | 71 | Hudson O’Neal ® | Martinsville, IN | 6915 | $104,310 |
10 | 22 | Gregg Satterlee ® | Rochester Mills, PA | 6795 | $123,835 |
11 | 15 | Steve Francis | Bowling Green, KY | 6610 | $86,640 |
12 | 99B | Boom Briggs ® | Bear Lake, PA | 5910 | $68,100 |