Late Pass Propels Pearson To Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Win At 141 Speedway

Story By: JAMES ESSEX / LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL DIRT SERIES – MARIBEL, WI – Earl Pearson Jr. made the leap into the infield pond on Friday night, a tradition for first-time winners at 141 Speedway.

Pearson, in the Ronnie Stuckey-owned, Lucas Oil Products, Black Diamond Chassis passed race-long leader Bobby Pierce on lap 44 and then sped on to win his second Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event on the season.

Pierce led the first 43 laps of the 50-lap main event until Pearson made his way underneath the 21-year-old driver of the Dunn Benson Ford, Campbell University, Rocket coming off of turn four. Pearson then quickly pulled away to claim his 34th career LOLMDS victory.

Hudson O’Neal’s Todd Burns-owned, Dyno One, Club 29 entry came home in third. Jimmy Mars gave his home state their best finish with a fourth-place run, in his career debut at the 141 Speedway. Darrell Lanigan came from 11th to finish in fifth.

Pierce grabbed the lead at the start of the race and was looking for his third win of the season. Pierce fought off the challenges of the younger O’Neal early on until he started to pull away. After a caution on lap 26, Pierce had to contend with O’Neal and Josh Richards in a side-by-side battle for several circuits. Pearson then began making his move on the leaders as he took second from O’Neal and started to track Pierce down. On several occasions, Pearson pulled to the rear quarter-panel of Pierce’s car but was only able to muscle his way around him with six laps to go.

“We got into lapped traffic and I don’t know if I could have done anything with him [Pierce]. We just rode around the bottom and you had to be patient. You just had to stay on those tires. He [Pierce] is one heck of a race-car driver. To run first and second tonight, this finish is for Carlton Lamm. I have a friend back home who is in pretty bad shape and this one’s for him as well,” said the 46-year-old veteran driver in Lucas Oil Victory Lane.

“I hope the fans saw one heck of a show tonight. It was pretty racy for the first time being here. I think we all learned what to do next time we are here at this track. We just took our time and made all the right moves. All the Dunn-Benson Team does a great job. Whether he won, or I won I know it was for Carlton.”

Pierce commented on his race as well, “We had a good car here tonight. I don’t know what happened, the longer the race went I got looser and looser. That turn three was actually kind of tricky a few times. You had to miss the corner to come off good. I missed it way too much there at the end. Congrats to Earl on the win.”

Hudson O’Neal, who started alongside his father, Don in row two, enjoyed a podium finish. “I was pretty good there early in the race. I stayed there with Bobby for the first 25 laps of the race and then Josh [Richards] got up there and we had a good race. Thanks to my crew for all of the hard-work they have done on this car. To get another podium finish is great for the team.”

Rounding out the top ten were Scott Bloomquist, Josh Richards, Don O’Neal, Cade Dillard, and Jonathan Davenport.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Friday, April 18th, 2018
Spring Shootout
141 Speedway – Maribel, WI

Miller Welders Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Bobby Pierce / 13.040 seconds (overall)
Fast Time Group B: Josh Richards / 13.353 seconds

Eibach Springs Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, All Transfer): Bobby Pierce, Don O’Neal, Earl Pearson, Jr., Jimmy Owens, Scott Bloomquist, Tim McCreadie, Dennis Erb, Jr., Turk Letizia, Gregg Satterlee

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, All Transfer): Mason Zeigler, Josh Richards, Kyle Bronson, Darrell Lanigan, Cade Dillard, Allen Murray, Brent Larson, Joey Moriarty

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, All Transfer): Hudson O’Neal, Jonathan Davenport, Jimmy Mars, Brett Swedberg, Nick Anvelink, Paul Parker, Mitch McGrath, Luke Goedert

Lucas Oil Feature Finish (50 Laps):

FINISH	START	CAR #	DRIVER NAME	HOMETOWN	EARNINGS
1	7	1	Earl Pearson, Jr.	Jacksonville, FL	$12,800
2	1	32	Bobby Pierce	Oakwood, IL	$6,300
3	3	71	Hudson O’Neal	Martinsville, IN	$4,200
4	9	28m	Jimmy Mars	Menomonie, WI	$2,750
5	11	14	Darrell Lanigan	Union, KY	$2,950
6	13	0	Scott Bloomquist	Mooresburg, TN	$2,600
7	5	1R	Josh Richards	Shinnston, WV	$2,500
8	4	5	Don O’Neal	Martinsville, IN	$2,100
9	14	97	Cade Dillard	Robeline, LA	$1,200
10	6	49	Jonathan Davenport	Blairsville, GA	$2,000
11	19	28	Dennis Erb, Jr.	Carpentersville, IL	$1,075
12	16	39	Tim McCreadie	Watertown, NY	$1,750
13	2	25Z	Mason Zeigler ®	Chalk Hill, PA	$1,125
14	10	20	Jimmy Owens	Newport, TN	$1,800
15	8	40B	Kyle Bronson ®	Brandon, FL	$1,700
16	17	2M	Allen Murray	San Antonio, TX	$1,000
17	20	B1	Brent Larson	Lake Elmo, MN	$1,000
18	21	74m	Mitch McGrath	Waukesha, WI	$1,000
19	12	3	Brett Swedberg	Shawano, WI	$1,000
20	25	22	Gregg Satterlee	Indiana, PA	$1,700
21	22	D1	Turk Letizia	Milwaukee, WI	$1,000
22	15	15A	Nick Anvelink	Bonduel, WI	$1,000
23	24	44	Luke Goedert	Guttenberg, IA	$1,000
24	18	10	Paul Parker	DePere, WI	$1,000
25	23	51M	Joey Moriarty	Phoenix, AZ	$1,000