Jimmy Owens Earns Hard-Fought Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Win At Magnolia

Story By: LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL DIRT SERIES – COLUMBUS, MS – Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Point Leader Jimmy Owens won a battle with Josh Richards on Friday Night of the General Tire Clash at the Mag – presented by Big River Steel, at Magnolia Motor Speedway to take his second series win of the season.

Owens yielded the lead to Richards on the 19th lap, but one circuit later he was back in front. He pulled away from Richards to take his 66th career series win.

Richards finished second followed by Tyler Erb, Frank Heckenast Jr., and the Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race, Michael Page in fifth.

Richards started fifth on the grid and vaulted to the second spot on the opening lap behind Owens and battled with Tyler Erb for the runner-up slot. Richards and Erb went back-and-forth, with Richards gaining the advantage with 11 laps scored. Richards began to pull away from Erb and started challenging Owens for the lead soon thereafter, especially after the fourth and final caution of the race with 12 laps complete.

Richards tried several times to get by Owens as the two were using every available line around the 3/8th mile oval. Richards dropped to the inside of Owens coming off turn to take lead as the two Rocket Chassis drivers completed the 19th circuit. Richards slid high in turn one, opening the door for Owens to regain the lead for the final time.

“After they prepped the track tonight before the feature, you didn’t know whether to go high or low. I knew the middle of the track was going to be good. I knew Josh was behind me and he’s got a great car, and also that he would challenge me hard. When he passed me and he scooted up the track, he left me the room I needed to get by,” said the 48-year-old Tennessee native, Jimmy Owens.

Owens said he is ready for the challenge of Saturday Night’s $15,00 to win race. “Tomorrow night’s 100 laps is a long way to go. I don’t know what we are going to get with the track. They are doing a great job prepping it. We don’t know where to run and that makes it tough if you’re running out front. Hats off to the track prep crew and hats off to the fans for sticking this one out.”

Richards; like Owens; was seeking his second series win of the year and was pleased with his second place run in the Clint Bowyer Racing-owned car. “When I got the lead on Jimmy, I should have rolled the middle in one and two but got too far up the track and left him too much room. Jimmy’s been great this year, congrats to him and his team on the win. It was good for us to start in the back last night. I could maneuver and really see what the car could do when the track gets slower. I am sure they are really going to work the track good tomorrow and we are going to have a good race.”

Erb came home third for his second straight top-five performance. “Jimmy had the best car tonight. I thought the top was going to be better. The track was really racy for a long-time time, but those two got away from me. I was just trying to hang on for third. It should set us up for tomorrow night with a good starting position.”

The winner’s Ramirez Motorsports Rocket Chassis Is powered by a Vic Hill Racing Engine and sponsored by Reece Monument Company, Tommy Pope Construction, Boomtest Well Service, General Tire, Red Line Oil, Ohlins Shocks, and Champion Spark Plugs.

Completing the top ten were Shane Clanton, Tim McCreadie, Devin Moran, Jonathan Davenport, and Bobby Pierce.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
General Tire Clash at the Mag – presented by Big River Steel
Friday, June 19th, 2020
Magnolia Motor Speedway – Columbus, MS

Lucas Oil Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Jimmy Owens / 14.994 seconds (overall)
Fast Time Group B: Tyler Erb / 15.110 seconds

Penske Race Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 20-Jimmy Owens[1]; 2. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[2]; 3. 86-Kyle Beard[3]; 4. 50-Shanon Buckingham[4]; 5. 1-Earl Pearson Jr[6]; 6. 11J-Drew Armstrong[5]; 7. 1ST-Johnny Scott[8]; 8. 1BJ-BJ Robinson[7]; 9. 92M-Chad Mallett[9]

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 21B-Chris Brown[2]; 2. 9-Devin Moran[1]; 3. 49-Jonathan Davenport[5]; 4. 10J-Joseph Joiner[3]; 5. C8-Timothy Culp[4]; 6. 111-Steven Roberts[7]; 7. 36-Logan Martin[6]; 8. 1C-Chad Thrash[8]; 9. (DNS) R5-Hunter Rasdon

Simpson Race Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 14-Josh Richards[1]; 2. 33-Scott Dedwylder[2]; 3. 18X-Michael Page[4]; 4. 1G-Devin Gilpin[5]; 5. 6R-Robbie Stuart[3]; 6. G4-Shelby Sheedy[7]; 7. 86R-Rick Rickman[8]; 8. 25M-Justin Mcree[6]

Ohlins Shocks Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 1T-Tyler Erb[1]; 2. 25-Shane Clanton[4]; 3. 4M-Michael Arnold[2]; 4. 21XXX-Neil Baggett[5]; 5. 33C-Eric Cooley[6]; 6. 16-Tyler Bruening[3]; 7. 54-David Breazeale[7]; 8. 7D-David Payne[9]; 9. 48-Jamie Elam[8]

General Tire Heat Race #5 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 21M-Billy Moyer Sr[1]; 2. 39-Tim McCreadie[3]; 3. 14M-Morgan Bagley[5]; 4. 2S-Stormy Scott[6]; 5. 32-Bobby Pierce[7]; 6. 1B-Ross Bailes[2]; 7. 84-Austin Smith[4]; 8. 14G-Joe Godsey[8]; 9. (DNS) 00-Jesse Stovall

Big River Steel Heat Race #6 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 11H-Spencer Hughes[1]; 2. 86B-Brian Rickman[2]; 3. 40B-Kyle Bronson[6]; 4. 212-Josh Putnam[3]; 5. 21-Billy Moyer Jr[7]; 6. 81E-Tanner English[5]; 7. 71-Hudson O’Neal[4]; 8. 31-Nick Thrash[8]

Tiger Rear Ends B-Main #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 10J-Joseph Joiner[2]; 2. 11J-Drew Armstrong[5]; 3. 50-Shanon Buckingham[1]; 4. 1-Earl Pearson Jr[3]; 5. 1ST-Johnny Scott[7]; 6. 111-Steven Roberts[6]; 7. C8-Timothy Culp[4]; 8. 36-Logan Martin[8]; 9. 1BJ-BJ Robinson[9]; 10. 92M-Chad Mallett[11]; 11. (DNS) 1C-Chad Thrash; 12. (DNS) R5-Hunter Rasdon

FAST Shafts B-Main #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 1G-Devin Gilpin[1]; 2. 21XXX-Neil Baggett[2]; 3. 16-Tyler Bruening[6]; 4. 86R-Rick Rickman[7]; 5. 6R-Robbie Stuart[3]; 6. 25M-Justin Mcree[9]; 7. 33C-Eric Cooley[4]; 8. G4-Shelby Sheedy[5]; 9. 7D-David Payne[10]; 10. 48-Jamie Elam[11]; 11. (DNS) 54-David Breazeale

Arizona Sport Shirts B-Main #3 Finish (12 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 32-Bobby Pierce[3]; 2. 21-Billy Moyer Jr[4]; 3. 84-Austin Smith[7]; 4. 2S-Stormy Scott[1]; 5. 71-Hudson O’Neal[8]; 6. 81E-Tanner English[6]; 7. 14G-Joe Godsey[9]; 8. 31-Nick Thrash[10]; 9. 212-Josh Putnam[2]; 10. 1B-Ross Bailes[5]; 11. (DNS) 00-Jesse Stovall

Lucas Oil Feature Finish (25 Laps):

Lucas Oil Feature Finish (25 Laps):
Pos
Start
Car #
Competitor
Hometown
Pay
1
1
20
Jimmy Owens
Newport, TN
$5,000
2
5
14
Josh Richards
Shinnston, WV
$3,000
3
2
1T
Tyler Erb
New Waverly, TX
$2,000
4
7
99JR
Frank Heckenast Jr
Frankfort, IL
$1,500
5
17
18X
Michael Page
Winston, GA
$1,250
6
8
25
Shane Clanton
Zebulon, GA
$1,000
7
10
39
Tim McCreadie
Watertown, NY
$950
8
9
9
Devin Moran
Dresden, OH
$900
9
15
49
Jonathan Davenport
Blairsville, GA
$850
10
21
32
Bobby Pierce
Oakwood, IL
$800
11
4
21M
Billy Moyer Sr
Batesville, AR
$700
12
18
40B
Kyle Bronson
Brandon, FL
$600
13
19
10J
Joseph Joiner
Milton, FL
$600
14
12
86B
Brian Rickman
Columbus, MS
$600
15
3
21B
Chris Brown
Spring, TX
$600
16
6
11H
Spencer Hughes
Meridian, MS
$600
17
22
11J
Drew Armstrong
Alexander, AR
$550
18
13
86
Kyle Beard
Trumann, AR
$500
19
23
21XXX
Neil Baggett
Columbus, MS
$500
20
16
14M
Morgan Bagley
Gladewater, TX
$500
21
24
21
Billy Moyer Jr
Batesville, AR
$500
22
20
1G
Devin Gilpin
Columbus, IN
$500
23
14
4M
Michael Arnold
Hattiesburg, MS
$500
24
11
33
Scott Dedwylder
Vossburg, MS
$500
Race Statistics
Entrants
: 52
Lap Leaders: Jimmy Owens (Laps 1 – 18); Josh Richards (Lap 19); Jimmy Owens (Laps 20 – 25)
Wrisco Feature Winner: Jimmy Owens
Margin of Victory: 1.021 seconds
Cautions: Morgan Bagley (Lap 4); Scott Dedwylder, Michael Arnold (Lap 5); Brian Rickman (Lap 10); Devin Gilpin (Lap 12)
Series Provisionals: n/a
Fast Time Provisional: n/a
Series Emergency Provisionals: n/a
Big River Steel Podium Top 3: Jimmy Owens, Josh Richards, Tyler Erb
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race
: Michael Page (Advanced 12 Positions)
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Jimmy Owens
Allstar Performance Most Laps Led: Jimmy Owens (24 Laps)
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Jimmy Owens
Eibach Springs Rookie of the Race: n/a
ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Vic Hill Racing Engines
Miller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Rocket Chassis
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Jeff Strope (Jimmy Owens)
Dirty Girl Racewear Fastest Lap of the Race: Tyler Erb (Lap #3 – 15.2740 seconds)
STEEL-IT Tough Break of the Race: Morgan Bagley
PFC Brakes Pole Award: Jimmy Owens
Time of Race: 17 minutes 28 secondsGeneral Tire Clash at the Mag – presented by Big River Steel Point Standings and Tie Breakers:

Rank
#
Competitor
Points
High Pt
Feature
Finish
Time
1
20
Jimmy Owens
500
260
A
13.273
2
1T
Tyler Erb
435
230
A
13.592
3
32
Bobby Pierce
430
250
A
13.961
4
14
Josh Richards
410
230
A
2
14.430
5
25
Shane Clanton
410
210
A
4
13.624
6
39
Tim McCreadie
390
195
A
13.760
7
21M
Billy Moyer Sr
375
200
A
13.702
8
18X
Michael Page
350
205
A
14.378
9
49
Jonathan Davenport
345
185
A
13.669
10
40B
Kyle Bronson
340
170
A
13.626
11
99JR
Frank Heckenast Jr
330
210
A
4
13.532
12
10J
Joseph Joiner
330
165
A
13
13.639
13
9
Devin Moran
315
190
A
13.482
14
90
Neil Baggett
310
175
A
14.060
15
1B
Ross Bailes
305
220
A
3
13.834
16
11H
Spencer Hughes
305
155
A
15
13.939
17
71
Hudson O’Neal
295
185
A
13.979
18
C8
Timothy Culp
290
190
A
13.922
19
11J
Drew Armstrong
285
145
A
13.869
20
50
Shanon Buckingham
270
150
A
14.283
21
4M
Michael Arnold
260
135
A
13.400
22
86B
Brian Rickman
255
160
A
14
13.708
23
21B
Chris Brown
255
155
A
15
14.063
24
21
Billy Moyer Jr
255
130
A
20
13.880
25
33
Scott Dedwylder
250
125
A
14.305
26
86R
Rick Rickman
240
125
A
24
13.474
27
16
Tyler Bruening
240
120
B
3
14.146
28
86
Kyle Beard
235
140
A
18
13.640
29
14M
Morgan Bagley
235
130
A
20
13.901
30
1ST
Johnny Scott
235
125
A
22
13.684
31
1G
Devin Gilpin
230
125
A
22
14.004
32
84
Austin Smith
230
120
B
5
13.763
33
81E
Tanner English
225
120
B
14.169
34
2S
Stormy Scott
220
115
B
14.074
35
1
Earl Pearson Jr
215
115
B
13.994
36
212
Josh Putnam
205
115
B
14.193
37
111
Steven Roberts
195
105
B
6
14.283
38
33C
Eric Cooley
195
100
B
7
14.059
39
36
Logan Martin
195
100
B
8
14.208
40
14G
Joe Godsey
190
100
B
14.436
41
6R
Robbie Stuart
185
110
B
12
14.781
42
31
Nick Thrash
185
95
B
9
14.075
43
G4
Shelby Sheedy
180
95
B
14.504
44
7D
David Payne
175
90
B
14.815
45
R5
Hunter Rasdon
170
120
B
3
13.985
46
1BJ
BJ Robinson
170
90
B
11
14.044
47
92M
Chad Mallett
170
85
B
10
14.467
48
1C
Chad Thrash
165
115
B
4
13.750
49
0
Jesse Stovall
165
115
B
4
14.149
50
48
Jamie Elam
165
85
B
10
14.604
51
54
David Breazeale
160
110
B
14.218
52
25M
Justin Mcree
155
105
B
14.454
53
34
Doug Sanchagrin
80
80
B
13.920
54
3
Luke Bennett
50
50
B
12
14.230
55
Z6
Zach Combs
50
50
B
13
59.800
Saturday Tiger Rear Ends B-Main #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 2 Transfer):
Row
Inside
Outside
1
11J
Drew Armstrong – Alexander, AR
4M
Michael Arnold – Hattiesburg, MS
2
21B
Chris Brown – Spring, TX
33
Scott Dedwylder – Vossburg, MS
3
16
Tyler Bruening – Decorah, IA
14M
Morgan Bagley – Gladewater, TX
4
1G
Devin Gilpin – Columbus, IN
81E
Tanner English – Benton, KY
5
1
Earl Pearson Jr – Jacksonville, FL
111
Steven Roberts – Sylvester, GA
6
36
Logan Martin – West Plains, MO
6R
Robbie Stuart – Deridder, LA
7
G4
Shelby Sheedy – French Camp, MS
R5
Hunter Rasdon – Jonesboro, AR
8
92M
Chad Mallett – Greenbrier, AR
00
Jesse Stovall – Billings, MO
9
54
David Breazeale – Four Corners, MS
34
Doug Sanchagrin – Florence, MS

Saturday FAST Shafts B-Main #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 2 Transfer):

Row
Inside
Outside
1
50
Shanon Buckingham – Morristown, TN
86B
Brian Rickman – Columbus, MS
2
21
Billy Moyer Jr – Batesville, AR
86R
Rick Rickman – Columbus, MS
3
86
Kyle Beard – Trumann, AR
1ST
Johnny Scott – Las Cruces, NM
4
84
Austin Smith – Rome, GA
2S
Stormy Scott – Las Cruces, NM
5
212
Josh Putnam – Florence, AL
33C
Eric Cooley – Fulton, MS
6
14G
Joe Godsey – Edinburgh, IN
31
Nick Thrash – Meridian, MS
7
7D
David Payne – Cabot, AR
1BJ
BJ Robinson – Bossier City, LA
8
1C
Chad Thrash – Meridian, MS
48
Jamie Elam – Senatobia, MS
9
25M
Justin Mcree – Tuscaloosa, AL
3
Luke Bennett – Ethel, LA

Saturday General Tire Clash at the Mag – presented by Big River Steel A-Main Line Up (100 Laps):

Row
Inside
Outside
1
20
Jimmy Owens – Newport, TN
1T
Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX
2
32
Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL
14
Josh Richards – Shinnston, WV
3
25
Shane Clanton – Zebulon, GA
39
Tim McCreadie – Watertown, NY
4
21M
Billy Moyer Sr – Batesville, AR
18X
Michael Page – Winston, GA
5
49
Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA
40B
Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL
6
99JR
Frank Heckenast Jr – Frankfort, IL
10J
Joseph Joiner – Milton, FL
7
9
Devin Moran – Dresden, OH
90
Neil Baggett – Columbus, MS
8
1B
Ross Bailes – Clover, SC
11H
Spencer Hughes – Meridian, MS
9
71
Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN
C8
Timothy Culp – Prattsville, AR