[Downtown10]

PORTSMOUTH, OH (October 20, 2012) – Jimmy Owens put an exclamation point on the final race of the season for the series by winning the $50,000 to win 32nd Red Buck Dirt Track World Championship presented by Borrowed Blue on Saturday Night at Portsmouth (OH) Raceway Park. Owens came into the crown jewel event already having clinched the 2012 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series title.


Owens took the lead on lap two from defending DTWC winner, Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN and led the rest of the way to become the 23rd different driver to capture one of the sport’s most prestigious events. Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN came home second, followed by O’Neal, Josh Richards of Shinnston, WV, and local driver Ben Adkins of West Portsmouth, OH.


“I don’t know what to say, putting my name on that trophy with all the great drivers that have won this race, means a lot to me and my crew. I have to thank my car owner, Mike Reece, we got together in 2007 and it’s been a tremendous relationship since,” said the 40-year-old. “I have to thank my crew we went with the right tire choice, the Cornett Engine ran strong and our goal was to win this race one day and we got it done.”


O’Neal, who was looking to become the first back-to-back winner of the race, charged to the lead at the start. O’Neal’s stay at the top was short-lived as Owens, got by O’Neal him on lap 2. O’Neal continued in the second position behind Owens until lap 13 when Bloomquist wrestled the position away from him.


Owens’ seventh Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the year came aboard the Reece Monument Company, Gantte Appraisals, Red Line Oil, Midwest Sheet Metal, Sunoco Race Fuels, C&C Trucking, Hoosier Tires, Keyser, and Ohlins sponsored Bloomquist Race Cars Ford.


Owens led the field through heavy traffic on several occasions, but timely cautions allowed a clear track in front of him on the restarts. Bloomquist tried to track down Owens in the final laps, but could never get closer than two car lengths.


“Jimmy ran a good race, congrats to him. Don has had a great year as well, it just tells you the strength of this series,” said Bloomquist a 2-time series champion. “We went with a harder left rear tire than anybody, but we just couldn’t get up to challenge Jimmy.”


O’Neal caught Owens and Bloomquist in the late stages of the race, but settled for third. “Jimmy did a great job, I thought maybe I could get by Scott, but neither one of them slipped out of the groove, our car was just too loose, but we finished the season strong.”


Completing the ten were Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL; 24th starting, Steve Francis of Ashland, KY; R.J. Conley of Wheelersburg, OH; Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, WV; and Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN. In preliminary action, Scott Bloomquist set the RedBuck Fast Time amongst the 94 entrants, with a lap of 14.735 seconds. Jimmy Owens set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 15.342 seconds. Scott Bloomquist, Don O’Neal, Dale McDowell, Jimmy Owens, RJ Conley, and Chub Frank won their respective Heat Races. Mike Marlar, Jackie Boggs, and Delmas Conley won their respective B-Mains.


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