KEARNS TAKES OVER OPERATION OF WESTERN ALL STARS SUPER DIRT LATE MODEL SERIES

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (September 13) - The Western AllStars Super Late Models closed out a wildly successful inaugural season last week at Bakersfield Speedway and fresh off the $28,000 season finale, series officials are already looking towards the 2007 campaign.

Race Director Chris Kearns, of Santa Maria, Calif. has acquired the first year late model series from founders Steve Drake, Eric Jacobsen, Dick Shepherd and Bill Bartels, and immediately has begun building the framework for the 2007 season. Building off the 10 events that kicked off the series in 2006, Kearns plans to deliver west coast dirt late model racing to the next level with the first priority of moving the series to new venues, bigger events and a championship chase.

Kearns, a Santa Maria businessman and part-time racer, was hired as series director in early 2006 and was instrumental in organizing popular events such as the 1st Annual Gary Jacob Memorial in July that paid $5,000 to win and drew support from 55 of the best late model drivers on the west coast. The event was a tribute to honor the western United States premier motorsports writer who passed away in late June.

"I have always thought we could get West Coast Dirt Late Model Racing on the same page with back east and now is my chance to prove it. Pressure is on." Kearns said. "My goal is 20 races next year with 16 centrally located points races and 4 special events at some Race tracks out of the area."

With the huge support of sponsors Fastundercar and Victory Circle Chassis and Race Cars, the Western AllStars has a solid foundation to built upon for the upcoming season and the new series owner is looking to secure more participation for the series from local and national sponsors.

Kearns continued, "The support of Victory Circle Chassis and Fast Undercar will help me get next year started but I am really going to hustle sponsorship to make next year as big as I make it. We already have some big things planned for next year."

Victory Circle's Marc Lundgren commented, "I feel that Chris taking over is just what the WAS needs to go to the next level. He has the time and the passion that I am looking for as a sponsor to do what is best for the WAS and my company."

Series sponsors have been pleased with the success of the series this year at Bakersfield Speedway and look forward to a bigger and better campaign in the coming season. Victory Circle Chassis gave away a chassis to 2006 AllStars fulltime racer Jeffrey Priddy and plans to reward the 2007 field of competitors a chance at a complete Victory Circle dirt late model race car.

Doc Lehman Recovering From Open Heart Surgery

By Jarrod Lehman

Smithville, OH --- Doc Lehman, president of Lehman Motorsports Services, a Motorsports marketing & public relations company founded in 1985, is well on his way to recovery after experiencing a massive heart attack and subsequent heart surgery that necessitated in five-bypasses. Lehman, who was stricken on July 22, is now at home recovering after being hospitalized in the cardiac care unit at Canton (OH) Aultman Hospital for eight days. The immediate needs of LMS’ clients is being handled by LMS staff members Jarrod Lehman and Ryan Pearson as well as Atlanta, GA-based Farr Motorsports president Mike Farr until Lehman is ready to reassume his many various duties.

“The surgeons and cardiologists of course want Doc to stay off work for a month or two but he will have none of that,” stated Jarrod Lehman, who is his son and long time staff member. “Whatever time frames they have given him he has made up his mind to accomplish in half the time. The first day he was home he was already walking upwards of a couple miles per day to get into shape. He refuses to consider himself sick or as a ‘patient’. While he isn’t working on Motorsports things, per se, he is directing the rest of us and concentrating on his health issues and his progress has been nothing short of remarkable after being on the verge of death less than two weeks ago,”

“He is tenacious, to say the least. He’s been through a lot, medically, and surgically, but by his attitude you would never know it. He just wants to get back to 110% as soon as possible and get back to taking care of his clients and the racing publications and radio shows. He has taken advantage of this time off though to spend considerable extra time with his three grandsons, which he is enjoying and relishing.”

Over the next two weeks Lehman hopes to start to slip back into active work-mode and within a month hopes to be at full capacity. “Dad, who smoked for 37 years and was darn near a smoker’s advocate, is now strictly anti-smoking,” added Jarrod Lehman. “He hates it, and he’s on a crusade to eradicate it. Don’t think about lighting up in his office or home! He feels his Higher Power has given him a second chance, well, third chance as this was his third heart attack, and he isn’t about to squander it.”

Lehman is a reporter & columnist for Area Auto Racing News, Dirt Late Model magazine and RPM Racing News. He is also a co-host of Dirt Racers Radio and is a local/regional freelance writer for various mainstream publications. In addition, LMS clients include the Dirt Track World Championship, Wayne County Speedway, Chub Frank Racing, Genesis Racing Shocks, Josh Richards, Doug Drown Racing and others.

Next weekend Lehman will be honored with others during the Class of 2006 Induction Ceremonies for the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame that will be held in conjunction with the dirt Late Model ‘crown jewel’ race, the North-South 100 that will pay $50,000 to win at Florence Speedway in Florence, KY. Lehman will be inducted into the ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Sport’ category on Saturday August 12 for his 33 years of work in dirt Motorsports racing in various capacities.


For more information on Lehman Motorsports Services email: DocLehman@sssnet.com
 

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Sees Wall to Wall Excitement at Columbus Speedway

COLUMBUS, MS--The "Intimagator" Chris Wall of Holden, LA scored his first ever Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win on Saturday Night at the Columbus (MS) Speedway as the 38 year old racer took the lead on third lap of the 50 lap Cliburn Tank Lines 8th Annual James Nickoles Memorial Race presented by the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau and then withstood several caution flags to become the 12th different winner on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Tour in '06 as he led the remainder of the race.

Wall earned $10,000 for the victory in front of one of the largest crowds in the history of the Johnny Stokes promoted facility. Wall drove his Xtreme Graphics/Stuckey Enterprises/C&M Gator Farm/Gator Trax Boats/GVS Racing/Eagle Motorsports/American Racer Tires/Wall2Wall Performance Engines/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo to his 18th overall win this season. Mike Boland of Cuba, AL also put up an exceptional effort running right with Wall for the entire race as he came home in second in his Boland Performance/Jay Dickens Racing Engines/Rocket GTO with 15th starting Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN passing Earl Pearson, Jr. on the final lap to finish third in his Miller Brothers Coal/Vic Hill Racing Engines/Bloomquist Race Cars Chevrolet as Pearson finished fourth in the Lucas Oil Products/Larry Wallace Racing Engines/MasterSbilt Ford Taurus. Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN who started 17th on the grid wound up fifth in the Dargie Race Engines/Rocket Ford Taurus. A total of 58 cars were on hand for the event which was also a points race for the Mississippi State Championship Challenge Series.

Fellow Alabama drivers Mike Boland and Ronny Lee Hollingsworth would draw the front row from the six heat race winners but it was Kentucky's Brad Neat who would sprint from his third place starting spot to nab the lead as the first lap was being scored. Disaster however would strike Neat on the second go round as he spun coming off of turn number two and came to a halt bringing out the caution flag. With Neat relegated to the tail Boland would inherit the lead with Wall, Don O'Neal, Earl Pearson, Jr. and Donnie Moran your top five at this point. On the restart Wall who started fifth would take the lead from Boland as the pace up front and throughout the field was fast and furious around "The Baddest Bullring in the South."

Moran would make a charge taking over third on the fourth circuit with Scott James coming to fourth place. On the sixth lap James and O'Neal would make contact as both drivers would eventually go pit side following their lap six skirmish. On the restart a four car wreck would again slow the action with Wall still holding the point. As the race progressed to green flag action with ten laps in the books it was Wall showing the way with Pearson back in the thick of things taking the runner-up slot just ahead of Boland, Moran and Matt Miller.

A caution for debris on lap 12 would again halt the action as Boland would get the advantage over Pearson for second on a lap 13 restart. The race for the lead was extremely exciting as Wall, Boland and Pearson were putting on a show for the huge crowd on hand. Boland and Pearson would run side by side for not only this portion of the race but for most of the half as well. At the halfway mark Wall was still in command with Boland and Pearson in tow. Billy Moyer who had slipped from fourth to 11th in the early running order was now getting it going as he was headed to the front moving into the fourth slot by lap 24 with Scott Bloomquist the previous night's winner at North Alabama hot on his heels.

With 20 laps to go Wall would maintain a two car length lead over Boland and Pearson. With Boland and Pearson dueling it out side by side and Moyer and Bloomquist going door to door there was action all over the track. A caution on lap 36 for Eddie Rickman would slow the field for the next to last time. A total of four good green flags would then get scored until the final caution for debris on the track would see the yellow wave for the last time on lap 40.

With ten laps to go Wall would again see Boland and Pearson right behind him on the double file restart. A car who really showed strength as the laps wound down was Steve Casebolt. Casebolt who started 17th was hanging tough with Moyer and Bloomquist as he would pass Bloomquist and then Moyer for fourth. With five laps to go Wall was still only one to two car lengths at the most ahead of Boland and Pearson. Boland and Pearson would swap second place lap after lap with Boland scored in second with nine laps to go. The two would still go side by side with Pearson on the low groove and Boland riding the rim of the track.

With the five to go signal given it was finally showtime for Boland and Pearson as the question remained could they eventually pass Wall in the closing laps. Boland would shoot off the corners charging to the outside of the middle groove running Wall with Pearson showing his talents on the hub. With the white flag Boland and Pearson would once more give it their all but Wall was just too tough as he would hold on and cross the finish line first for his initial Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory in front of a cheering crowd. Boland who drove a great race as well finished with Bloomquist taking the high side in the last few laps to go by Pearson on the white flag lap to claim third. Pearson would cross the stripe in fourth followed by the strong effort of Casebolt.

In victory lane the popular Wall would greet the home area crowd with a fence climbing victory celebration and then told the throng of fans. "Man that was a great race, to outrun Mike and Earl and this great field of drivers is just fantastic." "The car was just great all race long, there were a lot of cautions and we just hung in there and kept our line and you know you can race anywhere on this track and those other guys were giving it their all, but we just had everything right tonight." "I want to thank all the great fans that came out here tonight; I believe they saw a tremendous race."

Completing the top ten were Billy Moyer, Donnie Moran, Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, Rick Rickman and Matt Miller.

In preliminary action at Columbus Earl Pearson, Jr. would garner the Comp Cams Fast Time for the 58 entrants with a quick lap of 13.93 seconds. The PBM Performance Products Heat Races were won by Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, Billy Moyer, Donnie Moran, Brad Neat, Mike Boland and Chris Wall. The Mason Racin' Rebel Shock Dyno First B-Main was won by Rob Litton and the Penske Shocks Second B-Main saw David Breazeale victorious. The K&N Engineering "Clean Pass of the Race" would go to Scott Bloomquist with his move in passing Earl Pearson, Jr. for third place on the final lap. The K&N Engineering "Clean Pass of the Race" is awarded at each Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event and can take place during a heat, consy or feature event.

The much anticipated trip to the Midwest for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series awaits the competitors and fans next as the series heads to the historic Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, IA for the "Iowa Telecom Summer Classic" this Friday Night, July 21. On Saturday Night, July 22 the series makes its first ever visit as well to the Lucas Oil Speedway "The Diamond of Dirt Tracks" in Wheatland, MO and to conclude the upcoming weekend with a visit to the Gundaker family promoted Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, IL awaits the drivers on Sunday Night, July 23. All three events will pay $10,000 to win and the cameras of SPEED Channel will be on hand all three nights to tape the action. The event will be shown on a date and time to be announced in the future. For more information on these races you can visit the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series website at www.lucasdirt.com.


Race Summary
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Saturday Night, July 15, 2006
Columbus Speedway-Columbus, MS

Comp Cams Fast Time: Earl Pearson, Jr. 13.93

PBM Performance Products First Heat: (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, Earl Pearson, Jr., Scott James, Dean Carpenter, Bub McCool, Shawn Edwards, Joe Baroni, Mark Stokes, Cliff Williams

PBM Performance Products Second Heat: (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Billy Moyer, Matt Miller, Tombo Callahan, Jim Bo McDuffie, John Mason, Terrance Nowell, Dennis Duncan, Jason Cliburn, Mark Dodson

PBM Performance Products Third Heat: (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Donnie Moran, Don O'Neal, Scott Bloomquist, Rob Litton, Jay Blair, Clint Logan, Chad Thrash, Dwight Falcon, Ray Mottz

PBM Performance Products Fourth Heat: (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Brad Neat, Scott Dedwylder, Rick Rickman, David Breazeale, Justin McRee, Anthony Burroughs, Jack Daughtry, Stacy Holmes, Terry Wilson

PBM Performance Products Fifth Heat: (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Mike Boland, Garrett Durrett, Steve Casebolt, Scott Slay, Chris Jimerson, Wade Byars, Jessie Bailey, Roger Shirley, Freddy Smith

PBM Performance Products Sixth Heat: (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Chris Wall, Jamie Elam, Eddie Rickman, Neil Baggett, Michael England, Jimmy Cliburn, Jerry Inmon, Ricky Rawson, Don Cliburn

Mason Racin' Rebel Shock Dyno First B-Main: (12 Laps-Top 2 Advance): Rob Litton, Dean Carpenter, Bub McCool, Terrance Nowell, Jay Blair, John Mason, Dwight Falcon, Clint Logan, Mark Dodson, Dennis Duncan, Jason Cliburn, Chad Thrash, Joey McKinney, Shawn Edwards, Ray Mottz, Jim Bo McDuffie

Penske Shocks Second B-Main: (12 Laps-Top 2 Advance): David Breazeale, Stacy Holmes, Jimmy Cliburn, Jessie Bailey, Ricky Rawson, Jerry Inmon, Wade Byars, Jack Daughtry, Scott Slay, Anthony Burroughs, Neil Baggett, Justin McRee, Michael England, Chris Jimerson, Freddy Smith

8th Annual James Nickoles Memorial A-Main Finish: (50 Laps): Chris Wall, Mike Boland, Scott Bloomquist, Earl Pearson, Jr., Steve Casebolt, Billy Moyer, Donnie Moran, Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, Rick Rickman, Matt Miller, Rob Litton, Scott Dedwylder, Jamie Elam, Scott Slay, Jay Blair, Eddie Rickman, Stacy Holmes, David Breazeale, Brad Neat, Michael England, Dean Carpenter, Tombo Callahan, Scott James, Don O'Neal, Garrett Durrett, Shawn Edwards

Race Statistics
Entries: 58
Caution Flags: 12
Red Flags: 0
Lap Leaders: Brad Neat 1, Mike Boland 2, Chris Wall 3-50
Allstar Performance Performer of the Race: Steve Casebolt (started 17th and finished 5th, advanced 12 positions)
K&N Engineering Clean Pass of the Race: Scott Bloomquist
Hawk Break Tough Break Award: Brad Neat
Quarter Master Move of the Race: Chris Wall
On the Edge Graphics Fastest Non Qualifier: John Mason
Weld Wheels Award: Matt Miller
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rookie of the Race: Steve Casebolt
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Freddy Smith and Michael England
Mississippi State Championship Challenge Series Provisionals: Jay Blair and Scott Slay
Track Provisional: Shawn Edwards

Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Championship Points Standings (After July 15)

1. Earl Pearson, Jr. (Jacksonville, FL)-3180
2. Don O'Neal (Martinsville, IN)-3005
3. Donnie Moran (Dresden, OH)-2885
4. Matt Miller (Waterville, OH)-2595
5. Scott James (Lawrenceburg, IN)-2490
6. Steve Casebolt (Richmond, IN)-2420
7. Freddy Smith (Seymour, TN)-1950
8. Tim Dohm (Cross Lanes, WV)-1810
9. Michael England (Glasgow, KY)-1785
10. Brady Smith (Solon Springs, WI)-1645
11. Corey Conley (Wellsburg, WV)-1640
12. Scott Bloomquist (Mooresburg, TN)-1480
13. Billy Moyer (Batesville, AR)-1465
14. Rick Eckert (York, PA)-1450
15. Darren Miller (Chadwick, IL)-1410

Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rookie of the Year Standings

1. Steve Casebolt (Richmond, IN)-2420
2. Michael England (Glasgow, KY)-1785
3. Brady Smith (Solon Springs, WI)-1645
4. Corey Conley (Wellsburg, WV)--1640
5. Damon Eller (Crumpler, NC)-1125

Remaining July Schedule for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

July 21-Knoxville Rcaeway-Knoxville, IA ($10,000 to win) SPEED Channel Taping
July 22-Lucas Oil Speedway-Wheatland, MO ($10,000 to win) SPEED Channel Taping
July 23-Tri-City Speedway-Pontoon Beach, IL ($10,000 to win) SPEED Channel Taping
July 29-LaSalle Speedway-LaSalle, IL ($10,000 to win) SPEED Channel Taping

2006 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Sponsors

Lucas Oil- Title Sponsor and “Official Oil Products of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series”

K & N Filters - “Official Filters” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series”

Sunoco Race Fuels- “Official Race Fuel of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series”

Hoosier Race Tires – “Official Race Tire of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series”

Arizona Sport Shirts – “Official Souvenir Manufacturer & Vendor of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series”

2006 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Supporters Include: Lucas Oil Products, K & N Filters, Sunoco Race Fuels, Arizona Sports Shirts, DART Machinery, COMP Cams, PBM Performance Products, Hawk Performance Brakes, Edelbrock, PPM, AFCO, Quarter Master, Design 500, Penske Racing Shocks, Weld Racing Wheels, Banshee Graphics, Jesel, C J Rayburn Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, Real Wheels, MasterSbilt Race Cars, Lazer Race Cars, Mason Racin, Cruise With The Champions, Petroff Towing and All-Star Performance
 

Chase To The Championship Heats Up At WCS

Orrville, OH --- Competitiveness is the key word for the 2006 Chase to the Championship at Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, OH this year as the current point standings in the season-long championship point battle has heated up to thermo-nuclear proportions. With the weekly racing program in high gear drivers have turned up the wick in terms of parity and competitiveness this year as only a scant few precious points separate the contenders for 2006 bragging rights as the racing season enters the second half of the season at the popular 3/8 mile banked dirt oval.

In the headlining Fultz Fabrication Super Late Model division Jason Flory of Creston, OH leads Ryan Markham by 56 points due to Flory’s two feature wins. Flory, thus far, is th eonly Late Model driver to score a feature win more than once as single wins hve went to Doug Drown, Rick Bond, Chet Alexander and Markham. Following Flory and Markham in the point chase are Clint Coffman, Alexander, Charlie Duncan, Bond, J.R. Gentry, Dave Hornikel, Blaine Aber and Thomas Baker.

In the Cashland Modifieds Barry Jacobs of Mt. Vernon, OH leads the way with one feature win and the point lead over Kyle Brown, Bruce Jennings, Rory Reed, David Liles, Took Wiles, Matt Shroyer, Larry Kugel, Eric Smitley and Rob Stambaugh. Stambaugh is the only Modified driver with two wins while single wins have went to Brown, Liles, Jacobs, Mike Lonas and Joel Watson.

In the Thrifty Discount Muffler Pure Stock division Travis Mensching of Wooster, OH leads the way by virtue of two feature wins and consistent top five finishes over Fred Snyder, Brad Channell, Troy Anderson, Todd Werntz, Randy Nisley, Todd Swim, Donna Canode, Shawn Wassam and Rich Frame. Joining Mensching as a double feature winner is Channell followed with single wins to Brandon Gardner, Anderson and Frank Oriti.

In the Hague Crystal Clear Water Mini Stocks Neil Nisly of Hartville, OH has a slim eight point advantage over Ed Ray in the point chase followed by Cody Rinard, Charlie Ray, Mitch Reichard, Bo Yarnell, Dale Beckett, Jr., Matt Wohlford, John Raber and Wendell Miller. Point leader Nisly has a single win as does Josh Morrow with double victories going to ‘Magic Shoes’ Mike Snyder and Beckett.

 

This Saturday night July 15, 2006 at Wayne County Speedway it will be Fan Appreciation Night in addition to the second round of the Faster Pastor racing series as well as the WCS Chase to the Championship featuring the Fultz Fabrications Late Models, Cashland Modifieds, Thrifty Discount Muffler Pure Stocks & Hague Crystal Clear Water Mini-Stocks. Gates open at 3:00 PM, hot-laps/qualifying at 5:30 PM and racing at 7:00 PM. General admission prices are adults $12.00, senior citizens $10.00 and 15 and under admitted free.

Wayne County Speedway is located nine miles east of Wooster, OH on US Route 30 or 15 miles west of Massillon, OH on US Route 30 then one mile north on Carr Road. For more information contact: 330.682.7435 (track), 419.522.8761 (office) or GM Tina Heil can be contacted at her office at: 330.642.0269 or via email at: tinaheil@zoominternet.net

For more information on WCS visit: www.waynecountyspeedway.com

CURRENT ’06 WCS POINT STANDINGS:

Fultz Fabrication Late Models:

1. Jason Flory           636  
2. Ryan Markham          580

3. Clint Coffman          572  
4. Chet Alexander          562  
5. Charlie Duncan          542  
6. Rick Bond             540  
7. JR Gentry             538  
8. Dave Hornikel          514  
9. Blaine Aber           480  
10. Thomas Baker  440  

Cashland Modifieds:
1. Barry Jacobs 732 
2. Kyle Brown           612 
3. Bruce Jennings          610 
4. Rory Reed            610 
5. David Liles            588 
6. Took Wiles           584 
7. Matt Shroyer          584 
8. Larry Kugel           548 
9. Eric Smitley          524 
10.Rob Stambaugh          520 

Thrifty Discount Muffler Pure Stocks:
1. Travis Mensching          704 
2. Fred Snyder 698 
3. Brad Channell          678 
4. Troy Anderson          670 
5. Todd Werntz           638 
6. Randy Nisley  568 
7. Todd Swim           566 
8. Donna Canode          566 

9. Shawn Wassam          564 
10.Rich Frame          562 

Hague Crystal Clear Water Mini Stocks:
1. Neil Nisly              646 
2. Ed Ray                 638 
3. Cody Rinard          602 
4. Charlie Ray           546 
5. Mitch Reichard          534 
6. Bo Yarnell             522 
7. Dale Beckett, Jr.          488 
8. Matt Wohlford          470 
9. John Raber           432 

10.Wendell Miller   428