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Steve Francis Takes Budweiser 50 at Muskingum County on Tuesday Night

ZANESVILLE, OH (July 3, 2012) – Steve Francis of Ashland, KY took the lead on the13th lap from Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH and went on to win the Budweiser 50 on Tuesday Night at Muskingum County Speedway. For Francis, it was his fourth Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series triumph of the season. John Blankenship of Williamson, WV finished second. Moran was third, followed by Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN and Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN.

Moran led the first 12 circuits of the race, until giving way to Francis. Francis then battled with Blankenship for the remainder the race, which was slowed by two caution flags. Francis held off Blankenship through heavy traffic in the final five laps of the race to score his ninth career LOLMDS victory.

“Donnie (Moran) and I started on the front row, it was reminiscent of the old days when we ran against each other all the time. It was a real good win for Barry (Wright) and the guys, we made the right tire choice tonight! My daughter was also here tonight, she doesn’t get to come very often, so it was a special night all the way around,” said Francis.

“After they watered the track during the fireworks, we kind of had in our mind what we wanted to do, similar to what Scott (Bloomquist) did here last year in winning the race. I thought O’Neal would give us a race with his tire choice, but Blankenship has been running real good here lately so I knew he would be in the hunt as well. I have to thank Barry Wright Race Cars, Clements Engines, Valvoline, JRi Shocks, Nichols Plumbing, AES Racing, Mathis Farms, and VP Fuels for all of the their help,” said Francis, who remains fourth in the series points standings after his win.

Blankenship, who won the series’ last race at Wythe Raceway in Virginia after starting 14th, came from fourth to challenge Francis for the race win, but came up short in winning on his 31st birthday. He drove the Coal America’s Energy, Cornett Racing Engines, Rocket Chassis. Moran, the home track star, finished third in his Custom Cutters, Malcuit Engines, MasterSbilt Chevy.

Completing the top ten were point’s leader, Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN; Josh McGuire of Ashland, KY; Hard Charger of the Race, Jared Landers of Batesville, AR; Zack Dohm of Cross Lanes; and Eric Wells of Hazard, KY.

In preliminary action, Steve Francis set the Red Buck Cigars Fast Time amongst the 37 entrants with a lap of 15.447 seconds. Heat races were taken by: Steve Francis, Josh McGuire, Donnie Moran, and John Blankenship. Jonathan Davenport and Rod Conley won their respective B-Mains.

The series will be back in action in the “Clash at the Mag” at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, MS on Friday and Saturday July 6th and 7th. The event will be a two-day $20,000-to-win show and will feature Red Buck Cigars Time Trials and Heat Races on Friday Night. B-Mains, and the 100-lap $20,000 “Clash at the Mag” main event will take place on Saturday. For more information on the event, go to www.magnoliadirt.com.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com and be sure to follow the series at www.facebook.com/lucasdirt and www.twitter.com/#!/lucasdirt.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Sunday Night, July 3rd, 2012
“Budweiser 50”
Muskingum County Speedway – Zanesville, OH

Red Buck Cigars Fast Time: Steve Francis / 15.447 seconds (Group A) Donnie Moran / 15.484 seconds (Group B)

Wiles Driveshafts First Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Steve Francis, Mike Marlar, Scott Bloomquist, Doug Drown, Tyler Reddick, Eric Myers, Davey Johnson, Chad Hina, Hiram Bachmann, Ross Nicastri

U. S. Steel Second Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Josh McGuire, Don O'Neal, Zack Dohm, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Jonathan Davenport, Devin Moran, Shane McLoughlin, Earl Pearson, Jr., Kyle Bates

Simpson Performance Products Third Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Donnie Moran, Eric Wells, Jason Montgomery , Austin Hubbard, Rod Conley, John Mason, Tim Rivers, Bryan Casey, Todd Brennan

HAWK Brakes Fourth Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): John Blankenship, Jimmy Owens, Doug Dodd, Jared Landers, Mason Zeigler, Brad Malcuit, Steve Prince, Matt Mallett, Russ Frohnapfel

JRi Shocks First B-Main (12 Laps – Top 3 Advance): Jonathan Davenport, Tyler Reddick,Shane McLoughlin, Devin Moran, Eric Myers, Kyle Bates, Hiram Bachmann, Chad Hina, Earl Pearson, Jr., Davey Johnson-DNS, Ross Nicastri-DNS

PAC Racing Springs Second B-Main (12 Laps – Top 3 Advance): Rod Conley, John Mason, Tim Rivers, Russ Frohnapfel, Bryan Casey, Mason Zeigler, Matt Mallett, Todd Brennan, Steve Prince, Brad Malcuit

Feature Finish – 50 Laps: 1. 15-Steve Francis; 2. 23-John Blankenship; 3. 99-Donnie Moran; 4. 71-Don O'Neal; 5. 5B-Mike Marlar; 6. 20-Jimmy Owens; 7. 41-Josh McGuire; 8. 5-Jared Landers; 9. 17D-Zack Dohm; 10. 18E-Eric Wells; 11. 0-Scott Bloomquist; 12. 11H-Austin Hubbard; 13. 15D-Jonathan Davenport; 14. 11T-Tyler Reddick; 15. 28-Eddie Carrier Jr; 16. 44-Earl Pearson Jr; 17. 63-Doug Drown; 18. 46-Tim Rivers; 19. 71R-Rod Conley; 20. 21M-Jason Montgomery; 21. 12D-Doug Dodd; 22. 99M-Devin Moran; 23. 72-John Mason; 24. 9M-Shane McLoughlin; 25. 83-Steve Prince

Race Statistics
Entrants: 37
Lap Leaders: Donnie Moran (Laps 1 – 12); Steve Francis (Laps 13 – 50)
Caution Flags: Lap 18 (Shane McLoughlin); Lap 28 (Doug Dodd)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Earl Pearson Jr.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisional: none
Red Buck Cigars Fast Time Provisional: Devin Moran
Muskingum County Speedway Track Provisional: Steve Prince
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Jared Landers (Started 16th; Finished 8th; Advanced 8 positions)
Allstar Performer of the Race: Steve Francis
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Jimmy Owens
ASi Racewear Challenge Finisher: Steve Francis
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Jonathan Davenport
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Barry Wright Race Cars
Sweet Mfg Crew Chief of the Race: Lance Wright (Steve Francis)
Time of Race: 28 minutes 45 seconds

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