Pearson Powers to Cowboy Classic Victory

Story By: JAMES ESSEX / LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL DIRT SERIES – WHEATLAND, MO – Earl Pearson Jr. gained the lead on lap 15 from Jesse Stovall and then held off Scott Bloomquist in the final laps to win the Cowboy Classic – presented by Hot Rod Processing on Thursday night at Lucas Oil Speedway. The event was co-sanctioned by the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and Lucas Oil Midwest Late Model Racing Association (MLRA).

Pearson kicked off the 25th Annual Show-Me 100 weekend with his second LOLMDS win of the season over Bloomquist, Jimmy Owens, Tim McCreadie, and Mike Marlar.

It was a very competitive race from start to finish as Pearson withstood a lap 39 restart challenge from Bloomquist, who had pulled even with Pearson several times in the final six laps but could never clear him.

“That was a heck of a race,” said Pearson in Lucas Oil Victory Lane. “Stovall was good early on the top. We were trying to find a spot on the track to be consistent at. The car kept moving around. The traffic was tough, but everybody gave each other plenty of room to pass. I didn’t want to see that last caution. I saw on the scoreboard that Scott [Bloomquist] was behind us. I knew he wouldn’t try a slide job and take both of us out. He drove us clean. He got beside me there several times, but my car was better into three and four than his.”

“I knew Jimmy [Owens] was back there as well. They went out before the race and tilled the top and that made for some good racing. I don’t know if it would have held up for 100 laps, but it was good enough for 45 tonight. I want to thank my crew and all my sponsors. Thanks to Carlton and Kemp Lamm and the whole Dunn-Benson Ford Team – it’s always good to win here at Lucas Oil Speedway.”

The four-time LOLMDS National Champion’s Longhorn Ford is powered by a Wallace Racing Engine and sponsored by Dunn-Benson Ford, Lucas Oil Racing TV, MAVTV, Penske Racing Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels and Freeport Recycling.

Bloomquist who started on the pole, finished second in his Crop Production Services, Reece Monument Company, and Mark Martin Automotive-sponsored Sweet-Bloomquist entry. “I knew I was a sitting duck when they went out and worked the top of the track. I waited a few laps too late to get going. I lost two positions there at the start. I could finally go to the middle and top and gained back those spots that I lost. It was a good race there among the four of us. A lot of front tires I think we’re giving up there late in the race. We will be ready for Saturday Night!”

Owens was in the hunt coming on to finish in third place. “This Ramirez Motorsports car was really good tonight. It took us a while to get going. We caught those guys up front after [Tim] McCreadie and I had a good race going on there. We just have the right set-up for this track that is why we have been so successful here in the past. We will come back tomorrow night and get better and then get ready for 100 laps on Saturday Night.”

Completing the top ten were Darrell Lanigan, Bobby Pierce, Gregg Satterlee, Mason Zeigler, and Billy Moyer Jr.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Thursday, May 25th, 2017
4th Annual Cowboy Classic @ 25th Annual Show-Me 100
Lucas Oil Speedway – Wheatland, MOMiller Welders Fast Time Group A: Mason Zeigler / 15.951 seconds
Miller Welders Fast Time Group B: Mike Marlar / 15.973 seconds

Eibach Springs Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Scott Bloomquist, Mason Zeigler, Bobby Pierce, Chase Junghans, Rodney Sanders, Shannon Babb, Chad Simpson, BJ Robinson, Mason Oberkramer, Boom Briggs, Scott Crigler, Tanner Kellick-DNS

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Darrell Lanigan, Steve Francis, Jason Rauen, Justin Duty, Jack Sullivan, Hudson O’Neal, Evan Hubert, Austin Rettig, Bryon Allison, Jeff Herzog, Al Humphrey

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Payton Looney, Logan Martin, Billy Moyer, Jr., Brantlee Gotschall, Gavin Landers, Garrett Alberson, Will Vaught, Tanner Mullens, Mike Stadel, Larry Jones, Cole Wells

QA1 Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Jesse Stovall, Mike Marlar, Gregg Satterlee, Chris Simpson, Don O’Neal, Joey Moriarty, JC Wyman, Jonathan Davenport, Terry Phillips, Jeremy Grady, Bob King

ASi Racewear Heat Race #5 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Earl Pearson, Jr., Tim McCreadie, Dennis Erb, Jr., Tim Manville, Tony Jackson, Jr., Timothy Culp, Josh Richards, Jim Shereck, Chandler Petty, John Duty, Blonde Bomber Mitchell

DirtOnDirt.com Heat Race #6 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Jimmy Owens, Dave Eckrich, Billy Moyer, Shannon Scott, Jared Landers, Randy Timms, Jake O’Neil, Wendell Wallace, Jonathan Rowan, Cliff Morrow, Jon Mitchell

Penske Racing Shocks B-Main #1 Finish (15 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): Chase Junghans, Rodney Sanders, Shannon Babb, BJ Robinson, Evan Hubert, Chad Simpson, Hudson O’Neal, Jack Sullivan, Boom Briggs, Austin Rettig, Mason Oberkramer, Jeff Herzog, Justin Duty, Scott Crigler, Bryon Allison, Tanner Kellick-DNS, Al Humphrey-DNS

Fast Shafts B-Main #2 Finish (15 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): Chris Simpson, Don O’Neal, Brantlee Gotschall, Garrett Alberson, Will Vaught, Jonathan Davenport, Gavin Landers, Joey Moriarty, Tanner Mullens, Terry Phillips, Bob King, Jeremy Grady, JC Wyman, Cole Wells, Mike Stadel-DNS, Larry Jones-DNS

Bad Boy Mowers B-Main #3 Finish (15 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): Tim Manville, Tony Jackson, Jr., Jared Landers, Josh Richards, Randy Timms, Shannon Scott, Wendell Wallace, Jim Shereck, Timothy Culp, John Duty, Chandler Petty, Jonathan Rowan, Blonde Bomber Mitchell, Cliff Morrow, Jon Mitchell, Jake O’Neil

Feature Finish (45 Laps):

Entrants: 67
Lap Leaders: Jesse Stovall (Laps 1 – 14); Earl Pearson Jr. (Laps 15 – 45)
Cautions: Jesse Stovall (Lap 39)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: n/a
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: n/a
Wrisco Feature Winner: Earl Pearson Jr.
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Rodney Sanders (Started: 22nd; Finished: 14th; Advanced 8 Positions)
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Scott Bloomquist
Allstar Performance Power Move of the Race: Billy Moyer Jr.
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Earl Pearson Jr.
Hot Rod Processing Rookie of the Race: Gregg Satterlee
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Wallace Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn Chassis
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Taylon Center (Earl Pearson Jr.)
Fastest Lap of the Race: Jimmy Owens (Lap #6 – 16.3828 seconds)
Safecraft Most Laps Led: Earl Pearson Jr. (31)
PFC Brakes Pole Award: Scott Bloomquist
Time of Race: 16 minutes 54 seconds