Defending Tour Champion Continues Mastery Of Bubba Raceway Park
OCALA, FL – Feb. 15, 2013 – Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., reclaimed the World of Outlaws Late Model Series spotlight on Friday night, capturing the 35-lap opener of the Bubba Army Late Model Winter Nationals at Bubba Raceway Park
The defending tour champion outdueled BRP star Ivedent Lloyd Jr. of Ocala, Fla., for the lead on lap 20 and never looked back in his familiar Cornett-powered Rocket car. He pulled away following a deciding lap-33 restart, winning by 1.410 seconds over Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., in the Sweeteners Plus Warrior.
Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., finished third in the Rocket Chassis house car after using the outside groove of the three-eighths-mile, D-shaped oval to move up two spots during the green-white-checkered finish. Lloyd settled for a career-best WoO LMS finish of fourth after leading laps 10-19 in a Snow Brothers Chassis machine, and Scott James of Bright, Ind., placed fifth in the Warrior Chassis house car.
Lanigan, 42, earned $7,150 for his first WoO LMS victory of 2013 and the 42nd of his career – an alltime tour record. It was his fourth win in six WoO LMS starts over the past four years at BRP.
“At this place, you definitely have to be elbows up,” said Lanigan, who set a single-season WoO LMS win record with 15 triumphs in 2012. “It’s definitely a racy little track. I kind of like doing that, so this place fits our program pretty good.”
Lanigan demonstrated his mastery of the unique speedway by defeating one of its resident greats in Lloyd, a 46-year-old former BRP champion who knows the track’s nuances like few others. Lloyd started fifth – one spot behind Lanigan – but got to the front first, grabbing the lead on lap 10 from early pacesetter Rick Eckert of York, Pa.
Lloyd’s hometown fans began dreaming of an upset victory by a local, but Lanigan had other ideas. The WoO LMS stalwart overtook James for second on lap 15 and five circuits later sailed around the outside of Lloyd to assume command.
While Lloyd was able to briefly close back up to Lanigan’s rear bumper on lap 30, his bid effectively ended after he slid high through turns one and two on lap 31, allowing McCreadie to snatch second. The driver who lives just miles from BRP ultimately fell to fourth after the race’s final restart on lap 33.
“He came from behind us and took the lead so we definitely were concerned with him,” Lanigan said of Lloyd. “But our car was pretty good and I was just biding my time until I could get up there to him.”
Lloyd was powerless to stop Lanigan’s burst into the lead.
“He went by me pretty quick,” said Lloyd, a former Southern All-Stars Series champion. “He found that outside and just drove by me. I knew there was some traction up there, but I was pretty decent on the bottom and leading the race so I couldn’t really go up there and try it.”
McCreadie, 38, attempted to use that high side in a last-ditch effort to challenge Lanigan after the lap-33 caution period but couldn’t get close enough to threaten. The former WoO LMS titlist wasn’t disappointed with a runner-up finish after struggling in the tour’s season-opening doubleheader last week at Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Ga.
“I figured, Why not try (for the win)?” McCreadie, who started sixth, said of his strategy following the final restart. “I ran out there (on the outside), but I just didn’t steer good enough out there. I gave it a shot, but it’s hard down that backstretch. You lose the nose real easy, and that’s what I was headed toward so I just tried to tuck in (entering turn three). I kind of got into Ivedent a little bit when I did that and I’m sorry for that, but I’m happy we were able to hold on to second. It’s definitely better than we’ve been.”
Richards, 24, ran out of time in his bid for a second consecutive WoO LMS victory. He started third but tumbled out of the top five early in the race, hampered by a tire-compound selection that was too hard.
“We had a pretty good hot rod, but I kind of killed us with tire choice on the left-rear,” said Richards, who took over sole possession of the WoO LMS points lead with his third top-five finish in as many starts this season. “It took a while to get going. I wish it would’ve been 50 laps, but I’ll take the blame on that one.”
Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., who began the night tied with Richards for the WoO LMS points lead, charged forward from the 18th starting spot to finish sixth. Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., started and finished seventh; Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., who was approved as a 2013 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year contender prior to the evening’s action, placed eighth; Eckert faded his pole position starting spot to a ninth-place finish; and Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., after climbing as high as fifth.
Four caution flags slowed the race. The first came on lap one when Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., was left sitting backwards in turn one following a scrape with Mark Whitener of Middlebourne, Fla. Later, Ray Cook of Brasstown, N.C., slowed on lap 10; Fuller was swept up in a lap-13 backstretch tangle with Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., and Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa.; and Bub McCool of Vicksburg, Miss., slowed on lap 33.
Thirty-nine cars were signed in for the event.
Richards set a new track record of 13.771 seconds in Ohlins Shocks Time Trials, eclipsing the one-year-old mark of 13.938 seconds held by Lanigan. It was Richards’s 33rd career WoO LMS fast-time honor, tying him with Eckert atop the tour’s alltime list in the category.
Heat winners were Richards, Marlar, Lanigan and Brady Smith. Eric Wells of Hazard, Ky., and Clanton captured the B-Mains, and Clint Smith earned a berth in the A-Main by winning the 10-lap Keyser Manufacturing Last Chance Showdown.
The Bubba Army Late Model Winter Nationals continue on Saturday night (Feb. 16) with a 50-lap A-Main paying $10,000 to win and on Feb. 17 with the inaugural 75-lap ‘Super Sunday Showdown’ offering a $20,000 top prize. Race time is 7 p.m. on Saturday and 4 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Fans can also follow the WoO LMS on Twitter at Twitter.com/WoOLateModels and Facebook at Facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws .
Results of World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Bubba Army Late Model Winter Nationals’ Night 1 at Bubba Raceway Park (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):
1. (4) Darrell Lanigan/35 $7,150
2. (6) Tim McCreadie/35 $3,650
3. (3) Josh Richards/35 $2,650
4. (5) Ivedent Lloyd Jr./35 $2,750
5. (2) Scott James/35 $2,100
6. (18) Shane Clanton/35 $1,650
7. (7) Mike Marlar/35 $1,500
8. (10) Brandon Sheppard/35 $1,400
9. (1) Rick Eckert/35 $1,400
10. (8) Brady Smith/35 $1,000
11. (25) Kent Robinson/35 $1,000
12. (19) Mason Zeigler/35 $900
13. (20) Dillon Wood/35 $900
14. (21) Morgan Bagley/35 $800
15. (24) Chub Frank/35 $750
16. (17) Eric Wells/35 $680
17. (16) Tim Fuller/35 $710
18. (13) Bub McCool/32 $690
19. (12) Jonathan Davenport/31 $620
20. (9) Jimmy Mars/30 $600
21. (23) Clint Smith/13 $650
22. (22) Pat Doar/9 $650
23. (15) Ray Cook/9 $600
24. (11) Ron Davies/9 $625
25. (14) Mark Whitener/1 $600
* Earnings include cash contingency award bonuses
Time of Race: 20 Mins., 50.757 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 1.410 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 4 (laps 1, 10, 13, 33)
Lap Leaders: Eckert (1-9); Lloyd (10-19); Lanigan (20-35)
Provisional Starters: Frank, Robinson
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Lloyd ($500)
Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):
1. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 13.771 (NTR)
2. 5b-Mike Marlar/Winfield, TN 13.917
3. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 13.928
4. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 13.974
5. 25z-Mason Zeigler/Chalk Hill, PA 14.108
6. 1G-Scott James/Bright, IN 14.134
7. 21L-Ivedent Lloyd Jr./Ocala, FL 14.164
8. 2-Brady Smith/Solon Springs, WI 14.216
9. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 14.237
10. 58-Mark Whitener/Middlebourne, FL 14.238
11. 71d-Ron Davies/Warren, PA 14.243
12. 25b-Mike Benedum/Salem, WV
13. 28-Jimmy Mars/Menomonie, WI 14.274
14. 14M-Morgan Bagley/Longview, TX 14.324
15. 1W-Dillon Wood/New Smyrna Beach, FL 14.331
16. 101-Casey Roberts/Toccoa, GA 14.335
17. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 14.336
18. b5-Brandon Sheppard/New Berlin, IL 14.356
19. 53-Ray Cook/Brasstown, NC 14.402
20. 49-Jonathan Davenport/Blairsville, GA 14.430
21. 7R-Kent Robinson/Bloomington, IN 14.432
22. 44H-Dave Hess Jr./Waterford, PA 14.453
23. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 14.453
24. 5-Chip Brindle/Chatsworth, GA 14.519
25. 57J-Bub McCool/Vicksburg, MS 14.534
26. 22-Gregg Satterlee/Rochester Mills, PA 14.562
27. 48-Tim Lance/Brimfield, IL 14.573
28. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 14.607
29. 21d-Dan Stone/Thompson, PA 14.623
30. 38-Kenny Pettyjohn/Millsboro, DE 14.624
31. 11-Pat Doar/New Richmond, WI 14.646
32. 11b-Stacy Boles/Clinton, TN 14.670
33. 18-Eric Wells/Hazard, KY 14.673
34. 21-Billy Moyer/Batesville, AR 14.780
35. 47-Tyler Ivey/Tallahassee, FL 14.812
36. 1x1-Sonny Conley/New Martinsville, WV 14.813
37. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 14.862
38. 2M-Allen Murray/San Antonio, TX 15.157
39. 16H-Mike Hammerle/St. Charles, MO 16.745
Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Richards, McCreadie, Mars, McCool, Wells, Zeigler, C. Smith, Frank, Stone, Robinson
Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Marlar, James, Sheppard, Whitener, Bagley, Satterlee, Moyer, Pettyjohn, Hess, Murrary
Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Lanigan, Lloyd, Davies, Cook, Clanton, Wood, Doar, Lance, Ivey, Hammerle
Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): B. Smith, Eckert, Davenport, Fuller, Benedum, Boles, Brindle, Conley, Roberts
B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Wells, Zeigler, Bagley, C. Smith, Frank, Moyer, Stone, Pettyjohn, Robinson, Satterlee, Hess, Murray
B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Clanton, Wood, Doar, Boles, Benedum, Lance, Ivey, Brindle, Conley, Roberts, Hammerle
Keyser Manufacturing Last Chance Race (10 laps – Winner to A-Main): C. Smith, Moyer, Frank, Stone, Boles, Pettyjohn, Benedum, Lance, Brindle, Conley, Ivey, Robinson
World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners (awards presented to noted finisher/qualifier or next highest displaying decal:
Ohlins Shocks ($50 cash to fast qualifier): Rick Eckert
Eibach Springs (one free spring to each B-Main winner): Eric Wells/Pat Doar
VP Race Fuels ‘Nice Jugs’ Award: (One VP 5-gallon container to fastest qualifier who misses A-Main): Mike Benedum
Wrisco Aluminum (3 sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner only): Josh Richards
Armor All (One case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main): Brandon Sheppard
Comp Cams ($50 certificate to A-Main winner): Josh Richards
QuarterMaster ($100 certificate to A-Main winner, $50 certificate to 5th-place finish): Josh Richards/Chub Frank
MSD Ignition ($50 cash to A-Main winner): Josh Richards
STP ($50 cash to 2nd-place finisher in A-Main): Tim McCreadie
XS Power ($50 cash to 3rd-place finisher in A-Main): Scott James
Roush Yates ($50 cash to 4th-place finisher in A-Main): Brandon Sheppard
JE Pistons ($50 cash to 5th-place finisher in A-Main): Scott James
Dominator ($50 cash to 6th-place finisher in A-Main): Mike Marlar
American Race Wheels ($50 cash to 7th-place finisher in A-Main): Mike Marlar
VP Race Fuels ($50 cash to 8th-place finisher in A-Main): Brandon Sheppard
Edelbrock Manifolds ($50 cash to 9th-finisher in A-Main): Rick Eckert
Comp Cams ($50 cash to 10th-place finisher in A-Main): Dillon Wood
XS Power ($60 product certificate to 11th-place finisher in A-Main): Mason Zeigler
Cometic Gasket ($50 cash to 12th-place finisher in A-Main): Dillon Wood
JRI Shocks ($50 cash to 13th-place finisher in A-Main): Chub Frank
Super Flow Dynos ($50 cash to 14th-place finisher in A-Main): Morgan Bagley
JE Pistons (one complete set of JE Pro Seal rings to 16th-place finisher in A-Main, redeemable w/next purchase of set): Eric Wells
Klotz Lubricants ($50 cash to 17th-place finisher in A-Main): Bub McCool
Roush Yates ($50 gift card to 18th-place finisher in A-Main): Mark Whitener
QuarterMaster ($50 certificate to 19th-place finisher in A-Main): Jonathan Davenport
Arizona Sport Shirts ($100 certificate to 20th-place finisher in A-Main): Clint Smith
JE Pistons (one complete set of JE Pro Seal rings to 21st-place finisher in A-Main, redeemable w/next purchase of set): Clint Smith
Roush Yates ($50 gift card to 22nd-place finisher in A-Main): Mark Whitener
MSD Ignition ($25 cash to 24th-place finisher in A-Main): Ron Davies
XS Power ‘Power Move of the Race’ ($60 product certificate): Darrell Lanigan
Roush Yates ($25 gift card to driver who leads most laps in the A-Main): Darrell Lanigan
2013 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of - A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):
1. Josh Richards 440
2. Shane Clanton434 (-6)
3. Darrell Lanigan 422 (-18)
4. Scott James 392 (-48)
5. Eric Wells 388 (-52)
6. Morgan Bagley 384 (-56)
7. Rick Eckert 382 (-58)
8. Tim Fuller 380 (-60)
9. Pat Doar 370 (-70)
10. (tie) Clint Smith 362 (-78)
10. (tie) Dillon Wood 362 (-78)
12. Tim McCreadie 360 (-80)
13. Chub Frank 358 (-82)
14. Gregg Satterlee 348 (-92)
15. (tie) Ray Cook 340 (-100)
15. (tie) Mike Marlar 340 (-100)
17. Bub McCool 338 (-102)
18. Casey Roberts 324 (-116)
19. Kent Robinson 314 (-126)
20. Ron Davies 312 (-128)
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Gravely Tractors (Official Lawn Equipment), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), Vicci (Official Uniform), VP Racing Fuel (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and McCarthy's One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning (Raye Vest Memorial Pill Draw Award); in addition to contingency sponsors Butlerbuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Dominator Race Products, Edelbrock, Eibach Springs, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, QuarterMaster, Roush Yates Performance Parts, Superflow Dynos, Wrisco Aluminum and XS Power Racing Batteries; along with manufacturer sponsors Capital Race Cars, Integra Shocks, GRT Chassis, Jake’s Carts, Longacre, Racing Electronics, Rocket Chassis, TNT Rescue, and Warrior Chassis.
