Don O’Neal Dazzles At East Bay, Wins Main Event

Don O’Neal powered his way to victory in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series feature Friday night at East Bay Raceway Park. Photo by Mike Ruefer

Don O’Neal captured his 15th career win at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, FL Friday night after taking the lead on lap 39. Doug Drown and O’Neal had a hard fought battle, exchanging the lead several times during the main event. O’Neal captured $10,000 for winning the first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points event of the season.

Drown led the majority of the 50-lap main event and held the top spot until O’Neal chased him down in lapped traffic. Drown fought back hard, closing to within a car length of O’Neal near the end of the race, but came up short in his bid for a first ever LOLMDS win. Pierce; the 16-year-old, second generation driver; held his own, finishing third. He was followed by the Optima Batteries Hard Charger, Earl Pearson Jr., who drove his way from the 18th starting spot to claim fourth, just ahead of Dennis Erb, Jr.

“That was a thrilling race, the fans could not have asked for a better feature,” said O’Neal.  “We changed so many things on this car, and it was perfect in the end.  I got up to second and we (Drown) raced hard for the lead, I would get by him, then he would come back around me”. The 48-year-old O’Neal piloted the Optima Batteries and Jay Dickens-powered MasterSbilt House Car.

Drown is racing at East Bay for the first-time in his career this week and was excited with his runner-up finish.

“Hats off to Don, he drove a great race,” he said.  “I thought we were going to get it for a moment. I looked over at the scoreboard and saw the 71 behind me, and I thought maybe I could him hold him off, but he is obviously one of the best drivers in the country. Just to run with these guys is quite an honor.

Pierce was looking for a clean sweep on the night and was equally excited with his finish.

“The top groove came back to us late in the race, and I thought maybe we could get Doug and Donnie,” said Pierce.  “We learned a lot tonight and hopefully we will come back tomorrow and do even better.”

In preliminary action, Pierce (Group A) set the overall Fast Time amongst the 37 entrants, with a lap of 14.404 seconds. Jimmy Owens set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 14.518 seconds. Pierce, Erb, Jr., Doug Drown, and O’Neal won their respective Heat Races. Vic Coffey and Earl Pearson Jr. won their respective B-Mains. LOLMDS Series Provisionals were Jared Landers and Jerry Lierly (based on fast time, as there was only one series provisional). Jason McBride was the DirtOnDirt.com Fast Time Provisional. Stormy Scott was the PRC Strawberry Dash Winner.

After the main event, Doug Blashe won the $1,000-to-win Non-Qualifiers Race. Todd Frank finished second, followed by Brad Malcuit, James O’Hara, and Nick Davis, who rounded out the Top-5.

The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt series will be back Saturday, February 16 with a double-header of high-flying action from the 37th Annual DART Winternationals at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, FL. Hot Laps for Thursday’s make-up event will take place at noon (12 pm) and Hot Laps for Saturday evening’s event is scheduled to begin at 6 pm. Both events will feature RedBuck Time Trials, Heats, B-Mains, PRC Strawberry Dash and Full Features ($7,000-to-win, 35 Laps for the day event; $10,000-to-win, 60 Laps for the evening event). For more information on the event or EBRP, visit www.eastbayracewaypark.com.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, visit  www.lucasdirt.com.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
East Bay Raceway Park – Tampa, FL
37th Annual DART Winternationals – Feb. 15, 2013