John Blankenship Wins Lucas Oil LMDS Rome Rumble

John Blankenship was victorious in Sunday night’s Rome Rumble for the Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model series at Rome International Speedway. Photo courtesy Lucas Oil DLMS

John Blankenship of Williamson, WV continued the best season of his racing career on Sunday Night as he captured the Rome Rumble at Rome International Speedway in Rome, GA. Blankenship, who started seventh, roared to the lead on lap 21 and never looked back in winning his third Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event of the season.

Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN survived a side-by-side duel with Chris Madden of Gaffney, SC to finish second in his Hawkeye Trucking, Bloomquist Race Cars Ford. Madden was third, followed by Steve Francis of Ashland, KY and 10^th starting, Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN.

Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN, the current series points leader and previous nights’ winner of the Lucas Oil Dixie Shootout, took the lead at the start of the 50-lap, $10,000-to-win feature event. Owens looked dominant in the early going until race traffic started to slow his momentum. When Owens caught traffic, so did Madden, Bloomquist, and Blankenship and they made it a four-way battle for the top spot.

At one point they were three-wide for second. Blankenship passed both Madden and Bloomquist on the same lap to take second. Then two laps later Blankenship made the inside pass of Owens for the lead on lap 21. On the same lap, Owens slowed with a right-rear flat tire.

On the restart, Blankenship received some pressure from Madden and Bloomquist, but that did not last long as Blankenship started to pull away from the field.  Madden held the second spot until lap 38 when Bloomquist took over that position. But by then, Blankenship was well out in front as he went on to capture his fourth career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event in convincing fashion.

“The crew got on me pretty good for the way I drove in the heat race,” said the 31-year-old. “We made some changes for the feature and the car was strong from the start, it was easy to drive, we went by Madden and then Scott (Bloomquist) and then when I got by Jimmy, I guess he had a flat, and we went on from there.

“It was a little bit hairy in traffic near the end, but I guess we had a big enough lead over everybody else, this is the best year we have ever had, we want to finish in the top five of the points, we have three wins, I just wish we could start the season over. I have to thank Coal America’s Energy, Todd Case Trucking, Fast Lane, VP, Bear Cove Village, Integra, Cornett Engines and Rocket Chassis, and especially thanks to the fans for coming out tonight and supporting us and the series.”

Completing the top ten were Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN; Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville, TN; Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC; Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA; and Tyler Reddick of Corning, CA.

In preliminary action, Chris Madden set the RedBuck Fast Time amongst the 40 entrants, with a lap of 13.392 seconds. Jimmy Owens set the fastest time in Group A with a time of 13.617 seconds. Jimmy Owens, Scott Bloomquist, Chris Madden and Don O’Neal won their respective Heat Races. Steve Casebolt and Eric Wells won their respective B-Mains.

The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will conclude its season on October 19 and 20 at Portsmouth Raceway Park in Portsmouth, OH with the RedBuck Dirt Track World Championship.

For more info on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, visit www.lucasdirt.com.

Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series
Rome International Speedway – Rome, GA
Rome Rumble – Oct. 7, 2012