BROWNSTOWN, Ind. (Sept. 22) — Leading all 30 laps, outside polesitter Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., outran third-starting Devin Gilpin of Columbus, Ind., for a $7,000 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory in Brownstown Speedway’s Tribute to Steve Barnett.

Edging ahead of fellow front-row starter Tanner English of Benton, Ky., on the opening lap, Owens went wire-to-wire in Friday’s Jackson 100 tuneup. Successfully navigating late-race traffic, the former Lucas Oil Series champion was never seriously challenged for the lead in the caution-free feature.

“We tired up expecting no cautions because we’ve got the greatest drivers in the country here with us this weekend,” Owens said after the race. “We didn’t expect any cautions actually. We kind of got it right there.”

As Owens charged to the lead, English and Gilpin battled for the second-place spot in the early running, with Gilpin pulling away by the fifth lap. As the frontrunners approached the rear of the field on lap 11, Gilpin began reeling in the race leader, but was never able to challenge Owens for the lead.

Working his way through lapped traffic at the halfway mark, Owens stretched his lead late-race, scoring his fourth Lucas Oil Series victory of the season.

“There was a couple of good lanes and everybody was in them,” Owens said. “I felt like we had a decent car to be able to go through the middle of those guys. It was really tough. There toward the end of the race it was like everybody got sort of the same speed. So it really made traffic difficult.”

Gilpin finished runner-up, with Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., improving from the fifth starting spot to run third. Ninth-starting Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., finished fourth, with Sixth-starting Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., rounding out the top five.

“I was hoping that lapped traffic would slow him up,” Gilpin said. “Jimmy (Owens) was really good. I think he had a little harder right-rear tire on than we did. He got away from us. But we’re tickled with second.

“To run second to Jimmy Owens … he’s my hero. I’ve kind of had a similar career as him, UMP mods and making the transition to Late Models. I just can’t thank (car owner) Jim Beeman enough and all the guys on board. It’s a good test for tomorrow. This is awesome. Second in a Lucas race, I’m pretty pumped.”

While McCreadie was pleased with a podium finish, he’s hoping to improve for Saturday’s $15,000-to-win Jackson 100.

“We weren’t as balanced as I’d like to be,” McCreadie said. “I just kind of got to get this car in the position that I like it. But all in all, to go out here and come out with a third with the talent that’s in this pit area is pretty cool. We’re happy.”

Notes: Owens notched his 58th career Lucas Oil Series victory. He is a former Jackson 100 champion, winning Brownstown’s annual event back in 2012. … The 30-lap feature ran caution-free. … Friday’s race honored long-time Brownstown Late Model racer Steve Barnett, who announced his retirement earlier this year. … Runner-up finisher Devin Gilpin was the winner of last Saturday’s weekly program at Brownstown. He made his return after suffering a broken collarbone back in August. … Fast qualifier and eighth-place finisher Tanner English has captured multiple victories at Brownstown this year, including wins on the MARS East and Ultimate Battle of the Bluegrass tours. … Third-place finisher Tim McCreadie is also a former Jackson 100 champion, winning the race back in 2008.

Preliminary results:

Consolation results

Finish (top six transfer): Bobby Pierce, Nick Hoffman, Michael Chilton, Brian Shirley, Jeff Wilson, Kent Robinson, Gregg Satterlee, Boom Briggs, Adam Bowman, Matt Bex, Jared Bailey, Chad Stapleton, Jeremy Hines, Austyn Mills

Consolation lineup

(12 laps; top six transfer)
Row 1: Bobby Pierce, Brian Shirley
Row 2: Jeff Wilson, Kent Robinson
Row 3: Nick Hoffman, Gregg Satterlee
Row 4: Michael Chilton, Adam Bowman
Row 5: Jeremy Hines, Boom Briggs
Row 6: Matt Bex, Jared Bailey
Row 7: Chad Stapleton, Austyn Mills

Heat race results

Fourth heat finish (top four transfer): Cody Mahoney, Shannon Babb, Don O’Neal, Scott Bloomquist, Kent Robinson, Adam Bowman, Jared Bailey.

Third heat finish (top four transfer): Jimmy Owens, Darrell Lanigan, Earl Pearson Jr., Steve Francis, Brian Shirley, Gregg Satterlee, Boom Briggs, Chad Stapleton.

Second heat finish (top four transfer): Devin Gilpin, Hudson O’Neal, Jason Jameson, R.J. Conley, Jeff Wilson, Michael Chilton, Matt Bex.

First heat finish (top four transfer): Tanner English, Tim McCreadie, Josh Richards, Dennis Erb Jr., Bobby Pierce, Nick Hoffman, Jeremy Hines.

Heat race lineups

(10 laps; top four transfer)
First heat
Row 1: Tanner English, Tim McCreadie
Row 2: Josh Richards, Bobby Pierce
Row 3: Nick Hoffman, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 4: Jeremy Hines, Austyn Mills
Second heat
Row 1: Hudson O’Neal, Devin Gilpin
Row 2: Jason Jameson, Michael Chilton
Row 3: R.J. Conley, Jeff Wilson
Row 4: Matt Bex
Third heat
Row 1: Jimmy Owens, Brian Shirley
Row 2: Darrell Lanigan, Gregg Satterlee
Row 3: Steve Francis, Earl Pearson Jr.
Row 4: Boom Briggs, Chad Stapleton
Fourth heat
Row 1: Cody Mahoney, Don O’Neal
Row 2: Scott Bloomquist, Shannon Babb
Row 3: Kent Robinson, Adam Bowman
Row 4: Jared Bailey

Time trial results

Driver (car no.), hometown, time
Group A
Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 13.901
Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 14.03
Tim McCreadie (39), Watertown, N.Y., 14.061
Devin Gilpin (1G), Columbus, Ind., 14.135
Josh Richards (1), Shinnston, W.Va., 14.163
Jason Jameson (12), Lawrenceburg, Ind., 14.199
Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 14.201
Michael Chilton (97), Salvisa, Ky., 14.318
Nick Hoffman (2), Mooresville, N.C., 14.353
R.J. Conley (71C), Wheelersburg, Ohio, 14.428
Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 14.451
Jeff Wilson (55), Butlerville, Ind., 14.51
Jeremy Hines (5H), Seymour, Ind., 14.706
Matt Bex (80), Avoca, Ind., 15.000
Austyn Mills (1AM), Alexandria, Ky., no time
Group B
Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 14.178
Cody Mahoney (4), Hanover, Ind., 14.288
Brian Shirley (3S), Chatham, Ill., 14.426
Don O’Neal (5), Martinsville, Ind., 14.442
Darrell Lanigan (14), Union, Ky., 14.451
Scott Bloomquist (0), Mooresburg, Tenn., 14.469
Gregg Satterlee (22), Indiana, Pa., 14.473
Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 14.51
Steve Francis (15), Bowling Green, Ky., 14.541
Kent Robinson (7R), Bloomington, Ind., 14.584
Earl Pearson Jr. (1), Jacksonville, Fla., 14.595
Adam Bowman (77), Seymour, Ind., 14.682
Boom Briggs (99B), Bear Lake, Pa., 14.739
Jared Bailey (24), Bedford, Ind., 14.783
Chad Stapleton (32), Edinburgh, Ind., 14.849