CONCORD, N.C. (Nov. 6) — Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., and Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., put Club 29 Race Cars in the spotlight Thursday night at The Dirt Track at Charlotte by splitting fast-time honors during Qualifying Night at the eighth annual Bad Boy Buggies World of Outlaws World Finals.
Kicking off his championship crowning weekend on a high note, Lanigan, 44, posted the fastest lap in the first of two rounds of Ohlins Shocks Time Trials for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. Owens, 42, was fastest in Thursday's second qualifying session.
The two qualifying rounds were part of the opening night of the World Finals weekend at Charlotte's 4/10-mile oval. The three-night blockbuster event features season-ending doubleheaders for the WoO LMS, the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Cars and the Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modifieds.
The two Late Model qualifying sessions featured a field of 77 Late Model entries. The lap times will be used to determine the heat race lineups for separate $12,000-to-win WoO LMS programs on Friday and Saturday with first round qualifying times setting lineups for Friday night's six heat races and round two aligning the six heats on Saturday.
Lanigan, who will clinch his third WoO LMS championship just by competing in the weekend's two programs, enjoyed the preliminary night success as both a driver and a chassis builder. The 2008 and 2012 WoO LMS titlist launched Club 29 Race Cars this season after developing the new chassis and sister chassis brand Black Diamond Chassis with noted Late Model setup guru Ronnie Stuckey. Owens was among the early drivers to join the Club when he began fielding a Club 29 car in March.
"It's definitely exciting for Club 29 and Black Diamond Chassis," said Lanigan, whose lone Charlotte victory came in the opening round of last year's World Finals. "It's phenomenal to get fast time both rounds. Just can't wait for the rest of the weekend."
Lanigan will look to add to a stellar year that has already set a new record for the most WoO LMS wins in a single season. With his 16th WoO LMS victory of the year in the national tour's most recent race Sept. 13 at Michigan's Berlin Raceway, Lanigan broke his own single-season wins record from his championship-winning campaign in 2012.
With the championship virtually locked up, Lanigan's primary focus at Charlotte is adding even more victories to his 2014 tally.
"It's definitely nice to come down here and race and not have to worry about points," said Lanigan, who leads the WoO LMS all-time wins list with 69 career series victories. "The car's great right now and I can't wait until tomorrow."
Owens had perhaps the best night overall considering his first-round qualifying effort was second fastest behind Lanigan in Group B. With front-row starting spots for his heat race on both Friday and Saturday, Owens is in prime position to add to his five-career World Finals victories.
"We've got a good race car, got good qualifying times both rounds and looking forward to the rest of the weekend," said Owens, who owns an event-best five World Finals feature victories. "It's kinda like the same old Charlotte. Things seem to be working out for us right now. We've got a good starting spot in the heat races so maybe we can put a show on for the fans."
Lanigan's fast time in the first round of qualifying was quickest in Group B of the two-group session. Group A fast time went to 2006 WoO LMS champion Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y. Owens topped Group A of round two time trials while Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., was fastest in Group B.
Other drivers turning in notable efforts on Thursday include Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., who was fourth in his group in round one and second in round two; Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., who was third-fastest and fifth-fastest in his two qualifying groups; and Rick Eckert of York, Pa., who posted qualifying times among the top five of his group in both rounds.
The Bad Boy Buggies World of Outlaws World Finals continue on Friday and Saturday with gates opening at 3 p.m. and hot laps scheduled to begin at 4 each day. Each program will include a 50-lap A-Main for the WoO LMS, a 30-lap A-Main for the WoO Sprint Car Series and a 40-lap main event for the Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modifieds.
Second round qualifying
Jimmy Owens’s lap of 15.684 seconds during Group 1 held up throughout the second round of qualifying, making him the overall fastest timer for the session that set lineups for Saturday night’s World Finals heat races.
Owens will start Saturday’s first heat from the pole position. Other polesitters will be Jason Feger, Dale McDowell, Group 2 fast-timer Chris Madden (15.732 seconds), Tim McCreadie and Billy Moyer Jr.
Owens, McCreadie and Madden were fast enough in both rounds of qualifying to put themselves on the pole of heat races on both Friday and Saturday nights.
First group
Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 15.684
Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., 15.693
Dale McDowell (17M), Chickamauga, Ga., 15.872
James Rice (11R), Verona, Ky., 15.877
Jonathan Davenport (6), Blairsville, Ga., 15.901
Scott Bloomquist (0), Mooresburg, Tenn., 15.924
Billy Moyer (21), Batesville, Ark., 15.944
Austin Hubbard (11), Seaford, Del., 15.956
Jared Landers (777), Batesville, Ark., 16.053
Eric Jacobsen (5J), Rio Del Mar, Calif., 16.137
Donny Schatz (15), Fargo, N.D., 16.178
Vic Hill (1G), Mosheim, Tenn., 16.187
G.R. Smith (22*), Cornelius, N.C., 16.195
Morgan Bagley (14M), Tyler, Texas, 16.232
Eric Wells (18), Hazard, Ky., 16.273
Russell Erwin Jr. (32), Beaverdam, Va., 16.311
Matt Parks (15P), Three Springs, Pa., 16.339
Duane Chamberlain (20c), Richmond, Ind., 16.345
Chub Frank (1*), Bear Lake, Pa., 16.355
Frank Heckenast Jr. (99Jr), Orland Park, Ill., 16.364
Kyle Hardy (3V), Stephens City, Va., 16.37
Dan Stone (2), Thompson, Pa., 16.401
Anthony Burroughs (1B), Minden, La., 16.443
J.T. Spence (91), Winchester, Va., 16.461
Dale Hollidge (0H), Mechanicsville, Md., 16.479
Gregg Satterlee (22), Indiana, Pa., 16.497
Jeff Rine (2J), Danville, Pa., 16.535
Robbie Stuart (6R), DeRidder, La., 16.597
Dustin Mitchell (D8), Princeton, N.C., 16.651
Kerry King Jr. (KB1), Delmar, Del., 16.666
Cody Mahoney (4), Hanover, Ind., 16.802
Kenny Collins (1c), Colbert, Ga., 16.851
Nick Davis (92), Millsboro, Del., 16.888
Charlie Sandercock (57), Belleville, Ont., 16.981
Mike Altobelli Jr. (79), Saxton, Pa., 17.034
Jason Covert (72), York Haven, Pa., 17.287
Don Gordon (33), Chatham, Ont., 17.492
Bob Gordon (31), Keyser, W.Va., 18
Second group
Chris Madden (44M), Gray Court, S.C., 15.732
Tim McCreadie (39), Watertown, N.Y., 15.771
Billy Moyer Jr. (21Jr), Batesville, Ark., 15.81
Darrell Lanigan (29), Union, Ky., 15.824
Rick Eckert (124), York, Pa., 15.842
Chase Junghans (18c), Manhattan, Kan., 15.899
Steve Francis (15), Ashland, Ky., 15.919
Don O'Neal (5), Martinsville, Ind., 15.97
Shane Clanton (25), Zebulon, Ga., 15.972
Mason Zeigler (25z), Chalk Hill, Pa., 16.01
Donald McIntosh (7M), Dawsonville, Ga., 16.038
Ryan Gustin (19G), Marshaltown, Iowa, 16.04
Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 16.054
Josh Richards (1), Shinnston, W.Va., 16.056
John Blankenship (23), Williamson, W.Va., 16.072
Casey Roberts (101), Toccoa, Ga., 16.128
Clint Smith (44), Senoia, Ga., 16.134
Dennis Franklin (2), Gaffney, S.C., 16.136
Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 16.14
Ricky Thornton Jr. (20RT), Chandler, Ariz., 16.148
Bub McCool (32M), Vicksburg, Miss., 16.153
Ray Cook (53), Brasstown, N.C., 16.263
Boom Briggs (99b), Bear Lake, Pa., 16.303
Andrew Reaume (88), Blenheim, Ont., 16.397
Kyle Bronson (40), Brandon, Fla., 16.454
Jim Yoder (27), Selinsgrove, Pa., 16.461
Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 16.491
Walker Arthur (87), Forrest, Va., 16.512
D.J. Troutman (7), Hyndman, Pa., 16.824
Chuck Harper (00), Beverly, W.Va., 16.826
John Garvin Jr. (J4), Sarver, Pa., 16.864
Greg Roberson (19R), Waynesboro, Va., 16.873
Chad Hollenbeck (4DS), Kingsley, Pa., 17.051
Brian Ledbetter (07), Dallas, N.C., 17.512
Jim O'Hara (44J), Covington, Pa., 17.985
Brandon Overton (41), Appling, Ga., N/T
Tim Fuller (19), Watertown, N.Y., N/T
First round qualifying
Darrell Lanigan began his 2014 World of Outlaws Late Model Series championship coronation weekend in fine fashion, ripping off the overall fastest time in Thursday night’s first round of qualifying with a lap of 15.376 seconds.
Hitting the track late in Group 2, Lanigan topped fellow Club 29 campaigner Jimmy Owens (15.453 seconds) for quick time in the group and Group 1 fast-qualifier Tim McCreadie (15.470 seconds) for the overall honors.
Lanigan’s series-leading 11th fast time of the season put him on the pole position for the first heat race of Friday night’s program. Other heat polesitters will be McCreadie, Scott Bloomquist, Jonathan Davenport, Owens and Chris Madden.
First group
Tim McCreadie (39), Watertown, N.Y., 15.47
Scott Bloomquist (0), Mooresburg, Tenn., 15.502
Jonathan Davenport (6), Blairsville, Ga., 15.639
Rick Eckert (124), York, Pa., 15.67
Don O'Neal (5), Martinsville, Ind., 15.692
Billy Moyer (21), Batesville, Ark., 15.697
Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 15.716
Steve Francis (15), Ashland, Ky., 15.717
Eric Wells (18), Hazard, Ky., 15.772
Donald McIntosh (7M), Dawsonville, Ga., 15.84
Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 15.861
Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 15.893
John Blankenship (23), Williamson, W.Va., 15.912
Casey Roberts (101), Toccoa, Ga., 15.94
Duane Chamberlain (20c), Richmond, Ind., 15.992
Gregg Satterlee (22), Indiana, Pa., 15.998
Billy Moyer Jr. (21Jr), Batesville, Ark., 16.033
Chub Frank (1*), Bear Lake, Pa., 16.063
Morgan Bagley (14M), Tyler, Texas, 16.078
Walker Arthur (87), Forrest, Va., 16.163
Vic Hill (1G), Mosheim, Tenn., 16.182
John Garvin Jr. (J4), Sarver, Pa., 16.273
Ryan Gustin (19G), Marshaltown, Iowa, 16.366
D.J. Troutman (7), Hyndman, Pa., 16.371
Kyle Hardy (3V), Stephens City, Va., 16.391
Kenny Collins (1c), Colbert, Ga., 16.413
Tim Fuller (19), Watertown, N.Y., 16.437
Robbie Stuart (6R), DeRidder, La., 16.451
J.T. Spence (91), Winchester, Va., 16.48
Andrew Reaume (88), Blenheim, Ont., 16.562
Jim Yoder (27), Selinsgrove, Pa., 16.717
Cody Mahoney (4), Hanover, Ind., 16.788
Chuck Harper (00), Beverly, W.Va., 16.825
Bob Gordon (31), Keyser, W.Va., 17.301
Brian Ledbetter (07), Dallas, N.C., 17.373
Jason Covert (72), York Haven, Pa., 17.564
Jim O'Hara (44J), Covington, Pa., 17.712
Don Gordon (33), Chatham, Ont., N/T
Second group
Darrell Lanigan (29), Union, Ky., 15.376
Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 15.453
Chris Madden (44M), Gray Court, S.C., 15.568
Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., 15.609
James Rice (11R), Verona, Ky., 15.743
Mason Zeigler (25z), Chalk Hill, Pa., 15.75
Dale McDowell (17M), Chickamauga, Ga., 15.789
Donny Schatz (15), Fargo, N.D., 15.799
Dennis Franklin (2), Gaffney, S.C., 15.848
Frank Heckenast Jr. (99Jr), Orland Park, Ill., 15.907
Shane Clanton (25), Zebulon, Ga., 15.932
Eric Jacobsen (5J), Rio Del Mar, Calif., 15.998
Boom Briggs (99b), Bear Lake, Pa., 16.001
Josh Richards (1), Shinnston, W.Va., 16.005
Dan Stone (2), Thompson, Pa., 16.025
Chase Junghans (18c), Manhattan, Kan., 16.035
Bub McCool (32M), Vicksburg, Miss., 16.065
Jared Landers (777), Batesville, Ark., 16.071
Austin Hubbard (11), Seaford, Del., 16.102
Anthony Burroughs (1B), Minden, La., 16.114
Clint Smith (44), Senoia, Ga., 16.129
Jeff Rine (2J), Danville, Pa., 16.186
Kerry King Jr. (KB1), Delmar, Del., 16.193
Dale Hollidge (0H), Mechanicsville, Md., 16.207
Ray Cook (53), Brasstown, N.C., 16.215
Ricky Thornton Jr. (20RT), Chandler, Ariz., 16.244
Matt Parks (15P), Three Springs, Pa., 16.289
Dustin Mitchell (D8), Princeton, N.C., 16.366
G.R. Smith (22*), Cornelius, N.C., 16.368
Chad Hollenbeck (4DS), Kingsley, Pa., 16.429
Russell Erwin Jr. (32), Beaverdam, Va., 16.487
Kyle Bronson (40), Brandon, Fla., 16.563
Mike Altobelli Jr. (79), Saxton, Pa., 16.699
Charlie Sandercock (57), Belleville, Ont., 16.829
Nick Davis (92), Millsboro, Del., 17.083
Greg Roberson (19R), Waynesboro, Va., 17.271
Brandon Overton (41), Appling, Ga., N/T
Pre-race notes
The field of 75 cars topped last year’s turnout by a single entry. Don Gordon of Chatham, Ont., put the roster over last year’s number when he signed in after the drivers’ meeting; his long haul south was lengthened by a delay at the border. … Brandon Overton of Appling, Ga., is driving the Rattliff Motorsports No. 41 Bloomquist Race Car normally campaigned by Brad Neat. The Rattliff team’s crew chief, Jeff Gullett, called Overton with the ride offer earlier this week shortly after news broke that the rising 23-year-old driver had split up with Troy Baird. … James Rice of Verona, Ky., is making his first-ever start at Charlotte. His only previous visit to the track was in 2009 when he was a crewman for his father Jerry, whose weekend ended inauspiciously with a turn-three flip. … World of Outlaws regular Morgan Bagley of Tyler, Texas, is driving a Club 29 car that he debuted two weeks in an unsanctioned event at Mississippi’s Whynot Motorsports Park. … Another first-time Charlotte entrant is Russell Erwin of Beaverdam, Va. A 24-time feature winner in 2014 — mostly in Steel-Block and Crate Late Model competition — has run just five Super Late Models events this season. … Andrew Reaume of Blenheim, Ont., is a World Finals entrant for the third consecutive year, but he is racing for just the sixth time in 2014. He has been sidelined much of the year battling Guillain-Barre syndrome, a serious disorder that occurs when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks part of the nervous system. … The hood of Scott Bloomquist’s car sports a tribute to his longtime sponsor, Bob Miller, who passed away on Sunday after suffering a stroke.
Correction: Fixes winningest driver in World Finals history to Jimmy Owens alone.
