Eldora Speedway
Live updates: Bloomquist wins fourth World 100
By Todd Turner, Alli Collis and Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt.com
Scott Bloomquist shows where he finished. (rickschwalliephotos.com)
ROSSBURG, Ohio (Sept. 6) — Live blog-style updates from Saturday’s 44th annual World 100, the $47,000-to-win UMP DIRTcar event at the half-mile Eldora Speedway. All results are unofficial (complete World 100 coverage):
11:47 p.m. | Bloomquist wins
Scott Bloomquist won his fourth World 100 and first in 13 years on Saturday at Eldora Speedway, and it’s hard to imagine he ever won it with a better car than this one.
Rallying from the tail after a lap-20 penalty knocked him out of the lead, the Hall of Fame driver from Mooresburg, Tenn., roared back to front, overtaking Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., on the 72nd lap and dominating the rest of the way for $47,000 and his fourth globe trophy.
Dream XX winner McDowell finished nearly eight seconds behind as the runner-up while 22nd-starting Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., was third. Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., and Matt Miller of Whitehouse, Ohio, rounded out the top five.
Bloomquist initially took the lead from McDowell on the 19th lap, but it was short-lived when he was penalized to the tail during a lap-20 caution period. Bloomquist was using a Lexan-supported window net that opposing crew members protested could assist aerodynamics. Officials levied the penalty at that point, saying the window net was an unapproved device.
That restored McDowell to the lead, and he was in control through the midway point when 21st-starting Mason Zeigler stormed to the front and began pressuring the leader.
A lap-61 caution (that became a red flag) changed the complexion of the race when Mason Zeigler was trying to slide under McDowell, got into the inside wall and spun around, sliding up the track and collecting third-running Jimmy Mars.
That moved Bloomquist into second, and he stalked McDowell for a dozen laps before taking control and lapping all but nine competitors.
Besides the race-changing lap-61 caution, three yellow flags slowed the action, the first for a Jared Landers flat tire on lap 20, then again on lap 30 for a slowing Jackie Boggs. A lap-53 yellow appeared when sixth-running Bobby Pierce slowed with a broken oil belt and fell shy of entering the turn-four pit entrance.
Eddie Carrier retired on the 10th lap with driveshaft problems and Brandon Kinzer’s battery died before the race started.
Correction: Clarifies window net ruling.
44th annual World 100
Pos. Driver (car no.), hometown, chassis, earnings
1. Scott Bloomquist (0), Mooresburg, Tenn., Sweet-Bloomquist, $47,000
2. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., Warrior, $15,000
3. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., Club 29, $10,000
4. Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., Hustler, $7,500
5. Matt Miller (3), Whitehouse, Ohio, Rocket, $6,000
6. Kent Robinson (7r), Bloomington, Ind., Club 29, $5,000
7. Rick Eckert (1), York, Pa., Rocket, $4,000
8. Gregg Satterlee (22), Indiana, Pa., Rocket, $3,500
9. Terry Phillips (75), Springfield, Mo., Rocket, $3,000
10. Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., Rocket, $2,500
11. Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., Bloomquist, $2,475
12. John Blankenship (23), Williamson, W.Va., Rocket, $2,450
13. Billy Moyer (21), Batesville, Ark., Longhorn, $2,425
14. Jonathan Davenport (6), Blairsville, Ga., Longhorn, $2,400
15. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., Barry Wright, $2,375
16. Darrell Lanigan (29), Union, Ky., Club 29, $2,350
17. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., Rocket, $2,325
18. Jason Hughes (12), Watts, Okla., Bloomquist, $2,300
19. Brandon Overton, Appling, Ga., Bloomquist, $2,275
20. Jeff Babcock (1), Wayne, Ohio, Rocket, $2,250
21. R.J. Conley (71c), Wheelersburg, Ohio, Rocket, $2,225
22. Mason Zeigler (25z), Chalk Hill, Pa., Longhorn, $2,220
23. Jimmy Mars (28), Menomonie, Wis., MB Customs, $2,175
24. Wendell Wallace (1), Batesville, Ark., Black Diamond, $2,150
25. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., Pierce, $2,125
26. Shane Clanton (25), Zebulon, Ga., Capital, $2,100
27. Jared Landers (777), Batesville, Ark., Rocket, $2,090
28. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y., Rocket, $2,080
29. Jackie Boggs (4B), Grayson, Ky., Swartz, $2,065
30. Dustin Linville (D8), Bryantsville, Ky., Swartz, $2,050
31. Eddie Carrier Jr. (28), Salt Rock, W.Va., Rocket, $2,025
32. Brandon Kinzer (18), Allen, Ky., MB Customs, $2,000
Fast qualifier (among 120 cars): Jeff Babcock, 15.611 seconds
Heat race winners: Boggs, Bloomquist, Robinson, Madden, McDowell, Marlar
Consolation winners: Zeigler, Owens
Consolation scramble winners: Don O’Neal, Brian Shirley
Provisional starters: Babcock, Overton, McCreadie, Blankenship.
Thursday feature winners: Owens, McDowell
Friday feature winners: Davenport, Miller
10:30 p.m. | Pace laps at Eldora
The 32-car field is pacing the half-mile. Because of limited network capabilities an Internet issues, updates during the 100-lapper will likely be limited. Brandon Kinzer's car was pushed to the infield during pace laps; it's unclear if he'll be able to start.
10:11 p.m. | Driver intros
The 32-driver starting field is being introduced.
10:02 p.m. | Pre-feature tidbits
The track’s 50-50 paid $24,902. … Rocket Chassis has 12 starters to lead all chassis manufacturers. Rocket is followed by Bloomquist Race Cars (4), Club 29 Race Cars (3), and Longhorn Chassis (3). Manufacturers with two cars apiece: Swartz and MB Customs. One car apiece for Warrior, Hustler, Pierce, Barry Wright, Black Diamond and Capital. … Three states were tied with four representatives apiece: Georgia, Kentucky and Illinois. There were three drivers apiece from Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Arkansas and two for West Virginia. Single-driver states: South Carolina, Wisconsin, New York, Indiana, Oklahoma and Missouri.. ... Tim McCreadie and John Blankenship got provisionals based on Thursday-Friday prelim finishes. ... Jeff Babcock and Brandon Overton got the fast-time provisionals.
9:30 p.m. | Second consy: Owens wins
Polesitter Jimmy Owens turned back early challenges from R.J. Conley and pulled away to capture the second consy. Conley finished a solid second with Shane Clanton losing the third spot to Billy Moyer on the final restart. The battle for the fourth and fifth transferring spots was a tight much of the way with Brian Shirley losing the fifth spot to Brandon Kinzer on the final restart.
Second consolation finish (top five transfer): Jimmy Owens, R.J. Conley, Billy Moyer, Shane Clanton, Brandon Kinzer, Brian Shirley, Chad Ruhlman, Brad Neat, Frank Heckenast Jr., Rod Conley, Donald McIntosh, Billy Moyer Jr., Devin Moran, Cody Mahoney, Jacob Hawkins, Timothy Culp, Chase Junghans, Duane Chamberlain. DNF: Rodney Melvin, Chris Simpson, Wayne Chinn, Shannon Thornsberry, Jon Hodgkiss. Second consolation scramble winner: Brian Shirley.
9:26 p.m. | Second consy: Chamberlain's demise
Just after losing one of five transfer spots, Duane Chamberlain blew a tire on the frontstretch to draw a lap-14 caution in the second consy. Pieces of Chamberlain's tire were strewn down the frontstretch. The top five spots for the green-white-checkered restart: Jimmy Owens, R.J. Conley, Shane Clanton, Billy Moyer and Brian Shirley.
9:11 p.m. | Second consy: Chinn's barrel-roll
In the lap-one restart on the second consy, Wayne Chinn barrel-rolled just past flagstand in a violent accident. He immediately told emergency responders he was OK. Several other cars were involved, some sliding to avoid the mess. His car was gently put back on its wheels by the safety crew so Chinn could climb out. "We’re all right," he told roving reporter Dustin Jarrett. "We’ll get 'er fixed up and come do it again." Chinn's car got high in the air on it's second rollover, but didn't appear to hit the wall or the fence although flagger Rick Monroe got an up-close-and-personal look at the undercarriage as he went by.
9:06 p.m. | Second consy: Early yellow
Jon Hodgkiss spun inside turn four on the first lap of the 20-lap second consy. One lap was scored with Jimmy Owens leading Shane Clanton, R.J. Conley, Brian Shirley and Billy Moyer. The top five finishers transfer.
8:59 p.m. | Fast T-Mac now struggling
Tim McCreadie’s positive performance in the preliminary features — he was one of just three drivers to score a top-five finish both nights — was forgotten after he struggled to a 10th-place finish in his heat.
“I don’t know what the problem is,” McCreadie said. “Everybody who was fast the last couple nights seemed to be fast in hot laps tonight, but we weren’t. ... We just seem to miss it on Saturday here. At least we’ll still be in the show though.”
Indeed, McCreadie’s prelim runs will allow him to claim a provisional starting spot, putting him 31st in the starting lineup for the World 100.
8:58 p.m. | Korte-Clanton tangle
Randy Korte’s bid for a starting berth in his final World 100 appearance ended on lap five of the fifth heat when he slapped the turn-two wall after contact with Shane Clanton, who was attempting a slider to overtake Korte for the lead.
Korte showed his displeasure with Clanton but driving slowly alongside the Georgia driver under caution before pulling into the pit area. The veteran driver then blasted Clanton in an interview broadcast over the p.a. system and the live pay-per-view broadcast.
“That’s just Shane,” Korte said. “That’s why they call him the Big Dummy … he can’t drive.”
Clanton, who went on to finish fourth with damage to the right side of his spoiler, objected to Korte’s critical assessment of the situation.
“He cut me off going down the front straightaway so I just turned and did the same thing to him going into turn one,” Clanton said. “I thought I was clear a long ways, but obviously people can’t take a slide job.”
8:52 p.m. | First consy: Zeigler wins
Fifth-starting Jonathan Davenport led every lap, but Mason Zeigler was elevated to victory when Davenport was docked two spots for jumping a start. Davenport slipped under polesitter Dennis Erb Jr. on the first lap, then turned back an early challenge from Zeigler and raced to a victory in the first consolation. The eighth-starting Zeigler faded but held onto second (then inheriting first) with Dustin Linville moving up to second and Davenport third. Erb and 15th-starting Shannon Babb getting the other transfer spots. Babb slipped by both Bub McCool and Don O'Neal late in the race.
First consolation finish (top five transfer): Mason Zeigler, Dustin Linville, Jonathan Davenport, Dennis Erb Jr., Shannon Babb, Bub McCool, Don O'Neal, John Blankenship, Tyler Reddick, Brandon Sheppard, Brian Ruhlman, Austin Hubbard, Jason Riggs, Rusty Schlenk, Randy Weaver, Jon Henry, Jay Johnson, Tanner English, Doug Drown, Chris Brown, Nick Latham, Josh Adkins, Curtis Deisenroth. DNF: Steve Casebolt, Tim McCreadie. Scratched: Earl Pearson Jr. First consolation scramble winner: Don O'Neal.
8:44 p.m. | First consy on the track
The first consolation race is on the track. It appears Earl Pearson Jr. is going to be a scratched and Tim McCreadie, tagging the tail, is apparently in line for a provisional going to drivers with the best combined finishes from Thursday-Friday prelims.
8:41 p.m. | Consolation consolations
The sixth-place — and non-transferring drivers — in both consolation races will receive consolation prizes. The Bert Transmission Did Not Qualify Award presents a Bert transmission, complete with shifter linkage, to the first non-transferring driver from the first consolation. The ButlerBuilt Did Not Qualify Award presents a full-containment seat to the first non-transferring driver from the second consolation.
8:35 p.m. | Consolation lineups
(20 laps; top five transfer)
First consolation
Row 1: Dennis Erb Jr., Bub McCool
Row 2: Tyler Reddick, John Blankenship
Row 3: Jonathan Davenport, Earl Pearson Jr.
Row 4: Don O’Neal, Mason Zeigler
Row 5: Dustin Linville, Josh Adkins
Row 6: Nick Latham, Chris Brown
Row 7: Brandon Sheppard, Brian Ruhlman
Row 8: Shannon Babb, Rusty Schlenk
Row 9: Curtis Deisenroth, Randy Weaver
Row 10: Tanner English, Jon Henry
Row 11: Steve Casebolt, Doug Drown
Row 12: Jay Johnson, Jason Riggs
Second consolation
Row 1: Jimmy Owens, Shane Clanton
Row 2: Brian Shirley, R.J. Conley
Row 3: Eric Wells, Duane Chamberlain
Row 4: Billy Moyer, Brandon Kinzer
Row 5: Brad Neat, Cody Mahoney
Row 6: Chad Ruhlman, Rod Conley
Row 7: Frank Heckenast Jr., Donald McIntosh
Row 8: Rodney Melvin, Billy Moyer Jr.
Row 9: Chase Junghans, Jacob Hawkins
Row 10: Devin Moran, Shannon Thornsberry
Row 11: Chris Simpson, Timothy Culp
Row 12: Jon Hodgkiss, Wayne Chinn
8:25 p.m. | Marlar's speedy new car
Sixth-heat winner Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., debuted a new car this weekend after a wild rollover in last Sunday's Hillbilly 100 at I-77 Speedway, and it's a good one. Dominating the sixth heat, Marlar earned the pole of Saturday’s main event. “(The) Car felt good there. This is such a racy track," he said. "We don’t run here a lot. It was still pedal to the medal. You never know."
8:22 p.m. | Heat 6: Marlar dominates
Mike Marlar dominated a heat race like no one else, building a straightaway lead by halfway and cruising to a victory that gives him the pole for the 100-lapper. Polesitter Eddie Carrier Jr. vainly tried to keep up, but he was just as far ahead of third-finishing Wendell Wallace, who made his first World 100 since 2007.
Sixth heat finish (top three transfer): Mike Marlar, Eddie Carrier Jr., Wendell Wallace, Brian Shirley, Duane Chamberlain, Brad Neat, Rod Conley, Rodney Melvin, Jacob Hawkins, Chris Simpson, Wayne Chinn, Aaron Scott, Jim Shereck, Jeep Van Wormer, Brian Diveley, Austin Smith. Scratched: Scott James, Ron McQuerry, Butch Kruckeberg.
8:15 p.m. | McDowell catches a break
Dream XX winner Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., captured a victory in Thursday’s 25-lap weekend opener and now finds himself on the front row of the 100-lapper. Picking up a win in Saturday’s fifth heat race, he’ll start outside the front row, 20 places higher than his Dream starting spot back in June. “The car was pretty good,” McDowell said. "We got a break with those guys getting excited in front of us. Glad to have a shot at making the sweep anyways. We’re going to give it our best.”
8:13 p.m. | Heat 5: McDowell wins
Dale McDowell took the lead from Shane Clanton on a lap-seven restart and led the rest of the way over Jimmy Mars and 10th-starting Terry Phillips. Shane Clanton, who made contact with a slide job that took the lead from Randy Korte, wasn't nearly as fast after that, finishing a distant fourth with Eric Wells in fifth.
Fifth heat finish (top three transfer): Dale McDowell, Jimmy Mars, Terry Phillips, Shane Clanton, Eric Wells, Brandon Kinzer, Chad Ruhlman, Donald McIntosh, Chase Junghans, Shannon Thornsberry, Jon Hodgkiss, Mark Dotson, Cecil Eunice. DNF: Terry Wolfenbarger, Randy Korte, Steve Francis, Delmas Conley, James Rice, Bill Lewis. Scratched: Chris Nash.
8:08 p.m. | Heat 5: Korte out
Randy Korte was the victim of a Shane Clanton slide job on the restart. Korte slowed and drew a caution, then threatened to retaliate during the slowdown before pulling pitside.
8:05 p.m. | Heat 5: Top-four breakaway
Donald McIntosh spun for the second time, this time in turn four on the fourth lap, drawing a yellow and halting the four-car breakaway of Randy Korte, Shane Clanton, Dale McDowell and Jimmy Mars. Eric Wells is fifth but he and everyone else are having a hard time keeping up. Steve Francis parked his car during the caution.
8 p.m. | Heat 5: Junghans-Conley tangle
On the start of the fifth heat, 12th-starting Delmas Conley and 14th-starting Chase Junghans got tangle up in turn one. That triggered a complete restart, but Donald McIntosh (in Billy Ogle Jr.'s car), spun in turn one to reset the field again. James Rice headed pitside.
7:56 p.m. | Heat 4: Madden wins
While Chris Madden cruised the final laps, Bobby Pierce won a slide-job battle with Darrell Lanigan for the second spot. Lanigan went by Pierce for second, but Pierce threw everything he had at Lanigan to get it back while 12th-starting Jimmy Owens settled for fourth behind him. Chris Madden skipped his post-scales interview.
Fourth heat finish (top three transfer): Chris Madden, Bobby Pierce, Darrell Lanigan, Jimmy Owens, R.J. Conley, Billy Moyer, Cody Mahoney, Frank Heckenast Jr., Billy Moyer Jr., Devin Moran, Timothy Culp, Steve Lance Jr., Ross Nicastri, Dan Schlieper, Casey Noonan, Charles LaPlant, George Lee, Tim Sabo. DNF: Ryan Gustin. Scratched: Ernie Cordier.
7:52 p.m. | Heat 4: Gustin out
Ryan Gustin drew a lap-10 caution in the fourth heat with leader Chris Madden turning back several challenges from Bobby Pierce. The rundown: Madden, Pierce, Darrell Lanigan, R.J. Conley, Billy Moyer and Jimmy Owens. Polesitter Casey Noonan ran third early in the race but faded from contention after getting into the wall.
7:51 p.m. | Heat 4: Pierce leads (briefly)
Chris Madden leads early in the fourth heat, except for the brief moment when Bobby Pierce made a daring turn-four slide job. Madden quickly answered back and was back out front by the time they hit the start-finish line.
7:49 p.m. | Robinson continues rolling
Last weekend’s Baltes Classic winner Kent Robinson of Bloomington, Ind., who finished runner-up to Jimmy Owens in Thursday’s 25-lap even feature, continued his string of strong runs at Eldora with a victory in Saturday's third heat. He’ll line up fourth in Saturday’s main event, making his third World 100 start. “This car’s really good right now,” Robinson said. "It’s just fun to drive. Coming here is exciting, but to win a heat race is just awesome."
7:48 p.m. | Babcock's provisional
Despite knowing his overall fast-time honor for the weekend assured him a starting spot in the World 100 if he failed to qualify through a heat, Jeff Babcock of Wayne, Ohio, had no plans to rely on that luxury when he drove his car into the staging area for the first 15-lap preliminary. Then his plans changed.
“I was going to race (in an attempt to move up from the sixth starting spot) until the last second there,” Babcock said. “But right before we got ready to go out they (Best Performance Motorsports team members) told me to go to the rear and just take a few laps. They said they wanted to do the smart thing and take the provisional.
“I thought my car was good enough to be up there going back-and-forth with those guys, but our main focus was getting the car better for tonight.” Babcock will take the green flag from the 19th spot in the World 100. It will be his second career start in the event.
7:46 p.m. | Heat 3: Robinson's a winner
Kent Robison ducked under Gregg Satterlee to take the lead on a lap-seven restart and led the rest of the way. Miller used slide jobs to rally from his ninth starting spot and into second, dropping Satterlee to third with three laps remaining.
Heat three finish (top three transfer): Kent Robinson, Matt Miller, Gregg Satterlee, Tyler Reddick, Earl Pearson Jr., Dustin Linville, Chris Brown, Shannon Babb, Randy Weaver, Steve Casebolt, Jason Riggs, Mike Spatola, David Breazeale, Tim Lance, Jason Welshan, Curtis Roberts, J.T. Conley, Scott Knepley, Don Gordon. DNF: Mack McCarter.
7:40 p.m. | Heat 3: McCarter spins
Mack McCarter spun on lap seven in turn four, halting the third heat with race-long leader Gregg Satterlee out front. Kent Robinson is second with Tyler Reddick, who was running second when he got into the turn-four wall, holding on to third over polesitter Earl Pearson Jr.
7:37 p.m. | Bloomquist ready for a win
After charging from the seventh starting spot, Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., is ready for his first World 100 win since 2001. "Way too many second place finishes here,” Bloomquist said. "We’ve always been in the hunt, but this car feels awesome. Hopefully this will be our night."
7:35 p.m. | Heat 2: Bloomquist wins
Scott Bloomquist wrapped up the second heat in a green-white-checkered finish, easily pulling away on the final restart. Rick Eckert finished a solid second while 15th-starting Bub McCool stole the third spot late before 11th-starting Jared Landers regained the position exiting turn four on the final lap for the final transfer spot. McCool was fourth and Jonathan Davenport's damaged machine limped home fifth.
Second heat finish (top three transfer): Scott Bloomquist, Rick Eckert, Jared Landers, Bub McCool, Jonathan Davenport, Mason Zeigler, Nick Latham, Brian Ruhlman, Curtis Deisenroth, Tim McCreadie, Jay Johnson, Austin Hubbard, Brandon Overton, Don Hammer, Rodney Hamblin, Jon Henry. DNF: Brian Birkhofer, Brian Gray. Scratched: Billy Ogle Jr., Walker Arthur.
7:32 p.m. | Heat 2: Birkhofer's heartbreak
Race-dominating Brian Birkhofer slowed on the 11th lap, handing the lead to seventh-starting Scott Bloomquist, who leads on lap 14 after Austin Hubbard spun off turn four while trying to grab the final transfer spot. The rundown on lap 14: Scott Bloomquist, Rick Eckert, Jonathan Davenport, Jared Landers and Mason Zeigler. Birkhofer's car lost power. Davenport was running a solid second but got into the wall in turn three and four trying to avoid the spinning car of Brian Gray. Davenport has damage but he's trying to hang on, already surviving one slide-job from Landers.
7:28 p.m. | Big win for Boggs
Caught up in traffic in Dayton and missing Thursday's racing, then spending time at the hospital today with a child bitten by a spider, Boggs hadn't taken many lap this weekend before scoring his heat race victory. “We’ve had the cards stacked against us all weekend,” said Boggs, who also overcame a penalty in the but was glad he wasn't docked for missing today's drivers' meeting. "All I got to say is its great racing tonight. This racetrack’s awesome."
7:24 p.m. | Heat 1: Boggs wins
Overcoming a mid-race penalty for jumping a restart, Jackie Boggs stole the lead from Jason Hughes with a turn-four slide job after a lap-11 restart and held off Jason Feger, who was right on the tail of the winner. Polesitter Jason Hughes got the third transfer spot for his first World 100 start and Dennis Erb Jr., who led laps 2-10 was fourth.
First heat finish (top three transfer): Jackie Boggs, Jason Feger, Jason Hughes, Dennis Erb Jr., John Blankenship, Don O'Neal, Josh Adkins, Brandon Sheppard, Rusty Schlenk, Tanner English, Doug Drown, McKay Wenger, Jerry Bowersock, Tommy Bailey. DNF: Bryant Dickinson, Morgan Bagley, Greg Johnson, Vic Hill, Jeff Babcock. Scratched: Andrew Gordon.
7:20 p.m. | Heat 1: Bagley out
Morgan Bagley got into the turn-two wall for a lap-11 yellow just after Jason Hughes regained the lead from Dennis Erb Jr. Ninth-starting Jason Feger followed Hughes past Erb before the caution flew and Jackie Boggs is fourth. Don O'Neal started 10th and ran as high as third but was shuffled back when he got up under the nose of Jackie Boggs when Boggs slid in front of O'Neal at the top of the frontstretch.
7:16 p.m. | Heat 1: Another yellow
Dennis Erb Jr. leads after seven laps when a caution flew for a slowing Bryant Dickinson. Jackie Boggs was up to second but docked two spots for jumping the previous restart.
7:14 p.m. | Heat 1: Sheppard has flat
In the first heat, Dennis Erb Jr. took the lead from polesitter Jason Hughes on the second lap with Hughes and Morgan Bagley giving chase when a lap-four yellow appeared for Brandon Sheppard's flat right-rear tire, apparently caused when he and Don O'Neal made contact. O'Neal started 10th and holds the fourth spot for the restart.
7:10 p.m. | Heats ready to roll
Pre-race ceremonies wrapped up with the special display of state flags, national anthem and more. It appears overall fast qualifier Jeff Babcock might will take his provisional as he dropped to the tail of the first heat lineup.
6:54 p.m. | Other award winners
Aaron Scott of Newark, Ohio, won the Team Simpson Dirtiest Uniform award and Ernie Cordier of Brodhead, Ky., won the Bicknell Racing Products Open Trailer award.
6:51 p.m. | Miller wins Best Appearing Car
Matt Miller, whose flashy No. 3 design for his Sunoco Race Fuels car sports huge numbers, won $500 for Best Appearing Car. His designer Warpaint Motorsport Graphix also receives $500.
The unique wrap design on Matt Miller’s Rick Delong-owned car — a clean, bright look featuring a huge Sunoco logo and an equally distinctive No. 3 — was deemed the DirtonDirt.com Best Appearing Car by vote of media members in attendance. The honor brought Miller and his race car letterer, Allen Markey of Warpaint Graphix
“ASI Racewear didn’t want to have same-old, same-old look to the car (and accompanying T-shirts), so they got with Allen Markey and he came up with this design,” said Miller, who won a preliminary feature on Friday night and starts ninth in tonight’s third heat. “We thought it looked pretty cool so we said, ‘Let’s do it.’ We figured it would stand out.”
Miller’s effort doesn’t carry a major sponsorship deal with Sunoco, but he does receive assistance from the well-known company. The 42-year-old driver has close ties to Sunoco through his full-time job as the race fuels manager and sales rep for Michigan-based Corrigan Oil, one of the most prolific suppliers of retail fuel for Sunoco.
6:45 p.m. | Pre-race ceremonies
Pre-race ceremonies are underway. Check out the detailed schedule far below. ... In his interview, Thursday prelim winner Dale McDowell said the track surface is different than the first two nights. "It's going to be a little headache figuring out what we're doing to do," he said.
6:40 p.m. | Confidence boost for Korte
Randy Korte might have fallen just short of victory in Friday night’s 25-lap even feature — he was overtaken for the lead by Matt Miller and settled for second place — but his performance gave him plenty of confidence for tonight’s action.
“I just don’t have as much experience as Matt Miller here,” said the 49-year-old Korte, who is making the final World 100 appearance of his career as he closes in on his retirement from driving at the end of the 2014 season. “He knows a lot more about this place and he found that middle groove a little earlier than I did. As soon as I got in his groove I felt like I was just as good as him, but it was too late.
“If we can run like we did last night, we’ll have a shot tonight.”
Korte will start from the pole position in the fifth heat, giving him a shot to earn the outside pole starting spot for the World 100 with a victory in the 20-lapper.
6:37 p.m. | Hot laps wrapping up
The last session of hot laps is ready to roll. Among the quickest drivers on the clock: Randy Weaver, Jimmy Owens, Steve Casebolt, Steve Francis and R.J. Conley.
6:12 p.m. | Davenport's on the edge
Jonathan Davenport understands the danger of being too aggressive at Eldora — he lived it three months ago during the 100-lap Dream when he got too overanxious with his very fast K&L Rumley car and tangled with Don O’Neal, knocking both him and O’Neal from contention after he had cracked the top five. But he also knows a driver can’t hold back, so it takes intense focus to maintain a semblance of control and avoid disaster.
“You’re always on the edge here,” said Davenport, who starts tonight’s second heat from the pole position hot off winning a preliminary feature Friday night. “I’ll tell you what, I worked my tail off out there (en route to his 25-lap win) — you know, just sweating it out. Some people make it look easy driving around here, but I’ll tell you what, it’s elbows-up every lap. That end down there (turns one and two) you’re running the cushion so you’re kind of getting after it, and this end down here (three and four) you gotta be real smooth and finesse it, so it’s like two totally different racetracks. It’s a real challenge.”
6:07 p.m. | Hot laps roll
Just as hot laps got rolling, the sun popped behind the grandstands for the first time today. Jason Feger was the only driver under the 16-second mark through the first two sessions.
6:04 p.m. | Tough challenge for Overton
Brandon Overton of Appling, Ga., opened eyes on Friday night by turning the second-fastest lap overall of the weekend, assuring himself the opportunity to start his first-ever World 100 feature with a fast-time provisional if he fails to qualify through a heat. Now he’s focused on racing as well as he time-trialed.
“Qualifying here is all about holding it wide-open all the way around — that’s the easy part for me,” said Overton, a 23-year-old talent whose fortunes have risen this year with his move to Troy Baird’s team. “The slick (surface) part is what I’ve been struggling with, but we’re working on it.”
Overton went backwards in Friday night’s even-number feature, finishing eighth after starting sixth. He said a tire choice that was too soft cost him.
Tonight Overton will need to do some hustling to avoid falling back on his fast-time provisional. He starts sixth in the stacked second heat thanks to the invert, behind such notables as Jonathan Davenport, Brian Birkhofer, Austin Hubbard, Rick Eckert and Tim McCreadie and one spot ahead of Scott Bloomquist.
5:59 p.m. | Pre-race tidbits
Jonathan Davenport and Brian Birkhofer start alongside one another on the front row of the second heat, and they spent the afternoon side-by-side, too, at the driver autograph session. … Four different chassis won preliminary features: Jimmy Owens (Club 29), Dale McDowell (Warrior), Jonathan Davenport (Longhorn) and Matt Miller (Rocket). … The sixth heat is the only one without a previous winner of one of Eldora’s major races, the Dream, World 100 or Eldora Million. … Jason Hughes and Casey Noonan are the only two heat polesitters who have never made the World 100 starting field. ... Among drivers expected to scratch tonight: Scott James and Billy Ogle Jr.
5:55 p.m. | Wallace also in sixth heat
Wendell Wallace of Batesville, Ark., is also in the sixth heat, and it’s hard for those drivers to not think about starting on the pole of the World 100 if they win. Wallace, however, says he’s just focused on getting into the show with any of the three transfer spots in the heat.
"If we can charge up there and win, that’d be great starting on the pole,” said Wallace, who has fielded the Illinois-based Moring Motorsports ride in major events this season.
Wallace says the Black Diamond Chassis out of the shop of the team’s crew chief Ronnie Stuckey is the “best equipment there is … there’s no excuses. We’ve just gotta get a feel for this new race car."
5:52 p.m. | Carrier has shot at pole
Sunoco North-South 100 winner Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va., is the polesitter of Saturday’s sixth heat race. The winner of the heat will start on the pole of Saturday’s 100-lapper. "At least we get to start on the front row for one of the times any way,” Carrier said. "It seems like we kind of miss the invert or qualify a little too good, but just getting in the show is the big deal."
5:50 p.m. | McIntosh in Ogle's car
Veteran Billy Ogle Jr.’s first Eldora appearance since 2002 has come to an early end because he came down with the flu and headed home to Knoxville, Tenn., this morning, but his Blount Motorsports No. 201 will still be action tonight.
Blount Motorsports crew chief David Bryant said the team has decided to put Donald McIntosh, a 21-year-old from Dawsonville, Ga., in his first year of regular Dirt Late Model action, in Ogle’s seat. A first-time World 100 entrant, McIntosh’s own car was damaged in a heat-race accident on Friday night (he clipped Steve Francis’s sliding machine between turns three and four) and his team was unable to begin repairing the Club 29 machine as planned earlier today because an apparent electrical problem left them unable to open the door of their trailer.
“We got to know Donald this year running the Southern Nationals,” Bryant said. “He’s a good kid and has a lot of talent, so we’ll give him a chance and see what he can do."
McIntosh is scheduled to start 13th in the fifth heat. Officials will allow him to keep the position even though he’s changing cars because of the damage to his primary machine, but he will have to put his own No. 7 on the door of Ogle’s car.
5:47 p.m. | Pearson eyes globe No. 2
Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., is a veteran to Eldora Speedway. He outran Jeep Van Wormer, Shannon Babb and others to capture a victory in the 2006 World 100 and is looking for his second globe this weekend.
“It’d be big for us, Pearson said of another World 100 victory. "We kind of struggled the last couple of years. Any time you can win a race here, I don’t care if it’s just one of these 25 lap races, whatever it may be, it’s big for your confidence and your career.”
Pearson wil start on the pole of the third heat next to Gregg Satterlee of Indiana, Pa. “Hopefully we can get out front early and run up around the top of the wall,” Pearson said. "That’s where it’s been fast all weekend. If we can’t get out front there early, we just slide up in line there somewhere and probably do a slide job later in the heat race.”
5:45 p.m. | Hughes ready for action
Lucas Oil Series rookie Jason Hughes of Watts, Okla., will start on the pole of Saturday’s first heat race at Eldora Speedway. The modified ace is still getting a feel for the famed racetrack and is hoping to transfer into his first World 100.
"I’m glad they’re giving us some hot laps,” Hughes said during Saturday's driver autograph session. "It’ll make better racing. I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully we’ll get out there and hold our own and make it into the show and get 100 laps of experience here at this big show.”
5:25 p.m. | Backup car for Francis
Steve Francis’s hard wreck in the fifth even heat on Friday night forced him to pull out his backup Clint Bowyer Racing Barry Wright Race Car for tonight’s program — well, after he received permission from UMP DIRTcar officials to make the change.
Rules for Eldora’s expanded World 100 weekend do not allow teams to switch to a backup car unless the primary machine they entered is deemed to be damaged beyond immediate repair at the track. UMP DIRTcar technical officials checked Francis’s car and agreed that the bent frame it sustained in the crash left it unfixable for further competition this weekend, opening the door for Francis to focus on properly readying his backup car rather than make a hasty patchwork fix of the damaged vehicle.
Francis’s chief mechanic, Tommy Grecco, and his assistants went to work early this morning to prepare the second car. It was a busy morning for Grecco and Co., who not only worked on the machine’s setup but also had to pull the engine out of the backup and replace it with the team’s No. 1 powerplant that was in the crashed car.
“We started at 9 this morning and we were done with all the engine swapping by noon,” Grecco said. “Francis called and asked me, ‘What time do you want me there?’ I told him, ‘3 in the afternoon.’ I said we’d handle it.” — Kevin Kovac
4:55 p.m. | Cooler and overcast
After a couple of steamy days with temperatures near 90 degrees, the cold front that arrived Friday night — bringing with it rain that sent fans scurrying during Matt Miller's victory lane interview — left us with overcast skies and temperatures at about 70 degrees. It's definitely going to be a sweatshirt kind of night and far more fans are out and about through the afternoon enjoying the nicer temperatures. Without the sun beating down on the surface, it will likely keep more moisture in the track, so drivers will no doubt keep an eye on how the surface develops for the 6 p.m. hot laps before the heat races begin an hour or so later.
4:43 p.m. | Saturday schedule
6 p.m.: Hot laps (by heat race)
6:40 p.m.: Opening ceremonies (on stage)
- Interviews with preliminary feature winners
- Interview with last year’s winner John Blankenship
- Interview with fast qualifier Jeff Babcock
- DirtonDirt.com Best Appearing Car award
- Team Simpson Dirtiest Uniform award
- Bicknell Racing Products Open Trailer award
6:57 p.m.: Invocation by Debbie Reed of Dirt Racing Outreach
6:58 p.m.: God Bless America
7 p.m.: National anthem by Mandi Hines
7:05 p.m.: First heat
Correction: Fixes state representation statistics.
