Muskingum County Speedway
Schlieper stays hot with victory at Muskingum
By James Essex
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Dan Schlieper smiles in victory lane at Zanesville. (rickschwalliephotos.com)
ZANESVILLE, Ohio (July 3) — Winning his third Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series race in the last four events, Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, Wis., took the lead from fellow Wisconsin driver Terry Casey on the 30th lap at Muskingum County Speedway en route to the checkered flag. Schlieper, whose previous victories came at North Georgia Speedway and Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, S.C., earned $10,000 for his Creno's 50 victory at the eastern Ohio oval. Casey finished second followed by 23rd-starting Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., who regained the points lead with his third-place finish. Hometown driver Bart Hartman was fourth and Jason Covert of York Haven, Pa., was fifth.
Wayne Chinn and Josh Richards started on the front row of the 50-lapper with Chinn grabbing the early lead. But he slowed after just four laps to bring out a caution, relegating him to the tail for the restart.
Richards inherited the lead, but he got too high in turn two in his Ernie Davis-owned No. 25 and nearly flipped, bringing out another caution. With Richards going to the back, Schlieper picked up the lead with Covert, Donnie Moran, Hartman and Casey giving chase. Casey began moving to the front, taking fourth from Hartman on the eighth lap, third from Moran on lap nine and then taken second from Covert on lap 13. Two laps later, he grabbed the lead from Schlieper. Casey built a commanding lead by the halfway point, but a lap-29 caution erased his margin.
Another quick caution put Schlieper again on Casey's rear deck, and Schlieper tracked Casey for a lap before moving into the lead with 20 laps remaining. A lap-32 caution — for the demise of Steve Casebolt, who entered the race leading series points — gave Casey a chance to answer Schlieper's move, but Schlieper powered away. In the waning laps, Casey tried to catch Schlieper amid lapped traffic, but he couldn't catch the hot Schlieper.
Notes: Schlieper's Wild Chassis has a Pro Power engine and sponsorship from Miller Bros. Coal, Hawkeye Trucking, Uncle Buck, VP Race Fuels, Integra Shocks and Hoosier Tire. ... The race was slowed by seven cautions and feature four leaders. ... The Fourth of July weekend action for the Lucas Oil Series continues in Tennessee with $10,000-to-win events at Tazewell Speedway on July 4 and Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap on July 5.
Lucas Oil @ Muskingum County: (1) Dan Schlieper, (2) Terry Casey, (2) Earl Pearson Jr., (3) Bart Hartman, (4) Jason Covert, (5) Tim Dohm, (6) Donnie Moran, (7) Eddie Carrier Jr., (8) Wayne Chinn, (9) Steve Shaver, (10) Josh Richards, (11) Ryan Markham, (12) Freddy Smith, (13) Billy Drake, (14) John Mason, (15) Justin Rattliff, (16) Cortney Clewell, (17) Mark Banal, (18) Shane McLoughlin, (19) Steve Casebolt, (20) Robbie Blair, (21) Scott James, (22) Dave Hess Jr., (23) Matt Lux, (24) John Mallett. Fast qualifier (among 36 cars): Pearson, 15.608 seconds. Heat race winners: Chinn, Schlieper, Covert, Richards. Consolation winners: Lux, Hess. Provisional starters: Pearson, Smith, McLoughlin.
