Owens took the lead from Ray Cook on lap 34 and then went unchallenged the rest of the way. Cook finished second followed by Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg and Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga.
“We don’t get to run around here much anymore,” said the 39-year-old Owens, who scored his 24th series win. “It’s great to win among the fans we have that traveled down here. The track was in excellent shape tonight, maybe the best track we’ve seen this year — hats off to Monty (Morrow) and his staff.”
“I knew Ray (Cook) had the preferred line on the start, but we caught up to him in traffic. When we did, we were able to get by him. I want to thank my car owner, Mike Reece; he couldn’t be here tonight, because he’s up in Canada. A big thanks to all my crew, it was a short week and they had the car prepared great,” said Owens. The win brings Owens to within 70 points of Bloomquist.
Owens led the first lap, as he and Cook came across the scoring line side-by-side. Cook then took the point on lap two and led until traffic jumbled his chance for a win. Owens dove underneath him coming off of turn four.
Owens then led the rest of the way unchallenged as Cook settled into second for his best finish of the season. Davenport was in the Barry Wright House car sponsored by Baird Transport and finished a close third.
Bloomquist finished fourth while Clint Smith had his best finish so far in 2011, taking fifth.
Completing the top 10 were Jared Landers of Batesville, Ark., Brad Neat of Dunnville, Ky., Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville, Earl Pearson Jr., of Jacksonville, Fla., and Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind.
Newport’s Owens was the Red Buck Cigars Fast Qualifier among the 31 entrants. Owens earned an additional $250 from Murphy Glass & Mirror and Cleveland Aluminum Products. Heat race winners were Owens, Jared Landers, Ray Cook, and Bub McCool. Eric Wells and David Payne captured the B-Mains.
For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com or call the series’ office at 1-951-532-2503.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
15th Annual Car Smart Race for Juvenile Diabetes
Cleveland Speedway
Red Buck Cigars Fast Time:
Jimmy Owens /13.502 seconds (Group A and Overall)
Ray Cook / 13.630 seconds (Group B)
Wiles Driveshafts First Heat (10 Laps, Top 4 Advance): Jimmy Owens, Steve Francis, Scott Bloomquist, Dale McDowell, Eric Wells, Chris Wall, Chris Brown, Riley Hickman
Wiles Driveshafts Second Heat (10 Laps, Top 4 Advance): Jared Landers, Clint Smith, Dan Schlieper, Steve Casebolt, Brian Reese, Brad Neat, Johnny Chastain
Sweet Manufacturing Third Heat (10 Laps, Top 4 Advance): Ray Cook, Mike Marlar, Jonathan Davenport, Billy Ogle Jr., Don O’Neal, Vic Hill, Frank Heckenast Jr., John Blankenship
HAWK Brakes Fourth Heat (10 Laps, Top 4 Advance): Bub McCool, William Thomas, Earl Pearson Jr., Tyler Reddick, David Payne, Eric Jacobsen, Chad Ogle, Dustin Cansler
JRi Shocks First B-Main (12 Laps, Top 3 Advance): Eric Wells, Brad Neat, Chris Brown, Chris Wall, Brian Reese, Riley Hickman, Johnny Chastain
Wrisco Aluminum Second B-Main (12 Laps, Top 3 Advance): David Payne, Don O’Neal, Eric Jacobsen, Vic Hill, Chad Ogle, Frank Heckenast Jr., John Blankenship, Dustin Cansler.
