NickHolt Posted June 9, 2012 Report Share Posted June 9, 2012 Pearson Blazes To Fast Time During Friday-Night Qualifying For Dirt Late Model Dream by Ferris Commercial Mowers At Eldora Speedway ROSSBURG, OH – June 8, 2012 – Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., kicked off the 18th Dirt Late Model Dream by Ferris Commercial Mowers in fine fashion on Friday night, topping the 98-car field with the fastest lap in time trials at Eldora Speedway. The 40-year-old standout ripped off a lap of 15.476 seconds to start the second round of qualifying, vaulting him past first-round fast qualifier Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind. Pearson’s time held up for the remainder of the session, putting him in the spotlight on opening night of the prestigious $100,000-to-win DIRTcar UMP-sanctioned event. “I was worried about O’Neal when he put that first lap down,” said Pearson, who timed second to O’Neal in the first round of qualifying. “I figured he’d come out that second lap and beat that, so we’re happy to end up with fast time.” Pearson was also smiling after spinning a ‘3’ on the invert wheel, providing him the best possible starting position in his heat race on Saturday night. He will take the green flag from inside row two in the first of six 15-lap preliminaries, each of which transfers three drivers to the 100-lap Dream A-Main. A former World 100 winner who drives a Longhorn Chassis for NASCAR veteran Bobby Labonte, Pearson will attempt to start the seventh Dream 100 of his career. He owns a top finish of fifth (2005) in the race that offers the dirt Late Model division’s richest first-place prize. O’Neal, 47, was unable to better his first-round time of 15.592 seconds, but he still ended qualifying with his MasterSbilt No. 71 second overall. He will start third in Saturday’s second heat race as he bids to become the first driver in Dream history to win the event in consecutive years. The ‘3’ invert was perfect for the drivers who timed 13-18 in qualifying, handing each a pole position start in a heat. Saturday’s polesitters will include former Dream winners Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., and Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky.; Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., who hit the wall on his second qualifying lap but was fast enough with his first circuit to rank 14th; Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., who made a hasty switch to his backup car for qualifying after hitting the turn-two wall during hot laps; Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill.; and Eric Wells of Hazard, Ky. Friday’s top 60 qualifiers locked themselves into heat-race starting spots. Drivers timing below that threshold were for the first time split into three 20-lap Qualifying Features that paid $1,000 to win, offered full DIRTcar UMP points and provided racers an opportunity to better their starting positions in Saturday’s heat races. Duane Chamberlain of Richmond, Ind., Jeff Babcock of Wayne, Ohio, and Sprint Car veteran Shane Cottle of Kokomo, Ind., emerged victorious in the Qualifying Features. Each will start 11th in a heat on Saturday evening. The driver who gained the most from the new Qualifying Features format was 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion and current Nationwide Series regular Austin Dillon of Welcome, N.C., who started last (11th) in the second race after failing to record a time because he jumped the turn-two berm and ripped off his car’s nosepiece during his first lap. He charged forward to finish third, moving him further up in the heat lineup. Saturday’s racing program, which begins at 7 p.m., includes six heat races, C- and B-features and the new ‘scramble’ races prior to the $100,000 Dirt Late Model Dream by Ferris Commercial Mowers. Tickets for the Dirt Late Model Dream remain available on-line at www.EldoraSpeedway.com or by calling the speedway office at 937-338-3815. For more information on DIRTcar UMP Racing, log on to www.DirtCar.com. Qualifying Results for Dirt Late Model Dream by Ferris Commercial Motors (rank/driver/hometown/best lap): 1. 44-Earl Pearson Jr./Jacksonville, FL 15.476 2. 71-Don O'Neal/Martinsville, IN 15.592 3. 28-Eddie Carrier Jr./Salt Rock, WV 15.606 4. 22-Chris Ferguson/Mt. Holly, NC 15.670 5. 25-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 15.682 6. 41-Brad Neat/Dunnville, KY 15.696 7. 5-Klint Byars/Calhoun City, MS 15.699 8. 0-Scott Bloomquist/Mooresburg, TN 15.820 9. 6-Steve Shaver/Vienna, WV 15.823 10. 55-Jeep VanWormer/Pinconning, MI 15.837 11. 25-Shane Clanton Fayetteville, GA 15.852 12. 3s-Brian Shirley/Chatham, IL 15.858 13. 20-Jimmy Owens/Newport, TN 15.868 14. 15-Jonathan Davenport/Blairsville, GA 15.883 15. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 15.884 16. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 15.904 17. 18-Shannon Babb/Moweaqua, IL 15.924 18. 18-Eric Wells/Hazard, KY 15.930 19. 5-Jared Landers/Batesville, AR 15.94 20. 1-Brandon Sheppard/New Berlin, IL 15.964 21. 25-Jason Feger/Bloomington, IL 15.985 22. 28 Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL 16.002 23. 15b-Brian Birkhofer/Muscatine, IA 16.019 24. 7R-Kent Robinson-Bloomington, IN 16.044 25. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 16.054 26. 21-Billy Moyer/Batesville, AR 16.087 27. c9-Steve Casebolt/Richmond, IN 16.088 28. 53-Ray Cook-Brasstown, NC 16.089 29. 71c-R.J. Conley/Portsmouth, OH 16.091 30. 17M-Dale McDowell/Chickamauga, GA 16.112 31. 44-Chris Madden/Gray Court, SC 16.132 32. A1-Duke Whiseant/Texarkana, AR 16.142 33. 23-John Blankenship/Williamson, WV 16.147 34. 81-Scott James/Lawrenceburg, IN 16.148 35. 23-Ryan VanderVeen/Six Lakes, MI 16.264 36. 3-Matt Miller/Whitehouse, OH 16.277 37. 34-Ky Harper/Holland, OH 16.343 38. 9R-Curtis Roberts/Coleman, MI 16.369 39. 75-Terry Phillips/Springfield, MO 16.410 40. 11-Tyler Reddick/DuQuoin, IL 16.410 41. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 16.45 42. 28-Jimmy Mars/Menomonie, WI 16.451 43. 5b-Mike Marlar/Winfield, TN 16.496 44. 71-Chris Wall/Holden, LA 16.505 45. 42-Terry Casey/New London, WI 16.521 46. 111-Curt Spalding/Hartford, MI 16.544 47. 15-Jon Henry/Ada, OH 16.547 48. 57J-Bub McCool/Vicksburg, MS 16.553 49. 20J-Jerry Bowersock/Wapakoneta, OH 16.576 50. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 16.588 51. 24H-Greg Johnson/Bedford, IN 16.594 52. 555-Justin Coulter/Loomington, ONT 16.595 53. 20H-Jacob Hawkins/Fairmont, WV 16.659 54. b4-Jackie Boggs/Grayson, KY 16.670 55. 00-Jesse Stovall/Galena, MO 16.698 56. 79-Doug Drown/Wooster, OH 16.706 57. 6K-Michael Kloos/Trenton, IL 16.754 58. 99-Donnie Moran/Dresden, OH 16.754 59. 88-Andrew Reaume/Blenheim, ONT 16.777 60. 37H-Jared Hawkins/Fairmont, WV 16.818 61. 20c-Duane Chamberlain/Richmond, IN 16.846 62. 48-Tim Lance/Brimfield, IL 16.885 63. 46-Tim Rivers/Salem, IN 16.936 64. 1N-Casey Noonan/Toledo, OH 16.939 65. 99M-Devin Moran/Dresden, OH 16.958 66. 31-Shane Cottle/Kokomo, IN 16.987 67. 31-Scott Creel/Franklinton, LA 17.003 68. 37-Dennis Franklin/Gaffney, SC 17.011 69. 26-Tony Knowles/Tyrone, GA 17.024 70. 19-Chad Smith/Miamisburg, OH 17.031 71. 1B-Jeff Babcock/Wayne, OH 17.037 72. 11B-James Rice/Verona, KY 17.163 73. 1WC-Wayne Chinn/Bradford, OH 17.164 74. 89-Mike Spatola/Manhattan, IL 17.182 75. 32-Mark Dodson/Caledonia, MS 17.206 76. 17-Shannon Thornsberry/Martin, KY 17.264 77. 26-Bill Lewis/Warren, IN 17.364 78. 10-Leon Henderson/Laurel, MS 17.461 79. F5-B.J. Robinson/Shreveport, LA 17.499 80. 25-Dustin Neat/Dunnville, KY 17.517 81. 28-John Lobb/Frewsburg, NY 17.576 82. 17-Ronnie DeHaven/Winchester, VA 17.627 83. 93-Jay Johnson/W. Burlington, IA 17.677 84. 33B-Scott Bowersock/Wapakoneta, OH 17.707 85. 44-Greg Kendall/Paoli, IN 17.787 86. 30-Mark Voigt/Marine, IL 17.87 87. 16-Tracy Pearson/Woodstock, GA 18.282 88. 36-Matt Irey/Mansfield, OH 18.359 89. 92-Cody Scott/Ontario, OH 18.629 90. 38-Kevin Colston/Frankfort, KY 18.686 91. 33-Don Gordon/Chatham, ONT 19.062 92. 99G-Jacob Grizzle/Blairsville, GA N/T 93. 1W-Dillon Wood/New Smyrna Beach, FL N/T 94. 1V-Will Vaught/Crane, MO N/T 95. 81Jr-Jason Riggs/Harrisburg, IL N/T 96. 00-Jay Sessoms/Stanley, NC N/T 97. 2-Justin Chance/Lexington, OH N/T 98. 3-Austin Dillon/Welcome, NC N/T Qualifying Feature No. 1 Finish (20 laps): 1. Duane Chamberlain ($1,000), 2. Scott Creel, 3. Ronnie DeHaven, 4. Casey Noonan, 5. Chad Smith, 6. Justin Chance, 7. B.J. Robinson, 8. Wayne Chinn, 9. Greg Kendall, 10. Matt Irey, 11. Don Gordon (DNS) Will Vaught, Justin Chance Qualifying Feature No. 2 Finish (20 laps): 1. Jeff Babcock ($1,000), 2. Devin Moran, 3. Austin Dillon, 4. Dennis Franklin, 5. Mike Spatola, 6. Tim Lance, 7. Bill Lewis, 8. Cody Scott, 9. Mark Voigt, 10. Jay Johnson, 11. Dustin Neat (DNS) Jacob Grizzle, Jason Riggs Qualifying Feature No. 3 Finish (20 laps): 1. Shane Cottle ($1,000), 2. John Lobb, 3. Tony Knowles, 4. Tim Rivers, 5. Mark Dodson, 6. Leon Henderson, 7. Scott Bowersock, 8. Tracy Pearson Jr., 9. James Rice, 10. Kevin Colston (DNS) Dillon Wood, Jay Sessoms Dream Heat Race Lineups (top three transfer from each): Heat 1: Row 1: Jimmy Owens/Klint Byars Row 2: Earl Pearson Jr./Jared Landers Row 3: Chub Frank/Chris Madden Row 4: Ky Harper/Mike Marlar Row 5: Clint Smith/Jesse Stovall Row 6: Duane Chamberlain/Ronnie DeHaven Row 7: Chad Smith/B.J. Robinson Row 8: Greg Kendall/Don Gordon Row 9: Will Vaught Heat 2: Row 1: Jonathan Davenport/Scott Bloomquist Row 2: Don O’Neal/Brandon Sheppard Row 3: Billy Moyer/Duke Whiseant Row 4: Curtis Roberts/Terry Casey Row 5: Greg Johnson/Doug Drown Row 6: Jeff Babcock/Austin Dillon Row 7: Mike Spatola/Bill Lewis Row 8: Mark Voigt/Dustin Neat Row 9: Jason Riggs Heat 3: Row 1: Tim McCreadie/Steve Shaver Row 2: Eddie Carrier Jr./Jason Feger Row 3: Steve Casebolt/John Blankenship Row 4: Terry Phillips/Curt Spalding Row 5: Justin Coulter/Michael Kloos Row 6: Shane Cottle/Tony Knowles Row 7: Mark Dodson/Scott Bowersock Row 8: James Rice/Dillon Wood Heat 4: Row 1: Darrell Lanigan/Jeep VanWormer Row 2: Chris Ferguson/Dennis Erb Jr. Row 3: Ray Cook/Scott James Row 4: Tyler Reddick/Jon Henry Row 5: Chris Wall/Donnie Moran Row 6: Scott Creel/Casey Noonan Row 7: Justin Chance/Wayne Chinn Row 8: Matt Irey/Shannon Thornsberry Heat 5: Row 1: Shannon Babb/Shane Clanton Row 2: Josh Richards/Brian Birkhofer Row 3: R.J. Conley/Ryan VenderVeen Row 4: Steve Francis/Bub McCool Row 5: Jacob Hawkins/Andrew Reaume Row 6: Devin Moran/Dennis Franklin Row 7: Tim Lance/Cody Scott Row 8: Jay Johnson/Jacob Grizzle Heat 6: Row 1: Eric Wells/Brian Shirley Row 2: Brad Neat/Kent Robinson Row 3: Dale McDowell/Matt Miller Row 4: Jimmy Mars/Jerry Bowersock Row 5: Jackie Boggs/Jared Hawkins Row 6: John Lobb/Tim Rivers Row 7: Leon Henderson/Tracy Pearson Row 8: Kevin Colston/Jay Sessoms Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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