Dirt on Dirt - Pierce repels B-Shepp, Blair in Knoxville prelim

September 20

Knoxville Raceway,

Knoxville, IA

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (Knoxville Lucas Oil Nationals second preliminary) - $7,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated September 21, 3:07 pm)

Pierce repels B-Shepp, Blair in Knoxville prelim

Knoxville Lucas Oil Nationals second preliminary

Bobby Pierce
Brandon Sheppard
Max Blair
Devin Moran
Daulton Wilson
Daniel Hilsabeck
Jonathan Davenport
Garrett Smith
Hudson O'Neal
Garrett Alberson
Brian Shirley
Ross Robinson
Chase Junghans
Mike Marlar
Tim McCreadie
Carson Ferguson
Drake Troutman
Ricky Thornton Jr.
Chad Simpson
Chris Simpson
Justin Zeitner
Brenden Smith
Matt Furman
Dillon McCowan

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Bobby Pierce atop his car in victory lane at Knoxville Raceway.

What won the race: Leading all but two of 25 caution-free laps from outside the front row, Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., captured the second preliminary feature at the 20th annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals for a $7,000 victory. Pierce, who took the checkers 0.390 of a second ahead of 11th-starting Brandon Sheppard, followed Thursday's runner-up finish to earn the pole starting spot in Saturday's $50,000-to-win finale. Seventh-starting Max Blair led the 17th lap but made a mistake exiting turn two on the next lap and slipped back to third.

Quotable: "I was a little tight, even on the top," Pierce said. "The car was kind of laid over a little bit so I couldn't really get around there quite like I wanted to, but I can't thank my guys enough for all their hard work and their support and all these fans for coming out and watching us."

Key notes: Pierce notched his 33rd victory of the season and fifth on the Lucas Oil circuit. ... Max Blair led the 17th lap but got out of the winning groove exiting turn two and fell back to third. "I gave that one away," he said. ... Polesitter Daulton Wilson led the first lap and finished fifth. ... In the third heat race, Jimmy Owens crashed hard after getting squeezed into the frontstretch wall and spinning at turn-one entrance, backing into fence. It took several minutes to detach his car's nosepiece from the wall. ... Boom Briggs later had contact with Chad Simpson in the third heat, spinning and backing his car into the hot pit ... Officials announced Saturday finale program will start earlier than scheduled because of a forecast for thunderstorms with hot laps at 4 p.m. and racing at 5. ... Jonathan Davenport led all 25 laps from the outside front-row to win Thursday’s $7,000 opener. … Drivers will use their better individual night’s point total to set Saturday’s consolation and main event lineups prior to the 75-lap, $50,000-to-win feature.

On the move: Runner-up Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., started 11th.

Winner's sponsors: Pierce’s Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Vic Hill Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Low Voltage Solutions, Megan's Mission Foundation, Rio Grande Waste Services, Hoker Trucking, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Oakwood Tire Center, Churchill Transport, Collins Brothers Towing, K1, Carnaghi Towing & Repair, Toyota of Danville, Floyd’s Waste Systems, PureMax Racing Oil, A Plus Vacuum, Leka Tree Service, Bert Transmissions by Budda, Ted Brown’s Quality Paint & Body Shop, VP Race Fuels, Swift Springs, Bilstein Shocks, Dirt Car Lift and Performance Bodies.

Points chase: Before Knoxville: 1. Ricky Thornton Jr. (5,635); 2. Jonathan Davenport (5,410); 3. Devin Moran (5,395); 4. Hudson O'Neal (4,905); 5. Tim McCreadie (4,890); 6. Garrett Alberson (4,715); 7. Daulton Wilson (4,605); 8. Mike Marlar (4,565); 9. Jimmy Owens (4,345); 10. Max Blair (4,300).

Current weather: Clear Haze, 75°F

Car count: 38

Fast qualifier: Max Blair

Time: 18.355 seconds

Polesitter: Daulton Wilson

Heat race winners: Brian Shirley, Tim McCreadie, Chase Junghans, Mike Marlar

Consolation race winners: Drake Troutman, Justin Zeitner

Next series race: September 21, Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA) $50,000

Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

From staff reports

KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Live updates from Friday’s 20th annual Knoxville Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals second prelim night featuring a 25-lap, $7,000-to-win main event for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Leading all but two of 25 caution-free laps from outside the front row, Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., captured the second preliminary feature at the 20th annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals for a $7,000 victory. Pierce, who took the checkers 0.390 of a second ahead of 11th-starting Brandon Sheppard, followed Thursday's runner-up finish to earn the pole starting spot in Saturday's $50,000-to-win finale. Seventh-starting Max Blair led the 17th lap but made a mistake exiting turn two on the next lap and slipped back to third.

Feature lineup

(25 laps)

Row 1: Daulton Wilson, Bobby Pierce
Row 2: Devin Moran, Daniel Hilsabeck
Row 3: Jonathan Davenport, Garrett Smith
Row 4: Max Blair, Garrett Alberson
Row 5: Brandon Sheppard, Ross Robinson
Row 6: Hudson O'Neal, Dillon McCowan
Row 7: Carson Ferguson, Mike Marlar
Row 8: Brian Shirley, Chase Junghans
Row 9: Tim McCreadie, Brenden Smith
Row 10: Chris Simpson, Chad Simpson
Row 11: Drake Troutman, Justin Zeitner
Row 12: Ricky Thornton Jr., Matt Furman

Consolation race results

(15 laps; top two transfer)

First consolation: Drake Troutman, Ricky Thornton Jr., Tyler Bruening, Ryan Gustin, Tyler Erb, Clay Harris, Al Humphrey, Johnathan Huston. Scratched: Dan Battaglia.

Second consolation: Justin Zeitner, Matt Furman, Blair Nothdurft, Dylan Sillman, Aaron Marrant, Cory Lawler, Junior Coover, Boom Briggs. Scratched: Jimmy Owens.

Heat race results

(12 laps; top five transfer)

First heat: Brian Shirley, Brandon Sheppard, Jonathan Davenport, Hudson O'Neal, Max Blair, Drake Troutman, Ryan Gustin, Tyler Erb, Johnathan Huston, Dan Battaglia.

Second heat: Tim McCreadie, Daulton Wilson, Devin Moran, Chris Simpson, Carson Ferguson, Tyler Bruening, Ricky Thornton Jr., Clay Harris, Al Humphrey.

Third heat: Chase Junghans, Chad Simpson, Garrett Alberson, Ross Robinson, Daniel Hilsabeck, Justin Zeitner, Matt Furman, Junior Coover, Boom Briggs, Jimmy Owens.

Fourth heat: Mike Marlar, Dillon McCowan, Garrett Smith, Brenden Smith, Bobby Pierce, Blair Nothdurft, Aaron Marrant, Dylan Sillman, Cory Lawler.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 18.355
2. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 18.374
3. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 18.472
4. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 18.477
5. Ryan Gustin (30), Marshalltown, Iowa, 18.507
6. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 18.513
7. Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill., 18.605
8. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 18.608
9. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 18.614
10. Carson Ferguson (93F), Lincolnton, N.C., 18.617
11. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 18.630
12. Tim McCreadie (1), Watertown, N.Y., 18.673
13. Drake Troutman (7T), Hyndman, Pa., 18.715
14. Chris Simpson (32), Oxford, Iowa, 18.830
15. Tyler Erb (1T), New Waverly, Texas, 19.319
16. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 19.447
17. Johnathan Huston (42), Columbus Junction, Iowa, 20.160
18. Al Humphrey (6H), Giltner, Neb., 20.162
19. Dan Battaglia (45D), Gretna, Neb., 22.003
Group B
1. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 18.523
2. Garrett Smith (10s), Eatonton, Ga., 19.109
3. Daniel Hilsabeck (22), Earlham, Iowa, 19.153
4. Bobby Pierce (32p), Oakwood, Ill., 19.185
5. Ross Robinson (7), Georgetown, Del., 19.191
6. Dillon McClowan (8m), Urbana, Mo., 19.195
7. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 19.215
8. Blair Nothdurft (76), Renner, S.D., 19.255
9. Boom Briggs (99B), Bear Lake, Pa., 19.270
10. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 19.592
11. Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 19.618
12. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 19.711
13. Chad Simpson (25c), Mount Vernon, Iowa, 19.844
14. Aaron Marrant (1x), Richmond, Mo., 19.858
15. Justin Zeitner (62), Malvern, Iowa, 20.177
16. Dylan Sillman (35D), Alvo, Neb., 20.434
17. Matt Furman (51), Iowa City, Iowa, 20.564
18. Cory Lawler (93), Hanover, Pa., 20.579
19. Junior Coover (10), Norfolk, Neb., 21.585

Friday’s schedule

(All times local)
2:30 p.m. - Pits open
2:45-5:45 p.m. - Tech and registration
4:30 p.m. - Suites open
5:30 p.m. - Grandstands open
6 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Stock car hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Stock car heats (6 laps)
- Late Model heats (12 laps)
Intermission
- Late Model consolations (15 laps)
- Stock car feature (15 laps)
- Late Model feature (25 laps)