Portsmouth Raceway Park
Reddick lands pole for Portsmouth's 75-lap Rumble
By James Essex
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt SeriesPORTSMOUTH, Ohio (Sept. 3) — Tyler Reddick, the 14-year-old racer from Corning, Calif., and veteran Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., won Friday heat races at Portsmouth Raceway Park that earned them front-row starting spots for Saturday's Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Pepsi 75 River Days Rumble. | Video
Reddick captured the first heat after race leader Josh McGuire of Grayson, Ky., suffered driveline problems and was towed to the pits. He also avoided a frontstretch accident that put him in position for the victory. McDowell PRP regular Josh Bocook of Wheelersburg, Ohio, to captured the third heat and earn the outside front row starting spot.
Joining Reddick and McDowell as heat race winners were current series points leader Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., and Don O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., coming off a victory at Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown., Ky. They'll start in row two after the heat races put 16 drivers on Saturday's starting grid for the richest race in PRP history.
McGuire topped 41 qualifiers in Red Buck Cigar time trials, earning $1,177 for setting time. McGuire, piloting a new MasterSbilt Race Car, picked up $100 from Red Buck and an additional $1,077 from the Bozo Bragdon family.
Saturday's on-track action begins at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Lucas Oil Series racing includes a pair of consolation races and the 75-lap main event.
Friday's heat races
(10 laps; top four transfer)
First heat: Tyler Reddick, Billy Guillion, Kevin Wagner, Jimmy Owens, Delmas Conley, Justin Rattliff, Josh McGuire, Ben Adkins, Earl Pearson Jr., Chris Wilson.
Second heat: Scott Bloomquist, Doug Drown, Chris Wall, Tim Isenberg, Mike Marlar, Dan Schlieper, Chris Brown, Shannon Thornsberry, Brandson Fouts, Jackie Boggs.
Third heat: Dale McDowell, Josh Bocook, Eric Wells, R.J. Conley, Mark Frazier, John Blankenship, Paul Davis, Kevin Layne, Albert Butcher, Steve Casebolt, Eddie Carrier Jr.
Fourth heat: Don O'Neal, Bart Hartman, Brad Neat, Ray Cook, Audie Swartz, John Mason, Kenny Christy, James Watson, Adam Colley, Kenneth Howell.
