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B-main

Polesitter Shannon Babb led all the way, holding off challenges from fifth-starting Billy Moyer to capture the B-main. Moyer transferred to the main event along with seventh-starting Jimmy Mars while Don O'Neal made a last-lap pass of Steve Francis for the final transfer spot. Scott James started 10th and ran as high as fourth before slipping to sixth at the finish. The only caution appeared on the fifth lap when Jason Feger got into a frontstretch tire barrier when he tried to pull to the infield in turn four.

Finish: Shannon Babb, Billy Moyer, Jimmy Mars, Don O'Neal, Steve Francis, Scott James, Kent Robinson, Andy Eckrich, Brady Smith, Mike Fryer, Ray Cook, John Duty, Tyler Reddick, Denny Eckrich, Tim Lance, Brian Harris, Darrel DeFrance, Chris Spieker, Billy Moyer Jr., Earl Paerson Jr., Steve Casebolt, Jason Feger, Brad Neat.

B-main lineup

Row 1: Shannon Babb, Don O'Neal
Row 2: Kent Robinson, Denny Eckrich
Row 3: Billy Moyer, Steve Francis
Row 4: Jimmy Mars, Brian Harris
Row 5: Andy Eckrich, Scott James
Row 6: Dave Eckrich, Brady Smith
Row 7: Mike Fryer, Jason Feger
Row 8: Ray Cook, Steve Casebolt
Row 9: John Duty, Brad Neat
Row 10: Tim Lance, Darrel DeFrance
Row 11: Earl Pearson Jr., Tyler Reddick
Row 12: Billy Moyer Jr., Chris Spieker

Mid-event notebook

Iowans Rob Moss and Jason Rauen are on the front row of the main event. Check out audio interviews with each. ... C-main front row starters Jimmy Owens and Austin Hubbard both scratched. Hubbard's team is swapping motors after breaking a rod. ... Iowa drivers won four of five heat races. ... Earl Pearson Jr. won the C-main. ... Shannon Babb and Don O'Neal start on the front row of the B-main.

C-Main finish: Earl Pearson Jr., Tyler Reddick, Billy Moyer Jr., Chris Spieker, Eric Wells, Tyler Bruening, Jay Johnson, Mike Wallace, Scott Lewis, Chad Chenoweth, Curt Schroeder, Paul Glendenning, Alonzo Grosse, Matt Furman, Kevin Sather, Junior Coover, Charlie McKenna, Al Humphrey. Scratched: Austin Hubbard, Jimmy Owens, Jill George, Jeremiah Hurst.

Fifth heat

Ninth-starting Brian Birkhofer brought the home-state crowd alive with a high-side move on a lap-five restart that carried him past polesitter Rich Bell to lead the seventh lap. Birkhofer cruised the rest of the way in the 12-lapper while 10th-starting Jared Landers couldn't duplicate the high-side move on Bell in the closing laps. Bell, Landers and Jack Sullivan got the other three transfer spots. The night's only heat-race cautions appeared in the heat with the yellow flag waving three times. Jay Johnson stopped in turn four with a flat left-front tire, Billy Moyer Jr. slowed after getting into the guardrail in turns three and four on the fifth lap and Paul Glendenning spun off turn two on the eighth lap.

Finish: Brian Birkhofer, Rich Bell, Jared Landers, Jack Sullivan, Andy Eckrich, Steve Francis, Ray Cook, Darrel DeFrance, Paul Glendenning, Alonzo Grosse, Billy Moyer Jr., Jay Johnson. Scratched: Jeremiah Hurst.

Fourth heat

Polesitter Frank Heckenast Jr. led flag to flag in the fourth heat, staying comfortably ahead of fellow front-row starter John Blankenship all the way as the groove settled down into the lower part of the oval. Nick Marolf valiantly held onto the third spot, holding off challenges from fifth-row starters Mike Marlar and Don O'Neal. Marlar first took a crack at Marolf, then lost the fourth spot to O'Neal. O'Neal tried to get past Marolf, but ended up losing the fourth and final transfer spot to Marlar coming off the final corner in the caution-free affair.

Finish: Frank Heckenast Jr., John Blankenship, Nick Marolf, Mike Marlar, Don O'Neal, Billy Moyer, Jason Feger, Eric Wells, Brian Harris, Tyler Bruening, Chad Chenoweth, Jill George.

Third heat

Fourh-starting Chad Simpson made an outside pass of polesitter Kerry Hansen on the fifth of 12 laps and led the rest of the way, stretching his margin to more than a half-straightaway at the checkers. Hansen held off other challengers, though, securing the second spot from an onslaught by ninth-starting Will Vaught late in the race. Brian Shirley got the fourth and final transfer spot as the third straight heat went off without a caution. Earl Pearson Jr.'s car was pushed off the track during parade laps after losing fire.

Finish: Chad Simpson, Kerry Hansen, Will Vaught, Brian Shirley, Denny Eckrich, Shannon Babb, John Duty, Brad Neat, Kevin Sather, Chris Spieker, Scott Lewis. Scratched: Earl Pearson Jr.

Second heat

Polesitter Chris Simpson built a straightaway lead and staved off a late rally by ninth-starting Darrell Lanigan for a victory in the caution-free prelim. Bub McCool was third and Rob Moss in fourth while Austin Hubbard, who started 10th, ran as high as fifth in his smoking car before slowing on the final lap.

Finish: Chris Simpson, Darrell Lanigan, Bub McCool, Rob Moss, Dave Eckrich, Tim Lance, Mike Fryer, Kent Robinson, Mike Wallace. Austin Hubbard, Junior Coover. Scratched: Matt Furman.

First heat

Sixth-starting Jason Rauen overtook Tim McCreadie midway through the 12-lapper and grabbed a victory in the night's first prelim. McCreadie stayed closed to Rauen but couldn't regain the point while 10th-starting Scott Bloomquist edged Dan Schlieper for third at the start-finish line.

Finish: Jason Rauen, Tim McCreadie, Scott Bloomquist, Dan Schlieper, Scott James, Jimmy Mars, Steve Casebolt, Brady Smith, Tyler Reddick, Jimmy Owens, Al Humphrey, Charlie McKenna, Curt Schroeder.

Heat race lineups

First heat
Row 1: Dan Schlieper, Tim McCreadie
Row 2: Steve Casebolt, Brady Smith
Row 3: Scott James, Jason Rauen
Row 4: Jimmy Mars, Tyler Reddick
Row 5: Jimmy Owens, Scott Bloomquist
Row 6: Al Humphrey, Charlie McKenna
Row 7: Curt Schroeder
Second heat
Row 1: Chris Simpson, Bub McCool
Row 2: Mike Wallace, Mike Fryer
Row 3: Dave Eckrich, Rob Moss
Row 4: Matt Furman, Kent Robinson
Row 5: Darrell Lanigan, Austin Hubbard
Row 6: Tim Lance, Junior Coover
Row 7: Alonzo Grosse
Third heat
Row 1: Kerry Hansen, Brad Neat
Row 2: John Duty, Chad Simpson
Row 3: Earl Pearson Jr., Brian Shirley
Row 4: Kevin Sather, Denny Eckrich
Row 5: Will Vaught, Shannon Babb
Row 6: Chris Spieker, Scott Lewis
Fourth heat
Row 1: Frank Heckenast Jr., John Blankenship
Row 2: Nick Marolf, Jason Feger
Row 3: Tyler Bruening, Eric Wells
Row 4: Brian Harris, Billy Moyer
Row 5: Mike Marlar, Don O'Neal
Row 6: Jill George, Chad Chenoweth
Fifth heat
Row 1: Rich Bell, Jack Sullivan
Row 2: Paul Glendenning, Ray Cook
Row 3: Jay Johnson, Billy Moyer Jr.
Row 4: Andy Eckrich, Steve Francis
Row 5: Brian Birkhofer, Jared Landers
Row 6: Darrel DeFrance, Jeremiah Hurst

Qualifying

Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., set fast time for the second straight night at Knoxville Raceway, topping 62 qualifiers in the second round of the eighth annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals.

Bloomquist, the night's first qualifier, toured the half-mile oval with a 17.805-second lap that earns him 200 points in Knoxville's unique system of preliminaries that sets the starting lineup for Saturday's $40,000-to-win main event on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. Friday's action, which includes heat races, consies and a $7,000-to-win semifeature, is the second two complete programs that will set Saturday's 30-car starting field.

With the 10-car heat race inversion, Bloomquist will start outside the fifth row in the first heat race.

Pre-race notes

Dale McDowell's hauler pulled out of the pits earlier this afternoon when he received word that his mother's health was failing, series director Ritchie Lewis said. About a half-hour down the road McDowell got the call that Renva Dover had passed away. Team owner Clint Bowyer sent a plane to Burlington, Iowa, to pick up McDowell so he could get home more quickly. McDowell finished 10th in Thursday's semifeature ... Another driver who competed Thursday who has scratched for the weekend is Jason Utter of Columbus Junction, Iowa. Utter bent the upper framerail on his car in a hard crash in a Thursday night heat race, and his right arm was still sore from the accident. ... Don't miss DirtonDirt.com's complete Knoxville coverage. ... The track is also providing live video of Friday's action. ... Also check out audio clips of pitside interviews Friday at Knoxville.

1. Scott Bloomquist (0), Mooresburg, Tenn., 17.805
2. Austin Hubbard (19), Seaford, Del., 17.986
3. Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 18.175
4. Don O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 18.204
5. Jared Landers (777), Welcome, N.C., 18.227
6. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 18.281
7. Darrell Lanigan (1), Union, Ky., 18.286
8. Will Vaught (1), Crane, Mo., 18.288
9. Mike Marlar (5B), Winfield, Tenn., 18.315
10. Brian Birkhofer (15B), Muscatine, Iowa, 18.348
11. Tyler Reddick (11), Corning, Calif., 18.379
12. Kent Robinson (7r), Bloomington, Ind., 18.428
13. Denny Eckrich (50), Tiffin, Iowa, 18.439
14. Billy Moyer (21), Batesville, Ark., 18.459
15. Steve Francis (15), Ashland, Ky., 18.500
16. Jimmy Mars (28), Menomonie, Wis., 18.538
17. Matt Furman (51), Iowa City, Iowa, 18.545
18. Kevin Sather (3), Ankeny, Iowa, 18.548
19. Brian Harris (27H), Davenport, Iowa, 18.565
20. Andy Eckrich (56), Iowa City, Iowa, 18.573
21. Jason Rauen (98), Farley, Iowa, 18.585
22. Rob Moss (1m), Iowa City, Iowa, 18.588
23. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 18.606
24. Eric Wells (18), Hazard, Ky., 18.702
25. Billy Moyer Jr. (21jr), Batesville, Ark., 18.723
26. Scott James (81), Lawrenceburg, Ind., 18.727
27. Dave Eckrich (58), Oxford, Iowa, 18.746
28. Earl Pearson Jr. (44), Jacksonville, Fla., 18.802
29. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 18.832
30. Jay Johnson (93), West Burlington, Iowa, 18.844
31. Brady Smith (2), Solon Springs, Wis., 18.856
32. Mike Fryer (5m), Freeport, Ill., 18.871
33. Chad Simpson (25), Mount Vernon, Iowa, 18.937
34. Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., 18.940
35. Ray Cook (53), Brasstown, N.C., 18.944
36. Steve Casebolt (c9), Richmond, Ind., 18.947
37. Mike Wallace (8), Carter Lake, Iowa, 18.970
38. John Duty (5) Portland, Ore., 18.995
39. Nick Marolf (33), Moscow, Iowa, 19.010
40. Paul Glendenning (33G), Mount Ayr, Iowa, 19.016
41. Tim McCreadie (39), Watertown, N.Y., 19.036
42. Bub McCool (57j), Vicksburg, Miss., 19.048
43. Brad Neat (41), Dunnville, Ky., 19.111
44. John Blankenship (23), Williamson, W.Va., 19.114
45. Jack Sullivan (1), Greenbrier, Ark., 19.134
46. Dan Schlieper (9), Oak Creek, Wis., 19.148
47. Chris Simpson (32), Oxford, Iowa, 19.164
48. Kerry Hansen (25H), Spencer, Wis., 19.229
49. Frank Heckenast Jr. (99jr), Frankfort, Ill., 19.240
50. Rich Bell (21B), Sheffield, Ill., 19.313
51. Al Humphrey (6) Giltner, Neb., 19.351
52. Tim Lance (48), Brimfield, Ill., 19.381
53. Chris Spieker (56x), Massena, Iowa, 19.428
54. Jill George (22), Cedar Falls, Iowa, 19.429
55. Darrel DeFrance (99D), Marshalltown, Iowa, 19.507
56. Charlie McKenna (22m), Clear Lake, Iowa, 19.522
57. Junior Coover (10), Norfolk, Neb., 19.704
58. Scott Lewis (99), Henderson, Colo., 19.822
59. Chad Chenoweth (7c), Huron, S.D., 19.849
60. Jeremiah Hurst (15H), Dubuque, Iowa, 20.296
61. Curt Schroeder (15c), Ames, Iowa, 21.195
62. Alonzo Grosse (44zo), Council Bluffs, Iowa, no time

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