Billy Moyer
Takes Final of Night of the 2008 DART Winternationals at East Bay
Raceway Park; Earns Third Win in Four Nights
TAMPA, FL
(February 10, 2008) - National Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Billy
Moyer of Batesville, AR fought through a three way battle for the
lead taking the top spot for good on lap 31 as he pulled away to
take the final night of the 2008 DART Winternationals for the Lucas
Oil Late Model Dirt Series at East Bay Raceway Park. Moyer earned
$12,000 for his 18th career win at the Tampa area
facility as he also clinched the DART Machinery points fund, which
earned him an additional $7,500. Earl Pearson, Jr. earned a series
provisional and came from the 23rd starting spot to
finish second followed by Terry Casey, Steve Francis and 12th
place starter Shannon Babb.
Josh Richards
and Terry Casey would start on the front row of the 75 lap event
which was taped before the cameras of SPEED, for the first time
EVER, in High-Definition. Casey, who had a strong week at East Bay
Raceway Park took the lead from the get go with Richards running
second followed by Chuck Harper, Steve Francis and Billy Moyer.
The first change
inside the top five occurred on the second lap as Francis would
squeeze by Harper to take over third as Matt Miller would drop Moyer
to sixth a lap later. The first caution of the race would come out
on lap five with the cars of Josh McGuire and Steve Casebolt
collected in turn number four.
On the restart
Casey was still showing the way with Francis around Richards for
second as Francis was making his car work well on the top groove of
the 1/3rd mile oval. Francis' high flying action would
pull him side by side with Casey as the race for the lead got
interesting by the ninth circuit.
Francis was able
to clear Casey taking the lead on lap ten as Casey fell to second
with Richards, Miller and Brian Shirley the top five with a dozen
laps scored. Francis looked like he was going to pull away from the
pack as he started to stretch his lead out by the 19th
circuit, but Francis was starting to pick up the tail end of the
field by the point of the race.
In traffic is
where Francis would lose his lead back to Casey as the Wisconsin
driver retook the point on lap 21. Richards then moved into second
in a nifty move in traffic as Francis fell to third place. With 25
laps complete Casey was out in front with Richards and Francis
making it three-wide for the lead.
While the race
leaders were battling it out in heavy traffic the second caution
would come out for a slowing Dan Schlieper. On the restart Moyer
benefitted the most as he looked like he was shot out of a cannon as
he came out of nowhere to third with 30 laps complete as Moyer got
in between Casey and Francis as they went three-wide for the top
spot.
A spectacularly
run race so far was getting even better as Moyer would grab the lead
on lap 31. Casey and Francis would then go side by side for two
laps as Casey fought back into the runner-up slot two circuits
later. Scott James would slow in turn two on lap 34 bringing out
the third and final caution of the race.
On the restart
Moyer was quite powerful as he bolted away from the field as he
immediately put distance between himself and Francis who had fought
his way back around Casey for second with Richards and Brady Smith,
who had started 22nd up to fifth.
With 30 laps
remaining Moyer was in complete control of the race with Francis,
Richards and Casey putting on a show for the fans as the tight race
for second continued, but they were about to be joined by Pearson,
who had to use a series provisional and after starting 23rd
worked his way into the top five on lap 50.
Moyer's lead
continued to be just a little more than a straightaway over the pack
of cars trying to track him down. However as the laps clicked off
Casey was ever so slowly cutting Moyer's lead down as he whittled
Moyer's lead to half a straight in heavy traffic.
Moyer got behind
a couple of cars he was having some difficulty in negotiating as his
car looked to be loosening up as the race wore down. Casey was
having some issues in traffic as well, when Pearson burst into
third, now having run down Casey.
Pearson was all
over Casey for second and with five laps to go he made the pass that
earned him the second position, but with just a handful of laps left
in the race Moyer had a big enough lead that Pearson was not going
to be able to chase him down.
Moyer would move
up on the track late in the race and that seemed to help him
conserve his tires just enough to bring his Moyer Victory Circle
Chassis Impala SS to the finish line for the third time in the final
four nights of racing at East Bay.
Moyer's
dominance at East Bay Raceway Park in this year's 32nd
Annual DART Winternationals not only earned him $32,000 in winnings
but also backed that up with capturing the DART Machinery point's
fund, which gave him another cool $7,500 for his work. Moyer had
entered the night's activities tied with Matt Miller atop the DART
points, but his convincing victory in Saturday Night's final
clinched it for him.
"Early on the
car was pushing a little bit and we dropped back there a few spots,
but I knew it was long race and I was trying to keep the tires in
good shape," said the driver who began his racing career in
motorcycles several years ago. Moyer's big break was the caution
for Schlieper on lap 27 and the ensuing restart.
"Yeah that
obviously was a key there, the fired real well off of turn number
two and we went in there and it stuck and I was right between Casey
and Steve and none of us were letting off and I was able to keep my
momentum and a couple of laps later were in front, then we had
another yellow, but the car felt real good there and took off on the
restart and we were able to pull away," as Moyer was joined in
victory lane with his crew chief Steve Norris and the other Moyer
Race Team members.
"I got into
traffic there and with no yellow flags this time I was glad there
weren't any cautions because I going real well and didn't want to
see one, I moved up the track a little bit there and I was just
hoping the tires would hold up to the end, with this sand in the
track it can get abrasive and wear out the tires, but they held up
and we're extremely happy with the week we've had," said Moyer as
there was indications that the right rear quarter panel had been
rubbing on the right rear Hoosier for several laps."
Moyer's Clements
Powered is sponsored by Banner Valley Hauling, BSB Manufacturing,
J&J Steel, Karl Chevrolet, Watters Auto Land, Redline Oil,
Performance Rod and Custom, Universal Concrete and Minx Show
Palace. Moyer's win also completed a week long sweep for Sunoco
Race Fuels.
Pearson had his
best finish of the week as the three-time and defending Lucas Oil
Late Model Dirt Series National Champion finished second in the
Bobby Labonte Racing/Lifelong Locks/MasterSbilt Dodge Charger.
Casey finished off a great ending to the week of racing placing
third in the Arnie Ranta Motorsports/Pro Power Engines/C.J. Rayburn
North Monte Carlo.
Completing the
top five were Francis in the Dale Beitler Enterprises/Cornett Racing
Engines/Rocket GTO and Shannon Babb in the Clint Bowyer
Racing/Clements Race Engines/C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo SS.
Rounding out the
top ten were Brian Shirley, Josh Richards, Matt Miller, Brady Smith
and Terry English. Of the 25 starters 22 finished the race.
In preliminary
action Josh Richards was the PRC Fast Timer in qualifications with a
lap of 14.418 seconds. The heat races were won by Steve Francis,
Matt Miller, Chuck Harper, Billy Moyer, Josh Richards and Terry
Casey. The B-mains were taken by Steve Casebolt, Wayne Chinn, Dan
Schlieper and Brady Smith. Josh McGuire won the PRC Strawberry Dash
to earn the 25th stating spot in the feature.
The Lucas Oil
Late Model Dirt Series competitors will now take more than a month
until the next scheduled event on Saturday Night, March 29thpaying
$10,000 to win at the Brownstown Speedway in Brownstown for the
"Indiana Icebreaker." For more information on this race you can
visit
www.brownstownspeedway.com.
For the latest
news and information regarding the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
feel free to log onto
www.lucasdirt.com.
Race Summary
Lucas Oil Late
Model Dirt Series
Friday Night,
February 9th, 2008
East Bay Raceway
Park-Tampa, FL
PRC Fast Time:
Josh Richards (14.418 seconds)
Hawk Brake First
Heat (10 Laps-Top 3 advance): Steve Francis, Jeep Van Wormer, Clint
Smith, Bryan Collins, Wayne Chinn, Tyler Boggs, Bart Hartman, Chris
Hackett, Brian Barber, Jason McBride, Rick Eckert, Shane Clanton,
John Blankenship, Jeff Beyers
Hawk Brake
Second Heat (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Matt Miller, Brian Shirley,
Eric Jacobson, Tyler Ivey, Rick Auckland, Freddy Smith, Eric Wells,
Marshall Austin, Don O'Neal, Clint Coffman, Jimmy Owens, Scott
Bloomquist, DNS: Russ Adams
AFCO Racing
Products Third Heat (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Chuck Harper, Terry
English, Justin Ratliff, Steve Casebolt, Vic Coffey, Earl Pearson
Jr., John Mason, Billy Drake, Rodney Melvin, Kurt Owens, Peyton
Taylor, Dave Tyrchniewicz, Kellen Chadwick
Tiger Rear Ends
Fourth Heat (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Billy Moyer, Tim Fuller, Tim
Dohm, Dan Schlieper, Dan Stone, Tim McCreadie, Ray Cook, Damon
Eller, Joe Denby, Donald Beyers, Ky Harper, Tony Knowles, DNS: Jared
Hawkins
Hawk Brake Fifth
Heat (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Josh Richards, Mile Marlar, Donnie
Moran, Brady Smith, Darren Miller, Wendell Wallace, Chris Madden,
Rohn Moon, Billy Decker, Bob Geiger, Jackie Boggs, Josh McGuire, DJ
Wells
Hawk Brake Sixth
Heat (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Terry Casey, Shannon Babb, Eddie
Carrier Jr., Chris Wall, Steve Shaver, Scott James, Billy Faust,
Dennis Erb, Keith Nosbisch, Butch McGill, Mark Andersen, Doug
Horton, DNS: Anthony White
Mason Racin'
Rebel Shock Dyno First B-Main (12 Laps- 1 Advance): Steve Casebolt,
Don, O'Neal, Earl Pearson Jr., Bryan Collins, Tyler Boggs, Billy
Drake, Rick Auckland, Jason McBride, Eric Wells, Shane Clanton,
Chris Hackett, Jeff Beyers, Dave Tyrchniewicz, Austin Hubbard, DNS:
Kurt Owens, Scott Bloomquist
Quarter Master
Second B-Main (12 Laps- 1 Advance): Wayne Chinn, Bart Hartman, Vic
Coffey, Freddy Smith, Rodney Melvin, Rick Eckert, John Mason, Brian
Barber, John Blankenship, Tyler Ivey, Jimmy Owens, Clint Coffman,
Marshall Austin, Peyton Taylor, DNS: Kellen Chadwick, Russ Adams
Quarter Master
Third B-Main (12 Laps- 1 Advance): Dan Schlieper, Chris Wall, Tim
McCreadie, Scott James, Darren Miller, Dennis Erb, Chris Madden,
Billy Decker, Damon Eller, Donald Beyers, DJ Wells, Jackie Boggs,
DNS: Butch McGill, Tony Knowles, Doug Horton
Mason Racin'
Rebel Shock Dyno Fourth B-Main (12 Laps- 1 Advance): Brady Smith,
Steve Shaver, Ray Cook, Wendell Wallace, Josh McGuire, Rohn Moon,
Billy Faust, Keith Nosbisch, Ky Harper, Mark Andersen, Bob Geiger,
Dan Stone, Joe Denby, DNS: Jared Hawkins, Anthony White
PRC Strawberry
Dash: (8 Laps- Winner Advanced to Feature): Josh McGuire, Darren
Miller, John Mason, Damon Eller, Chris Hackett, Keith Nosbisch, DJ
Wells, Steve Shaver
Lucas Oil Late
Model Dirt Series DART Machinery East Bay Winternationals Feature
Finish: (75 Laps): Billy Moyer, Earl Pearson Jr., Terry Casey,
Steve Francis, Shannon Babb, Brian Shirley, Josh Richards, Matt
Miller, Brady Smith, Terry English, Tim Dohm, Steve Casebolt, Tim
Fuller, Eric Jacobson, Clint Smith, Scott James, Donnie Moran, Mike
Marlar, Eddie Carrier Jr, Wayne Chinn, Chuck Harper, Jeep Van
Wormer, Dan Schlieper, Josh McGuire
Race
Statistics
Entries: 80
Caution Flags:
Lap 5 (Steve Casebolt, Josh McGuire); Lap 27 (Dan Schlieper); Lap 34
(Scott James)
Lap Leaders: 1-9
(Terry Casey); 10-19 (Steve Francis); 20-30 (Terry Casey); 31-Finish
(Billy Moyer)
PBM/Erson Cams
Hard Charger of the Race: Earl Pearson Jr. (Started 23rd
and finished second-advanced 21 positions)
Allstar
Performance Performer of the Race: Earl Pearson Jr.
K&N Filters
Clean Pass of the Race: Billy Moyer
Quarter Master
Rookie of the Race: None
ASI Racewear
Lucky 7 Award: Josh Richards
Integra Crew
Chief of the Race: Randall Edwards (Earl Pearson Jr.)
Comp Cams Engine
Builder of the Race: Clements
Time of Race: 32
Minutes Started: Ended:
2008 DART
Machinery Winternationals Points Standings (After 2/9/08)
1)
Billy Moyer - 1420
2)
Matt Miller - 1360
3)
Steve Francis - 1245
4)
Josh Richards - 1220
5)
Terry Casey - 1200
6)
Don O'Neal - 1200
7)
Donnie Moran - 1180
8)
Shannon Babb - 1115
9)
Justin Ratliff - 1060
10)Tim McCreadie
- 1060
2008 Lucas
Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings (After
2/9/08)
1)
Billy Moyer - 730
2)
Terry Casey - 675
3)
Steve Francis - 580
4)
Josh Richards - 580
5)
Donnie Moran - 540
6)
Matt Miller - 535
7)
Steve Casebolt - 535
8)
Mike Marlar - 520
9)
Eric Jacobson - 505
10)Earl Pearson
Jr. - 500
