Jimmy Owens Scores His First Lucas Oil Win In Nearly A Year
Jimmy Owens Scores His First Lucas Oil Win In Nearly A Year
Jimmy Owens struggled through 40 races without a Lucas Oil Late Model Series win before ending the winless streak where it began at Tazewell Speedway.
Jimmy Owens saw his 40-race winless streak come to an end after capturing the Toyota Knoxville 50 at Tazewell Speedway in Tazewell, TN, on Sunday.
For all the near misses since he recorded his last win, Owens' victory at Tazewell was never seriously in question. He jumped into the lead from the outside pole and led all 50 laps. His last win came on May 28, 2016, at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO. He led the field to green from the pole that afternoon but would not take the lead until lap 75 of 100.
Owens ended his winless streak on the track where it began.
The week following his last win, the series visited Tazewell. Owens finished second to Scott Bloomquist. Little was Owen to know how long it would take to secure that one extra position and win again. In his last 40 races, he would finish first or second eight times before winning at Tazewell this week.
"We have had a lot of ups and downs," Owens said. "We have a good car here, but I haven't shown it any justice. Once we get our ducks in a row, maybe we can come home with a few more wins."
Owens' biggest challenge on Sunday was the track. He built a lead of nearly four seconds during a 27-lap, green flag segment in the middle of the race and was slowed only by four cautions that dotted the event.
"The track's a little different, but considering the weather it was a great race track," Owens said. "I especially want to thank my crew. They have worked their butts off, and I feel I have let them down at times this year. I am glad to finally get to Victory Lane."
Owens' win extended a streak of winning at least one race per year to 11. That puts him behind only Bloomquist, who has at least one Lucas Oil win per season in the past 14.
Don O'Neal secured second from Darrel Lanigan on a lap-36 restart and held the position until the checkers.
"It was good solid weekend for us," O'Neal said. "We had top fives both nights. The car is good and has been for a while now."
Soon after giving up the second position, Lanigan slowed dramatically and headed for the pits. The abrupt move almost caught up eventual third-place finisher Earl Pearson Jr.
"We had a good run going with Lanigan and Josh [Richards] until he had a flat," Pearson said. "I had to get by Lanigan when I saw his tire was going down. It's a good run for us here. This place can bite you in a hurry."
Shanon Buckingham and Tim McCreadie rounded out the top five.
McCreadie had a challenging journey into the top five. He was unable to set a time in qualification, which caused him to roll off from the back for his heat. He started the feature mid-pack in 12th.
Results
1. Jimmy Owens
2. Don O'Neal
3. Earl Pearson Jr.
4. Shanon Buckingham
5. Tim McCreadie
6. Steve Francis
7. Gregg Satterlee
8. Josh Richards
9. Darrell Lanigan
10. Scott Bloomquist
Full Results
For all the near misses since he recorded his last win, Owens' victory at Tazewell was never seriously in question. He jumped into the lead from the outside pole and led all 50 laps. His last win came on May 28, 2016, at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO. He led the field to green from the pole that afternoon but would not take the lead until lap 75 of 100.
Owens ended his winless streak on the track where it began.
The week following his last win, the series visited Tazewell. Owens finished second to Scott Bloomquist. Little was Owen to know how long it would take to secure that one extra position and win again. In his last 40 races, he would finish first or second eight times before winning at Tazewell this week.
"We have had a lot of ups and downs," Owens said. "We have a good car here, but I haven't shown it any justice. Once we get our ducks in a row, maybe we can come home with a few more wins."
Owens' biggest challenge on Sunday was the track. He built a lead of nearly four seconds during a 27-lap, green flag segment in the middle of the race and was slowed only by four cautions that dotted the event.
"The track's a little different, but considering the weather it was a great race track," Owens said. "I especially want to thank my crew. They have worked their butts off, and I feel I have let them down at times this year. I am glad to finally get to Victory Lane."
Owens' win extended a streak of winning at least one race per year to 11. That puts him behind only Bloomquist, who has at least one Lucas Oil win per season in the past 14.
Don O'Neal secured second from Darrel Lanigan on a lap-36 restart and held the position until the checkers.
"It was good solid weekend for us," O'Neal said. "We had top fives both nights. The car is good and has been for a while now."
Soon after giving up the second position, Lanigan slowed dramatically and headed for the pits. The abrupt move almost caught up eventual third-place finisher Earl Pearson Jr.
"We had a good run going with Lanigan and Josh [Richards] until he had a flat," Pearson said. "I had to get by Lanigan when I saw his tire was going down. It's a good run for us here. This place can bite you in a hurry."
Shanon Buckingham and Tim McCreadie rounded out the top five.
McCreadie had a challenging journey into the top five. He was unable to set a time in qualification, which caused him to roll off from the back for his heat. He started the feature mid-pack in 12th.
Results
1. Jimmy Owens2. Don O'Neal
3. Earl Pearson Jr.
4. Shanon Buckingham
5. Tim McCreadie
6. Steve Francis
7. Gregg Satterlee
8. Josh Richards
9. Darrell Lanigan
10. Scott Bloomquist
Full Results