PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (Oct. 19) — Scott Bloomquist continued his hot streak Sunday evening at Portsmouth Raceway Park. After an early battle with Jimmy Owens, Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., dominated the final laps of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series season finale, collecting a $50,000 triumph in the 34th annual Optima Batteries Dirt Track World Championship presented by NAPA Auto Parts.

Fourth-starting Bloomquist raced side-by-side with Owens of Newport, Tenn., assuming control for good on lap 61, leading the remaining circuits for his second career DTWC victory. After capturing several major event victories over the last couple of months, the veteran entered the crown jewel weekend at the top of his game.

“I came here very confident,” Bloomquist said Sunday after the race. “We’ve run so well here every time we’ve been here. All I was hoping for was a racetrack that you could maneuver and the racetrack turned out to be a very good racetrack to pass. Nothing was going to hold us up. I feel like we had the superior car … I tried to give it away once, but I reeled it back in. It’s just a good night.”

Using lapped traffic to his advantage, Owens slipped past race leader Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., on lap 40, with third-running Bloomquist following suit to join the challenge for the lead.

“He (Owens) raced hard and so did I,” Bloomquist said. “It’s nice … no contact, just a lot of hard, close racing, and that’s enjoyable. So many races that we run, even when you win, it wasn’t enjoyable because of track conditions. But today’s race was an enjoyable race.”

Polesitter Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock W.Va., fell out of the top five after the race’s initial start, but rallied to take the runner-up spot with five laps remaining in the 100-lapper. Owens nabbed the third-place spot the checkers, while Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., finished fourth, clinching the 2014 Lucas Oil Series title. Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., rounded out the top five.

Bloomquist said Saturday night’s rainout was a concern, but track prep following Sunday’s non-qualifiers' race made for an ideal racing surface.

“A lot of times day races end up being very one-lane dominant,” Bloomquist said. “The work that they did on the racetrack was a savior. At the end of the race, the bottom was the only place to be. But early, we could make the top work. It really was a lot better race than I expected.”

Carrier, who notched a victory in the Sunoco North-South 100 back in August, said he was pleased to end his run on the 2014 Lucas Oil tour on a strong note, with a runner-up finish at one of his home racetracks.

“We was not that good at the start,” Carrier said. “It seemed like at the middle of the race we was off a little bit, but at the end of it seemed like we was a little bit better. I don’t know if we picked up speed or if they lost their tires a little more than we did, but we’ll take a second.

“I wish we could have had a caution maybe. But Scott’s been good for the last two months and he’s been hard to beat and he’s going to be hard to beat the rest of the year.”

Third-finishing Owens said while he may have had the quicker car at times, it was just not enough to challenge Bloomquist in the late running.

“I felt like if we could get in good, clear track we might be a little quicker than him,” Owens said. “But you had to be able to maneuver and he could do it a little better than we could.

“We just got behind a few lapped cars there and it cost us a few spots. Luckily, coming to the checkered we pretty much got back. We had a good car all weekend. I’m not totally happy with a third place run, but I am.”

Owens, a three-time Lucas Oil Series champion, finished 65 points behind O’Neal in the final series standings.

“I’m really tickled for us to run second in the points,” Owens said. “It’s a new car and we’ve had a real, real inconsistent year as far as ups and downs and finishes. To come home second is pretty awesome.”

34th annual Dirt Track World Championship

Pos. Driver (car no.), hometown, chassis
1. Scott Bloomquist (0), Mooresburg, Tenn., Sweet-Bloomquist, $50,000
2. Eddie Carrier Jr. (28), Salt Rock, W.Va., Rocket, $15,000
3. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., Club 29, $10,000
4. Don O’Neal (5), Martinsville, Ind., Barry Wright, $7,000
5. Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., Hustler, $5,000
6. Billy Moyer (21), Batesville, Ark., Longhorn, $3,500
7. Dennis Erb Jr. (28e), Carpenter, Ill., Barry Wright, $3,200
8. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamuaga, Ga., Warrior, $3,000
9. Steve Francis (15), Ashland, Ky., Barry Wright, $2,800
10. Tim McCreadie (39), Watertown, N.Y., Rocket, $2,500
11. Jonathan Davenport (6), Blairsville, Ga., Longhorn, $2,450
12. Josh Richards (1), Shinnston, W.Va., Rocket, $2,400
13. Brandon Sheppard (1bx), New Berlin, Ill., Rocket, $2,350
14. Jared Landers (777), Batesville, Ark., Rocket, $2,300
15. Gregg Satterlee (22), Indiana, Pa., Rocket, $2,250
16. Rod Conley (71R), Wheelersburg, Ohio, Rocket, $2,200
17. Mason Zeigler (25Z), Chalk Hill, Pa., Longhorn, $2,150
18. Jason Hughes (12), Watts, Okla., Bloomquist, $100
19. Delmas Conley (71d), Wheelersburg, Ohio, Rocket, $2,075
20. Jason Papich (91p), Nipomo, Calif., Club 29, $60
21. Steve Casebolt (c9), Richmond, Ind., Club 29, $2,050
22. Jackie Boggs (4b), Grayson, Ky., Swartz, $2,040
23. John Blankenship (23), Williamson, W.Va., Rocket, $2,030
24. Frank Heckenast Jr. (99JR), Frankfort, Ill., Club 29, $2,020
25. Dustin Linville (D8), Bryantsville, Ky., Swartz, $2,010
26. Ben Adkins (B7), West Portsmouth, Ohio, Swartz, $2,000
27. Doug Drown (20d), Wooster, Ohio, Rocket, $2,000
28. Brandon Overton (5X), Appling, Ga., Bloomquist, $2,000
29. R.J. Conley (71c), Wheelersburg, Ohio, Rocket, $2,000
30. Earl Pearson Jr. (44), Jacksonville, Fla., Longhorn, $2,000
Heat race winners (among 89 cars): Jonathan Davenport, Billy Moyer, Scott Bloomquist, Don O’Neal, Jimmy Owens, Eddie Carrier Jr.
Consolation winners: Earl Pearson Jr., Brandon Overton, Dustin Linville
Provisional starters: Steve Francis, Jared Landers, Ben Adkins, Jackie Boggs
Non qualifiers’ race winner: Scott James

Blog-style reports:

Main event updates

Lap 100: Bloomquist wins the 34th annual Dirt Track World Championship.

Lap 80: Bloomquist cruises at the front of the field. Owens, O'Neal, Carrier and Feger round out the top-five. Dale McDowell has advanced from the 23rd starting position to run ninth.

Lap 71: Jared Landers spins in turn one to draw a caution. He rejoins the tail of the field. Bloomquist leads O'Neal, Owens, Feger and Carrier.

Lap 70: A yellow flies on the ensuing restart when Jason Hughes, John Blankenship and Jackie Boggs pile up on the frontstretch. Boggs was running 13th after using a provisional to start the feature.

Lap 70: Tim McCreadie spins in turns three and four to draw a caution. Bloomquist continues to lead.

Lap 63: Steve Francis rolls to a stop at the top of the backstretch for a caution. Steve Casebolt goes to the hot pit. Bloomquist is back to the front of the field over Owens, O'Neal, Feger and Moyer. Dennis Erb Jr. has rallied from his 24th starting spot and runs in 11th.

Lap 54: Owens charges to the inside of Bloomquist to take over the race lead. The two drivers continue to battle side-by-side.

Lap 50: Bloomquist leads at the halfway point over Owens, O'Neal, Moyer and Feger. The leaders are working their way through lapped traffic.

Lap 40: Owens takes the lead over Moyer. Bloomquist follows the No. 20 and charges past the race leader on the following lap.

Lap 29: Brandon Overton draws the race's second caution and heads to the hot pit. Moyer continues to lead Owens, Bloomquist, O'Neal and Carrier.

Lap 25: The first yellow flies for R.J. Conley. He exits the racetrack along with Earl Pearson Jr. Moyer leads Bloomquist, Owens, Carrier and O'Neal.

Lap 13: Carrier gets around Moyer in lapped traffic to lead lap 13. Moyer returns to the lead on lap 14.

Lap: 10: Moyer continues to lead Carrier, Jimmy Owens, Scott Bloomquist and Don O'Neal.

Lap 1: Billy Moyer charges to the high side to lead the first lap over polesitter Eddie Carrier Jr.

5:47 p.m. Drivers get the call to fire engines after introductions.

Pre-feature notes

Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., and Jared Landers of Batesville, Ark., will use Lucas Oil Series provisionals to start the DTWC. … Jackie Boggs of Grayson, Ky., was the first retiree in Sunday’s first consolation after he experienced power-steering issues. He receives a feature provisional as the winner of the Boone Coleman Memorial ‘Gator 50’ held at PRP back in May. … Ben Adkins of West Portsmouth, Ohio, and his crew scrambled to make repairs to the No. B7 machine after receiving left-front corner damage in a consolation tangle. As the 2014 PRP track champion, Adkins receives the track provisional for Sunday’s main event. … As the winner of the Jim Dunn Memorial non-qualifiers’ race, Scott James was given the option to take the $3,000 prize or start from the tail end of the 34th annual DTWC. James elected to take the payout. … Lucas Oil Series Rookie of the Year contenders Jason Hughes and Jason Papich will each take emergency series provisionals to start the 100-lapper.

Jim Dunn Memorial

Outside front row starter Scott James charged past polesitter Stephen Breeding on the second lap and led the remaining distance in the non-qualifiers' race. Chris Garnes and Brian Shirley battled for the second-place spot in the final 10 laps. Shirley took the runner-up spot, while Garnes slipped to finish fifth. Corey Conley finished third, with Stephen Breeding running fourth. Fifth-starting Bobby Pierce powered to second on the lap-eight restart, but collided with Corey Conley on lap 17, spinning in turn-two. Pierce left the racetrack after he failed to fall to the tail of the field.

Mick Sansom drew a caution on the fifth lap when he spun in turns three and four. Tyler Carpenter slowed on the racetrack under the yellow. Duane Chamberlain spun in turn two on the ensuing restart, collecting Billy Gullion and Kenneth Howell. A yellow flew on lap eight when Kevin Wagner spun in turn four. Sansom, Derek Fisher and Chris Wilson piled up in turn four on a lap-15 restart that followed a caution for debris on the racetrack.

Finish: Scott James, Brian Shirley, Corey Conley, Stephen Breeding, Chris Garnes, Tim Dohm, Tyler Carpenter, Zack Dohm, Tommy Bailey, Jeremy Berwanger, Nick Bocook, Josh Bocook, Travis Brookover, Mick Sansom, Chris Wilson, Kevin Wagner, Jon Hodgkiss, Kenneth Howell, Bobby Pierce, Chris Stotts, Derek Fisher, J.T. Conley, Devin Moran, Duane Chamberlain, Billy Gullion

Jim Dunn Memorial lineup

(30 laps; $3,000-to-win)
Row 1: Stephen Breeding, Scott James
Row 2: Chris Garnes, Corey Conley
Row 3: Bobby Pierce, Brian Shirley
Row 4: Chris Stotts, Tim Dohm
Row 5: Travis Brookover, Derek Fisher
Row 6: Zack Dohm, Josh Bocook
Row 7: Devin Moran, Kevin Wagner
Row 8: J.T. Conley, Billy Gullion
Row 9: Tyler Carpenter, Jon Hodgkiss
Row 10: Davey Johnson, Tommy Bailey
Row 11: Mick Sansom, Chris Wilson
Row 12: Kenneth Howell, Jeremy Berwanger

Third consolation

Outside polesitter Dustin Linville led all 20 laps to transfer to Sunday’s DTWC. Dennis Erb Jr. took the second-place spot from polesitter Scott James on the ninth lap and held on to transfer to the main event. Scott James finished in the third-place spot. Seventeenth-starting Bobby Pierce charged around the bottom of the racetrack, challenging James for third before settling for fourth in lapped traffic. Chris Stotts rounded out the top five. Lauren Longbrake, the first female driver attempting to qualify for the DTWC, drew a caution on the eighth lap when she got into the turn-one wall.

Finish: Dustin Linville, Dennis Erb Jr., Scott James, Bobby Pierce, Chris Stotts, Jason Hughes, Derek Fisher, Devin Moran, Billy Gullion, Davey Johnson, Chris Wilson, Jeremy Berwanger, Michael Wright, Audie Swartz, Lauren Longbrake, Steve Stollins, Kenny McCann, Ralph Withem, Charlie Jude Scratched: Paul Davis, Lee Logan

Second consolation

Outside front row starter Brandon Overton used the high side of the racetrack to charge past polesitter Dale McDowell on the fourth lap, leading the remaining distance to win the second consolation. McDowell held on to the second-place spot and will transfer to the feature. Lucas Oil Series Rookie of the Year contender Jason Papich finished third, with Corey Conley taking the fourth-place spot. Brian Shirley rounded out the top five. The race was stopped by a red flag on the second lap for a multi-car pileup in turns three and four involving Kenneth Howell, J.T. Conley, Travis Brookover, Chad Hollenbeck, Rick Mardis and others. Jon Hodgkiss and Ben Adkins collided on the sixth lap when trying to avoid debris on the racetrack. Adkins retired as Jared Landers headed to the pits under the yellow. Mick Sansom spun in turns one and two on the ensuing restart and Chris Combs retired under the caution. J.T. Conley spun in turns one and two for another caution on the second lap-six restart.

Finish: Brandon Overton, Dale McDowell, Jason Papich, Corey Conley, Brian Shirley, Nick Bocook, Travis Brookover, Josh Bocook, J.T. Conley, Jon Hodgkiss, Mick Sansom, Jared Landers, Chris Combs, Ben Adkins, Avery Taylor, Jake Keaton, Kenneth Howell, Rick Mardis, Chad Hollenbeck Scratched: Jeep Van Wormer, Mike Marlar, Brandon Fouts, Richie Edwards

First consolation

Polesitter Earl Pearson Jr. charged to the lead at the drop of the green flag, leading all 20 laps to transfer to the DTWC. Third-starting Tim McCreadie advanced one position to nab the final transfer spot, while Stephen Breeding finished third. Chris Garnes challenged McCreadie for second in the early running, but dropped back to finish fourth. Steve Francis rallied from the 12th starting spot to finish fifth. Front row starter Jackie Boggs drew the first caution on lap two when he slowed in turns one and two. Fourth-running Jason Riggs retired to the pits under the yellow.

Finish: Earl Pearson Jr., Tim McCreadie, Stephen Breeding, Chris Garnes, Steve Francis, Tim Dohm, Duane Chamberlain, Zack Dohm, Kevin Wagner, Tyler Carpenter, Tommy Bailey, Daniel Williams, Victor Lee, Mike Meyer, Dennis Barton, Larry Ferrell, Shannon Thornsberry, Jason Riggs, Jackie Boggs Scratched: Jimmy Mars

DTWC reset for Sunday afternoon

A steady light rain began falling just as the first consolation race for the 34th annual Dirt Track World Championship was rolling out to the track Saturday night at Portsmouth (Ohio) Raceway Park. After just over an hour wait, series and track officials elected to postpone the $50,000-to-win Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series finale until Sunday afternoon.

With time trials and heat race action completed on Friday, Sunday's card will include only three consolation races, the Jim Dunn Memorial non-qualifiers' race and the 100-lap main event for Super Late Models. Gates open at 11 a.m. Eastern with racing scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va., and Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., will lead the feature field to green.

Consolation race lineups

First consolation
Row 1: Earl Pearson Jr., Jackie Boggs
Row 2: Jimmy Mars, Tim McCreadie
Row 3: Jason Riggs, Chris Garnes
Row 4: Tommy Bailey, Stephen Breeding
Row 5: Mike Meyers, Dennis Barton
Row 6: Rick Bond, Duane Chamberlain
Row 7: Danny McGowan, Michael Smith
Row 8: Zack Dohm, Steve Francis
Row 9: Kevin Wagner, Tim Dohm
Row 10: Victor Lee, Daniel Williams
Row 11: Larry Ferrell, Josh Hall
Row 12: Shannon Thornsberry, Tyler Carpenter
Second consolation
Row 1: Dale McDowell, Brandon Overton
Row 2: Jason Papich, Jared Landers
Row 3: Corey Conley, Josh Bocook
Row 4: Nick Bocook, Travis Brookover
Row 5: Jake Keaton, Brian Shirley
Row 6: Mick Sansom, Chad Hollenbeck
Row 7: J.T. Conley, Casey Noonan
Row 8: Jeep Van Wormer, Brandon Fouts
Row 9: Jon Hodgkiss, Rick Mardis
Row 10: Mike Marlar, Ben Adkins
Row 11: Kenneth Howell, Avery Taylor
Row 12: Chris Combs, Richie Edwards
Third consolation
Row 1: Scott James, Dustin Linville
Row 2: Dennis Erb Jr., Steve Lucas
Row 3: Davey Johnson, Billy Gullion
Row 4: Chris Stotts, Chris Wilson
Row 5: Derek Fisher, Michael Wright
Row 6: Charlie Jude, Lauren Longbrake
Row 7: Devin Moran, Jeremy Berwanger
Row 8: Steve Shaver, Ralph Withem
Row 9: Bobby Pierce, Audie Swartz
Row 10: Steve Stollings, Jason Hughes
Row 11: Kenny McCann, Lee Logan
Row 12: Paul Davis

Pre-race setup

Saturday’s program includes three 20-lap consolation races, the Jim Dunn Memorial non-qualifiers' race, and the 100-lap, $50,000-to-win Dirt Track World Championship main event. Friday’s heat races set the first nine rows of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series season finale, with remaining positions to be filled from consolation races.

The top two finishers from each of Saturday's three consolation races qualfy for the DTWC, while drivers in positions 3-10 transfer to the non-qualifiers' race. Provisional starters will set the final rows of the starting grid.

Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va., will lead Saturday’s main event to the green flag after winning the sixth heat race Friday and redrawing the pole position. Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., the winner of Friday's second heat race, will start alongside. Friday's other heat race winners Jimmy Owens, Scott Bloomquist, Jonathan Davenport and Don O’Neal will roll off from positions 3-6.

Pre-race notes

A steady rain began falling around 7 p.m. EST Saturday, right as the first consolation was set to take the track. The event was rescheduled for Sunday. ... Prior to Saturday's action DTWC promoter Carl Short announced that the 2015 event will be $100,000-to-win. ... The 89-car turnout is up 10 cars from last year’s event. … Five former DTWC winners are already locked into Saturday’s feature. … Last year’s winner, Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., finished third in his heat race and will roll off from the 17th starting spot. … Portsmouth regulars R.J., Rod and Delmas Conley of Wheelersburg, Ohio, have all qualified for the 100-lapper. … Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., will start sixth the the feature. He’ll clinch his first Lucas Oil Series title with a finish of 10th or better. … Local favorite Jackie Boggs of Grayson, Ky., will start on the front row of the second consolation after finishing fourth in his heat race. … Saturday’s program includes the Jim Dunn Memorial non-qualifiers' race and the $3,000-to-win modified feature. … Doug Drown of Wooster, Ohio, will start 16th in Saturday’s Late Model feature and outside the front row in the modified event.