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Pearson Remains on Top of Eldora's World.
ROSSBURG, OH (July 27) -- Earl Pearson, Jr. remains on top of the World at Eldora Speedway.
Nicknamed the Hurricane, Pearson swept the World 100 last September and then Friday night blew away with one of the most competitive victories in Eldora history as the World of Outlaw Late Models made their debut appearance on the famed one-half mile clay oval. Scott Orr ruled the companion UMP (United Midwestern Promoters) Modified finale.
Two-time NASCAR champion and Eldora Speedway owner, Tony Stewart, came into time trials straight from Indianapolis and the Brickyard 400 festivities only to miss the scheduled hot lap session. Unfazed, he went into the time trial session for the 49 cars competing within the Subway 50 action and turned in the quickest lap at 15.254 seconds, just a tick off the all-time track record.
He relegated that into a convincing heat race victory, but with the traditional World of Outlaw redraw, he started fourth in the wild 50-lap main event.
As the green flag dropped, it was former World 100 winner Chub Frank taking the early lead, with Josh Richards, Darrell Lanigan and Stewart in pursuit. Several caution flags within the early stages slowed the pace somewhat, and kept the pack tightly bunched.
However, once the field sorted themselves out, the heat was definitely on.
Richards was the first to mount a serious challenge and got by Frank on lap 5, after the two ran side by side for two consecutive laps.
Richards’ teammate, Stewart, followed the pattern and one lap later moved into second, with Frank dropping to third, while Lanigan maintained fourth.
The extremely fast and tacky track, caused by a heavy rain shower that delayed the start of the event by two hours, took its toll on several cars, with the down force simply shredding tires.
That kept the front runners tight, and with the Outlaw mandated double file restarts, produced some incredible action.
Frank regained his composure and on lap 11, shot by Stewart to take back second, with his sights focused on Richards and the coveted lead. Six laps later, he was back in the lead. By this point, Pearson was up to fourth, with quick moving Tim Fuller and Scott Bloomquist in pursuit, as well.
It was at this point that the crowd was sensing they were in for a barn-burner.
The half-way mark began to change the complexion drastically. Under a yellow flag, Richards dove into the pit area with apparent mechanical woes, leaving Stewart in second, Pearson third, Fuller fourth and Clint Smith fifth.
When the green flag re-appeared, Frank was out and sailing, leaving the balance of the field to fend for themselves. Within five laps, Stewart had other plans, and began to reel in the leader.
Lap by lap he got closer and on lap 38 he began his move for the lead. Watching Frank’s tendency to run the high line, Stewart tried a bonzai slide job coming off of turn four on lap 40. Side by side the duo came off of the turn, with neither giving an inch. Running out of room, the front running pair collided and spun wildly down the front stretch. Stewart’s damage was enough to eliminate him from the race, while Frank restarted from the rear.
This gave Pearson the lead, but right behind him was multi-time World 100 champion Scott Bloomquist, who is well known around the Eldora circle for saving his car until the closing laps. Behind them were Fuller, Brady Smith and Shannon Babb, who had woven his way from a provisional 24th starting position to fifth.
With the final ten laps going green, the race took on a new dimension. Pearson maintained his top spot on the restart, with Bloomquist and Fuller entertaining their own battle. It took Babb only two laps to dispose of Smith for third and then within another fourth laps overtook a surprised Bloomquist.
At this point, the crowd was focused on Babb, and he didn’t disappoint them. With the white flag high in the air, Babb pulled along side Pearson and the twosome did a drag race down the backstretch. The inevitable slide job by Babb came about in turn three and exiting turn four, he was in the lead, but Pearson’s momentum carried him across the line first, with Babb only inches behind in second. Bloomquist took third, followed by Fuller and Scott James.
With Orr starting on the pole of the 17-lap Modified finale, it left little doubt in any fan’s mind as to the eventual outcome. The four-time Eldora champion didn’t disappoint anyone, as he cruised to a strong win, despite a strong late race challenge from Shaun Smith.
Like the Late Models, the quick track created some early attrition, but the waning laps provided plenty of intense competition. Mike Dirksen drove a steady race to come home third, while Mike Hohlbein and Steve King competed the top five.
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SUBWAY 50
WORLD OF OUTLAW LATE MODELS
Fast Time: Tony Stewart 15.254
Heat 1: Tony Stewart, Shawn Toczek, Earl Pearson, Jr., Jeep VanWormer, Jared Hawkins, Rick Briggs, Chad Ruhlman, Donnie Moran, Ben Adkins, Shane Claton, Brent Rehebergen, Shannon Babb, Roy Mitchell
Heat 2: Darrell Lanigan, Brady Smith, Jerry Rice, Bloomquist, Brian Shirley, Ky Harper, Casey Noonan, Brad Neat, Brian Barber, Rick DeLong, Bobby Kitchen
Heat 3: Chub Frank, Josh Richards, Tim Fuller, Scott James, Patrick Sheltra, Billy Moyer, Dave Hess, Jr., Kenny Christy, Jerry Bowersock, Brian Ruhlman, Tyler Boggs, Robb Blair
Heat 4: Clint Smith, Steve Shaver, Rick Eckert, Mike Balzano, Aaron Scott, Steve Francis, Dennis Erb, Jr., Steve Casebolt, Wayne Maffett, jr., Curtis Spalding, Michael Stiltner, Jordan Bland
B-Main 1: Brian Shirley, Donnie Moran, Brad Neat, Jared Hawkins, Rick DeLong, Bobby Kitchen, Brent Rehbergen, Chad Ruhlman, Ky Harper, Brian Barber, Shane Clanton, Roy Mitchell, Rick Briggs, Ben Adkins, Casey Nonnan
B-Main 2: Billy Moyer, Dennis Erb, Jr., Steve Francis, Patrick Sheltra, Dave Hess, Jr., Wayne Maffett, Jr., Steve Casebolt, Tyler Boggs, Curt Spalding, Kenny Christy, Jordan Bland, Michael Stiltner, Aaron Scott, Brian Ruhlman, Jerry Bowersock, Robby Blair
50-lap A-Main:
1)Earl Pearson, Jr. 2)Shannon Babb 3)Scott Bloomquist 4)Tim Fuller 5)Scott James 6)Brady Smith 7)Chub Frank 8)Jerry Rice 9)Steve Francis 10)Clint Smith 11)Rick Eckert 12)Brian Shirley 13)Donnie Moran 14)Dennis Erb, Jr. 15)Billy Moyer 16)Tony Stewart 17)Brad Neat 18)Jeep VanWormer 19)Josh Richards 20)Darrell Lanigan 21)Mike Balzano 22)Steve Shaver 23)Shawn Toczek 24)Shane Clanton
UMP MODIFIEDS
Heat 1: Shaun Smith, Jerry Bowersock, Mark Kowarsch, Jack Waldfogel, Bob Burch, Tom Treon, David Treon, Jr., Todd Sanders, Aaron Jenkins
Heat 2: Scott Orr, Davey Gantt, Mike Dirksen, Rob Williams, David Spille, Shane Unger, Rob Trent, Jeff Harris, Steve Shute
Heat 3: Justin Matson, Gary Richard, Dan Smith, Mike Hohlbein, Steve King, Brad McLeod, Mike Chrisman, Steve Brown
B-Main: David Treon, Jr., Tom Treon, Brad McLeod, Rob Trent, Shane Unger, Steve Brown, Todd Sanders, Mike Chrisman, Jeff Harris, Aaron Jenkins, Steve Shute
17-lap A-Main:
1)Scot Orr 2)Shaun Smith 3)Mike Dirksen 4)Mike Hohlbein 5)Steve King 6)Davey Gantt 7)Bob Burch 8)Tom Treon 9)Rob Trent 10)David Treon, Jr. 11)Steve Brown 12) Shane Unger 13)Jerry Bowersock 14)Rob Williams 15)Mark Kowarsch 16)Justin Matson 17)Stan Smith 18)Brad McLeod 19)Jack Waldfogel 20)Gary Richard 21)David Spille 22)Todd Sanders
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