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 BULLS
GAP, TN (March 27) -- The World of Outlaws Late Model Series was in
action this past weekend at Volunteer Speedway with Brian Birkhoffer
becoming the seventh different winner in as many events this season.
Birkhoffer took the lead on the second lap en route to capturing the
60-lap win and pocket the $10,000 top prize. A huge 53-car field
jammed the pit area in an attempt to make the 25-car field before the
largest crowd in the history of the speedway. The World of Outlaws
late Model Series, in its inaugural season, has elected to allow its
competitors to run any brand of tire. Still, all seven winners in the
series have won using the Hoosier tire brand.
Saturday's race was preceded by Friday's special
Duayne Hommel Benefit race which was a 35-lapper which attracted 60
cars. All but one car rode on Hoosier tires. When the race was all
over, Team-Hoosier claimed the top 14 spots with Moyer taking the win
over Scott Bloomquist, Darrell Lanigan, Rick Eckert and Chub Frank.
Chub Frank made the benefit race despite losing his entire race shop
to a fire in Pennsylvania. The Duayne Hommel Benefit race is dedicated
to past Southern All-Star champion Duayne Hommel who was severely
injured in an automobile accident.
On Saturday, 53 cars took turns in qualifying with 50
cars opting to trust the Hoosier brand to carry them to victory lane
as had six other drivers in the previous six events. Randle Chupp was
fast qualifier on the 4/10-mile dirt oval with a time of 13.572
seconds. Chupp was followed by 13 more Hoosier-shod drivers atop the
qualifying leaderboard. John Blakenship, Chub Frank, Billy Moyer and
Scott Bloomquist rounded out the top five.
Heat race winners included; Randall Chupp, Jeff
Maupin, Brian Birkhoffer, Billy Moyer, Scott Bloomquist and Darrell
Lanigan. All six rode to their respective wins on Hoosier tires.
The Hoosier streak continued when Freddy Smith and
Brian Birkhoffer each earned wins in their respective Dash
events.
In the 60-lap feature, 23 of the 25 starters rode on
Hoosier tires. At the start, pole sitter Freddy Smith took the early
race lead before Brian Birkhoffer moved into the lead entering the
first turn of the second lap. From there, Birkhoffer led the rest of
the way to take the win and collect the $10,000 payout. Birkhoffer
used a Hoosier 28.5/11.0-15 D55 (left rear) and a 29.0/11.0-15 D55
(right rear) in becoming the series 7th winner in as many events this
season.
Greg Johnson continued his string of strong runs
finishing in second place followed by Randle Chupp, Scott Bloomquist
and Freddy Smith as Team-Hoosier captured the top 23 spots leaving the
final two positions to drivers riding on a competing tire brand.
Rounding out the top ten were; Dale McDowell, Darrell
Lanigan, Clint Smith, Chub Frank and Billy Moyer.
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is back in
action April 16-17, in Kilgore, TX. The two-race program will be a
$5,000-to-win race on Friday and a $12,000-to-win race on
Saturday.
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