Brian Birkhofer Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals Night Two Win
Brian Birkhofer takes Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals win and puts himself on the pole for Saturday night’s Knoxville Racewaychampionship. Tomorrow is the 11th Annual Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals presented by Casey’s General Stores. The Muscatine, Iowa native won his sixth career feature at the famous half-mile and accumulated 489 points, putting him up front for the $40,000 to win event.
Rodney Sanders led Shannon Babb and Birkhofer on the first circuit of the 25-lap feature. Birkhofer quickly moved into second as the leaders settled in. Steve Francis used the low side to dive under Babb for third on lap six.
At the ten lap mark, Sanders rode the high side ahead of a low groove running Birkhofer. Billy Moyer entered the chase for the podium and was in a spirited battle with Francis for third.
As Sanders entered heavy lapped traffic, Brian Birkhofer found his way to the point on lap 14. Sanders strong run took a turn for the worse when he jumped the turn one berm, allowing Francis by for second on lap 19. In one shot on lap 20, Moyer blew by Sanders and Francis into second.
Moyer reeled in Brian Birkhofer but couldn’t do anything with him, as he settled for second. Francis was third, ahead of Brandon Sheppard and Sanders. Scott Bloomquist, Dale McDowell, Babb, Frank Heckenast Jr. and Jonathan Davenport rounded out the top ten.
Darrell Lanigan and McDowell set quick time in their respective groups. Sheppard, Brian Shirley, Francis, Heckenast, Davenport and Sanders won heat races. Denny Eckrich won the D, Ray Guss Jr. took the C, and Lanigan claimed the B.
Brian Birkhofer will start on the pole Saturday night, flanked by Lanigan. Davenport and Earl Pearson Jr. will comprise row two.
Join us Saturday night, September 27 for the finale of the Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals presented by Casey’s General Stores. For more information, log on to www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com!
Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals Results
Group A Time Trials (Qualifying Order), 2 laps: 1. 29, Darrell Lanigan, Union, KY (25), 17.865; 2. 1W, Wendell Wallace, Batesville, AR (6), 17.902; 3. 7R, Kent Robinson, Bloomington, IN (2), 18.038; 4. 22, Greg Satterlee, Indiana, PA (26), 18.345; 5. 44, Earl Pearson Jr., Trinity, NC (5), 18.346; 6. 91P, Jason Papich, Nipomo, CA (18), 18.396; 7. 28M, Jimmy Mars, Menomonie, WI (17), 18.424; 8. 25Z, Mason Zeigler, Chalk Hill, PA (23), 18.429; 9. 20, Jimmy Owens, Newport, TN (14), 18.607; 10. B5, Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, IL (32), 18.626; 11. 15R, Brian Harris, Davenport, IA (35), 18.675; 12. 15, Steve Francis, Ashland, KY (15), 18.682; 13. 18, Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, IL (13), 18.725; 14. 58D, AJ Diemel, Elk Mound, WI (28), 18.734; 15. 1V, Will Vaught, Crane, MO (7), 18.735; 16. 85D, Mark Dotson, Cameron, MO (1), 18.822; 17. 32C, Vic Coffey, Caledonia, NY (11), 18.827; 18. 23, John Blankenship, Williamson, WV (31), 18.910; 19. 19R, Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, IA (33), 18.986; 20. 81, Brian Shirley, Chatham, IL (21), 19.041; 21. 25F, Jason Feger, Bloomington, IL (22), 19.043; 22. 21F, Todd Frank, Montrose, IA (8), 19.141; 23. 83, Scott James, Harrison, IL (20), 19.152; 24. 5M, Mike Fryer, Freeport, IL (3), 19.191; 25. 157, Mike Marlar, Winfield, TN (36), 19.263; 26. 58, Ray Guss Jr., East Moline, IL (4), 19.291; 27. 32, Chris Simpson, Marion, IA (29), 19.339; 28. 5D, John Duty, Happy Valley, OR (24), 19.440; 29. 15D, Justin Duty, Happy Valley, OR (37), 19.499; 30. 38, Jordan Heiman, Sioux Falls, SD (16), 19.567; 31. 93, Jay Johnson, West Burlington, IA (27), 19.594; 32. 18C, Chase Junghans, Manhattan, KS (34), 19.6; 33. 48, Tim Lance, Brimfield, IL (30), 19.763; 34. 56, Chris Spieker, Massena, IA (19), 19.857; 35. 77, Jordan Yaggy, Rochester, MN (12), 20.157; 36. 22B, Jonathan Brauns, Muscatine, IA (10), NT; DQ (Light at Scales) 22CC, Charlie McKenna, Clear Lake, IA (9).
Group B Time Trials (Qualifying Order), 2 laps: 1. 17M, Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, GA (30), 18.121; 2. O, Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, TN (3), 18.323; 3. 21JR, Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville, AR (33), 18.381; 4. 28E, Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, IL (1), 18.461; 5. 15B, Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, IA (5), 18.568; 6. 777, Jared Landers, Batesville, AR (27), 18.665; 7. 28, Eddie Carrier Jr., Salt Rock, WV (13), 18.699; 8. 39, Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY (2), 18.738; 9. 16, Tyler Bruening, Decorah, IA (6), 18.767; 10. 25, Chad Simpson, Mount Vernon, IA (20), 18.816; 11. 50, Denny Eckrich, Oxford, IA (22), 18.873; 12. 20S, Rodney Sanders, Happy, TX (18), 18.902; 13. 1, Rick Eckert, York, PA (23), 18.916; 14. 98, Jason Rauen, Farley, IA (25), 18.954; 15. 00, Jesse Stovall, Billings, MO (34), 19.081; 16. 21, Billy Moyer, Batesville, AR (35), 19.113; 17. 6, Jonathan Davenport, Mount Airy, NC (4), 19.173; 18. 5, Don O’Neal, Martinsville, IN (7), 19.193; 19. 51, Matt Furman, Columbus, OH (10), 19.205; 20. 2, Brady Smith, Solon Springs, WI (11), 19.206; 21. 14M, Morgan Bagley, Longview, TX (19), 19.224; 22. 99JR, Frank Heckenast Jr., Frankfurt, IL (12), 19.278; 23. 29X, Spencer Diercks, Davenport, IA (37), 19.317; 24. 75, Terry Phillips, Springfield, MO (32), 19.383; 25. 12, Jason Hughes, Watts, OK (28), 19.476; 26. 31, Jason Utter, Columbus Junction, IA (8), 19.539; 27. 21B, Rich Bell, Sheffield, IL (14), 19.557; 28. 1M, Rob Moss, Iowa City, IA (17), 19.597; 29. 20X, Jake Meier, Tipton, IA (16), 19.686; 30. 14W, Dustin Walker, Peculiar, MO (24), 19.724; 31. 58E, Dave Eckrich, Oxford, IA (29), 19.799; 32. 9, Lyle Zanker, Rockford, IL (36), 19.807; 33. 3X, Skip Frey, Swisher, IA (26), 20.081; 34. 25L, Steve Lance Jr., Cuba, IL (21), 20.192; 35. 27, Greg Kimmons, Pleasant Plains, IL (31), 20.200; 36. 82, Roger Brickler, Springfield, IL (9), 20.401; 37. 5X, Brandon Overton, Appling, GA (15), 20.502.
Group A Heat one (started), 12 Laps, 3:49.4: 1. Brandon Sheppard (5); 2. Shannon Babb (4); 3. Mark Dotson (3) / 4. Jimmy Mars (6); 5. Darrell Lanigan (8); 6. Greg Satterlee (7) / 7. Mike Marlar (9); 8. Jay Johnson (11); 9. Todd Frank (1) / 10. Charlie McKenna (13); 11. John Duty (10); 12. Chris Spieker (12); 13. Ryan Gustin (2)
Group A Heat two (started), 12 Laps, NT: 1. Brian Shirley (2); 2. AJ Diemel (4); 3. Earl Pearson Jr. (7) / 4. Wendell Wallace (8); 5. Chase Junghans (11); 6. Scott James (1) / 7. Ray Guss Jr. (9); 8. Jordan Yaggy (12); 9. Justin Duty (10) / 10. Brian Harris (5); 11. Mason Zeigler (6); 12. Vic Coffey (3)
Group A Heat three (started), 12 Laps, 3:49.9: 1. Steve Francis (5); 2. Jason Feger (2); 3. Will Vaught (4) / 4. Jason Papich (7); 5. Jimmy Owens (6); 6. Kent Robinson (8) / 7. John Blankenship (3); 8. Chris Simpson (9); 9. Tim Lance (11) / 10. Mike Fryer (1); 11. Jordan Heiman (10); DNS – Jonathan Brauns
Group B Heat one (started), 12 Laps, 3:49.2: 1. Frank Heckenast Jr. (1); 2. Billy Moyer (3); 3. Dale McDowell (8) / 4. Eddie Carrier Jr. (6); 5. Rick Eckert (4); 6. Dennis Erb Jr. (7) / 7. Chad Simpson (5); 8. Brandon Overton (13); 9. Jason Hughes (9) / 10. Dave Eckrich (11); 11. Steve Lance Jr. (12); 12. Matt Furman (2); 13. Rob Moss (10)
Group B Heat two (started), 12 Laps, NT: 1. Jonathan Davenport (3); 2. Brian Birkhofer (7); 3. Scott Bloomquist (8) / 4. Tim McCreadie (6); 5. Brady Smith (2); 6. Jason Utter (9) / 7. Jason Rauen (4); 8. Jake Meier (10); 9. Greg Kimmons (12) / 10. Lyle Zanker (11); 11. Denny Eckrich (5); 12. Spencer Diercks (1)
Group B Heat three (started), 12 Laps, 4:02.2: 1. Rodney Sanders (5); 2. Terry Phillips (1); 3. Morgan Bagley (2) / 4. Don O’Neal (3); 5. Jared Landers (7); 6. Rich Bell (9) / 7. Jesse Stovall (4); 8. Tyler Bruening (6); 9. Skip Frey (11) / 10. Dustin Walker (10); 11. Roger Brickler (12); 12. Billy Moyer Jr. (8)
D main (started), 10 Laps, NT: 1. Denny Eckrich (4); 2. Brian Harris (1); 3. Chris Spieker (7); 4. Mike Fryer (3) / 5. Billy Moyer Jr. (2); 6. John Duty (5); 7. Charlie McKenna (9); 8. Dave Eckrich (8); 9. Rob Moss (6); 10. Steve Lance Jr. (12); 11. Roger Brickler (11); 12. Lyle Zanker (10); DNS – Mason Zeigler, Vic Coffey, Matt Furman, Ryan Gustin, Spencer Diercks, Dustin Walker, Jordan Heiman, Jonathan Brauns
C main (started), 12 Laps, NT: 1. Ray Guss Jr. (5); 2. Tyler Bruening (2); 3. Chris Simpson (7); 4. Chad Simpson (4) / 5. Jason Hughes (8); 6. John Blankenship (1); 7. Tim Lance (13); 8. Denny Eckrich (17); 9. Jordan Yaggy (15); 10. Brian Harris (18); 11. Brandon Overton (16); 12. Jake Meier (10); 13. Justin Duty (9); 14. Jay Johnson (11); 15. Greg Kimmons (14); 16. Jason Rauen (6); 17. Skip Frey (12); 18. Chris Spieker (19); 19. Todd Frank (3); 20. Mike Fryer (20); DNS – Mike Marlar, Jesse Stovall
B main (started), 15 Laps, NT: 1. Darrell Lanigan (1); 2. Jared Landers (4); 3. Dennis Erb Jr. (2); 4. Kent Robinson (5); 5. Rick Eckert (10); 6. Jimmy Mars (11) / 7. Wendell Wallace (3); 8. Eddie Carrier Jr. (6); 9. Jason Papich (9); 10. Jason Utter (14); 11. Don O’Neal (12); 12. Tyler Bruening (18); 13. Scott James (15); 14. Chris Simpson (21); 15. Jimmy Owens (13); 16. Greg Satterlee (7); 17. Rich Bell (16); 18. Ray Guss Jr. (19); 19. Chad Simpson (20); 20. Chase Junghans (17); 21. Tim McCreadie (8); DNS – Brady Smith
A main (started), 25 Laps, 8:29.7 (NTR): 1. Brian Birkhofer (4); 2. Billy Moyer (10); 3. Steve Francis (3); 4. Brandon Sheppard (5); 5. Rodney Sanders (2); 6. Scott Bloomquist (6); 7. Dale McDowell (8); 8. Shannon Babb (1); 9. Frank Heckenast Jr. (16); 10. Jonathan Davenport (12); 11. AJ Diemel (9); 12. Jason Feger (17); 13. Earl Pearson Jr. (7); 14. Brian Shirley (15); 15. Darrell Lanigan (19); 16. Jared Landers (20); 17. Morgan Bagley (14); 18. Kent Robinson (22); 19. Jimmy Mars (24); 20. Rick Eckert (23); 21. Terry Phillips (18); 22. Will Vaught (11); 23. Dennis Erb Jr. (21); 24. Mark Dotson (13).
Lap Leaders: Sanders 1-13, Birkhofer 14-25.
Hard-charger: Moyer.
Lineups for the 2014 Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals presented by Casey’s General Stores
A main
1. 15B, Brian Birkhofer 489
2. 29, Darrell Lanigan 488
3. 6, Jonathan Davenport 488
4. 44, Earl Pearson Jr. 487
5. 17m, Dale McDowell 482
6. 0, Scott Bloomquist 482
7. 28, Eddie Carrier Jr. 480
8. B5, Brandon Sheppard 476
9. 7R, Kent Robinson 475
10. 15, Steve Francis 474
11. 20s, Rodney Sanders 470
12. 21, Billy Moyer 465
13. 99JR, Frank Heckenast Jr. 464
14. 18, Shannon Babb 459
15. 23, John Blankenship 456
16. 58D, AJ Diemel 451
17. 777, Jared Landers 448
18. 28M, Jimmy Mars 443
19. 5x, Brandon Overton 442
20. 2, Brady Smith 440
21. 25, Chad Simpson 439
22. 81, Brian Shirley 436
23. 157, Mike Marlar 436
24. 28E, Dennis Erb Jr. 435
B main
1. 25F, Jason Feger 435
2. 1w, Wendell Wallace 427
3. 1, Rick Eckert 426
4. 1v, Will Vaught 424
5. 14m, Morgan Bagley 422
6. 18c, Chase Junghans 422
7. 98, Jason Rauen 419
8. 85D, Mark Dotson 418
9. 91P, Jason Papich 415
10. 75, Terry Phillips 411
11. 39, Tim McCreadie 410
12. 32c, Vic Coffey 408
13. 00, Jesse Stovall 402
14. 22, Greg Satterlee 399
15. 20, Jimmy Owens 394
16. 16, Tyler Bruening 391
17. 5, Don O’Neal 387
18. 50, Denny Eckrich 386
C main
1. 15x, Donny Schatz 377
2. 83, Scott James 373
3. 25z, Mason Zeigler 371
4. 21JR, Billy Moyer Jr. 369
5. 31, Jason Utter 367
6. 48, Tim Lance 363
7. 21B, Rich Bell 351
8. 32, Chris Simpson 351
9. 58, Ray Guss Jr. 348
10. 15R, Brian Harris 335
11. 12, Jason Hughes 320
12. 93, Jay Johnson 318
13. 56, Chris Spieker 306
14. 20x, Jake Meier 302
15. 58E, Dave Eckrich 302
16. 21F, Todd Frank 298
17. 15D, Justin Duty 296
18. 22B, Jonathan Brauns 296
D main
1. 77, Jordan Yaggy 295
2. 19R, Ryan Gustin 294
3. 22cc, Charlie McKenna 289
4. 5m, Mike Fryer 289
5. 5D, John Duty 288
6. 27, Greg Kimmons 280
7. 3x, Skip Frey 280
8. 9, Lyle Zanker 266
9. 1m, Rob Moss 257
10. 51, Matt Furman 253
11. 56E, Andy Eckrich 252
12. 29x, Spencer Diercks 241
13. 25L, Steve Lance Jr. 238
14. 14w, Dustin Walker 231
15. 82, Roger Brickler 230
16. 38, Jordan Heiman 226
17. 15c, Curt Schroeder 213
18. 6H, Al Humphrey 201
19. 10, Junior Coover 198
Brian Birkhofer Photos From Knoxville Nationals
