HIGHLANDS, TX – March 9, 2010 – What’s the biggest selling point Battleground Speedway owner Mike Walling has going for him leading into his track’s World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Lone Star 50′ on Fri., March 26?

That would most certainly be last year’s inaugural appearance by the national full-fender tour at the three-eighths-mile oval located 12 miles east of Houston.

“It was an awesome show,” raved Walling, a 35-year-old Texan now in his second year at the helm of Battleground Speedway. “People around here are still talking about, so all that word-of-mouth is my best advertising. It was the definitely the kind of race that makes people want to come back this year and bring some friends this time.”

Indeed, the 2009 WoO LMS program served as a grand coming-out party for the high-banked track, which Walling reopened last year after it had sat dormant for nearly three seasons. Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., emerged victorious in a hard-fought, high-energy A-Main that saw cars jockeying for position throughout the 100-lap distance — and immediately after the checkered flag fell, Babb donned a cowboy hat and happily hopped on a 1,300-pound Texas Longhorn steer as part of a unique, Lone Star State-themed Victory Lane ceremony that had the big crowd buzzing.

“The best Late Model drivers in the country were racing all over the track from the first lap to the 100th lap last year,” said Walling, who was so pumped up after Battleground’s ’09 WoO LMS spectacular that he offered free admission to all the fans who returned for the track’s regular racing program the following week. “Darrell Lanigan (the 2008 WoO LMS champion from Union, Ky.) went to the back (of the field) twice and still finished second — that’s how racy the track was. It was the show of the year at Battleground Speedway.”

The return engagement for the nation’s premier dirt Late Model tour will pack all the punch of last year’s two-day, extra-distance event into one frenzied evening on March 26. A 50-lap A-Main paying $10,000 to win will headline Battleground’s card this year, allowing the WoO LMS to contest a first-ever two-track Texas doubleheader by moving about 200 miles north on Sat., March 27, to Lonestar Speedway in Kilgore.

And of course, Walling is once again planning to punctuate the night by having the ‘Lone Star 50′ winner meet up with a snorting Texas Longhorn in Victory Lane. The steer that starred in last year’s post-race ceremonies, Hondo, was tragically killed late in 2009 in a highway accident, but Walling is arranging to have another Longhorn brought in to continue building the tradition.

“Nobody left the stands after last year’s race when they saw that big Longhorn come out of the pits and start walking down the homestretch,” said Walling, whose uncle, Red Walling, was involved in local racing in the past with the former Big H Speedway dirt track in Houston and now assists in the marketing and operation of the new-look Battleground Speedway. “It was a pretty neat deal, especially when Shannon went over and gave it a kiss on the head. The crowd really got into it and I want to keep it going as something everyone can look forward to when the World of Outlaws come to town.”

The scrum to get up-close-and-personal with a Longhorn will feature a talent-laden roster of WoO LMS regulars led by defending champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who finished fourth in last year’s event at Battleground on the eve of his 21st birthday. He won last month’s 2010 WoO LMS season opener at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. — the fourth consecutive year he’s captured the tour’s lidlifter.

Other committed Outlaw travelers ready for action in Texas include Lanigan (last year’s crowd-pleasing runner-up at Battleground); Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa. (finished fifth in the 2009 event); Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y. (sixth); Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga. (seventh); Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga. (eighth); current points leader Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis. (10th); 2009 Rookie of the Year Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio (13th); Rick Eckert of York, Pa. (19th); 2007 champion Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky. (23rd); and 2010 Rookie of the Year candidate Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del. (did not enter last year’s race).

Several other racers will trek to Battleground in hopes of building momentum to join the established Outlaws as 2010 regulars, including 2006 champion Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., rookie candidates Tim Dohm of Cross Lanes, W.Va., Tony Knowles of Tyrone, Ga., and Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and ’09 rookie contender Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va.

Among the drivers expected to challenge the Outlaws are Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, who finished third in last year’s event; Al Purkey of Coffeyville, Kans. (11th in ’09) and his car owner Bill Koons of Omaha, Neb. (DNQ); Ray Moore of Shreveport, La. (ninth); Kevin Sitton of Baytown, Texas (22nd); and Chris Brown of Cleveland, Texas (DNQ).

The ‘Lone Star 50′ is currently the lone dirt Late Model event scheduled at Battleground in 2010.

“We’re telling all the local fans to come out and catch the Late Models while they can,” said Walling, whose track headlines open-wheel Modifieds on Saturday nights. “This is their only chance to see them at Battleground this year, so it’s definitely a show not to be missed.”

Gates are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. and racing will begin at 7 p.m. on March 26.

General admission is $32 and pit passes cost $38 for the program, which also includes racing for the track’s Limited Modified, Hobby Stock and Pure Stock classes.

For more information on Battleground Speedway, call the track at 832-421-RACE or visit www.battlegroundspeedway.net.

Additional info on the WoO LMS is available by visiting www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel) and DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award); in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, Integra Shocks, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis and Wrisco Aluminum.

BARBERVILLE, FL – Feb. 13, 2010 – Brady Smith won’t go winless on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series in 2010.

The rising star from Solon Springs, Wis., made sure of that on Saturday night, capturing the national tour’s 50-lap A-Main that closed the 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by University of Northwestern Ohio at Volusia Speedway Park.

Winless in 2009 during his first season as a WoO LMS regular, Smith broke through with a dominant performance in front of a chilled Sunshine State crowd. He fell to third place early in the distance after starting from the pole position but rallied to pass Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., for the lead on lap 20 and run then run away from the pack.

“It feels great to finally win an Outlaw race again,” said Smith, whose two previous WoO LMS triumphs came during the 2008 season. “It’s so hard to win these races. I know we’re capable of doing it, but we raced the whole season last year and didn’t get it done, so to be able to do it here at Speedweeks — man, it’s actually harder to win a race down here than it is all season.

“‘We’re just really thrilled. This gives everyone a boost — me, the crew, the sponsors, and definitely my bank account.

Driving his Team Zero by Bloomquist car with a Vic Hill engine under the hood, Smith crossed the finish line with a winning margin of 2.456 seconds over Earl Pearson of Jacksonville, Fla., in the Bobby Labonte Motorsports MasterSbilt mount. Pearson was unable to challenge Smith following a lap-37 restart, leaving him with a runner-up finish in both WoO LMS events run during the DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH.

Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., registered a hardearned third-place finish, charging forward from the 28th starting position in the Sweeteners Plus Rocket. Behind the wheel of his backup car after driveline woes sidelined his primary machine during heat action, he gained entry to the A-Main through a provisional spot granted to the highest-ranked non-qualified driver in the DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH points standings.

Opening-night WoO LMS winner Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who started third, finished fourth in the Rocket Chassis house car — good enough to hand him the DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH Late Model championship for the second consecutive year. Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., completed the top five after starting seventh in the Sheltra Construction Rocket.

Smith, 32, pulled off a clean sweep of the evening’s program, earning the Ohlins Shocks Pole Award as well as a heat win. He also left Volusia as the WoO LMS points leader for the first time in his career — a far cry from the 2009 season, when he failed to qualify for the tour’s season-opening event and needed a second-place finish in the DIRTcar Nationals finale just to crack the top 20 in the points standings exiting Florida.

The $10,125 victory didn’t come easily despite Smith’s pole starting spot. He was outgunned for the lead at the initial green flag by Moyer, who started second, and lost second to Richards on lap two.

“I had a plan there before the feature and it was to run the bottom,” said Smith, who finished eighth in the 2009 WoO LMS points standings. “I took off and beat (Moyer) to the flagstand, but he wheeled around me pretty good (for the lead) and then even Josh got by me before that caution came out (on lap three).

“I just said, ‘Man, this is ridiculous. I gotta get up on the wheel here.’ So that’s what I did. Once I moved up the racetrack to Moyers groove, I instantly knew I had a car to race with.”

Smith regained second from Richards on the restart. By lap 15 he was on Moyer’s rear bumper, bidding for the lead.

“I used some patience and raced with (Moyer) a little bit,” said Smith. “Then I saw an opening there through (turns) one and two between him and a lapped car (on lap 20), so I just hit the gas and took it. The car stuck and didn’t miss a beat the rest of the race.”

Pearson slid past Moyer for second on the restart following the race’s second and final caution flag, on lap 37, but he never got close to Smith. The homestate driver spent the race’s late stages fending off McCreadie, who made a stirring come-from-behind drive.

After falling short to Richards in the WoO LMS lidlifter on Thursday night, Pearson found himself upstaged again.

“The other night there was a mud ring around the bottom and Josh beat us on tires,” said Pearson, who started fourth. “Tonight we all pretty much had the same tires on and the track was real racy, but I was just a little bit too tight through the center to run with Brady.”

McCreadie, meanwhile, had to catch his breath after driving his heart out to salvage a third-place finish. Sitting fourth for the lap-37 restart, he nearly pulled off a three-wide move inside Moyer and Pearson to grab second when the green flag flew but instead settled into third and stayed there to the finish.

“I was a little softer on tires than those guys,” said McCreadie, the 2006 WoO LMS champion. “I think if I would’ve had an earlier restart it would’ve helped, but we got where we got. I just couldn’t clear Earl to even think about trying to run down Brady.”

There were no serious incidents during the A-Main, which was slowed only on lap three for the stopped car driven by Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., and on lap 37 for a turn-four spin executed by Tim Dohm of Cross Lanes, W.Va.

Francis pulled up lame in turn two when his Valvoline No. 15 was felled by a busted oil-pump belt. He finished 28th, leaving him mired in 15th in the points standings.

Finishing in positions 6-10 was Moyer, who tumbled out of the top five on the lap-37 restart; Rick Eckert of York, Pa., who was plagued with oil-pressure problems throughout the distance; Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill.; John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va., who ran as high as fifth; and Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga.

Sixty-three cars were signed in for the event, which was run on an unseasonably cool night that saw temperatures dip near the freezing mark.

Brady Smith turned a lap of 16.063 seconds in qualifying to earn the Ohlins Shocks Pole Award. It was his third career fast time in WoO LMS competition but first since Aug. 22, 2007, at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn.

Heat winners were Brady Smith, Richards, Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., Francis, Pearson and Moyer. The B-Mains were captured by Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va., Jared Landers of Batesville, Ark., and Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa.

The WoO LMS will be silent for one month before returning to Florida on March 19 for the first-ever tour event at Ocala Speedway. A visit to Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Ga., on March 20 will round out the early-season weekend in the Southeast.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Results of WoO Late Model Series at Volusia Speedway Park (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (1) Brady Smith/50 $10,125
2. (4) Earl Pearson Jr./50 $5,000
3. (28) Tim McCreadie/50 $3,000
4. (3) Josh Richards/50 $2,500
5. (7) Shannon Babb/50 $2,000
6. (2) Billy Moyer/50 $1,700
7. (12) Rick Eckert/50 $1,400
8. (8) Dennis Erb Jr./50 $1,300
9. (9) John Blankenship/50 $1,200
10. (11) Dale McDowell/50 $1,100
11. (21) Brian Birkhofer/50 $1,050
12. (25) Darrell Lanigan/50 $1,000
13. (10) Clint Smith/50 $950
14. (5) Jimmy Owens/50 $900
15. (27) Jason Feger/50 $850
16. (17) Tim Dohm/50 $1,300
17. (16) Chub Frank/49 $770
18. (20) Jared Landers/49 $750
19. (14) Patrick Sheltra/49 $730
20. (18) Justin Rattliff/49 $700
21. (26) Tim Fuller/49 $700
22. (23) Austin Hubbard/48 $700
23. (15) Tyler Ivey/48 $700
24. (29) Russell King/28 $0
25. (24) Chris Madden/25 $700
26. (22) Dan Schlieper/21 $700
27. (13) Steve Casebolt/20 $700
28. (6) Steve Francis/3 $700
29. (19) Eddie Carrier Jr./3 $750
30. (30) Shane Clanton/0 $25

* Earnings include cash contingency award bonuses

Time of Race: 23 Mins., 01.916 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 2.456 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 2 (Laps 3, 37)
Lap Leaders: Moyer (1-19); B. Smith (20-50)
Provisional Starters: Lanigan, Fuller, King, Clanton (WoO); Feger (UMP); McCreadie (DIRTcar Nationals)
Rookie of the Race: ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Tim Dohm ($500)
Integra Shocks Crew Chief of the Race: Brandon Bender (Brady Smith)

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. 2-Brady Smith/Solon Springs, WI 16.063
2. 28e-Dennis Erb Jr./Carpentersville, IL 16.096
3. 23-John Blankenship/Williamson, WV 16.192
4. 1V-Will Vaught/Crane, MO 16.242
5. 15B-Brian Birkhofer/Muscatine, IA 16.267
6. 21-Billy Moyer/Batesville, AR 16.302
7. 18-Shannon Babb/Moweaqua, IL 16.321
8. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 16.322
9. 20-Jimmy Owens/Newport, TN 16.377
10. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 16.419
11. 44p-Earl Pearson Jr./Jacksonville, FL 16.437
12. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 16.480
13. 28-Eddie Carrier Jr./Salt Rock, WV 16.489
14. 23P-Patrick Sheltra/Indiantown, FL 16.490
15. 777-Jared Landers/Batesville, AR 16.505
16. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 16.511
17. 17M-Dale McDowell/Chickamauga, GA 16.505
18. 7W-Ricky Weiss/Winnipeg, MAN 16.542
19. C9-Steve Casebolt/Richmond, IN 16.565
20. 41-Brad Neat/Dunnville, KY 16.567
21. 16T-Tyler Bruening/Decorah, IA 16.575
22. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 16.578
23. 18K-Brandon Kinzer/Allen, KY 16.581
24. 16R-Justin Rattliff/Campbellsville, KY 16.591
25. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 16.594
26. 25z-Mason Ziegler/Chalk Hill, PA 16.604
27. 47-Tyler Ivey/Tallahassee, FL 16.618
28. 9k-Mike Knight/Ripley, NY 16.619
29. 21d-Dan Stone/Thompson, PA 16.620
30. 44M-Chris Madden/Gaffney, SC 16.622
31. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 16.653
32. 18W-Eric Wells/Hazard, KY 16.669
33. 77-Jason McBride/Carbondale, IL 16.693
34. 19d-Ronnie DeHaven Jr./Winchester, VA 16.699
35. b5-Brandon Sheppard/New Berlin, IL 16.714
36. 99z-Dave Zona/Montrose, PA 16.737
37. 11-Tyler Reddick/Corning, CA 16.759
38. 46-Greg Johnson/Bedford, PA 16.761
39. 00-Randy Korte/Highland, IL 16.772
40. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 16.814
41. 17T-Tim Dohm/Cross Lanes, WV 16.828
42. 3c-Mike Collins/Carter Lake, IA 16.851
43. 9-Dan Schlieper/Sullivan, WI 16.861
44. 25F-Jason Feger/Bloomington, IL 16.872
45. 3-Brent Robinson/Smithfield, VA 16.897
46. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 16.914
47. 4T-Tommy Kerr/Maryville, TN 16.932
48. 26-Tony Knowles/Tyrone, GA 16.940
49. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 16.952
50. 27-Jeff Beyers/Pana, IL 16.999
51. 99B-Rick Briggs/Bear Lake, PA 17.001
52. 12-Jordan Bland/Campbellsville, KY 17.038
53. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 17.306
54. 16N-Brian Nuttall Jr./Claxton, GA 17.318
55. 29R-Ronnie Rihn/Bloom, WI 17.442
56. 1P-Darren Peters/Fort Erie, ONT 17.471
57. 5s-Steve Sheppard Jr./New Berline, IL 17.607
58. 40-Joe Callahan/Dubuque, IA 17.878
59. 1x-Ed Carley/Freedom, NY 17.946
60. 13d-Jonathan DeHaven/Winchester, VA 18.177
61. 16H-Mike Hammerle/St. Charles, MO 18.293
62. 57-Chuck Julien/Apopka, FL 19.176
63. 25-Shane Clanton/Locust Grove, GA N/T

Heat No. 1 (10 laps — Top 3 Transfer): B. Smith, Babb, Casebolt, Carrier, Schlieper, Lanigan, McCreadie, Fuller, Reddick, Rihn, Hammerle

Heat No. 2 (10 laps — Top 3 Transfer): Richards, Erb, Sheltra, Neat, G. Johnson, Ziegler, Wells, Feger, J. Beyers, Peters, Julien

Heat No. 3 (10 laps — Top 3 Transfer): Owens, Blankenship, Ivey, Landers, Korte, Bruening, McBride, Robinson, Briggs, S. Sheppard

Heat No. 4 (10 laps — Top 3 Transfer): Francis, C. Smith, Frank, Hubbard, King, Knight, Bland, R. DeHaven, Vaught, Callahan

Heat No. 5 (10 laps — Top 3 Transfer): Pearson, McDowell, Dohm, Birkhofer, Kinzer, Kerr, B. Sheppard, George, Carley, Stone

Heat No. 6 (10 laps — Top 3 Transfer): Moyer, Eckert, Rattliff, Madden, Weiss, Knowles, Collins, Nuttall, Zona (DNS) J. DeHaven

B-Main No. 1 (12 laps — Top 2 Transfer): Carrier, Schlieper, Lanigan, G. Johnson, Wells, J. Beyers, Reddick, Rihn, Peters, Julien, Hammerle, Fuller, Neat, Feger, Ziegler, McCreadie

B-Main No. 2 (12 laps — Top 2 Transfer): Landers, Hubbard, Korte, King, Bruening, McBride, Robinson, Knight, Briggs, R. DeHaven, Bland, S. Sheppard (DNS) Vaught, Callahan

B-Main No. 3 (12 laps — Top 2 Transfer): Birkhofer, Madden, Kinzer, Weiss, Kerr, B. Sheppard, Knowles, George, Zona, Nuttall, Stone, Collins (DNS) Carley, J. DeHaven

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:

Arizona Sports Shirts ($50 product certificate to fifth-place finisher in each B-Main): Eric Wells, Tyler Bruening, Tommy Kerr
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Earl Pearson Jr.
Eibach Springs (one free spring to each B-Main winner): Eddie Carrier Jr., Jared Landers, Brian Birkhofer
MSD Ignition ($75 cash award to A-Main winner w/decal): Brady Smith
MSD Ignition ($25 cash award to last-place finisher in A-Main w/decal): Shane Clanton
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash award to fast qualifier w/decal): Brady Smith
Pink Carburetors ($100 product certificate for new/rebuild to A-Main winner w/decal): Brady Smith
Pink Carburetors ($50 product certificate for new/rebuild to last-place finisher in A-Main w/decal: Shane Clanton
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate to A-Main winner w/decal): Brady Smith
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate to fifth-place finisher in A-Main w/decal): Shannon Babb
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate to 15th-place finisher in A-Main w/decal): Jason Feger
STP ($50 cash award to the winner of B-Main No. 1 w/decal): Eddie Carrier Jr.
VP Racing Fuels Nice Jugs Award (two free VP five-gallon containers to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main if decal is displayed): Will Vaught
Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Brady Smith

2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Feb. 13 — 2 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):

1. Brady Smith 294 (-0)
2. (tie) Josh Richards 292 (-2)
2. (tie) Earl Pearson Jr. 292 (-2)
4. Tim McCreadie 286 (-8)
5. Billy Moyer 274 (-20)
6. Dale McDowell 268 (-26)
7. Dennis Erb Jr. 266 (-28)
8. Rick Eckert 260 (-34)
9. Shannon Babb 256 (-38)
10. Darrell Lanigan 254 (-40)
11. Tim Dohm 252 (-42)
12. John Blankenship 238 (-56)
13. (tie) Austin Hubbard 236 (-58)
13. (tie) Clint Smith 236 (-58)
15. Steve Francis 234 (-60)
16. (tie) Tim Fuller 230 (-64)
16. (tie) Chub Frank 230 (-64)
16. (tie) Jimmy Owens 230 (-64)
19. (tie) Eddie Carrier Jr. 218 (-76)
19. (tie) Jason Feger 218 (-76)

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail customerservice@dirtvision.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser) and VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, Integra Shocks, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis and Wrisco Aluminum.

But from the 17th starting spot? Even Richards couldn’t have conjured up a more exciting way to kick off his WoO LMS title defense and capture the national tour’s lidlifter for an unprecedented fourth consecutive year.

“I was not expecting that at all,” Richards said after putting on the most memorable performance of the 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by University of Northwestern Ohio. “To have a car that good, and to start so far back and be that dominant in a race against these guys — it’s just very rare. It’s an awesome feeling.”

Richards, 21, of Shinnston, W.Va., blasted through the field in the Rocket Chassis house car he drove to victory in last year’s opener, cracking the top five on a lap-15 restart and then sliding by Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., and Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., in succession to reach second on lap 19. He quickly ran down race-long leader Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., and sailed by the homestate driver on lap 27 to assume command for good.

Pearson settled for second place in the Bobby Labonte Motorsports MasterSbilt mount, crossing the finish line 4.320 seconds behind Richards. Brady Smith had his Team Zero by Bloomquist car hot on Pearson’s rear deck in the final laps and finished third, while McCreadie placed fourth in the Sweeteners Plus Rocket and 2007 WoO LMS champion Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., advanced from the 19th starting spot to finish fifth in his Valvoline Rocket.

Richards pocketed $10,675 for what might have been the most spectacular of his 21 career WoO LMS triumphs. He won from the 18th starting spot on Oct. 7, 2008, at Fayetteville (N.C.) Motor Speedway, but that race didn’t come with the extra significance of extending an amazing win streak.

“To win four openers in a row is just really cool,” said Richards, who started from the pole position in 2007 and third in both the 2008 and 2009 opening-night WoO LMS events at the half-mile oval outside Daytona Beach. “There’s always the luck factor involved — and we’ve been very lucky here. But I feel like we earned this one too.

“To come from the back really shows how strong your team is. Matt (Barnes), Jimmy (Frey), Joe (Pilkenton), Ernie (Davis), my dad (Mark Richards), Steve Baker — they all did an awesome job.”

Richards found himself mired deep in the starting field after finishing third in his heat race, but he began the A-Main confident he could climb forward. It didn’t take him long to realize he just might be able to still pull off a victory.

“I drove a little hard in the heat and fell back to third, so I was a little disappointed in myself for that,” said Richards. “But I was like, ‘You know what? Just get out there and race, do what you always do.’ I put the heat out of my head and just started fresh in the feature.

“The way the car felt, after a few laps I knew we were gonna be good,” he continued. “The car was just phenomenal. We started passing cars, but I had no idea what position we were in. Then I looked up (at the scoreboard), saw Brady (Smith) was fifth and he was right there in front of us, and I was like, ‘We’re up there and have a pretty good shot of running top-three.’

“After I got the lead I just tried to stay patient. Those last few laps I just about stopped going around there, and I guess going slower actually made me faster. The car was just phenomenal.”

The drivers Richards vanquished certainly agreed with his assessment.

“(Richards) was extremely good tonight,” said Pearson, who started third but moved up one row after polesitter Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., spun between turns one and two at the initial green flag. “He could roll right through that middle or wherever he needed to go. We were a little bit too tight and had to stay down there on the bottom. I don’t even know where he started, but he blew by me and that’s all I saw of him.”

Smith, meanwhile, stood in awe of Richards’s opening-night superiority but was very satisfied with his outing. He didn’t even qualify for last year’s opener at Volusia, putting him in a points hole for the start of his first campaign as a WoO LMS regular.

“I don’t know what it is about the opener here, but Josh has something figured out,” said Smith, who started sixth. “We got tight and couldn’t run the way he could, but we’re very happy with third. This is a lot better start than last year.”

Four caution flags slowed the event, but there were no serious incidents. After McDowell’s opening-lap spin, the other cautions flew for stopped cars — Jared Landers of Batesville, Ark., on lap 15; Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., on lap 19; and Brad Neat of Dunnville, Ky., on lap 37.

Finishing in positions 6-10 was McDowell, who rallied from the rear after his disappointing miscue; Moyer; 21st-starter Tim Dohm of Cross Lanes, W.Va., who earned the $500 WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ cash for being the highest-finishing driver who hasn’t won a tour A-Main; Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill.; and WoO LMS rookie Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del.

A banner field of 68 cars was signed in for the event.

Landers, who won the DIRTcar UMP Modified ‘Gator Championship’ on Monday night, blistered the track in 15.961 seconds during qualifying to earn the Ohlins Shocks Pole Award. It was his first-ever fast-time honor on the WoO LMS.

Heat winners were Moyer, McCreadie, Brady Smith, Babb, McDowell and Pearson. The B-Mains were captured by Francis, Greg Johnson of Bedford, Ind., and Dohm.

The 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH continue on Fri., Feb. 12 (a grand finale for DIRTcar UMP Late Models with a $10,000 top prize) and Sat., Feb. 13 (another 50-lap, $10,000-to-win show for the WoO LMS). A full program featuring the Super DIRTcar Series for big-block Modifieds is also on the agenda each evening.

Additional info on the DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH is available by logging on to www.dirtcar.com, www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com or www.dirtcarnationals.com.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Results of WoO Late Model Series (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (17) Josh Richards/50 $10,675
2. (3) Earl Pearson Jr./50 $5,000
3. (6) Brady Smith/50 $3,500
4. (2) Tim McCreadie/50 $2,600
5. (19) Steve Francis/50 $2,650
6. (1) Dale McDowell/50 $1,700
7. (5) Billy Moyer/50 $1,500
8. (21) Tim Dohm/50 $1,800
9. (22) Dennis Erb Jr./50 $1,200
10. (24) Austin Hubbard/50 $1,850
11. (10) Darrell Lanigan/50 $1,650
12. (18) Eddie Carrier Jr./50 $1,000
13. (7) Rick Eckert/50 $1,450
14. (25) Tim Fuller/50 $1,400
15. (23) Eric Jacobsen/50 $850
16. (15) Jack Sullivan/49 $800
17. (4) Shannon Babb/49 $770
18. (14) Chub Frank/49 $1,250
19. (26) Clint Smith/49 $1,230
20. (16) Brandon Kinzer/48 $700
21. (8) Jimmy Owens/36 $700
22. (11) John Blankenship/36 $700
23. (12) Brad Neat/35 $700
24. (29) Russell King/23 $500
25. (9) Chris Madden/19 $700
26. (27) Jason Feger/13 $700
27. (13) Jared Landers/13 $750
28. (20) Greg Johnson/13 $700
29. (28) Shane Clanton/0 $525

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

Time of Race: 22 Mins., 13.879 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 4.320 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 4 (Laps 0, 15, 19, 37)
Lap Leaders: Pearson (1-26); Richards (27-50)
Provisional Starters: Fuller, C. Smith, Clanton, King (WoO); Feger (UMP)
Rookie of the Race: Hubbard ($250)
WoO LMS Bonus Bucks Winner: Dohm ($500)
Integra Shocks Crew Chief of the Race: Matt Barnes (Richards)

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. 777-Jared Landers/Batesville, AR 15.961
2. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 16.047
3. 1x-Jack Sullivan/Greenbrier, AR 16.055
4. 18-Shannon Babb/Moweaqua, IL 16.063
5. 23-John Blankenship/Williamson, WV 16.069
6. 41-Brad Neat/Dunnville, KY 16.095
7. 21-Billy Moyer/Batesville, AR 16.110
8. 20-Jimmy Owens/Newport, TN 16.117
9. 2-Brady Smith/Solon Springs, WI 16.195
10. 18K-Brandon Kinzer/Allen, KY 16.206
11. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 16.236
12. 44P-Earl Pearson Jr./Jacksonville, FL 16.267
13. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 16.301
14. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 16.327
15. 44M-Chris Madden/Gaffney/SC 16.334
16. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 16.335
17. 17M-Dale McDowell/Chickamauga, GA 16.341
18. 4T-Tommy Kerr/Maryville, TN 16.355
19. 16T-Tyler Bruening/Decorah, IA 16.377
20. 28E-Dennis Erb Jr./Carpentersville, IL 16.380
21. 14-Kyle Berck/Marquette, NE 16.383
22. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 16.385
23. 88-Wendell Wallace/Batesville, AR 16.412
24. 12-Jordan Bland/Campbellsville, KY 16.419
25. 18W-Eric Wells/Hazard, KY 16.424
26. 32c-Vic Coffey/Caledonia, NY 16.480
27. C9-Steve Casebolt/Richmond, IN 16.491
28. 5s-Steve Sheppard Jr./New Berlin, IL 16.496
29. 17T-Tim Dohm/Cross Lanes, WV 16.514
30. 28-Eddie Carrier Jr./Salt Rock, WV 16.533
31. 9k-Mike Knight/Ripley, NY 16.554
32. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 16.556
33. 11R-Tyler Reddick/Corning, CA 16.561
34. 1V-Will Vaught/Crane, MO 16.606
35. 00-Randy Korte/Highland, IL 16.625
36. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 16.625
37. 16R-Justin Rattliff/Campbellsville, KY 16.668
38. 9-Dan Schlieper/Sullivan, WI 16.683
39. 26-Tony Knowles/Tyrone, GA 16.703
40. 5-Eric Jacobsen/Sea Cliff Beach, CA 16.736
41. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 16.757
42. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 16.763
43. 21d-Dan Stone/Thompson, PA 16.768
44. 7W-Ricky Weiss/Winnipeg, MAN 16.772
45. 46-Greg Johnson/Bedford, IN16.801
46. 23P-Patrick Sheltra/Indiantown, FL 16.849
47. 47-Tyler Ivey/Tallahassee, FL 17.023
48. 27-Jeff Beyers/Pana, IL 17.030
49. b5-Brandon Sheppard/New Berlin, IL 17.061
50. 15b-Brian Birkhofer/Muscatine, IA 17.072
51. 25F-Jason Feger/Bloomington, IL 17.278
52. 3-Brent Robinson/Smithfield, VA 17.441
53. 77-Jason McBride/Carbondale, IL 17.612
54. 40-Joe Callahan/Dubuque, IA 17.755
55. 19d-Ronnie DeHaven Jr./Winchester, VA 17.816
56. 13d-Jonathan DeHaven/Winchester, VA 17.845
57. 1P-Darren Peters/Fort Erie, ONT 17.911
58. 25z-Mason Ziegler/Chalk Hill, PA 18.011
59. 3c-Mike Collins/Carter Lake, IA 18.077
60. 99z-Dave Zona/Montrose, PA 18.102
61. 5M-Whitney McQueary/Liberty, KY 18.558
62. 27d-Donald Beyers/Pana, IL 18.647
63. 29R-Ronnie Rihn/Bloom, WI 18.778
64. 57-Chuck Julien/Apopka, FL 18.829
65. 99B-Rick Briggs/Bear Lake, PA 19.010
66. 16H-Mike Hammerle/St. Charles, MO 19.037
67. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA N/T
68. 25-Shane Clanton/Locust Grove, GA N/T

Heat No. 1 (10 laps — Top 3 Transfer): Moyer, Eckert, Landers, Wells, Bruening, Stone, Knight, McQueary, B. Sheppard, Rattliff, R. DeHaven (DNS) George

Heat No. 2 (10 laps — Top 3 Transfer): McCreadie, Owens, Frank, Schlieper, Coffey, Francis, Erb, Weiss, J. DeHaven, D. Beyers, Birkhofer

Heat No. 3 (10 laps Top 3 Transfer): B. Smith, Madden, Sullivan, Casebolt, Feger, Reddick, G. Johnson, Rihn, Peters, Berck, Knowles

Heat No. 4 (10 laps — Top 3 Transfer): Babb, Lanigan, Kinzer, Jacobsen, Sheltra, S. Sheppard, Vaught, Robinson, Ziegler, Julien, C. Smith

Heat No. 5 (10 laps — Top 3 Transfer): McDowell, Blankenship, Richards, Dohm, Korte, Fuller, Briggs, Ivey, McBride, Collins, Wallace

Heat No. 6 (10 laps Top 3 Transfer): Pearson, Neat, Carrier, Hubbard, Kerr, King, Bland, J. Beyers, Callahan, Zona, Hammerle

B-Main No. 1 (12 laps — Top 2 Transfer): Francis, Erb, Schlieper, Stone, Knight, McQueary, Bruening, Wells, J. DeHaven, George, Coffey, B. Sheppard, Birkhofer, Weiss, R. DeHaven (DNS) D. Beyers, Rattliff

B-Main No. 2 (12 laps — Top 2 Transfer): G. Johnson, Jacobsen, Casebolt, Sheltra, Reddick, Vaught, Knowles, C. Smith, Ziegler, Rihn, Peters, Julien, S. Sheppard, Robinson, Feger (DNS) Berck

B-Main No. 2 (12 laps — Top 2 Transfer): Dohm, Hubbard, Korte, Fuller, Ivey, Bland, Kerr, McBride, J. Beyers, Wallace, Collins, Zona, Briggs, Callahan, King, Hammerle

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:

Arizona Sports Shirts ($50 product certificate to fifth-place finisher in each B-Main): Mike Knight, Tyler Reddick, Tyler Ivey
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Earl Pearson Jr.
Eibach Springs (one free spring to each B-Main winner): Steve Francis, Greg Johnson, Tim Dohm
MSD Ignition ($75 cash award to A-Main winner w/decal): Josh Richards
MSD Ignition ($25 cash award to last-place finisher in A-Main w/decal): Shane Clanton
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash award to fast qualifier w/decal): Jared Landers
Pink Carburetors ($100 product certificate for new/rebuild to A-Main winner w/decal): Josh Richards
Pink Carburetors ($50 product certificate for new/rebuild to last-place finisher in A-Main w/decal): Shane Clanton
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate to A-Main winner w/decal): Josh Richards
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate to fifth-place finisher in A-Main w/decal): Steve Francis
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate to 15th-place finisher in A-Main w/decal): Eric Jacobsen
STP ($50 cash award to the winner of B-Main No. 1 w/decal): Steve Francis
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (two free VP five-gallon containers to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main if decal is displayed): Tyler Bruening
Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Josh Richards

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail customerservice@dirtvision.com.

As a member of DIRTcar, Bloomquist appealed the penalty to the World Racing Group Appeals Committee. The committee met in December and heard testimony from the officials and Bloomquist. In a unanimous decision, the independent panel reduced the overall penalty by reinstating his win in the events on Nov. 6 as the illegal tire was from qualifying for the Nov. 7 event.

The World Racing Group Appeal process offers a second appeal to the Chairman Potestas, who reviews the process and serves as the final authority. Bloomquist appealed to the Chairman. The Chairman confirmed the Commissions decision.

The Appeal Commission determined Dec. 12, and the Commissioner Potestas affirmed yesterday, penalties should be:
* The loss of purse and award earnings from Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, in the amount of $1,350.
* A penalty of $1,350.
* A six (6) month suspension from Nov. 7, 2009, to May 7, 2010.
* The loss of 1,000 championship points.

Bloomquist will be eligible to compete in World of Outlaws Late Model Series and DIRTcar Racing events beginning May 8, 2010.

2010 will be no different, as right out of the gate on Friday March 12th the return of the “Fastest Show on Dirt” will make its way back to LSS when the World of Outlaws Sprint Series stages its only scheduled visit of the season. Names of the likes of Steve and Kraig Kinser, Danny Lasoski, Donny Schatz, Craig Dollansky, Joey Saldana, Jason Meyers and son of LSS track owners Sam Hafertepe Jr., amongst many others, will take part in a full night of qualifying, heats, dash and feature race competition. This date was recently announced and support division(s) will be listed on the track website when that news becomes available.

Back for the first time in several years, the World of Outlaws Late Models make a triumphant return to LSS two weeks later on Saturday March 27th. Drivers such as 2009 series champion “Kid Rocket” Josh Richards, Steve Francis, Darrell Lanigan, Tim Fuller and Rick Eckert will all compete in a one night show, plus a host of others. Joining the WoO late models will be the only 2010 appearance of the exciting Winged Modifieds.

Next up, on Friday April 9th, the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series tackles LSS with a full field of top-flight sprint cars. Fans can expect drivers such as Shane Stewart, Gary Wright, Jason Johnson and Travis Rilat. Joining the sprint cars will be the modifieds, limited modifieds and factory stocks; rounding out what will certainly be a huge night of racing.

Then, on Sunday May 30th, the stars and cars of the SUPR Late Model Series will make their return for another night of high-speed action during the Memorial Day holiday weekend. The modifieds, limited modifieds and factory stocks will also be on hand.

Saturday June 26th will mark the first ever visit of the Southern Thunder Sprints to Lone Star Speedway. Once again, fans will enjoy a diverse racing program with the modifieds, limited modifieds and factory stocks all taking part in the show.

Kicking off the Independence Day holiday weekend Friday July 2nd, will mark the second of three appearances for the SUPR Late Model Series. Another full slate of racing can be expected, as the modifieds, limited modifieds and factory stocks will race that evening.

Then the track will take a few weeks off during the “dog days of summer” only to return Saturday September 11th with an exciting double-header for the ASCS Lone Star Sprint Cars and the final SUPR Late Model Series event at LSS in 2010.

After an enormous success in 2009 at LSS, the Monster Truck Nationals will put on another high-flying, crunch-filled program on Saturday September 18th. You certainly won’t want to miss their return.

Wrapping up the 2010 racing calendar will be an inaugural 2-day event for the USMTS Southern Series for Modifieds on Friday and Saturday October 29th-30th. Joining them both nights will be the limited modifieds.

A pair of practice dates is also set on March 7th, from 3-8pm; and March 26th from 6-10pm.

More race dates are still in negotiation at this point, so make sure to visit www.LoneStarSpeedway.com for future updates. The 2010 schedule is also available for download and print on the track website. Also, you can find the latest in LSS news on your local racing forums throughout the 2010 racing season.

From everyone at “The Fastest ½ Mile Dirt Track in Texas,” have a safe and enjoyable racing season; we are looking forward to providing you with great racing action at affordable prices all year long.