Corona, Calif. (November 29, 2011)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
O'Neal Wins U. S. Steel Dirt Track World Championship; Owens Clinches Lucas Oil Series Title. ALMA, OHIO (October 15)—Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN led flag-to-flag in capturing the 31st Annual Dirt Track World Championship Presented by Sunoco on Saturday Night at Atomic Speedway. O'Neal started on the pole and paced the field the entire distance to earn $50,000 for his first career win in the event. Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN finished second, enabling him to clinch the 2011 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Championship. Josh Richards of Shinnston, WV came home third followed by Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN and Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC.
"O'Neal waited through several caution flags during the event, none of which were major incidents as he brought the MasterSbilt House Car home for the third crown jewel win of the season and his fifth series victory of the year. "Tonight was all about tire management, we were a little softer than the second and third place cars, we just bided our time out there, I drove it as straight as I could, it's pretty easy when you've got a good race car," said the 47-year-old driver, who finished third in the championship points.
Italian GT Championship
Marco Bonanomi drives Audi R8 LMS to championship victory for Audi Sport Italia. MONZA, ITALY (October 16)—Together with DTM driver Filipe Albuquerque, Marco Bonanomi achieved two second places in Monza, his first title win in his home country. Ahead of the race, the only other driver who stood a chance of clinching the title was Bonanomi's team colleague Andrea Sonvico. In the final race, Sonvico came fourth and third together with Dindo Capello and finished the season as the runner-up to Bonanomi, just ten points behind.
China Touring Car Championship
Haima, Shanghai Volkswagen capture championships at final round 7. ZHAOQING, GUANGDONG, CHINA (October 16)—Superstar driver Han Han led the Shanghai Volkswagen 333 team to its first-ever championship in the prestigious CTCC Turbo class, followed by fellow SVW 333 Racing Team drivers Gao Huayang and Wan Rui.
In the 1600cc Normally Aspirated Class, Haima Fumelai Racing captured the top two spots, after strong, consistent drives by drivers, Lin Lifeng and Chen Xu.
USAC Silver Crown
Kody Swanson WINS "Rollie Beale 150" at Toledo Speedway. TOLEDO, OHIO (October 17)—Kody Swanson set a new track record and led all 150 laps of the season finales to take the win—his second win in as many starts this year. Kody's brother Tanner Swanson qualified 5th, and moved up to 3rd very early in the race before having to retire from a blown engine, otherwise it very well could have been a Swanson Brothers 1-2.
USMTS
Gustin celebrates victory on Allen's Automotive Qualifying Night at King of America Modified Nationals. HUMBOLDT, KANSAS; (Oct. 19) — Four days after celebrating his 21st birthday, Ryan Gustin was the man of honor again Wednesday night after he thrilled the Humboldt Speedway fans with a late-race pass of Terry Phillips to score the win on Allen's Automotive Qualifying Night at the inaugural King of America Modified Nationals.
While it ended on a high note, the program got off to a rough start for the 2011 USMTS National Champion. After turning just the 24th fastest lap among 39 drivers in time trials, Gustin started on the pole for his heat race but quickly dropped to second behind Phillips and then relinquished the runner-up spot to eight-time and reigning track champion Justin "Whitey" Folk on the final lap.
In the feature race, however, 'The Reaper' was on his game. Phillips crossed under the flagstand with Gustin glued to his bumper and just three laps to go. Diving low under a lapped car in the first turn, Gustin went back to the high line with a lapped car of his own to contend with. The group exited turn 2 four-abreast with Gustin splitting the lapped cars and Phillips trying to find traction on the bottom.
This time Gustin had the advantage as the 28th lap clicked off. Phillips closed back in on Gustin over the final two laps, but a final surge in the final corner came up short as Gustin streaked beneath the checkered flag with the right side of his wrinkled spoiler dangling off the rear of the car, Phillips a car length behind and Payne close behind in third.
The win was Gustin's series-best 23rd USMTS triumph of the year, and the 48th of his young career.
MLRA
Billy Moyer Sweeps Fall Nationals. BATESVILLE, ARKANSAS; (October 20)— The Billy Moyer Racing (BMR) team racked up their thirteenth and fourteenth victories of the 2011 racing season on October 14-15 at the venerable West Plains Motor Speedway in West Plains, Missouri. On Friday night at West Plains, Billy Moyer won his heat race in preliminary action and later grabbed the point on lap five of the 30-lap main event. The popular Hall of Fame driver went on to lead the remainder of the distance to pick up the $2,000 payday over Billy Moyer, Jr., RC Whitwell, Jesse Stovall, and Jack Sullivan.
In the 'MLRA Fall Nationals' finale on Saturday evening at WPMS, Billy once again won his heat race and later rolled into the lead on the ninth circuit of the 40-lapper. The Batesville, Arkansas ace then drove away from the field to capture the $3,000 top prize over Billy Moyer, Jr., John Anderson, RC Whitwell, and Tony Jackson, Jr.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Ray Cook Earns Top Five in Dirt Track World Championship. ALMA, OHIO; (October 20)—The #53 D&R Motorsports team followed the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series to the newly renamed Atomic Speedway in Alma, Ohio on October 14-15 for the 31st Annual 'Dirt Track World Championship.' The season finale for the Lucas Oil Series drew ninety competitors to the south-central Ohio venue, all of whom were gunning for the hefty $50,000 payday.
Ray Cook posted the third-fastest lap in his group during LOLMDS qualifying and later won his heat race. With track conditions producing one-lane racing all day, things were no different during the 100-lap DTWC. Ray started from the inside of the third row in the A-Main and ran fifth the entire distance. The Brasstown, North Carolina native followed winner Don O'Neal, Jimmy Owens, Josh Richards, and Scott Bloomquist to the checkers to record a strong fifth place performance in the crown jewel event. Following the conclusion of the Lucas Oil season, Ray was credited with a ninth place finish in the final point standings.
