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Lathroum Lands Biggest Payday of Career in USA 100; Erwin Doubles up in Modifieds

Jamaica, VA (Lucas Story by James Essex) – Jamie Lathroum of Mechanicsville, MD a former track champion at Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway captured the biggest victory of his racing career on Saturday Night taking home the $20,000 first place in the 33rd Annual USA 100. Lathroum took over the lead on lap 18 and held off Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN for the win in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned event.

Steve Francis of Ashland, KY led the first 15 laps of the race until Lathroum forged under him coming off of turn four. Francis then jumped the cushion and was forced to stop on the track before contact with the inside guardrail. On the restart Lathroum would pick up the lead of the race, but a big wreck in turn four involving four cars would change the complexion of the top five.

Lathroum would maintain the top spot with Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL and John Blankenship of Williamson, WV running in third. Lathroum would build his lead over Pearson and Blankenship as the drivers approached the halfway mark of the race.

Blankenship would squeeze by Pearson for second as he began to run down the leader, Lathroum. Blankenship would close the gap in a hurry as he closed to within a car length of Lathroum, who was having difficulty negotiating lapped car. Blankenship would try to pass Lathroum several times, but could never get a good enough run.

Lathroum meanwhile stretched his lead out to a comfortable margin over Blankenship, who was now receiving pressure from the duo of Pearson and Bloomquist. Bloomquist would move into the third spot on lap 43 as he tracked down Blankenship and overhauled him on lap 46.

Bloomquist then tried to diamond-off the runs in an effort to catch the high-flying Lathroum, but it was to no avail as Lathroum hit his marks lap after lap as he took his car to Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the first time in his career. He becomes the 15th different winner this year in series competition.

“This is just awesome,� said Lathroum, who emerged from his MasterSbilt by Huey with tears in his eyes. “This is the biggest win of my career and to outrun Bloomquist, O’Neal and the rest of these guys is just unbelievable, I have to thank my crew, everybody here at Virginia Motor Speedway, my family and the fans,� said the 33-year-old, whose biggest win before tonight was a $10,000 victory in 2009.

Lathroum, who captured the late Model track title at VMS back in 2005, said keeping his car away from the bumps and cushion was critical to his success. “I tried to stay away from all of that, there were guys jumping the cushion, it would bite you if you let it, I just tried to be smooth lap after lap and we got it done,� said the driver of the Three Mules Welding, Claar Logging, Superior Tank, The Bowles Boys, Lathroum’s Seafood, Integra, Abell Auto Glass and Eugene Copsey’s Plumbing. His car is powered by an Eatmon Racing Engine.

Bloomquist would come home in second followed by Blankenship, Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN, who pitted twice during the race finished fourth and Pearson rounded out the top five.

Completing the top ten were: Tyler Reddick of Corning, CA; Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN; Jared Landers of Batesville, AR; Dan Stone of Thompson, PA; and Walker Arthur of Forest, VA.

In the Modified Madness 25 for the Budweiser Modifieds Chris Parker of Lumber Bridge, NC got the jump on Dan Arnold of Chester, VA for the lead and kept it until his car slowed on a lap 9 restart handing the lead over to Russell Erwin of Beaverdam, VA.

On the restart, Arnold would bring out another caution and head pit side with right front end damage. Erwin would continue with the lead while the rest of the field battled for positions. But no one had anything for Erwin as he would go on to make it a clean sweep during the USA 100 weekend, winning for the second time in his #22 Erwin Racing Supply Shaw.

Rounding out the top five were Brandon Galloway, Page Harrison, Bret Hamilton and Craig Ramich.

With the round track season now done the speedway will focus on getting ready for Saturday October 6th as The Pit at Virginia Motor Speedway hosts the 8th Annual Run-A-Muck Mud Bog, Mud Sling and Truck Show presented by Rappahannock Tractor and the Virginia Army National Guard. Additional sponsorship provided by Davis Off Road, Monster Energy Drinks, ORI of Richmond, Collision One and Truckin Thunder.

There will be nine classes of “Mud Maniacs� in action ranging from stock to unlimited with cash payouts in all classes.

Not only will fans get to see hordes of trucks splashing through the 200 foot Mud Bog pit but they will also get the opportunity to see some of the region’s best Mud Dragsters covering the 200 foot Mud Sling pit in under three seconds.

New for this year’s event will be the addition of a truck show for all those guys and gals that don’t like to get their rides dirty. The truck show will help raise funds for the children of the late Chuck Engel. Engel, a frequent competitor in his truck Mud Life Crisis, passed away un-expectantly on July 7th of this year. The funds raised will go to the trust fund set up for his five children. There will be awards given out in multiple categories that will include best Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge and Import. Registration fee for the truck show will be $10. Truck show participants need to be registered by 11:30am.

The event will also include a car crushing monster truck freestyle show by Steve Sims in Stone Crusher and Maxey Broadus in Walking Tall. Dennis Anderson and his new creation King Sling will once again be competing in the Unlimited Bog division; that is if it is still in one piece after he goes off in the Freestyle show he has scheduled! Dennis will also be signing autographs and selling souvenirs.

Gates and registration will open at 9am with Single Eliminations for Stock A, B; Modified A, B, C, Unlimited Bog, Pro Modified and X, XX classes beginning at 12 noon. Registration and inspection for Stock, Modified, Pro Modified and Unlimited Bog classes ends at 11:30pm with X and XX Unlimited ending at 1pm. Rules for each class are now available at The Pit website www.thepitatvms.com.

Admission for Mud Mayhem 2 is Adults - $12, Children 7 – 17 years old - $10 and Children 6 and under FREE.

Competitors should visit www.thepitatvms.com to print off draw sheets and driver information sheets that must be filled out before going through for inspection.

Don’t forget to “Like� us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/vamotorspeedway and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/vamotorspeedway for the latest news and results.

Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway, an ASA Member Track, is a ½ mile dirt oval track is located on U.S. Route 17, eight miles north of Saluda, VA and 25 miles south of Tappahannock, VA in Jamaica, VA. The speedway is just a short drive from Richmond, Fredericksburg, Southern Maryland and the Hampton Roads area.

To learn more about Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway fans may call the Speedway office at (804) 758-1VMS or visit the track’s web site at www.vamotorspeedway.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: DAVE SEAY (804) 758-1867 OR (804) 357-7223

USA 100, SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 14 - 15, 2012:

LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL 50 LAP A MAIN FINISH:

1. Jamie Lathroum (Mechanicsville, MD), 2. Scott Bloomquist (Mooresburg, TN), 3. John Blankenship (Knoxville, TN), 4. Don ONeal (Martinsville, IN), 5. Earl Pearson Jr. (Jacksonville, FL), 6. Tyler Reddick (Corning, CA), 7. Jimmy Owens (Newport, TN), 8. Jared Landers (Batesville, AR), 9. Dan Stone (Thompson, PA), 10. Walker Arthur (Forest, VA), 11. Austin Hubbard (Laurel, DE), 12. David Watts (Buchanan, VA), 13. Kenny Moreland (Waldorf, MD), 14. Steve Francis (Ashland, KY), 15. Billy Tucker (King George, VA), 16. Jonathan Davenport (Blairsville, NC), 17. Steve Shaver (Vienna, WV), 18. Ricky Elliott (Seaford, DE), 19. Eric Wells (Hazard, KY), 20. Jerry Bard (Shippingsburg, PA), 21. Chris Madden (Gaffney, SC), 22. Dale McDowell (Chickamauga, GA), 23. Jeremy Miller (Gettysburg, PA), 24. Dean Bowen (Whiteville, NC), 25. David Williams (Avenue, MD),

LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL 25 LAP QUALIFIER #1 (Top 8 Transfer):

1. Steve Shaver (Vienna, WV), 2. Jared Landers (Batesville, AR), 3. Chris Madden (Gaffney, SC), 4. Dale McDowell (Chickamauga, GA), 5. Earl Pearson Jr. (Jacksonville, FL), 6. Scott Bloomquist (Mooresburg, TN), 7. Jimmy Owens (Newport, TN), 8. Kenny Moreland (Waldorf, MD), 9. Dean Bowen (Whiteville, NC), 10. Ricky Elliott (Seaford, DE), 11. Eric Wells (Hazard, KY), 12. Walker Arthur (Forest, VA), 13. Tyler Reddick (Corning, CA),

LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL 25 LAP QUALIFIER #2 (Top 8 Transfer):

1. Steve Francis (Ashland, KY), 2. Jamie Lathroum (Mechanicsville, MD), 3. Jonathan Davenport (Blairsville, NC), 4. John Blankenship (Knoxville, TN), 5. Don ONeal (Martinsville, IN), 6. Austin Hubbard (Laurel, DE), 7. Jerry Bard (Shippingsburg, PA), 8. Jeremy Miller (Gettysburg, PA), 9. David Williams (Avenue, MD), 10. Matt Quade (Mechanicsville, MD), 11. David Watts (Buchanan, VA), 12. Dan Stone (Thompson, PA),

LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL GROUP QUALIFYING:
Red Buck Fast Time Group A: Jimmy Owens / 17.456 seconds
Red Buck Fast Time Group B: David Williams / 17.673 seconds

BUDWEISER MODIFIED HEAT 1 (Top 5 Transfer):

1. Dan Arnold (Petersburg, VA), 2. Tony Quade (Leonardtown, MD), 3. Page Harrison (Jetersville, VA), 4. Craig Ramich (Fairfax, VA), 5. Stephen Bryant (Swoope, VA), 6. Robert Lipford Jr. (Mosely, VA), 7. Francis Jarrelle III (Chesterfield, VA), 8. Neal Hudgins (Grimstead, VA), 9. Brandon Galloway (Gloucester, VA), 10. Josh Harris (Gloucester, VA),

BUDWEISER MODIFIED HEAT 2 (Top 5 Transfer):

1. Chris Parker (Lumberbridge, NC), 2. Brian Dobie (Partlow, VA), 3. Jimmy Duncan (Fredericksburg, VA), 4. Charlie Hubbard (Chesapeake, VA), 5. James Sparks (Hollywood, MD), 6. Donnie Smith (Fredericksburg, VA), 7. Rich Marks IV (Bryans Road, MD), 8. Tim Schulte (Troy, 229), 9. Chris Arnold (Petersburg, VA), 10. Rudy Denke (Fredericksburg, VA),

BUDWEISER MODIFIED HEAT 3 (Top 5 Transfer):

1. Russell Erwin (Beaverdam, VA), 2. Joe Cox (Beckley, WV), 3. Greg Brown (Concord, NC), 4. Bret Hamilton (Powhatan, VA), 5. Mike Reynolds (Clements, MD), 6. Aaron Harris (Richmond, VA), 7. Curtis Barricks (Chesterfield, VA), 8. Ryan Toole (Richmond, VA), 9. Jeff Solinger (Bumpass, VA),

BUDWEISER MODIFIED B MAIN (Top 9 Transfer):

1. Aaron Harris (Richmond, VA), 2. Rich Marks IV (Bryans Road, MD), 3. Brandon Galloway (Gloucester, VA), 4. Francis Jarrelle III (Chesterfield, VA), 5. Neal Hudgins (Grimstead, VA), 6. Ryan Toole (Richmond, VA), 7. Jeff Solinger (Bumpass, VA), 8. Donnie Smith (Fredericksburg, VA), 9. Tim Schulte (Troy, 229), 10. Curtis Barricks (Chesterfield, VA), 11. Robert Lipford Jr. (Mosely, VA), 12. Chris Arnold (Petersburg, VA), 13. Josh Harris (Gloucester, VA), 14. Rudy Denke (Fredericksburg, VA),

BUDWESIER MODIFIED MADNESS 25 LAP FEATURE (29 Entries):

1. Russell Erwin (Beaverdam, VA), 2. Brandon Galloway (Gloucester, VA), 3. Page Harrison (Jetersville, VA), 4. Bret Hamilton (Powhatan, VA), 5. Craig Ramich (Fairfax, VA), 6. Tony Quade (Leonardtown, MD), 7. Joe Cox (Beckley, WV), 8. Francis Jarrelle III (Chesterfield, VA), 9. Ryan Toole (Richmond, VA), 10. Neal Hudgins (Grimstead, VA), 11. Charlie Hubbard (Chesapeake, VA), 12. Donnie Smith (Fredericksburg, VA), 13. Jeff Solinger (Bumpass, VA), 14. Stephen Bryant (Swoope, VA), 15. Brian Dobie (Partlow, VA), 16. James Sparks (Hollywood, MD), 17. Jimmy Duncan (Fredericksburg, VA), 18. Chris Parker (Lumberbridge, NC), 19. Dan Arnold (Petersburg, VA), 20. Greg Brown (Concord, NC), 21. Aaron Harris (Richmond, VA), 22. Mike Reynolds (Clements, MD), 23. Tim Schulte (Troy, 229), 24. Robert Lipford Jr. (Mosely, VA), 25. Curtis Barricks (Chesterfield, VA), 26. Rich Marks IV (Bryans Road, MD),

FAST TIME: Dan Arnold – 20.110 seconds

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