John
Blankenship Bags $20,000 for Bad Boy 98 Victory at Batesville!!!
(May
19, 2013) Williamson, West Virginia star John
Blankenship recorded the biggest win of his racing career
on Saturday night, May 18 at the Batesville Motor Speedway
in Locust Grove, Arkansas, as he banked $20,000 for coming
out on top of the 2nd Annual 'Bad Boy 98!' After timing
in seventh quickest in Group B during Lucas Oil Late Model
Dirt Series qualifying and running second in his heat
race on Friday night, John started from the outside of
the third row in Saturday's 98-lap main event. He quickly
moved up to third and started chasing down the leaders.
Following a long battle with Dennis Erb,
Jr. for the point, John inherited the lead on lap 68 when
Erb retired with mechanical troubles. From there, John
dominated the conclusion of the extra-distance event and
reached the checkers well ahead of Brady Smith, Steve
Francis, Billy Moyer, and Jimmy Owens. The $20,000 triumph
allowed John to gain valuable points on the leaders and
he currently sits third in the latest version of the LOLMDS
Championship chase. Complete results from the 'Bad Boy
98' weekend can be accessed by pointing your web browser
to www.lucasdirt.com.
(Rick
Schwallie Photo)
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Blankenship
Earns Podium Finish in Spring Shootout; Now Third in Points!
(May
12, 2013) John Blankenship and the Number 23
Inc. team ventured to the LaSalle Speedway in LaSalle,
Illinois on May 10-11 for a pair of $10,000 to win Lucas
Oil Late Model Dirt Series battles. Following another
rain-out on Friday night, Saturday's portion of the 'Spring
Shootout' went off without a hitch. John timed in second
quickest in Group A during the qualifying session and
later took the win in his loaded heat race. After starting
from the inside of the second row in the 50-lap main event,
the Williamson, West Virginia standout was a fixture towards
the front of the stellar field and eventually brought
home a third place performance. John trailed only winner
Brady Smith and runner-up Jimmy Mars to the checkers and
now sits third in the latest version of the Lucas Oil
Late Model Dirt Series point standings. Full results from
the 'Spring Shootout' can be accessed by clicking on www.lucasdirt.com.
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Mother
Nature Wipes Out Trip to Granite City/Paducah...
(May 4, 2013) The Number 23 Inc. team
was scheduled to follow the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt
Series to the Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Illinois
and the Paducah International Raceway in Paducah, Kentucky
on May 3-4. Unfortunately, Mother Nature took the win
in both $10,000 to win programs...
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John
Blankenship Bags Pair of Top Tens in Lucas Oil Weekend
(April
21, 2013) The scheduled Lucas Oil Late Model
Dirt Series tripleheader wrapped up tonight at the reconfigured
West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells, West Virginia.
John Blankenship laid down the quickest lap of the 32
entrants during time trials and later won his heat race
to earn the pole position for the A-Main, which once again
boasted a $10,000 payday. John was a fixture towards the
front throughout the 50-lap main event and eventually
crossed underneath the checkers in the sixth spot. John,
who now finds himself fourth in the latest LOLMDS point
standings, finished behind only winner Eddie Carrier,
Jr., Josh Richards, Don O'Neal, Brian Birkhofer, and Jimmy
Owens.
(April 20, 2013) John Blankenship
and the #23 team rejoined the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt
Series schedule tonight at the legendary Hagerstown Speedway
in Hagerstown, Maryland. John timed in fifteenth fastest
in Group B during the qualifying session and later placed
seventh in his loaded heat race. After grabbing the third
transfer spot through his B-Main, John rolled off starting
from the outside of the eleventh row in the $10,000 to
win feature event. During the course of the 50-lapper,
the Williamson, West Virginia star was able to pick off
thirteen competitors on his way to a steady ninth place
effort.
(April 19, 2013) Tonight's
$10,000 to win Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series battle
at the Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex in Markleysburg,
Pennsylvania has been rained-out. It has been rescheduled
for Sunday evening, July 28.
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National
Dirt Racing League (NDRL) Results from Paducah/Pevely
(April
13, 2013) Another $20,000 top prize was on the
line in the second National Dirt Racing League (NDRL)
show of the year tonight at the Federated Raceway at I-55
in Pevely, Missouri. John Blankenship laid down the fourth
fastest lap overall during the qualifying session and
later placed fourth in his stacked heat race. Following
a second place effort in his B-Main, John started the
75-lap main event from the second-to-last row. The driver
of the COAL / Todd Case Trucking / Bear Cove Village #23
Rocket machine was then able to complete seventy-four
circuits in the A-Main and was credited with a fifteenth
place performance.
(April 12, 2013) John Blankenship
and the Number 23 Inc. team competed in the inaugural
National Dirt Racing League (NDRL) event tonight at the
Paducah International Raceway in Paducah, Kentucky. John
finished third in his heat race, which earned him the
rights to the seventeenth starting spot in the $20,000
to win main event. During the course of the 75-lapper,
John quickly bolted all the way up to third before an
overheating car sent him pitside after only 29 circuits.
The mechanical woes cost the Williamson, West Virginia
ace a chance at the win and dropped him to a disappointing
nineteenth place finish.
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Blankenship
Sees Rain at Jackson; Advances to Eighth at Lonestar
(April
7, 2013) The Number 23 Inc. team ventured to
the Jackson Motor Speedway in Jackson, Mississippi and
the Lonestar Speedway in Kilgore, Texas over the April
5-6 weekend for a pair of $10,000 to win Lucas Oil Late
Model Dirt Series battles. Following a rain-out on Friday
night at Jackson, the annual 'High Banks Havoc' event
at Kilgore went off without a hitch on Saturday evening.
John Blankenship laid down the fifth fastest
lap in Group B during the qualifying session and later
placed fifth in his loaded heat race. Following a second
place run in his B-Main, John started the 50-lap feature
event from the outside of the tenth row. Despite rough
track conditions and John bringing out a lap 37 caution,
the Williamson, West Virginia ace was able to salvage
a hard-fought eighth place performance. He now sits tied
for seventh in the latest version of the LOLMDS point
battle. Full results can be viewed online at www.lucasdirt.com.
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#23
Team Makes First Trip to Lancaster for $30k Carolina Crown
(March 31, 2013) Williamson, West Virginia
native John Blankenship made his first career visit to
the Lancaster Motor Speedway in Lancaster, South Carolina
on March 29-30 for the 2nd Annual 'Carolina Crown.' The
unsanctioned special paid a whopping $30,000 to the winner,
but drew only 21 cars to the sprawling 1/2-mile speedplant.
John suffered mechanical woes to his primary mount during
hot laps on Friday night, but the team switched to the
back-up car and later posted a sixth place finish in his
heat race. With all cars transferring into Saturday's
60-lap main event, John rolled off starting eighteenth
on the feature grid. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
star was then able to move up seven spots on his way to
an eleventh place finish in this year's version of the
'Carolina Crown.' Full results can be viewed online at
www.dirtondirt.com.
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John
Blankenship Nabs Top Ten in 'Indiana Icebreaker' at Brownstown
(March
24, 2013) John Blankenship and the Number 23,
Inc. team resumed the 2013 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
campaign on Saturday night, March 23 at the legendary
Brownstown Speedway in Brownstown, Indiana. The 16th edition
of the 'Indiana Icebreaker' drew a strong 37 car field,
all of whom were vying for the $10,000 top prize. John
laid down the eighth quickest lap in Group B during the
qualifying session and later grabbed the fourth and final
transfer spot through his loaded heat race. After starting
the 50-lap main event from the outside of the eighth row,
John immediately pointed his #23 Rocket Chassis towards
the front of the stellar field. The Williamson, West Virginia
ace, who now sits tied for sixth in the latest LOLMDS
point standings, rallied past eight competitors during
the 'Indiana Icebreaker' to bring home a solid eighth
place effort. Full results from Brownstown can be viewed
online at www.lucasdirt.com.
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Blankenship
Caps Off 'Spring Thaw' with Commanding $10,000 Win!!!
(March
16, 2013) In front of a huge crowd tonight at
the Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tennessee, John Blankenship
emerged victorious in the 'Spring Thaw' main event! John
laid down the fastest lap of the 31 entrants during the
Spring Nationals qualifying session and later took the
win in his loaded heat race. After starting the 60-lap
feature event from the pole position, John grabbed the
point from leader Scott Bloomquist on the twelfth circuit
and never looked back. The Williamson, West Virginia standout
went on to dominate the remainder of the A-Main, which
went caution-free, to score the $10,000 triumph over Steve
Casebolt, Chris Madden, Billy Ogle, Jr., and Scott Bloomquist!
(Chad
Wells Photo)
(March 15, 2013) John Blankenship
and his #23 Dirt Late Model team competed in the first-ever
Spring Nationals event tonight at the high-banked Volunteer
Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tennessee. Night one of the annual
'Spring Thaw' paid $4,000 to the winner. John qualified
fifth fastest in Group A during the time trial session,
which locked him into the inside of the fifth row for
the start of the 40-lap feature event. The Williamson,
West Virginia ace was then able to knock off a couple
of competitors during the race on his way to a solid seventh
place performance at "The Gap."
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Top
Ten for Blankenship in Snow-Shortened 'Bama Bash' at GVS
(March
3, 2013) The Number 23, Inc. team rolled into
the Green Valley Speedway in Glencoe, Alabama on March
1-2 for the 16th edition of the 'Bama Bash.' The unsanctioned,
two-day program at GVS was held under frigid conditions,
but 37 competitors signed in to vie for the $16,016 top
prize. On Friday night, John Blankenship laid down the
third quickest lap in his group during the time trial
session and later grabbed the third transfer spot through
his heat race. The Williamson, West Virginia ace then
started Saturday's 75-lap feature event from the inside
of the fifth row with snow flurries in the air. Unfortunately,
the snow intensified so much that the race was eventually
called after 61 circuits and John was credited with a
solid seventh place performance. Complete results from
the cold weekend at Green Valley can be obtained by clicking
on www.greenvalleyspeedway.com.
(Heath
Lawson Photography)
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'Winternationals'
Nightly Results from East Bay Raceway Park...
(February
16, 2013) A busy day of racing action concluded
the 'DART Winternationals' for the Number 23, Inc. team
today, as a $7,000 to win show was held during the day
at East Bay, while the $10,000 to win finale took place
at night. During the afternoon show, John Blankenship
won his heat race prior to finishing fourth in the 35-lap
feature behind only winner Jimmy Owens, Don O'Neal, and
Eric Jacobsen. In the nightcap, John ran second in heat
race action and later wound up tenth in the 60-lapper
despite getting caught up in an incident shortly after
halfway.
(February 15, 2013) The
first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series point night was
held tonight at the East Bay Raceway Park in Gibsonton,
Florida and a $10,000 top prize was on the line. John
Blankenship laid down the fifth fastest lap in his group
during time trials and later placed third in his heat
race. After starting the 50-lapper from the outside of
the fifth row, John drove his Number 23 Inc. machine past
four competitors en route to a solid sixth place effort.
The Williamson, West Virginia ace crossed underneath the
checkers behind only winner Don O'Neal, Doug Drown, Bobby
Pierce, Earl Pearson, Jr., and Dennis Erb, Jr.
(February 14, 2013) Tonight's
$7,000 to win Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series showdown
at the "Clay by the Bay" has been rained-out.
Series officials announced that this show will take place
on Saturday afternoon, February 16, as part of a day-night
doubleheader. More news available at www.lucasdirt.com.
(February 13, 2013) The
Number 23 Inc. team returned to action tonight in the
third round of the 'DART Winternationals' at the East
Bay Raceway Park in Gibsonton, Florida. The Lucas Oil
Late Model Dirt Series sanctioned a $7,000 to win program,
which was marred by intermittent rain showers. John Blankenship
qualified third fastest in his group during time trials
and later earned the third transfer spot through his heat
race. After rolling off from the outside of the fifth
row in the 35-lap main event, John was inside of the top
ten when he unfortunately went for a spin and brought
out a lap eleven caution. The Williamson, West Virginia
native wound up retiring from the race, which was rain-shortened
to only 27 circuits, and placed twenty-third in the final
rundown.
(February 12, 2013) Round
two of the 'DART Winternationals' took place tonight at
East Bay and another $5,000 top prize was on the line.
John Blankenship laid down the third quickest lap in his
group during Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series qualifying
and was scheduled to roll off from the front row in his
heat race. However, a questionable series tire ruling
sent John to the rear for his heat race before the Williamson,
West Virginia native moved up to sixth in the prelim.
After grabbing the fourth and final transfer spot in his
B-Main, John then proceeded to put on a show in the 25-lap
main event. He drove his #23 Rocket racecar past nineteen
competitors to score an impressive fifth place finish
behind only winner Scott Bloomquist, Don O'Neal, Steve
Francis, and Dennis Erb, Jr.
(February 11, 2013) John
Blankenship kicked off his 2013 campaign tonight in the
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series lid lifter at the East
Bay Raceway Park in Gibsonton, Florida! John timed in
eighth quickest in his group during the qualifying session
and later placed sixth in his loaded heat race. Following
a third place effort in his B-Main, John started the $5,000
to win feature event from the outside of the eleventh
row. Despite getting caught up in a lap 21 tangle, John
finished the 25-lapper in the fifteenth position.
