Brad Neat of Dunnville, KY captured the biggest win of his racing career on Saturday Night at Hagerstown Speedway. The 29-year-old took his second Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of 2009 by narrowly edging out Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL at the finish line. Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN finished third followed by Steve Francis of Ashland, KY and Jason Covert of York Haven, PA.
Neat and Pearson made up the front row for the 50 lap main event. At the drop of the green, Neat took the lead ahead of Pearson, Owens, Francis, and Covert. Neat built a hefty lead over Pearson as the two drivers entered traffic by lap 15. The top five running order remained the same; Owens was hounding Pearson for second by lap 18, and a circuit later he passed Pearson for second as the top three raced their way through lapped cars.
Just as the race was developing into a close contest between the top three of Neat, Owens, and Pearson; the first caution came out for Jack Pencil with 23 laps complete. Pencil suffered heavy damage to his race car, when he slammed into the outside guardrail in turn number three.
On the restart, Neat still held the point with Owens and Pearson lined up side-by-side behind him. Another yellow came out; this time for points leader Scott Bloomquist who ended up sideways coming off of turn four as he received contact with at least two other cars. Bloomquist went pit-side for repairs and rejoined the field on the tail end for the restart.
Neat pulled out to a quick three car length advantage over Owens. Owens found his line, and regained his momentum, closing right on the rear decklid of Neat’s machine. With 20 laps to go, Owens was still pressuring Neat for the lead with Pearson lurking in the wings. Francis and Covert were trying to close the gap on the race leaders. With ten laps to go, Neat re-entered lapped traffic as the top three ran nose to tail.
Owens then had heat from Pearson with six laps to go. Neat began pulling away from the duo as they battle for position. Pearson made the pass on Owens for second on lap 47. He then set his sights on the leader, Neat. Pearson closed to within a car length as the two took the white flag.
On the final lap, Pearson tried the inside line off of turn number four, but Neat held his line and went on to pick up the biggest paycheck of his career by one car length over Pearson to earn the $10,000 first place prize. Neat’s previous career win was a $7,500 victory at Duck River Speedway earlier this year.
In the Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the second time this season; Neat was grateful for the victory which came in a MasterSbilt Race Car Chassis that was just on its second race. “First off I want to thank God for giving me this opportunity to race and thanks to Red Buck Cigars, they just came on board as a sponsor and my crew, they work their butts of every day. Those guys (Pearson and Owens) they are just a great group of guys, and to beat them is special, they are two of the best in the business, thanks to MasterSbilt Race Cars this is just my second race with this car, we just picked it up last week thanks to Tader and Keith Masters and all my sponsors, Russ Bradford is here from Sunoco Race Fuels, thanks to him and to the fans for coming out tonight,” said the driver who graduated from the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY with a business degree.
Neat’s number 41 is also sponsored by T&T Energy, NWN Distributing, Tarter and Roberts Insurance, B&B Motorsports, Tri-County Wood, Tarter Gate, Hoosier Tires, Begley Properties and is powered by a Cornett Racing Engines.
Finishing second was Pearson in the Bobby Labonte Racing/Larry Wallace Racing Engines/MasterSbilt Race Cars entry as he closed to within 165 points of championship points leader, Scott Bloomquist who finished 16th.
Third went to Owens in the Mike Reece/Reece Monuments/Bloomquist Race Cars Ford Fusion. Francis took home fourth in the Reliable Painting/Cornett Racing Engines/Rocket GTO. Covert took fifth in the Barry Klinedinst Racing/Red Wing Shoes/Rocket Monte Carlo SS.
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