O'Reilly All Star Late Model Series

O'Reilly All Star Late Model Series

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Sport	Auto racing
Founded	2009
Country(ies)	United States
Most recent champion(s)	Robbie Blair

In October 2008 The All Star Circuit of Champions, Inc purchased the Independent Racing Series (IRS) Late Model Series and began to put together the most affordable premiere Late Model series in the country, the O'Reilly All Star Late Model Series. The O'Reilly Late Model Series is the newest series owned and operated under the banner of the "O'Reilly All Stars" which includes the O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions and the O'Reilly Midwest All Star Series. The improvements included a large point fund for the top 10 drivers and owners, appearance fees for drivers that support the series and a race format that will entertain and excite the fans. The multi-state tour will feature some of the best drivers in the country going fender to fender at some of the best Late Model tracks in the country.

This is not the first time that there has been a companion Late Model series to the All Star Circuit of Champions. From 1980 thru 1993 Late Models raced their own schedule as well as partnered with the Sprint Cars in several events. Hall of Famer Charlie Swartz is at the top of the all-time wins list with 36 followed by Donnie Moran (26), and the final points champion Billy Moyer (15).

In November 2008 it was announced that Jason Shank of Pennsylvania will be the Director for the series. Shank came to the O’Reilly All Star Late Model Series with a wealth of experience and talent that made for a smooth transition into 2009.

All Star Late Model Series 2009 Members include: Rick Aukland - Zanesville, OH Keith Barbara - South Park, PA Rob Blair - Titusville, PA Rick 'Boom' Briggs - Bear Lake, PA Eddie Carrier Jr. - Salt Rock, WV Duane Chamberlain - Richmond, IN Rod Conley - Wheelersburg, OH Tim Dohm - Cross Lanes, WV Devin Friese - Chambersburg, PA Jared Hawkins - Fairmont, WV Dave Hess Jr. - Waterford, PA Mike Knight - Ripley, NY Matt Lux - Franklin, PA Jared Miley - South Park, PA Steve Wilmouth - Clarksburg, WV

2009 Season Wrap-Up When Series President Guy Webb thought of having a Late Model Series, he was jumping in with virtually zero experience in the world of Late Models. “I have to say, the Late Model world is much different than Sprint Car side of the world,” Webb stated when asked about his involvement with the Late Models. “It’s been an interesting and entertaining year from my standpoint and we are looking forward to growing off of what we built here in 2009 and expanding the All Star Late Model Series for the future.”

The 2009 O’Reilly All Star Late Model Series kicked off their inaugural season on April 17 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, PA. 46 Late Models were on hand to start off the season with the ‘Bear Lake Banzai’ Boom Briggs making a banzai move to grab the checkers and the $5,000 top prize. Briggs kept the momentum the following night as the series traveled to K-C Raceway in Chillicothe, OH for the second event of the season. Briggs fended off challenges from Richmond, Indiana’s Steve Casebolt and Zanesville, Ohio’s Bart Hartman to claim his second ASLMS in as many nights and come out of the opening weekend with the Championship Points lead.

Jamie Lathroum from Mechanicsville, MD opened up May with his first career ASLMS win at the Calvin Davis promoted Winchester Speedway in Winchester, VA on May 9. Series Point Leader Boom Briggs came home 18th while Dover, Pennsylvania’s ‘Superfly’ Coleby Frye came home 14th moving him to second in ASLMS points and Robbie Blair’s third place finish faulted him from seventh in points to third in the ASLMS point standings. Just two weeks later the tour made their second appearance at Jeff Schrader’s K-C Raceway where the ‘Salt Rock Express’ Eddie Carrier Jr. made a last lap pass on R.J. Conley to collect his first ASLMS win. Jared Miley of South Park, PA captured his first ASLMS win at Tim Bainey’s Central PA Speedway in Clearfield, PA. Miley claimed the $7,000 prize over Frye and Mike Knight of Ripley, NY.

The tour finished the month of May in the state of Michigan with visits to Hartford Motor Speedway and Butler Motor Speedway. ‘Hot Rod’ Conley entered the ASLMS record books after he collected his first series win at Hartford Motor Speedway and Boom Briggs grabbed his third ASLMS win of the season at Butler Motor Speedway, stretching his points lead to 50 points heading into June. The month of June is when Blair put the pedal down and started his run at the 2009 Championship. On June 14, Robbie torched the field at H&H Motorsports’ Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, PA for his first ASLMS win and closing the gap on Briggs to 36 points. Eddie Carrier Jr. made his presence known again on June 20 with a dominating win at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, WV.

Fireworks started to fly in July as Greencastle, PA’s D.J. Myers picked up the huge $10,000 check at the ‘Yankee Doodle 50’ at Bainey’s Central PA Speedway on July 3. Boom’s point lead was now at 30 points after his fourth place finish and Blair’s third place finish at CPS. The tour closed out the month of July in Indiana where ‘Insane’ Duane Chamberlain pocketed $5,000 at Twin Cities Speedway North Vernon, IN while ‘Chubzilla’ Chub Frank claimed not only his first ASLMS win, but his first win overall of 2009 at Lawrenceburg Speedway in Lawrenceburg, IN.

Then it was back to Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, PA for the ‘Dual in the Dirt’ which featured both O’Reilly All Star Late Models and the O’Reilly All Star Sprints. Brady Smith held off Chub Frank and the young western PA rising star Gregg Satterlee for the win while Blair cut Briggs’ point lead down to 14 after a strong fourth place finish. The series made their third visit to K-C Raceway on September 19 and again it was Eddie Carrier Jr. who came away victorious over former K-C track Champion Jason Montgomery and Blair who was now only six points behind championship leader Boom Briggs going into the final ASLMS event of the season.

With only six points separating Briggs and Blair for the championship, the tension was high entering the $20,000 to-win ‘Classic’ at K-C Raceway. Blair took the control early during the two-day extravaganza with a win in his heat race. Boom had to transfer for the 100 lap main event through a B-Main while Blair drew the second starting position for the feature. Robbie didn’t have the best of nights but his 10th place finish behind race winner Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, GA was enough to give him the 2009 O’Reilly All Star Late Model Series Points Title as Briggs finished 19th in the finale.

“I think overall we had a good year,” Series Director Jason Shank stated, “we hit a few bumps along the way during our inaugural season but the guys on the track and that were dedicated to working with us and running the whole tour made it success. It’s not often you have your points championship decided on the final night let alone two guys being that close. I know it was heartbreaking for Boom to lead the standings from day one and have Robbie come from as far back as he did to win it on the final night. But Blair did a fantastic job of staying consistent throughout the entire season to get the job done. Both guys, in fact, all the guys that raced with us this season have represented the series very well and will certainly help us grow in years to come.”

FINAL 2009 O’Reilly All Star Late Model Series Points

1. W11 – Robbie Blair 2700

2. 99B – Boom Briggs 2688

3. 71R – Rod Conley 2552

4. F1 – Coleby Frye 2500

5. 37 – Jared Hawkins 2496

6. H1 – Jared Miley 2432

7. 44 – Dave Hess Jr. 1668

8. 9K – Mike Knight 1316

9. 1 – Duane Chamberlain 1217

10. 28 – Eddie Carrier Jr. 1162

External links

• Official Series Website