Owens overcomes adversity to win $100,000 Dream

Midway through race, his chassis was losing oil pressure, but he charged through it.

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By Greg Billing, Staff Writer 1:14 AM Monday, June 8, 2009

ROSSBURG — Race car driver Jimmy Owens is dubbed the “O Show.” But 50 laps into the Dirt Late Model Dream at Eldora Speedway, it was more ‘Oh no.’

Halfway through the $100,000-to-win race on Saturday, June 6, the hard-charging Owens’ No. 20 Bloomquist chassis was losing oil pressure. With oil coating his helmet shield, the 37-year-old Newport, Tenn., driver was considering ending his night early.

“I thought about pulling (into the pits) because, man, I don’t need to blow this motor up,” Owens said. “I said, ‘You know what, it’s $100,000. We can buy another one.’ ”

Owens, his car smoking since about Lap 20 of the 100-lap event, methodically moved up front from his 19th starting position.

The race’s only caution on Lap 50 allowed Owens to clean off his helmet shield, and maybe visualize that Dream win.

“I couldn’t see where I was going,” Owens said. “When we had that caution I was out of tear-offs and I started wiping and finally got my shield clean. I don’t know if the car ran out of oil or what, but it finally stopped blowing oil.”

He caught NASCAR Sprint Cup points leader Tony Stewart and dirt race dominator Scott Bloomquist — himself a five-time Dream champ — passed both on the same lap and easily led the final 28 laps for his first Dirt Late Model Dream win.

Owens joins Bloomquist, Donnie Moran and Billy Moyer as winners of both the Dirt Late Model Dream and the World 100. So which is better? The more prestigious World 100 in 2007 or the higher-paying Dream?

“I think this one is going on top for me,” Owens said. “To be able to pass those guys to win the race to me is a dream come true.”

Bloomquist, who led 23 laps, finished second. He’s finished no worse than third in eight of the past nine Dreams.

Stewart, who started on the pole and led twice for a total of 40 laps, fell off the pace late and finished sixth.

Contact this reporter at  (937) 225-2400, ext. 6991 or  gbilling@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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