23rd Annual Ralph Latham Memorial at Florence Speedway Up Next

[CPG Marketing]

CORONA, CA (May 28, 2009) - Concluding a busy month of May, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series heads to the home of the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame, Florence Speedway in Union, KY for the 23rd Annual Ralph Latham Memorial this Saturday Night, May 30th. The annual event held every year since 1987 pays $10,000 to win.

Ralph Latham was a three-decade driving star out of the Cincinnati, OH area. Among his numerous wins in dirt late model racing were victories in the ARCA Series and USAC. He passed away in August of 1986 of cancer at the age of 54. He participated in the very first World 100 held in 1971 at Eldora (OH) Speedway. His most successful season came in 1970 when he won a remarkable 43 feature wins on dirt. Among his wins in '70 were the Ohio Dirt Track Championship, United States Dirt Track Championship and the track title at the then fastest half-mile high banked dirt track in the country, Tri-County Speedway in West Chester, OH and Clark County Fairgrounds Speedway in Springfield, OH.

The Ralph Latham Memorial Race on Saturday Night at Florence Speedway has been known to draw the top talent in dirt late model racing and having the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series sanctioning the event again, it will give several drivers track time in anticipation of the $50,000 to win 27th Annual Sunoco Race Fuels North/South 100 Presented by Lucas Oil in August. Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN is the defending Ralph Latham Memorial winner at Florence.

Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN is still on top of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings heading to Florence. Fellow Hall of Famer Billy Moyer of Batesville, AR is second in the current points followed by Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, GA, 4-time champion Earl Pearson Jr of Jacksonville, FL and Jimmy Owens.

Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC leads the remainder of the top ten in points followed by Scott James of Lawrenceburg, IN, Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN, Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN and a tie for tenth between Josh McGuire of Grayson, KY and Jeep VanWormer of Pinconning, MI.

VanWormer leads the Quarter Master Rookie of the Year chase followed by John Blankenship of Williamson, WV, David Breazeale of Four Corners, MS and Michael Walker of Franklin, TN.

With 14 races in the record books already in 2009 the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series has seen ten different winners with only Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA and Josh Richards of Shinnston, WV winning more than one event this year as both have recorded three series wins on the nation's premier dirt late model racing tour. After the Memorial Day Weekend of racing with the Show-Me 100 and FedEx 50 there are 18 drivers who still have perfect attendance with the series.

The tire rule at Florence Speedway this weekend for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series 23rd Annual Ralph Latham Memorial will be; Hoosier 1300, 1350, 1600, LM20 and LM40 and American Racer SD44, SD48 and MD56.

On Saturday May 30th at Florence the pit gate will open at 3 pm with general admission gates opening at 5 pm. Hot laps are scheduled to start ay 6:30 pm. For more information, go the track's website at www.florencespeedway.com or call the track office at (859) 493-0034.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com or call the series office at (951) 532-2503.


Previous Ralph Latham Memorial Winners

1987 - Bobby Carnes
1988 - Bob Pierce
1989 - John Gill
1990 - Jack Boggs
1991 - Scott Bloomquist
1992 - Jack Boggs
1993 - Jack Boggs
1994 - Billy Moyer
1995 - Donnie Moran
1996 - Billy Moyer
1997 - Steve Francis
1998 - Bart Hartman
1999 - Bart Hartman
2000 - Darrell Lanigan
2001 - R.J. Conley
2002 - Steve Francis
2003 - Scott James
2004 - Mike Jewell
2005 - Don O'Neal
2006 - Scott Bloomquist
2007 - Steve Casebolt
2008 - Jimmy Owens