©2009 NPT PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID & KAREN AUSTIN

Happy times for Chad Pressley, who won the Front Wheel Drive feature Saturday night at Newport Speedway.

SARVER, PA.-Newport's Jimmy Owens came away with an impressive 7th place finish at the prestigious Firecracker 100 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pennsylvania on Saturday night in a World of Outlaws Late Model event.

Owens, a regular on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, pocketed $4,000 for his effort. The Lucas Oil Series had the weekend off.

Legendary Late Model driver Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wisconsin, took home the top prize of nearly $31,000, with Darrell Lanigan finishing second, Earl Pearson, Jr. third, Brady Smith fourth, Steve Francis fifth and Brian Birkhofer sixth.

Owens will be busy this weekend as the Lucas Oil Series cranks it back up with three events, starting this Friday, July 3, at Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, Ohio. Then, it's back to home turf for 'The Newport Nightmare,' as Owens and crew return home to run Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Game on Saturday, July 4, and Tazewell Speedway in Tazewell on Sunday, July 5. All three races are $10,000 to win.

Going into this weekend's action, Owens is third in the Lucas Oil Series' standings. Scott Bloomquist is the leader, followed by Dale McDowell (-335), Owens (-365), Earl Pearson, Jr. (-385), Ray Cook (-410), Don O'Neal (-520), Steve Casebolt (-560), Brad Neat (-650), Josh McGuire (-795) and John Blankenship (-955).

LEICHT BROTHERS BATTLE

NEWPORT-It was a battle of the Leicht brothers at Newport Speedway Saturday night.

The Late Model feature saw the two brothers battle right down to the checkers. With Kevin having his way for most of the season so far, this night belonged to Matt, who held off Kevin for the victory. Jamie Sutton finished third, followed by Tim Tipton, Lance Gatlin, Junior Franks, Jason Grant, Paul Nogradi, Steve Carver and Lee Tissot.

Kevin Leicht (625) still sits atop the points standings, 110 points better than Junior Franks (515), followed by Matt Leicht (445), Tim Tipton (425), Jamie Sutton (385), Jason Grant (380), Lance Gatlin (300), Stephen Gahagan (270), Paul Nogradi (265), Burt Cable (185), Jerry Williams (160), Caleb Holman (140), Brandon Rogers (135), Steve Carver (110) and Michael Buckner (100).

Eric Green took home his first feature win of the season in Limited Late Models with points' leader Wayne 'Spider' Webb of Cosby in tow. Two-time defending track champion Sonny Leatherwood, last week's feature winner, finished third, followed by Dakota Slagle, Jason Grant, Darrell Williams, Zack Franks, Sheflon Clay and Gary Goddard.

Wayne Webb (770) now has a 100-point lead over Jason Grant (670) in the point standings, followed by Darrell Williams (505), Sonny Leatherwood (490), Eric Green (460), Dakota Slagle (450), Gary Goddard (400), Joey Mull (375), Scottie Thomas (340), Sheflon Clay (330), Mike Lee (295), Mark McIntosh (295), Brandon Rogers (270), Gary Allison (170) and Zack Franks (110).

Steve Akers solidified his points' lead in the Street Stock division taking home top honors in the Street Stock feature. Gene Griffey finished second, followed by Blake Kelly, Allen Rich, Dan Smith and Rickey Ford.

Steve Akers (775) now has a 90-point lead over Ricky Brown (685) in the point standings, followed by defending track champion Emily Tracy (495), Melody Chandler (450), Rickey Ford (440), Ray Jarnigan (415), Gene Griffey (305), Jesse Clark (240), Zack Franks (220), Charlie Loyd (215), Marvin Green (190), T.J. Williams (170), Greg Messer (155), Brian Dodd (145), Scott Robinson (135), Blake Kelly (130), Ronnie Buckner (125), Dan Smith (110) and Dakota Slagle (105).

It was a battle of Newport's Frazier brothers in the Modified Four feature, with Ray edging Steve for the right to visit victory lane. Oscar Allmon finished third followed by Kenneth Green.

Oscar Allmon (495) is still tops in the Mod Four standings, just 25-points over Steve Frazier (470). Randall Frye (420) is third, followed by Kenneth Green (330), Jake Hendrix (225), Ray Frazier (180) and Mitchell Fox (135).

Chad Pressley celebrated in victory lane after taking top honors in an exciting Front Wheel Drive feature. Cameron Gunter finished second, followed by Everette Craine, Terry King, Wayne Pressley, Ricky Webb, William Busler and Mitchell Fox.

Cameron Gunter (805) leads the way in the point standings, followed by Ricky Webb (730), Wayne Pressley (720), Terry King (710), Chad Pressley (675), Everette Craine (670), Mitchell Fox (425), Donny Holland (400), David Nesbitt (395), Josh Ramsey (280), Paul Pressley (255), Jesse Slagle (230), Adam Pruitt (155), and William Busier and Scott Mantooth (both on 100).

And Opie Barndt, driving backwards on rims with the trunk lid open, won the Slammers feature.

The racing at Newport Speedway moves from Saturday to Friday, July 3, this week with a big July 4th holiday special planned. Fans will be treated, not only to some great racing, but a big fireworks show following the program. The Super Late Models will be running twin 75-lap features on Friday night. Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Front Wheel Drives, Legends and Slammers are also on the agenda.

Gates will open at 1 p.m. this Friday, with racing underway at 7:30 p.m. followed by the big fireworks show.

DRISKILL TOPS AT 411

Newport's Josh Driskill found victory lane for the sixth time this season, taking the checkers first in the Crate-Modified feature at 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour Saturday night. Luke Fox finished second followed by Jeff Akard.

Driskill solidified his No. 1 spot in the points' standings with the victory. Now with 2,420 points, Driskill leads Luke Fox (2,365) by 55 points, followed by Jef Adkard (2,275).

HENRY LEADS POINTS

Newport's Josh Henry solidified his points lead in the Nesmith Late Model division at Mountain Raceway Park in Maryville by finishing second Saturday night to Hunter Best, who started from the pole in the feature event.