COLUMBUS, Miss. - Jimmy Owens pocketed a $15,000 payday with a big win in Saturday night’s General Tire Clash for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Mississippi.
It’ marks the 67th career series victory for the Newport, Tennessee native, but his first in the Clash for the current series points leader.
The 100-lap main event saw three different leaders, with Owens regaining the top spot from Zebulon, Georgia’s Shane Clanton on lap 23. After several breakaway runs, Owens held off Clanton at the finish for his third Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the year.
Clanton finished just ahead of Josh Richards in third. Bobby Pierce finished in fourth, with Tyler Erb in fifth.
As the initial green flag dropped, Owens took the lead and Erb ran second for the first 13 circuits of the race. Clanton started fifth and made an early race challenge by climbing to the second spot around Erb on the 14th lap. Erb would pass both Clanton and the race leader, Owens on lap 16 to gain the top spot. Clanton then became the third new leader of the race as he went to the point on lap 18, but 4 laps later Owens powered around the leader, regaining the lead after a lap 22 restart.
Clanton and Erb chased down Owens as the leader was battling traffic. With the top three nose to tail and Clanton threatening to retake the lead, a caution came with 18 laps remaining. Clanton’s hopes for the win faded in the final laps as Owens went on to take the victory over Clanton by .570 seconds at the finish.
“This car was really just flawless this weekend,” said Owens. “We were so close to making it a sweep for the weekend. Thanks to all the fans who came out. When the track is slick like this, I think it makes for some better racing.
“We have a hard-working crew and it paid off in the end. Consistency is the key to our program this year. We’ve ended the last couple of seasons running great and we are really excited for the whole season. It is a whole lot better when you are running good. Maybe 2020 will be the year for car number 20.”
Kyle Bronson, Devin Moran, Jesse Stovall, Tanner English and Tim McCreadie rounded out the top 10.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Magnolia Motor Speedway – Columbus, MS
General Tire Clash at the Mag – June 20, 2020
| Pos | Start | Car # | Competitor | Hometown | Pay |
| 1 | 1 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN | $15,900 |
| 2 | 5 | 25 | Shane Clanton | Zebulon, GA | $7,700 |
| 3 | 4 | 14 | Josh Richards | Shinnston, WV | $5,800 |
| 4 | 3 | 32 | Bobby Pierce | Oakwood, IL | $4,000 |
| 5 | 2 | 1T | Tyler Erb | New Waverly, TX | $4,200 |
| 6 | 10 | 40B | Kyle Bronson | Brandon, FL | $3,200 |
| 7 | 13 | 9 | Devin Moran | Dresden, OH | $2,950 |
| 8 | 25 | 0 | Jesse Stovall | Billings, MO | $2,000 |
| 9 | 24 | 81E | Tanner English | Benton, KY | $2,600 |
| 10 | 6 | 39 | Tim McCreadie | Watertown, NY | $2,500 |
| 11 | 8 | 18X | Michael Page | Winston, GA | $1,700 |
| 12 | 11 | 99JR | Frank Heckenast Jr | Frankfort, IL | $1,600 |
| 13 | 18 | C8 | Timothy Culp | Prattsville, AR | $1,500 |
| 14 | 20 | 50 | Shanon Buckingham | Morristown, TN | $1,450 |
| 15 | 17 | 71 | Hudson O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | $2,100 |
| 16 | 15 | 1B | Ross Bailes | Clover, SC | $1,350 |
| 17 | 28 | 16 | Tyler Bruening | Decorah, IA | $400 |
| 18 | 26 | 36 | Logan Martin | West Plains, MO | $1,250 |
| 19 | 22 | 1ST | Johnny Scott | Las Cruces, NM | $1,200 |
| 20 | 14 | 21XXX | Neil Baggett | Columbus, MS | $1,150 |
| 21 | 21 | 11J | Drew Armstrong | Alexander, AR | $1,100 |
| 22 | 9 | 49 | Jonathan Davenport | Blairsville, GA | $2,050 |
| 23 | 7 | 21M | Billy Moyer Sr | Batesville, AR | $1,000 |
| 24 | 19 | 4M | Michael Arnold | Hattiesburg, MS | $1,000 |
| 25 | 27 | 1 | Earl Pearson Jr | Jacksonville, FL | $900 |
| 26 | 16 | 11H | Spencer Hughes | Meridian, MS | $1,000 |
| 27 | 12 | 10J | Joseph Joiner | Milton, FL | $1,000 |
| 28 | 23 | 21 | Billy Moyer Jr | Batesville, AR | $1,700 |
| 29 | 29 | 2S | Stormy Scott | Las Cruces, NM | $100 |
