For immediate release: June 22, 2009

Hendersonville, North Carolina: Starting 19th in the 15th Annual Eldora Speedway Dirt Late Model Dream 100, racer Jimmy Owens roughed it out for the $100,000 prize, beating all challengers in a field of 116 cars, aided by his Öhlins LMP shocks. Thanks to Owens, and fellow racer Scott Bloomquist, Öhlins USA had the race won twice over with Bloomquist taking his Öhlins LMP equipped car to second place, the two together helping Öhlins rewrite the technology of the sport.

It looked like it was over shortly after it began, when Owens’ engine started showing smoke early in the yearly race, at the Eldora Speedway, a half-mile dirt track located in Rossburg, Ohio. But his car ran through it and throughout the race Owens and Bloomquist frustrated the competition by being the only two cars able to run any line fast, including a low line. While the Öhlins LMJ shocks have been the suspension for winning, the new Öhlins LMP is now the proven successor in this event of grueling proportions for the top prize in Dirt Late Model racing.

The leaders hit traffic by lap 15, and Bloomquist took advantage of his ability to run any line, moving into fifth, followed a couple laps later by a move into fourth. On lap 30, Bloomquist took third, and three laps later was charging for the lead from second place. Meanwhile, Owens was smoking. Bloomquist took the point on lap 36, and within two more laps shot out to a 20-car-length lead. Owens was now in eighth, and, yup, smoking.

After a yellow flag for two laps, Owens smoked his way into fourth on lap 54, jumping to third on lap 58. Meanwhile, Bloomquist slipped to second and all eyes were on the charging Owens, showing the fire beneath his smoke. On lap 72, Owens smoked the competition, taking the lead from the battling Bloomquist and Tony Stewart. Yeah, that Tony Stewart. From there to the checkered flag Owens never gave up the lead, taking the win by nearly a straightaway. Check, please.

Öhlins USA congratulates Owens and Bloomquist for their first- and second-place finishes in this classic contest, and all the competitors, each who gave their all.
The Öhlins LMP used by Owens and Bloomquist is based on the championship-winning Öhlins LMJ shock absorber, upgraded to a piggyback style reservoir. This provides many advantages including, improved oil flow, less risk of cavitation, a better performing compression valve, improved reliability, and ease of installation. The new Öhlins LMP fits most Dirt Late Model cars out of the box.

Öhlins USA distributes and services the world’s leading performance suspension for automobiles, motorcycles, ATVs, and snowmobiles. Öhlins develops its proprietary and innovative suspension components at the highest levels of racing from open-wheel car racing, to Moto GP, to off-road competition on two and four wheels. Öhlins USA also provides training for service centers and dealers. www.Ohlinsusa.com.