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[LOLMDS PR]

CORONA, CA (January 10, 2011) – Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN will be representing the Lucas Oil Late Model Series in the prestigious Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals. The famed event starts this Tuesday, January 11th at the QuikTrip Tulsa Expo Raceway in Tulsa, OK. Owens is sure to make a charge for he front of the pack and challenge the best drivers in the world for the win as he helms the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series entry. Scott Bloomquist, current LOLMDS National Champion was given the opportunity to helm the KBR entry, however, he respectfully declined the opportunity, as he and his family will be on vacation during the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl presented by General Tire. “I’m excited to turn over the opportunity to Jimmy [Owens],” exclaimed Bloomquist, “I feel like he will do a fantastic job for Kenny Brown Racing, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, and will represent all of the dirt late model racers very well, with a great finish.” “Our team is extremely excited about this opportunity to work with a series such as Lucas Oil”, says Kenny Brown. Danny Stratton; Jr. Motorsports driver Josh Wise; and Austin Brown will be joining Owens on the KBR Racing Team for the event. At the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl presented by General Tire in the past, KBR Racing has fielded drivers such as Steve Knepper, Mike Hess, Dave Darland, Brad Kuhn, Jerry Coons, Josh Wise and Tony Stewart. This year’s competition marks the 25th Anniversary of the event, which was first held in 1987. There are 264 entries from 29 states and entrants from as far away as New Zealand and Australia. Preliminary action will get underway on Tuesday Night with qualifying events continuing until the finale on Saturday, January 15th. The event will air on February 2nd on SPEED. Owens, the two-time Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Runner-Up in the National Championship Points Standings, will be making his midget racing debut at the QuikTrip Tulsa Expo Raceway in the Kenny Brown Racing, #20B. His teammates will include Austin Brown of Millstadt, IL; Hunter Schuerenberg of Sikeston, MO; Danny Stratton of Indianapolis, IN; and Josh Wise of Riverside, CA. Owens captured eight Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series wins in 37 starts last season. He had 19 top five finishes to go along with 30 top ten finishes. During 2010 he captured the Sunoco Race Fuels North/South 100 at Florence Speedway in Union, KY the Diamond Nationals at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO, and the Indiana Icebreaker at Brownstown Speedway in Brownstown, IN. The event is without a doubt the midget event of the year. Owens will join stars from NASCAR, Late Model, Sprint Car, and Midget racing over the five nights of racing and he is looking forward to the challenge. “I will be a rookie there, but when you look at the success that (Tim) McCreadie had there, winning a few years ago (2006), I may have to lean on him for some pointers. I’ve got some great teammates and hopefully their experience will help quite a bit as well,” said Owens, whose dirt late model car is owned by Mike Reece of Tazewell, TN. “These cars are really light weight, they’ve got four cylinders, and 400 horsepower motors in them,” which is quite a contrast from the 2300 pound, 800-hp late models he is used to driving. “These cars are going to turn real quick, but they say they’re fun and they’re a handful,” said Owens, who is third all-time on the winners list in LOLMDS competition with 21 career victories. While Owens knows that winning the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals in his first attempt will be challenging, he also know the last two winners have come from the Volunteer State of Tennessee, where he resides. The father and son combo of Sammy and Kevin Swindell have won the event the last two years. In fact, Sammy Swindell has won more Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals than any other driver; he has reached victory lane a total of five times in his career. “One thing about Jimmy Owens is that you can never count him out, no matter what type of car he is racing,” said Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Director, Ritchie Lewis. “He won four UMP open-wheel modified titles, he’s won the World 100, the Dream, the Topless 100, and the North/South 100; so he knows from experience, the bigger the stage, the more confidence he has that he can win.” Spike Chassis, Toyota, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Lucas Oil Products, and Rockstar Energy Drink sponsor Owens’ Kenny Brown Racing entry.