Steve will be bringing his long-time sponsor Valvoline along with him as Steve will be running the LOLMDS tour for the second year in a row. This year Steve finished fourth in the final championship points standings behind Jimmy Owens, Scot Bloomquist and Don O’Neal.

In 2012 it will mark the first time since the 1990’s that the Hall of Fame Chassis builder and co-owner Barry Wright will be hitting the road on a national touring series. He was quite successful with two-time Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Champion, Scott Bloomquist back then and hopes to help Steve make a championship run next year. Along with Wright the team is co-owned by Troy Baird.

“It was a business decision that I had to make,” says Steve. “Teaming up with Barry and Troy is an ideal situation for me right now, I want to thank Keith and Tader Masters of MasterSbilt Race Cars and Jason at Ohlins Shocks for all of their support in 2011, and they were all great to work with our race program.”

“With the financial burdens now days in all forms of racing, it’s better to team up with somebody as it will relieve me worrying about both being a car owner and driver, now I can concentrate on being a driver and that should help my performance overall in the long-run, we had some really good runs this year, but didn’t have the finishes to show for it, I can’t wait until the 2012 season begins,” said the 44-year-old former World 100 and Dirt Track World Championship winning racer.

Activity will get underway with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series on Friday Night, October 14^th with the Red Buck Cigars and DirtonDirt.com Qualifications followed by Heat Race action for the LOLMDS.

On Saturday Night, October 15^th action will begin at 7 PM with the B-Mains followed by the 100-lap U. S. Steel Dirt Track World Championship Presented by Sunoco.  For more information you can log on to www.kc-raceway.com and www.dirttrackworldchampionship.com.

This past weekend Steve and the rest of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series regulars competed in the state of Georgia with two shows.  On Saturday Night, October 8^th Steve competed at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, GA for the Lucas Oil Dixie Shootout.  Steve would finish ninth in the main event.

On Sunday Night, October 9^th the team ventured to Rome Speedway in Rome, GA for the Lucas Oil Rome Showdown.  Steve would come home in seventh place in the final rundown.  Steve will head to KC Raceway for the DTWC still a solid fourth in points.

Steve would like to thank his 2011 sponsors including; Valvoline, MasterSbilt Race Cars, Roush-Yates Racing Engines, PRC, Ohlins, Keyser Mfg., Harbaugh Amusement Machine Inc., VP Racing Fuels, JFRgraphics.com, Tim Logan Racing and Bobst Auto Parts.

Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings

1. Jimmy Owens (Newport, TN) – 6975
2. Scott Bloomquist (Mooresburg, TN) – 6925
3. Don O’Neal (Martinsville, IN) – 6290
4. Steve Francis (Ashland, KY) – 5965
5. Jared Landers (Batesville, AR) – 5550

On Thursday Night, September 29^th Steve would end up not finishing night number one of the event after his battery went dead while battling eventual winner, Jimmy Owens for second place.  Steve had just pulled alongside Owens early on in the race went his battery expired as he was forced pitside.  On Friday Night, September 30^th during night number two Steve would be running in a transfer spot in the B-Main when Don O’Neal passed him on the final lap forcing Steve to miss the feature by one spot.

Steve’s fortunes would turn for the better on Saturday Night, October 1^st as the 100-lap $40,000 to win main event took the green flag.  Steve would line-up up 12^th on the grid and quickly made his way into the top ten.

Steve would get up to sixth place and with 25-laps to go he and Brian Birkhofer would stage a side-by-side battle for fifth.  That lasted until Jimmy Mars fell out of the race which moved both Steve and Birkhofer up a spot.

On the restart Steve and Birky would race hard and clean with each other as Steve would eventually get by Birkhofer to gain the second at the finish.  Owens led until O’Neal was able to get by him on lap 96, as Owens would hook the burm forcing the nosepiece of his car to bend in.  Owens would eventually finish in fifth.

With his second place finish Steve would earn his best paycheck of the 2011 season as the event paid $20,000 for second place. Steve remains fourth in the current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings heading into this weekend’s events.  

On Saturday Night, October 8^th the stars of the LOLMDS head to Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, GA for the Lucas Oil Dixie Shootout.  On Sunday Night, October 9^th they visit Rome Speedway in Rome, GA for the Rome Showdown.  Both events will pay $10,000 to win.

For more information on this weekend’s Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series events you can log on to www.dixiespeedway.com, www.raceromespeedway.com, and www.lucasdirt.com.

Steve would like to thank his 2011 sponsors including; Valvoline, MasterSbilt Race Cars, Roush-Yates Racing Engines, PRC, Ohlins, Keyser Mfg., Harbaugh Amusement Machine Inc., VP Racing Fuels, JFRgraphics.com, Tim Logan Racing and Bobst Auto Parts.

Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings

1. Scott Bloomquist (Mooresburg, TN) – 6530
2. Jimmy Owens (Newport, TN) – 6515
3. Don O’Neal (Martinsville, IN) – 5945
4. Steve Francis (Ashland, KY) – 5585
5. Jared Landers (Batesville, AR) – 5240

Steve would win his heat race which earned him the third starting spot in the 100-lap $20,000 to win main event sanctioned by the LOLMDS.  Steve would remain in the top five in the early going when Brian Birkhofer, who had just passed Steve for fourth, suffered a flat tire.  As Birkhofer slowed on the track, Steve and a couple of other drivers got together as they had nowhere to go.  Steve’s #15 Valvoline/Roush-Yates/MasterSbilt Car would suffer enough damage to put him out of the race. Steve would end up being credited with a 19^th place finish.

This week the Steve Francis Race team ventures to the legendary Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, IA for the Eighth Annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals.  On Thursday and Friday Night will be preliminary nights with $7,000 to win each night.  On Saturday Night will be the $40,000 to win finale.  The Lucas Oil Production Studios will be on hand to tape the event which will be shown on the SPEED Channel later this year.

Steve remains fourth in the current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings heading into this weekend’s events.  For more information log on to www.knoxvilleraceway.com and www.lucasdirt.com.

Steve would like to thank his 2011 sponsors including; Valvoline, MasterSbilt Race Cars, Roush-Yates Racing Engines, PRC, Ohlins, Keyser Mfg., Harbaugh Amusement Machine Inc., VP Racing Fuels, JFRgraphics.com, Tim Logan Racing and Bobst Auto Parts.

Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings

1. Scott Bloomquist (Mooresburg, TN) – 6350
2. Jimmy Owens (Newport, TN) – 6310
3. Don O’Neal (Martinsville, IN) – 5695
4. Steve Francis (Ashland, KY) – 5355
5. Jared Landers (Batesville, AR) – 5070

On Friday Night, September 16th at Greg Gunter’s Winchester Speedway in Winchester, VA Steve would come in sixth place in the Verizon Wireless 50 after starting in 11^th.  On Sunday Afternoon, September 18th Steve the race team ventured to Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway in Jamaica, VA for the 32^nd Annual USA 100 paying $15,000 to win.

Steve and Scott Bloomquist battled side-by-side for several laps until Steve got boxed in behind a lapped car as Bloomquist passed him on the low side on lap 24.  Bloomquist then put three lapped cars between himself and Steve when rain started to fall forcing officials to call the race official with 31 of the 50 laps completed.

Earlier in the day Steve captured one of the 2-25 lap qualifying heat races to earn the pole position.  Steve did finish second in the finale behind Bloomquist to earn a podium finish before the cameras of SPEED Channel who were on hand to tape the event.  The race will be shown on SPEED on October 9^th at 1 PM.

Coming up this weekend Steve and the rest of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series regulars head to Brownstown Speedway in Brownstown, Indiana for the 32^nd Annual Jackson 100 paying $20,000 to win.  Steve is looking for his first Jackson 100 victory this weekend.  Steve ran extremely well at Brownstown back in April during the Indiana Icebreaker.

On Friday Night will be Red Buck Cigar Time Trials.  Saturday Night will see the LOLMDS compete in Heat Races, B-Mains and the Jackson 100.  For more information on this event log on to www.brownstownspeedway.com.

Steve would like to thank his 2011 sponsors including; Valvoline, MasterSbilt Race Cars, Roush-Yates Racing Engines, PRC, Ohlins, Keyser Mfg., Harbaugh Amusement Machine Inc., VP Racing Fuels, JFRgraphics.com, Tim Logan Racing and Bobst Auto Parts.

Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings

1. Scott Bloomquist (Mooresburg, TN) – 6070
2. Jimmy Owens (Newport, TN) – 6070
3. Don O’Neal (Martinsville, IN) – 5475
4. Steve Francis (Ashland, KY) – 5220
5. Jared Landers (Batesville, AR) – 4860

On Thursday Night, August 25^th the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series ventured to the Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, TN.  Before a huge crowd Steve would race for the first-time the Roush-Yates Ford under the hood of his car as he would come home in the sixth finishing position.  Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN was the winner of the event passing Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, GA on lap 42 of the 50-lap main event.

Action headed up I-75 on Friday Night to the Lawrenceburg Speedway in Lawrenceburg, IN.  The beautiful facility hosted another huge crowd that came to see the stars of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.  Steve would encounter issues in his heat race when the battery died in the car relegating him to running the B-Main.  Steve would not be able to transfer out of the B-Main and had to take a provisional to start the $10,000 to win feature event.  Steve would start 23^rd and finish 9^th to earn the PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race after passing 14 other competitors.

On Saturday Night, August 27^th the Steve Francis Racing Team headed to Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, KY for the annual Bluegrass Classic, which was held again with a packed grandstand.  Steve would win his heat race.  He started fourth in the main event and that’s where he ended up to conclude a weekend of 3-top ten finishes to maintain fourth in the LOLMDS Championship Points Standings.

Steve and the rest of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series drivers will be appearing this Saturday and Sunday, September 3^rd and 4^th at Portsmouth Raceway Park in Portsmouth, OH.  On Saturday Night it will be the $10,000 to win Pepsi 50 River Days Rumble followed on Sunday by the historic 43^rd Annual Hillbilly 100 paying $25,000 to win.  For more information please visit www.portsraceway.com

Steve would like to thank his 2011 sponsors including; Valvoline, MasterSbilt Race Cars, Roush-Yates Racing Engines, PRC, Ohlins, Keyser Mfg., Harbaugh Amusement Machine Inc., VP Racing Fuels, JFRgraphics.com, Tim Logan Racing and Bobst Auto Parts.

Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings

1. Jimmy Owens (Newport, TN) – 5480
2. Scott Bloomquist (Mooresburg, TN) – 5350
3. Don O’Neal (Martinsville, IN) – 4925
4. Steve Francis (Ashland, KY) – 4590
5. Earl Pearson Jr. (Jacksonville, FL) – 4330

Action would get underway on Friday Night with Red Buck Cigar Time Trials and Heat Races.  Steve would qualify for the seventh starting spot in his 12-lap heat race.  He would move through the field passing four cars on his way to a third-place finish.

Steve would start 14^th in the $40,000 to win main event on Saturday Night.  At the drop of the green flag Steve would quickly make his way into the top ten advancing to the seventh position when the race was halted for rain with 12 laps scored.

The race would resume on Sunday afternoon under sunny skies and oppressive heat Steve would restart seventh and advance to the fourth position where he stayed for most of the last half of the race.  At the finish of the 100-laps Steve would finish behind race winner, Scott Bloomquist, Jimmy Owens and Jared Landers in the final rundown as he maintains fourth place in the championship points standings.

This week Steve and the rest of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series drivers will have a three-race swing though three different states.  Racing action will kick-off on Thursday Night, August 25^th at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, TN, followed on Friday Night, August 26^th with a trip up I-75 to Lawrenceburg Speedway in Lawrenceburg, IN.  The weekend finale will be a Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, KY on Saturday Night, August 27^th.  All three races will pay $10,000 to win.

Steve would like to thank his 2011 sponsors including; Valvoline, MasterSbilt Race Cars, Roush-Yates Racing Engines, PRC, Ohlins, Keyser Mfg., Harbaugh Amusement Machine Inc., VP Racing Fuels, JFRgraphics.com, Tim Logan Racing and Bobst Auto Parts.

Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings

1. Jimmy Owens (Newport, TN) – 4830
2. Scott Bloomquist (Mooresburg, TN) – 4690
3. Don O’Neal (Martinsville, IN) – 4195
4. Steve Francis (Ashland, KY) – 3995
5. Earl Pearson Jr. (Jacksonville, FL) – 3900

Steve would make the 100-lap event which was taped before the cameras of SPEED Channel by finishing second in his B-Main on Saturday Night.  Steve would start 22^nd in the star-studded field and steadily worked his way into the top ten.

At the end of the event Steve would earn the PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race as he finished in the seventh position after advancing 15 spots from his original starting position on the grid.  Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN would win his third North/South 100 and extend his points lead over Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN.  The event will be shown on SPEED at 11 AM Eastern Time on September 4^th.

Steve and the rest of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series drivers are preparing for one of the their biggest events of 2011 this week with the 19^th Annual COMP Cams Topless 100 to be held at Batesville Motor Speedway in Locust Grove, AR.  The event will pay $40,000 to win and $2,000 to start.

Activity will get underway on Thursday Night, August 18^th with a special practice session followed by Red Buck Cigar Time Trials and Heat Races on Friday Night, August 19th.  On Saturday, August 20^th will be the B-Mains and the 100-lap Topless 100.  For more information log on to www.batesvillemotorspeedway.net.

Steve would like to thank his 2011 sponsors including; Valvoline, MasterSbilt Race Cars, Roush-Yates Racing Engines, PRC, Ohlins, Keyser Mfg., Harbaugh Amusement Machine Inc., VP Racing Fuels, JFRgraphics.com, Tim Logan Racing and Bobst Auto Parts.

Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings

1. Jimmy Owens (Newport, TN) – 4600
2. Scott Bloomquist (Mooresburg, TN) – 4440
3. Don O’Neal (Martinsville, IN) – 4060
4. Steve Francis (Ashland, KY) – 3785
5. Earl Pearson Jr. (Jacksonville, FL) – 3705

On Wednesday Night, July 27^th Steve made his first ever appearance at the Fonda Speedway in Fonda, NY.  Despite a miss in the engine Steve would bring home a sixth place finish at the historic track.  The event was won by Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN.

On Thursday Night, July 28^th Steve would visit another race track for the first time in his career as the team competed at Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon, NY.  Despite a poor qualifying time Steve would rebound in the main event and finish in the ninth position.  Tim McCreadie of Watertown, NY took the win.

After a day off for travel Steve would join the other LOLMDS regulars at Hagerstown Speedway in Hagerstown, MD for the “Conocoheague 50.”  Steve had visited victory twice in this annual event with wins in 1996 and 2009.  Steve would also debut a new Roush-Yates Racing Engine in the MasterSbilt Race Car on Saturday Night, July 30^th at Hagerstown.

Steve would wind up sixth in the main event with representatives from Roush-Yates in the house for advice. Steve would come out of the race still fourth in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings. John Blankenship of Williamson, WV, who started 17^th in the race, picked up his first career LOLMDS victory.

Steve and the rest of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series drivers are preparing for one of the their biggest events of 2011 this week with the 29^th Annual Sunoco Race Fuels North/South 100 Presented by Lucas Oil Products at Florence Speedway in Union, KY.  The event will pay $50,000 to win and $2500 to start.

Activity will get underway on Thursday Night, July 11^th with a special practice session followed by red Buck Cigar Time Trials on Friday Night, August 12^th.  On Saturday, August 13^th will be the Heat Races, B-Mains and the 100-lap North/South 100.  For more information log on to www.florencespeedway.com

Steve would like to thank his 2011 sponsors including; Valvoline, MasterSbilt Race Cars, Roush-Yates Racing Engines, PRC, Ohlins, Keyser Mfg., Harbaugh Amusement Machine Inc., VP Racing Fuels, JFRgraphics.com, Tim Logan Racing and Bobst Auto Parts.

Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings

1. Scott Bloomquist (Mooresburg, TN) – 4350
2. Jimmy Owens (Newport, TN) – 4210
3. Don O’Neal (Martinsville, IN) – 3885
4. Steve Francis (Ashland, KY) – 3590
5. Earl Pearson Jr. (Jacksonville, FL) – 3580