BATESVILLE, Ark. — Jimmy Owens continued his spectacular season on Saturday night in the 28th annual COMP Cams Topless 100 presented by Nutrien Ag.
Owens held off a furious charge from Hall-of-Famer Billy Moyer on the final lap for the $40,000 victory.
Moyer charged from 18th to briefly edge in front of Owens as the two exited turn number two on the final lap, but Moyer drifted out too high and hit the outside retaining wall. Owens pulled away for his third win in the event’s history.
Moyer fell from second to fourth at the finish as both Earl Pearson Jr. and Tim McCreadie slipped by him.
Owens made his way to Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the 10th time this season and breathed a sigh of relief that the race was over.
“I knew there was someone behind me,” he said. “I didn’t know if it was the 39 car behind me or what. I didn’t know where to go on the track. He [Moyer] snuck around me and was by me. He must have gotten a little push off the corner and tagged the wall. I wasn’t worried too much about the tires until Timmy pitted for a flat because I knew he would come from the back. My hat is off to my crew, we had a great run all weekend.”
Pearson moved into third on lap 77 and then to second on the final lap. He picked up $20,000 for his runner-up finish.
“It was looking like they were going to have a heck of a finish between Jimmy and Billy,” Pearson explained. “We started sixth and finished second in this Lucas Oil car, so it was a good race for us. Billy got me on that restart. Jimmy’s on fire right now and it feels good to come home second to him. Jimmy is winning everything right now. Mooney did a heck of a job on the racetrack, especially with as many cars that were here and the heat. He did a really good job.”
McCreadie came from the rear after a tire change and took home $10,000 for third.
“I got together with another car and it cut the tire down. It must have pushed the body down into the tire. I probably should have pitted the yellow before. Dale McDowell helped me out because he told me what was happening during the caution. We passed a lot of cars. We’ve had two good weekends in a row now.”
The finish:
Jimmy Owens, Earl Pearson Jr., Tim McCreadie, Billy Moyer Sr., Dale McDowell, Ricky Thornton Jr., Brandon Overton, Chris Madden, Josh Richards, Tyler Erb, Jonathan Davenport, Shannon Babb, Timothy Culp, Neil Baggett, Devin Moran, Stormy Scott, Shane Clanton, Tyler Bruening, Tanner English, Billy Moyer Jr., Logan Martin, Spencer Hughes, Shanon Buckingham, Kyle Bronson, B.J. Robinson, Rick Rickman.