BUSTI, N.Y. - A race two years in the making certainly didn't disappoint Tuesday as the Lucas Oil Dirt Late Models made their first appearance at Stateline Speedway.
John Blankenship held off Ripley, N.Y.'s Mike Knight in an epic last lap battle to complete a green to checkers run and take home the $10,000 top prize.
The event, sponsored by Davies & Sons and Roberts Trucking featured hot laps, time trails, heats, consolation races and the main event for the Late Models as well as heats, consys and a feature for the 38 UEMS E-Mods that were on hand.
16-year-old phenom Tyler Reddick put down the fastest lap in time trials, clocking in at 15.723 seconds. Local racer Ron Davies of Warren was second with a 15.948.
Heat winners were Blankenship, Dan Stone, Scott Bloomquist and Chub Frank.
Lucas Oil points leader Jimmy Owens had to win his consolation event to qualify for the main event and Randy Lobb was also a consolation race winner.
Blakenship led every lap of the Empire 50, but had to hold off Knight's late charge to get the job done. Rounding out the top ten were Dave Hess Jr., Frank, Bloomquist, Don O'Neal, Jonathan Davenport, Owens, Jared Landers and Davies.
E-Mod heats were won by Kyle Bedell, Chad Ruhlman, Steve Dixon, Richard Michael Jr. and Davies.
Joel Watson won the first consolation race and Vic Vena the second prior to the 25-lap E-Mod main event.
There, Clymer, N.Y.'s Brett Rhebergen held off a charging Michael Jr. to win the race and claim the $1,000 top prize.
A near record crowd was on hand for the event.
Here are the complete results from Tuesday's event:
Time Trials
Group A: Tyler Reddick 15.723, Ron Davies 15.948, John Blankenship 15.970, Dan Stone 16.050, Steve Francis 16.080, Ricky Elliott 16.174, Bump Hedman 16.212, Jimmy Owens 16.214, Greg Satterlee 16.238, Rob Blair 16.253, John Lobb 16.290, Jared Landers 16.384, Jason DuPont 16.395, Boom Briggs 16.507, Dutch Davies 16.566, Brent Rhebergen 16.665, Greg Oakes 16.764, Dick Barton 16.935, Jordan Eck 17.346
Group B: Scott Bloomquist 16.087, Jonathan Davenport 16.118, Mike Knight 16.175, Chub Frank 16.371, Earl Pearson Jr. 16.371, Eric Wells 16.376, Don O'Neal 16.378, Dave Hess Jr. 16.504, Doug Eck 16.511, Darrell Bossard 16.518, David Scott 16.553, Scott Gurdak 16.564, Rich Gardner 16.645, Randy Lobb 16.654, Chad Valone 16.667, Andy Boozel 16.712, Chris Hackett 16.726, George LaBarbara 16.958
Super Late Models
Heat 1: John Blankenship, Tyler Reddick, Steve Francis, Greg Satterlee, Jason Dupont Cyclone
Heat 2: Dan Stone, Ron Davies Warren, Ricky Elliott, Dick Barton Ashville NY, Jimmy Owens
Heat 3: Scott Bloomquist, Mike Knight Ripley NY, Earl Pearson Jr, Don O'neal, David Scott Garland
Heat 4: Chub Frank Bear Lake, Jonathan Davenport, Eric Wells, Dave Hess Jr. Waterford, Randy Lobb Jamestown NY
Consolation 1: Jimmy Owens, Jason Dupont Cyclone, Bump Hedman Sugar Grove, Robbie Blair Centerville, Dutch Davies Warren, Jared Landers, Brent Rhebergen Clymer NY, Greg Oakes Franklinville NY, Jordan Eck Corry, Boom Briggs Bear Lake, John Lobb Frewsburg NY
Consolation 2: Randy Lobb Jamestown NY, David Scott Garland, Doug Eck Corry, Andy Boozel Clymer NY, Darrell Bossard Centerville, Chad Valone Jamestown NY, Chris Hackett Jamestown NY, Scott Gurdak Bear Lake, Rich Gardner Waterford
Empire 50: John Blankenship, Mike Knight Ripley NY, Dave Hess Jr. Waterford, Chub Frank Bear Lake, Scott Bloomquist, Don O'Neal, Jonathan Davenport, Jimmy Owens, Jared Landers, Ron Davies Warren, Earl Pearson Jr, Bump Hedman Sugar Grove, Ricky Elliott, Eric Wells, Tyler Reddick, Steve Francis, Randy Lobb Jamestown NY, Rich Gardner Waterford, Greg Satterlee, Dick Barton Ashville NY, Dan Stone , Doug Eck Corry, David Scott Garland, Robbie Blair Centerville, Jason Dupont Cyclone
UEMS E-Mods
Heat 1: Kyle Bedell Little Valley NY, Dan Davies Warren, John Boardman Jamestown NY, John Boyd Waterford, John Woodward Jr. Franklinville NY
Heat 2: Chad Ruhlman Bemus Point NY, Randy Hall Olean NY, Scott Gurdak Bear Lake, Carl McKinney Mars, Tim Walden Bear Lake
Heat 3: Steve Dixon, Mike McGee Mayville NY, Ron Seeley Youngsville, Joel Watson Conneaut OH, Cale Crocker Pittsfield
Heat 4: Richard Michael Jr. Ischua NY, David Shagla Jr. Sugar Grove, Butch Southwell Warren, Vic Vena Shinglehouse, Mike Eschrich Mt. Jewett
Heat 5: Ron Davies Warren, Brent Rhebergen Clymer NY, Al Brewer Belfast NY, Nathan Hill East Otto NY, Leonard Enos Russell
Consolation 1: Joel Watson Conneaut OH, John Boyd Waterford, Shane Crotty Corry, Alex Froman Ashville NY, Greg Johnson Jamestown NY, Brian Fardink Sherman NY, Tim Walden Bear Lake, Steve Rosenberger Jr. Erie, Dan Sasso Forestville NY, Nathan Hill East Otto NY
Consolation 2: Vic Vena Shinglehouse, Carl McKinney Mars, Ben Asel Kane, Cale Crocker Pittsfield, Jaben Hill Cattaraugus NY, John Woodward Jr. Franklinville NY, Steve Rex Youngsville, Clint Brady Frewsburg NY, Leonard Enos Russell, Darren Tarabori Galeton
Feature: Brent Rhebergen Clymer NY, Richard Michael Jr. Ischua NY, Steve Dixon, Kyle Bedell Little Valley NY, Dan Davies Warren, Randy Hall Olean NY, Joel Watson Conneaut OH, Butch Southwell Warren, Carl McKinney Mars, Mike Kinney Ashtabula