BUFFALO TWP — One thing can be said about Jimmy Owens' first career win at Lernerville Speedway.

He earned it.

The Newport, Tenn, driver of the No. 20 Late Model started on the pole for the feature on the second night of the Firecracker 100 weekend and led the 30-lap feature from wire to wire. Owens picked up his eight career WoO victory and a $6,000 check for his efforts.

“It's difficult staying ahead of a field of cars of this caliber all the way like that,” Owens said. “I mean, it's the best of the best out there.”

Owens was pushed hard by fellow Tennessee driver Scott Bloomquist for the final few laps. Bloomquist started alongside Owens on the front row and stayed in second throughout.

In each of the final five laps, Bloomquist tried getting round Owens by taking the low side off Turn 4. On each occasion, Owens was able to seal him off.

“I felt him alongside me coming off Turn 2 a couple of times,” Owens said. “I knew he was there. I felt like I could use the whole racetrack, but I was comfortable up on that top groove.

“We never got into lapped traffic. The cautions helped me there. I don't know who would have better had we gotten into the lapped cars. Maybe I could have maneuvered through there. We'll never know.”

Owens nearly lost the lead by driver error on the 20th lap. He came into Turn 2 too high and barely avoided going over the bank.

The bobble enabled Bloomquist to get right on top of him for the remainder of the race.

“My two rear tires were over the edge,” Owens said.”It was close. I started looking for a caution flag.”

The feature had cautions on laps 12 and 25. On both occasions, the race leaders were just behind the tail of the field.

Jared Miley of South Park, who won one of the B-Mains to qualify for the feature, got involved in a wreck with Mason Ziegler on the front straightaway to bring out the first caution.

Both cars had to be towed from the track. Miley's front end suffered extensive damage.

Lernerville regular Russ King, who made the feature by finishing third in his heat race, spun in Turn 2 to bring out the caution on Lap 25.

Owens finished third in Thursday's feature. Bloomquist, a two-time Firecracker 100 winner, finished second for the successive night — and didn't seem to mind.

“My car was getting better with more laps and his (Owens) was getting worse,” Bloomquist said. “This car is so close. In a 100-lapper, I like my chances.”

Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., started seventh and finished third.

“For me, it was probably driveability,” McCreadie said. “The car got a little too tight.

“Still, we made progress from last night to tonight, from the heat race to the feature. If we make the same sort of progress Saturday, we'll be OK.”

John Garvin Jr. of Sarver was the highest finishing local driver, taking 15th. He was also the fastest qualifier of the night in time trials, turning a lap in 16.849 seconds. That same time would have been ninth-best Thursday.

“The track was different tonight,” Garvin said. “I'm not that surprised I had the fastest time because we drew a good pill. It was good to be one of the first cars on the track.

“The car is good. Now I have to go out and put 10 laps together.”

Garvin qualified for the feature by finishing third in his heat.

The top three finishers in each heat advanced to the feature.