Don O’Neal
The biggest news of the 2015 Dirt Late Model ‘silly season’ so far has no doubt been the shakeup at Clint Bowyer Racing. The North Carolina based team owned by the NASCAR Sprint Cup star announced last week that it would bring in former World of Outlaws Late Models champion Darrell Lanigan to pilot its No. 15 car in place of veteran racer Steve Francis.
Further, Lanigan will bring his Club 29 brand of chassis to replace Barry Wright Race Cars in the Bowyer stable. The team will continue to race on the LOLMDS tour as well as other major events in 2016.
CBR will retain the services of 2014 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series champion Don O’Neal to drive its No. 5 machine. And that driver is already looking forward to the upcoming changes.
“Well, you’re sad in one way and excited in another way,” O’Neal explained in an interview with InsideDirtRacing.com. “We had a great couple of years with Barry Wright Race Cars but we’re looking to go forward now with that Club 29 and my new teammate Darrell. I can’t wait to get started.”
O’Neal believes the pairing with Lanigan will be a strong one because of the similarities the two championship winning drivers share on the track. Coming off his title winning season in 2014, the driver known as ‘The Real Deal’ has managed only one victory so far in 2015. He believes his new situation can improve that statistic.
Darrell Lanigan
“I really do think we drive a lot alike and I really think them cars are going to suit me well,” O’Neal declared. “Time will tell here but hopefully we’ll head into Charlotte with them and see what happens there.”
Two years ago, the 51-year-old native of Martinsville, Indiana made the switch from driving the MasterSbilt house car to the BWRC machines owned by Bowyer and immediately found success. For that reason, O’Neal believes this transition will be a smooth one.
“After a few laps, you know, it’s a race car and they’re all built out of the same stuff,” he declared. “But yeah, we’re going to go test in them and get me a few laps before we go to Charlotte, which will be good.”
NASCAR teams are noted for their sharing of information between members within same organization. With Bowyer’s background in that form of racing, his teams also work under the same principle.
O’Neal insists that such sharing will only serve to benefit CBR’s efforts on dirt.
“Oh, I guarantee it, especially when teammates work together. It’s really big, even in dirt racing. I’m looking forward to working with Darrell and see if we can’t win us another championship next year.”
O”Neal in the No. 5 CBR car
