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For Kris Jackson, Lucas Oil Speedway B-Mod Clash of Champions a chance to take on all comers on home dirt

By Lyndal Scranton (Wheatland, MO) -- Lucas Oil Speedway has long been known for its large fields and top quality when it comes to Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mod racing. This weekend, that's even going to be kicked up a few more notches.

The inaugural B-Mod Clash of Champions will bring together the best of the locals against some top out-of-state invaders, with $3,000 up for grabs to the winner of Saturday night's 40-lap feature.

PHOTO CREDIT: Kenny Shaw photo

For Kris Jackson, a former Lucas Oil Speedway track champion and six-time feature winner at the speedway in 2018, it's a much-anticipated event. Jackson, of Lebanon, Missouri, also is the USRA B-Mod national points leader.

"It's going to bring in a lot of cars to give us a lot more competition," Jackson said. "It's going to be stout, with a lot of really good cars from up north. There are some people I've met and raced with from up there and I can't wait for them to try out this track."

The B-Mod Clash of Champions will pit USRA Mods vs. IMCA Northern Sport Mods. The 5th annual Lucas Oil MLRA Fall Nationals will run in conjunction with the event, which kicks off with an open practice from 6-9 p.m. Thursday night.

Jackson and other local standouts included 2018 track champion JC Morton and 2017 champ Andy Bryant will be among those defending the home dirt in the B-Mod action. Jackson noted that brothers Parker and Jackson Hale from Grand Meadow, Minnesota, along with Shaun Walski of Rollingstone, Minnesota, will be drivers to deal with.

"Parker is fast and Walski is a frontrunner at Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Wisconsin," Jackson said. "He's a pretty well-funded team and he'll be hard to beat. Those are a couple of standouts."

But when it comes to standouts, Jackson has been at the top of the list in 2018 with 26 victories in 45 USRA starts. He has an eye-popping 41 top-five finishes while building a 104-point lead over Iowa's Dan Hovden in the USRA championship chase.

"This is the best year we've ever had," Jackson said. "We've won all the big-money shows we've went to, except for one (in Wisconsin) when we broke a U joint. We've been real fortunate."

Jackson said the key to his winning and consistency has been "really good help."

"My car doesn't want for much," Jackson added. "I have really good sponsors and they keep me in good parts. I don't get all my money at one time, I get it spread throughout the year so I'm never running on a shoestring budget like I used to.

"With the bigger wins we've had, we've been able to keep better stuff and newer tires. And (Jim) Ruble keeps us with a good power plant and that's a key. We're just fortunate."

This weekend's format is a little different for the B-Mods. Passing points from two rounds of heat races on Friday night will set the first 14 starting positions for Saturday's feature. The remainder of the main-event field will come from Saturday-night preliminary action.

Jackson said he hasn't studied the qualifying format and didn't seem concerned because it's the same for everyone.

"If they tell me to run two heat races or race to the end of the parking lot and back, that's what I'm gonna do," he said.

Should rain postpone Saturday's action, Sunday is the rain date.

Event schedule:
Thursday
Open practice for MLRA Late Models and B-Mods - 6-9 p.m. (Live music in Diamond Bar 8-midnight)

Friday
Gates open - 4 p.m.
Hot laps - 6:30 p.m.
Opening ceremonies - 7 p.m.
(Two rounds of B-Mod heat races. Following the second round, the top 14 drivers in passing points will be locked into Saturday night's A Feature. A full Lucas Oil MLRA program will be held)

Saturday
Gates open - 4 p.m.
Hot laps - 6:30 p.m.
7 p.m. - Opening ceremonies
("Alphabet" Mains will be held for the B-Mods with the top 10 out of the B-Main advancing to the 40-lap A-Main headliner. Another full Lucas Oil MLRA program will be held and a season champion determined).

Admission prices
Thursday
Grandstands (all ages) FREE
Pit pass $25

Friday
Adults (16 and over) $15
Seniors (62 and over)/Military $12
Youth (ages 6-15) $5
Kids (5 and under) FREE
Family pass $30
Pit pass $35

Saturday
Adults (16 and over) $20
Seniors (62 and over)/Military $17
Youth (ages 6-15) $10
Kids (5 and under) FREE
Family pass $40
Pit pass $40

For ticket information on all events at Lucas Oil Speedway in 2018, contact Admission Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or by email at nichole@LucasOilSpeedway.com. Fans also can go online to purchase tickets for any event on the 2018 schedule.

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