4/4/2019
RacinBoys
As new Lucas Oil Speedway season begins: 12 things to know
By Lyndal Scranton (Wheatland, MO) -- As a new Lucas Oil Speedway season begins on Saturday night, with the Big RV Weekly Racing Series opener, here's a checklist of "12 Things to Know" over the next seven months:
Champions come from here: To call Lucas Oil Speedway the launching pad for champions is not an exaggeration. Last year, Lucas Oil Speedway regulars Darron Fuqua (Pitts Homes USRA Modifieds) and Kris Jackson (Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mods) both used strong seasons at the speedway as springboards to USRA National Championships. In 2016, JC Morton won both the B-Mod track title and USRA national crown.
Get connected like never before: Further enhancing the Lucas Oil Speedway experience, fans will be able to enjoy free, open wireless internet this season. The access also will enable those who sign up for MyRacePass - drivers, crew or fans - to get hot-lap speeds, race lineups and live scoring throughout the evening.
ULMA Late Models to the wire: The last two years, the Warsaw Auto Marine & RV ULMA Late Model championship chase has gone to the final lap of the final night of the regular season. Look for more of the same in 2019 with two-time reigning champion Johnny Fennewald seeking a three-peat. Former champ Aaron Marrant and young Kaeden Cornell both finished just seven points behind Fennewald in 2018.
Show-Me 100 a showcase: Always a highlight event, the 27th Show-Me 100 Presented by ProtecttheHarvest.com is set for May 23-25. The stars of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and Lucas Oil MLRA will go after the $30,000-to-win top prize on Saturday night after a pair of $6,000-to-win preliminary features on Thursday (the Cowboy Classic) and Friday (Tribute to Don and Billie Gibson). The USRA Modifieds will have full programs as well all three nights as the entire event again is live on MAVTV Motorsports Network and LucasOilRacing.TV.
MLRA champ will be crowned: Lucas Oil Speedway again is home base for the Lucas Oil MLRA Series, with five events coming to the track this season including the Show-Me 100 weekend and 13th annual CMH Diamond Nationals on July 13. The 2019 MLRA champion will be crowned on Oct. 12 at the conclusion of Night 2 of the 6th annual MLRA Fall Nationals. First up is the 6th annual MLRA Spring Nationals Presented by RacingJunk.com on April 12-13.
Street Stocks set for battle: David Hendrix rode a six-race winning streak to the season title for the always-popular O'Reilly Auto Parts Street Stocks last season. One of Hendrix's main challengers, Brian Schutt, announced he's retiring from full-time racing, but look for 2017 champion Toby Ott to give Hendrix a battle. Also, the Street Stocks get special attention with the 6th annual Big Buck 50 Presented by Whitetail Trophy Hunt, Oct. 3-5. The winner of the 50-lap feature on the final night takes home $10,000 plus an entry into the prestigious mid-Missouri Whitetail Trophy Hunt.
High-flying Lucas Oil Off Road returns: Since it debuted at Lucas Oil Speedway in 2017, the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series has become a fan favorite, with big crowds flocking to the 1.2-mile road course. Look for more fender-banging and high-flying at the 3rd annual GEICO Off Road Shootout Presented by General Tire, June 28-30. Make it a doubleheader on Saturday, June 29 with the Off Road action during the day time and a Big Adventure Weekly Racing Series program on the dirt oval at night.
Open Wheel major in the Fall: In what's become one of the majors for open-wheel racing, the Sept. 19-21 Jesse Hockett/Daniel McMillin Memorial features the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series National Tour bringing Winged Sprint Car Drivers in the country to battle for a $10,000 final-night feature win. The POWRi Lucas Oil WAR Sprints will also be running in memory of legendary Missouri driver Jesse Hockett and his crew chief, Daniel McMillin.
Best of the Modified best: It's always a must-see when the United States Modified Touring Series pays its yearly visit, with the 10th annual USMTS Slick Mist Show-Me Shootout Presented by Foley Equipment set for Aug. 3. Last year's feature was the Lucas Oil Speedway Race of the Year, seeing a four-way battle for the lead in the late going before Stormy Scott emerged as the winner.
Hang on for pro bull riding: There's more than motorsports at Lucas Oil Speedway. The Lucas Oil Invitational Pro Bull Ride Presented by ProtecttheHarvest.com is returning, on June 21-22 at the dirt track. The Amped Up Pro Bull Tour provides award-winning bulls and champion riders for two nights of excitement and thrills.
Pulling Power on display: The raw power of the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League returns on Sept. 13-14 for a two-night show. Classes in action tentatively include the Light Weight Super Stock Tractors, Mini Rod Tractors, Limited Pro Stock Diesel Trucks and Limited Pro Stock Tractors.
An "Eve of Destruction" for the capper: A bigger, more spectacular season-ending event is set for Oct. 19. It's the O'Reilly Auto Parts Outlaw Nationals 'Eve of Destruction' with eight of the nation's top Monster Trucks plus the 36,000-horsepower jet truck 'Shockwave' set to wow a big crowd.
The Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series opener on Saturday will find the Warsaw Auto Marine & RV ULMA Late Models in the spotlight with a 25-lap, $1,000-to-win feature courtesy of Hickamo County Store.
Opening night will see the Warsaw Auto Marine & RV ULMA Late Models featured in a $1,000-to-win, 25-lap main event. Also in action will be the Pitts Homes USRA Modifieds, O'Reilly Auto Parts Street Stocks and Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mods.
Gates will open at 4 p.m with hot laps at 6:30 p.m. and opening ceremonies at 7:05.
Admission prices:
Adults (16 and over) $12
Seniors (62 and over)/Military $9
Youth (ages 6-15) $5
Kids (5 and under) FREE
Family pass $30
Pit pass $30
To inquire about tickets, VIP suites or camping, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or via email at Nichole@LucasOilSpeedway.com.
Submitted By: Kirk Elliott
