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Lucas Oil Speedway Spotlight: Young Daison Pursley eager to continue POWRi Midget education at Open Wheel Showdown

WHEATLAND, MO. (April 21, 2021) - One of the real bummers for Daison Pursley during his 2020 racing season was the cancellation of last spring’s Impact Signs, Awnings and Wraps Open Wheel Showdown at Lucas Oil Speedway due to the pandemic.

Pursley, a 16-year-old Oklahoma native considered one of Midget-car racing’s up-and-coming stars, had been looking forward to only his second appearance at the speedway.

“Going to Lucas Oil Speedway is definitely cool. It’s one of the nicest facilities that we go to,” Pursley said. “Not being able to go there last year with POWRi was terrible. Going there (this weekend) for my second time, in my third year of running in the Midgets, I feel like we’ll go in with a lot of confidence and I look forward to it.”

Pursley, who drives for the legendary Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports team, will be part of the 10th annual Impact Signs, Awnings and Wraps Open Wheel Showdown on Saturday night. Along with the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series, action will include the RacinBoys ASCS Warrior Region presented by Impact, Signs, Awnings and Wraps and the American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region presented by Smiley's Racing Products and the POWRi Lucas Oil WAR Sprints.

Pursley already has six feature wins in 2021, including a pair in his non-wing outlaw. He also has a second place and one third in the POWRi National Midget Series and enters the weekend tied for the lead in points with teammate Buddy Kofoid.

“It’s been really, really good,” Pursley said of his start to the season. “Me and Buddy were up on the podium the first three races. I haven’t clicked off that first POWRi win yet, but hopefully this weekend the rain stays away and we’ll have a shot at it.”

Even though he’s only 16, Pursley is now the most-tenured member of Kunz’s powerhouse driver roster. He called that fact “crazy to think about. To be able to run for them three years now is something I’ll cherish forever and hopefully I’ll continue to have a little more success and build off that.”

Pursley, from Locust Grove, Oklahoma, grew up around racing as his father and uncle both raced. Daison became a big winner in the micro cars and went on to win the 2016 and 2017 Midwest NOW600 USAC championship and the 2017 USAC Restricted National Champion.

The youngster hooked up to run Midgets for Kunz as a 14-year-old, but the foundation for the pairing might have been set several years earlier when Pursley attended the Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa and first met Kunz and declared he someday would drive for him.

“Then we were able to win the USAC championship in the Micro division in 2017 and was able to go to the banquet in Indianapolis,” he said. “I walked up to him with my trophy and introduced myself again. I told him again that I was going to drive for him one day. Now here we are a couple of years later and I’m driving one of his cars.

“To drive for a legendary guy like Keith is really cool. Everyone on the team is incredible to work for. All the crew guys have driven Micros or Midgets before and to be able to go and ask them all kind of questions, it’s cool to have all that knowledge.”

As for how much he’s improved since 2019 - when he came through the B-Feature and finished 10th in the Open Wheel Showdown main event at Lucas Oil Speedway - Pursley describes his growth as “extreme.”

“I remember my first year, I felt it went really good the first 10 races then I kind of found myself in a slump,” Pursley said. “I don’t know if that was part of the learning process or what-not, but I felt my first handful of races went really good. I was only old enough to run POWRi in 2019 and ran POWRi and knew some of the tracks from running Micros and we were able to pick off a couple of good finishes. We ran like fourth in points. Our first year went good.

“Last year, my first full season of USAC Midgets and POWRi, I didn’t really get the full-feel of it because of Covid,” he added. “We were able to knock off a couple of solid top-5s in USAC and to get our first win in POWRi late last year was something that I’ll remember forever.”

Anyone who is selected to drive for Kunz knows of the inevitable comparisons to other young stars who came before them who advanced to NASCAR. That fact is not lost upon Pursley and he admits that he sometimes dreams of following a similar path.

“I definitely want to keep my focus on what’s ahead and focus on this season of course, but I really can’t tell you where my career is headed,” Pursley said. “I hope it’s to the Cup side. I feel like that’s my dream and to be able to hooked up with Keith Kunz and Toyota, it’s a blessing to be able to do that.

“To watch Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell on Sundays, after racing where I am today after only a few years ago, it’s definitely a goal of mine and a dream.”

For Saturday's Open Wheel Showdown, gates open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 6 and racing at 7:05.

Fans can take in Saturday's action from a VIP Suite on the third level overlooking the front straightaway, as individual tickets are available priced at $50 apiece. All VIP Suite seats must be pre-paid and can be reserved by calling Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984.

The suite offers prime viewing from inside, where the temperature is climate-controlled, or an outside seating area. Food and drinks are not included in the ticket price, though a host/hostess will be available to take food and drink orders throughout the evening. Just 27 seats are available and will be filled on a first-come basis.

For ticket information for any event during the 2021 Lucas Oil Speedway season, contact McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or via email at Nichole@lucasoilspeedway.com. Fans also can use the online ticketing system.

Saturday's grandstand admission prices
Adults (16 and over) - $25
Seniors (62 and over)/Military - $22
Youth (ages 6-15) - $10
Kids (5 and under) - FREE
Family pass - $60
Pit pass - $40

Impact Signs, Awnings and Wraps is a full-service provider of signs, awnings and wraps. They have proudly served clients since 1997. With locations in Sedalia and Columbia. Impact Signs, Awnings and Wraps is able to efficiently serve a wider range of customers.

Visit impact4800.com or call 1-855-829-4800 for more information about the company.

For more information on the ASCS Warrior Region and the American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region visit ASCSRacing.com. For additional info on the POWRi Lucas Oil WAR Sprints and the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series check out POWRi.com.

CONTACT:
Danny Lorton
Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager
Office: (417) 282-5984
DLorton@lucasoilspeedway.com
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Complete Lucas Oil Speedway event information, archived race recaps, previews and driver features, along with ticket information and schedules can be found by visiting LucasOilSpeedway.com.

Lucas Oil Speedway is located at Highways 83 and 54 in Wheatland, Missouri. A campground with shower and bathroom facilities is also available. With its entrance located just outside the pit gate this sprawling scenic camping facility will continue to enhance the racing experience at the Diamond of Dirt Tracks.

Click LucasOilSpeedway.com for more information and detailed directions to the speedway or call the Track Hotline at (417) 282-5984.

In addition, fans can get social with Lucas Oil Speedway by following @LucasSpeedway on Twitter, clicking "Like" at www.facebook.com/LucasOilSpeedway and on www.youtube.com/LucasOilSpeedway

About Lucas Oil Speedway
Lucas Oil Speedway is considered by fans, drivers and industry insiders to be one of the top five racing facilities in the nation. Located in Wheatland, Missouri, approximately an hour from Springfield, Missouri, and just an hour and a half from the Kansas City metro area, the "Diamond of Dirt Tracks" lives up to its title.

Twenty-One VIP Luxury Suites, HD Jumbo-Tron Screen, Stadium Style Musco Sports Lighting, a Bose Sound System, Go-Kart Slick Track, The Diamond Bar, Track Treasures Gift Shop, the best track food in the country and paved pits are a few of the spectacular amenities setting the Diamond of Dirt apart. This year marks the ninth season for the Liquid Quarter Mile Drag Racing Lake, "Lake Lucas." New for 2017 was all-purpose built Off Road facility featuring the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series as well as a host of other regional events.

Lucas Oil Speedway's dirt oval track plays host to some of the largest and most-popular events in the Midwest with national and regional touring series appearing frequently including: The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, POWRi Midget National Series, Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League, United States Modified Touring Series, ASCS Sprint Cars and the Lucas Oil MLRA.

In addition to the special events, the Lucas Oil Speedway Weekly Racing Series features the ULMA Late Models, USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars and USRA B-Mods.

2021 Official Lucas Oil Speedway Marketing Partners

Bill Roberts Chevrolet-Buick
"The Official Truck" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Dixie Chopper
"The Official Mowers of Lucas Oil Speedway"

General Tire
"The Official Tire" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Lucas Oil Products
"The Official Oil" of Lucas Oil Speedway

MAVTV
"The Official Television Network" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Optima Batteries
"The Official Battery" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper
"The Official Soft Drink" of Lucas Oil Speedway

RacingJunk.com
"The Official Classifieds" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Rugged Radios
"The Official 2-Way Communications Provider" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Sunoco Race Fuels
"The Official Fuel" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Super Clean
"The Official Sponsor" of Lucas Oil Speedway

2021 Lucas Oil Speedway Supporters Include:
Advanced Automotive Repair, AM Pyrotechnics, Angler's Resort, Arizona Sport Shirts, Ash Grove Aggregates, Ball Tree Service, Benton County Tire, Berry Tractor and Equipment Co., Big Adventure RV, Bill Roberts Chevrolet-Buick, Bolivar Auto Sales & Detailing, Bolivar Farmers Exchange-MFA, Boone's BBQ Barn, Boubin Tire/American Racer, Branstetter & Lightfoot LLC, Bridal Cave, BWI Sanitation, Camden on the Lake Resort, Candlelight Creations-Dick's Wild Root Horseradish, Casey's General Stores, Cedar Creek Beef Jerky, Central Life Sciences, Citizens Memorial Healthcare, City Magnet, Clearlight Inn, Comfort Inn-Bolivar,DirtonDirt.com, Dixie Chopper, Eibach Springs, Evans Pipe & Steel Co., Farmers Insurance Agent Kristy Reynolds, Fast Shafts by Axle Exchange, Foley Equipment-Cat Rental Store, Frog Signs, Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare, Heritage Tractor Inc., Hermitage Lumber, HICKAMO Country Store, Highway 54 RV Park, Hobbytime Motorsports, Hoosier Race Tires, Impact Signs Awnings Wraps, In the Garden of Eden, Kettle Treats, Keyser Manufacturing, Kluhsman Racing Components, Kona Ice, LimeBank, Lucas Cattle Company, Merck Animal Health, Midwest Sheet Metal, Miller Welding, Missouri Metal Buildings, Missouri Welding Institute (MWI), MyRacePass, Nemo Quarry, NMI/VMG Marketing Group, OakStar Bank, O'Bannon Bank, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Ozark Golf Cars, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper, Ozarks Community Health Center, PFI Western Store, Pitts Homes, Pitts Realty, Pitts Cattle, ProThings Apparel, RACEceiver, Racinboys.com, RacinDirt.com, RacingJunk.com, Rains Ice Company, Real Racing Wheels, Rod End Supply, Ron Jenkins Accounting & Tax Service, Rugged Radios, Ryan E. Murphy Law Firm LLC, SBU Athletics, Safety Kleen, Schlesselman Fencing, Scott Furniture, Sidetrack RV Park, Southwest Electric Cooperative, Stillwater Resort, Stover Milling, Sunoco Race Fuels, Sunflower Resort, Superior Products, TA/PETRO, US Army Corps of Engineers-Pomme de Terre, Wheatland Motel, White's Marine Center, Wild Animal Safari, Windsor Livestock Auction, Woods Supermarkets, Wrisco Industries, ZINPRO Performance Minerals.

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