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Lucas Oil Speedway Champions Spotlight: McCowan ready to run it back after successful USRA Modified debut season

WHEATLAND, MO. (Dec. 9, 2021) - After his first full season driving a USRA Modified, Dillon McCowan is ready to do it all over again and capitalize on all he learned during a busy, grueling and successful 2021.

The soon-to-be 18-year-old from Urbana celebrated a Lucas Oil Speedway Championship in the Cedar Creek Beef Jerky USRA Modified division and was in contention for a USRA Modified national crown until the end. He earned USRA Rookie of the Year honors while settling for a fourth-place overall finish.

“It was definitely a long season, but it was good,” McCowan said this week. “It was a great learning year and very exciting to get my first A Mod track championship and just learn a lot. It was awesome.

“We wanted to try and win the track championship at Lucas and we wanted to win the USRA Rookie of the Year. We got both of those accomplished, so we were definitely happy with the year."

Following a successful debut in B Mods before testing the A Mod waters in 2020, McCowan and his team jumped into deep end of the USRA action last January at the Wild West Shootout in Arizona. They plan to open 2022 the same way, but in Vado, New Mexico this January, at the new Wild West Shootout site. The six-race series over nine nights opens on Jan. 8.

“I think we’re gonna go out West again and see how that goes,” he said. “It’s good to go out there and try to get a head start on the year. Then when we come back, we’re already getting into the swing of things. It’s great being able to go out there and get a head start.

“We’ll be out there again on my birthday, so that’ll be something to remember.”

McCowan said he envisions a similar overall schedule in 2022, but perhaps with more traveling for big Modified shows. He won three features at Lucas Oil Speedway last season and finished 70 points in front of runner-up Jason Pursley. Overall, he won 10 USRA Modified features.

“We’re still gonna race at Lucas, but try to hit some traveling shows as much as we can, maybe try to race for a USRA championship and see how it goes,” McCowan said. He credits racing against top-flight competition as helping him improve throughout the 2021 season.

“Driving-wise, I think I improved by going up against more-experienced drivers," McCowan said. "Going into it last year as a rookie, just getting to race with all those veterans, that helped me out a lot.”

But while he was an astute observer and learner, McCowan never felt any intimidation factor whether he was racing at a weekly show or in a USMTS program.

“I kind of tried to put that out of my mind and look at it as they put their racing boots on the same as I do and look at is as learning from them the best I can,” he said.

Two other highlights from 2021 saw McCowan win the fan-voted Most Popular Driver Award plus Best Appearing Race Car at Lucas Oil Speedway.

“We’re pretty excited,” McCowan said, adding with a laugh that “it only took about nine right sides” for the car to get through the season. That, and two color schemes with a white background with green trim finishing the season after going white with red and blue trim earlier.

But the look will return to a black background with green and white trim for 2022 as the team has switched to a new MB Customs car.

“We switched to the MB for one race at the end of the year and it was pretty good,” McCowan said. “The black came on this new car so we decided to run with it.”

Season passes, gift cards available: With the Christmas shopping season ready to shift into high gear, don’t forget to take care of the motorsports fan in your life with 2022 Lucas Oil Speedway Season Passes and Gift Cards.

Season passes for the 2022 season are available now for those who had them in 2021 at a $25 discount. Contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or email her at nichole@lucasoilspeedway.com for more information.

Season Pass renewal by Dec. 31:
Dirt Track: Adults (ages 16-61) ($475); Seniors (62 and over) ($375)
All-Events: Adults (ages 16-61) ($575); Seniors (62 and over) ($475)

Season Passes beginning Jan. 3, 2022:
Dirt Track: Adults (ages 16-61) $500; Seniors (62 and over) $400.
All-Events: Adults (ages 16-61) $600; Seniors (62 and over) $500.

Each season pass holder is entitled to one reserved stadium-style seat, complete with high backs and armrests located in the top six rows of the main grandstand of the dirt track.

Meanwhile, Lucas Oil Speedway Gift Cards are available in any dollar amount. Gift Cards can be used in all departments including in the pit office, camp shack, concessions, gift shop, suites and the Diamond Bar.

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

CONTACT:
Danny Lorton
Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager
Office: (417) 282-5984
DLorton@lucasoilspeedway.com
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