2/23/2023
Lucas Oil Speedway
Lucas Oil Speedway Preseason Spotlight: Brill may start late, but looks to build on USRA Modified success
WHEATLAND, MO. (Feb. 23, 2023) - After spending more than a decade driving B-Mods, Cody Brill expanded into the USRA Modified division last season and made a quick impact.
But before following up on his solid fourth-place finish in Lucas Oil Speedway’s Cedar Creek Beef Jerky USRA Modified points in 2022, Brill likely will get a late start behind the wheel.
Business for his Harrisonville-based Brilliant Grafix is booming. Brill said he has about 25 race cars to wrap along with other commercial business lined up. He's barely touched his race cars since the USRA Nationals last October.
“I figure I won’t do a ton of racing until the middle of May,” Brill said. “I haven’t had much of a break to work on the cars this winter. I’ve needed to make sure my customers are happy.”
Once he does get going, Brill will have to figure out if he wants to focus on the B-Mod that he owns, the Modified he drives for his father-in-law or both.
An early season crash that tore up the B-Mod last spring led to him spending most of 2022 in the other car. He responded with three top-five finishes and 11 top-10s in 14 Lucas Oil Speedway USRA Modified events. Brill wound up behind champion Dillon McCowan, runner-up Dustin Hodges and third-place Jason Pursley in the points. Pretty good company for someone without USRA Modified experience.
“I didn’t have any expectations going into last year with the A Mod, being I only ran nationals the year before with it,” Brill said. “We were running a crate motor, so we were a little under-powered to start the year. But, we switched with two points races left and it kind of set things back a little bit.
“Getting a bigger motor, you have to change some things and I wasn’t used to all that power.”
Overall, he said he probably overachieved, considering it was his first season in the class. Of course, like most race drivers, he always wanted better results.
“I got a little disappointed when I finished third and fourth for a couple of weeks,” he said. “After that I couldn’t find closer than sixth or seventh the rest of the year. I kind of wanted third and fourth after that.”
Brill said he hopes to continue improving in the Modified this season, but he has to figure out his schedule.
“My father-in-law is the car owner and he’s saying this is his last year,” Brill said. “I may have to take a little step back this season in the A Mod.”
Brill, 29, got his start in racing about 18 years ago in a go-kart that his dad bought off eBay. A few years later, he said he was grounded by his parents from racing one weekend, but he and his dad went looking at a B-mod that was for sale and purchased it.
“I’ve been in B-Mod primarily from then up until last year,” he said.
As for goals in 2023, considering the delayed start, Brill said he would like to get a Modified feature win and “get a win at Lucas, whether it’s in the A Mod or B Mod. I’d probably have a better chance in the A Mod. It’s stiff competition with the B-Mods.”
Asked if he’s going to miss racing when the season begins in late March, Brill said “100 percent.”
“As soon as everybody else starts to have fun, I’m gonna get to work on my cars and get ‘em ready,” he said. “I don’t mind the offseason to take a little break, but when everybody else gets back out there and starts to have fun, I don’t want them to have fun without me.”
Brill’s crew includes his dad, Todd Brill, along with engine builder Todd Rew plus Bobby Firestone, Eli Vogt and Mateo Medrano.
Along with his own Brilliant Grafix business, he’s sponsored by Badder Motorsports, W. Brown Trucking, Base Race Fuel, Blue Springs Truck Line, Stafford-Leavitt Insurance, AGP, Regents Flooring, DWM, CHT, Stafford Race Reams, HBJ Chassis (B-Mod) and Rage Chassis (USRA Mod).
Season openers nearing: Lucas Oil Speedway's schedule begins with an open Test and Tune set for March 18 from 2-6 p.m.. The Big Adventure Weekly Racing Series Weekly Opener kicks off the season on March 25. Classes in action include the Hermitage Lumber Late Models, Cedar Creek Beef Jerky USRA Modifieds, O'Reilly Auto Parts USRA Stock Cars, and the Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mods. The Hermitage Lumber Late Models will be running a special 25-lap $1,000-to-win featured event.
Show-Me 100 3-day passes on sale: Reserved seats for Lucas Oil Speedway's signature event, the 31st annual Show-Me 100 are now on sale to the general public. The three-day, reserved seats had previously been available only for renewals.
The Show-Me 100, featuring the stars of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and Lucas Oil MLRA, is set for May 25-27. The three-day passes are $115 and can be purchased through the Lucas Oil Speedway office by calling Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or email her at nichole@lucasoilspeedway.com for more information.
Each pass is for one reserved stadium-style seat, complete with high backs and armrests located in the top six rows of the main grandstand.
SRX tickets also on sale: General admission tickets for the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) race at Lucas Oil Speedway, scheduled for Aug. 17th, remain on sale. The SRX Thursday Night Thunder event will be the finale in the six-race series, which features some of racing's biggest names.
Those already confirmed for the race at Lucas Oil Speedway include former NASCAR Cup Series champions Bobby Labonte and Brad Keselowski, retired NASCAR stars Clint Bowyer and Ryan Newman, former NASCAR racer and renowned dirt Modified driver Kenny Wallace, four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves and NASCAR Truck Series regular Hailie Deegan.
Tickets for the SRX event will be $35 in advance and $40 at the gate (ages 16 and over). Kids (ages 6-15) will be $20 with ages 5-and-under free. Advance tickets can now be purchased via Stubwire - https://www.stubwire.com/event/srxespnthursdaynightthunder/lucasoilspeedway/wheatland/28075/
CONTACT:
Danny Lorton
Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager
Office: (417) 282-5984
DLorton@lucasoilspeedway.com
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. The Lucas Oil Speedway EZ Texting number is (417) 804-4141.
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 12th season for the Liquid Quarter Mile Drag Racing Lake, "Lake Lucas." New for 2017 was all-purpose built Off Road facility featuring a host of 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 Late Models, USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars and USRA B-Mods.
2023 Official Lucas Oil Speedway Marketing Partners
Arizona Sport Shirts
"The Official Merchandise Provider" of Lucas Oil Speedway
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
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
Summit Racing Equipment
"The Official Sponsor" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Sunoco Race Fuels
"The Official Fuel" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Super Clean
"The Official Sponsor" of Lucas Oil Speedway
2023 Lucas Oil Speedway Supporters Include:
AM Pyrotechnics, Alliance Sport Marketing, Arctic Food Equipment, Arizona Sport Shirts, 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, Cedar Creek Beef Jerky, Citizens Memorial Healthcare, City Magnet, Clearlight Inn, Comfort Inn-Bolivar, Dixie Chopper, Eibach Springs, Farmers Insurance Agent Kristy Reynolds, Fast Shafts by Axle Exchange, Foley Equipment-Cat Rental Store, Frog Signs, Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare, Hermitage Lumber, HICKAMO Country Store, Hobbytime Motorsports, Impact Signs Awnings Wraps, In the Garden of Eden, Kettle Treats, Keyser Manufacturing, Kluhsman Racing Components, Kona Ice, Lucas Cattle Company, Midwest Sheet Metal, Miller Welding, Missouri Division of Tourism, MyRacePass, Nutrien Ag Solutions, OakStar Bank, O'Bannon Bank, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Ozark Golf Cars, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper, Ozarks Community Health Center, PEM, 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, Scott Furniture, Simpson Racing Products, Southwest Electric Cooperative, State Tech, Stillwater Resort, Summit Racing Equipment, Sunoco Race Fuels, US Army Corps of Engineers-Pomme de Terre, Vietti Marketing Group, Wheatland Motel, White's Marine Center, Wieland, Wild Animal Safari, Woods Supermarkets.
Article Credit: By Lyndal Scranton, Lucas Oil Speedway
