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Lucas Oil Speedway Spotlight: After early season off-track misfortune, Middaugh on a roll in USRA Modifieds

WHEATLAND, MO. (May 11, 2023) - Considering where Ryan Middaugh and his team were in the pre-dawn hours of March 18th - on the side of the highway in central Missouri, their truck and trailer totaled - things are going amazing well on the track so far in the 2023 racing season.

It was on the drive home to Fulton after a disappointing night at Tulsa Speedway when a strong wind gust sent the vehicles off the road and into a ditch, jolting the occupants but amazingly not injuring anyone. The truck and trailer were not as fortunate, declared as totaled. Tires, tools and other equipment were strewn inside the trailer with the USRA Modified, already dinged from the race a few hours prior.

"It beat the car to heck," Middaugh said. "Fortunately we had some good friends come down and pick up the car. I figured our season was gonna be way behind after that, but we pushed ahead and got the car fixed that week and borrowed a trailer and we were at Wheatland that next Saturday."

One feature win and three top-five finishes later, Middaugh leads Lucas Oil Speedway's Cedar Creek Beef Jerky USRA Modified points. Including three feature wins at his hometown Callaway Speedway, he's also atop the most-recent USRA Modified National standings.

Middaugh will be looking to protect his Cedar Creek Beef Jerky USRA Modified lead on Saturday night as the Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series resumes. Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:05.

While he's ready to put the highway accident in the rear-view mirror, Middaugh's ability to overcome the adversity has been impressive. He had to borrow trailers to make it to the track as insurance claims were sorted out before purchasing a new toter and trailer.

"I've not been home a lot since, trying to get everything sorted back out," Middaugh said. "My family has been super understanding. We persevered and kept pushing through it."

And in the bigger overall picture, he's simply thankful no one was hurt in the accident, which occurred around 4 a.m. as the group traveled through the Lake of the Ozarks area.

"Dad, my crew guy Randy and his wife were sleeping in the back on couches," Middaugh said. "They wound up on the floor. We got some pretty good air time hitting that ditch. It ripped back door of the trailer off. Fortunately everybody was OK."

Middaugh gave shout-outs to Jordan Martin, his cousin and a B-Mod racer, along with former B-Mod competitor Jason Watson for loaning his trailers to get him through a one-month period before he located a trailer. Just before his April 22 victory at Wheatland, he made a trip to West Virginia for a replacement truck.

Now he's looking for normalcy, the chance to focus solely on winning races and perhaps chasing down his first Lucas Oil Speedway track championship.

“We’ll keep plugging away, taking it race by race," Middaugh said. "If you start points racing, you’re not gonna be at your full potential. We’re just gonna go out and try to win every race and ultimately put ourselves in position. A championship at Lucas is one of our goals. We have several good guys we’re going up against. Hopefully we can be there at the end.”

Middaugh takes a 13-point lead over two-time Lucas Oil Speedway track champion Robbie Reed into Saturday's action.

Hermitage Lumber Late Model drivers will shoot for a $1,000 first prize in a 25-lap feature to headline Saturday night's action. They'll also run for bonus money in the heat races ($100 for first, $75 for second, $50 third and $25 fourth) thanks to sponsors Wosoba Trucking & Seed, Reed Environmental and Dirt Track Specialist.

Round 5 of the Weekly Racing Series is Vietti Marketing Group Night at the Races and all Mothers will be admitted free to celebrate Mother's Day Weekend.

The Cedar Creek Beef Jerky USRA Modifieds, Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mods and O'Reilly Auto Parts USRA Stock Cars also will be in action. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. with grandstands at 5. Hot laps are set for 6:30 p.m. with racing getting underway at 7:05.

Kids' Power Wheel races: An added attraction during intermission will be the third round of Kids' Power Wheel races of the season. For ages 3-through-9, the races will be on the front straightaway with the youngsters navigating a course outlined by orange cones.

The kids can enter their own battery-powered Power Wheel cars by signing up for the Frogs Jr. Fan Club on the south end of the Midway prior to the races. Other Kids Power Wheel nights are scheduled for June 17, July 29 and Aug. 26 when a mini-season-champion will crowned along with the four regular Weekly Racing Series classes.

One Kids Power Wheel class will be the 6-12 volt cars and another will be for the 24-36 volt class. No power or speed enhancement modifications will be allowed.
The youngsters can bring their Power Wheels to the Frogs Jr Fan Club sign-in, or drop them off at the pit gate and the Power Wheels will be brought to the front stretch at intermission.

Dirt Track Admission:
(FREE with Drag Boat ticket or two-day drag boat admission)
(All Mothers FREE for Mother's Day courtesy Vietti Marketing Group Night at the Races)
Advance Discount Tickets online only (16 and up) - $12
Adults (16 and up) - $15
Seniors (62 and up)/Military - $12
Youth (6-15) $5
Kids (5 and under) - FREE
Family Pass - $35
Pit Pass - $35

KDBA Spring Opener on Lake Lucas: Earlier on Saturday, some of the world's fastest boats return for the Kentucky Drag Boat Association-sanctioned KDBA Spring Opener on Lake Lucas. Ten divisions, headlined by the 200 miles-per-hour Top Alcohol Hydro boats, will be in action competing for a minimum prize purse of $33,200.

Action fires up on Saturday with qualifying and continues with eliminations throughout the day on Sunday. Gates open at 8 a.m. with racing tentatively set for 9 a.m. both days.

Drag boat tickets on Saturday or those with two-day passes will be admitted free to the Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series action on the dirt track Saturday night.

For more information on the Kentucky Drag Boat Association, including full schedule, points and entry information, click KDBA.net.

Drag Boat Saturday Admission:
(All tickets include access to the Drag Boat pit area)
Adults GA/Pit Pass combo (16 and up) - $25
Seniors (62 and up)/Military GA/Pit Pass combo (62 and up) - $22
Youth GA/Pit Pass combo (age 6 to 15) - $10
Kids GA/Pit Pass combo (age 5 and under) - FREE
Family Pass GA/Pit Pass combo - $60 (includes admission for two adults and up to three kids ages 6-15)
Adult 2-Day GA/Pit Pass combo - $40
Seniors (62 and up)/Military 2-Day GA/Pit Pass combo - $34
Youth Ages (6-15) 2-Day GA/Pit Pass Combo -$15
(All Saturday and 2-Day tickets include entry to the Dirt Track Event on Saturday night)

Drag Boat Sunday Admission:
(All tickets include access to the Drag Boat pit area)
Adults GA/Pit Pass combo (16 and up) - $15
Seniors (62 and up)/Military GA/Pit Pass combo (62 and up) - $12
Youth GA/Pit Pass combo (age 6 to 15) - $5
Family Pass GA/Pit Pass Combo = $35 (Includes admission for two adults and up to three kids ages 6-15)
Kids GA/Pit Pass combo (age 5 and under) - FREE

SRX tickets remain on sale: General admission tickets for the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) race scheduled for Aug. 17 at Lucas Oil Speedway remain on sale. Some of the biggest names in racing will be on hand as the SRX Thursday Night Thunder event will be the finale in the six-race series.

Drivers announced for the Wheatland event include Tony Stewart, Kenny Wallace, Hailie Deegan, Brad Keselowski, Bobby Labonte, Ryan Newman, Helio Castroneves, Clint Bowyer, reigning SRX Champion Marco Andretti, Paul Tracy and Ryan Hunter-Reay.

Tickets for the SRX event are $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/ Pit passes are $50 and must be purchased the day of the event.

For information about any event at Lucas Oil Speedway in 2023 contact admissions director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or email her at nichole@lucasoilspeedway.com for more information.

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. 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, Dirt Track Specialist, Dixie Chopper, Eagle Vision Paving LLC, 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, KC Bobcat, Kettle Treats, Keyser Manufacturing, Kluhsman Racing Components, Kona Ice, Lucas Cattle Company, MD3, 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, Pomme de Terre Resort, ProThings Apparel, RACEceiver, Racinboys.com, RacinDirt.com, RacingJunk.com, Rains Ice Company, Real Racing Wheels, Reed Environmental, Rod End Supply, Ron Jenkins Accounting & Tax Service, Rugged Radios, Ryan E. Murphy Law Firm LLC, SBU Athletics, Safety Kleen, Scott Furniture, Sidetrack RV Park, 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, Wasoba Seed & Trucking, Wheatland Motel, White's Marine Center, Wieland, Wild Animal Safari, Woods Supermarkets.

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