7/11/2024
Lucas Oil Speedway
Lucas Oil Speedway CMH Diamond Nationals Spotlight: Looney still aims high, despite part-time racing status
WHEATLAND, MO. (July 11, 2024) - No matter how much or how little Payton Looney races, he always will have a cherished trophy on his Late Model resume:
Show-Me 100 champion.
Looney scored a popular win for the home-area fans in 2020 when the Republic driver captured the Show-Me 100 at Lucas Oil Speedway, becoming only the second Missourian to bag the crown-jewel event.
He went on to lead the Lucas Oil MLRA Series championship chase most of that season before falling just short of the title. Since that time, Looney has dialed back his racing schedule, focusing on family and work commitments. Not that his passion for racing has waned when the chances arise.
Any time he goes to the track, Looney believes he can run up front. That will be no different on Saturday night when the 30-year-old enters the 18th annual CMH Diamond Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment at Lucas Oil Speedway.
"The goal never changes and if it does, I need to find a different hobby," Looney said of his desire of contending for a victory with the biggest names of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and Lucas Oil MLRA.
Achieving that goal is more challenging as a part-time competitor. Looney has run his lightly raced Capital chassis only a handful of times since trading his Show-Me 100-winning car for it last season. Luck has not been an ally in 2024 as Looney has entered three Super Late Model events and left two with mechanical issues.
Looney didn't make the Show-Me 100 starting field in May after a first-night steering issue buried him in qualifying points. Last weekend at Monett Speedway, in the new Southern Outlaw Late Model Series, he was felled by rear-end gear issues.
Last season he suited up nine times with a fourth place in the Tribute to Don and Billie Gibson, a Show-Me 100 preliminary, the highest finish. That got him into the big show, but he pulled off early and wound up 29th.
Asked how frustrating the season has been so far, Looney laughed and said, "I don't race enough to get super down."
"Yeah, it is frustrating, but hopefully we get it turned around (Saturday) at a place where we've had a lot of success in the past."
As for the gap that widens a bit more each season against those who race for a living, Looney said it's reality of the situation. That would be different if he was still keeping a regular Late Model racing schedule, but Looney is happy about where he's at in life.
He and wife Emilee are raising son Baylor (6) and daughter Elliott (4). Baylor is playing multiple sports and has a youth baseball tournament on Saturday.
"I can watch the early games before we leave for the races," he said. "The kids are good, the wife is good. We are living a good life.
"I always look forward to racing (at Wheatland) in front of friends and family. Hopefully we can have a good showing and make the race and be competitive."
Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., is defending champ of the Diamond Nationals and will be shooting for his fifth win in the $20,000-to-win event. Davenport also will be shooting for his ninth feature victory at Lucas Oil Speedway over the last two seasons.
Also on the Saturday program will be the Arctic Food Equipment USRA Modifieds, chasing $1,000-to-win, and the O'Reilly Auto Parts USRA Stock Cars with a $750 top prize.
Pit gates open at 4 pm. Saturday with grandstands at 5, hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:05.
Saturday admission:
Adults (13 and up) - $30
Seniors (62 and over)/Military - $27
Youth (ages 6-12) - $10
Kids (5 and under) - FREE
Family pass - $70
Pit pass - $45
Camping: Daily rates
Dry Camping $15/night (up to 6 people) ($5 additional a night per person)
Reserve Dry $25/Night (limited Availability) (up to 6 people) ($5 additional a night per person)
Reserved Electric & Water- $40/Night (up to 6 people) ($5 additional a night per person (Limited Availability)
For ticket or camping information on any Lucas Oil Speedway event, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 295-6043 or via email at nmcmillan@lucasoilspeedway.com.
CONTACT:
Danny Lorton
Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager
Office: (417) 282-5984
DLorton@lucasoilspeedway.com
Lucas Oil Speedway is located at Highways 83 and 54 in Wheatland, Missouri. A campground with shower and bathroom facilities is available. With its entrance located just outside the pit gate, this sprawling scenic camping facility will continue to enhance the racing experience.
For ticket and camping information and everything about the Show-Me 100 event, visit www.LucasOilSpeedway.com for all the 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 X, clicking "Like" at www.facebook.com/LucasOilSpeedway and on www.youtube.com/LucasOilSpeedway
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.
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.
2024 Official Lucas Oil Speedway Marketing Partners
Arizona Sport Shirts
"The Official Merchandise Provider" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Bill Roberts Chevrolet
"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
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
2024 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, Bolivar Auto Sales & Detailing, Bolivar Farmers Exchange-MFA, Boone's BBQ Barn, Boubin Tire/American Racer, Bridal Cave, BWI Sanitation, Candlelight Creations-Dick's Wild Root Horseradish, Casey's, Citizens Memorial Healthcare, City Magnet, Clearlight Inn, Dixie Chopper, Eibach Springs, Farmers Insurance Agent Kristy Reynolds, Fast Shafts by Axle Exchange, Foley Equipment-Cat Rental Store, Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare, Hermitage Lumber, HICKAMO Country Store, Hobbytime Motorsports, Iconic Apparel, Impact Signs Awnings Wraps, In the Garden of Eden, KC Bobcat, 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, Proboat, ProThings Apparel, RACEceiver, Racinboys.com, RacinDirt.com, Rains Ice Company, RCR Designs, 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, Sidetrack RV Park, Simpson Racing Products, Southwest Electric Cooperative, State Tech, Stillwater Resort, Summit Racing Equipment, Sunoco Race Fuels, Turn 1 Bar & Grill, 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
