CORONA, California - Coming off of two rainouts last weeked in Pennsylvania and Maryland, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series looks to get back on the road this weekend as the series travels to Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway in Calvert City, KY this Friday and Saturday, May 2nd and 3rd for the Third Annual "99" Extravaganza.
Promoter, Sherri Heckenast, has decided to change things up from the past two years, and will introduce a new format for this year's 3rd Annual running of the "99". This year's race format calls for a complete show each night for the LOLMDS with time trials, heat races, B-mains and a feature event each evening paying $9,999 to win and $700 to start.
With a healthy purse up for grabs each night Heckenast is looking forward to having the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series back in 2008. "We have brought in some new help to prepare the race track, I know in the past we have not had the greatest track conditions due to a number of things, the races at the end of last year and early this year at the track have been better and I believe with the new help, the fans and drivers will see a huge difference for the '99'," said Heckenast who also is trying to be "family friendly" as she is allowing kids 16 and under free with a paying adult.
The "99" is also special to Heckenast and her racing family as that race car number has been in the family as long as she remembers. "My dad (Frank Sr.) started going to Raceway Park (in Blue Island, IL) as a kid and his favorite driver had the number 99. When he started to race he used that number and it has carried on with me and my brother (Frank Jr.)."
Raceway Park first began racing dirt back in 1938. The track later was paved and held weekly racing (4 nights a week) until it closed in 2000. The track which held a total of 2,949 race programs during its long and prolific tenure was torn down in June of 2001 and sadly is now the site of a supermarket.
The series trip to Kentucky Lake featuring the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will be the next event that 20 drivers will be eligible for the "Winners Circle Program" and the "Jasper Engines Road to Wheatland" bonus monies. This is an incentive program that will pay the top ten drivers in the 2008 Championship Points an extra $600 each with perfect attendance throughout 2008. The "Jasper Engines Road to Wheatland" Program will also pay an additional $600 to each of the ten highest points drivers from the final 2007 Championship Points standings that follow the Road to Wheatland with perfect attendance but are not in the current top ten in points. The SuperClean "Diamond Nationals" at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO is slated for May 9th and 10th and will pay $40,000 to win this year. There will also be an open practice night on Thursday May 8th for all drivers wishing to come out to the track before the SuperClean "Diamond Nationals."
Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway is located off of I-24, exit 27 in Calvert City, KY. The pit gates will open both days at 12 Noon, with grandstand gates open at 4:00 PM each day and race time is slated for 7:00 PM each evening. Adult admission will be $20 each night with kids 16 and under free with a paying adult. KLMS has a re-designed website to better serve the racers and it located at www.kentuckylakemotorspeedway.net or you can call the track office at (270) 395-3600.
The tire rule for the weekend is as follows: Hoosier 1300, 1350, LM20, 1600 and LM40 and American Racer SD44, SD48 and MD56.
For the latest information concerning the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series you can visit www.lucasdirt.com or call the series office at (951) 532-2503.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Third Annual "99" Extravaganza Payoff
Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway-Calvert City, KY
Friday, May 2nd and Saturday, May 3rd
Feature Payoff Each Night: $9999, $5000, $3000, $2500, $2000, $1500, $1400, $1300, $1200, $1100, $1000, $950, $900, $875, $850, $825, $800, $775, $750, $725, $700, $700, $700, $700
Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings
1) Earl Pearson Jr. (Jacksonville, FL) - 1310
2) Terry Casey (New London, WI) - 1305
3) Steve Casebolt (Richmond, IN) - 1260
4) Bart Hartman (Zanesville, OH) - 1220
5) Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY) - 1215
6) Donnie Moran (Dresden, OH) - 1165
7) Dan Schlieper (Sullivan, WI) - 1110
8) Scott James (Lawrenceburg, IN) - 1095
9) Billy Drake (Bloomington, IL) - 1025
10) Wayne Chinn (Bradford, OH) - 965
11) Don O'Neal (Martinsville, IN) - 870
12) John Mason (Millersburg, OH) - 825
13) Freddy Smith (Seymour, TN) - 820
14) Damon Eller (Crumpler, NC) - 735
15) Scott Bloomquist (Mooresburg, TN) - 630
Current Quarter Master "Rookie of the Year" Points Standings
1) Terry Casey (New London, WI) - 1305
2) Wayne Chinn (Bradford, OH) - 965
3) John Blankenship (Williamson, WV) - 360
4) Eric Jacobsen (Sea Cliff Beach, CA) -75
5) Tony Knowles (Tyrone, GA) - 75
2008 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Sponsors Arizona Sport Shirts - "The Official Merchandise Vendor" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Dixie Chopper - "The Official Mower" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series E3 Spark Plugs - "The Official Spark Plug" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Fatheadz Sunglasses - "The Official Eyewear" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series General Tire - "The Official Tire" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Hoosier Tire - "The Official Race Tire" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Jasper Engines - "The Official Engine" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Jim Beam - Drink Smart - "The Official Beverage" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series K&N Filters - "The Official Filter" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Lucas Oil Products - "The Official Oil" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
R&L Carrier - "The Official Carrier" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Sunoco Race Fuels - "The Official Fuel" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
SuperClean - "The Official Degreaser" of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
2008 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Supporters Include: 5150 Race Trailers, Afco Racing Products, Allstar Performance, American Racer Tire, ARC Engines, ASI Racewear, Banshee Graphics, Bloomquist Race Cars, CJ Rayburn Race Cars, Comp Cams, Cornett Racing Engines, Cruise with the Champions, Dart Machinery, Duralite Racing Wheels, Dyers Top Rods, Erson Cams, GRT Race Cars, Hawk Performance Brake Pads, Hyperco, Integra Shocks, Jay Dickens Racing Engines, Malcuit Racing Engines, Mason Racin', Mullvain Motorsports, Ohlins, On the Edge Graphics, PBM, Penske Shocks, Performance Bodies, Performance Rod & Customs, Pro Power Racing, Quarter Master, Rick Schwallie Photography, Rocket Chassis, Tiger Rearends, Vic Hill Racing Engines, Victory Circle Chassis, WD Enterprises, Wiles Driveshafts, and Wrisco Aluminum.
