CORONA, California - The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will be taking the Memorial Day Weekend off with it's $2.9 million dollar season resuming on Friday Night, May 30th with a first ever visit to Hilltop Speedway in Millersburg, OH and a Saturday Night, May 31st date at Florence Speedway in Union, KY for the 22nd Annual "Ralph Latham Memorial".
A close points battle for the 2008 LOLMDS Championship picks back up with a first-time visit to the Jeff Norris promoted Hilltop Speedway for one of the biggest shows ever at the facility which re-opened two years ago after being closed for at least 25 years. It will be the first time that several of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series competitors have raced at Hilltop and with a plethora of racing talent in the area it should make for some stiff competition for the series which has seen 11 different winners in the first 15 races held this season. The track which boasts the motto "Where Action is the Attraction" will play host to a complete LOLMDS race program with a top prize of $7,000 going to the winner at the end of the night.
Reigning Eldora Dream Winner and Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series regular Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN currently holds a scan five point margin over 3-time and defending series champion Earl Pearson Jr. heading into the racing action at Hilltop. Last year's LOLMDS Rookie of the Year Justin Rattliff of Campbellsville, KY and Zanesville, OH's Bart Hartman are deadlocked for third with the same amount of points as Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, WI resides in the fifth position.
The rest of the top ten are Scott James of Lawrenceburg, IN, Terry Casey of New London, WI, Billy Drake of Bloomington, IL, Wayne Chinn of Bradford, OH and Millersburg, OH's John Mason who will be racing on his home track comes into the race currently tenth in series points.
In the Quarter Master Rookie of the Year chase Casey still leads with Chinn gaining ground quickly on him. John Blankenship of Williamson, WV is third in the rookie points.
On Saturday Night the series will take to the track at Florence Speedway in Union, KY for the $10,000 to win 22nd Annual "Ralph Latham Memorial Race". The King Family promoted facility is home to the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame and the LOLMDS visit promises to be an exciting event as this race always draw interest from drivers who want laps on the track in preparation for the $50,000 to win Sunoco Race Fuels North South 100 Presented by Lucas Oil on August 7th, 8th and 9th.
Steve Casebolt began a reign of terror on his fellow racers one year ago by winning the Latham Memorial before the cameras of SPEED Channel in 2007 and a week later he took the sports biggest first prize the $100,000 to win Dirt Late Model Dream at Eldora (OH) Speedway.
The tire rule will be the same for both events: Hoosier 1300, 1350, LM20, 1600, LM40 and American Racer Sd44, SD48 and MD56.
For more information on these two events you can go directly to www.hilltopspeedway.net or you can call (419) 651-1491. Florence Speedway info can be viewed at www.florencespeedway.com or for a 24 hour recorded message you can call (859) 485-7591.
For the latest news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series you can go online at www.lucasdirt.com or call the series office at (951) 532-2503.
Previous Ralph Latham Memorial Winners 1987 - Bobby Carnes
1988 - Bob Pierce
1989 - John Gill
1990 - Jack Boggs
1991 - Scott Bloomquist
1992 - Jack Boggs
1993 - Jack Boggs
1994 - Billy Moyer
1995 - Donnie Moran
1996 - Billy Moyer
1997 - Steve Francis
1998 - Bart Hartman
1999 - Wendell Wallace
2000 - Darrell Lanigan
2001 - R. J. Conley
2002 - Steve Francis
2003 - Scott James
2004 - Mike Jewell
2005 - Don O'Neal
2006 - Scott Bloomquist
2007 - Steve Casebolt Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings 1) Steve Casebolt (Richmond, IN) 2055 2) Earl Pearson Jr. (Jacksonville, FL) 2050 3) Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY) 1870 4) Bart Hartman (Zanesville, OH) 1870 5) Dan Schlieper (Sullivan, WI) 1785 6) Scott James (Lawrenceburg, IN) 1745 7) Terry Casey (New London, WI) 1670 8) Billy Drake (Bloomington, IL) 1645 9) Wayne Chinn (Bradford, OH) 1495 10) John Mason (Millersburg, OH) 1365 Quarter Master Rookie of the Year Points Standings 1) Terry Casey (New London, WI) 1670 2) Wayne Chinn (Bradford, OH) 1495 3) John Blankenship (Williamson, WV) 745 4) Eric Jacobsen (Seacliffe 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.
