CORONA California-The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is ready and raring to go to get its 2008 racing season started for the fourth consecutive year at the East Bay Winternationals at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, FL. The 32nd annual event will be contested from February 4th through the 9th. There will be six straight nights of Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series racing concluding on Saturday Night, February 9th with a $12,000 to win event. Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, WI is the reigning East Bay Winternationals Points Fund Champion.

The total purses for the six nights of competition will approach the $200,000 mark with an additional $30,000 in cash and contingencies up for grabs in the DART Machinery Winternationals Points Fund. Also the series has announced that the Friday, February 8th show will be taped by the VERSUS Network and the finale on Saturday Night February 9th will be taped by the SPEED Channel. The televised events will be shown on a date and time to be announced in the future.

"It's been a great relationship between East Bay Raceway Park and the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and we look forward to seeing all the fans and competitors again in 2008," said East Bay Raceway Park Vice-President, Todd Hutto. Hutto also said that discount pricing is available for general admission and pit gate admission during the week-long of Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series racing action at East Bay. For discount ticket information you can call the track office toll free at 1-877-457-5611 between normal business hours or visit the track's website at www.eastbayracewaypark for more information.

Officials of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and East Bay Raceway Park have announced that hot laps will begin at 5:00 PM each day followed by time trials. As per the 2008 series rulebook if there are more than four heat races scheduled there will be group qualifying. Also new for 2008 at East Bay for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will be the use of transponders for the first time during the Winternationals. The tire rule for the East Bay Winternationals will be as follows in 2008; Hoosier 1100, 1300, 1600, LM20 and LM40 and the American Racer 23, 44 and 56.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Director Ritchie Lewis is equally as excited to be heading to Florida in February. "We are looking forward to being back at East Bay in 2008, working with Todd, Al Varnadore and Jean Lynch, it is a great atmosphere to be in and around and after a long winter it's always great to see some tremendous racing that East Bay offers."

Lewis also says that all six nights of the East Bay Winternationals will be broadcast live via the internet on www.racetalklive.com. More details on this will be available on the series website.

For more information on the 32nd Annual East Bay Winternationals you can log onto the track's website at www.eastbayracewaypark.com.

For the latest news and information regarding the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series you can visit the series website at www.lucasdirt.com or call the series office at (951) 532-2503.

Previous Late Model Feature Winners at East Bay Raceway Park

(Wins include Winternationals (1978-2007) and Fall Nationals (2000)

Billy Moyer (15)

Don O'Neal (11)

Steve Francis (8)

Jimmy Mars (6)

Steve Shaver (5)

Keith Nosbisch (4)

Rick Eckert (4)

Davey Johnson (3)

Dan Schlieper (3)

Buck Simmons (2)

Kenny Brightbill (2)

Charlie Swartz (2)

Kevin Gundaker (2)

Jack Boggs (2)

Donnie Moran (2)

Scott Bloomquist (2)

Rick Aukland (2)

John Berg (1)

Doug Kenimer (1)

John Gamble (1)

Tye Long (1)

Will Cagle (1)

Ronnie Johnson (1)

Jim Dunn (1)

Freddy Smith (1)

Larry Phillips (1)

Jeff Purvis (1)

C.J. Rayburn (1)

Steve Smith (1)

Ken Nosbisch (1)

Booper Bare (1)

Skip Arp (1)

Mike Balzano (1)

Gary Stuhler (1)

Wendell Wallace (1)

Ray Cook (1)

Brian Birkhofer (1)

Jackie Boggs (1)

Chub Frank (1)

Kyle Berck (1)

John Mason (1)

Tim McCreadie (1)

Terry English (1)

Dale McDowell (1)

Matt Miller (1)

Earl Pearson Jr. (1)

Tim Dohm (1)

Shannon Babb (1)

2008 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series/East Bay Winternationals Schedule East Bay Raceway Park-Tampa, FL

Sunday, February 3

Registration and Tech Inspection Begins at 2 PM

Open Practice Session

6-9 PM

Monday, February 4

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series $5,000 to win

Tuesday, February 5

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series $5,000 to win

Wednesday, February 6

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series $5,000 to win

Thursday, February 7

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series $10,000 to win

Friday, February 8

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series $10,000 to win

Saturday, February 9

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series $12,000 to win 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 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: 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, Erson Cams, GRT Race Cars, Hawk Performance Brake Pads, Hyperco, Integra Shocks, Jay Dickens Racin g Engines, Larry Wallace Racing Engines, Malcuit Racing Engines, Mason Racin', Mastersbilt Race Cars, 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, WD Enterprises, Wiles Driveshafts, and Wrisco Industries.

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