11/19/2017
RacinBoys
Lucas Oil MLRA schedule released
By Trenton Berry (Wheatland, MO) -- The first order of business for the 30th rendition of the Lucas Oil MLRA is the release of the season's schedule of events. This year's tour features a return to familiar places and a few new stops mixed in as well. Also to honor the 30th year a new special logo will be used for the season.
PHOTO: 2017 Champion Terry Phillips and 2017 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Rodney Sanders--CREDIT: Kenny Shaw
"I'm really glad to get the schedule out for everyone to take a look at what we have laid out for the year," commented Series Director Ernie Leftwich. "I'm proud to expand the series a little bit and reach into some new markets with Lucas Oil, Protect The Harvest and all of our great partners."
The opening event of the year at the Izzo Family's LaSalle Speedway in La Salle, Illinois is the second largest purse the series has competed for, where they are the sole sanction. The 7th Annual event features a Friday, March 30 payout of $5,000 to the winner and Saturday boasts a whopping $15,000 payday, with $1,500 guaranteed just to start the feature.
April 13 and 14 are a return to familiarity for the MLRA contingent at Lucas Oil Speedway for the for the 5th Annual Spring Nationals. Racing the final two weekends of the month will bring a busy April to a close. April 20 features fast action the 1/2 mile track in Davenport, Iowa, and then for the first time ever a stop at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa for the Slocum 50. It has a one day payoff of $10,555. April 27 and 28 the show rolls south to Thunderbird Speedway in Muskogee, Oklahoma and Legit Speedway in West Plains, Missouri.
The third straight week of action is the opening weekend in May. A return trip to Davenport Speedway is first up, this time on the 1/4 mile track. The following evening there will be show promoted by Tony Izzo. The month wraps up like it always does with the $30,000 to win Show Me 100. This year, scheduled for May 24-26, it marks the first traditional Late Model crown jewel of the year.
The final two weekends in June are packed full of racing. June 22 marks the first ever visit to Rapid Speedway in Rock Rapids, Iowa and the following evening it is down the road to Park Jefferson International Speedway in Park Jefferson, South Dakota.
Salina Highbanks Speedway in Salina, Oklahoma has welcomed the series back again this season for their Independence Day weekend Freedom Classic, with $3,000 and $5,000 on the line. Another new event opens July. The recently re-opened Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Missouri will run a twin bill July 6 and 7.
The second and final co-sanctioned race with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is slated for Lucas Oil Speedway on Saturday, July 14. A standalone show on Friday, July 27, completes the month at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas.
August racing features a return to Farley Speedway and West Liberty Raceway for the the Monday Mayhem and Tornado Tuesday events, on August 6 and 7. Each night pays $10,000 to win.
Labor Day weekend has become a staple at Lucas Oil Speedway for the Larry Phillips Memorial. This year it runs on September 1. The following night, the series heads to Monett Motor Speedway for the running of the Four State Dirt Track Championships. It's the first time the MLRA has raced in Monett in many years.
MLRA will close out its 2018 season with the crowning of a champion at Lucas Oil Speedway, October 12 and 13. The October Fall Nationals, along with the Freedom Classic at Salina Highbanks Speedway and the April 28 show at Legit Speedway will be ran in conjunction with the Comp Cams Super Dirt Series, adding to what will already be extremely competitive fields.
The final events to complete the 2017 season are attendance at the Heartland Motorsports Show, this weekend, in Des Moines, Iowa, the Performance Racing Industry show in Indianapolis, Indiana and the championship banquet. The season long awards and point fund money will be doled out Saturday, December 3 in Nevada, Missouri at the Gobbler's Roost Event Center.
2018 LUCAS OILMLRA SCHEDULE
Date Track Title Hotel Purse/Winner Details
Mar 29 LaSalle Speedway LaSalle, IL 7th Annual Thaw Brawl - Practice / - -
Mar 30 LaSalle Speedway LaSalle, IL 7th Annual Thaw Brawl - $5,000 / - -
Mar 31 LaSalle Speedway LaSalle, IL 7th Annual Thaw Brawl - $15,000 / - -
Apr 13 Lucas Oil Speedway Wheatland, MO 5th Annual Spring Nationals - $2,000 / - -
Apr 14 Lucas Oil Speedway Wheatland, MO 5th Annual Spring Nationals - $3,000 / - -
Apr 20 Davenport Speedway Davenport, IA 1/2 Mile - $5,000 / - -
Apr 21 34 Raceway Burlington, IA Slocum 50 - $10,555 / - -
Apr 27 Thunderbird Speedway Muskogee, OK 1st Annual Event - $3,000 / - -
Apr 28 Legit Motor Speedway West Plains, MO 1st Annual Event - $3,000 / - -
May 3 Lee County Speedway Donnellson, IA 4th Annual Event - $3,000 / - -
May 4 Davenport Speedway Davenport, IA 1/4 Mile - $3,000 / - -
May 5 LaSalle Speedway LaSalle, IL 1st Annual Event - $3,000 / - -
May 24 Lucas Oil Speedway Wheatland, MO Cowboy Classic - $6,000 / - -
May 25 Lucas Oil Speedway Wheatland, MO Tribute to Don/Billie Gibson - $6,000 / - -
May 26 Lucas Oil Speedway Wheatland, MO 26th Annual Show Me 100 - $30,000 / - -
Jun 22 Rapid Speedway Rock Rapids, IA 1st Annual Event - $3,000 / - -
Jun 23 Park Jefferson International Speedway Jefferson, SD 2nd Annual Event - $3,000 / - -
Jun 29 Salina Highbanks Salina, OK 5th Annual Freedom Classic - $3,000 / - -
Jun 30 Salina Highbanks Salina, OK 5th Annual Freedom Classic - $5,000 / - -
Jul 6 Lake Ozark Speedway Eldon, MO 1st Annual Event - $3,000 / - -
Jul 7 Lake Ozark Speedway Eldon, MO 1st Annual Event - $5,000 / - -
Jul 14 Lucas Oil Speedway Wheatland, MO 12th Annual Diamond Nationals - $12,000 / - -
Jul 27 Lakeside Speedway Kansas City, KS Clyde Ellis Memorial - $3,000 / - -
Jul 28 TBD TBD TBD - - / - -
Aug 6 Farley Speedway Farley, IA Monday Mayhem - $10,000 / - -
Aug 7 West Liberty West Liberty, IA Tornado Tuesday - $10,000 / - -
Sep 1 Lucas Oil Speedway Wheatland, MO Larry Phillips Memorial - $5,075 / - -
Sep 2 Monett Motor Speedway Monett, MO 4 State Track Championships - $3,000 / - -
Oct 12 Lucas Oil Speedway Wheatland, MO 5th Annual Fall Nationals - $3,000 / - -
Oct 13 Lucas Oil Speedway Wheatland, MO 5th Annual Fall Nationals - $5,000 / - -
Submitted By: Kirk Elliott
