(LEBANON, Missouri) The annual ‘Hillbilly 50’ – a special 50-lap race for ASA Modified stock cars – will highlight Saturday night’s ‘Kickin’ Asphalt’ show at Lebanon I-44 Speedway. Spectator gates are will open at 5:00 pm, with the five-division ASA-sanctioned stock car racing program scheduled to start at 7:30 on the track’s 3/8-mile high banked asphalt oval. In addition, the Pro National ‘Baby Grand’ cars – half-scaled replicas of full-body stock cars – will be featured in a 40-lap National Championship go.
“Our ASA pavement Modifieds put on a great show for the fans every Saturday night, and the ‘Hillbilly 50’ gives all of our Modified racers a chance to really shine in a long race format,” said I-44 Speedway promoter Craig Armstrong. “Plus we are offering a one hundred dollar bonus to the top-finishing ‘dirt modified’ with a legal set-up in addition to a bigger purse. With our other four ASA classes, and the ‘Baby Grand’ cars, it’s going to be a fun and entertaining show this Saturday night!”
While Saturday’s racing card at the only paved oval track in the region will feature the Modifieds, which are stock appearing racecars with open wheel front ends, the fast and powerful Late Model stock cars will also race in a 30-lap feature event, with Sportsman class stock cars, Road Warriors – big, steel bodied pure stocks – and a four-cylinder “tuner-type” class of cars called Chargers filling out an expanded racing program.
Unlike many weekly operated short tracks, Lebanon I-44 Speedway features an alcohol-free, ‘family friendly’ grandstand, along with tier parking for cars, pickup trucks and RV’s where patrons may park, tailgate and view the races. Known by race fans as the ‘Budweiser Wild Side’, beer may be brought into the tier parking areas, while full food and non-alcoholic beverage concessions are available in both the grandstands and ‘Wild Side’, along with a Souvenir and track apparel booth.
Despite featuring a special event this Saturday night, grandstand admission remains $10 for Adults, ages 16 and older, while Adult admission in tier parking is $12. Discounted admission for Seniors (ages 65 and older) and Juniors (ages 11-15) is offered in both locations, and Children ages 10 and younger are always free. A grandstand Family Pass for 2 Adults and 2 Juniors plus any number of Kids ages 10 and younger is available for $25, while six Adults entering in the same vehicle on tier parking will be admitted to the ‘Budweiser Wild Side’ for $60. For those race fans seeking an upscale experience at the track, premium seating in the just-completed VIP Suite tower will be offered for $25 per person, and will offer access to one of nine, climate-controlled luxury suites.
Located just four miles east of the Lebanon city limit on Historic Route 66, Lebanon I-44 Speedway is very accessible from anywhere in southern Missouri. The simplest route for patrons travelling on Interstate 44 to Exit 135, and then one mile east on Historic Route 66 to the track’s main entrance. Additional information about Lebanon I-44 Speedway’s 2011 ‘Kickin’ Asphalt’ racing schedule may be found of the facility’s official website, www.i44speedway.net.