WAYCROSS, GA (January 30, 2012) – Officials of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series are pleased to announce that the series will offer drivers over 3.2 million dollars in cash and contingencies in 2012. The amount is a new record for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. Since its inception in 2005, the series maintains its place as the premier national touring dirt late model series in the country. In 2011, the series averaged an industry high of 49 cars per event. Record-breaking crowds watched many of the most exciting races of the year. The 2012 series schedule includes 46 events in 19 different states at some of the top racing facilities in the country.

Drivers that compete on the series in 2012 will be racing for more than 2.5 million in purse monies alone. The series also added a purse increase to all the $10,000 and $20,000 to win shows in 2012. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will pay out over $300,000 in cash awards to the top ten drivers in the national championship point’s standings along with $10,000 cash awarded to the Quarter Master Rookie of the Year at the series year-end awards banquet.

The series will sanction a record thirteen (13) events paying $20,000 to win or more in 2012. They include: the Commonwealth 100 at Virginia Motor Speedway-$25,000 to win, Apr 13-14th; the Bad Boy 98 at Batesville Motor Speedway-$20,000 to win, May 18-19th; the DART Show-Me 100 at Lucas Oil Speedway-$30,000 to win, May 25-26th; the Clash at the Mag at Magnolia Motor Speedway-$20,000 to win, Jul 6-7th; the Silver Dollar Nationals at I-80 Speedway-$25,000 to win, Jul 20-21st; the Sunoco North/South 100 at Florence Speedway-$50,000 to win, Aug 10-11th; the COMP Cams Topless 100 at Batesville Motor Speedway-$40,000 to win, Aug 17-18th; the River Days Rumble at Portsmouth Raceway Park-$20,000, Aug 31-Sep 1; Hillbilly Hundred-$25,000 to win, Sep 2nd; the USA 100 at Virginia Motor Speedway-$20,000 to win, Sep 14-15th; the Jackson 100 at Brownstown Speedway-$20,000 to win, Sep 21-22nd; the Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville Speedway-$40,000 to win, Sep 27-29th; and the season finale, the Dirt Track World Championship -$50,000 to win, Oct. 19-20th.

“The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is very proud of the growth we have made in our over-all program in a few short years. The record prize money, large car counts and our TV package are just a few of the things that will continue to elevate the level of competition in our program. Our fans, race teams, track promoters, and marketing partners will be the ones to benefit as we continue this steady growth pattern. We are very thankful that we have so many promoters, sponsors, and racers that believe in our program and continue to support us each year,” stated Ritchie Lewis, Series Director.

The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will kick off the season at the famed “Clay by the Bay” for the 8th consecutive year. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will sanction the 36th Annual DART Winternationals at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, FL from Sunday, February 12th through Saturday, February 18th.

For more information on the 36th Annual East Bay “DART Winternationals”, log onto the track’s website at www.eastbayracewaypark.com.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, visit the series’ website at www.lucasdirt.com or call the series’ office at (951) 532-2503.

Be sure and visit the series on the social media outlets as well at http://www.facebook.com/lucasdirt and http://twitter.com/#!/lucasdirt.

2012 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Schedule
Venue Track City, State To Win
13-Feb East Bay Raceway Park Tampa, FL $5,000
14-Feb East Bay Raceway Park Tampa, FL $5,000
15-Feb East Bay Raceway Park Tampa, FL $7,000
16-Feb East Bay Raceway Park Tampa, FL $7,000
17-Feb East Bay Raceway Park Tampa, FL $10,000
18-Feb East Bay Raceway Park Tampa, FL $10,000
24-Mar Brownstown Speedway Brownstown, IN $10,000
30-Mar Jackson Motor Speedway Jackson, MS $10,000
31-Mar Lonestar Speedway Kilgore, TX $10,000
13,14-Apr Virginia Motor Speedway Saluda, VA $25,000
20-Apr Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex Markleysburg, PA $10,000
21-Apr Hagerstown Speedway Hagerstown, MD $10,000
4-May Tri-City Speedway Pontoon Beach, IL $10,000
5-May Paducah International Raceway Paducah, KY $10,000
11-May Hartford Motor Speedway Hartford, MI $10,000
12-May La Salle Speedway La Salle, IL $10,000
18,19-May Batesville Motor Speedway Batesville, AR $20,000
25,26-May Lucas Oil Speedway Wheatland, MO $30,000
1-Jun Tazewell Speedway Tazewell, TN $10,000
2-Jun Florence Speedway Florence, KY $10,000
22-Jun Cherokee Speedway Gaffney, SC $10,000
23-Jun Wythe Raceway Rural Retreat, VA $10,000
1-Jul Portsmouth Raceway Park Portsmouth, OH $10,000
3-Jul Muskingum County Speedway Zanesville, OH $10,000
6,7-Jul Magnolia Motor Speedway Columbus, MS $20,000
13-Jul Tri-City Speedway Pontoon Beach, IL $10,000
14-Jul Lucas Oil Speedway Wheatland, MO $10,000
20,21-Jul I-80 Speedway Greenwood, NE $25,000
24-Jul Stateline Speedway Busti, NY $10,000
25-Jul Utica Rome Speedway Vernon, NY $10,000
26-Jul Fonda Speedway Fonda, NY $10,000
28-Jul Hagerstown Speedway Hagerstown, MD $10,000
10,11-Aug Florence Speedway Florence, KY $50,000
17,18-Aug Batesville Motor Speedway Batesville, AR $40,000
23-Aug Volunteer Speedway Bulls Gap, TN $10,000
25-Aug Lawrenceburg Speedway Lawrenceburg, IN $10,000
31-Aug, 1-Sep Portsmouth Raceway Park Portsmouth, OH $20,000
2-Sep Hillbilly Hundred TBA $25,000
14,15-Sep Virginia Motor Speedway Saluda, VA $20,000
21,22-Sep Brownstown Speedway Brownstown, IN $20,000
27-Sep Knoxville Raceway Knoxville, IA $7,000
28-Sep Knoxville Raceway Knoxville, IA $7,000
29-Sep Knoxville Raceway Knoxville, IA $40,000
6-Oct Dixie Speedway Woodstock, GA $10,000
7-Oct Rome International Speedway Rome, GA $10,000
19,20-Oct DTWC TBA $50,000

2012 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Sponsors

ASI Racewear – “The Official Merchandise Vendor” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Canidae Pet Foods – “The Official Pet Foods” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

DART Machinery – “The Official Engine Components” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

E3 Spark Plugs – “The Official Spark Plug” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Geico – “The Official Insurance” 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

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
MavTV – “The Official Men’s Network” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Optima Batteries – “The Official Battery” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Speedco – “The Official Truck Lube and Tire Center” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Sunoco Race Fuels – “The Official Fuel” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

U. S. Steel – “The Official Steel Manufacturer” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

2012 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Supporters Include:

Allstar Performance, American Racer, Banshee Graphics, Barry Wright Race Cars, Bloomquist Race Cars, COMP Cams, Chizmark Larson Insurance, Cornett Racing Engines, Cruise with the Champions, CV Products, DirtonDirt.com, Dyers Top Rods, ECR Race Engines, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, FK Rod Ends, Gaerte Engines, GRT Race Cars, Hawk Performance, Jay Dickens Racing Engines, JE Pistons, JRi Shocks, Keyser MFG, Longhorn Chassis, MasterSbilt Chassis, Öhlins, Outerwears, PBM/Erson Cams, Performance Bodies, Pierce Racecars, Pro Power Racing, Quarter Master, Race Engine Design, Red Buck Cigars, Rhyne Race Engines, Rick Schwallie Photography, Ringers Gloves, Rocket Chassis, Roush Yates Engines, Roush Yates Performance Parts, Sweet Mfg, Vic Hill Race Engines, Warrior Race Cars, Weld Racing Wheels, Wiles Drive Shafts, Wrisco, 5150 Race Trailers.

James Essex, Public Relations Coordinator, jessex@lucasdirt.com