WAYCROSS, GA (April 27, 2012) – The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will have a rare weekend off this week, but the series will be back in action next weekend. The series will be kicking off the Month of May at Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, IL and Paducah International Raceway in Paducah, KY.
On Friday Night, May 4th, the LOLMDS visits the Kevin and Tammy Gundaker-promoted Tri-City Speedway, which is just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, MO. The series will be making its eighth appearance at the immaculate 3/8ths mile facility. On Saturday Night, May 5th the series will head to the Bob Sargent-promoted Paducah International Raceway. Mother Nature has decided the outcome for the last two years after the series inaugural race in 2009. Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, GA won that event. Both events will be complete one day shows with Red Buck Cigar Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains and a $10,000 to win main event. Fans will get a chance to get up close and meet the drivers at each event, during the drivers autograph sessions. At Tri-City, the autograph session will take place from 5:15pm – 5:45pm (CDT); and at PIR from 4:00pm – 5:00pm (CDT).
Defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion, Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN will lead the stars of the series into Tri-City and Paducah holding the series points lead. Despite not winning a main event so far in 2012, Owens has recorded five (5) runner-up finishes in seven series point’s events in 2012 thus far. His consistent finishes have enabled him to stay atop the points chase.
After Owens positions two through eight in the series championship points standings are separated by only 90-points. Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN and 4-time champ, Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL are tied for second followed by red-hot, Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN and Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA.
Steve Francis of Ashland, KY is sixth in points followed by Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, IL; Tyler Reddick of Corning, CA; Jared Landers of Batesville, AR; and John Blankenship of Williamson, WV. Austin Hubbard of Seaford, DE and Eric Wells of Hazard, KY are just outside of the top ten. Twelve drivers have maintained perfect attendance up to this point in the season.
So far in 2012 there have been six different winners in the first 11 races. O’Neal is leading the way with four appearances in Lucas Oil Victory Lane this year. Bloomquist, who has won the last two LOLMDS events in Virginia and Pennsylvania, is joined by Francis as a multiple winner this year. Erb, Landers, and Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC have also won on the series tour this year. Also, in the first 11 events, the average starting spot by the race winner is fifth. Only twice this year on the ultra-competitive tour has the race winner started on the front row.
For more information on the LOLMDS events on May 4th at Tri-City and May 5th at Paducah you can log onto each track’s respective websites at www.tricityspeedway.net and www.paducahracing.com.
For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, visit the series’ website at www.lucasdirt.com.Follow us as well at http://www.facebook.com/lucasdirt and http://twitter.com/#!/lucasdirt.
Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings
1. Jimmy Owens (Newport, TN) – 1545
2. Earl Pearson Jr. (Jacksonville, FL) – 1370
3. Don O’Neal (Martinsville, IN) -1370
4. Scott Bloomquist (Mooresburg, TN) – 1340
5. Jonathan Davenport (Blairsville, GA) – 1335
6. Steve Francis (Ashland, KY) – 1325
7. Dennis Erb Jr. (Carpentersville, IL) – 1300
8. Tyler Reddick (Corning, CA) – 1280
9. Jared Landers (Batesville, AR) – 1245
10. John Blankenship (Williamson, WV) – 1180
11. Austin Hubbard (Seaford, DE) – 1125
12. Eric Wells (Hazard, KY) – 1120
About Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series: Founded in 2005, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is the nations’ premier dirt late model sanctioning organization. It currently sanctions 46 events in 19 states in 2012 and receives national exposure through taped-delayed series events that are shown on CBS, CBS Sports, SPEED, NBC Sports and MAVTV.
About Lucas Oil Products: Founded in 1989 by Forrest and Charlotte Lucas, Lucas Oil Products, Inc. has established itself as one of the fastest-growing lubrication product lines in the consumer automotive aftermarket, featuring a line of engine oils, greases, gear lubes, problem-solving additives, and car-care products. Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil has established itself as a worldwide leader in the lubrication industry. Motorsports has always been part of the Lucas Oil culture and the cornerstone of the company’s marketing strategy. Such passion for motorsports has inspired Lucas Oil to sponsor many race teams, events and series at all levels, including, NHRA, IRL, ASCS, NASCAR, IHRA and many more. Lucas Oil has also taken ownership and operational control of a number of high profile racing properties, such as: Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, Lucas Oil Drag Boat Series, Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Lucas Oil Modified Series, Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO. and the Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway in Blythe, CA.
In 2007 Lucas Oil founded its own production house, Lucas Oil Production Studios, dedicated to producing high action motorsports television. Currently Lucas Oil Production Studios produces over 300 hours of original programming for networks such as CBS, NBC Sports, SPEED, and MAVTV. More information on Lucas Oil Products, Inc. can be found by visiting www.LucasOil.com.
2012 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series TV Schedule
NETWORK AIR DATE AIR TIME VENUE EVENT NAME EVENT DATE
SPEED 5/13/2012 6:00 PM Virginia Motor Speedway Commonwealth 100 4/14/2012
MAVTV 6/9/2012 7:30 PM Virginia Motor Speedway Commonwealth 100 4/14/2012
NBC Sports 6/10/2012 6:00 PM Virginia Motor Speedway Commonwealth 100 4/14/2012
CBS 6/24/2012 2:00 PM Lucas Oil Speedway DART Show-Me 100 5/26/2012
SPEED 7/8/2012 4:00 PM Lucas Oil Speedway DART Show-Me 100 5/26/2012
MAVTV 7/26/2012 12:00 AM Lucas Oil Speedway DART Show-Me 100 5/26/2012
CBS Sports 12/8/2012 8:00 PM Lucas Oil Speedway DART Show-Me 100 5/26/2012
SPEED 8/12/2012 1:00 PM Magnolia Motor Speedway Clash at the Mag 7/7/2012
NBC Sports 9/2/2012 6:00 PM Magnolia Motor Speedway Clash at the Mag 7/7/2012
MAVTV 9/6/2012 12:00 AM Magnolia Motor Speedway Clash at the Mag 7/7/2012
SPEED 8/18/2012 4:00 PM Tri-City Speedway Battle at the Beach 7/13/2012
MAVTV 9/8/2012 7:30 PM Tri-City Speedway Battle at the Beach 7/13/2012
SPEED 8/25/2012 2:00 PM Lucas Oil Speedway Diamond Nationals 7/14/2012
NBC Sports 9/9/2012 6:00 PM Lucas Oil Speedway Diamond Nationals 7/14/2012
MAVTV 9/13/2012 12:00 AM Lucas Oil Speedway Diamond Nationals 7/14/2012
SPEED 9/15/2012 4:00 PM Florence Speedway Sunoco Race Fuels North/South 100 Presented by Lucas Oil 8/11/2012
MAVTV 11/24/2012 7:30 PM Florence Speedway Sunoco Race Fuels North/South 100 Presented by Lucas Oil 8/11/2012
SPEED 9/22/2012 4:00 PM Batesville Motor Speedway COMP Cams Topless 100 8/18/2012
MAVTV 12/6/2012 12:00 AM Batesville Motor Speedway COMP Cams Topless 100 8/18/2012
SPEED 9/30/2012 3:00 PM Lawrenceburg Speedway Lawrenceburg 50 8/25/2012
MAVTV 12/15/2012 7:30 PM Lawrenceburg Speedway Lawrenceburg 50 8/25/2012
SPEED 11/3/2012 4:00 PM Knoxville Raceway Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals 9/29/2012
MAVTV 2/21/2013 12:00 AM Knoxville Raceway Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals 9/29/2012
SPEED 11/18/2012 2:00 PM Portsmouth Raceway Park Dirt Track World Championship 10/20/2012
MAVTV 3/2/2013 7:30 PM Portsmouth Raceway Park Dirt Track World Championship 10/20/2012
DISH DIRECTV CABLE
• CBS Local Listings Local Listings Local Listings
• CBS Sports CH-158 CH-613 Local Listings
• NBC Sports CH-151 CH-603 Local Listings
• SPEED CH-150 CH-607 Local Listings
• MAVTV CH-361 Local Listings
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
Lucas Oil Products – “The Official Oil” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
MavTV – “The Official TV 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,Crawford Supply, CV Products, DirtonDirt.com, Dyers Top Rods, Edlebrock, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, FK Rod Ends, Gaerte Engines, Hawk Performance, Jay Dickens Racing Engines, JE Pistons, JRi Shocks, Keyser MFG, Longhorn Chassis, MasterSbilt Chassis, Öhlins, Outerwears, PBM/Erson Cams, PAC Racing Springs, Performance Bodies, Pierce Racecars, PRC, Pro Power Racing, Quarter Master, Race Engine Design, Red Buck Cigars, Rick Schwallie Photography, Ringers Gloves, Rocket Chassis, Roush Yates Engines, Roush Yates Performance Parts, Simpson Performance Products, Sweet Mfg, Traeger Grills, Vic Hill Race Engines, Weld Racing Wheels, Wiles Drive Shafts, Wiley X Sunglasses, Wrisco, 5150 Race Trailers.
James Essex, Public Relations Coordinator, jessex@lucasdirt.com