Media Contact: Trenton Berry
*Story contributed by Sam Stoecklin
WHEATLAND, MO (July 20, 2013) – Just days after the highly successful Third-Annual Silver Dollar Nationals at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Nebraska, the Lucas Oil MLRA series makes its way to a pair of Missouri tracks this Friday and Saturday in what is sure to be a pivotal swing in the tight championship points battle.
Fresh off a career best Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series finish of second at I-80 Speedway, Tony Jackson, Jr. has hometown advantage on his peers when the series rolls into Jack and Dana Jones’ Midway Speedway in Lebanon, Missouri on Friday, July 26. Jackson, currently second in the standings behind Terry Phillips, brings a three-point advantage into Friday’s action over third-place, Will Vaught of Crane, Missouri. Since Memorial Day, Jackson has no less than seven super late model victories.
With Phillips expected to compete at the World Modified Dirt Track Championship at Deer Creek Speedway in Minnesota this week, Jackson and Vaught take center stage as title contenders. Former series champion John Anderson and Republic, Missouri’s Brad Looney are also in the hunt heading into the heart of summer and will be looking to tighten things up on the leaders.
Vaught stated, “I ran second at Midway a few years back to Billy Moyer and have found some success there, everybody is on a pretty even playing field when we go back there this week.” Vaught posted a strong sixth-place showing at the Silver Dollar Nationals and went on to say, “We actually found a few things wrong with the car after I-80 and we could have been even better, but we’ll be ready to go this weekend now that we fixed the problem.”
Lebanon Midway Speedway last hosted the series in 2007. On Friday, gates open at 5 p.m. with racing at 8. Call 417-588-4430 or visit www.lebanonmidwayspeedway.com for more information. From Lebanon, Midway Speedway is located 6 miles east on Highway 32 and then right on State Highway B, travel one-half mile and the speedway is located on the right.
On Saturday, July 27, teams move north to LA Raceway in LaMonte, Missouri, for a highly anticipated return to the fast, wide, and smooth 3/8 mile clay oval owned and operated by Mike and Carolyn White. A previously scheduled series race at LA Raceway was washed out earlier this year. MLRA first visited the track in 2004 and 2005, twice in 2006 and then returned last year when Billy Moyer, Jr. drove to victory for his first-ever MLRA win.
USRA Modifieds, USRA B-Modifieds, and Street Stocks join the Lucas Oil MLRA to complete the race program. LA Raceway is located at 11649 Highway Y, LaMonte, Missouri, 65337. Call 660-620-1148 or 660-620-1152 for more information or point your browser to www.laraceway.com. Gates open at 5 p.m., hot laps at 7, and racing at 7:30. Admission: Adults $18, Senior/Military $16, Age 11-15, $9. Age 10 and Under Free.