by Lyndal Scranton – Independence, Iowa (May 31, 2017) – After mixing it up with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series over the weekend at the Show-Me 100, the Lucas Oil MLRA regulars return to action this weekend with a big, three-race swing.
Action kicks off Thursday night at Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Mo., with a $2,000-to-win feature. Action moves to Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa on Friday night before wrapping on Saturday night at Randolph County Raceway in Moberly, Mo. Winner of both the Friday and Saturday features will take home $3,000.
“All three tracks always provide great action,” Lucas Oil MLRA Series Assistant Director Ernie Leftwich said. “Based on our early season results, it’s going to be a tremendous battle as the series points chase – both atop the overall standings and for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year – starts to sort itself out.”
Tony Jackson Jr. of Lebanon, Mo. – coming off a solid 11th-place finish in the Show-Me 100 – sits atop the MLRA points standings just six in front of Rodney Sanders of Happy, Texas. Defending MLRA champion Jesse Stovall of Billings, Mo., is 20 points behind Jackson with 2015 series champ Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., just 20 behind Stovall.
Sanders is the early frontrunner for Sunoco Rookie of the Year, but 22-year-old Payton Looney of Republic, Mo., is coming off a head-turning weekend at the Show-Me 100. Looney set fast qualifying time on Friday night at Lucas Oil Speedway and started the 100-lap Sunday-night feature sixth. Engine problems relegated him to a 30th-place finish.
“It didn’t end the way we wanted it to end,” Looney said of his Show-Me weekend, “but we made a good showing the first couple nights and maybe opened a few eyes.”
This will mark the second time in 2017 the MLRA Series has visited Lee County Speedway. Chris Simpson of Oxford, Iowa, prevailed there on May 4, with Jackson finishing second and Jimmy Mars in third.
At Scotland County Speedway on Thursday, hot laps are set for 6:45 p.m. with racing to follow. Grandstand admission is $20 for adults, $8 for youth and free ages 6-and-under. Adult pit passes are $30, and $20 for ages 7-13, $10 ages 4-6 and $3 ages 3-and-under. Go to Scotland County Speedway’s Facebook page for more info or call (660) 465-8948.
On Friday at Lee County Speedway, hot laps commence at 6:45 p.m. with racing at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 seniors, $12 for youth (ages 11-17) and free for ages 10-and-under. Pit passes are $30. Visit LeeCountySpeedway.com for more information or call (641) 521-0330.
Hot laps are schedule for 6:30 p.m. with racing at 7 on Saturday at Randolph County Raceway in Moberly. For more information visit RandolphCountyRaceway.com or call (660) 651-8599.
For all of the latest news and information fans are encouraged to visit the series website at www.MLRARacing.com.
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