Wheatland, MO (March 29th, 2011)- The Annual Pre-Season Test and Tune is set to take place this Saturday April 2nd, at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri. The Pit Gates are set to open at 10:00am with open practice scheduled from Noon until approximately 6pm. The Two-Day Rex Merritt Racing School will also take place this weekend with classroom sessions on Saturday starting at 9:00am and on track activities on Sunday also scheduled to begin at 9am. Grandstand Admission will be FREE on Saturday with Pit Passes set at only $15, a limited number of Pit Side Concessions will be available. Technical Inspectors and Officials will be on hand for Pre-Season Technical Inspection.
Final reservations for the racing school are currently being accepted by calling the Lucas Oil Speedway office at (417) 282-5984 or by emailing dan@lucasoilspeedway.com. This school is for drivers in all types of cars including Late Models, Modifieds, Factory Stocks and Hobby Stocks and is taught by one of the best in the business, Rex Merritt. Rex brings a wealth of racing knowledge and experience to the school not only as an extremely successful veteran racer on both dirt and asphalt but he is also a Shock and Spring Specialist for Bilstein Shock Absorbers. Modified hot shoe Jason Hughes from West Plains, Missouri will assist during the school. Don’t miss out, reserve your spot today!
Day one of the racing school involves primarily classroom work at the beautiful Lucas Oil Speedway facility in Wheatland, Missouri. Topics on Day One include Front Suspension, Rear Suspension, Braking, Maintenance & Scaling, Shocks & Springs, and Tires. The cost for Day One only of the class is $175.
Day Two takes to the racetrack for expert advice on driving techniques including heavy vs. slick track, tight vs. loose conditions, how to pass, using the brakes for traction, outthinking your competition and differences in driving the cushion vs. the bottom of the racetrack. The cost for day two of the school is $75. Both days are only $200 but space is limited so reserve your spot today by calling (417) 282-5984 or please visit www.LucasOilSpeedway.com for more information. Classes start both days at 9:00am.
About Rex Merritt
Rex has over 500 career feature wins in 30 plus years of racing. Accomplishments include over 36 Track Championships including the 2008 Lucas Oil Speedway Modified Crown, and Championships in IMCA Modifieds, NASCAR Modifieds, Dirt Late Models, and Asphalt Late Models. Rex is a 3 TIME “World Series of Asphalt” Winner in New Smyrna Beach Florida, past IMCA Asphalt Supernationals Champion, 3-Time Winternationals Champion, 3-time IMCA Supernationals “Race of Champions” Winner, and IMCA Iron Man Award Winner. Rex has been featured in many Motorsports Magazines including: Speedway Illustrated, Circle Track Magazine, Stockcar Racing, Big “O” Sports, and Dirt Late Model. He has also been featured on ESPN, SPEED Channel, and Prime Network Racing Television Shows along with local sports programs.
The biggest season in Lucas Oil Speedway’s history kicks off on Saturday, April 9th, as the Lucas Oil MLRA Dirt Late Model Series invades Wheatland, Missouri for the first time in 2011. A huge field of Pitt’s Homes A-Modifieds is also expected for this first mega event of the 2011 Season at the “Diamond of Dirt Tracks.” Al Purkey scored his first ever Lucas Oil Speedway MLRA win at last season’s Lucas Oil Speedway opener on his way to his Seventh MLRA title. Special attractions on Opening night include a special performance and post race concert by the band Rideshy along with the Rockstar Energy Drink Dirt Late Model Simulator, Kids Inflatables on the Midway, a special guest appearance by Miss Missouri Erika Hebron plus a special bonus Fireworks Display by AM Pyrotechnics! Advanced Tickets are available by clicking http://lucasoilspeedway.showclix.com/
About Lucas Oil Speedway
The Lucas Oil Speedway is considered by Industry Insiders to be one of the top five Race Tracks in the Nation. Located in Wheatland Missouri, about an hour north of Springfield and only about an hour and a half from Kansas City. It’s called “The Diamond of Race Tracks” and it certainly lives up to that title. Twenty one luxury suites, a giant HD Jumbo Tron Screen, Musco Sports lighting, a Bose Stadium Sound System, Go Kart Track for all ages, The Diamond Bar, the best track food in the country, and the nicest pits in dirt track racing are just a few of the amenities that set us apart. New for 2011 will be Championship Drag Boat Racing at the Brand New Liquid Quarter Mile scheduled for completion Mid-Summer 2011.
We host some of the largest dirt track events in the Midwest featuring some of the biggest names in racing including: The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, POWRi Midget National Series, The Lucas Oil Pro-Pulling League, Casey’s General Stores USMTS Modifieds, Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series, ASCS Sprint Cars, and The Lucas Oil MLRA.
In addition to the awesome special events, the Lucas Oil Speedway hosts the “Rockstar Energy Drink Championship Series” of weekly racing featuring the TNT Quick Shop Late Models, the Pitt’s Homes A-Modifieds, and the Carson’s Corner Napa Factory Stocks. The National Race Media has called these shows, “some of the Best Weekly Racin’ in the Nation!”
Last season the speedway boasted over 7 Nationally Televised Events on MavTV, SPEED CHANNEL and the Versus Network. CBS Sports comes on board for (3) huge events this season including the 19th Annual DART Show-Me 100, the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Truck and Tractor Pull, and the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Event scheduled for July 2011. For complete information including this seasons schedule, log on to www.LucasOilSpeedway.com
Click Here for a Printable 2011 Lucas Oil Speedway Schedule
2011 Lucas Oil Speedway Sponsors
AAA of Missouri- “The Official Title Sponsor of the Start/Finish Line” of Lucas Oil Speedway
Bill Roberts Chevrolet- “The Official Truck” of Lucas Oil Speedway
Canidae Pet Foods – “The Official Pet Foods” of the Lucas Oil Speedway
DART Machinery – “The Official Engine Components” of the Lucas Oil Speedway
E3 Spark Plugs – “The Official Spark Plug” of the Lucas Oil Speedway
Geico Power Sports – “The Official Insurance” of the Lucas Oil Speedway
General Tire – “The Official Tire” of the Lucas Oil Speedway
K&N Filters – “The Official Filter” of the Lucas Oil Speedway
Lucas Oil Products – “The Official Oil” of the Lucas Oil Speedway
Magnaflow Exhaust – “The Official Exhaust” of the Lucas Oil Speedway
MavTV – “The Official Men’s Network” of the Lucas Oil Speedway
Rockstar Energy Drink – “The Official Energy Drink” of the Lucas Oil Speedway
Speedco – “The Official Truck Lube and Tire Center” of the Lucas Oil Speedway
Sunoco Race Fuels – “The Official Fuel” of the Lucas Oil Speedway
2011 Lucas Oil Speedway Supporters Include: AAA Missouri, A-1 Disposal, A & G Electric, Advanced Automotive Repair, American Broadband, American Racer Race Tires, Andy’s Frozen Custard, Bank of Urbana, Barnes Well Drilling, Big Surf Water Park, Bill Roberts Chevrolet/Buick, Bobbie’s Cafe, Budweiser, Carson’s Corner Napa Auto Parts, Casey’s General Stores, Citizens Memorial Healthcare, Fast Shafts, Friendly Fuel America, Gathering Place, GM Performance Parts, Hermitage Lumber, Hoffman Racecars, Hoosier Race Tires, Impact Signs, Awnings, and Wraps, inthepits.net, Lucas Cattle Company, Lucas Slick Mist, MFA Bolivar, Maples Ford, Midwest Low-E Insulation, Midwest Sheet Metal, Nemo Quarry, O’Bannon Bank, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper, Petro Truck Stops, Pitt’s Homes, Pitt’s Realty, Pitt’s Cattle, Racinboys.com, Racindirt.com, Reliable Chevrolet, Sawyer Tire & Lube, SBU Athletics, Shadow Lake Golf, Sunflower Resort, TravelCenters of America, TNT Quick Shop, White’s Marine Center