(LEBANON, Missouri, by Sarah Woodhurst) The ASA-sanctioned racing action at Lebanon I-44 Speedway this Saturday, July 23 will be as hot as the temperature outside as the popular Outlaw Mini Stock racing series will return to the high-banked asphalt oval and a $100 ‘bounty’ will be placed on 7-time Modified feature winner Tyler Scott of Nixa. Spectator gates will open at 5:00 pm, with the six divisions of stock cars scheduled to begin racing at 7:30 on the 3/8-mile track.
Scott, the 18-year-old driver of the #57 Modified machine, has won the past five feature races in a row and has seven feature wins to his name just this season. Scott’s dominance in this division has led to a $100 bonus going to any driver who can beat him. This bounty will increase by $100 every week until someone other than Scott visits Monster Energy Victory Lane. One rule has been added to the bounty, however: Scott must finish the race.
“Young Mr. Scott has become very familiar with Victory Lane this season,” I-44 Speedway promoter Craig Armstrong said. “With the talented group of Modified drivers that have been showing up weekly, I believe this bounty is going to raise the intensity of the racing. At I-44 Speedway, we are all about having fun. This bounty on Scott, and the return of the Outlaw Mini Stock drivers on Saturday will not disappoint as all six classes of racing are as competitive as they have been all year.”
The open-wheeled stock silhouette ‘Modifieds’ with the newly-added bounty, as well as the powerful ASA feature division Late Model stock cars will be in action during this Saturday’s ‘Kickin’ Asphalt’ show at the only operating paved oval track in Missouri. The Sportsman class stock cars, Road Warriors – big, steel bodied ‘bomber’ type stock cars – and a four-cylinder subcompact class of cars called Chargers will also be in action Saturday night. In addition to the I-44 Speedway classes, a talented field of traveling Outlaw Mini Stock drivers will return to the Laclede County oval.
Fans have the choice to view the racing action from the alcohol-free, ‘family friendly’ grandstand or along the backstretch of the track where tier parking is provided for cars, pickup trucks and RV’s. Known by longtime I-44 Speedway fans as the ‘Budweiser Wild Side’, fans may park, tailgate, and view the races with beer that may be brought in the tier parking areas. Full food and non-alcoholic beverage concessions are available in both the grandstands and tier parking, along with a Souvenir and track apparel booth.
Grandstand admission is $10 for Adults, ages 16 and older, while Adult admission in tier parking is $12. Discounted admission for Seniors (ages 65 and older), Military personnel, and Juniors (ages 11-15) is offered in both locations and Children (ages 10 and under) have free admission. A grandstand Family Pass for 2 Adults and 2 Juniors plus any number of Kids 10 and younger is available for $25, while six Adults entering in the same vehicle on tier parking will be admitted on the ‘Budweiser Wild Side’ for $60. With the recent hot temperatures in southern Missouri, fans may find it appealing to view the races from one of the nine climate-controlled luxury suites that are available for an upscale experience at the track. This premium seating in the just-completed VIP Suite tower will be offered for $25 per person.
Located just four miles east of the Lebanon city limit on Historic Route 66, Lebanon I-44 Speedway is very accessible from anywhere in southern Missouri. The most direct route is Interstate 44 to Exit 135, which is the Sleeper exit, and then one mile west on Route 66 to the track’s main entrance. Additional information about the track’s 2011 ‘Kickin’ Asphalt’ racing schedule may be found of the facility’s official website, www.i44speedway.net.