WAYCROSS, GA (December 15, 2011) – For the 8th consecutive year, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will sanction the DART Winternationals at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, FL. The 36th Annual DART Winternationals will be held from Sunday, February 12th to Saturday, February 18th. This year’s events at the famed “Clay by the Bay” will kick off a little later than usual, moving back to the second full week in February. Each night, holtaps will begin at 6:00PM, with a full show to follow. The decision to push back the start times will serve fans and competitors well, allowing local fans to catch more of the action each night. Travelling fans will get to explore the greater Tampa Bay area and see the sights before heading to the track. For the competitors, the new start times will allow less laps on the track while the sun is still beating down on it, keeping the track nice and tacky all night long.

“The promoters Al, Todd and Mike along the series, made the decision to push back the start times to enhance the wide open, side-by-side, ‘East Bay style’ racing. Allowing the sun to set before we get started will help to ensure better racing by the drivers and more high-flying action for the fans,” stated Ritchie Lewis, Series Director.

The tire rule for the 2012 East Bay Winternationals will be as follows: American Racer SD23, SD33, SD38, SD44, SD48 and MD56 along with Hoosier 1100, 1200, 1300, 1350, LM20, LM40, 1600 and the shoulder plated D55. Tire dimensions will be checked for circumference and width according to the LOLMDS Rule Book. Wheel widths will also be checked as outlined in the LOLMDS Rule Book. Additionally, each competitor must use the same set of 4 tires for both time trials and heat race in order to maintain their original starting spot in their assigned heat race. If a competitor does not use the same tires that they qualified on for their heat race, the competitor will start the heat race from the tail of the field.

If a driver has a flat tire during their time trials, they must take that tire to LOLMDS Technical Director, AJ Bingham, for inspection. He will determine if the competitor will be relegated to the tail of the field or if the competitor will be allowed to compete with a previously used tire of the same compound and retain their assigned starting position in their heat race. For the B-Mains, competitors must use three of the four tires that the competitor used for qualifing and his heat race, and will only be allowed one new tire for the B-Main. For the feature, competitors may use all new tires.

The use of a head and neck restraint device/systems, certified to SFI Spec 38.1 is required, per the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rule Book. This rule went into effect on September 1st, 2010. Any driver that has not entered in an LOLMDS competition or has not reached their three-race grace period after this rule went into effect will still receive the three-race grace period or the remainder thereof, but must comply once they have exceeded the grace period during the 6 races that make up the DART Winternationals.

For more information on the 36th Annual East Bay “DART Winternationals”, log onto the track’s website at www.eastbayracewaypark.com.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, visit the series website at www.lucasdirt.com or call the series’ office at (951) 532-2503.

2012 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series/East Bay “DART Winternationals” Schedule
East Bay Raceway Park-Tampa, FL
Sunday, February 12th – Open Practice Session – 6-9 PM
Monday, February 13th – $5,000 to win
Tuesday, February 14th – $5,000 to win
Wednesday, February 15th – $7,000 to win
Thursday, February 16th – $7,000 to win
Friday, February 17th – $10,000 to win (points event)
Saturday, February 18th – $10,000 to win (points event)

2012 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Schedule
Venue Track City, State To Win
13-Feb East Bay Raceway Park Tampa, FL $5,000
14-Feb East Bay Raceway Park Tampa, FL $5,000
15-Feb East Bay Raceway Park Tampa, FL $7,000
16-Feb East Bay Raceway Park Tampa, FL $7,000
17-Feb East Bay Raceway Park Tampa, FL $10,000
18-Feb East Bay Raceway Park Tampa, FL $10,000
24-Mar Brownstown Speedway Brownstown, IN $10,000
30-Mar Jackson Motor Speedway Jackson, MS $10,000
31-Mar Lonestar Speedway Kilgore, TX $10,000
13,14-Apr Virginia Motor Speedway Saluda, VA $25,000
20-Apr Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex Markleysburg, PA $10,000
21-Apr Hagerstown Speedway Hagerstown, MD $10,000
4-May Tri-City Speedway Pontoon Beach, IL $10,000
5-May Paducah International Raceway Paducah, KY $10,000
11-May Hartford Motor Speedway Hartford, MI $10,000
12-May La Salle Speedway La Salle, IL $10,000
18,19-May Batesville Motor Speedway Batesville, AR $20,000
25,26-May Lucas Oil Speedway Wheatland, MO $30,000
1-Jun Tazewell Speedway Tazewell, TN $10,000
2-Jun Florence Speedway Florence, KY $10,000
22-Jun Cherokee Speedway Gaffney, SC $10,000
23-Jun Wythe Raceway Rural Retreat, VA $10,000
1-Jul Portsmouth Raceway Park Portsmouth, OH $10,000
3-Jul Muskingum County Speedway Zanesville, OH $10,000
6,7-Jul Magnolia Motor Speedway Columbus, MS $20,000
13-Jul Tri-City Speedway Pontoon Beach, IL $10,000
14-Jul Lucas Oil Speedway Wheatland, MO $10,000
20,21-Jul I-80 Speedway Greenwood, NE $25,000
24-Jul Stateline Speedway Busti, NY $10,000
25-Jul Utica Rome Speedway Vernon, NY $10,000
26-Jul Fonda Speedway Fonda, NY $10,000
28-Jul Hagerstown Speedway Hagerstown, MD $10,000
10,11-Aug Florence Speedway Florence, KY $50,000
17,18-Aug Batesville Motor Speedway Batesville, AR $40,000
23-Aug Volunteer Speedway Bulls Gap, TN $10,000
25-Aug Lawrenceburg Speedway Lawrenceburg, IN $10,000
31-Aug, 1-Sep Portsmouth Raceway Park Portsmouth, OH $20,000
2-Sep TBA TBA $25,000
14,15-Sep Virginia Motor Speedway Saluda, VA $20,000
21,22-Sep Brownstown Speedway Brownstown, IN $20,000
27-Sep Knoxville Raceway Knoxville, IA $7,000
28-Sep Knoxville Raceway Knoxville, IA $7,000
29-Sep Knoxville Raceway Knoxville, IA $40,000
6-Oct Dixie Speedway Woodstock, GA $10,000
7-Oct Rome International Speedway Rome, GA $10,000
19,20-Oct Atomic Speedway Alma, OH $50,000