WAYCROSS, GA (March 14, 2012) – Anticipation is running high for the $25,000-to-win Third Annual Commonwealth 100 scheduled for April 13th and 14th at Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway in Jamaica, VA. This year’s event will have a new twist, as the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will now sanction the $25,000 to win two-day event. The weekend will also include a $3000 to win non-qualifiers race to give more racers a chance to make some money that weekend.

Not only is this event shaping up to be one of the biggest events of the year to attend, but Lucas Oil Studios will also be on hand to tape the event. The Commonwealth 100 at Virginia Motor Speedway on April 13-14th will be the first televised event in 2012 for the LOLMDS. The event will air on both SPEED and NBC Sports Network in 2012. The SPEED Channel will air the event on May 13th at 6PM EST while NBC Sports Network will air the event on June 10 at 6PM EST.

Race fans can expect to see the best in national and regional dirt late model drivers for this highly anticipated event. Defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Champion Jimmy Owens, Scott Bloomquist, Earl Pearson Jr., Don O’Neal, Steve Francis, Ray Cook, John Blankenship, Jared Landers, Tyler Reddick, Eric Wells, Terry Casey, Austin Hubbard, and Jonathan Davenport are just a few of the series regulars expected to compete. Joining those national stars will be defending race winner Steve Shaver, Booper Bare, Ricky Elliott, Jason Covert, Jamie Lathroum, and a host of other regional hot shoes competing for the top prize.

“When you look at the car counts and the exciting racing that was put on during Florida Speedweeks it only gets you amped and excited to have the best dirt late model drivers in the country headed to Virginia for what we feel is going to be the best Commonwealth 100 yet,” commented track General Manager Clarke Sawyer.

Fans have until April 1st to grab one of the best deals in dirt Late Model racing – a two-day advance adult ticket for just $30; Senior / Military are $27 and students (7-17) just $15. All tickets are general admission. No reserved seats will be sold for the event. Fans can purchase tickets by visiting www.vamotorspeedway.com, downloading the advance ticket order form and sending it to the track with a money order or cashier’s check (no personal checks), or by calling the speedway office at 804-758-1867 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and using a Mastercard, Visa, or Discover card.

Drivers, meanwhile, can also save by entering the Commonwealth 100 prior to the early-entry deadline of April 1. The $150 early-entry fee not only saves racers $50 off the regular $200 entry fee but also includes a two-day driver pit pass worth $50.

The Commonwealth 100 weekend kicks off on Friday, April 13th, with time trials, heat races, while B-Mains, the 30-lap Non-Qualifiers’ Race, and the 100-lap feature event take center stage on Saturday, April 14th. A rain-date of Sunday, April 15th, has been established for the event.

“The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is excited and pumped up about sanctioning the “Commonwealth 100″ this year. Not only is the Virginia Motor Speedway one of the finest facilities in the country, this event is really shaping up to be a huge event for both fans and racers. Were also very happy to be bringing the Lucas Oil Studios trucks to the event to tape it for broadcast on both SPEED and NBC Sports Network. The entire staff and Sawyer family are really great people to work with and track owners and promoters all over the country should copy what they do at Virginia Motor Speedway. The two day advanced ticket prices are really a great bargain for the caliber of show the fans will get to see”, stated Ritchie Lewis, series director.

To learn more about the “Commonwealth 100” and Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway fans may call the Speedway office at (804) 758-1VMS or visit the track’s web site at www.vamotorspeedway.com.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, visit the series’ website at www.lucasdirt.com.
Be sure and visit the series on social media outlets as well at http://www.facebook.com/lucasdirt and http://twitter.com/#!/lucasdirt.

Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings

1. Dennis Erb Jr. (Carpentersville, IL) – 455
2. Jimmy Owens (Newport, TN) – 420
3. Steve Francis (Ashland, KY) – 415
4. Randy Korte (Highland, IL) – 395
5. Jonathan Davenport (Blairsville, GA) – 390
6. Tyler Reddick (Corning, CA) -390
7. Austin Hubbard (Seaford, DE) – 385
8. Earl Pearson Jr. (Jacksonville, FL) – 360
9. Donnie Moran (Dresden, OH) – 360
10. Don O’Neal (Martinsville, IN) – 345

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 I-77 Raceway Park Ripley, WV $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 Portsmouth Raceway Park Portsmouth, OH $50,000

2012 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Sponsors

ASI Racewear – “The Official Merchandise Vendor” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Canidae Pet Foods – “The Official Pet Foods” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

DART Machinery – “The Official Engine Components” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

E3 Spark Plugs – “The Official Spark Plug” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Geico – “The Official Insurance” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

General Tire – “The Official Tire” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Hoosier Tire – “The Official Race Tire” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Lucas Oil Products – “The Official Oil” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
MavTV – “The Official Men’s Network” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Optima Batteries – “The Official Battery” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Speedco – “The Official Truck Lube and Tire Center” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Sunoco Race Fuels – “The Official Fuel” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

U. S. Steel – “The Official Steel Manufacturer” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

2012 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Supporters Include:

Allstar Performance, American Racer, Banshee Graphics, Barry Wright Race Cars, Bloomquist Race Cars, COMP Cams, Chizmark Larson Insurance, Cornett Racing Engines, Cruise with the Champions, CV Products, DirtonDirt.com, Dyers Top Rods, Edlebrock, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, FK Rod Ends, Gaerte Engines, Hawk Performance, Jay Dickens Racing Engines, JE Pistons, JRi Shocks, Keyser MFG, Longhorn Chassis, MasterSbilt Chassis, Öhlins, Outerwears, PBM/Erson Cams, PAC Racing Springs, Performance Bodies, Pierce Racecars, PRC, Pro Power Racing, Quarter Master, Race Engine Design, Red Buck Cigars, Rhyne Race Engines, Rick Schwallie Photography, Ringers Gloves, Rocket Chassis, Roush Yates Engines, Roush Yates Performance Parts, Simpson Performance Products, Sweet Mfg, Vic Hill Race Engines, Weld Racing Wheels, Wiles Drive Shafts, Wrisco, 5150 Race Trailers.

James Essex, Public Relations Coordinator, jessex@lucasdirt.com