Lebanon, Mo. / Some information contributed by Ronnie Williams as well as JEGS/CRA Officials. For Immediate Release 5/06/2016 –
Lebanon I-44 Speedway along with Champion Racing Association Powered by JEGS Officials have updated the entry list for next weekend’s 4th Annual Champion Racing Oil “Masters of the Pros” 144 event that will be held at Lebanon I-44 Speedway, located in Lebanon, Missouri. The entry list for that event has now grown to 43 entries. The JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance 144 lap event will pay $8000 to win plus bonuses, making it one of the highest paying crate late model events in the country, plus the winner will be awarded a signature green jacket, similar to the one that is known for adorning the champion of golf’s Masters Event.
Topping the new entries is defending event winner John Hunter Nemechek, son of NASCAR competitor “Front Row” Joe Nemechek. Nemechek is currently the point’s leader in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series heading into Friday night’s truck race at Kansas Speedway in his Andy’s Frozen Custard Chevrolet. Nemechek got a win in the series event at Atlanta in February. Besides last year’s Masters of the Pros win, he has three wins in a row at SpeedFest, one win at Milwaukee and one win at Lucas Oil Raceway along with an ARCA/CRA Super Series win at Lucas Oil Raceway.
Georgia hot shoe Bubba Pollard has also entered. This will be Pollard’s first visit to Lebanon I-44 Speedway, but Pollard has been to victory lane all over the country during his career. Pollard has already been to victory lane a couple of times this year including an ARCA/CRA Super Series win at SpeedFest 2016 and a $40,000 pay day by winning the Winter Showdown at Kern Country Raceway Park in Bakersfield, California on February 28th.
Also entered is NASCAR Legend Sterling Marlin who finished 3rd in last year’s event. The two time Daytona 500 winner captured 10 wins with 216 top 10’s and 11 pole awards during his NASCAR Sprint Cup career. Matt Wallace, son of former NASCAR competitor Mike Wallace, is also entered. Wallace finished second in last year’s event and third in 2014 and is a former weekly competitor at Lebanon I-44 Speedway.
“The phone has been busy the last few days. I spoke to Sterling and he loves this place. He has new equipment for 2016 and really thinks he can put 144 laps together to take the win. Bubba didn’t get to make it work last year with the rain out and date change so he told me this one has been set on his schedule for a while now. John Hunter is just a class act. He learned a lot from Joe and it is showing on the track and anytime you get to spend some time with the young man. To run Dover Friday night and jump in a plane to defend his title here on Saturday makes us very proud to have them here. Especially after the announcement of a local company like Andy’s Frozen Custard joining their race program” said Lebanon I-44 Speedway General Manager, Kevin Greven.
2013 NASCAR Missouri State Champion Cole Williams, who made his ARCA Racing Series debut in April at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville driving a Venturini Motorsports machine, is entered. Williams was the 2014 Pro Late Model Champion at Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville.
Other new entries include Alabama racer Justin South who went to Victory Lane at Montgomery Motor Speedway last weekend. Texas veteran racer Chris Davidson, an 18 time winner in the USRA Super Late Model Series, is also entered, as is North Carolina racer Trevor Noles a winner in the PASS South Series in 2014.
Several more JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour regulars have entered including Trevor Berry, Jerry Andrews and rookies Hope Hornish, niece of NASCAR and Indy car racer Sam Hornish Jr., along with Jared Thomas and Kevin Zielezinski.
Also entered are the last two NASCAR Whelen All American Series Missouri State Champions in 2015 Lebanon I-44 Speedway Pro Late Model Champion JC Newell along with 2014 Lebanon I-44 Speedway Pro Late Model Champion Kaleb Allison. Other local drivers who have now entered include Brennon Willard, Josh Woody, and the 2015 NASCAR Missouri State Rookie of the Year Kyle Donahue, Kevin Donahue and Richard Lewis.
The top 20 in Boyne Machine qualifying will be locked into the Champion Racing Oil “Masters of the Pros” 144 with the Boyne Machine Fast Qualifier drawing the invert, which could be a five through a possible ten. Positions 21 through 24 will come from the top four teams in 2015 JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Owner Points not already locked into the show. Positions 25 through 28 will come from either one or two 15 lap Last Chance races. There will be a 10 minute break at lap 100 of the main event, were teams can change up to two tires, the cars will be relined up for the final 44 green flag laps by how many tires they change.
“There are so many talented drivers coming to I-44 for this show and we are lucky to have partners like Champion Racing Oil and Empire Energy to partner with us to put the show on. It will be great to have our three NASCAR Whelen All American Series Missouri State Champions and so many of our weekly competitors here to compete on their home track. All 43 of these drivers will be here for the fans as well in the driver autograph session Saturday afternoon. They love to meet the fans at Lebanon I-44 Speedway” Greven continued.
The Speedway will hold an open practice session on Friday Night, May 13th that will be FREE to the public to come watch in both the grandstand area and the “Wildside” Tier Parking area. Saturday the gates will open by 3pm with timed qualifying to help set the starting grid and last chance events for the 28 Car Field. Action will also feature a special autograph session following qualifying and two NASCAR support Classes competing as well.
Tickets for Saturdays Champion Racing Oil “Masters of the Pro’s” 144 will be just $22 for adults in the grandstands, $18 military, seniors and juniors (11-15) are only $10. Adults on the wild side are just $25, military and seniors are just $21 and juniors (11-15) are just $10 while kids 10 and under are FREE in both areas!
Champion Brands, LLC, originally Lowe Oil Co. founded by Ralph Lowe in 1956, is a globally recognized industry leader in specialty lubricants for over 60 years. Champion also produces and blends more than 300 products including fuel, brake fluid, oil and engine additives and lubricants for the automotive, heavy truck, agricultural and specialty markets.
Champion Brands understands the complexities of doing business in today’s market and is always looking for new and better ways to make your company more efficient and increase your bottom line. Quality products are more than a commitment at Champion; our high standards define the way we do business.
The headquarters, located in Clinton, Missouri, just 75 miles southeast of Kansas City and 100 miles northwest of Lebanon I-44 Speedway, is ideal for timely, cost-effective service and distribution. Champion’s 450,000 square foot plant accommodates more than one million gallons of bulk storage with convenient rail siding.
Good people are the heart of Champion Brands. Passion, dedication, knowledge and a can-do attitude drive the growth of our company and assure you that you can always count on us.
Empire Energy is the local distributor of Champion Brands along with many other great products to serve their customers such as unleaded fuel, clear diesel, red diesel and VP Racing Fuel. Empire Energy is located at 320 West Pierce in Lebanon and ready to serve their customers with a wide range of quality racing, ag, bulk, construction and fuel products along with delivery services! Empire Energy constantly strives to exceed your expectations to keep you coming back!
For more information visit the website at www.i44speedway.net and be sure to like us at Lebanon I-44 Speedway on Facebook for updated information on Missouri’s only NASCAR sanction facility and the only weekly asphalt track within 300 miles. More information on the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance is available at www.cra-racing.com.