|
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series gets back on the track for a rare Monday and Tuesday race dates at two tracks familiar on the race schedule. On Monday Night, August 6th the premier dirt late model touring series in the nation comes to the La Salle Speedway in La Salle, IL for the "Illinois Valley Challenge" and on Tuesday Night, August 7th the stars and cars of the Lucas Oil Series head for the second time in two years to the Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway in Dubuque, IA. Both shows will pay $10,000 to win and $700 to start. The event at La Salle will be taped by SPEED Channel and will be shown on a date and time to be announced in the future.
The event at La Salle will mark the second time this year the series has visited the Izzo Family promoted facility located halfway between Chicago, IL and Davenport, IA in North Central Illinois, earlier this year back in May it was 20-year old Justin Rattliff of Campbellsville, KY scoring his first career Lucas Oil Series win by taking the $10,000 to win "Spring Shootout" for the biggest win of his career. Rattliff, who currently leads the COMP Cams "Rookie of the Year" chase, overtook Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN to become the fifth different winner in the five previous visits by the series to La Salle. Other drivers who have entered the Lucas Oil Victory Lane at La Salle include; Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, WI, Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA, Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, IL and Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN.
Birkhofer will be on hand Tuesday Night at Dubuque to try and defend his Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of a year ago. Birkhofer had to hold off Dubuque youngster, Jeremiah Hurst of the win in front of his home state fans. The event which was the first at the Simmons Promotions, Inc. facility drew rave reviews for being a very racy 3/8ths mile high banked oval.
Two-time and defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion and reigning World 100 Champion, Earl Pearson, Jr. of Jacksonville, FL will led the contingent of series drivers into Illinois and Iowa on August 6th and 7th. Pearson appears to be one of the hottest dirt later model drivers in the country right now as he enters the stretch run looking for his third straight series title. Pearson who drives for 2000 NASCAR Champion, Bobby Labonte won the last Lucas Oil Series point's race back on July 21st at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO. Pearson on an off weekend for the Lucas Oil Series picked up a win at Tony Stewart's Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, OH on July 27th in World of Outlaw Late Model competition.
2007 Eldora Dream Winner, Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN comes into the two nights of important points racing trailing Pearson by 145 points in the championship hunt. Casebolt a two-time series winner this season is ahead of another two-time series winner this year, Lawrenceburg, IN's Scott James by just 15 points. Terry English of Benton, KY is fourth in the points as he spent this past weekend in victory circle winning events in Paducah, KY and Atwood, TN with Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH fifth in the current points after his third place finish at Wheatland on July 21st.
The rest of the top ten in points heading to La Salle and Dubuque are; Justin Rattliff of Campbellsville, KY, Billy Drake of Bloomington, IL, Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, WI, Damon Eller of Crumpler, NC and Brad Neat of Dunnville, KY.
There will be a complete show each night with Drivers meetings to begin at 5:30PM for LaSalle and 6:00PM at Dubuque Speedway for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series with LifeLong Locks Time Trials, Hawk Brake and Quarter Master sponsored heat races to begin at 7:30PM each night. The number of heats will be determined by the number of entrants. There will be Mason Racin' Rebel Shock Dyno and Penske Shocks B-Mains with the $10,000 to win and $700 to start feature events to follow.
Tire Rule for both LaSalle and Dubuque events will be American Racer compounds SD44, SD48 & MD56. Hoosier Racing Tire compounds 1300, 1350, 1600 &LM20-LM40.
For more information on these two race tracks you can go online at www.lasallespeedway.com and www.simmonspromotionsinc.com.
Info on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series can be viewed at www.lucasdirt.com or by calling the series office at (951) 532-2503.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Next Events:
Monday Night, August 6th
La Salle Speedway-La Salle, IL
"Illinois Valley Challenge"
$10,000 to win/$700 to start
Tuesday Night, August 7th
Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway
Dubuque, IA
$10,000 to win/$700 to start |
|
