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Drag Boat Nats, MLRA Larry Phillips Memorial at Lucas Oil Speedway

By Lyndal Scranton (Wheatland, MO) -- It's a full Labor Day Weekend of speed on both water and dirt coming up at Lucas Oil Speedway.

The 7th annual Diamond Drag Boat Nationals brings the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series back to "Lake Lucas" Friday through Sunday. Saturday is a big doubleheader day with the Lucas Oil MLRA Series on the dirt track for the Larry Phillips Memorial.

PHOTO: The 7th annual Lucas Oil Diamond Drag Boat Nationals kick off a three-day run on Friday at Lucas Oil Speedway--CREDIT: Kenny Shaw photo

"This is always one of our highlight weekends of the season," Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager Dan Robinson said. "The Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series and the Diamond Drag Boat Nationals have become a Labor Day Weekend tradition and the Larry Phillips Memorial is our way of paying tribute to one of short-track stock-car racing's all-time greats.

"While summertime is winding down and our Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series in the books after a big championship night, we're far from finished with a lot of big specials over the next two months."

Championship chases in the five pro divisions are coming to the wire, with the Diamond Drag Boat Nationals the final event prior to the World Finals Nov. 3-5 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Bryan Sanders can take another step toward a repeat of his Top Fuel Hydro Championship in the Tommy Thompson-owned Nitrochondriac, which had a 270-mile-per-hour run earlier this year. Sanders' win on Lake Lucas in June's John Haas Memorial is one of five victories this season as Nitrochondriac leads Kevin Burgess in the Tom Sorci-owned Locked and Loaded by 951 points.

The points chases are closer in the other divisions with a virtual dead-heat in the Top Alcohol Hydro class. Mike DeClark in his Little White Lie is just 10 points in front of Travis Tutle in Short Fuse entering this weekend.

Other classes see Tony Scarlata and Shazam with a 186-point lead over Bill Diez in War Party (Top Alcohol Flat), Shawn Reed in Top Secret 378 ahead of Casey Beal in Split Decision 3 (Pro Modified) and Tommy Thompson in A Few More Dollars 418 clear of Shannon Beal in Split Decision 2 (Pro Outlaw).

Qualifying runs will occur Friday and Saturday to set the brackets for eliminations which begin at 9 a.m. on Sunday.

Daily schedule and ticket info:
(Friday schedule)
8 a.m. - Spectator gates open
9 a.m. - Round 1 qualifying, sportsman session
10:30 a.m. - Round 1 qualifying, pro session
12:30 p.m. - Round 2 qualifying, sportsman session
2 p.m. - Round 2 qualifying, pro session

(Friday tickets)
Age 6 and up GA/Pit Pass Combo - $10
5 and Under GA/Pit Pass Combo - FREE
Adult 3-Day GA/Pit Pass Combo - $50
Seniors (62 and up)/Military 3-Day GA/Pit Pass Combo - $44
Youth Ages (6-15) 3-Day GA/Pit Pass Combo - $20

(Saturday schedule)
8 a.m. - Spectator gates open
9 a.m. - Round 1 qualifying, sportsman session
10:30 a.m. - Round 1 qualifying, pro session
12:30 p.m. - Round 2 qualifying, sportsman session
2 p.m. - Round 2 qualifying, pro session

(Saturday tickets)
Adults GA/Pit Pass Combo (16 and up) - $25
Seniors (62 and up)/Military GA/Pit Pass Combo (62 and up) - $22
Youth GA/Pit Pass Combo (age 6 to 15) - $10
Kids GA/Pit Pass Combo (age 5 and under) - FREE
Family Pass GA/Pit Pass Combo - $50 Includes admission for two adults and up to three kids (ages 6-15)
Adult 3-Day GA/Pit Pass Combo - $50
Seniors (62 and up)/Military 3-Day GA/Pit Pass Combo - $44
Youth Ages (6-15) 3-Day GA/Pit Pass Combo - $20

(Sunday schedule)
8 a.m. - Spectator gates open
9 a.m. - Round 1 Eliminations (PM, PO)
9:30 a.m. - Round 1 Eliminations (TFH, TAH, TAF)
10:30 a.m. - Round 1 Eliminations (QE, PE, TE, ME, SE, RR, PWC, JR)
12:30 p.m. - Round 2 Eliminations (PM, PO)
1 p.m. - Round 2 Eliminations (TFH, TAH, TAF)
1:30 p.m. - Round 2 Eliminations (QE, PE, TE, ME, SE, RR, PWC, JR)
2:30 p.m. - Round 3 Eliminations (PM, PO)
2:45 p.m. - Round 3 Eliminations (JR, PWC, RR, SE, ME, TE, PE, QE)
3 p.m. - Final Round Eliminations (All Classes)

(Sunday tickets)
Adults GA/Pit Pass Combo (16 and up) - $25
Seniors (62 and up)/Military GA/Pit Pass Combo (62 and up) - $22
Youth GA/Pit Pass Combo (age 6 to 15) - $10
Kids GA/Pit Pass Combo (age 5 and under) - FREE
Family Pass GA/Pit Pass Combo $50 Includes Admission for 2 Adults and Up to 3 Kids Ages - (6-15)
Adult 3-Day GA/Pit Pass Combo - $50
Seniors (62 and up)/Military 3-Day GA/Pit Pass Combo - $44
Youth Ages (6-15) 3-Day GA/Pit Pass Combo - $20

For information on the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series, including archived stories, past results, point standings and the schedule log onto http://www.lucasoildragboats.com.

Larry Phillips Memorial: Meanwhile, a major program is set on the dirt track Saturday night. The Larry Phillips Memorial will find the Lucas Oil MLRA Late Models chasing a $5,075-to-win feature and the Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mods competing in a special 30-lap feature for $1,075 to the winner.

Springfield's Terry Phillips is leading MLRA points by 46 over Rodney Sanders of Happy, Texas, with this weekend's event - the finale of a three-night MLRA swing - a key stop in the championship race.

The event honors the memory of Larry Phillips, the five-time NASCAR Weekly Racing Series national champion from Springfield who was a standout on both dirt and pavement during his career.

Gates will open at 5 p.m. Saturday evening with hot laps at 7 and racing at 7:30. Fans who purchase a boat-race ticket Saturday or a three-day Diamond Drag Boat Nationals pass admitted to the dirt track free.

(Larry Phillips Memorial admission)
Adults (16 and up) $20
Seniors (62 and up)/Military $17
Youth (6-15) $10
Kids (5 and under) FREE
Family Pass $40
Pit Pass $40

For ticket information contact admissions director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or via email at nichole@LucasOilSpeedway.com.

For complete Lucas Oil Speedway event information, archived stories, ticket info and schedules, visit http://www.LucasOilSpeedway.com.

Lucas Oil Speedway is located at Highways 83 and 54 in Wheatland, Missouri. A campground with shower and bathroom facilities is also available. With its entrance located just outside the pit gate this sprawling scenic camping facility will continue to enhance the racing experience at the Diamond of Dirt Tracks.

Click http://www.LucasOilSpeedway.com for more information and detailed directions to the speedway or call the Track Hotline at (417) 282-5984.

In addition, fans can get social with Lucas Oil Speedway by following @LucasSpeedway on Twitter, clicking "Like" at http://www.facebook.com/LucasOilSpeedway and on http://www.youtube.com/LucasOilSpeedway.

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