---

Whitetail Trophy Hunt again throws its support behind richer Big Buck 50 at Lucas Oil Speedway

WHEATLAND, Missouri - After a memorable weekend of open-wheel racing with the 8th annual Jesse Hockett/Daniel McMillin Memorial, focus at Lucas Oil Speedway has shifted toward the biggest event of the season for the Big O Tires Street Stocks.

The 5th annual Big Buck 50 Presented by Whitetail Trophy Hunt is just over a week away with enthusiasm running high for the Oct. 4-6 event, which will pay $10,000-to-win - double the amount from last year - to the final-night feature winner.

The growth of the race is exactly what Whitetail Trophy Hunt owner Craig Danuser had in mind when he sat down with Dan Robinson, Lucas Oil Director of Racing Operations for Lucas Oil Speedway, and talked about sponsoring the race beginning with the 2015 edition.

"That was our exact plan. We wanted to make it the greatest Street Stock race in the Midwest," said Danuser, a former Street Stock driver himself. "Everybody was having $5,000 and $10,000 (to win) races and we had a $2,500 race drawing 30 cars. We wanted to draw 100 cars and we've got close."

Last year's Big Buck 50 drew 96 entries. This could be the year it reaches triple digits, with entries coming in from several surrounding states. Drivers are reminded that early entry is $100 if received before Oct. 1 and $125 thereafter.

Danuser said he's seen races in southern states model themselves after the Big Buck 50, but offering deer hunt packages as part of the winning prize. The Big Buck 50 winner also receives a free entry into the 30th annual Whitetail Trophy Hunt this November, worth $3,000.

The prestigious hunt in mid-Missouri, which is limited to 230 people, has been sold out since February. The hunt winner will earn $15,000 so, potentially, the Big Buck 50 winner could make a gigantic haul.

Tim Brown of Stoutland won the Big Buck 50 in 2016 for $5,000, plus the free hunt worth $3,000. He went on to finish ninth in the Whitetail Trophy Hunt to earn another $2,000.

More information about the Whitetail Trophy Hunt can be found at whitetail.net. Nearly $5 million in prize money has been awarded in the hunt over the last 29 years.

Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager Danny Lorton has announced two more awards sponsors for the race:

• Alamo Arms again will award $500 to the first non-qualifier to the race. Alamo Arms, in Montreal, Missouri, is a go-to place for firearms, ammo and reloading supplies. It's conveniently located at the junction of Highways 7 and E. For more information, call (573) 346-9944. This October marks the sixth anniversary of Alamo Arms, which is owned by Tom and Becky Carroll.

• Tony Jackson and Tony Jackson Racing again will provide $500 for the Fast Time Bonus to the driver quickest in time trials on Oct. 4. Jackson, a veteran Late Model standout, has become a leading builder of Street Stocks through Tony Jackson Racing.

This year's feature payout will be as follows: 1st $10,000; 2nd $5,000; 3rd $2,500; 4th $1,500. 5th $1,250; 6th $1,000; 7th $900; 8th $850; 9th $800; 10th $750; 11th $700; 12th $650; 13th $600; 14th $550; 15th-through-24th $500; non-transfers $200.

The Warsaw Auto Marine & RV ULMA Late Models will also be on the program running complete shows on Friday with $1,000 to the winner and on Saturday with $2,000 to the winner.

Action will kick off on Thursday, Oct. 4 with open practice from 6-9 p.m. and time trials for the Street Stocks. On Friday, there will be qualifying heat races with the top two advancing to two 10-lap dashes. The first dash, consisting of heat-race winners, will set the first eight spots in the feature lineup; the second dash, from the second-place heat finishers, will produce positions 9-16 for the A Feature.

On Saturday, last-chance races will finalize the Big Buck 50 feature field with the Late Models competing in heats and features. Two Lucas Oil Speedway provisionals will be added to the feature field based on final 2018 Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series points standings.

For entry information drivers can go to LucasOilSpeedway.com and go to "Driver Dashboard" or call the speedway office at (417) 282-5984 for more information.

For ticket information on all events at Lucas Oil Speedway in 2018, contact Admission Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or by email at nichole@LucasOilSpeedway.com. Fans also can go online to purchase tickets for any event on the 2018 schedule.

Oct. 4th-6th, 2018: Big Buck 50 Presented by Whitetail Trophy Hunt
The 5th annual Big Buck 50 Presented by Whitetail Trophy Hunt is set for Oct. 4-6 at Lucas Oil Speedway.

Complete Lucas Oil Speedway event information, archived race recaps, previews and driver features, along with ticket information and 2018 schedule can be found by visiting 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 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 www.facebook.com/LucasOilSpeedway and on www.youtube.com/LucasOilSpeedway

About Lucas Oil Speedway
Lucas Oil Speedway is considered by fans, drivers and industry insiders to be one of the top five racing facilities in the nation. Located in Wheatland, Missouri, approximately an hour from Springfield, Missouri, and just an hour and a half from the Kansas City metro area, the "Diamond of Dirt Tracks" lives up to its title.

Twenty-One VIP Luxury Suites, HD Jumbo-Tron Screen, Stadium Style Musco Sports Lighting, a Bose Sound System, Go-Kart Slick Track, The Diamond Bar, Track Treasures Gift Shop, the best track food in the country and paved pits are a few of the spectacular amenities setting the Diamond of Dirt apart. This year marks the 8th season for the Liquid Quarter Mile Drag Racing Lake, "Lake Lucas." Two nationally televised Drag Boat Races featuring the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series are held annually. New for 2017 was all-purpose built Off Road facility featuring the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series as well as a host of other regional events.

Lucas Oil Speedway's dirt oval track plays host to some of the largest and most-popular events in the Midwest with national and regional touring series appearing frequently including: The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, POWRi Midget National Series, Lucas Oil Pro-Pulling League, United States Modified Touring Series, ASCS Sprint Cars and the Lucas Oil MLRA.

In addition to the special events, the Lucas Oil Speedway Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series features the Warsaw Auto Marine & RV ULMA Late Models, Pitts Homes USRA Modifieds, Big O Tires Street Stocks and the Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mods.

Back to News