5/21/2021
Lucas Oil Speedway
Midwest Sheet Metal Challenge returns as key part of final-night Show-Me 100 excitement at Lucas Oil Speedway
WHEATLAND, MO. (May 21, 2021) - As anticipation continues to build for next week’s 29th annual Show-Me 100 Presented by ProtecttheHarvest.com at Lucas Oil Speedway, it’s also time to recognize Midwest Sheet Metal for supporting what always is one of the weekend highlights.
The Midwest Sheet Metal Challenge on the final night of the May 27-29 crown-jewel event for Dirt Late Model racing will find 24 drivers battling to become the one and only to take the final spot in the 100-lap feature.
The 20-lap last-chance shootout will award the winner $2,500 - or the chance to trade that check in for an opportunity to start shotgun in the $30,000-to-win main event which pays $2,000 to start. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and Lucas Oil MLRA co-sanction the action.
This will be the first three-day Show-Me 100 since 2018 after the 2019 event was canceled after winds damaged the facility. In 2020, the race was postponed until July due to the pandemic and ran as a one-day show.
“Over the years, the Midwest Sheet Metal Challenge has been one of the best races of the weekend with drivers going all out for that shot at making it into the feature,” Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager Danny Lorton said.
“We want to give a big shout-out to Chris and Jan Davis of Midwest Sheet Metal for their ongoing support of not only the Midwest Sheet Metal Challenge and Late Model racing, but for all they do for so many people in dirt-track racing in all classes of cars.”
Chris and Jan Davis of Midwest Sheet Metal have sponsored the last-chance race since 2013 with many exciting results. The first year, Mike Marlar won the race and went on to run seventh in the Show-Me 100 after starting 33rd. Chris Simpson parlayed his win into a last-to-third run in 2015 to earn $6,000 and Bobby Pierce went from last to briefly leading the race in the late going, before a flat tire relegated him to sixth in 2016 to earn $5,000.
"We talk about it every year, but it usually produces the best race of the weekend," Chris Davis said. "The first time we had it, Mike Marlar had been struggling all weekend and, in my race, he figured out what he needed to do and went on to run big in the 100-lapper."
But the Midwest Sheet Metal Challenge isn't just about the winner. Davis, of the nation's top supporters of dirt-track racing, said the $250-to-start gives each of the drivers at least something they otherwise wouldn't have on the haul home.
"The Show-Me 100 is such a prestigious race and anything we can do to help the racers with a chance to earn some extra money and get another shot at winning the main event is a great feeling," Davis added. "It gives 24 more drivers who otherwise would be loaded in the trailer one more chance to draw a check."
Midwest Sheet Metal is located in the heart of Ozark Mountain Country, in Springfield, Missouri. The family owned and operated business specializes in the design and custom fabrication of carbon steel, stainless and aluminum products. Midwest Sheet Metal has one of the area's largest in-stock inventories of steel, aluminum, stainless and structural shapes.
Another tradition since the Midwest Sheet Metal Challenge began is the $5 souvenir t-shirt that is sold on the Lucas Oil Speedway Midway. This year's t-shirt will commemorate the company's 75th year in business, which Davis points out actually is now 77 years. The specialty-themed souvenir shirt was first set to debut in 2019 before the storm canceled the event.
For more information on Midwest Sheet Metal check out msmfab.com or call Chris Davis at (417) 869-1252.
Show-Me 100 action kicks off on May 27 with the "Cowboy Classic” for Late Models headlining the program, with a $6,000-to-win, $600-to-start main event which also enables drivers to earn valuable points toward starting position into the night-night main event. The USRA Modifieds feature winner will earn $750.
The "Tribute to Don and Billie Gibson" on May 28 also will see a $6,000-to-win feature with more points earned for the starting lineup the next night. USRA Modifieds compete for a $750-to-win feature with more points collected toward the final-night main event.
The May 29 program includes B Mains, the Midwest Sheet Metal Show-Me Challenge and the 100-lap, $30,000-to-win main event along with a $1,500-to-win USRA Modified feature.
The final night will be even bigger after the recent announcement that three-time CMA and ACM Country Music Male Vocalist of the Year, Grammy Award winner and American Patriot Lee Greenwood will serve as Grand Marshall for the action on May 29.
Greenwood will sing the National Anthem during opening ceremonies and also his iconic song "God Bless the USA," after driver introductions just prior to the green flag falling to begin the 100-lap feature.
More information about Lee Greenwood, including tour dates for 2021, can be found at LeeGreenwood.com.
The daily ticket breakdown for Show-Me 100 weekend:
May 27: $25 general admission adults, $22 seniors (62 and up) and military; $10 youth (ages 6-15); FREE kids (ages 5-and-under); $60 family pass; $100 three-day reserved; $35 pit pass, $100 3-day pit pass.
May 28: $25 general admission adults, $22 seniors (62 and up) and Military; $10 youth (ages 6-15); FREE kids (ages 5-and-under); $60 family pass; $100 three-day reserved; $35 pit pass, $100 3-day pit pass.
May 29: $35 general admission adults, $32 seniors (62 and up) and Military; $10 youth (ages 6-15); FREE kids (ages 5-and-under); $80 family pass; $40 pit pass.
Weekly action resumes Saturday: Amplified Digital Presents Round 6 of the Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series this Saturday night, with Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mods, Missouri Metal Buildings ULMA Late Models, Cedar Creek Beef Jerky USRA Modifieds and the O’Reilly Auto Parts USRA Stock Cars also in action.
The USRA B-Mods, running as part of the Titans B-Mod Series, will run a special 25-lap, $1,000-to-win feature.
Gates open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:05.
Saturday's grandstand admission:
Adults (16 and over) - $12
Seniors (62 and over)/Military - $9
Youth (ages 6-15) - $5
Kids (5 & under) - FREE
Family Pass - $30
Pit Pass - $30
For ticket information for any event during the 2021 Lucas Oil Speedway season, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or via email at Nichole@lucasoilspeedway.com. Fans also can use the online ticketing system.
CONTACT:
Danny Lorton
Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager
Office: (417) 282-5984
DLorton@lucasoilspeedway.com
Article Credit: By Lyndal Scranton, Lucas Oil Speedway
