3/30/2022
Lucas Oil Speedway
Lucas Oil Speedway Preseason Spotlight: Cancer battle doesn't diminish McCoin's passion for Late Model racing
WHEATLAND, MO. (March 30, 2022) - If you are looking for a driver to cheer on this season at Lucas Oil Speedway, Todd McCoin in the Hermitage Lumber Late Model division might be one to consider.
McCoin, who’s been racing Late Models for more than 20 years, is battling cancer and is undergoing monthly treatments to target the renal cell carcinoma.
“We’re pretty much ready to go. The car is ready. I don’t know about the driver, but the car is ready,” McCoin, from the mid-Missouri town of Barnett, said with a laugh.
McCoin is keeping a smile and a good attitude despite the adversity he faces from a health battle that’s been ongoing.
“I’ve been fighting cancer for a couple of years now,” he added. “This may be the last year for us. I’m not really sure. We’re gonna play it by ear. We’ve been kind of holding it at bay for the most part these last couple of years, but you never know what tomorrow brings.”
McCoin, who turns 52 in May, is coming off a solid season. He wound up sixth in Lucas Oil Speedway points with seven top-five finishes in 11 races. He won a midsummer feature at Lake Ozark Speedway and a season-ending open Late Model event at Nevada Speedway.
With plans to run Callaway Raceway in Fulton on Friday nights and Lucas Oil Speedway on Saturdays, McCoin is looking to enjoy every minute behind the wheel. He’s approaching his racing like his cancer challenge with the motto of “never give up.”
“We’ve been just trying to have fun instead of taking stuff so serious,” he said. “We run for points, but if we have to miss a race it’s not the end of the world like it used to be. We’re just trying to have fun.
“It’s just getting a little more difficult. My daughter used to help a lot and she’s gone her own way, with other interests. I’ve lost some other help. But we’re gonna keep on trying. We’re not gonna give up yet.”
McCoin’s life took a turn six years ago, shortly after winning the season-opening Late Model Weekly Racing Series feature at Lucas Oil Speedway. Three weeks later, he was diagnosed with kidney cancer and underwent surgery to remove one of his kidneys.
“Talk about having a high, winning the first race at Lucas, to three weeks later being told I had cancer. That was kind of a shocker,” he said.
The next two years, McCoin was in remission but in 2018 the cancer came back in his lung and adrenal gland. He had radiation treatments last year and again in January along with monthly immunotherapy in Columbia.
“The last night of last season at Lucas, I took third and for me, that was like a win,” McCoin said. “Shoot, I had radiation treatment the day before on Friday. The treatment leaves me really fatigued.
“It’s a struggle wheeling the car when it’s 100 degrees in the shade and 130 in the cockpit with a racing suit on. But as long as I can get into that car, I’d sure like to keep going.”
McCoin began competing in demolition derbies shortly after graduating from high school in 1988. He got into weekly racing full time in 1999 with a desire to drive Late Models, first starting in Street Stocks.
The 2015 season was a memorable one as McCoin wound up third in Lucas Oil Speedway points. Last season started in difficult fashion with a blown motor during preseason Test and Tune, leading him to buy a motor from track champion Cole Henson.
“We went on and had a pretty good season,” McCoin said. “We did OK at Lucas, dealing with some pretty stiff competition with guys like Johnny Fennewald, Larry Ferris and Cole Henson.
“I’ve been racing or demolition derbying since I got out of high school in ’88. I don’t know any different,” he added. “Street Stocks now are like the Late Models were back then, for the most part. Late Model racing was always my passion. I knew that’s all I wanted to drive.”
McCoin has limited sponsor help with Veracruz Mexican Restaurant in Versailles, his primary backer, along with some help from Hatfield Engines. He notes that wife Lynn is his biggest supporter.
“She works seven days a week to help me keep doing this,” he said. “I couldn’t do it without her.”
Lucas Oil Speedway has an Open Test and Tune scheduled for April 9 from 2-6 p.m. Pit gates open at noon and pit passes are $25. Spectator admission to the grandstand is free.
Another Test and Tune is set for April 16 from 4-6 p.m. prior to the Easter Bowl 150. Enduro cars will not be allowed to be a part of the Test and Tune.
The 9th annual Pitts Homes MLRA Spring Nationals are set for April 22-23. The Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series Spring Opener opener is scheduled for April 30.
Enduro Easter Bowl 150 entries remain open: Entries remain open for the inaugural Enduro Easter Bowl 150 with the early registration deadline is set for April 9.
Entry fee is $100 for early entries and $150 after April 9. The entry list for the race is updated daily on the Lucas Oil Speedway Facebook page.
Drivers can call into the speedway office at (417) 282-5984 and pay the entry fee via credit card or print off the entry form from the website and mail in with the fee. The starting position will be based on order of paid entries received, but drivers can run any car number of their choice.
Entries will be capped at 100 for the 150-lap race, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. following a Test and Tune for Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series drivers from 4-6 p.m. that day.
The Easter Bowl 150 winner will earn $1,500 with prize money paid to the top 10 finishers with other payouts: 2nd - $800; 3rd - $500. 4th - $300. 5th - 200. 6th - $175. 7th - 150. 8th - $125. 9th - $100. 10th - $100.
Entry forms also can be mailed to:
Lucas Oil Speedway
P.O. Box 8
Wheatland, MO 65779
EZ Texting number changes: Fans who keep up with Lucas Oil Speedway via EZ Texting should note that the previous 313131 text number has changed. The news Lucas Oil Speedway EZ Texting number is (417) 804-4141.
For ticket information for any future event at Lucas Oil Speedway, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 295-6043 or via email at nichole@lucasoilspeedway.com.
CONTACT:
Danny Lorton
Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager
Office: (417) 282-5984
DLorton@lucasoilspeedway.com
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Complete Lucas Oil Speedway event information, archived race recaps, previews and driver features, along with ticket information and schedules 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. The Lucas Oil Speedway EZ Texting number is (417) 804-4141.
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 12th season for the Liquid Quarter Mile Drag Racing Lake, "Lake Lucas." New for 2017 was all-purpose built Off Road facility featuring a host of 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 Weekly Racing Series features the Late Models, USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars and USRA B-Mods.
2022 Official Lucas Oil Speedway Marketing Partners
Bill Roberts Chevrolet-Buick
"The Official Truck" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Dixie Chopper
"The Official Mowers of Lucas Oil Speedway"
General Tire
"The Official Tire" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Lucas Oil Products
"The Official Oil" of Lucas Oil Speedway
MAVTV
"The Official Television Network" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Optima Batteries
"The Official Battery" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper
"The Official Soft Drink" of Lucas Oil Speedway
RacingJunk.com
"The Official Classifieds" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Rugged Radios
"The Official 2-Way Communications Provider" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Sunoco Race Fuels
"The Official Fuel" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Super Clean
"The Official Sponsor" of Lucas Oil Speedway
2022 Lucas Oil Speedway Supporters Include:
Advanced Automotive Repair, AM Pyrotechnics, Angler's Resort, Arizona Sport Shirts, Ash Grove Aggregates, Ball Tree Service, Benton County Tire, Berry Tractor and Equipment Co., Big Adventure RV, Bill Roberts Chevrolet-Buick, Bolivar Auto Sales & Detailing, Bolivar Farmers Exchange-MFA, Boone's BBQ Barn, Boubin Tire/American Racer, Branstetter & Lightfoot LLC, Bridal Cave, BWI Sanitation, Camden on the Lake Resort, Candlelight Creations-Dick's Wild Root Horseradish, Casey's, Cedar Creek Beef Jerky, CED Electric, Central Life Sciences, Citizens Memorial Healthcare, City Magnet, Clearlight Inn, Comfort Inn-Bolivar,DirtonDirt.com, Dixie Chopper, eBay Motors, Eibach Springs, Evans Pipe & Steel Co., Farmers Insurance Agent Kristy Reynolds, Fast Shafts by Axle Exchange, Foley Equipment-Cat Rental Store, Frog Signs, Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare, Heritage Tractor Inc., Hermitage Lumber, HICKAMO Country Store, Highway 54 RV Park, Hobbytime Motorsports, Hoosier Race Tires, Impact Signs Awnings Wraps, In the Garden of Eden, Kettle Treats, Keyser Manufacturing, Kluhsman Racing Components, Kona Ice, LimeBank, Lucas Cattle Company, Margaritaville Lake Resort, McCoy Logging LLC, Merck Animal Health, Midwest Sheet Metal, Miller Welding, Missouri Land Co. LLC, MyRacePass, Nutrien Ag Solutions, OakStar Bank, O'Bannon Bank, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Ozark Golf Cars, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper, Ozarks Community Health Center, PFI Western Store, Pitts Homes, Pitts Realty, Pitts Cattle, ProThings Apparel, RACEceiver, Racinboys.com, RacinDirt.com, RacingJunk.com, Rains Ice Company, Real Racing Wheels, Rod End Supply, Ron Jenkins Accounting & Tax Service, Rugged Radios, Ryan E. Murphy Law Firm LLC, SBU Athletics, Safety Kleen, Schlesselman Fencing, Scott Furniture, Sidetrack RV Park, Simpson Racing Products, Southwest Electric Cooperative, Square B Ranch, Stillwater Resort, Stover Milling, Sunoco Race Fuels, Sunflower Resort, Superior Products, TA/PETRO, Transportation Distribution Co. (TDC), US Army Corps of Engineers-Pomme de Terre, Vietti Marketing Group, Wheatland Motel, White's Marine Center, Wild Animal Safari, Windsor Livestock Auction, Woods Supermarkets, Wrisco Industries, ZINPRO Performance Minerals.
Article Credit: By Lyndal Scranton, Lucas Oil Speedway
