8/17/2022
Lucas Oil Speedway
Lucas Oil Speedway Spotlight: Ferris closes in on Late Model championship, with USRA Modified in the works
WHEATLAND, MO. (Aug. 17, 2022) - The only downside to the 2022 Lucas Oil Speedway season for Larry Ferris is that there aren’t enough races to quench his thirst.
“I wish we could work something out so we could race more,” Ferris said. “I know we’ve had a couple of rainouts, but I wish we could race 15 or 20 times a year over there.”
The veteran driver from Nevada has been a force in the Hermitage Lumber Late Model division each of the seven times he’s hit the dirt this season, posting three feature victories and four runner-up finishes.
Add it up, and Ferris has built an 80-point lead in the Lucas Oil Speedway season championship chase over Tucker Cox. He looks to add another victory - and edge closer to his first points title at the speedway - at Saturday’s Public Safety Appreciation Night Presented by KOLR. All police, fire and rescue personnel admitted free with ID.
The Hermitage Lumber Late Models will be the featured class with a 25-lap, $1,000-to-win main event. Cedar Creek Beef Jerky USRA Modifieds, Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mods and O’Reilly Auto Parts USRA Stock Cars also will be in action.
As good as Ferris has been this season, he said results could have been even better.
“We’ve had a pretty good year, but we let a couple of races get away because we made maybe the wrong tire choice. And maybe part of it was the driver, too,” Ferris said. “So it’s been good, but it could have been better.”
But he admitted that winning a championship “would be really neat” even though he’s never started a season with a specific goal of points racing.
“I would to like do it before I quit,” Ferris said of a Lucas Oil Speedway championship. “I’d like to check that off my list. Winning races has always been our number one goal. That’s what I’m gonna try to do the rest of the year, try to win both races that we have left.”
Ferris, 51, has been at the top of his game since debuting a Captial Race Car chassis in 2021, when he earned three feature wins at Wheatland in 10 attempts.
“We have a far better car than we’ve ever had,” Ferris said. “This Captial Race Car has really changed our program around. We’re the best we’ve been (at Lucas Oil Speedway) for sure. It fits my driving style with very few adjustments needed. The car is just consistent, lap after lap. That’s what I like about it.”
Ferris gives credit to Brian Larimore from Dirt Track Specialists, his son Ryan Ferris and Dave Collins for helping turn wrenches, plus Josh Poe from Scott Bailey Racing Engines.
“I shouldn’t say anything, but this is the third year on the motor and it has about 1,250 laps on it,” Ferris said. “I hope it makes it the rest of the year. I know it will.”
While Ferris’ Late Model season will end with the Rempfer Memorial Season Championship Night on Aug. 27, he’s putting together a USRA Modified to race this fall. There will be a couple of opportunities to run it at Lucas Oil Speedway - during the MLRA Ron Jenkins Memorial program on Sept. 3 and the USRA Nationals Oct. 3-7.
Ferris said he last ran a Modified in 1997 "so it might take me a lap or two to get used to it again.”
“I like racing in the fall when it’s cooler,” he said. “There’s nowhere to race the Late Model. We’ve had this car for three years now and never have put it together. So we’re gonna run it some this fall. Within next 2-3 weeks, we hope to get it done.”
Special Late Model drivers' meeting: Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager Danny Lorton has announced that a special Late Model-only drivers' meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday in the eBay Motors Tech Building to discuss rules for 2023. All Late Model drivers are asked to attend the meeting.
Drivers' free ticket pick-up: Weekly Racing Series drivers can receive up to 50 free general admission tickets upon check-in on Saturday for the Aug. 27 Rempfer Memorial Season Championship Night. Drivers with the most tickets used on Aug. 27 will win one free season pit pass for 2023.
Gates to the dirt track open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:05.
Off Road during Saturday day: UTV Short Course racers return to the Off Road track for a day-time program on Saturday with gates opening at 9 a.m., practice at 10 heat-race action tentatively set for noon. Race classes will include Pro N/A (naturally aspirated), Pro, Youth 1000, Youth 570, Youth 170 Mod, Youth 170 Stock, Sportsman, Women’s and Mini Stock Truck. The program will be completed by 5 p.m.
Fans purchasing a ticket to the Off Road action will be admitted free to the dirt track.
Saturday Off Road Admission:
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 - $60 (Includes Admission for 2 Adults and Up to 3 Kids Ages 6-15)
Racer Pit Pass $30
*Saturday tickets include entry to the dirt track event.
Saturday Dirt Track Admission:
(Free for Public Safety Personnel with ID)
Advance Discount Tickets online only (16 and up) - $12
Adults (16 and up) - $15
Seniors (62 and up)/Military - $12
Youth (6-15) - $5
Kids (5 and under) - FREE
Family Pass - $35 (Click Here for more information)
Pit Pass - $30
To purchase tickets for any event on Lucas Oil Speedway's schedule, or to inquire about camping information, 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
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
Arizona Sport Shirts
"The Official Merchandise Provider" of Lucas Oil Speedway
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:
AM Pyrotechnics, Arizona Sport Shirts, Ash Grove Aggregates, 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, 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, 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, Lucas Cattle Company, Margaritaville Lake Resort, Midwest Sheet Metal, Miller Welding, Missouri Department of Tourism, Missouri Division of Tourism, 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, PEM, 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, Scott Furniture, Simpson Racing Products, Southwest Electric Cooperative, Stillwater Resort, Sunoco Race Fuels, Sunflower Resort, TA/PETRO, US Army Corps of Engineers-Pomme de Terre, Vietti Marketing Group, Wheatland Motel, White's Marine Center, Wild Animal Safari, Woods Supermarkets, Wrisco Industries.
Article Credit: By Lyndal Scranton, Lucas Oil Speedway
