Season-championship battles are in the home stretch at Lucas Oil Speedway as action resumes Saturday night with the next-to-last Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series event of the season.
TA/Petro Stopping Centers along with the Ozarks CW & Ozarks Sports Zone Present Fan Appreciation Night, with food and drink specials all night along with giveaways of TA/Petro items.
“We appreciate our fans and this is just a way to give them a little extra thanks for supporting us,” Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager Dan Robinson said. “The racing this season has been tremendous and we have some terrific battles shaping up for the division championships.
“We hope everyone comes out Saturday for what’s sure to be a fun night. Thanks to TA-Petro and the Ozarks CW and Ozarks Sports Zone for their support.”
On the track, the Pitts Homes USRA Modifieds will be featured with a special 25-lap, $750-to-win main event. “Racing Principal” Jason Pursley will be looking to protect a narrow 16-point lead over three-time reigning track champion Jeff Cutshaw.
Pursley, in his 14th year as principal at Hickory County R-1 Skyline-Urbana Elementary, is seeking his first Lucas Oil Speedway season championship.
“It’s hard not to think about it,” Pursley said of the championship chase. “Jeff took off a week (last month) and that’s the only reason we’re in the lead, but we’re still running good. It’s hard not to think about it because we’ve finished second about six or seven times.
“It’s still tight,” Pursley added of the points battle. “Anything can happen. But if we run good for two weeks, then it should take care of itself.”
Pursley has used consistency to climb to the top of the Pitts Homes USRA Modified battle, with six top-five finishes and a pair of second-place runs, including a runner-up run to Eric Turner the last time out on July 29. The Hermitage resident in his second season driving a GRT for Tom Campbell Racing.
“We’ve been doing it with our backup motor,” Pursley said. “We hurt our good motor, then got off a little bit in the middle of the year. We found out what the problem was (with the set-up) and have been running consistent.
“When Tom bought this car last year, it was first time I drove a GRT, and it took a little adjusting. You never know about race cars. They can be finicky creatures. But hopefully we’re edging in the right direction.”
There are other tight points battles. Andy Bryant is 21 in front of Shawn Strong in the Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mods, Aaron Poe is seven ahead of Johnny Fennewald in the Warsaw Auto Marine & RV ULMA Late Models and Toby Ott is 86 clear of Kenny Carroll in the Big O Tires Street Stocks chase.
The Show-Me Vintage Racing Car Club will visit the midway. Along with the food and drink specials, TA/Petro items will be given away during the evening, including t-shirts, can koozies, hats and key chains.
Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 7 and opening ceremonies at 7:35.
Ticket prices:
Adults (16 and up) $12
Seniors (62 and up)/Military $9
Youth (6-15) $5
Kids (5 and under) FREE
Family pass $25
Pit pass $30
For ticket information for all Lucas Oil Speedway events, contact admissions director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or via email at nichole@LucasOilSpeedway.com.
