Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Comes to Pennsylvania on April 29 and 30

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Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Set to Invade State of Pennsylvania on April 29 and 30

WAYCROSS, GA (April 22, 2011) – The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will be set to resume its’ 2011 racing season after two weeks off starting on Friday Night, April 29th at Bedford Speedway in Bedford, PA, followed by a first-ever visit to Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex in Markleysburg, PA on Saturday Night, April 30th. Both events will pay $10,000 to win.

The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned event at Bedford Speedway will mark the fourth appearance at the historic Bedford Fairgrounds race track which is celebrating its 75th season of racing. The J.R. Keifer, Dr. David Horne and Jim Maybury promoted half-mile facility has seen three different drivers enter victory lane in the past, including, Steve Francis of Ashland, KY in 2008, Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, WI in ’09, and last year, Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN took the victory. The event this year is again sponsored by Bedford Valley Petroleum.

The next night will see the stars of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series venture to Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex for the biggest race in the track’s history. The Rick Jones-promoted facility first opened in May of 1998 and will be the 59th different track the series has raced at. The track with its picturesque setting just off U.S. Highway 40 is located 90 minutes from Bedford and offers a considerable amount of lawn chair seating for the fans to enjoy the show.

The series events at Bedford and Roaring Knob will continue the Sunoco Race Fuels Road to Wheatland in 2011 as 15 drivers with perfect attendance will be eligible for the $700 winners circle money once again as they make their way across America, heading to the 19th Annual DART Show-Me 100 at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO.

Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN, the winner of the last two Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series events heads to the Keystone State with the points lead. The two-time and defending series champion holds a slight 10-point advantage over Indiana’s Don O’Neal who is second in the championship point’s standings. Jimmy Owens, last year’s winner at Bedford is third in points followed by 4-time series champ, Earl Pearson Jr of Jacksonville, FL and Dennis Erb Jr of Carpentersville, IL, who are tied for fourth.

The rest of the top ten in the points are Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN; Brad Neat of Dunnville, KY; Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, GA; Bub McCool of Vicksburg, MS, and Steve Francis of Ashland, KY.

McCool leads the Quarter Master Rookie of the Year standings followed by Jared Landers of Batesville, AR; 15-year-old Tyler Redd1ck of Corning, CA; and Frank Heckenast Jr. of Frankfort, IL. Those four drivers are separated by a mere 60 points.

The tire rule for both nights will be the same; American Racer SD44 or any compound harder, SD 44 must punch a minimum of 40; Hoosier 1300 or any compound harder and 1300 must punch a minimum of 40.

The event purse for both events will be: 1. $10,000 2. $5,000 3. $3,000 4. $2,500 5. $2,000 6. $1,500 7. $1,400 8. $1,300 9. $1,200 10. $1,100 11. $1,000 12. $950 13. $900 14. $875 15. $850 16. $825 17. $800 18. $775 19. $750 20. $725 21. $700 22. $700 23. $700 24. $700

For more information on both tracks you can go to www.bedfordspeedway.com and www.roaringknob.com. The rain date for either show is Sunday, May 1st.

In other series news, it has been announced that the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will be using two emergency provisionals for the 2011 season. The provisionals are open to those drivers that have perfect attendance and meet the eligibility requirements. A driver may use up to two emergency provisionals per year.

Also it has been announced that the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event at Paducah International Raceway in Paducah, KY will now be a one-day event paying $10,000 on Saturday Night, May 7th. The track will be hosting a $3,000 to win UMP Late Model race the night before on May 6th.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, visit www.lucasdirt.com or you can call the series office at (951) 532-2503.

Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings

1) Scott Bloomquist (Mooresburg, TN) – 690
2) Don O’Neal (Martinsville, IN) – 680
3) Jimmy Owens (Newport, TN) – 660
4) Earl Pearson Jr. (Jacksonville, FL) – 605
5) Dennis Erb Jr. (Carpentersville, IL) – 605
6) Mike Marlar (Winfield, TN) – 595
7) Brad Neat (Dunnville, KY) – 565
8) Dale McDowell (Chickamauga, GA) – 545
9) Bub McCool (Vicksburg, MS) – 530
10) Steve Francis (Ashland, KY) – 505

Current Quarter Master Rookie of the Year Points Standings

1) Bub McCool (Vicksburg, MS) – 530
2) Jared Landers (Batesville, AR) – 490
3) Tyler Redd1ck (Corning, CA) – 480
4) Frank Heckenast Jr. (Frankfort, IL) - 470

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Jones Looking to Elevate Roaring Knob to National Level with Lucas Oil Event on April 30

MARKLEYSBURG, PA (April 27, 2011) - When the 2011 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series schedule was released last October, many took a second look at the track that would host a series event on April 30th. “Where is that?” proclaimed some that were unfamiliar with the track. For the first time Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex on Markleysburg, PA will step into the national spotlight by hosting the series on the second night of a doubleheader this Friday and Saturday in the state of Pennsylvania.

None of the top 20 in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series have ever raced at the 3/8th mile track nestled just a few miles from the West Virginia border, there may have been some who had never heard of the facility which is promoted by Rick Jones, but after Saturday Night, Jones hopes they all will know about the track as he and his crew are pulling all stops to make it a successful program.

The facility first opened in May of 1998 with Jim Kutas going down in the history books as the first driver to win at the track. Jones, a veteran promoter took over the reigns of the track last year and immediately wanted to bring the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series to the track.

“On a national level, I thought they had the best drivers racing with them,” said Jones who also promotes Allegany County Speedway in Cumberland, MD, and is no stranger to the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series as he hosted a series event in 2005 when he promoted Potomac Speedway in Budds Creek, MD. The event was won by Don O’Neal.

“We have had success with the UFO and Three State Flyer Series, and to add a Lucas Oil Series race to our schedule was definitely a plus for the track,” said Jones, who kept busy in the off-season adding several truckloads of clay to the track, which elevated its banking to make for more side-by-side racing. The track will host its first-ever Appalachian Mountain Speedweeks race on Monday, June 6th

Even though Roaring Knob’s season opener was rained out last week, the track has been able to practice twice on the new surface. “It’s held up really well, and with the moisture this week and a promising forecast for Saturday Night, we will be ready to go,” said Jones, who hails from Westminster, MD, and operates RJ Custom Homes, when not promoting.

There will be a familiar face on hand for Saturday Night’s first-ever visit to Roaring Knob as veteran race official, Dixie Phillips, who works at the track will welcome the series she worked two years for. “It will be good to see the drivers again, it’s just still unbelievable that we are hosting a Lucas Oil Series race, I never thought in my wildest dreams when the track first opened this could happen, we are really looking forward to it.”

Jones said one the endearing characteristics of the seating for the spectators is that yes there is grandstand seating for those that prefer to watch the races that way, but there is plentiful room for those that can bring their blankets and lawn chairs to sit on the hillside to enjoy the racing action.

Roaring Knob is teaming up with Bedford Speedway, about an hour and a half away for a pair $10,000 to win events this Friday and Saturday. Bedford Speedway is celebrating its 75th year of racing and will hosting the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series for the third time this Friday Night.

For more information on this weekend’s event you can visit www.bedfordspeedway.com, www.roaringknob.com and www.lucasdirt.com.