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James Essex
CORONA, Calif. (April 8) - What better way to kick off your 2008 racing season than hosting a Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event? Jim Nier of K-C Raceway in Chillicothe, OH can attest as he owns "Ohio's Fastest 3/8ths Mile High Banked Dirt Track" that will host the touring pros of the Lucas Oil Series on Saturday Night, April 12th.
K-C Raceway had scheduled to open the new campaign on March 29th, but two straight cancellations due to persistent wet grounds have laid the groundwork for the track's opening event this year to be the "Glockner 50" featuring a complete $10,000 to win show for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series which will be taped by SPEED Channel.
Owner and Promoter Jim Nier, who took over the track after one event in 2002 has done a lot of work to the facility over the off-season. "We've put a lot of work into the facility this winter when the weather permitted. We've added additional lighting to the track, added some clay, remodeled the pit concessions, and purchased some new equipment in an effort to make this year our best yet. We are looking forward to seeing the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series race at K-C on April 12 and I'm sure it's going to be very exciting," said Nier, who still races a sprint car on occasions when his busy schedule permits.
In 2005 K-C Raceway also became the host to one of dirt late model racings' crown jewel events as Carl Short brought his "Dirt Track World Championship" race to K-C. The annual $50,000 to win event has become a must see over the years for race fans and Saturday's visit by the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series gives drivers additional track time on the high banks leading up to the annual October showcase event.
The series trip to K-C featuring the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will be the next event for drivers who will be eligible for the "Winners Circle Program" and the "Jasper Engines Road to Wheatland bonus monies. This is an incentive program that will pay the top ten drivers in the 2008 Championship Points an extra $600 each with perfect attendance throughout 2008. The "Jasper Engines Road to Wheatland" Program will also pay an additional $600 to each of the ten highest points drivers from the final 2007 Championship Points standings that follow the Road to Wheatland with perfect attendance but are not in the current top ten in points. The SuperClean "Diamond Nationals" at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO is slated for May 9th and 10th and will pay $40,000 to win this year.
On Saturday April 12th at K-C pit gates will open at 4:00 pm with grandstand gates opening at 4:30 PM. Hot laps are set to begin at 6:30 PM with PRC Time Trials for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series to start at 7:00 PM. General grandstand admission will be $25 with children ages 7-12 admitted for $5 with kids 5 and under free. Pit passes will be $35.
K-C Raceway is located 12 miles south of Chillicothe, OH on State Road 23, two miles off of Blain Highway in Alma, OH. For more information you can visit www.kc-raceway.com or call the track office at (740) 663-4141.
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series tire rule for the race will be Hoosier 1300, 1425 - D35, 1600 and LM20/40 and American Racer SD44, SD48 and MD56. For more information on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series you can go to www.lucasdirt.com or call the series office at (951) 532-2503.
BROWNSTOWN TIDBITS:
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series paid a visit to the Brownstown Speedway in Brownstown, IN back on March 29th for the 11th Annual "Indiana Icebreaker" which drew 61 entries to the Tim Keithley promoted facility. Despite nearly 20 inches of rain and snow in the one month period leading up to the race Keithley and his crew did an outstanding job of getting the track prepared to race on for the Icebreaker which produced some outstanding racing especially in the 50-lap main event which saw winner Terry Casey of New London, WI come from 16th starting spot to notch his second career series victory and his second ever $10,000 win. The series returns to Brownstown on September 19th and 20th for the 29th Annual "Jackson 100" which this year pays a record-setting $20,000 to win.
CASEBOLT HARD CHARGER: Reigning Eldora Dream winner and Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series regular Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN was suffering through a terrible night leading up to the main event at Brownstown. Casebolt, who finished third in last year's championship points standings, had to take a provisional to make a tough-starting lineup. Casebolt displayed plenty of patience early on in the event racing his way up to a fifth place finish to earn the PBM/Erson Cams "Hard Charger of the Race."
INDIANA WELL REPRESENTED IN ICEBREAKER: A third of the starting lineup for the 11th Annual "Indiana Icebreaker" was made up of drivers from the Hoosier State. Indiana has always been a hotbed of driving talent as Casebolt, Scott James, Don O'Neal, John Gill, Steve Barnett, Rohn Moon, Kevin Claycomb and Cody Mahoney all made the 24-car starting field with four of those drivers finishing in the top ten. Casebolt (5th), O'Neal (6th), Gill (8th) and Barnett (9th) all represented their home-state well with those finishes. Claycomb was making his first start at Brownstown since the 2004 Jackson 100.
SPECIAL SPONSOR GUESTS ON HAND AT BROWNSTOWN: Kraig Reash, COO of SuperClean Brands, Inc. along with Jeff Cave was visitors to the "Indiana Icebreaker" at Brownstown Speedway. SuperClean is the title sponsor for the SuperClean "Diamond Nationals" at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO on May 9th and 10th which pays a record $40,000 to win this year. Also on hand at Brownstown were Rico Elmore and Tom Aquilera of Fatheadz.com one of the new series sponsors in 2008.
LUCAS OIL STADIUM TO DEBUT IN PRIME TIME: Lucas Oil Stadium located in Indianapolis will be the new home of the Indianapolis Colts starting in 2008. The announcement was made this past Monday that the new venue will host the Colts and the Chicago Bears in a rematch Super Bowl XLI (won by the Colts, 29-17) on the National Football League's opening weekend as NBC will televise the event at 8:15 PM on Sunday, September 7th.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series April Racing Schedule
April 12 - KC Raceway-Chillicothe, OH ($10,000 to win)
April 25 - Bedford Speedway-Bedford, PA ($7,000 to win)
April 26 - Hagerstown Speedway-Hagerstown, MD ($10,000 to win)
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