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Lucas Oil Speedway Spotlight: Darren Phillips looks to make final racing season a memorable one

WHEATLAND, MO. (June 12, 2024) - Darren Phillips has enjoyed a 27-year racing career on area dirt tracks, driving in a variety of divisions along the way. His top goal always has been to enjoy the ride, with his family.

It all began when Phillips got to race with his brother, Darrell Rife in 4-cylinders at Nevada Speedway, and has evolved to racing with his 23-year-old son Dalton Phillips. But Darren’s time behind the wheel is starting to wind down.

Phillips announced earlier this year that the 2024 racing season would be his last. He’s doing so by realizing a long-time dream of driving a Late Model and Phillips is having a solid season, currently eighth in the Hermitage Lumber POWRi Late Model points chase at Lucas Oil Speedway.

“Last year we went out and played around on the boat, did a bunch of other stuff with family, and had fun with it,” Phillips said. “It’s time to find something else to do. I’ve enjoyed my racing career a lot. I’ve met a lot of my closest friends racing.

“About everywhere you go you’re going to meet somebody or run into somebody you know. You’re gonna run into some people you have hard feelings with. But the next time, they might become some of your closest friends. I’ve had a few of those.”

Phillips, 46, is looking forward to Saturday night’s doubleheader at his hometown track in Wheatland. Along with the Big Adventure RV Weekly Championship Series Midseason Championships, the Hermitage Lumber POWRi Late Models will run their makeup feature from a May 25th rainout. That $2,000-to-win race will lead off the program.

Phillips has been a familiar face on area speedways, going back to the opening of the original Wheatland Raceway in the early 2000s. Phillips drove Factory Stocks in those days and has spent time in Modifieds, B-Mods, Mod Lites and USRA Stock Cars before finally taking a shot at Late Models midway through last season.

“That was my dream since I was a little kid,” Phillips said, recalling how he grew up watching MLRA Late Model standouts like Alan Vaughan and David Turner race at Nevada. “I loved watching all those guys and my dream was to run a Late Model. I knew I couldn’t afford it … I still can’t afford it, but I do what I can.

“When I had a chance to get into first Late Model I bought last year, I had a blast.”

Phillips traded his USRA Stock Car for a Late Model this season has said it’s “been a fun time” as he’s adjusted to car.

“We started out the year a little rocky trying to learn the new car,” he said. “I think I’ve got it working pretty good now. I’ve had a few good runs the last little bit. I’m looking forward to this weekend after the last three weekends when I’ve run pretty strong.”

Included were a pair of ninth-place feature runs at Lucas Oil Speedway and a fifth at Central Missouri Speedway. He’s eighth in Lucas Oil Speedway points, putting him within realistic range of achieving one of his goals.

“I would like to finish top five at Lucas for points and finish top 10, if not the top five, in (POWRi) national points,” he said. “Those are the biggest goals to end my career.”

The 2021 USRA Stock Cars Central Region champion and 2023 Bolivar Speedway champ in USRA Stock Cars said he has a lot of people to thank for supporting his racing career. Topping the list are his significant other, Bobbi Lehman, and five children. The family serves as his crew on race nights.

“I just want to thank everybody that’s helped me and thank all my kids for being there and helping me and thank my wife for sticking with me,” Phillips said. “My kids have been with me 100 percent. I’ve enjoyed doing this with my kids.”

The Big Adventure RV Weekly Championship Series Midseason Championship is Presented by the Bolivar Herald-Free Press. Look for discount coupons to Saturday’s action in The Bolivar Herald-Free Press.

Action will get underway with the Hermitage Lumber POWRi Late Models running their 30-lap makeup feature from a rainout on the final night of the Show-Me 100. The $2,000-to-win feature, using the lineup that was set to run on May 25th, will follow hot laps the regular racing program will get underway after the makeup race.

Midseason champions will be crowned in all four weekly divisions - the Arctic Food Equipment USRA Modifieds, O’Reilly Auto Parts USRA B-Mods, Clear Creek Golf Cars USRA B-Mods and POWRi Late Models. POWRi Super Stocks have been added as a special guest class with a $500-to-win feature.

This Saturday's regularly-scheduled Late Model feature also marks the beginning of a "bounty" on Late Model points leader and defending track champion Justin Wells. The bounty will start at $500 to any driver able to beat Wells and each week that the bounty doesn't get claimed, $100 will be added - June 22nd ($600), July 4th ($700), July 20th ($800) and July 27th ($900).

If no one claims the bounty in the five-week hunt, then Wells will receive the $900 bounty money plus an extra $100 to make it an even $1,000. The bounty has to be earned legally, with the driver's car passing tech 100 percent and Wells has to have finished the race for it to be claimed.

Pit gates open at 4 p.m. Saturday with grandstands at 4:30, hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:05.

Saturday admission
Advance tickets (13 and over, online only) - $12
Adults (ages 13 and over) - $15
Seniors (62 and up)/Military - $12
Youth (ages 6-12) - $5
Kids GA (5 and under) - FREE
Pit pass - $35
Family pass (up to two adults, two youth, one FREE go-kart ride and 10 percent off Track Treasures Gift Shop purchase) - $35

For ticket information on any Lucas Oil Speedway event, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 295-6043 or via email at nmcmillan@lucasoilspeedway.com.

CONTACT:
Danny Lorton
Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager
Office: (417) 282-5984
DLorton@lucasoilspeedway.com

Lucas Oil Speedway is located at Highways 83 and 54 in Wheatland, Missouri. A campground with shower and bathroom facilities is available. With its entrance located just outside the pit gate, this sprawling scenic camping facility will continue to enhance the racing experience.

For ticket and camping information and everything about the Show-Me 100 event, visit www.LucasOilSpeedway.com for all the information and detailed directions to the speedway or call the Track Hotline at (417) 282-5984.

In addition, fans can get social with Lucas Oil Speedway by following @LucasSpeedway on X, clicking "Like" at www.facebook.com/LucasOilSpeedway and on www.youtube.com/LucasOilSpeedway

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.

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.

2024 Official Lucas Oil Speedway Marketing Partners

Arizona Sport Shirts

"The Official Merchandise Provider" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Bill Roberts Chevrolet

"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

Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper

"The Official Soft Drink" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Rugged Radios

"The Official 2-Way Communications Provider" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Summit Racing Equipment

"The Official Sponsor" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Sunoco Race Fuels

"The Official Fuel" of Lucas Oil Speedway

2024 Lucas Oil Speedway Supporters Include:

AM Pyrotechnics, Alliance Sport Marketing, Arctic Food Equipment, Arizona Sport Shirts, Berry Tractor and Equipment Co., Big Adventure RV, Bill Roberts Chevrolet, Bolivar Auto Sales & Detailing, Bolivar Farmers Exchange-MFA, Boone's BBQ Barn, Boubin Tire/American Racer, Bridal Cave, BWI Sanitation, Candlelight Creations-Dick's Wild Root Horseradish, Casey's, Citizens Memorial Healthcare, City Magnet, Clearlight Inn, Dixie Chopper, Eibach Springs, Farmers Insurance Agent Kristy Reynolds, Fast Shafts by Axle Exchange, Foley Equipment-Cat Rental Store, Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare, Hermitage Lumber, HICKAMO Country Store, Hobbytime Motorsports, Iconic Apparel, Impact Signs Awnings Wraps, In the Garden of Eden, KC Bobcat, Kluhsman Racing Components, Kona Ice, Lucas Cattle Company, MD3, Midwest Sheet Metal, Miller Welding, 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, Pomme de Terre Resort, Proboat, ProThings Apparel, RACEceiver, Racinboys.com, RacinDirt.com, Rains Ice Company, RCR Designs, 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, Sidetrack RV Park, Simpson Racing Products, Southwest Electric Cooperative, State Tech, Stillwater Resort, Summit Racing Equipment, Sunoco Race Fuels, Turn 1 Bar & Grill, US Army Corps of Engineers-Pomme de Terre, Vietti Marketing Group, Wheatland Motel, White's Marine Center, Wieland, Wild Animal Safari, Woods Supermarkets.

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