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Earl Pearson Jr. named Forrest Lucas Award winner, Garner Most Popular Driver at Lucas Oil Speedway Awards banquet

LAKE OZARK, MO. (Nov. 23, 2024) - Lucas Oil Speedway honored its four track champions from the 2024 season and revealed several individual awards on Saturday night at the speedway’s annual championship banquet at Resort at Lake of the Ozarks.

Earl Pearson Jr., one of the legends of Dirt Late Model racing, was unveiled as winner of the top honor, the Forrest Lucas Lifetime Achievement Award, to conclude the festivities. The award is selected by Lucas Oil Speedway track management and goes to an individual who epitomizes excellence, character, loyalty and friendship to the sport of racing on and off the track.

Pearson, an annual competitor at Lucas Oil Speedway as part of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series since the track opened in 2006, began his racing career in his hometown of Jacksonville, Fla., inspired by family and friends already involved in the sport. Initially racing go-karts, he honed his skills and moved up to late model dirt racing in 1995, carrying his father’s number 46. winning his first Hav-A-Tampa Series National event in 1996 and Rookie of the year honors in 1997.

His early success and natural talent caught the attention of teams and sponsors. He was hired by Dunn-Benson Motorsports in 2000 to drive their dirt late model, a team sponsored by Lucas Oil Products, initially connecting Earl and Forrest Lucas. Lucas’ support was essential for Pearson's career, as the sponsorship allowed him to race consistently and reach new heights in dirt racing, earning the Stacker 2 Xtreme DirtCar Series Championship in 2004. That consistent sponsorship carried on for over two decades, a rare achievement in a national series and giving him the title as the longest sponsored athlete by Lucas Oil Products at 25 years.

Their partnership remained significant in the formation of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, symbolizing loyalty and mutual success in the sport. Pearson was there from day one, when the series was established in 2005. It emerged as a top-tier Dirt Late Model racing series in the United States, attracting the country’s best dirt racing talent.

The first four consecutive Lucas Oil championships from 2005 to 2008 were claimed by Pearson, a feat that has cemented his legacy within the series and he is the only driver that has competed every year since its inception. He found victory lane in some of the biggest dirt late model events in the country, and ranks fourth in all-time series feature wins with 40.

In addition to drawing fans, Pearson’s success attracted sponsorships to the Lucas Oil series, which has been crucial for its growth and sustainability. His association with high-profile sponsors helped pave the way for other drivers and teams to secure their own sponsorships, allowing the series to expand its reach and offer bigger purses, which in turn attracted even more talented drivers.

“We’re proud to present the Forrest Lucas Lifetime Achievement Award to Earl for not only his on-track success as a driver, but his many contributions to the sport and the first-class manner in which he has been a leader and a friend to so many,” Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager Danny Lorton said.

Pearson received the award in a special presentation earlier this week at the Lucas Cattle Ranch. During a video of his remarks about the award, played at the banquet, Pearson talked about his relationship with Forrest Lucas and others.

“There are so many people to thank who have helped me through my career with 25 years of racing," Pearson said. "Forrest Lucas and the family and the company and the race track and so many people that’s have been involved with Forrest Lucas and who have helped me so much. Danny (Lorton) at the race track and all the people there, it’s a beautiful place.

“Just to be a part of so many different things Lucas Oil does. It’s not the racing, it’s the hunting. They’re family people. Me and Forrect talk all the time, even today. When he talks I just sit there and listen and learn a lot of things - whether it’s business, cattle or whatever it may be.

“There are so many people who have helped me get to this point. It ain't all the time about racing and what you do, you have to have people who are friends, just like Chris Davis, Midwest Sheet Metal ... and multiple sponsors."

Another high of the evening was announcement of the fan-voted Most Popular Driver winner. This year that went to William Garner of Lebanon, who also was recognized for his track championship in the O’Reilly Auto Parts USRA Stock Cars division.

“I've gotta thank everybody who voted for me on this," Garner said. "Every single one of these drivers, they're all really good people. There's no better people in the world than the racing community."

Other track champions who were honored were Justin Wells of Aurora in the Hermitage Lumber Late Models, Springfield’s JC Morton in the Clear Creek Golf Cars USRA B-Mods and Jason Pursley in the Arctic Food Equipment USRA Modifieds.

The Best Appearing Race Car Awards in each division, as selected by the Lucas Oil Speedway staff and GS Stanek Racing Photography, went to: Alan Westling (Hermitage Lumber Late Models), Mason Beck (O’Reilly Auto Parts USRA Stock Cars), J.T. Carroll (Clear Creek Golf Cars USRA B-Mods) and Robbie Reed (Arctic Food Equipment USRA Modifieds).

The 2025 season is scheduled to fire up March 22nd with March Full Body Madness after Open Test & Tune on March 15th.

Weekly racing in the Pitts Homes and Realty Weekly Racing Series will feature five divisions - Hermitage Lumber Late Models, Arctic Food Equipment USRA Modifieds, O'Reilly Auto Parts Super Stocks, Clear Creek Golf Cars USRA B Mods and Hickamo Country Store Stock Cars.

Contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 295-6043 or email her at nmcmillan@lucasoilspeedway.com for more information on any 2025 event or to purchase gift cards that be used in any department at the speedway.

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, United States Modified Touring Series and the High Limit Sprint Racing Series, POWRi Sprint Cars and POWRi WAR Sprints.

In addition to the special events, the Lucas Oil Speedway Weekly Racing Series features the Late Models, USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods and Super Stocks.

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, 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, Fast Shafts by Axle Exchange, Foley Equipment-Cat Rental Store, Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare, Henry's Towing Service, 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, RacinDirt.com, RCR Designs, Real Racing Wheels, Rod End Supply, Rugged Radios, Ryan E. Murphy Law Firm LLC, SBU Athletics, Safety Kleen, Scott Furniture, Sidetrack RV Park, SMSI, 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, Woods Supermarkets.

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