4/13/2017
RacinBoys
Will Vaught: full-time Dad, part-time racer
By Lyndal Scranton (Wheatland, MO) -- Will Vaught plans to increase his racing schedule this season after entering only about 15 Late Model dirt events in 2016. First up is this weekend's 4th annual Lucas Oil MLRA Spring Nationals Presented by RacingJunk.com.
But don't expect Vaught to return to his days of high-volume competition any time soon.
"I don't really have a schedule," the 30-year-old from Crane said. "It all figures around what the kids are doing. But yeah, we are going to race more than we did last year. We didn't even race for the first time last year until July."
Rust probably won't be a concern when Vaught pulls his Rocket chassis onto the Lucas Oil Speedway dirt Friday and Saturday night for the season-opening MLRA programs. He was highly competitive in his few events a year ago, including a first-ever win at Lucas in the MLRA Larry Phillips Memorial over Labor Day weekend.
It's just that his own racing is not at the top of the priority list these days. Along with overseeing two businesses - Circle V Auto Sales and Johnson's Service Station in his hometown - Vaught and wife Ashtin have two busy youngsters.
Not only are son Maddox (7) and daughter Mallory (5) involved in youth basketball and for Mallory cheerleading competitions, the kids have budding racing careers of their own.
Both are in quarter-midgets, winning their respective events last weekend at the inaugural Southwest Missouri Quarter Midget Association event on the Lucas Oil Speedway "Slick Track" behind the main grandstands. They also have racing events this year planned in Tulsa and Granite City, Illinois, along with more Ozarks-area stops in Wheatland.
"They did good and had fun," Vaught said of the youngsters' first races at Lucas Oil Speedway. "But yeah, we're running around and busy all the time."
Vaught wouldn't trade it for anything.
"I have a good family, good kids and a good life," Vaught said. "It's a blast."
Even more so when he find the time, like this weekend, to climb behind the wheel of his own race car. Propped by sponsors Wright Asphalt Products out of Texas along with Midwest Sheet Metal, DW Performance and Integra Shocks, Vaught remains fast.
"It's a little harder to keep up with technology, but I have good people who are helping me," Vaught said of the challenges presented by racing less. "By not racing all the time, we keep it more baseline and don't get out there in right field as much. That maybe keeps us more consistent, I guess.
"We really should have won three $5,000 or more races last year. At Salina (Oklahoma) we led every lap until the last two, when we blew a tire, against a lot of the big guns," Vaught said. "Our average last year was very good. We kind of jumped back in and were very competitive.
"Hopefully this year, we can do the same. For me, we'll race around the kids' schedule and try to have some fun."
The next quarter midget event at Lucas is noon on April 22. For more info on the Southwest Missouri Quarter Midget Association visit http://www.facebook.com/SMQMA.
MLRA ready to roll: Friday night's Lucas Oil MLRA feature winner will collect $2,000 with Saturday's winner earning $3,000, plus $500 in bonus money in memory of Ron Jenkins, the original builder of Wheatland Raceway.
Also on tap: The Pitts Homes USRA Modifieds and Big O Tire Street Stocks also will run full programs both Friday and Saturday. The Modified program will include long-time NASCAR standout Ken Schrader, a native of St. Louis and member of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.
The Pitts Homes USRA Modifieds will compete for a special $750 to win feature on Saturday while the Big O Tires Street Stock second-night feature will pay $500 courtesy of Elite Auto Repair in Warrensburg.
Both Friday and Saturday nights, gates at Lucas Oil Speedway will open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 7 and racing at 7:35.
Tickets on Friday:
Adults (16 and up) $15
Seniors (62 and up)/Military $12
Youth (6-15) $5
Kids (5 and under) FREE
Family Pass $30
Pit Pass $35
Tickets on Saturday:
Adults (16 and up) $20
Seniors (62 and up)/Military $17
Youth (6-15) $10
Kids (5 and under) FREE
Family Pass $40
Pit Pass $40
Camping:
Reserved with Electric and Water- $35/Night (Limited Availability)
Reserved Dry Spots- $20/Night (Limited Availability)
Dry Camping- $10/Night
For complete Lucas Oil Speedway event information, archived stories, ticket info and the 2017 racing schedule, visit http://www.LucasOilSpeedway.com. Three-day passes for the 25th annual Show-Me 100 Presented by http://www.ProtecttheHarvest.com are now on sale. Only about 500 of the three-day passes remain. Call admission director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or email Nichole@lucasoilspeedway.com for more information.
Lucas Oil Speedway is located at Highways 83 and 54 in Wheatland, Missouri. A campground with shower and bathroom facilities is also available. With it's entrance located just outside the pit gate this sprawling scenic camping facility will continue to enhance the racing experience at the Diamond of Dirt Tracks.
Click http://www.LucasOilSpeedway.com for more 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 Twitter, clicking "Like" at http://www.facebook.com/LucasOilSpeedway and on http://www.youtube.com/LucasOilSpeedway.
Submitted By: Kirk Elliott
