7/6/2022
Lucas Oil MLRA
$50,000 NAPA Auto Parts "Gopher 50" Up Next For Lucas Oil MLRA
Wheatland, Missouri (July 6, 2022) – Yet another Crown Jewel opportunity awaits the drivers and teams of the Lucas Oil MLRA this upcoming weekend when the series converges with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS) in co-sanctioning the NAPA Auto Parts “Gopher 50” at the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, MN.
The 2021 edition was to have been the first time the event was sanctioned by either the MLRA or LOLMDS, but heavy rainfall at the start of Fridays preliminary night halted the weekend entirely. This trip around the stakes are as high as ever for the forty plus year old event with not two, but three nights of racing action slated for Thursday, July 7th through Saturday, July 9th.
Two nights of preliminary action are on tap to help set the field for Saturday night’s finale. Drivers will battle in complete shows both nights with $5,000 to win A-Mains highlighting each night. Drivers will accumulate points each night based on their performance with the top point getters locking into Saturday’s $50,000 to win “Gopher 50”, while the balance of the field will be filled out on Saturday via last chance races.
The competition on the Lucas Oil MLRA side appears to be heating up over the past couple of events, with Johnny Scott still carrying the series Midwest Sheet Metal Point Leader Spoiler. Both Scott and current number two man Chad Simpson visited victory lane two weeks ago at the Off Road Speedway, however Simpson was able to pull off a runner-up finish this past weekend at the 34 Raceway to close the lead to just 40 points.
Both of the MLRA’s current top two have a considerable number of laps around the 3/8 mile facility which should help propel them towards the front once again this weekend. Scott scored his first ever win at the Creek in 2018, a win that would also help him lock up the USMTS Modified National Championship that season. Simpson on the other hand has plenty of late model experience which includes a pair of Gopher 50 top five’s finishes and multiple victories while competing in the former Corn Belt Clash Series.
The competition on the Lucas Oil MLRA side appears to be heating up over the past couple of events, with Johnny Scott still carrying the series Midwest Sheet Metal Point Leader Spoiler. Both Scott and current number two man Chad Simpson visited victory lane two weeks ago at the Off Road Speedway, however Simpson was able to pull off a runner-up finish this past weekend at the 34 Raceway to close the lead to just 40 points.
Both of the MLRA’s current top two have a considerable number of laps around the 3/8 mile facility which should help propel them towards the front once again this weekend. Scott scored his first ever win at the Creek in 2018, a win that would also help him lock up the USMTS Modified National Championship that season. Simpson on the other hand has plenty of late model experience which includes a pair of Gopher 50 top five’s finishes and multiple victories while competing in the former Corn Belt Clash Series.
TURN FOUR NEWS & NOTES:
Daniel Hilsabeck scored the Swift Springs “Move of the Race” last Saturday at the “Slocum 50” in West Burlington, IA. An impressive two for one move on brothers Chad and Chris Simpson shot the driver from Earlham, IA up to third place on lap 17, a good charge from his tenth starting position. Hilsabeck ended the night in the seventh position, which also earned him his third Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Race Award for 2022 and helped him to close in on current Rookie leader Kolby Vandenbergh.
At 57 years of age, Steve Stultz may not be your typical Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate, but the driver from Peoria, Arizona has been climbing the MLRA ladder and getting noticed in recent weeks. Stultz has quietly rattled off three consecutive top ten finishes included an 8th place running in the Slocum 50 after rolling off from 21st on the grid. Now 8th in the series overall standings and third in Rookie points he will set his sights on making his first ever Gopher 50 start this weekend.
CJ Speedway Make-up Announced: Last Friday nights rain out at the CJ Speedway in Columbus Junction, IA has been reschedule to Thursday night August 11th as part of an Eastern Iowa triple header weekend. The CJ event will offer added bonus money that will put $7,500 in the winners pocket, before the series heads to the ¼ mile Davenport Speedway on Friday night August 12th. The trifecta weekend will wrap up with the “Timber City 40” on Saturday night August 13th at the Maquoketa Speedway in Maquoketa, IA.
Deer Creek Speedway: Spring Valley, MN—“Gopher 50” Thursday 7/7/22
Gates: 2:30 PM
Racing: Hot Laps - 6:30 PM, Racing 7:00 PM
Admission: Adults $35, Senior 65+ & Students 13-17 $35, Kids 12 & Under $20
Support Classes: USRA Modifieds $1,000 to Win
Website: www.deercreekspeedway.com
Deer Creek Speedway: Spring Valley, MN—“Gopher 50” Friday 7/8/22
Gates: 2:30 PM
Racing: Hot Laps - 6:30 PM, Racing 7:00 PM
Admission: Adults $35, Senior 65+ & Students 13-17 $35, Kids 12 & Under $20
Support Classes: USRA Modifieds $2,000 to Win
Deer Creek Speedway: Spring Valley, MN—“Gopher 50” Saturday 7/9/22
Gates: 2:30 PM
Racing: Hot Laps - 6:30 PM, Racing 7:00 PM
Admission: Adults $40, Senior 65+ & Students 13-17 $40, Kids 12 & Under $20
Support Classes: USRA Modifieds $5,000 to Win
Article Credit: Billy Rock
Submitted By: Billy Rock
