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Big money, prestige on the line at 5th annual Big Buck 50 Presented by Whitetail Trophy Hunt

WHEATLAND, Missouri - David Hendrix already has made the 2018 season a memorable one after winning Lucas Oil Speedway's Big O Tires Street Stocks track championship. Now, he hopes to make it even more special.

It's race week for the 5th annual Big Buck 50 Presented by Whitetail Trophy Hunt. Hendrix leaves no doubt about what this event, which will pay $10,000 to Saturday night's 50-lap feature winner, means to him and other Street Stock drivers.

"Most of these guys who race in the Street Stock class, I always feel like this is the working man's class," Hendrix said. "You have a bunch of construction workers and truck drivers and those kind of guys in here. It really appeals to these racers.

"We've won some big Street Stock shows before, but never anything like this, with this type of money and the prestige of this race. I think most of the guys are on the same page as I am. This is turning into the biggest race as far as I know in the country in Street Stocks. It's really turning into the Daytona 500 of Street Stocks, in my opinion."

Action begins on Thursday night with an open practice from 6-9 p.m. for both the Street Stocks and the Warsaw Auto Marine & RV ULMA Late Models. Street Stock time trials will follow practice, setting the lineups for Friday night's heat races. The top two finishers in those heats will run 10-lap dashes on Friday - the first dash, consisting of heat-race winners, will set the first eight spots in the feature lineup; the second dash, from the second-place heat finishers, will produce positions 9-16 for the main event.

On Saturday, last-chance races will finalize the Big Buck 50 feature field. Two Lucas Oil Speedway provisionals will be added to the feature field based on final 2018 Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series points standings.

The ULMA Late Models will run full programs both Friday and Saturday.

Hendrix, of Waynesville, dominated early in the season with six straight feature wins at Lucas Oil Speedway, but leveled out down the stretch. He said he's fixed some suspension issues over the last few weeks, but is looking forward to Thursday's practice time to make sure.

"I'm not usually very good at timing in, so fingers crossed," he said of time trials. "You've got to have a lot of luck on your side. You probably have 15-20 cars that have won bigger races than we've ever won. The competition is crazy good in this class right now."

Tony Anglin of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas won the Big Buck 50 a year ago. This year, the winner's share has been doubled - plus the feature winner also receives a free entry into the 30th annual Whitetail Trophy Hunt this November, worth another $3,000.

The prestigious hunt in mid-Missouri, which is limited to 230 people, has been sold out since February. The hunt winner will earn $15,000 so, potentially, the Big Buck 50 winner could make a gigantic haul.

Tim Brown of Stoutland won the Big Buck 50 in 2016 for $5,000, plus the free hunt worth $3,000. He went on to finish ninth in the Whitetail Trophy Hunt to earn another $2,000.

Other Big Buck 50 awards include:

• Alamo Arms again will award $500 to the first non-qualifier to the race. Alamo Arms, in Montreal, Missouri, is a go-to place for firearms, ammo and reloading supplies. It's conveniently located at the junction of Highways 7 and E. For more information, call (573) 346-9944. This October marks the sixth anniversary of Alamo Arms, which is owned by Tom and Becky Carroll.

• Tony Jackson and Tony Jackson Racing again will provide $500 for the Fast Time Bonus to the driver quickest in time trials on Oct. 4. Jackson, a veteran Late Model standout, has become a leading builder of Street Stocks through Tony Jackson Racing.

This year's feature payout will be as follows: 1st $10,000; 2nd $5,000; 3rd $2,500; 4th $1,500. 5th $1,250; 6th $1,000; 7th $900; 8th $850; 9th $800; 10th $750; 11th $700; 12th $650; 13th $600; 14th $550; 15th-through-24th $500; non-transfers $200.

The Warsaw Auto Marine & RV ULMA Late Models will also be on the program running complete shows on Friday with $1,000 to the winner and on Saturday with $2,000 to the winner.

Grandstand admission on Thursday is free with limited concessions on the pit side. Live music in the Diamond Bar will follow qualifying.

WEEKEND EVENT SCHEDULE
Thursday
4 p.m. - Gates open
6-9 p.m. - Open practice for Street Stocks and ULMA Late Models, with Street Stocks qualifying to follow

Friday and Saturday
4 p.m. - Gates open
6:30 p.m. - Hot laps
7:05 p.m. - Racing begins

WEEKEND ADMISSION PRICES
Thursday
Grandstands - FREE
Pit pass - $25

Friday
Adults (16 and over) $15
Seniors (62 and over)/Military $12
Youth (6-15) $5
Kids (5 and under) FREE
Family pass $30
Pit pass $35

Saturday
Adults (16 and over) $20
Seniors (62 and over)/Military $17
Youth (6-15) $1
Kids (5 and under) FREE
Family pass $40
Pit pass $40

For ticket information on all events at Lucas Oil Speedway in 2018, contact Admission Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or by email at nichole@LucasOilSpeedway.com. Fans also can go online to purchase tickets for any event on the 2018 schedule.

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