3/17/2022
Lucas Oil Speedway
Lucas Oil Speedway Preseason Spotlight: Maggard puts focus on Hermitage Lumber Late Model class
WHEATLAND, MO. (March 17, 2022) - Third-generation Ozarks-area race-car driver Michael Maggard has been around the sports his entire life. He began racing at age 13 in Pure Stocks and has driven Modifieds and Late Models on Ozarks-area tracks in recent years.
Now 32, Maggard is planning to become a regular at Lucas Oil Speedway for the first time. He will compete in the Hermitage Lumber Late Model portion of the Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series in 2022.
“I just really want to race local and get more family time,” Maggard said of his decision. The Republic resident has campaigned his Late Model in the Cash Money Super Dirt Series the last few years.
“Last year at work, being pretty busy, it was hard to get out and leave on a Friday morning and go race somewhere, two and a half hours away,” Maggard said. “This just fits our schedule better. I’m looking forward to it.”
Maggard is not a total stranger to Lucas Oil Speedway. He dropped in on the ULMA action three times last season and came away with a pair of top-10 finishes. He developed an appreciation for the competition.
“I love the facilities there, obviously,” Maggard said. “It’s pretty clean racing. The Cash Money deal was rough on equipment. We could go (to Lucas) and race and not really tear up tires or anything too bad.
“Plus, you’re racing with really clean race-car drivers, too. They respect their stuff as much as you do.”
Maggard’s career highlights include winning the prestigious Spooker at Tri-State Speedway near Fort Smith, Arkansas, twice. The first was 2013 in a Modified and the second in 2018 in his Late Model for a Cash Money Series feature win that was special in more ways than one.
“That 2018 race also is when I proposed to my wife (Kami). She said yes that night, which probably makes it my biggest highlight," Maggard said.
Racing definitely is a family sport for the Maggards. Michael’s grandfather, Bob, was a top competitor on area tracks in the 1960s and '70s and was inducted into the Ozarks Area Racers Foundation Hall of Fame a couple of months ago. Dad Bobby, and uncles Erik and Brandon, also have raced, or continue to race, on area dirt.
The tradition also appears ready to continue to a fourth generation. Michael’s five-year-old son Emmitt along with nine-year-olds Brayson and Bentley also race go-karts. He said Emmitt appears to have been bitten by the racing bug the most.
“He’s the one who’s out in the shop wanting to help work on the car. He doesn’t want to play. The race car is all he cares about,” Michael said.
That car is a Black Diamond that Maggard said is just about ready to roll for the new season. He goal is to win a track championship, though he knows it won’t be easy. Cole Henson of Russellville is the two-time defending champ with Johnny Fennewald of Appleton City has been runner-up both seasons. Fennewald won three straight titles from 2018-20.
“I would really like to set a goal to win the points,” Maggard said. “Our main focus is gonna be just Lucas. We want to be very competitive and put all our coins into that. We want to be good there.”
Team sponsors include car owner Terry Green Motorsports, Christi Bukaty, USA Mortgage, R&R Graphics, Kami’s Cleaning Services, Allen’s Automotive, Eagle Machine and Bryan Larimore's Dirt Track Specialist.
Crew help comes from Mike Jenkins who Maggard says “is 100 percent committed to the deal and that’s gonna help out a bunch.”
Season openers: Lucas Oil Speedway has a Test and Tune scheduled for April 9 from 2-6 p.m. and another for April 16 from 4-6 p.m. The April 16 Test and Tune will be followed by the "Easter Bowl 150" Enduro race at 6:30 p.m.
Registration for Enduro Easter Bowl 150 is underway. Drivers can call the speedway office at (417) 282-5984 and pay the entry fee via credit card or print off the entry form from the website and mail in with the fee. The starting position will be based on order of paid entries received, but drivers can run any car number of their choice.
Early registration is $100 (includes driver pit pass) and continues through April 9. Registration is $150 after April 9.
Entries will be capped at 100 for the 150-lap race, which will see drivers start the action three-wide. The Easter Bowl 150 winner will earn $1,500 with prize money paid to the top 10 finishers.
The 9th annual Pitts Homes MLRA Spring Nationals are set for April 22-23. The Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series Spring Opener opener is scheduled for April 30.
For ticket information for any future event at Lucas Oil Speedway, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 295-6043 or via email at nichole@lucasoilspeedway.com.
CONTACT:
Danny Lorton
Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager
Office: (417) 282-5984
DLorton@lucasoilspeedway.com
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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.
Lucas Oil Speedway is located at Highways 83 and 54 in Wheatland, Missouri. A campground with shower and bathroom facilities is also available. With its 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 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 www.facebook.com/LucasOilSpeedway and on www.youtube.com/LucasOilSpeedway
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.
2022 Official Lucas Oil Speedway Marketing Partners
Bill Roberts Chevrolet-Buick
"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
Optima Batteries
"The Official Battery" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper
"The Official Soft Drink" of Lucas Oil Speedway
RacingJunk.com
"The Official Classifieds" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Rugged Radios
"The Official 2-Way Communications Provider" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Sunoco Race Fuels
"The Official Fuel" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Super Clean
"The Official Sponsor" of Lucas Oil Speedway
2022 Lucas Oil Speedway Supporters Include:
Advanced Automotive Repair, AM Pyrotechnics, Angler's Resort, Arizona Sport Shirts, Ash Grove Aggregates, Ball Tree Service, Benton County Tire, Berry Tractor and Equipment Co., Big Adventure RV, Bill Roberts Chevrolet-Buick, Bolivar Auto Sales & Detailing, Bolivar Farmers Exchange-MFA, Boone's BBQ Barn, Boubin Tire/American Racer, Branstetter & Lightfoot LLC, Bridal Cave, BWI Sanitation, Camden on the Lake Resort, Candlelight Creations-Dick's Wild Root Horseradish, Casey's, Cedar Creek Beef Jerky, CED Electric, Central Life Sciences, Citizens Memorial Healthcare, City Magnet, Clearlight Inn, Comfort Inn-Bolivar,DirtonDirt.com, Dixie Chopper, eBay Motors, Eibach Springs, Evans Pipe & Steel Co., Farmers Insurance Agent Kristy Reynolds, Fast Shafts by Axle Exchange, Foley Equipment-Cat Rental Store, Frog Signs, Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare, Heritage Tractor Inc., Hermitage Lumber, HICKAMO Country Store, Highway 54 RV Park, Hobbytime Motorsports, Hoosier Race Tires, Impact Signs Awnings Wraps, In the Garden of Eden, Kettle Treats, Keyser Manufacturing, Kluhsman Racing Components, Kona Ice, LimeBank, Lucas Cattle Company, Margaritaville Lake Resort, McCoy Logging LLC, Merck Animal Health, Midwest Sheet Metal, Miller Welding, Missouri Land Co. LLC, 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, PFI Western Store, Pitts Homes, Pitts Realty, Pitts Cattle, ProThings Apparel, RACEceiver, Racinboys.com, RacinDirt.com, RacingJunk.com, Rains Ice Company, Real Racing Wheels, Rod End Supply, Ron Jenkins Accounting & Tax Service, Rugged Radios, Ryan E. Murphy Law Firm LLC, SBU Athletics, Safety Kleen, Schlesselman Fencing, Scott Furniture, Sidetrack RV Park, Simpson Racing Products, Southwest Electric Cooperative, Square B Ranch, Stillwater Resort, Stover Milling, Sunoco Race Fuels, Sunflower Resort, Superior Products, TA/PETRO, Transportation Distribution Co. (TDC), US Army Corps of Engineers-Pomme de Terre, Vietti Marketing Group, Wheatland Motel, White's Marine Center, Wild Animal Safari, Windsor Livestock Auction, Woods Supermarkets, Wrisco Industries, ZINPRO Performance Minerals.
Article Credit: By Lyndal Scranton, Lucas Oil Speedway
