7/21/2022
Lucas Oil Speedway
Lucas Oil Speedway Spotlight: Garner on brink of breakthrough USRA Stock Cars feature win
WHEATLAND, MO. (July 21, 2022) - William Garner has done everything but win a feature race this season in Lucas Oil Speedway’s O’Reilly Auto Parts USRA Stock Cars division, finishing as runner-up three times. The 22-year-old from Lebanon is confident that first win is coming soon.
But for starters, Garner is going to have to drive his way past two of his closest friends to get it done.
“I grew up with Bryan White. He’s my best friend and Rob is like my other dad,” Garner said of the Lebanon son-father duo who are 1-2 in the Stock Cars points battle. Just a couple of weeks ago, Garner finished second as Rob White picked up the feature win and Bryan ran third.
“I grew up with them and have been around racing with them forever,” Garner said. “I would go with them and Bryan started racing and now we’re all in Stock Cars. It’s pretty fun when we go 1-2-3.”
Garner looks to find his way to victory lane again on Saturday night at Ozarks Food Harvest Food Drive Night Presented by KY3. Fans can attend free by bringing four non-perishable food items to the main gate.
The USRA Stock Cars will headline the action with a special 25-lap, $750-to-win main event. The Cedar Creek Beef Jerky USRA Modifieds, Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mods and Hermitage Lumber Late Models also will be in action.
Garner said since he’s fixed motor issues that plagued him early in the season, he’s been on a winning trajectory. He said better draws for his heat race and then earning a better starting spot in the feature would be helpful in leading to a win.
“We have a good car, thanks to my parents, along Josh and Mitchell Franklin,” Garner said. “They’ve helped me a lot. We just need a little luck on our side now.
“I help Josh in the winters and in my free time to build cars. My free time over there I built this car over the winter and he coached me how to do it. We pretty well did it together.”
Each week finds the Stock Cars battling it out side-by-side, sometimes three-wide in arguably the best racing action of any of the Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series divisions. Garner, asked if the close racing was fun or stressful, gave a quick and decisive answer.
“I think it’s a blast,” he said. “Really, about any night, any of the top 10 could win. You have a lot of good drivers in that class, a bunch of talent for sure. It’s fun racing side-by-side like that, just being able to race with guys and have a good time.”
Garner said he got his racing start a couple of years ago at Dallas County Speedway, where he was helping out the Whites and he got to take one of their Pure Stocks for a spin after the races. He got his own car the following year, first a Midwest Mod and then a Stock Car.
"Josh Franklin gave me the opportunity to get one of his cars and we went from there. That’s how we got into this deal," Garner said.
The Lebanon contingent of Garner and the Whites pit together each week on Friday nights at Dallas County Speedway and on Saturday in Wheatland. They are quick to lend each other a helpful hand when needed.
Garner said his dad, Jeremy, serves as his crew chief and lends plenty of support, both in knowledge and with encouragement.
After three straight second-place runs (two at Lucas Oil Speedway and one at Dallas County) and nine top-fives in 17 events overall, Garner’s goal is simple.
“I’d like to win at Lucas and at Dallas County,” he said. “I’d like to get some wins and do good in (USRA) national points.”
Team sponsors include Josh Franklin Motorsports, Albright Racing, the Perkins Family, Court Probationary Services, Garner Construction, Arrowhead Building Supply, Icon Race Graphics, Richard’s Carpet and Eagle Machine.
Gates open at 4 p.m. Saturday with hot laps at 6:30 and opening ceremonies at 7.
Dirt track admission:
(FREE with 4 non-perishable food items, per person; FREE with Off Road ticket)
Advance discount tickets online only (16 and up) - $12
Adults (16 and up) - $15
Seniors/Military (62 and up) - $12
Youth (6-15) - $5
Kids (5 and under) - FREE
Family Pass - $35 (includes admission for 2 adults and up to 3 youth ages 6-15)
Pit Pass - $30
Off Road during the day: UTV Short Course racers tackle the off road track earlier on Saturday. Race classes will include Pro N/A, Pro, Youth 1000, Youth 570, Youth 170 Mod, Youth 170 Stock, Sportsman, Women’s and Mini Stock Truck. Spectator gates open at 9 a.m. with practice at 10 and heat races at noon. Awards are scheduled to be concluded before 5 p.m.
Spectators purchasing Off Road tickets will get free admission to the dirt-track racing that evening.
Drivers can check out the rules & registration forms on the Driver Dashboard portion of the Lucas Oil Speedway website.
Off Road admission:
Adults GA/Pit Pass combo (16 and up) - $25
Seniors (62 and up)/Military GA/Pit Pass Combo (62 and up) - $22
Youth GA/Pit Pass Combo (age 6 to 15) - $10
Kids GA/Pit Pass Combo (age 5 and under) - FREE
Family Pass GA/Pit Pass Combo - $60 (Includes admission for 2 adults and up to 3 kids ages 6-15)
Racer Pit Pass - $30
To purchase tickets for any event on Lucas Oil Speedway's schedule, or to inquire about camping information, 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
?
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. The Lucas Oil Speedway EZ Texting number is (417) 804-4141.
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
Arizona Sport Shirts
"The Official Merchandise Provider" of Lucas Oil Speedway
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:
AM Pyrotechnics, Arizona Sport Shirts, Ash Grove Aggregates, 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, 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, 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, Lucas Cattle Company, Margaritaville Lake Resort, Midwest Sheet Metal, Miller Welding, Missouri Department of Tourism, 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, 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, Scott Furniture, Simpson Racing Products, Southwest Electric Cooperative, Stillwater Resort, Sunoco Race Fuels, Sunflower Resort, TA/PETRO, US Army Corps of Engineers-Pomme de Terre, Vietti Marketing Group, Wheatland Motel, White's Marine Center, Wild Animal Safari, Woods Supermarkets, Wrisco Industries.
Article Credit: By Lyndal Scranton, Lucas Oil Speedway
