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Lucas Oil Speedway Spotlight: Dayton Pursley keeps making gains in USRA B-Mod career

WHEATLAND, MO. (June 22, 2023) - When Dayton Pursley began driving in the Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mod class in 2019, the son of long-time Lucas Oil Speedway USRA Modified competitor Jason Pursley figured it would be a fairly simple process.

“I had watched it for 15 years and I remember telling Dad, ‘I’m gonna go out here and do pretty good.’ Then I went out and I’d never experienced anything like it,” Dayton Pursley said of his rookie season. “It’s a lot harder than it looks. That was my first taste of real competition.”

Now at age 20, Pursley is starting to come into his own after getting the experience necessary to compete in the deep and talented B-Mod division. Pursley is second in points with a pair of top-five finishes to his credit entering Saturday night’s Public Safety Appreciation Night in the Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series.

All police, fire and rescue personnel will be admitted free with ID. USRA Modifieds will be the featured division with a special 25-lap, $1,000-to-win main event. Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mods, Hermitage Lumber Late Models and O'Reilly Auto Parts Stock Cars also will be in action.

For Dayton Pursley, it’s a chance to continue building positive momentum after a rough start to the 2023 Lucas Oil Speedway season. He opened with finishes of ninth, 15th and 16th but has steadily improved since in his new Sky Rocket Chassis.

“We also had some bad luck and got in a couple of wrecks at the beginning of the year, but finally started to turn it around and had some better luck and some better runs,” Pursley said. “Overall, it’s gone really good for me. I feel like I have leaped into a new position on the race track, consistently in the top-10, which is great - especially at Lucas with the stiff B-Mod competition.”

Asked to compare his driving now to his rookie B-Mod season, Pursley said it’s all about consistency and “just learning. It took me probably two to three years to really learn now to drive a B-Mod. I’m not great now, but I feel I can make circles on a consistent basis now.

“That first year, I’d have some good laps and then bad ones. It’s all about momentum now in racing. The more consistent you can be, the better you’ll be.”

While Dayton always has his dad alongside in the pits when he needs advice, he’s starting to make more and more of his own decisions about car set-up.

“I’m starting to do more of my own thing, I guess,” he said. “He’s still by my side when I have questions. I lean on him, but I try to do my own thing and try to learn myself. Tom Campbell, my Dad’s car owner, has helped me with parts, traveling, everything you can think of. Everyone throughout the pits, I can talk to them and have a great conversation. They’ve raced a lot longer than I have and I can ask them questions.

“My biggest help would be my dad. Being around him 20 years ... he knows what he’s doing.”

Pursley also is learning about the ins and outs of racing by working for Brennon Willard Motorsports and TJR Motorsports out of Lebanon. During the week, he works in the shop for the Late Model teams and occasionally, when his own racing schedule doesn’t conflict, he goes on road trips with them.

“Set-up, tires, cleaning, whatever they need, I do,” Pursley said of his role. “I’ve gone with them a few times this year, to the Show-Me 100, West Plains and Tri-City. I plan on traveling next week for some Summer National races. Mainly, I’m a shop guy and race on the weekends.”

Pursley said his goals the rest of his season are to keep improving, hopefully win some races and stay near the top of the Lucas Oil Speedway standings. He’s 63 points behind Bobby Williams in the Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mod chase.

“Winning races is my top priority, but being in the top three of points at Lucas would be great,” Pursley said. “Bobby is really consistent and really good this year. It’s gonna be tough to catch him. Finishing second at Lucas in points is a great accomplishment for anybody.”

Pit gates open at 4 p.m. Saturday and grandstands at 5, with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:05.

Saturday dirt-track admission:
(FREE for all Police, Fire or Rescue personnel with ID)
Advance Discount Tickets online only (16 and up) - $12
Adults (16 and up) - $15
Seniors (62 and up)/Military - $12
Youth (6-15) - $5
Kids (5 and under) - FREE
Family Pass - $35
Pit Pass - $35

Thursday Night Thunder & Kids' Bicycle Night: This week begins a busy stretch for the Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series, with the annual Casey's Thursday Night Thunder Kids Night at the Races program with post-race fireworks, kicking off the 4th of July weekend on June 29th.

The annual Kids' Bicycle Night giveaway will be a big part of the evening and anyone wishing to donate a bicycle or make a monetary donation to purchase bikes for youngsters, ages 5-through-12, may do so. General Manager Danny Lorton said the goal is to give away at least 100 new bicycles this year after 82 were collected and distributed to youngsters last season.

Anyone interested in donating a new boys' or girls' bicycle, or make a cash donation, can stop by the Lucas Oil Speedway office during business hours, Monday through Friday, or do so at the office before this Saturday's Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series event . There's also a "Bike-O-Meter" donation box located in the Diamond Bar for cash donations.

For questions or more details, contact Lisa Lorton at the Lucas Oil Speedway office (417) 282-5984 or via email at Lisa@lucasoilspeedway.com.

The youngsters can sign before intermission on June 29th for a chance to enter a drawing for the new bicycles of various sizes.

Camping World SRX Series tickets on sale: Some of racing's legends are coming to Lucas Oil Speedway for the Camping World SRX Series. The August 17th SRX "Thursday Night Thunder" will be the finale of the six-race series and determine the 2023 champion. All SRX races will air live on ESPN.

Drivers announced for the Lucas Oil Speedway event include NASCAR Cup Series champions Tony Stewart, Brad Keselowski and Bobby Labonte, along with NASCAR drivers Kenny Wallace, Ryan Newman, Clint Bowyer and Hailie Deegan. Also on hand will be four-time Indy 500 winer Helio Castroneves, plus reigning SRX Champion Marco Andretti and Indy-car drivers Paul Tracy and Ryan Hunter-Reay.

Click here to purchase tickets now

The series will pit the drivers against one another in identically prepared cars with points accumulated in each of the six events. The championship chase will culminate at Lucas Oil Speedway.

Tickets for the SRX event are $35 in advance and $40 at the gate (ages 16 and over). Kids (ages 6-15) will be $20 with ages 5-and-under free. Advance tickets can now be purchased via Stubwire. Pit passes are $50 and must be purchased the day of the event.

For information about any event at Lucas Oil Speedway in 2023 contact admissions director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or email her at nichole@lucasoilspeedway.com for more information.

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. 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.

2023 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

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

Summit Racing Equipment
"The Official Sponsor" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Sunoco Race Fuels
"The Official Fuel" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Super Clean
"The Official Sponsor" of Lucas Oil Speedway

2023 Lucas Oil Speedway Supporters Include:
AM Pyrotechnics, Alliance Sport Marketing, Arctic Food Equipment, Arizona Sport Shirts, 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, Dirt Track Specialist, Dixie Chopper, Eagle Vision Paving LLC, Eibach Springs, 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, Hobbytime Motorsports, Impact Signs Awnings Wraps, In the Garden of Eden, KC Bobcat, Kettle Treats, Keyser Manufacturing, Kluhsman Racing Components, Kona Ice, Lucas Cattle Company, MD3, Midwest Sheet Metal, Miller Welding, 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, Pomme de Terre Resort, ProThings Apparel, RACEceiver, Racinboys.com, RacinDirt.com, RacingJunk.com, Rains Ice Company, Real Racing Wheels, Reed Environmental, River's End Motel & RV Park, Rod End Supply, Ron Jenkins Accounting & Tax Service, Rugged Radios, Ryan E. Murphy Law Firm LLC, SBU Athletics, Safety Kleen, Scott Furniture, Sidetrack RV Park, Simpson Racing Products, Southwest Electric Cooperative, State Tech, Stillwater Resort, Summit Racing Equipment, Sunoco Race Fuels, US Army Corps of Engineers-Pomme de Terre, Vietti Marketing Group, Wasoba Seed & Trucking, Wheatland Motel, White's Marine Center, Wieland, Wild Animal Safari, Woods Supermarkets.

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