April 17, 2024 | By Billy Rock

Lucas Oil MLRA set for "Hawkeye Land 40" & "Slocum 50" Weekend

WHEATLAND, Mo. — A short week awaits the drivers and race teams of the Lucas Oil MLRA, as the series makes a quick turn-around and heads north for three nights of racing in the Hawkeye state starting this Thursday April, 18th. The series is coming off a successful opening weekend at the Lucas Oil Speedway which saw Jonathan Davenport topping the field of 44 entries both nights.

A rare Thursday night date will get the triple header weekend underway on Thursday, when the MLRA teams up with Kay Promotions for the first annual “Hawkeye Land 40” at the Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, IA. The ¼ mile track rest on the grounds of the Cedar County Fairgrounds, which is just about 30 minutes northeast of Iowa City, IA.

This will mark the MLRA’s first ever visit to the semi banked dirt oval in the series storied 36-year history, with the night’s winner collecting a $5,000 pay day. The eastern Iowa facility has hosted a limited number of regional Late Model events in recent years, with the majority of those being under the former IMCA Derry Brothers sanction. Wheatland, Iowa’s Justin Kay was the dominating force in that era with five wins to his credit. 

The MLRA’s top two drivers from a season ago in Chad and Chris Simpson, have also experienced success in the past at Cedar County under the now defunct Corn Belt Clash Series. Chris scored wins in 2011 and 2012, while brother Chad collected the victory back in 2010.

For Chad Simpson, the 27-minute commute to the Cedar County Raceway from his Mount Vernon, IA race shop makes this a home race of sorts, much different than last weeks 6+ hour road trip to Lucas Oil Speedway. “It’s definitely close to home, so that’s a plus. This is probably the closest race track to my house, but probably the race track that I have raced the least at over the years. I’ve probably only race there two or maybe three times,” he noted of Cedar County Raceway. 

“It’s a fun little fairgrounds race track, and the Kay’s (K-Promotions) are putting it on with Al doing the track prep and stuff, and it seems like everything those guys seem to touch and put together race track wise, turns out to be pretty good. It should be a nice little quarter mile bull ring for us.”

As for what he expects of the racing, he comments, “It will usually have some pretty good speed early in the night, and it usually gets really wide,” he noted. “It’s kind of one of them tracks that’s got that top line that’s really really good, but it’s kind of on that edge of falling off the ledge too."

After Thursday night’s weekend kick off, action will head due south to the 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa for two big nights of racing. Action will resume on
Friday night April 19th with the $5,000 to win “Prelude To The Slocum”, Presented by Midwest Performance & Power. The weekend will then conclude on Saturday April 20th, when teams battle for the coveted #5 trophy and the $10,555 pay day in the 50 lap “Slocum 50”, Presented by Roederer’s Pit Stop.

The “Slocum 50” weekend has grown into one of the premier races on the MLRA schedule, even more so with its recent transition into a two-day event. This will mark the 16th annual edition of the Slocum 50 which was started to honor and remember the life of Late Model racer Brent Slocum who tragically lost his life at the facility in 2005 at the age of 28. The Brent Slocum Foundation now carries on the legacy of the former Late Model competitor, who competed primarily in IMCA Late Models at 34 Raceway and at the former Quincy Raceways (now Adams County Speedway) in Quincy, IL. Slocum accumulated numerous wins in his eleven-year career along with track championships and professional accolades. 

Shannon Babb scored his second career win in the Slocum 50 in 2023, joining four-time winner Bobby Pierce as the only two drivers who are multi-time winners of the event. Other recent winners from 2022 and 2021 include Dennis Erb Jr. and Jason Papich respectively.

Defending, and now four-time MLRA champion Chad Simpson, will come into the weekend on top of the Midwest Sheet Metal Point Leader Challenge standings by virtue of his back-to-back 6th place finishes in this past weekend’s season opener. Tony Jackson Jr. and Chris Simpson are knotted up in second, each just 25 points out of the top spot. Oregon’s Justin Duty occupies the fourth spot, while Gordy Gundaker rounds out the top five. 



Cedar County Raceway: Tipton, IA: “Hawkeye Land 40” Thursday 4/18/24

Pit Gates: 3:00 PM, Grandstands 5:00 PM
Hot Laps: - 6:30 PM Racing to Follow
Admission: Adults $25, Kids (5 – 12yrs.) $10, Kids (4 & Under) FREE
Pit Passes: Adults $35, Kids (12 & Under) $20
Support Classes: IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Sport Mods
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/KayPromotions



34 Raceway: West Burlington, IA: “Prelude To The Slocum” Friday 4/19/24

Pit Gates: 4:00 PM, Grandstands 5:00 PM
Racing: Hot Laps - 6:15 PM, Racing 7:00 PM
Admission: Adults $25, Students (11-17) & Seniors 62+: $20, Kids 10 & Under: FREE
Support Classes: IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, & 305 Sprints-Winged
Website:  www.34Raceway.com


34 Raceway: West Burlington, IA: “16th Annual Slocum 50” Saturday 4/20/24

Pit Gates: 4:00 PM, Grandstands 5:00 PM
Racing: Hot Laps - 6:15 PM, Racing 7:00 PM
Admission: Adults $30, Students (11-17) & Seniors 62+: $25, Kids 10 & Under: FREE
Support Classes: IMCA Modifieds & IMCA Stock Cars

For all of the latest news and information, including the full 2024 schedule, fans are encouraged to visit the series website at .www.mlraracing.com