September 30, 2024 | By Lyndal Scranton

Three nights of action coming up for MLRA Fall Nationals and Big Buck 50 at Lucas Oil Speedway

WHEATLAND, Mo. — The last, big multi-night program of the 2024 season at Lucas Oil Speedway arrives this Thursday through Saturday with stars of Late Model and Super Stock racing joining forces in south-central Missouri.

The 8th annual MLRA Fall Nationals kicks off a sprint toward determining a season champion with full programs set for Thursday and Friday, paying $5,000-to-win the features, and $10,000 awaiting the winner of the finale on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the 8th annual Super Stocks Big Buck 50 Presented by Whitetail Trophy Hunt returns to Lucas Oil Speedway for the first time since 2020. The full-fender division also will reward the Saturday-night feature winner with a $10,000 check.

"It's a big weekend with the MLRA Late Models and Super Stocks coming together one the same nights," Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager Danny Lorton said, noting that the Late Models full program on Thursday having originally been a test and tune night for the MLRA Series.

But after the series was hit by so many rainouts during the first half of the schedule, Lorton and MLRA Series Director Ernie Leftwich added the Thursday action to give drivers an extra opportunity to earn points toward the championship. The best news is there is little or no chance for rain this week.

Chad Simpson of Mount Vernon, Iowa, will be looking to move closer to his third straight MLRA championship. He brings a 100-point lead over Tony Jackson Jr. of Lebanon into the Fall Nationals. Jackson and Chris Simpson of Oxford, Iowa, captured feature wins at the MLRA Ron Jenkins Memorial in Wheatland one month ago.

Three MLRA races will remain following this weekend - Oct. 10 at I-70 Speedway and Oct. 11-12 at Tri-City Speedway.

Meanwhile, there has been much anticipation about the return of the Big Buck 50, which will kick off with practice sessions Thursday along with time trial qualifying for their Friday heat and dash races for their Saturday $10,000-to-win finale.

Super Stock pre-tech will open at noon Thursday and Friday.  All Super Stocks must go through pre-tech before Friday heat races begin.

A star-studded field of Super Stocks is expected for the event with Whitetail Trophy owner Craig Danuser stepping up as the title sponsor as he was in previous renditions of the event.

This year marks the 36th anniversary of the Whitetail Trophy Hunt at Lake of the Ozarks. The sold-out dates are Nov. 16-18. Entries are received on a first come, first served basis and limited to a maximum of 220 hunters.

Over $5 million in cash and prizes has been awarded over the years to many fortunate whitetail hunters. Plus, the five year Show-me Showdown is in its fifth year for the 2024 hunt. This promotion will provide an additional cash bonus prize fund that can go up to $35,000.

For more information on the Whitetail Trophy Hunt, visit whitetail.net.

Other sponsors for special awards for the race also have been announced. Those include:

Chip Shaddox and HICKAMO Country Store is sponsoring the Big Buck 50 Fast time Award and First Non-Transfer Qualifier. HICKAMO Country Store will pay $500 for the Big Buck 50 Fast Time Qualifier and $500 to First Non-Transfer Qualifier.

Steve Beach with Beach Dirtworks of Eldon is sponsoring the Big Buck 50 Hard Luck Award, giving $200 to the Hard Luck driver of the event.

Francisco Escamilla owner of Location Freight in Nianqua for sponsoring the Big Buck 50 Farthest Tow Award: Location Freight Big Buck 50 Farthest Tow Award: $250 bonus to the driver who tow's the farthest for the event.

Steve Scott with Steve Scott Concrete LLC is sponsor of the Big Buck 50 Friday Dash 1 race. Jaren Hamilton with J2H Excavating of Niangua is sponsor of another Friday Night Dash races, with $100 to the driver who finishes 5th in the first dash and $100 to the driver who finishes 5th in the second dash.

Drivers can find the Big Buck 50 entry form on the drivers' dashboard portion of lucasoilspeedway.com.

With the race scheduled to be live on FloRacing both nights and on MAVTV at a later date, drivers are encouraged to fill out their profile on MyRacePass with information that can be used by announcers. Drivers planning on running can use this link to for the driver profile.

Pit gates will open at 3:30 p.m. with grandstands at 4, hot laps/practice at 6 and racing to follow on Oct. 3. Along with a full MLRA program, Super Stocks will run several practice sessions and then will run a special qualifying session to set their heat races for Friday night.

On Oct. 4, Super Stocks will hold a special qualifying session followed by 10-lap qualifying heats for Saturday night's 50-Lap, $10,000 to win main event. The Late Models again have a full program, kicking of with time trials. Pits will open at 4 p.m. with grandstands at 4:30, hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:05.

The final night on Oct. 5 will find another full MLRA program along with B Features and a Pole Dash prior to the 50-lap Super Stocks main event. Pit gates open at 4 with grandstands at 4:30, hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:05.


Thursday admission:

Advance Discount Tickets online only (13 and up) - $22
Adults (13 and up) - $25
Seniors (62 and up)/Military - $22
Youth (6-12) - $10
Kids (5 and under) - FREE
Family Pass - $60
Pit Pass - $40


Friday admission:

Advance Discount Tickets online only (13 and up) - $27
Adults (13 and up) - $30
Seniors (62 and up)/Military - $27
Youth (6-12) - $10
Kids (5 and under) - FREE
Family Pass - $70
Pit Pass - $40


Saturday admission:

Advance Discount Tickets online only (13 and up) - $27
Adults (13 and up) - $30
Seniors (62 and up)/Military - $27
Youth (6-12) - $10
Kids (5 and under) - FREE
Family Pass - $70
Pit Pass - $45


Camping:

Reserved with Electric and Water - $40/Night (Limited Availability) Reserved Dry Spots - $25/Night (Limited Availability) Dry Camping - $15/Night

For ticket or camping information on any Lucas Oil Speedway event, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 295-6043 or via email at nmcmillan@lucasoilspeedway.com.

For information about Lucas Oil Speedway, including schedules, point standings and other news, please visit LucasOilSpeedway.com.