Story By: JAMES ESSEX / LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL DIRT SERIES – BATAVIA, OH – The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series season is upon us, with two states, three tracks, and nine days of racing.
The 2020 season starts off with return visits to Golden Isles Speedway, for the RhinoAg Super Bowl of Racing – Presented by General Tire, and on January 30th-February 1st, and East Bay Raceway Park for the 44th Annual Wrisco Industries Winternationals – Presented by Lucas Oil February 2nd-8th. The Series will make its first ever visit to All-Tech Raceway in Lake City, Florida for the Lucas Oil Winter Nationals – Presented by GEICO on February 9th.
The action will get underway with an open practice for all competing divisions on Thursday, January 30th, before the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series takes center stage on Friday, January 31st and Saturday, February 1st at Golden Isles Speedway. Both events will include a full program, highlighted by a 50-lap, $12,000-to-win main event. The Golden Isles Speedway Late Models will also have a complete program each night.
On Thursday, January 30th, the pit gate will open at 3:00 pm, with practice from 6:30 pm -10:00 pm. The general admission gate will also be open for anyone wanting to get a sneak peek on the excitement the weekend is sure to bring. Pit gates will open at noon on Friday, and 11:00 am on Saturday, while the grandstands will open at 3:30 pm Friday, and Saturday at 3:00 pm. Saturday, fans will get to meet their favorite drivers with an autograph session from 3:30 pm-4:15 pm. Hot laps will begin each day at 5:00 pm, with Heat Race action at 7:10 pm.
Golden Isles Speedway is located off Highway 82 in Waynesville, GA, just 12 miles west of I-95 at Exit 29.
Teams will then make the trek south to Tampa, Florida to East Bay Raceway Park for a thrilling week of racing. The action starts off on Sunday with an open practice from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Beginning Monday, February 3rd and continuing through Saturday, February 8th the nation’s top dirt late model drivers will battle it out for nearly $200,000 in prize money.
A full program is scheduled for six straight nights, which includes: Hot Laps, Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains, Berry Barn Strawberry Dash, and the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Main Event. Each day, the Drivers Meeting will take place at 5:00 pm, followed by Hot Laps at 5:30 pm.
Following six nights of racing at East Bay Raceway Park, teams will make the two-and-a-half-hour trip back North to All-Tech Raceway, a half-mile clay oval. With continuous improvements to the facility in the last few years, drivers, teams, and series officials are all eager for the visit on Sunday, February 9th.
Both pit gates and grandstand gates are set to open at 2:00 pm, Drivers Meeting at 5:30 pm, and Hot Laps set for 6:00 pm. In addition to a full program for the Lucas Late Models, highlighted by a 50-lap $10,000-to-win A-Main, the Street Stocks will also have a full program that will conclude the night with a 20-lap A-Main event.
New for 2020 Speedweeks, Championship Points will be awarded to perfect attendance Speedweeks drivers/teams for their best five points nights only. All other drivers will be awarded 50 points per night.