Story By: LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL DIRT SERIES – BATAVIA, OH – The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series visits Lernerville Speedway this Thursday – Saturday, June 23rd – 25th for the first time ever, with a record high purse and top prize in the 16th Annual Firecracker 100 Presented by Big River Steel.
Thanks to Big River Steel, a new partner for the Firecracker event, The Action Track will pay a record high purse of over $210,000, including $50,000 to the winner, at the 16th running of the Firecracker 100 weekend. This prestigious three-day racing tradition will now be the richest event of any kind ever held at the Lernerville Speedway.
The Firecracker 100 weekend has been a great addition not only to the entire Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series schedule, but it is, yet another event added to the Arizona Sport Shirts Crown Jewel Cup schedule and Arizona Sport Shirts Crown Jewel Quest for Cash.
“The Firecracker 100 has become a cornerstone in Dirt Late Model racing, and we’re excited to be a part of this lucrative event in 2022,” stated Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Director Rick Schwallie. “Thanks to the devotion of Lernerville Speedway and our great partnership with Big River Steel, we were able to increase the total purse for the weekend by over $33,000. We look forward to delivering the excitement of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series to the fans of Lernerville Speedway.”
On Thursday and Friday, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will compete in a full program including hot laps, Allstar Performance Time Trials, Heats, B-Mains, and a 30 lap, $6,000-to-win A-Main event. The RUSH Late Models will hot lap and time trial on Thursday with heat races and a Dash on Friday.
Saturday’s program will include Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series heat races (with lineups determined by Thursday and Friday’s results), B-Mains, the Uncle Sam 30-lap non-qualifiers race, and the $50,000 to-win Firecracker 100 Presented by Big River Steel. The RUSH Late Models will compete in B-Mains, the $20,000 to-win Bill Emig Memorial Presented by Sunoco Race Fuels, and a non-qualifiers race to cap off the evening.
Pit gates for the 16th Annual Firecracker 100 presented by Big River Steel will open at 3:00 PM ET on Thursday and Friday, with general admission gates opening at 4:00 PM ET. On Saturday there will be a Dirt Racing Outreach Service at 1:00 PM ET, the pit gate will open at 2:00 PM ET, general admission gates open at 3:00 PM ET, and Driver Autograph Session at 4:00 PM ET. Hot Laps are slated to begin at 6:00 PM ET each day.
Brandon Sheppard currently sits atop the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Point Standings. Closing the gap over the last few race weekends, reigning Series Champion, Tim McCreadie is in the second position. Tyler Erb, Ricky Thornton Jr, and Earl Pearson Jr round out the top five in series standings going into the prestigious Firecracker weekend.