Thorson, Hanks and Dahm prevail at Lucas Oil Speedway Open Wheel Showdown


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT: Lyndal Scranton (Lscranton755@gmail.com)  

Wheatland, Missouri (May 8, 2016) - Tanner Thorson celebrated his 20th birthday with the best possible present - a victory in the Lucas Oil POWRi Midget feature Saturday night at Lucas Oil Speedway.

Thorson, of Minden, Nevada, completed a sweep of the Missouri Mid-State Midget Nationals after capturing the POWRi feature win a night earlier at Valley Speedway.

The POWRi Midgets' lone visit to Lucas Oil Speedway was part of the 5th annual Impact Signs Awnings Wraps Open Wheel Showdown.

Brandon Hanks (Lucas Oil ASCS Warrior/Red River Region Sprints) and Zach Dahm (Boss Chassic WAR Sprints) prevailed in the other features in front of about 4,000 fans.

The pits were filled with 104 cars in the three divisions.

Thorson, driving a Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports car, took the lead on lap seven and held it the rest of the way. He had to withstand a re-start after a lap 23 caution that wiped out his sizable lead, but was able to navigate the final seven laps for the win.

"This track is pretty sweet," Thorson said after his fifth career POWRi Midgets win. "I can't thank all the fans enough for coming out. This is crazy to get all these people to come out."

As for winning on his birthday, Thorson said, "Just another day. But it is pretty cool to be able to win on your birthday. I think I've won on all my birthdays so that's a trend I hope continues."

A night earlier at Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Thorson advanced from a 12th starting position to win his first feature of the season.

Carson Macedo of Lamar, Calif., was second and Spencer Bayston of Lebanon, Ind., would up third as the Kunz Motorsports team swept the first three spots.

Justin Peck made an impressive run from 14th to fourth in the feature.


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Brandon Hanks led start-to-finish Saturday night to win the Lucas Oil ASCS Warrior/Red River Region feature at the Open Wheel Showdown. (Chris Bork photo)

In the ASCS feature, Hanks was an impressive wire-to-wire winner for his third ASCS victory of the season.

"I had an idea about 2016. We're going to call it the sweet 16 because it's the best year I've ever had," Hanks said. "Before tonight, I can't even tell you the last time I made a show here."

A bean farmer from Burlison, Tenn., the 20-year-old Hanks joked in victory lane that it felt good to win in front of "my people" in the middle of Missouri farm country.

The race lost a contender on lap six when veteran Johnny Herrera, the ASCS National Tour points leader, rolled his car onto its side in turn two when a car suddenly slowed in front of him. Herrera was running second at the time.

Derek Hager of Marion, Ark., a past winner at Lucas Oil Speedway, was a distant second with Josh Baughman of Odessa, Texas, third.

In the first B main for the ASCS cars, Ricky Lee Stangl brought out the red flag with a hard crash, flipping his car on the front stretch after clobbering the turn-four wall. Stangl, of Lee's Summit, climbed out of the mangled car without apparent injury.

Dahm grabbed the lead away from Clinton Boyles just before the midpoint of the WAR Sprint feature and went on to earn the victory. Dahm, of Pocahontas, Ill., finished ahead of runner-up Korey Weyant of Springfield, Ill.

"The first few laps we were biding our time," Dahm said. "I went back to the top (of the track) and was like 'we have a good car now.' He kind of bobbled and I got by him and, after that, I just tried to hit my marks."

Boyles, seeking his third straight series win, settled for third.

Racing at Lucas Oil Speedway resumes next Saturday, May 14 with the Budweiser Weekly Championship Series back in action. Presented by Nichols Media, Inc. and Sport Boats USA, the Pitts Homes USRA Modifieds will be featured and run a $750-to-win, 25-lap feature.

Also on the program will be the Carson's Corner NAPA Auto Street Stocks, the Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mods and the ALPS Food Stores ULMA Late Models.

Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 7 and racing at 7:30. 

To inquire about availability of VIP Suites for next Saturday's program, contact Anna Harnden at (417) 282-5984 or via email at anna@lucasoilspeedway.com.

For complete event information, archived stories, ticket info and schedule information for the season, visit lucasoilspeedway.com

RESULTS SATURDAY MAY 7, 2016
5th ANNUAL IMPACT SIGNS AWNINGS WRAPS OPEN WHEEL SHOWDOWN

POWRi LUCAS OIL MIDGETS
Feature - 1, Tanner Thorson. 2, Carson Macedo. 3, Spencer Bayston. 4, Justin Peck. 5, Zach Dahm. 6, Tyler Thomas. 7, Tucker Klaasmeyer. 8, Andrew Felker. 9, Holly Shelton. 10, Jake Neuman. 11, Michelle Decker. 12, Chett Gehrke. 13, Alex Sewell. 14, Chance Morotn. 15, Ty Hulsey. 16, Ariel Biggs. 17, Ryan Robinson. 18, Austin Brown. 19, Grady Chandler. 20, Brayton Lynch. 21, Blake Edwards. 22, Jason McDougal. 23, Nick Bailey.

Speedway Motors Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Carson Macedo. Heat 2: Zach Daum. Heat 3: Andrew Felker. Heat 4: Tyler Thomas.

B Main winner: Nick Bailey.

LUCAS OIL ASCS SPRINTS
Feature - 1, Brandon Hanks, Burlison, Tenn. 2, Derek Hager, Marion, Ark. 3, Josh Baughamn, Odessa, Texas. 4, Wayne Johnson, Knoxville, Iowa. 5, Zach Daum, Pocahontas, Ill. 6, Jack Dover, Springfield, Neb. 7, Matt Covington, Glenpool, Okla. 8, Cody Baker, Lone Jack, Mo. 9, Jonathan Cornell, Sedalia, Mo. 10, Blake Hahn, Sapulpa, Okla. 11, Jay Russell, Elwood, Kan. 12, Chris Morgan, Topeka, Kan. 13, Corey Nelson, Eugene, Mo. 14, Tyler Thomas, Collinsville, Okla. 15, Chance Morton, Coweta, Okla. 16, Evan Martin, Lohman, Mo. 17, Johnny Herrera, Albuquerque, N.M. 18, Kyle Bellm, Nixa, Mo. 19, Austin Alumbaugh, Higginsville, Mo. 20, Randy Martin, California, Mo.

For complete results, see www.ASCSracing.com

BOSS CHASSIS WAR SPRINTS
1, Zach Daum, Pocahontas, Ill., 2, Korey Weyant, Springfield, Ill. 3, Clinton Boyles, Greenwood, Mo. 4, Terry Babb, Decatur, Ill. 5, Kyle Clark, Sand Springs, Okla. 6, Mitchell Moore, Edgerton, Kan. 7, Chris Parkinson, Gladstone, Mo. 8, Glen Passmore Jr., Affton, Okla. 9, Katlynn Leer, Moulton, Iowa, 10, Riley Kreisel, Warsaw, Mo. 11, Craig Carroll, Collinsville, Okla., 12, David Stephenson, Porter, Okla. 13, Jeff Wingate, Centertown, Mo. 14, Derek Hagar, Marion, Ark. 15, Zach Clark, Olathe, Kan. 16, Casey Willis, Sperry, Okla. 17, Ryan Kitchen, Lincoln, Neb. 18, Taylor Walton, Warrensburg, Mo. 19, Vincent Ward, Warrenton, Mo. 20, Tyler Shoemaker, Deer Creek, Ind.

Complete results at www.WARSprints.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 it's 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 www.LucasOilSpeedway.com for more information and detailed directions to the speedway or call the Track Hotline at (417) 282-5984.  

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.  

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CONTACT:

Dan Robinson
Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager
Lucas Oil MLRA Series Director
Office: (417) 282-5984 

Dan@lucasoil.com   
About Lucas Oil Speedway 
Lucas Oil Speedway is considered by fans, drivers and industry insiders to be one of the top five Race Tracks in the Nation. Located in Wheatland, Missouri, approximately an hour from Springfield, Missouri and just a quick hour and a half from the Kansas City Metro Area, dubbed the "Diamond of Dirt Tracks" Lucas Oil Speedway certainly lives up to the 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. 2016 marks the 6th season for the Liquid Quarter Mile Drag Racing Lake, Lake Lucas. Two Nationally televised Drag Boat Races featuring the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series will be held in 2016.

Lucas Oil Speedway hosts some of the largest and most popular events in the Midwest! National and regional touring series appear frequently for Special Events on the Diamond of Dirt Tracks. 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 incredible Special Events, the Lucas Oil Speedway Budweiser Weekly Racing Series features, the ALPS Food Store ULMA Late Models, Pitts Homes USRA Modifieds, Carson's Corner NAPA Street Stocks and the USRA B-Mods, racing weekly.

2016 Official Lucas Oil Speedway Marketing Partners

Bill Roberts Chevrolet-Buick
"The Official Truck" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper 
"The Official Soft Drink" of Lucas Oil Speedway 

 E3 Spark Plugs
"The Official Spark Plug" of Lucas Oil Speedway 

GEICO 
"The Official Insurance" 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

Optima Batteries 
"The Official Battery" of Lucas Oil Speedway
RacingJunk.com
"The Official Classifieds" of Lucas Oil Speedway  

Speedco 
"The Official Truck Lube and Tire Center" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Sunoco Race Fuels 
"The Official Fuel" of Lucas Oil Speedway
 
2016 Lucas Oil Speedway Supporters Include:
Advanced Automotive Repair, ALPS Food Store, AM Pyrotechnics, American Broadband, American Racer Race Tires, Andy's Frozen Custard, Anglers Port Marine, Anstine Realty, AR Bodies, Ash Grove Aggregates, Bank of Urbana, ASI Racewear, The Barnwood Inn, Bell Helmets, Benton County Tire, Big Surf Water Park, Bill Roberts Chevrolet-Buick, Bridal Cave, Budweiser, Buzz's Market, BWI Sanitation, Candlelight Creations, Carson's Corner Napa Auto Parts, Casey's General Stores, Chix Gear, Citizens Memorial Healthcare, Clearlight Inn, Comfort Inn-Bolivar, CV Race Products, DirtonDirt.com, Eibach Springs, Elite Auto Repair, Fast Shafts by Axle Exchange, Foley Equipment, Frogs Signs, G2 Gemini Apparel, Happy Trails RV Center, Harbor Campground & Marina, Heart of America Beverage, Hermitage Nursing and Rehab, Hermitage Lumber, Hobby Time Motorsports, Hoosier Race Tires, Hot Rod Processing, Hot Rod Tracker, Hunting for Heroes, Impact Signs Awnings & Wraps, inthepits.net, Jakes Corner Cafe, JH Custom Wheel & Accessory, Kenny Carroll Excavating, Kenny's Tile Racing, Kettle Treats, Keyser Manufacturing, Kluhsman Racing Components, Lawless Harley-Davidson, Lucas Cattle Company, MFA Bolivar, Midwest Low-E Insulation, Midwest Sheet Metal, National Wild Turkey Federation, Nemo Marina, Nemo Quarry, NMI, O'Bannon Bank, Old Kinderhook Golf Resort, Oil & Octane Shop, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Osage Bluff Lodge, Out-Pace Racing Products, Ozark Golf Cars, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper, Petro Truck Stops, Pitts Homes, Pitts Realty, Pitts Cattle, RACEceiver, RaceNote, Racinboys.com, RacinDirt.com, RacingJunk.com, Rains Ice Company, Real Racing Wheels, Ron Jenkins Accounting & Tax Service, Ron's Racing Collectibles, S & H Farm Supply, SBU Athletics, Scott Furniture, Shadow Lake Golf Course, Sleep Inn-Camdenton, Southwest Electric Cooperative, Sport Boats USA, Stillwater Resort, Sunoco Race Fuels, Sunflower Resort, Travel Centers of America, Triangle Quick Shop, US Army Corps of Engineers, Vickie and Tim's Pub & Grub, Wheatland Motel, Wheeler Livestock Auction, White's Marine Center, Whitetail Trophy Hunt 

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