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O'Neil and Sherek Enter Sunoco Rookie Chase |
Media Contact: Trenton Berry WHEATLAND, MO (February 17th, 2015) - With less than two months to go before the Lucas Oil MLRA fires up its season, two more drivers have chosen to enter the Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year battle. Both are relatively new to dirt Late Model racing and graduates of the Modified division. Twenty-two year old, Jake O'Neil from Tucson, Arizona is ready for the season on the road with the Lucas Oil MLRA. The team only raced a minimal amount last season in preparation for the coming year. With four years under his belt, O'Neil began in the X-Mod division which is nearly an equivalent car to the traditional B-Mod. From there he progressed to the Modified ranks, scoring his career biggest win of $5,000 in 2013 at Route 66 Motor Speedway in Amarillo, Texas. "There is zero Super Late Model racing out here," commented O'Neil on his decision to run a schedule so far east of his hometown. "I had two choices, I could run IMCA around here or take the program east. The only way to get better is to run against good cars. I really am excited to see all these new places and surfaces. I've probably won around 20 races in my career, but have only competed at seven different tracks, so I'm ready to see new things." Helping O'Neil this year is; Red Eye Radiator, Sierra Mining & Crushing, Beck Carburation, LG2 by Owens and 51 Media and Graphics. Competing alongside O'Neil and previously announced Dan Shepherd, is St.Charles Missouri driver Jim Sherek. Sherek is a 25 year veteran of dirt racing, but until 2014 had never raced in the division full time. Sherek competed locally in the hotbed of weekly Super Late Model racing in the St.Louis area until making this jump for 2015. "The MLRA just looked like a better fit for us this year," commented Sherek. "My crew chief, Mark, is from Nebraska and has family there. We are familiar with the Lake of the Ozarks area and southern Missouri so that is a plus too." Sherek runs Barry Wright Race Cars with Clements Engines, and is certain they have enough equipment to make the entire year. He receives his primary support from Illinois businessman John Kuebler and also owns four IMO'S Pizza franchises. "We ran our first MLRA show back in 2013 at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City and we had a great time. I like the limited tire rule and also the schedule of events. I'm just another guy trying to have some fun." Sherek holds 113 career wins in the Modified division, including three victories in a row at the Springfield Mile, Volusia Speedway during Speedweeks and also the 4 Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway. For all of the latest news and information fans are encouraged to visit the series website at www.MLRARacing.com. Fans may also "like" the Lucas Oil MLRA Facebook page by clicking www.Facebook.com/lucasoilmlra or follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/MLRA. CONTACT: Dan Robinson |
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