FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3rd, 2010

Earlier Starting Times Announced for Lucas Oil Series Events this Weekend at Bulls Gap and Cherokee

CORONA, CA (March 3, 2010) - Just weeks after completing the 34th Annual DART Winternationals at East Bay Raceway Park in Florida, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series get back on the track with a doubleheader of racing action starting this Saturday, March 6th at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, TN and Sunday, March 7th at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, SC.

Both tracks have announced earlier starting times this weekend with Volunteer Speedway opening the pits gates at 1:00 PM, grandstand gates opening at 3:30 PM, drivers meeting at 4:30 PM followed by hot laps at 5:00 PM. On Sunday at Cherokee Speedway pit gates will open at 10:00 AM with the driver's meeting at 1:00 PM followed by hot laps at 1:30 PM.

"We appreciate the efforts of the promoters at both facilities in making every effort to get this weekend's Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series events in," said series director, Ritchie Lewis. "We all realize it has been a long-winter in both regions and the race-starved fans will be in for quite a show at both race tracks this weekend and a big thank you to the promoters for moving up their normal starting times to accommodate the fans and the racers this weekend."

The series comes to Volunteer Speedway on Saturday March 6th for the "Spring Thaw" paying $10,000 to win for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. It will be the fifth ever visit to the Joe and Phyllis Loven promoted facility located in East Tennessee. In the previous four appearances there have been four different winners with defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion, Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN; 4x series champion, Earl Pearson, Jr. of Jacksonville, FL; Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, GA; and Tim McCreadie of Watertown, NY have all ended up in victory lane at "The Gap" in LOLMDS competition in the past.

On Sunday, March 7th the series comes to Cherokee Speedway for "March Madness VIII" paying $10,000 to win. The visit to the track "Where Three Wide is a Given" will be for the fourth time to the Lennie Buff promoted facility. In the previous three appearances Scott Bloomquist, Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, WI; and Chris Madden of Gaffney, SC have all captured Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series events at the track.

There will be a complete show at each track for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series with Red Buck Cigar Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains and the Main Event. For more information on the series visit to Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, TN log onto www.volunteerspeedway.com and for further info on Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, SC go to www.cherokee-speedway.com.

The tire rule for both events will be the same: AMERICAN RACER SD44 or any compound harder, SD44 must punch a minimum of 40 and HOOSIER 1300 or any compound harder, and 1300 must punch a minimum of 40. Officials have also announced that window nets are mandatory at Bulls Gap.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com or call the series office at (951) 532-2503.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Upcoming Events

March 6 - Volunteer Speedway (Bulls Gap, TN) - $10,000 to win
March 7 - Cherokee Speedway (Gaffney, SC) - $10,000 to win
March 27 - Brownstown Speedway (Brownstown, IN) - $10,000 to win

Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings

Scott Bloomquist (Mooresburg, TN) - 250
Don O'Neal (Martinsville, IN) - 230
Earl Pearson Jr. (Jacksonville, FL) - 220
Dan Schlieper (Sullivan, WI) - 210
Dennis Erb, Jr. (Carpentersville, IL) - 205
Ray Cook (Brasstown, NC) - 200
Chris Wall (Holden, LA) 195
Shannon Babb (Moweaqua, IL) - 190
Jimmy Mars (Menomonie, WI) -185
Rick Eckert (York, PA) - 185