Lucas Oil I 10 Speedway To Launch 2012-2013 Winter Blast Season This Saturday
BY DAVE GRAYSON
The Lucas Oil I 10 Speedway will be officially opening its 2012-2013 Winter Blast Racing season this Saturday night, September 29th. The quarter mile paved oval. located at the Colorado River Fairgrounds in Blythe-California, will be presenting the first of ten big weekends of action Saturday night backed with three hours of affordable auto racing on each night of the new schedule.The speedway's maintenance crew has been working hard over the past few weeks to get the track spruced up for opening night. That includes the recent installation of a brand new electronic timing and scoring system.
The 11th edition of Lucas Oil racing in Blythe will be opening strong with the season debut of their street stock and factory stock divisions. The special guest division will feature the first of two visits from the Lucas Oil Modified Racing Series, presented by 1 800 Loan Mart, who will running a 100 lap feature.
During a special part of this evening, speedway Promoter Greg Scheidecker will be honoring the top three in points from the 2011-2012 Winter Blast season's regular racing divisions. This champions ceremony will salute street stock drivers Chris Vindhurst, Rick Boone and Danny Dill. Factory Stock drivers Tom Nordell, Ethan Miller and Dustin Hightower will be presented trophies while the trio of Jim Mardis, Roger Brown and Randy Ussery will be honored for their efforts in the Budweiser Modified division.
Legend car drivers Justin Irwin, Dustin Ash and Chad Schug along with Bandolero division drivers Ricky Lewis, Troy Wesolowski and Matthew Davey will be honored during the November 24th Thanksgiving weekend when these two divisions arrive at the Lucas Oil I 10 Speedway for their first scheduled race of the season.
The Gene Price Motorsports Late Models, a dual track championship between the Lucas Oil I 10 Speedway and the Havasu 95 Speedway, honored drivers Mike Sutterfield, Rob Munoz and Greg Leith at a September 15th ceremony in Lake Havasu City.
The Lucas Oil Modified Racing Series, presented by 1 800 Loan Mart will be treating their fans to the Loan Mart Topless 100 this Saturday night. The modified teams will be removing their roofs and that will afford the fans a unique opportunity to watch the drivers manhandle the steering wheels of these powerful machines. This race also has a $10,000 purse that pays $1,500 to the winner and guarantees a driver at least $300 for starting the main event. The race will be a full 100 green flag laps. This series does not count yellow flag laps.
The series will also be bringing a skin tight points championship to Blythe Saturday night. Drivers Chris Gerchman and Austin Barnes are separated by a mere two points in the standings. Both drivers has three wins this season and both have won races at the Lucas Oil I 10 Speedway in 2012. With only three races left in the season, Saturday night in Blythe could become a huge factor in this title run.
The Lucas Oil I 10 Speedway opening weekend will actually begin on Friday with a test and tune session for all of the racing divisions which will be held from 6 to 9 pm. This practice session is free to spectators. On Saturday 1 800 Loan Mart raceday, the spectator gates will open at 5pm with racing receiving the green flag at 7 pm.
Saturday tickets are a very fan friendly $10 for general admission and $8 for seniors, age 55 plus, military personnel and the handicapped. Teen tickers, ages 13 to 17 are $5. Palo Verde Valley High School students can receive a one dollar discount on their tickets by presenting their ASB cards. Kids tickets, ages 6 to 12, are $3 while kids five and under are admitted free when accompanied by a paid adult. The speedway also offers a family package for $20 which admits two adults and two kids age 17 and under.
For out of town racing teams and fans, the official motel for the Lucas Oil I 10 Speedway is the America's Best Value Inn located at 850 West Hobson Way in Blythe. They offer beautiful and spacious rooms at very affordable rates. Call 760-922-5145 for reservations which can also be made on line at www.americasbestvalueinn.com . Make sure you mention the discount code, LUCASOIL, when making your reservations.
For more information regarding the Lucas Oil I 10 Speedway, and its 2012-2013 Winter Blast Racing season, dial up their official website at www.i10speedway.com .