2014 Season Finale On Tap For Lucas Oil Late Models At PRP

WAYCROSS, GA (October 14, 2014) – The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series season finale will take place this weekend in Portsmouth, OH on October 17th and 18th with the running of the 34th Annual Optima Batteries Dirt Track World Championship – Presented by NAPA Auto Parts. This event, held at Portsmouth Raceway Park, is promoted by hall of fame promoter Carl Short, along with track promoters Donna Rayburn and Tim Coleman. The Dirt Track World Championship event has been Carl’s signature event, over the years, which have been filled with great history, thrilling racing action, hall of fame winners and numerous facilities hosting the event in the past 33 years. This year’s DTWC will, once again, pay $50,000 to win and $2,000 to start.

In the previous 33 DTWC events, there have been 24 different drivers to visit victory lane and capture this crown jewel event. Dating back to the inaugural running in 1981, there have been five drivers that have won the prestigious event more than once. Hall of Famer Freddy Smith of Seymour, TN leads the way with five wins, followed by the late Jack Boggs of Grayson, KY, who won the race three times. Two time winners of the DTWC include: Billy Moyer of Batesville, AR; Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN and Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, IL. Some of the sport’s biggest names have won the DTWC at least once over the 33 years of the event, including names like: Larry Moore (’87); Donnie Moran (’88); Steve Francis (’99); Darrell Lanigan (’03); Rick Eckert (’04); Chub Frank (’07); Brian Birkhofer (’08); Jimmy Mars (’09); Earl Pearson Jr. (’10); Don O’Neal (’11), Jimmy Owens (’12) and the youngest driver to ever win the event, Brandon Sheppard in 2013.

Included among the many activities at the DTWC is a $3,000 to win Jim Dunn Memorial Non-Qualifiers Race-Presented by DirtonDirt.com. The top 26 drivers that fail to transfer into the DTWC feature event through a heat race or B-Main get to compete for a chance to earn additional prize money through this race. The winner of this event can elect to forfeit the $3,000 first place prize money and start on the tail of the DTWC feature event for a chance to win the $50,000. In honor of Jim Dunn and his legacy of being the very first winner of the DTWC, Carl Short added the non-qualifiers race to the DTWC event schedule as a tribute to the late Jim Dunn and his family.

The 34th Annual Optima Batteries Dirt Track World Championship – Presented by NAPA Auto Parts will once again be filmed by the award winning Lucas Oil Production Studios. This event will air on NBC Sports and on the MAVTV American Real Networks in 2014. “We really feel partnering with the Lucas Oil Series has helped to grow the event even more with the TV coverage they bring to this event. I’m looking forward to this year’s event and enjoy working with the great staff at Portsmouth Raceway Park”, stated Carl Short, promoter of the DTWC.

Activities for the 34th Annual Optima Batteries Dirt Track World Championship – Presented by NAPA Auto Parts will get underway on Thursday, October 16th with Modified Qualifying, Heat Races and Consolation races. On Friday, October 17th the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will take to the track for Hot-Laps, Miller Welders Time Trials and Heat Races. Also, on Friday night there will be a Non-Qualifiers race for the Modifieds. Then, on Saturday, October 18th the schedule will include the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series B-Mains, the Modified Feature event, the $3,000 to Win Jim Dunn Memorial Non-Qualifiers Race-Presented by DirtonDirt.com and the $50,000 to win/$2,000 to start DTWC 100-lap feature.

To purchase tickets for this event visit www.dirttrackworldchampionship.net/tickets.htm or call 740-858-6661. To learn more about the event go to www.dirttrackworldchampionship.net or visit the track website at www.portsraceway.com. If you have any questions, contact the DTWC office at (740) 858-6661 or you can email Carl Short at carlshort2007@gmail.com or call at (865) 945-3423 or (865) 712-9303.

For the latest breaking news about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, including the 2014 tour schedule, TV schedule, drivers, sponsors and all the information about the series visit the official website at: www.lucasdirt.com.

Follow the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series on the social media outlets at www.facebook.com/lucasdirt and https://twitter.com/lucasdirt

Track Information

Portsmouth Raceway Park
Track Phone #: (740) 354-3278 or Office – (740) 858-6661
Promoter: Donna Rayburn – (740) 259-3408 / (740) 821-1161
Location: 25648 State Route 73, West Portsmouth, OH 45663
Website: www.portsraceway.com

Tire Rule for the DTWC

Left Rear/Fronts – Hoosier Rib 1300, 1425 (no white dots)
Right Rear – Hoosier 01, 04, 06, LM40
Event Purse

Dirt Track World Championship Purse:

1. $50,000, 2. $15,000, 3. $10,000, 4. $7,000, 5. $5,000, 6. $3,500, 7. $3,200, 8. $3,000, 9. $2,800, 10. $2,500, 11. $2,450, 12. $2,400, 13. $2,350, 14. $2,300, 15. $2,250, 16. $2,200, 17. $2,150,
18. $2,100, 19. $2,075, 20. $2,060, 21. $2,050, 22. $2,040, 23. $2,030, 24. $2,020, 25. $2,010,
26. $2,000.

Jim Dunn Memorial Non Qualifiers Race-Presented by DirtonDirt.com

1. $3,000, 2. $1,500, 3. $1,250, 4. $1,000, 5. $900, 6. $800, 7. $750, 8. $700, 9. $650, 10. $600,
11. 500, 12. $400, 13. $350, 14. $300, 15. $250, 16. $200, 17. $200, 18. $200, 19. $200, 20. $200,
21. $200, 22. $200, 23. $200, 24. $200, 25. $200, 26. $200.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Official Sponsors Include:

ASi Racewear – “The Official Merchandise Vendor” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
E3 Spark Plugs – “The Official Spark Plug” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Fast Orange- “The Official Hand Cleaner” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
GEICO – “The Official Insurance” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
General Tire – “The Official Tire” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Hoosier Tire – “The Official Race Tire” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
iON Cameras – “The Official Camera” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Lucas Oil Products – “The Official Oil” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
MAVTV “American Real” – “The Official TV Network” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Optima Batteries – “The Official Battery” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Ole Smoky Moonshine – “The Official Moonshine” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
ProtectTheHarvest.com-“The Official Protect the Harvest Campaign” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Super Clean- “Official Cleaner-Degreaser” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Sunoco Race Fuels – “The Official Fuel” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Marketing Partners Include:

Allstar Performance, AR Bodies, Bad Boy Mowers, Barry Wright Race Cars, Black Diamond/Club 29 Chassis, Bloomquist Race Cars, Brodix, Clements Race Engines, COMP Cams, Cornett Racing Engines, C&R Racing Inc., Crawford Supply, CJ Rayburn Race Cars, CV Products, DirtonDirt.com, Dunn-Benson Ford, Dyers Top Rods, Edelbrock, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, Fast Orange, Fuel Safe Fuel Cells, FK Rod Ends, Georgia Boot, Grover Race Engines, Hawk Performance, Hedman Hedders, Hot Rod Processing, Hot Rod Tracker, Industrial Pressure Washers (IPW), Jay Dickens Racing Engines, JRi Shocks, Keyser MFG, Kuntz Race Engines, Longhorn Chassis, MasterSbilt Chassis, Midwest Sheet Metal, Miller Welders, Öhlins Shocks, Outerwears, Performance Bodies, Pierce Racecars, Pro Power Racing Engines, RaceTec Pistons, Revelution Race Cars, Rick Schwallie Photography, Rocket Chassis, Roush Yates Parts, Simpson Race Products, Total Seal, Traeger Grills, Vic Hill Race Engines, Weld Racing Wheels, Wrisco, 5150 Race Trailers

Previous Dirt Track World Championship Winners

1981 – Jim Dunn
1982 – Charlie Swartz
1983 – Freddy Smith
1984 – Jack Boggs
1985 – Freddy Smith
1986 – Billy Moyer
1987 – Larry Moore
1988 – Donnie Moran
1989 – John Mason
1990 – Jack Boggs
1991 – Freddy Smith
1992 – Ronnie Johnson
1993 – Freddy Smith
1994 – Ronnie Johnson
1995 – Jack Boggs
1996 – Billy Moyer
1997 – Marshall Green
1998 – Freddy Smith
1999 – Steve Francis
2000 – Wendell Wallace
2001 – Bart Hartman
2002 – Shannon Babb
2003 – Darrell Lanigan
2004 – Rick Eckert
2005 – Scott Bloomquist
2006 – Shannon Babb
2007 – Chub Frank
2008 – Brian Birkhofer
2009 – Jimmy Mars
2010 – Earl Pearson Jr.
2011 – Don O’Neal
2012 – Jimmy Owens
2013 – Brandon Sheppard