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'Alphabet Soup' qualifying format expected to add spice to Lucas Oil Speedway Big Buck 50

By Lyndal Scranton (Wheatland, MO) -- The format has been released for one of the nation's premier Street Stock events, the Lucas Oil Speedway Big Buck 50 Presented by Whitetail Trophy Hunt.

An "Alphabet Soup" type of format will be used to set the starting featuring lineup at the Oct. 6-7 event, Lucas Oil Speedway Assistant General Manager Danny Lorton said on Wednesday.

PHOTO: Drivers in the Big O Tires Street Stock division compete for a $5,000 plus prize plus a free entry in the Whitetail Trophy Hunt at the Big Buck 50, Oct. 6-7, at Lucas Oil Speedway--CREDIT: Kenny Shaw photo

"In the past, drivers just ran four B-mains on Saturday and only the top two of each B-main advanced to the A-main," Lorton said. "Looking back at the race results of years past, normally the two cars that started on front row seemed to be the ones that advanced to the A-main feature.

"I want to give all the drivers a better shot at advancing into the A-main, so this year we will run the 'Alphabet Soup' format as some call it, very similar to how the Chili Bowl and Knoxville Nationals does. This gives a driver a better shot at advancing especially if they draw a bad heat race on Friday - plus this will make it more exciting for the fans."

Lorton said based on past car counts, it looks like there could be an F-feature, meaning a driver could advance through several rungs on the ladder all the way to the A-feature.

An open practice session has been scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 5 from 6-9 p.m. It's $20 to get into the pits and free for spectators in the grandstand. Also, the Diamond Bar will be open with the band Phat Mike and the Bartenders playing following the practice.

On Friday, drivers will run time trials in groups of three to determine fast qualifier and set the field for heat-race lineups. The top 16 drivers will be split into two dashes which will determine the first eight rows of Saturday's main event.

Heat-race winners will run the first dash, determining starting positions 1-8 in Saturday's A-main with the second-place heat finishers running another dash to set positions 9-16.

On Saturday, the transfer features will consist of 20 laps with the top six in each transferring on before the top eight in the B-feature advance to the 50-lap, $5,000-to-win, main event.

"I am looking forward to this event and to see how exciting it will be if we have a driver come all the way from the F to the A-main. That would be cool," Lorton said.

Street Stock drivers can enter the 2017 Big Buck 50 for $100 per car prior to Oct. 1 with the fee $125 after that date. For rules and entry forms, drivers can visit lucasoilspeedway.com/about/rules-forms.

The 4th annual Lucas Oil MLRA Fall Nationals will run in conjunction with the Big Buck 50 and crown a season champion for that Late Model series. The Late Models will run full programs both nights with $3,000 to Friday's feature winner and $5,000 to the Saturday winner.

Lucas Oil Speedway recently announced three additional awards for the Big Buck 50:

Fast time award: Tony Jackson Racing out of Lebanon once again will sponsor the Fast Time Award, with $500 going to the quickest qualifier in time trials on opening night Oct. 6. Jackson, a veteran Late Model standout, also has become a leading builder of Street Stocks through Tony Jackson Racing.

Hard charger award: Ray's Lake Service returns as sponsor for the Hard Charger Award, with the driver advancing the most positions in the feature earning a $500 bonus.

First non-transfer award: Alamo Arms LLC, of Montreal, Mo., will award $500 to the first non-transfer car into the feature.

Along with the $5,000 first prize, the Big Buck 50 winner also will receive a free entry into the Whitetail Trophy Hunt, which is valued at $3,000.

The 2016 Big Buck 50 champion cashed in big. Tim Brown of Stoutland, Mo., took home the $5,000 winner's share and the free Whitetail Trophy Hunt entry. Then Brown won another $2,000 when he bagged a buck big enough to finish ninth among 189 hunters. That also won Brown another free entry into the 2017 Whitetail Trophy Hunt.

This November will mark the 29th year for the Whitetail Trophy Hunt. For more information about the hunt, set for Nov. 11-13, go to whitetail.net or call 1-800-633-4868. This tremendously popular hunt brings in participants from all over the United States and abroad. Entries are received on a first come, first served basis and limited to a maximum of 230 hunters.

The schedule and ticket information for the event:
(Thursday practice)
6-9 p.m. - $20 pits, FREE grandstands (Diamond Bar open after practice with Phat Mike and the Bartenders playing)

(Friday)
Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 7 and racing at 7:35
Adults (16 and up) $15
Seniors (62 and up)/Military $12
Youth (6-15) $5
Kids (5 and under) FREE
Family Pass $30
Pit Pass $35

(Saturday)
Gates open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 6 and racing at 6:35
Adults (16 and up) $20
Seniors (62 and up)/Military $17
Youth (6-15) $5
Kids (5 and under) FREE
Family Pass $40
Pit Pass $40

For ticket information for all Lucas Oil Speedway events, contact admissions director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or via email at nichole@LucasOilSpeedway.com.

Complete Lucas Oil Speedway event information, archived stories, ticket info and schedules can be found by visiting http://www.LucasOilSpeedway.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 its 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 http://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 http://www.www.facebook.com/LucasOilSpeedway and on http://www.www.youtube.com/LucasOilSpeedway

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