9/26/2018
RacinBoys
Whitetail Trophy Hunt again throws its support behind richer Big Buck 50 at Lucas Oil Speedway
By Lyndal Scranton (Wheatland, MO) -- After a memorable weekend of open-wheel racing with the 8th annual Jesse Hockett/Daniel McMillin Memorial, focus at Lucas Oil Speedway has shifted toward the biggest event of the season for the Big O Tires Street Stocks.
The 5th annual Big Buck 50 Presented by Whitetail Trophy Hunt is just over a week away with enthusiasm running high for the Oct. 4-6 event, which will pay $10,000-to-win - double the amount from last year - to the final-night feature winner.
PHOTO: The 5th annual Street Stocks Big Buck 50 Presented by Whitetail Trophy Hunt, Oct. 4-6 at Lucas Oil Speedway, will award $10,000 plus a spot into the prestigious Whitetail Trophy Hunt to the feature winner.--CREDIT: Kenny Shaw photo
The growth of the race is exactly what Whitetail Trophy Hunt owner Craig Danuser had in mind when he sat down with Dan Robinson, Lucas Oil Director of Racing Operations for Lucas Oil Speedway, and talked about sponsoring the race beginning with the 2015 edition.
"That was our exact plan. We wanted to make it the greatest Street Stock race in the Midwest," said Danuser, a former Street Stock driver himself. "Everybody was having $5,000 and $10,000 (to win) races and we had a $2,500 race drawing 30 cars. We wanted to draw 100 cars and we've got close."
Last year's Big Buck 50 drew 96 entries. This could be the year it reaches triple digits, with entries coming in from several surrounding states. Drivers are reminded that early entry is $100 if received before Oct. 1 and $125 thereafter.
Danuser said he's seen races in southern states model themselves after the Big Buck 50, but offering deer hunt packages as part of the winning prize. The Big Buck 50 winner also receives a free entry into the 30th annual Whitetail Trophy Hunt this November, worth $3,000.
The prestigious hunt in mid-Missouri, which is limited to 230 people, has been sold out since February. The hunt winner will earn $15,000 so, potentially, the Big Buck 50 winner could make a gigantic haul.
Tim Brown of Stoutland won the Big Buck 50 in 2016 for $5,000, plus the free hunt worth $3,000. He went on to finish ninth in the Whitetail Trophy Hunt to earn another $2,000.
More information about the Whitetail Trophy Hunt can be found at whitetail.net. Nearly $5 million in prize money has been awarded in the hunt over the last 29 years.
Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager Danny Lorton has announced two more awards sponsors for the race:
Alamo Arms again will award $500 to the first non-qualifier to the race. Alamo Arms, in Montreal, Missouri, is a go-to place for firearms, ammo and reloading supplies. It's conveniently located at the junction of Highways 7 and E. For more information, call (573) 346-9944. This October marks the sixth anniversary of Alamo Arms, which is owned by Tom and Becky Carroll.
Tony Jackson and Tony Jackson Racing again will provide $500 for the Fast Time Bonus to the driver quickest in time trials on Oct. 4. Jackson, a veteran Late Model standout, has become a leading builder of Street Stocks through Tony Jackson Racing.
This year's feature payout will be as follows: 1st $10,000; 2nd $5,000; 3rd $2,500; 4th $1,500. 5th $1,250; 6th $1,000; 7th $900; 8th $850; 9th $800; 10th $750; 11th $700; 12th $650; 13th $600; 14th $550; 15th-through-24th $500; non-transfers $200.
The Warsaw Auto Marine & RV ULMA Late Models will also be on the program running complete shows on Friday with $1,000 to the winner and on Saturday with $2,000 to the winner.
Action will kick off on Thursday, Oct. 4 with open practice from 6-9 p.m. and time trials for the Street Stocks. On Friday, there will be qualifying heat races with the top two advancing to two 10-lap dashes. The first dash, consisting of heat-race winners, will set the first eight spots in the feature lineup; the second dash, from the second-place heat finishers, will produce positions 9-16 for the A Feature.
On Saturday, last-chance races will finalize the Big Buck 50 feature field with the Late Models competing in heats and features. Two Lucas Oil Speedway provisionals will be added to the feature field based on final 2018 Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series points standings.
For entry information drivers can go to http://www.LucasOilSpeedway.com and go to "Driver Dashboard" or call the speedway office at (417) 282-5984 for more information.
For ticket information on all events at Lucas Oil Speedway in 2018, contact Admission Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or by email at nichole@LucasOilSpeedway.com. Fans also can go online to purchase tickets for any event on the 2018 schedule.
Submitted By: Kirk Elliott
