6/8/2022
Lucas Oil Speedway
Reigning KDBA Top Alcohol Hydro champ Rick Allen finds his thrills on the water
WHEATLAND, MO. (June 8, 2022) - There is little comparable to blasting from zero to 200 miles per hour in four seconds - on water, no less.
“It’s addictive. It’s hard to describe,” Rick Allen, driver of the Top Alcohol Hydro boat “Total Kaos” said of the sensation. Though there is one other activity that Allen might put up against it.
“I got into a bucket-list deal and rode a couple of bulls in my early 40s,” the 57-year-old Allen said. “That’s the only thing I’ve found that is the same type of adrenaline rush as that boat leaving that starting line. Guys that have been on bulls will understand.”
While there is bull riding at Lucas Oil Speedway later this month, Allen won’t be a part of that. He will be on Lake Lucas this weekend, however, as the Kentucky Drag Boat Association Spring Opener takes place, Friday through Sunday.
Allen, from Fort Smith, Arkansas, said he rode bulls on and off at fairs and local competitions around Arkansas for a couple of years and even bought a practice bull.
“I never won anything, but it could have been worse,” he said with a laugh. “Luckily, I never got hurt. I got away unscathed.”
Allen is more in his sort of thrill-seeking element on the water where he’s won four championships since 2015 in the Top Alcohol Hydro division. His most-recent came last fall when he pulled off an unlikely title at the Diamond Drag Boat Nationals at Wheatland.
Allen said little went right through the first two rounds, as he tore up a motor before losing a round-two matchup when opponent Mike DeClark executed a perfect takeaway to post a win.
“We had almost given up,” Allen said. “We went into the third race and hadn’t even won a round. We were pretty dejected. Things just kind of came together.”
Allen made it to the finals and set a class record with a 4.28 elapsed time at 202.88 miles per hour. He edged out DeClark, Marty Logan and Andy Reynolds to claim the KDBA championship.
“We had won several other championships, but that one the comeback was pretty special to us,” Allen said. “We thought we were out of it and to come back and win it … and we were pretty fast and set the track record.
“So it went from a terrible year to a good year, real quick. That was a good ending to the year.”
Allen said he began racing boats in his native southeast Arkansas more than 30 years ago, with a 65-horsepower Mercury off Arkansas River sandbars. He got into his first jet-powered boat in 1992 in Russellville, Arkansas.
“I finished third and was bitten by the bug,” he said. But he soon took a dozen years off to raise a family, though he and his son did some motocross racing.
That didn’t turn out particularly safe and, after numerous Saturday-night trips to the emergency room, his wife green-lit a return to boat racing. Life on the water has turned out to be much safer than either dirt bikes or bull riding.
“We came back (to boat racing) in 2013, racing a Pro Mod, and then stepped into the alcohol class,” Allen said. “We were having trouble slowing the boat down in Pro Mod so said the heck with it, let’s try the alcohol. It worked out.”
Allen said he’s not big on setting goals, but admits that every year begins with an eye on a TAH championship. That’s not easy in a division where there might not be a lot of boats, but each one is fast and capable.
“Of course, you want to win every race, but with the four boats running (regularly) that’s gonna be hard to do,” Allen said. “Everybody is a tough player and fast.
“Wheatland is one of our favorite places to run. It’s a good track, a good crowd and good people. We’re looking forward to being there.”
Allen is ready to begin another season with his team intact, led by crew chief Paul Wright who's been with him since the mid-1990s. Allen's son, Cole, builds and tunes the motors.
Team sponsors include Schultes Dirt Moving and Right Way Body Shop.
The Kentucky Drag Boat Association visits Lake Lucas for the first of four KDBA appearances at Wheatland in 2022, with action in both pro and sportsman divisions each day.
A purse of just over $38,000 will be up for grabs in pro and sportsman divisions, including $6,600 for Top Alcohol Hydro and $5,600 in Pro Outlaw. The event will be filmed and televised at a later date on MAVTV Motorsports Network.
The Kentucky Drag Boat Association visits Lake Lucas for the first of four KDBA appearances at Wheatland in 2022. A purse of just over $38,000 will be up for grabs in pro and sportsman divisions, including $6,600 for Top Alcohol Hydro and $5,600 in Pro Outlaw. The event will be filmed and televised at a later date on MAVTV Motorsports Network.
Drag boat teams can visit KDBA.net for more information on the series, including how to register.
KDBA Spring Opener daily schedule:
Friday
9 a.m. - Registration opens
2 p.m. - Ticket gates open
3 p.m. - Qualifying begins
8 p.m. - KDBA awards banquet at big tent with karaoke until midnight
Saturday
7 a.m. - Registration opens
8 a.m. - Spectator gates open
9 a.m. - Round 1 qualifying sportsman session
10:30 a.m. - Round 1 qualifying pro session
12:30 p.m. - Round 2 qualifying sportsman session
2 p.m. - Round 2 qualifying pro session
Sunday
8 a.m. - Spectator gates open
9 a.m. - Eliminations begin
Dirt-track action on Saturday night: The Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series Round 4 on the dirt track is set for Saturday night with points racing resuming. It will be $5 Night at the Races Presented by KOLR and the Cedar Creek Beef Jerky USRA Modifieds will be running a special 25-lap, $1,000 to win main event as fans pay only $5 for grandstand admission. Kids 5-and-under are FREE, as always.
Gates to the dirt track open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:05.
Friday Drag Boat Grandstand Admission:
(All tickets include access to the drag boat pit area)
Age 6 and up GA/Pit Pass Combo - $15
5 and Under GA/Pit Pass Combo - FREE
Adult 3-Day GA/Pit Pass Combo - $65
Seniors (62 and up)/Military 3-Day GA/Pit Pass Combo - $59
Youth Ages (6-15) 3-Day GA/Pit Pass Combo - $30
Saturday Drag Boat Grandstand Admission:
(All tickets include access to the drag boat pit area)
(Saturday drag boat tickets or 3-day and 2-day passes include FREE admission to dirt track)
Adults GA/Pit Pass Combo (16 and up) - $25
Seniors (62 and up)/Military GA/Pit Pass Combo (62 and up) - $22
Youth GA/Pit Pass Combo (age 6 to 15) - $10
Kids GA/Pit Pass Combo (age 5 and under) - FREE
Family Pass GA/Pit Pass Combo - $60 Includes Admission for 2 Adults and Up to 3 Kids Ages (6-15)
Adult 2-Day GA/Pit Pass Combo - $50
Seniors (62 and up)/Military 2-Day GA/Pit Pass Combo - $44
Youth Ages (6-15) 2-Day GA/Pit Pass Combo - $20
Saturday Dirt Track Admission
(FREE with drag boat admission ticket)
All tickets (6 and Up) $5
Kids (5 and under) FREE
Pit Pass $30
Sunday Drag Boat Grandstand Admission:
(All tickets include access to drag boat pit area)
Adults GA/Pit Pass Combo (16 and up) - $25
Seniors (62 and up)/Military GA/Pit Pass Combo (62 and up) - $22
Youth GA/Pit Pass Combo (age 6 to 15) - $10
Family Pass GA/Pit Pass Combo $60 Includes Admission for 2 Adults and Up to 3 Kids Ages (6-15)
Kids GA/Pit Pass Combo (age 5 and under) - FREE
To purchase tickets for any event on Lucas Oil Speedway's schedule, or to inquire about camping information, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 295-6043 or via email at nichole@lucasoilspeedway.com.
CONTACT:
Danny Lorton
Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager
Office: (417) 282-5984
DLorton@lucasoilspeedway.com
Complete Lucas Oil Speedway event information, archived race recaps, previews and driver features, along with ticket information and schedules can be found by visiting 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 LucasOilSpeedway.com for more information and detailed directions to the speedway or call the Track Hotline at (417) 282-5984. The Lucas Oil Speedway EZ Texting number is (417) 804-4141.
In addition, fans can get social with Lucas Oil Speedway by following @LucasSpeedway on Twitter, clicking "Like" at www.facebook.com/LucasOilSpeedway and on www.youtube.com/LucasOilSpeedway
About Lucas Oil Speedway
Lucas Oil Speedway is considered by fans, drivers and industry insiders to be one of the top five racing facilities in the nation. Located in Wheatland, Missouri, approximately an hour from Springfield, Missouri, and just an hour and a half from the Kansas City metro area, the "Diamond of Dirt Tracks" lives up to its title.
Twenty-One VIP Luxury Suites, HD Jumbo-Tron Screen, Stadium Style Musco Sports Lighting, a Bose Sound System, Go-Kart Slick Track, The Diamond Bar, Track Treasures Gift Shop, the best track food in the country and paved pits are a few of the spectacular amenities setting the Diamond of Dirt apart. This year marks the 12th season for the Liquid Quarter Mile Drag Racing Lake, "Lake Lucas." New for 2017 was all-purpose built Off Road facility featuring a host of regional events.
Lucas Oil Speedway's dirt oval track plays host to some of the largest and most-popular events in the Midwest with national and regional touring series appearing frequently including: The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, POWRi Midget National Series, Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League, United States Modified Touring Series, ASCS Sprint Cars and the Lucas Oil MLRA.
In addition to the special events, the Lucas Oil Speedway Weekly Racing Series features the Late Models, USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars and USRA B-Mods.
2022 Official Lucas Oil Speedway Marketing Partners
Arizona Sport Shirts
"The Official Merchandise Provider" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Bill Roberts Chevrolet-Buick
"The Official Truck" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Dixie Chopper
"The Official Mowers of Lucas Oil Speedway"
General Tire
"The Official Tire" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Lucas Oil Products
"The Official Oil" of Lucas Oil Speedway
MAVTV
"The Official Television Network" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Optima Batteries
"The Official Battery" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper
"The Official Soft Drink" of Lucas Oil Speedway
RacingJunk.com
"The Official Classifieds" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Rugged Radios
"The Official 2-Way Communications Provider" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Sunoco Race Fuels
"The Official Fuel" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Super Clean
"The Official Sponsor" of Lucas Oil Speedway
2022 Lucas Oil Speedway Supporters Include:
AM Pyrotechnics, Arizona Sport Shirts, Ash Grove Aggregates, Berry Tractor and Equipment Co., Big Adventure RV, Bill Roberts Chevrolet-Buick, Bolivar Auto Sales & Detailing, Bolivar Farmers Exchange-MFA, Boone's BBQ Barn, Boubin Tire/American Racer, Branstetter & Lightfoot LLC, Bridal Cave, BWI Sanitation, Camden on the Lake Resort, Candlelight Creations-Dick's Wild Root Horseradish, Casey's, Cedar Creek Beef Jerky, Citizens Memorial Healthcare, City Magnet, Clearlight Inn, Comfort Inn-Bolivar,DirtonDirt.com, Dixie Chopper, eBay Motors, Eibach Springs, Evans Pipe & Steel Co., Farmers Insurance Agent Kristy Reynolds, Fast Shafts by Axle Exchange, Foley Equipment-Cat Rental Store, Frog Signs, Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare, Hermitage Lumber, HICKAMO Country Store, Highway 54 RV Park, Hobbytime Motorsports, Hoosier Race Tires, Impact Signs Awnings Wraps, In the Garden of Eden, Kettle Treats, Keyser Manufacturing, Kluhsman Racing Components, Kona Ice, Lucas Cattle Company, Margaritaville Lake Resort, Midwest Sheet Metal, Miller Welding, Missouri Department of Tourism, Missouri Division of Tourism, MyRacePass, Nutrien Ag Solutions, OakStar Bank, O'Bannon Bank, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Ozark Golf Cars, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper, Ozarks Community Health Center, PEM, Pitts Homes, Pitts Realty, Pitts Cattle, ProThings Apparel, RACEceiver, Racinboys.com, RacinDirt.com, RacingJunk.com, Rains Ice Company, Real Racing Wheels, Rod End Supply, Ron Jenkins Accounting & Tax Service, Rugged Radios, Ryan E. Murphy Law Firm LLC, SBU Athletics, Safety Kleen, Scott Furniture, Simpson Racing Products, Southwest Electric Cooperative, Stillwater Resort, Sunoco Race Fuels, Sunflower Resort, TA/PETRO, US Army Corps of Engineers-Pomme de Terre, Vietti Marketing Group, Wheatland Motel, White's Marine Center, Wild Animal Safari, Woods Supermarkets, Wrisco Industries.
Article Credit: By Lyndal Scranton, Lucas Oil Speedway
