8/31/2022
Lucas Oil Speedway
Diamond Drag Boat Nationals Spotlight: Speer shoots for another championship on Lake Lucas
WHEATLAND, MO. (Aug. 31, 2022) - Lake Lucas holds a special place in Tyler Speer’s drag boat-racing heart. It’s where he got licensed to race a Pro Mod in 2014 and a Top Fuel Hydro in 2016.
Since that time, he's gone on to achieve multiple drag-boat championships.
“We always love coming to Lucas Oil Speedway,” Speer said earlier this week from his shop in Woodstock, Georgia. “We’re pretty pumped to be coming back out there again this weekend. We’re hoping we can close out the year with another championship.”
Speer and a big field of drag boats are expected for the three-day festival of speed on water at the 12th annual Diamond Drag Boat Nationals. The driver of “Georgia Outlaw” enters the weekend second in Pro Outlaw points, behind Colby Nofire.
“It’s a pretty cool place and of course, this race is always special because it’s an end-of-the-year, close-out deal,” Speer said. “They’ve had this race, specifically, for many years and since I’ve been running in 2015. This is a staple on our schedule.”
Speer, 31, is seeking his third KDBA championship and fifth overall drag-boat championship of his career.
For several years, Speer mixed boat and car racing as he was a competitor in the oval-track pavement world of ARCA racing. But since 2019 he’s been focusing on his drag-boat program and building new boats, for himself and others.
“We started a deal this year trying to get some people into boat racing,” Speer said. “A lot of people don’t understand how to get into it. It’s different from car racing. Everybody drives a car, but not everyone drives a boat - especially like these boats are. So we started a deal this year, almost like a rental kind of ride.
“We got a gentleman licensed in the last (KDBA) race in what’s a new-to-us boat that we worked on. We re-did everything on it. We’re kind of doing the same thing with the other Pro Mod, trying to get some other people into boat racing.
“When you make a 165-170 mile-per-hour pass in a drag boat, it’s relatively addicting. So far, everybody has jumped in has wanted to go again.”
Going fast in a boat is something Speer knows about. While Top Fuel Hydros are not currently running on the KDBA circuit, he has experience in the fastest division on water and has tested a TFH boat a couple of times earlier this year.
“We took it out to a race in San Angelo, Texas, and basically made two hits. All I can say is wow,” Speer said. “We still have the record from 2018 when we ran 3.10 seconds in Phoenix at 875 feet. Judging from our g-meters, the one full-track pass we had in San Angelo, I pulled parachutes at 660 and we still ran a 3.47 seconds.”
Speer said the shortened run clocked at 210 mph in the speed trap. His top speed at the longer distance a few years ago was 255 and the record speed in TFH is around 265, he said.
While he hopes to do more testing in the Top Fuel boat later this year, he immediate focus is on this weekend and trying to earn the Pro Outlaw title. He enjoys index racing because it combines reaction at the starting line and correct tuning on the boat for its run.
“The coolest part about index racing, in general, it leaves a lot less room for error,” Speer said. “It keeps the drivers really sharp. You have to get up on the wheel. If you’re too late on the light, there is no way of catching the other person. You’re just not gonna catch them without breaking out.
“So you have to be on your game. They’re a lot of fun. And Wheatland is always so interesting because the conditions can change quickly. One day it might be sunny and hot, the next it might be cloudy and cooler.”
The Diamond Drag Boat Nationals will kick off with a bang on Friday morning with live coverage from Lake Lucas on Ozarks Fox AM. Show hosts Jeremy Rabe and Kelly Smith will be live from Lake Lucas from 7-9 a.m. on KRBK Channel 5 out of Springfield with their morning show.
They'll conduct driver interviews during the first hour with drivers from four of the fastest divisions of the Kentucky Drag Boat Association - Rick Allen (Top Alcohol Hydro), Speer (Pro Outlaw), Shelby Ebert (Pro Mod) and Terry Williams (Quick Eliminator).
Following driver interviews, the TV crew will be touring the vendors, gift shop trailers and beer tent. During the 8-9 a.m. hour, live qualifying runs will be shown as Kentucky Drag Boat Association president Barry Salsman will join Jeremy and Kelly for commentary, with vendor visits in between the runs.
This is the final visit of the season for the Kentucky Drag Boat Association-sanctioned series at Lake Lucas with Friday the start of three big days of action.
Qualifying will continue throughout the day on Friday and begin again at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Eliminations are set to get underway at 9 a.m. on Sunday.
On Friday night, a barbecue dinner and beer tent will be set up on the Lake Lucas midway for the drag boat racers and teams. All donations collected will be split between the Racers Emergency Support Program and Racers For Christ.
For more information on the Kentucky Drag Boat Association visit kydragboat.com.
Diamond Drag Boat Nationals grandstand admission:
(Friday)
Age 6 and up GA-Pit Pass Combo - $10
5-and-under GA-Pit Pass Combo - FREE
Adult 3-day GA-Pit Pas Combo - $50
Seniors (62 and up)/Military 3-day GA-Pit Pass Combo - $44
(All tickets include access to Drag Boat pit area)
(All 3-day tickets include access to dirt-track event on Saturday night)
(Saturday)
Adults GA/Pit Pass Combo (16 and up) - $30
Seniors (62 and up)/Military GA/Pit Pass Combo - $27
Your GA-Pit Pass Combo (ages 6-15) - $10
Kids GA-Pit Pass Combo (ages 5-and-under) - FREE
Family Pass GA/Pit Pass Combo (includes admission for two adults and up to three kids ages 6-15) Adults 2-day GA/Pit Pass Combo - $40
Seniors (62 and up)/Military 2-day GA-Pit Pass Combo - $37
Youth (ages 6-15) 2-day GA-Pit Pass Combo - $20
(All tickets include access to Drag Boat pit area)
(All Saturday or 3-Day and 2-Day tickets include entry to dirt-track event on Saturday night)
(Sunday)
Age 6 and up GA/Pit Pass Combo - $10
5 and Under GA/Pit Pass Combo - FREE
(All tickets include access to Drag Boat pit area)
MLRA Ron Jenkins Memorial on Saturday night: A big one on the dirt track Saturday night will find the Lucas Oil MLRA Late Models returning for the 8th annual Ron Jenkins Memorial. Winner of the feature will earn $7,000. In addition to the Late Model action, the Cedar Creek Beef Jerky USRA Modifieds will run for $1,000 to win and O’Reilly Auto Parts USRA Stock Cars will have a $750 feature prize. The Ozark Golf Car USRA B-Mods will battle for a special $1,000-to-win top prize Presented by the Titan B-Mod Series.
Dirt-track admission:
Adults (16 and up) - $25
Seniors (62 and up)/Military - $22
Youth (6-15) - $10
Kids (5 and under) - FREE
Family Pass $60 (Click Here for more information)
Pit Pass $40
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.
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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.
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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
