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Lucas Oil Speedway Spotlight: After MLRA education, Imhoff ready for Weekly Series Late Model campaign

WHEATLAND, MO. (April 27, 2022) - You see it in sports all the time, where teams play a strong out-of-conference schedule to both challenge themselves and toughen them up for regular-season play.

Dalton Imhoff took this path last weekend. Even though the young Late Model driver from Jamestown knew the chance of actually beating the Lucas Oil MLRA Late Model regulars at last weekend’s 9th MLRA Spring Nationals was a longshot, it was a win-win for Imhoff.

With a new Black Diamond race car to break in, Imhoff got some valuable experience that could greatly benefit him as Lucas Oil Speedway’s Big Adventure Weekly Racing Series gets rolling this Saturday.

“You’ve got to be on your ‘A’ game with those guys,” Imhoff said. “If you’re off any little bit, you’re off the pace.”

Imhoff didn’t make the A Feature on Night One, but raced his way into the main event on Saturday. He finished 18th, which alone is no reason to throw a celebration, but the seat time against that quality of competition was priceless for the 25-year-old.

“It was pretty awesome,” Imhoff said. “It was our first race with our new car. Besides practice day, it was good to show up and not have any problems, to be able to jump right in and be fast with those guys.”

Next up is the Hermitage Lumber Late Model opener on Saturday night, which pays $1,000 to win courtesy of Hickamo Country Store. The Cedar Creek Beef Jerky Modifieds, Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mods and O’Reilly Auto Parts USRA Stock Cars also will be in action as Ozarks Fox Presents the Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series Spring Opener.

Imhoff is set to begin his second full season of driving a Late Model after taking over the ride from his dad, Walt Imhoff, midway through the 2020 season. Dalton Imhoff had a solid 2021 season, finishing fifth in Lucas Oil Speedway points with a pair of third-place feature finishes.

“We were pretty happy with the season,” Imhoff said. “We were missing something on our setup, having a hard time on slick tracks mainly. We just never quite figured it out.”

The new Black Diamond has felt good underneath him so far with Imhoff giving credit to Ron Stuckey at Black Diamond for help on the setup. He also got to visit with Black Diamond driver and MLRA regular Garrett Alberson last weekend.

“I was able to get a little feedback and information to hopefully help us out,” he said.

Imhoff said he also tried to soak in how the MLRA drivers maneuvered their cars and consistently hit the marks.

“Just following them, learning where the fast part (of the track) is, more or less how to make a move around somebody that’s as fast or faster than you,” Imhoff said. “That’s the biggest thing, learning how to pass when they’re doing everything perfect.”

Dalton Imhoff started racing when he was 16 and ran a handful of Late Model shows in his dad’s car. He then switched to Street Stocks and remained in that division until Walt - who now serves as crew chief - stepped away from driving two years ago due to his workload. The Imhoffs have a family farm and construction business.

There’s an interesting tidbit about the car number and why it changed from 69 with Walt behind the wheel to 96 with Dalton driving.

“He was born in ’69 and I was born in ’96,” Dalton Imhoff said. “So we just flopped the numbers when I went full-time in the car.”

Putting the 96 in victory lane for the first time at Lucas Oil Speedway is a primary goal.

“My main goal is to knock that monkey off my back and win one,” Dalton Imhoff said. “I’d like to be top-three in points. I don’t know if we can make every race, but we’re gonna try our best.”

Imhoff Construction and Imhoff Farm serve as primary sponsors, but Dalton said Donnie Cooper helps with parts and tires and Black Diamond's B.J. Robinson contributes setup knowledge.

“Dad is the crew chief, but Russell Kueffer brings years of experience to us,” Dalton Imhoff said. “He brings a wealth of knowledge to our team.”

Kids Power Wheel races: This week also will mark the start of Kids Power Wheel racing for youngsters ages 3-9 during intermission. The kids will race on the front straightaway during intermission, navigating a course outlined by orange cones.

The youngsters can enter their own battery-powered Power Wheel cars by registering at the Frogs Jr. Fan Club on the south end of the Midway prior to the races. Other Kids Power Wheel nights are scheduled for May 21, June 18, July 30 and Aug. 27. Points will be tabulated and a mini-season-champion crowned along with the four regular Weekly Racing Series classes on Aug. 27.

One Kids Power Wheel class will be the 6-12 volt cars and another will be for the 24-36 volt class. No power or speed enhancement modifications will be allowed.

Kids Pit Tour: This also is the third year of the Frogs Jr Fan Club Pit Tour. Prior to each dirt-track racing program this season, flagman Mike Striegel will lead a pit tour on a large golf cart for youngsters ages 5-12 with the youngsters signing up for a drawing each week to be a part of the tour.

Kids can sign up for the Frogs Jr Fan Club on the south end of the Midway prior to 5 p.m. for a chance to go on the pit tour.

Piit gates and grandstands open at 4 p.m., with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:05.

Admission:
Advance discount tickets online only (16 and up) - $12
Adults (16 and up) - $15
Seniors (62 and over)/Military - $12
Youth (ages 6-15) - $5
Kids (5 and under) - FREE
Family pass (click here for more information) - $35

To purchase tickets for any event on Lucas Oil Speedway's schedule, or get ticket information for the Show-Me 100 or any future event at Lucas Oil Speedway, 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
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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, 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.

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