CORONA, CA (August 14, 2007)-With just nine point races left in the 2007 racing season the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series takes up residence in the Midwest this Friday and Saturday with back to back events at Kankakee Motor Speedway in Kankakee, IL and Brownstown Speedway in Brownstown, IN.  On Friday, August 17^th the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series visits Kankakee for the very first time with a $10,000 to win show.  The appearance at Kankakee will mark the 40^th different track the premier dirt late model touring series has run at in its three-year history.  On Saturday Night, August 18^th one of the top events in the Midwest will take place with the running 28^th Annual Jackson 100 paying $15,000 to win at Brownstown.  The cameras of SPEED Channel will be on hand at Brownstown to tape the Jackson for the second year in a row.  The event will be shown on a date and time to be announced in the future. 

Two-time and defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion, Earl Pearson, Jr. of Jacksonville, FL heads to Illinois and Indiana protecting a 110 point lead over Lawrenceburg, IN's Scott James, who is second in points.  Eldora "Dream" Winner Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN currently sits in third ahead of Terry English of Benton, KY and Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH. 

COMP Cams "Rookie of the Year" points leader, Justin Rattliff of Campbellsville, KY leads the next five in points followed by Billy Drake of Bloomington, IL, Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, WI, Damon Eller of Crumpler, NC and Freddy Smith of Seymour, TN.  

In the first 28 events this season there have been 16 different winners on the ultra-competitive series.  A total of 533 different drivers have participated at least once with the Lucas Oil Series this season.  The latest winner was defending Jackson 100 winner, Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN who grabbed the $10,000 to win race at Dubuque, IA last Tuesday Night, August 7^th.  O'Neal and Jim Curry of Norman, IN are the only drivers to win the biggest race at Brownstown three times in their career. 

There will be a complete show both nights with LifeLong Lock Time Trials along with Hawk Brake and Quarter Master sponsored heat races.  The number of heats to be run will be determined by the number of entries each night.  Also on the race card will be Mason Racin' Rebel Shock Dyno and Penske Shocks B-Mains followed by the feature races.  

For more information on these events you can log onto the each track's respective websites at www.kankakeemotorspeedway.net and www.brownstownspeedway.com.  The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series website is www.lucasdirt.com and for further info you can contact the series office at (951) 532-2503.  

The tire rule for Kankakee will be as follows; Hoosier LM20 and LM40 and American Racer SD44 and MD56.  The tire rule at Brownstown will be:  Hoosier LM20, 1300, 1350, LM40 and 1600 and the American Racer SD44, SD48 and MD56. 

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Next Events:

Friday Night, August 17^th

Kankakee Motor Speedway-Kankakee, IL

Saturday Night, August 18^th

Brownstown Speedway-Brownstown, IN 

Kankakee Feature Payoff:  $10,000, $5000, $3000, $2500, $2000, $1500, $1400, $1300, $1200, $1100, $1000, $950, $900, $875, $850, $825, $800, $775, $750, $725, $700, $700, $700, $700 

Brownstown "Jackson 100" Payoff:  $15,000, $7500, $5000, $4000, $3000, $2000, $1800, $1700, $1600, $1500, $1400, $1350, $1300, $1250, $1200, $1150, $1100, $1050, $1000, $1000, $1000, $1000, $1000, $1000 

Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings (After August 7, 2007) 

1)     Earl Pearson, Jr. (Jacksonville, FL)-4475

2)     Scott James (Lawrenceburg, IN)-4365

3)     Steve Casebolt (Richmond, IN)-4255

4)     Terry English (Benton, KY)-3905

5)     Donnie Moran (Dresden, OH)-3815

6)     Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY)-3700

7)     Billy Drake (Bloomington, IL)-3540

8)     Dan Schlieper (Sullivan, WI)-3525

9)     Damon Eller (Crumpler, NC)-3130

10)Freddy Smith (Seymour, TN)-2895 

Current COMP Cams Rookie of the Year Points Standings (After August 7, 2007) 

1)  Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY)-3700

2)  Damon Eller (Crumpler, NC)-3130

3)  Brad Neat (Dunnville, KY)-2655