7/3/2024
Lucas Oil Speedway
Lucas Oil Speedway Spotlight: Young Logan Smith looks to keep building in B-Mod division
WHEATLAND, MO. (July 2, 2024) - On the surface, Logan Smith’s seventh-place feature run earlier this season at Lucas Oil Speedway probably didn’t open many eyes. But in the deep water of the talented Clear Creek Golf Cars USRA B-Mod division, it was a notable step for the young driver from El Dorado Springs.
Smith, 20, is a solid fifth in the season points entering the special Casey’s Thursday Night Thunder Kids’ Night at the Races Presented by State Tech. He’s looking to put his Rage chassis consistently closer to the front as he gains more and more experience.
“I grew up as a kid watching the races there and to win would mean so much,” Smith said of Lucas Oil Speedway. “I think it would be awesome. It’s close to home. It would be amazing. We’re definitely trying. We’re not giving up there yet.”
Smith is in his sixth season of racing after his uncle, Luke McGee, helped him get started in go-karts. He made the jump to Midwest Mods and then B-Mods in 2022, winning feature races at Bolivar Speedway and Nevada Speedway. This season saw early highlights, as he picked up a victory at Electric City Speedway and a second at Arrowhead Speedway.
Overall, he has compiled 11 top-five finishes at a combined seven tracks.
"We started off really strong and feel pretty good right now," Smith said. "Hopefully we can make the car more consistent."
Driving weekly in the Big Adventure RV Championship Series at Lucas Oil Speedway figures to make Smith even better as he gains more seat time. He said former USRA B-Mod national champions JC Morton and Ryan Gillmore are drivers he models himself after.
“It feels really good when you get to run with Gillmore and Morton weekly,” Smith said. “I always look at those guys and think, ‘maybe one of these days.’ I just need seat time. I definitely look up at those guys as role models, for sure.
“I just need to keep my composure and keep grinding.”
Smith said that patience can sometimes be an issue.
“I’m pretty hard on myself,” Smith said. “I want to win every race and of course we all know you can’t win every race. You just have to keep grinding and keep trying.”
While Smith said he’s yet to ask veterans like Morton and Gillmore for advice, he does have a couple of more important area Modified veterans on his side. Those are fellow El Dorado Springs resident Chase Jones along with Trevor Drake.
“Chase Jones is one of my best friends. He builds my engines and helps me tons on the Modified program,” Smith said, adding that Jones has been helpful with set-up advice.
“I just sometimes get in left field and tell him, ‘here, do what you want to do.’ He gives me advice to just calm down and think about it. He’s been very helpful,” Smith added.
Smith's next outing is set or the annual Casey's Thursday Night Thunder Kids' Night at the Races Presented by State Tech. It's always a big night at Lucas Oil Speedway, with a kids' bicycle giveaway during intermission and the area's biggest fireworks display following the races.
Bicycles for kids ages 5-through-12 are still needed for the giveaway. Those interested in donating can bring bicycles to the speedway office during business hours or to the pit office before Thursday's races. Cash donations which will be used for the purchase of bicycles also will be accepted.
The kids can sign up at the RCR Designs Jr Fan Club table before intermission for a chance to enter a drawing for the new bicycles of various sizes after the gates open at 4:30 p.m. Also before the racing action, flagman Mike Striegel will lead a group of youngsters on a pit tour. The kids can sign up for a chance to go on the tour, also at the RCR Designs Jr Fan Club table.
Pit gates open at 4 p.m. with grandstands at 4:30, hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:05. Look for discount admission coupons are participating area Casey's locations.
Thursday Night Thunder admission:
Adults (16 and up) - $20
Seniors (62 and up)/Military - $17
Youth (6-15) - $10
Kids (5 and under) - FREE
Family Pass - $50
Pit Pass - $40
For ticket information on any Lucas Oil Speedway event, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 295-6043 or via email at nmcmillan@lucasoilspeedway.com.
CONTACT:
Danny Lorton
Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager
Office: (417) 282-5984
DLorton@lucasoilspeedway.com
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Lucas Oil Speedway is located at Highways 83 and 54 in Wheatland, Missouri. A campground with shower and bathroom facilities is available. With its entrance located just outside the pit gate, this sprawling scenic camping facility will continue to enhance the racing experience.
For ticket and camping information and everything about the Show-Me 100 event, visit www.LucasOilSpeedway.com for all the information and detailed directions to the speedway or call the Track Hotline at (417) 282-5984.
In addition, fans can get social with Lucas Oil Speedway by following @LucasSpeedway on X, clicking "Like" at www.facebook.com/LucasOilSpeedway and on www.youtube.com/LucasOilSpeedway
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.
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.
2024 Official Lucas Oil Speedway Marketing Partners
Arizona Sport Shirts
"The Official Merchandise Provider" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Bill Roberts Chevrolet
"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
Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper
"The Official Soft Drink" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Rugged Radios
"The Official 2-Way Communications Provider" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Summit Racing Equipment
"The Official Sponsor" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Sunoco Race Fuels
"The Official Fuel" of Lucas Oil Speedway
2024 Lucas Oil Speedway Supporters Include:
AM Pyrotechnics, Alliance Sport Marketing, Arctic Food Equipment, Arizona Sport Shirts, Berry Tractor and Equipment Co., Big Adventure RV, Bill Roberts Chevrolet, Bolivar Auto Sales & Detailing, Bolivar Farmers Exchange-MFA, Boone's BBQ Barn, Boubin Tire/American Racer, Bridal Cave, BWI Sanitation, Candlelight Creations-Dick's Wild Root Horseradish, Casey's, Citizens Memorial Healthcare, City Magnet, Clearlight Inn, Dixie Chopper, Eibach Springs, Farmers Insurance Agent Kristy Reynolds, Fast Shafts by Axle Exchange, Foley Equipment-Cat Rental Store, Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare, Hermitage Lumber, HICKAMO Country Store, Hobbytime Motorsports, Iconic Apparel, Impact Signs Awnings Wraps, In the Garden of Eden, KC Bobcat, Kluhsman Racing Components, Kona Ice, Lucas Cattle Company, MD3, Midwest Sheet Metal, Miller Welding, 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, Pomme de Terre Resort, Proboat, ProThings Apparel, RACEceiver, Racinboys.com, RacinDirt.com, Rains Ice Company, RCR Designs, 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, Sidetrack RV Park, Simpson Racing Products, Southwest Electric Cooperative, State Tech, Stillwater Resort, Summit Racing Equipment, Sunoco Race Fuels, Turn 1 Bar & Grill, US Army Corps of Engineers-Pomme de Terre, Vietti Marketing Group, Wheatland Motel, White's Marine Center, Wieland, Wild Animal Safari, Woods Supermarkets.
Article Credit: By Lyndal Scranton, Lucas Oil Speedway
