WAYCROSS, GA (January 30, 2012) – Officials of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series are pleased to announce that the series will offer drivers over 3.2 million dollars in cash and contingencies in 2012. The amount is a new record for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. Since its inception in 2005, the series maintains its place as the premier national touring dirt late model series in the country.  In 2011, the series averaged an industry high of 49 cars per event. Record-breaking crowds watched many of the most exciting races of the year. The 2012 series schedule includes 46 events in 19 different states at some of the top racing facilities in the country.
 
Drivers that compete on the series in 2012 will be racing for more than 2.5 million in purse monies alone. The series also added a purse increase to all the $10,000 and $20,000 to win shows in 2012. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will pay out over $300,000 in cash awards to the top ten drivers in the national championship point’s standings along with $10,000 cash awarded to the Quarter Master Rookie of the Year at the series year-end awards banquet.
 
The series will sanction a record thirteen (13) events paying $20,000 to win or more in 2012. They include: the Commonwealth 100 at Virginia Motor Speedway-$25,000 to win, Apr 13-14th; the Bad Boy 98 at Batesville Motor Speedway-$20,000 to win, May 18-19th; the DART Show-Me 100 at Lucas Oil Speedway-$30,000 to win, May 25-26th; the Clash at the Mag at Magnolia Motor Speedway-$20,000 to win, Jul 6-7th; the Silver Dollar Nationals at I-80 Speedway-$25,000 to win, Jul 20-21st; the Sunoco North/South 100 at Florence Speedway-$50,000 to win, Aug 10-11th; the COMP Cams Topless 100 at Batesville Motor Speedway-$40,000 to win, Aug 17-18th; the River Days Rumble at Portsmouth Raceway Park-$20,000, Aug 31-Sep 1; Hillbilly Hundred-$25,000 to win, Sep 2nd; the USA 100 at Virginia Motor Speedway-$20,000 to win, Sep 14-15th; the Jackson 100 at Brownstown Speedway-$20,000 to win, Sep 21-22nd; the Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville Speedway-$40,000 to win, Sep 27-29th; and the season finale, the Dirt Track World Championship -$50,000 to win, Oct. 19-20th.
 
“The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is very proud of the growth we have made in our over-all program in a few short years. The record prize money, large car counts and our TV package are just a few of the things that will continue to elevate the level of competition in our program. Our fans, race teams, track promoters, and marketing partners will be the ones to benefit as we continue this steady growth pattern. We are very thankful that we have so many promoters, sponsors, and racers that believe in our program and continue to support us each year,” stated Ritchie Lewis, Series Director.
 
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will kick off the season at the famed “Clay by the Bay” for the 8th consecutive year. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will sanction the 36th Annual DART Winternationals at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, FL from Sunday, February 12th through Saturday, February 18th.
 
For more information on the 36th Annual East Bay “DART Winternationals”, log onto the track’s website at www.eastbayracewaypark.com.
 
For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, visit the series’ website at www.lucasdirt.com or call the series’ office at (951) 532-2503. Be sure and visit the series on the social media outlets as well at http://www.facebook.com/lucasdirt and http://twitter.com/#!/lucasdirt.
 
2012 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series/East Bay “DART Winternationals” Schedule
 
East Bay Raceway Park-Tampa, FL
 
Sunday, February 12th – Open Practice Session – 6-9 PM
Monday, February 13th – $5,000 to win
Tuesday, February 14th – $5,000 to win
Wednesday, February 15th – $7,000 to win
Thursday, February 16th – $7,000 to win
Friday, February 17th – $10,000 to win (points event)
Saturday, February 18th – $10,000 to win (points event)