Cedar County Raceway Race Track in Tipton, Iowa, USA

Cedar County Raceway races Mods, Sport Mods, IMCA Stockcars, IMCA Late Models, Hobby Stocks, 4 Stocks, Modlite/Micros, and 2 man outlaws.

Surface: 1/4 mile high-banked dirt oval

1195 220th St
Tipton, Iowa, 52772 USA
lat: 41.774288, lng: -91.145196
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Cedar County Raceway Dirt Track Racing Schedule

Schedules are known to change without warning, double check with race track before heading out.

Thu, Sep 12

MLRA - Midwest LateModel Racing Associationhttps://dirtFan.com/dirt-track-racing-organization/MLRA/Midwest LateModel Racing Association/MLRA - Midwest LateModel Racing Association Dirt Track Racing Organization - 2024-09-122024-09-12EventScheduledhttps://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/398.pngHawkeye Land 40Dirt Track RacingDirt Track RacingDirt Track Racershttps://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeCedar County Racewayhttps://dirtFan.com/dirt-track/USA/Iowa/Tipton/Cedar County Raceway/https://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/398.png$1195 220th St Tipton, Iowa, 52772 USA

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IOWA BOUND: LUCAS OIL MLRA SET FOR "HAWKEYE LAND 40" & "SLOCUM 50" WEEKEND
Wheatland, Missouri (April,16 2024) - A short week awaits the drivers and race teams of the Lucas Oil MLRA, as the series makes a quick turn-around and heads north for three nights of racing in the Hawkeye state starting this Thursday April, 18th. The series is coming off a successful opening weekend at the Lucas Oil Speedway which saw Jonathan Davenport topping the field of 44 entries both nights. A rare Thursday night date will get the triple header weekend underway on Thursday, when the MLRA teams up with Kay Promotions for the first annual "Hawkeye Land 40" at the Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, IA. The ¼ mile track rest on the grounds of the Cedar County Fairgrounds, which is just about 30 minutes northeast of Iowa City, IA. This will mark the MLRA's first ever visit to the semi banked dirt oval in the series storied 36-year history, with the night's winner collecting a $5,000 pay day. The eastern Iowa facility has hosted a limited number of regional Late Model events in recent years, with the majority of those being under the former IMCA Derry Brothers sanction. Wheatland, Iowa's Justin Kay was the dominating force in that era with five wins to his credit. The MLRA's top two drivers from a season ago in Chad and Chris Simpson, have also experienced success in the past at Cedar County under the now defunct Corn Belt Clash Series. Chris scored wins in 2011 and 2012, while brother Chad collected the victory back in 2010. For Chad Simpson, the 27-minute commute to the Cedar County Raceway from his Mount Vernon, IA race shop makes this a home race of sorts, much different than last weeks 6+ hour road trip to Lucas Oil Speedway. "It's definitely close to home, so that's a plus. This is probably the closest race track to my house, but probably the race track that I have raced the least at over the years. I've probably only race there two or maybe three times," he noted of Cedar County Raceway. "It's a fun little fairgrounds race track, and the Kay's (K-Promotions) are putting it on with Al doing the track prep and stuff, and it seems like everything those guys seem to touch and put together race track wise, turns out to be pretty good. It should be a nice little quarter mile bull ring for us." As for what he expects of the racing, he comments, "It will usually have some pretty good speed early in the night, and it usually gets really wide," he noted. "It's kind of one of them tracks that's got that top line that's really really good, but it's kind of on that edge of falling off the ledge too." After Thursday night's weekend kick off, action will head due south to the 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa for two big nights of racing. Action will resume on Friday night April 19th with the $5,000 to win "Prelude To The Slocum", Presented by Midwest Performance & Power. The weekend will then conclude on Saturday April 20th, when teams battle for the coveted #5 trophy and the $10,555 pay day in the 50 lap "Slocum 50", Presented by Roederer's Pit Stop. The "Slocum 50" weekend has grown into one of the premier races on the MLRA schedule, even more so with its recent transition into a two-day event. This will mark the 16th annual edition of the Slocum 50 which was started to honor and remember the life of Late Model racer Brent Slocum who tragically lost his life at the facility in 2005 at the age of 28. The Brent Slocum Foundation now carries on the legacy of the former Late Model competitor, who competed primarily in IMCA Late Models at 34 Raceway and at the former Quincy Raceways (now Adams County Speedway) in Quincy, IL. Slocum accumulated numerous wins in his eleven-year career along with track championships and professional accolades. Shannon Babb scored his second career win in the Slocum 50 in 2023, joining four-time winner Bobby Pierce as the only two drivers who are multi-time winners of the event. Other recent winners from 2022 and 2021 include Dennis Erb Jr. and Jason Papich respectively. Defending, and now four-time MLRA champion Chad Simpson, will come into the weekend on top of the Midwest Sheet Metal Point Leader Challenge standings by virtue of his back-to-back 6th place finishes in this past weekend's season opener. Tony Jackson Jr. and Chris Simpson are knotted up in second, each just 25 points out of the top spot. Oregon's Justin Duty occupies the fourth spot, while Gordy Gundaker rounds out the top five. Cedar County Raceway: Tipton, IA: "Hawkeye Land 40" Thursday 4/18/24 Pit Gates: 3:00 PM, Grandstands 5:00 PM Hot Laps: - 6:30 PM Racing to Follow Admission: Adults $25, Kids (5 - 12yrs.) $10, Kids (4 & Under) FREE Pit Passes: Adults $35, Kids (12 & Under) $20 Support Classes: IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Sport Mods Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KayPromotions 34 Raceway: West Burlington, IA: "Prelude To The Slocum" Friday 4/19/24 Pit Gates: 4:00 PM, Grandstands 5:00 PM Racing: Hot Laps - 6:15 PM, Racing 7:00 PM Admission: Adults $25, Students (11-17) & Seniors 62+: $20, Kids 10 & Under: FREE Support Classes: IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, & 305 Sprints-Winged Website: www.34Raceway.com 34 Raceway: West Burlington, IA: "16th Annual Slocum 50" Saturday 4/20/24 Pit Gates: 4:00 PM, Grandstands 5:00 PM Racing: Hot Laps - 6:15 PM, Racing 7:00 PM Admission: Adults $30, Students (11-17) & Seniors 62+: $25, Kids 10 & Under: FREE Support Classes: IMCA Modifieds & IMCA Stock Cars For all of the latest news and information, including the full 2024 schedule, fans are encouraged to visit the series website at www.MLRARacing.com. For all of the latest news and information fans are encouraged to visit the series website: Explore MLRARACING.COM Hit the Road the the Lucas Oil MLRA and stay up to date via our Social Media Accounts: Facebook X Instagram CONTACT: Ernie Leftwich Lucas Oil MLRA Series Director Mobile: (417) 309-3509 Email Ernie Leftwich 2024 Official Lucas Oil MLRA Marketing Partners Arizona Sport Shirts "The Official Merchandise Provider" of Lucas Oil MLRA FLO Sports "The Official Broadcast Partner" of Lucas Oil MLRA General Tire "The Official Tire" of Lucas Oil MLRA Hoosier Race Tires "The Official Race Tire" of Lucas Oil MLRA Lucas Oil Products "The Official Oil" of Lucas Oil MLRA MAVTV Motorsports Network "The Official Television Network" of Lucas Oil MLRA MyRacePass "The Official Timing System" of Lucas Oil MLRA Rugged Radios "The Official Radio" of Lucas Oil MLRA Sunoco Race Fuels "The Official Fuel" of Lucas Oil MLRA 2024 MLRA Supporters Include: Arizona Sport Shirts, Behrents Performance Warehouse, Earnhardt Technologies, Fast Shafts, Fluidyne, Fox Shocks, Hellraizer Jacks, Hoosier Race Tires, Hooker Harness, Lucas Cattle Co., MD3, Midwest Sheet Metal, MSD Performance/Holly, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Outerwears, PEM, Protect The Harvest, Rugged Radios, Schoenfeld Headers, Simpson Race Products, Strange Oval, Sunoco Race Fuels, Swift Springs, Thermo Tech, Wieland, Xceldyne Lucas Oil MLRA 700 E. Highway 54, P.O. Box 8, Wheatland, MO 65779 +1 (417) 282-5984
WEEKEND SWEEP IN WHEATLAND: DAVENPORT WINS $20K MLRA "SPRING NATIONALS" FINALE
Wheatland, MO (April 13, 2024) - Jonathan Davenport left no doubt on the opening weekend for the Lucas Oil MLRA, as he continued his dominance at the Lucas Oil Speedway in capturing Saturday nights 11th Annual MLRA "Spring Nationals" finale and its $20,000 payday. Davenport capped a near perfect weekend for his Nutrien Ag Solutions Longhorn team, coming just shy of the weekend sweep of all events when Dustin Hodges topped Davenport and the rest of the 44-car field to score his first career My Race Pass overall "Fast Time Award" with a lap of 14.788 seconds. The starting grid would find Hodges alongside of Davenport for the start of the sixty lap main event, with Davenport taking the early lead. The main event would go green for the first 25 circuits, with Davenport building up a lead of 4.801 seconds over Ricky Thornton Jr. and Mason Zeigler when the nights first caution waved on lap five as Chris Simpson stopped at the entrance of turn one. The green would wave over the field once again for another ten-lap stretch, until a spin for Matt Johnson on lap thirty five placed the field under the nights second caution. Garrett Alberson was on the move leading up to the caution, as he moved his Roberts Motorsports entry from 13th on the grid inside the top three in third position. The nights final caution waved just three laps later with 22 laps remaining as a multi car incident in turn three and four involving the likes of Trevor Gundaker, Hodges, Dillon McCowan, Cole Wells, & Dusty Leonard put the field under red. On the nights final re-start, the man on the move was 21st starting Mike Marlar who had now raced his way into fifth. For the second night in a row, Davenport controlled the restart and quickly put over a one second margin between himself and Thornton Jr. Thornton made an effort to chase him down on the restart, but it was to no avail for the second consecutive night, as Davenport cruised to the win by 4.237 seconds over Thornton Jr. Thornton Jr. nipped Alberson at the line for second, while Marlar completed his night in fourth, collecting the "Swift Springs Move Of The Race". Mason Zeigler completed the top five after finishing in third the night prior. "We were so good in that heat race, we was afraid to change anything," noted Davenport of his win in heat race # 3—a victory of nearly 5.5 seconds over Thornton Jr. "I feel like we over adjusted last night, so we did finally make some changes there at the very end, I don't know if it was the right one, but it sure made it a lot easier to drive. I could maneuver very well and the car was just really good and I'm happy with it." For much of the race Davenport had to contend with lap traffic as his biggest threat for the victory. "I got into a pretty good rhythm there and the biggest thing I felt like won me the race was the lapped cars. I just tried not to get complacent and get behind one even if it was the wrong line. I tried to just keep my momentum up and try to pass them in the next corner. I knew those guys were right on me, Ricky has been really good, and Garrett was coming up through there, Mason was in and out of the top three there. I kept looking at the board, and ya the 157 keep crawling up the board, I was trying my best to put him a lap down there so he didn't have a chance but congratulations to all those guys. We'll definitely sleep good tonight," he concluded. PODIUM FINISHERS: 3rd Garrett Alberson, 1st Jonathan Davenport, 2nd Ricky Thornton Jr. Photo Credit: Heath Lawson Thornton Jr. had opportunities to chase down the Davenport, who for the second night captured the MD3 "Most Laps Led", but in the end he was one spot shy. "The one yellow come out and I wanted to see how we compared, and he just drove off, so that's why we're here. I feel like we were a little better than the other night, but just not as good as we need to be. Hopefully when we come back for the Show-Me we'll be a little better than tonight and don't start so far back in a heat race, because that's a big deal here." Alberson grabbed his first podium of the year with a sold night from deep in the field. "I'm super excited, we started off kind of slow today. The track through us all for a curve ball, except for Davenport, he had it covered. It took us a while to get going there, we made some really good decisions before the race on our set up. That track was really fun, I kept thinking it was going to rubber here and there, but it kinda kept moving around and stayed slick and technical. We had a good race with Marlar there and got close to Ricky so I'm super excited about it," he noted of his third place run. A quick turn-around awaits the Lucas Oil MLRA, as a three-night stand in the Hawkeye state awaits teams starting on Thursday night April 18th. The "Hawkeye Land 40" will mark the MLRA's first ever visit to the Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, Iowa. The weekend will conclude with two consecutive nights of action on Friday and Saturday April 19th - 20th at the 34 Raceway in West Burlington, IA. Friday nights "Prelude to the Slocum" will pay $5,000 to win, while Saturday nights 16th Annual "Slocum 50" will send the winner home with a $10,555 pay day. Lucas Oil Speedway Contingencies 4/13/24 Lap Leaders - (1 - 60) Cautions - 3 MyRacePass "Overall Fast Time Award" - Dustin Hodges (14.788 sec.) Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race - Cory Fostvedt MD3 "Most Laps Led" - Davenport (40) Swift Springs "Move of the Race" - Mike Marlar Sunoco Race Fuel "Rookie of the Race" - Aaron Marrant PEM Racing "4th Place Finisher" - Mike Marlar Fluidyne: "5th Place Finisher: - Mason Zeigler Hooker Harness "11th Place Finisher" - Rodney Sanders Sunoco "Engine Builders Challenge" - Clements Midwest Sheet Metal "Points Leader Spoiler Challenge" - Chad Simpson MSD Performance Holley: "1st B-Main NON-Qualifier" - Brennon Willard MD3 Last Place Finisher: - Garrett Smith Arizona Sport Shirt A Main 60 Laps | 00:41:23.151 1. 49-Jonathan Davenport[2]; 2. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[6]; 3. 58-Garrett Alberson[13]; 4. 157-Mike Marlar[21]; 5. 25Z-Mason Zeigler[4]; 6. 25-Chad Simpson[7]; 7. 32S-Chris Simpson[20]; 8. 18D-Daulton Wilson[19]; 9. 49W-Justin Wells[3]; 10. 11G-Gordy Gundaker[9]; 11. 29-Rodney Sanders[15]; 12. 25J-Tony Jackson Jr[25]; 13. 46-Earl Pearson Jr[16]; 14. 36-Logan Martin[10]; 15. 8-Dillon McCowan[8]; 16. 76-Blair Nothdurft[14]; 17. 15D-Justin Duty[24]; 18. 11T-Trevor Gundaker[23]; 19. 1X-Matt Johnson[22]; 20. 11-Jeff Herzog[11]; 21. 78S-Steve Stultz[26]; 22. 1XM-Aaron Marrant[18]; 23. (DNF) 7W-Cole Wells[12]; 24. (DNF) 22H-Dustin Hodges[1]; 25. (DNF) 7D-Dusty Leonard[17]; 26. (DNF) 10S-Garrett Smith[5] B1- FAST Shafts 12 Laps | 00:14:16.842 1. 7D-Dusty Leonard[1]; 2. 18D-Daulton Wilson[9]; 3. 157-Mike Marlar[11]; 4. 78S-Steve Stultz[2]; 5. 3W-Brennon Willard[6]; 6. 96-Dalton Imhoff[3]; 7. 44W-David Webster[12]; 8. 17T-Jeremy Tharp[14]; 9. (DNF) 15S-Clayton Stuckey[8]; 10. (DNF) 65-Jon Binning[10]; 11. (DNF) 11T-Trevor Gundaker[7]; 12. (DNF) USA1-Chris Hawkins[4]; 13. (DNF) 8K-Tyler Kuykendall[5]; 14. (DNS) 7B-Shayne Bailey B2- Wieland 12 Laps | 00:13:33.548 1. 1XM-Aaron Marrant[3]; 2. 32S-Chris Simpson[4]; 3. 1X-Matt Johnson[1]; 4. 15D-Justin Duty[10]; 5. 93-Mason Oberkramer[8]; 6. 82-Jace Parmley[12]; 7. 1/4-Jaxon Ertel[5]; 8. 71-Jim Body[9]; 9. 26-Glen Powell[14]; 10. (DNF) 2-Tyler Stevens[6]; 11. (DNF) 50C-Kayden Clatt[11]; 12. (DNF) 17A-Austin Howes[13]; 13. (DNF) 25J-Tony Jackson Jr[2]; 14. (DNF) 67-Jimmy Vanzandt[7] H1-Flo Sports 8 Laps | 00:04:10.098 1. 22H-Dustin Hodges[1]; 2. 10S-Garrett Smith[3]; 3. 11G-Gordy Gundaker[5]; 4. 58-Garrett Alberson[6]; 5. 7D-Dusty Leonard[2]; 6. 96-Dalton Imhoff[4]; 7. 8K-Tyler Kuykendall[7]; 8. 11T-Trevor Gundaker[9]; 9. 18D-Daulton Wilson[8]; 10. 157-Mike Marlar[10]; 11. 7B-Shayne Bailey[11] H2-Simpson Race Products 8 Laps | 00:02:41.120 1. 49W-Justin Wells[1]; 2. 25-Chad Simpson[2]; 3. 11-Jeff Herzog[4]; 4. 29-Rodney Sanders[3]; 5. 78S-Steve Stultz[5]; 6. USA1-Chris Hawkins[8]; 7. 3W-Brennon Willard[7]; 8. 15S-Clayton Stuckey[9]; 9. 65-Jon Binning[10]; 10. 44W-David Webster[6]; 11. (DNS) 17T-Jeremy Tharp H3-Earnhardt Technologies 8 Laps | 00:02:34.775 1. 49-Jonathan Davenport[1]; 2. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[4]; 3. 36-Logan Martin[2]; 4. 76-Blair Nothdurft[5]; 5. 1X-Matt Johnson[8]; 6. 1XM-Aaron Marrant[7]; 7. 1/4-Jaxon Ertel[3]; 8. 67-Jimmy Vanzandt[6]; 9. 71-Jim Body[9]; 10. 50C-Kayden Clatt[11]; 11. (DNS) 17A-Austin Howes H4- Lucas Oil 8 Laps | 00:04:33.070 1. 25Z-Mason Zeigler[1]; 2. 8-Dillon McCowan[4]; 3. 7W-Cole Wells[6]; 4. 46-Earl Pearson Jr[2]; 5. 25J-Tony Jackson Jr[7]; 6. 32S-Chris Simpson[3]; 7. 2-Tyler Stevens[5]; 8. 93-Mason Oberkramer[10]; 9. 15D-Justin Duty[9]; 10. 82-Jace Parmley[8]; 11. 26-Glen Powell[11] For all of the latest news and information, including the full 2024 schedule, fans are encouraged to visit the series website at www.MLRARacing.com. For all of the latest news and information fans are encouraged to visit the series website: Explore MLRARACING.COM Hit the Road the the Lucas Oil MLRA and stay up to date via our Social Media Accounts: Facebook X Instagram CONTACT: Ernie Leftwich Lucas Oil MLRA Series Director Mobile: (417) 309-3509 Email Ernie Leftwich 2024 Official Lucas Oil MLRA Marketing Partners Arizona Sport Shirts "The Official Merchandise Provider" of Lucas Oil MLRA FLO Sports "The Official Broadcast Partner" of Lucas Oil MLRA General Tire "The Official Tire" of Lucas Oil MLRA Hoosier Race Tires "The Official Race Tire" of Lucas Oil MLRA Lucas Oil Products "The Official Oil" of Lucas Oil MLRA MAVTV Motorsports Network "The Official Television Network" of Lucas Oil MLRA MyRacePass "The Official Timing System" of Lucas Oil MLRA Rugged Radios "The Official Radio" of Lucas Oil MLRA Sunoco Race Fuels "The Official Fuel" of Lucas Oil MLRA 2024 MLRA Supporters Include: Arizona Sport Shirts, Behrents Performance Warehouse, Dirt Car Lift, Earnhardt Technologies, Fast Shafts, Fluidyne, Fox Shocks, Hellraizer Jacks, Hoosier Race Tires, Hooker Harness, Lucas Cattle Co., MD3, Midwest Sheet Metal, MSD Performance/Holly, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Outerwears, PEM, Protect The Harvest, Rugged Radios, Schoenfeld Headers, Simpson Race Products, Strange Oval, Sunoco Race Fuels, Swift Springs, Thermo Tech, Wieland, Xceldyne Lucas Oil MLRA 700 E. Highway 54, P.O. Box 8, Wheatland, MO 65779 +1 (417) 282-5984
CHRIS SIMPSON SEEKING A FAST START TO 2024 WITH LUCAS OIL MLRA
Wheatland, Missouri (March 22, 2024) - Leaving the Lucas Oil Speedway after the season opening MLRA Spring Nationals in 2023, few people probably had Chris Simpson on their radar to be a contender for the series season championship. A guy that had just recorded back-to-back 25th place finishes had put himself into a deep hole, but his remarkable season turn-a-round may be one of the best examples in recent years of a team that had a never give up attitude. It was that perseverance for the Oxford, Iowa driver that led his race team to a runner-up finish in the final championship standings. "We struggled pretty much both nights at Wheatland, which got our hopes down and we weren't sitting very good points wise. Those first two nights just killed us, you know I pulled off not thinking of running the whole series and at the end of the year it bit me pretty hard," commented Simpson. "But to see where we started and where we ended up, obviously we only had the one win and I definitely feel like we left a couple more on the table, but we were right there. I think we added it up the other day and we had like eight second place finishes. And anytime you can look back at a year and see you had that many top fives or that many top twos you know your stuff is pretty good and there isn't a real big reason to go making a lot of changes." The driver of the Hoker Trucking # 32 bounced back in a big way over the next four races by finishing no worse than 5th, while mixing in a pair of runner-up finishes and scoring his 16th career MLRA victory at the Lake Ozark Speedway. It was that string of top five runs that eventually helped lead Simpson into considering a full time run at the MLRA title, something he is not accustomed to doing. "I planned on running all the way to Wheatland and then if we needed a provisional (Show-Me 100) I would have it and that's like three grand to start. At that point we were second in points, and I felt like we had quite a few races left to make up ground on Chad (Simpson), but obviously with the rainouts and stuff like that it just didn't go in our favor," explained the 40-year-old Simpson. For much of his racing career Simpson has preferred to run an outlaw schedule, picking and choosing where to race from week to week. In fact, his last top five points finish prior to 2023 came back in 2014 when he finished 4th in the former Corn Belt Clash series standings. "When you run kind of an outlaw schedule you go and if you do good you do good, if you don't you go home and it's not like you've got to worry about it. Just running for points puts another worry on you, but I think it makes you better too." Juggling a busy sales occupation in the family's business, Five Star Shop Service, and with having three very active children, also adds to the complexity of a series commitment for anyone he explains. "Running the series is hard, and I know it's hard for Chad too. With kids and youth sports, my son is in youth baseball, my youngest daughter is in youth softball, and my oldest daughter is in volleyball. Those are just times you will never get back if you don't go spend time with them and do those things. Hopefully the schedules will work out again this year so we can be at every race, but yet make it to a bunch of the kid's activities as well." Of his sixteen career wins, which dates to Lakeside Speedway in 2009, Simpson has managed to accumulate victories at 11 different MLRA venues over the years. It's that quick to adapt versatility that makes him a regular threat for the win. With another trio of new tracks on this year's MLRA schedule, including a short road trip of 45 minutes to the Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, IA, things appear to be setting up nicely for another possible run to the title. "I think a lot of why I'm able to adapt quickly is a testament to my racing from over the years. Because like back when guys like my brother were following the WDRL or MLRA per say, I kind of branched out instead and went to places like LaSalle, I went to places like Fairbury, IL. I think just me jumping out and racing different tracks has helped me a ton as far as going to a new track and being competitive. Just going to all those different tracks really helps you, so when you do follow a series or go to a new track it's easier to adapt." Since first jumping into the world of late model racing, where he originally shared a ride with brother Chad between their home tracks of Farley Speedway (now 300 Raceway) and West Liberty Raceway, Simpson notes how much the sport of dirt late model racing has evolved. "The technology and just all that we have to do anymore has changed things, and especially the amount of money we have to spend to stay up front. It was there back then just not to this degree, and I try to be real smart about it," he commented of the racers budget. "I really liked it when MLRA had you mark four tires, and you ran the same four tires all night. I think for a team like me and a team like anybody running the MLRA schedule they love that because for one it's a lot less tire work. And for me, the way we grew up racing was on hard tires, so you had to learn to take care of your stuff. I think that's what some of the younger guys don't do is throughout the night they don't take care of their tires, or in a longer race they don't take care of their tires and you can kind of see that at the end of the races with guys like me being more used to it. We just grew up where that's what you had to do, if you were going to finish up front you had to take care of your equipment." While his series leading four second place finishes from a year-a-go, including three to his brother and eventual series champion Chad, might not have been enough to capture the title, he notes that the season did bring back one important element--having fun. "Honestly, for me last season was just fun racing with Chad again. We were at a point where we were super competitive, and we had a few differences between the years with all the different things that come along with racing, but honestly it was fun again. As most people around noticed me and Chad parked with each other wherever we went and that's how it should be, we're brothers. He's been super successful in the MLRA stuff, and I've been successful too, I've just never really stuck it out and ran a full series as long as he has been, but he's been awesome doing it." "It's nice if I'm down crew guys or if he's down crew guys at times, we can help each other and have a few beers or grill out afterwards and just kind of hang out. That part made it fun again for me last year." With a furry of nine nights of racing on the MLRA schedule during the month of April, Chris Simpson will find out quick if 2024 will be the season where he quite possibly puts a championship trophy on his mantle come seasons end. "It's always nice to have the "W's", but obviously when you're running up front you really can't complain. As of right now we are going right out of the gate with our best car, best motors, and going to try and jump in the points lead right away," he concluded. Chris Simpson Racing/Marketing Partners: Hoker Trucking, Randy Davidson Trucking, C&J Trucking, Hot Rod Septic Treatment, HD Equipment, RLM, Capital Signs, IITI, & Factory CS. For all of the latest news and information, including the full 2024 schedule, fans are encouraged to visit the series website at www.MLRARacing.com. **2024 MLRA WINNERS CIRCLE PROGRAM** Once again in 2024 the MLRA will continue it's "Winners Circle Program" by awarding $200 in appearance money to the top (10) in points at each venue with perfect attendance, in addition to purse money earned. For full program details contact Series Director Ernie Leftwich. For all of the latest news and information fans are encouraged to visit the series website: Explore MLRARACING.COM Hit the Road the the Lucas Oil MLRA and stay up to date via our Social Media Accounts: Facebook X Instagram CONTACT: Ernie Leftwich Lucas Oil MLRA Series Director Mobile: (417) 309-3509 Email Ernie Leftwich 2024 Official Lucas Oil MLRA Marketing Partners Arizona Sport Shirts "The Official Merchandise Provider" of Lucas Oil MLRA Cedar Creek Beef Jerky "The Official Beef Jerky" of Lucas Oil MLRA General Tire "The Official Tire" of Lucas Oil MLRA Hoosier Race Tires "The Official Race Tire" of Lucas Oil MLRA Lucas Oil Products "The Official Oil" of Lucas Oil MLRA MAVTV Motorsports Network "The Official Television Network" of Lucas Oil MLRA MyRacePass "The Official Timing System" of Lucas Oil MLRA Rugged Radios "The Official Radio" of Lucas Oil MLRA Sunoco Race Fuels "The Official Fuel" of Lucas Oil MLRA 2024 MLRA Supporters Include: Arizona Sport Shirts, Behrents Performance Warehouse, Cedar Creek Beef Jerky, Dirt Car Lift, Earnhardt Technologies, Fast Shafts, Fast Track Photos, Fox Shocks, Hoosier Race Tires, Hooker Harness, Lucas Cattle Co., MD3, Midwest Sheet Metal, MSD Performance, MyRacePass, Outerwears, PEM, Performance Bodies, Protect The Harvest, Rugged Radios, Strange Oval, Sunoco Race Fuels, Swift Springs, Whelen, Xceldyne Lucas Oil MLRA 700 E. Highway 54, P.O. Box 8, Wheatland, MO 65779 +1 (417) 282-5984