Lucas Oil Speedway Champions Spotlight: Jason Pursley savors first title
2024-12-06 19:44
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WHEATLAND, MO. (Dec. 4, 2024) - Jason Pursley was the epitome of determination and perseverance in chasing a goal that he eluded him for nearly a quarter-century-long racing career.
But at long last, 2024 proved to be the magical season that the veteran Modified driver from Hermitage finally captured a Lucas Oil Speedway track championship after nine runner-up finishes.
Pursley, 48, took home the Arctic Food Equipment USRA Modified track championship with consistency paving the way. The superintendent of the Skyline School District had five top-five finishes and three other top-10s on his way to a 78-point margin over Chad Lyle.
After some time to reflect on the championship, Pursley said earlier this week that the warm feelings are carrying over into the wintertime.
"It means a lot just for the simple fact to finally check it off the bucket list after all these years, after coming in second so many times," Pursley said. "It may not mean a lot to a lot of people, but I really wanted to check it off the list and finally win one there at Lucas. It takes a lot of dedication and perseverance type of deal to never give up.
"It kind of gets the monkey off my back. I'm pretty happy about it."
After so many second-place points finishes - some by narrow margins and others that were pretty lopsided - Pursley admitted that he wasn't sure that his time would ever come. But he never gave up, and that's half the battle.
"I didn't know if it would ever happen," he said. "There were a few times I was a distant second, but there were a few times where I was pretty close. One time to Cutshaw (four-time champ Jeff Cutshaw) and another that was fairly close and it came down to the end. It just seems like somebody would get on a roll and they would have an awesome year, or we'd have trouble or whatever.
"But this year it finally paid off. We had a decent year. We were very consistent with our speeds. Top two, three or four several times and I just finally came together for us and paid off."
Pursley said he was as happy for long-time car owner Tom Campbell as for himself. The two have been partners in the sport for 14 years, an unusually long time between driver and owner.
"I really wanted to get it for Tom. He spends a lot of money and a lot of time," Pursley said. "We've been together a long time as far as driver and owner - a lot longer than most. Racing has its highs, but it has its lows, and a lot of times drivers and owners don't make it as long as Tom and I have.
"You get mad at each other and aggravated at each other. The owner blames the driver, the driver blames the car and then usually you go separate ways. We both get aggravated at times. We have moments. But we always look at the big picture and try to get better, is what we do. We have a good friendship outside of racing and I think that helps."
The Lucas Oil Speedway championship "right up there" among Pursley's racing highlights. He lists two others - a 2005 season in which he won a combined 14 features at Springfield and Urbana to claim championships at both tracks and a USMTS race at Wheatland about a decade ago. He led 32 of 35 laps before finishing second to tour-regular Jason Krohn.
Pursley already is looking forward to the 2025 season, where he will return to Lucas Oil Speedway as the reigning champ for the first time. Along with Campbell, he gave shout-outs to long-time sponsors Ozarks Community Health Care in Hermitage and Fugate Motors, along with son Dayton who moved into the USRA Modified division in 2024 and finished fourth in points.
"Dayton helps me out, we help each other out," Jason Pursley said. "Racing with him this year was a lot of fun. Just getting the cars ready is so time consuming."
Gift cards, season pass renewals available: Lucas Oil Speedway is offering gift cards in any amount - which can be used in various ways from tickets, to concessions to the Track Treasures Gift Shop - just in time for Christmas.
Season passes for the 2025 season, good for admission to all dirt-track events, also are available at a $50 discount for renewals through Dec. 31. Those renewals are $700 for adults and $600 for seniors (ages 62 and over). After Jan. 1, 2025, renewals will be $750 for adults and $650 for seniors (62 and over).
New season-pass buyers maybe purchase passes starting on Feb. 1, at $750 for adults and $650 for seniors. Meanwhile, renewals for Show-Me 100 three-day reserved passes will be Jan. 1st through 31st with new Show-Me 100 passes going on sale Feb. 1.
Contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 295-6043 or email her at nmcmillan@lucasoilspeedway.com for more information.
Weekly racing in the Pitts Homes and Realty Weekly Racing Series will feature five divisions - Hermitage Lumber Late Models, Arctic Food Equipment USRA Modifieds, O'Reilly Auto Parts USRA Stocks, Clear Creek Golf Cars USRA B Mods and Hickamo Country Store Super Stocks.
The 2025 season is scheduled to fire up March 22nd with March Full Body Madness after Open Test & Tune on March 15th.
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, United States Modified Touring Series and the High Limit Sprint Racing Series, POWRi Sprint Cars and POWRi WAR Sprints.
In addition to the special events, the Lucas Oil Speedway Weekly Racing Series features the Late Models, USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods and Super Stocks.
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, 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, Fast Shafts by Axle Exchange, Foley Equipment-Cat Rental Store, Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare, Henry's Towing Service, 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, RacinDirt.com, RCR Designs, Real Racing Wheels, Rod End Supply, Rugged Radios, Ryan E. Murphy Law Firm LLC, SBU Athletics, Safety Kleen, Scott Furniture, Sidetrack RV Park, SMSI, 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, Woods Supermarkets.