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Lucas Oil Speedway Spotlight: Luttjohann showing it's never too late to live his racing dreams

2025-06-12 17:39

WHEATLAND, MO. (June 11, 2025) - Allen Luttjohann is not your typical rookie in the O'Reilly Auto Parts USRA Stock Cars division at Lucas Oil Speedway, mainly because he's 55 years old with five grandchildren and another on the way.

But Luttjohann is doing his best to keep up with the younger competition as he's living out his racing dreams. The results are more than respectable. He's third in track points entering this Saturday's Pitts Homes and Realty Weekly Racing Series program.

"It's not gone as good as I was hoping, but this is my first year in a full-bodied stock car, so I'm still kind of getting used to it," said Luttjohann, who is five-for-five in top-10 finishes, including a pair of fourth-place runs in the highly competitive division.

The Republic resident made the move to Stock Cars this year after spending seven seasons driving Midwest Mods. He won a feature in 2022 at Springfield Raceway, where he's done the majority of his racing since first climbing behind the wheel of a race car in his late 40s.

When Luttjohann sold his bass boat and bought a race car, he said it was his chance to chase a long-time dream.

"I've always loved racing. I remember going to the (Springfield) Fairgrounds when I was a kid watching Larry Phillips, Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, Dick Trickle, all those guys," Luttjohann said. "I just always loved racing, but ... I didn't want to waste my money racing while trying to raise a family.

"After my kids got grown and out of high school, I had a good friend who raced and he died. That's when I decided that I wanted to give it a try. My wife (Serena) told me to go ahead."

Luttjohann said he's done most of the maintenance on his car over the years as he learned the ins and outs of racing Midwest Mods, but credits veteran Ozarks-area racer Rob Muilenburg "with helping me out tremendously" over the last few years.

"We pitted next to each other at Springfield and I got to know him pretty good. He helped me out a lot," Luttjohann said of Muilenburg. "He always told me, 'I'll tell you honest. I won't lie to you. I'll help you out the best I can.'"

The decision to move into Stock Cars was sparked by a trip to Lucas Oil Speedway last season and watching the division, plus experiencing rising costs in the Midwest Mod class.

"I always loved this class," he said of the USRA Stock Cars. "I love the Super Stocks also. I kind of got tired of the Mid Mod thing that was going on. It was supposed to have been an entry level, at least where they're not spending a ton of money. But it kind of got way out of hand the last few years and I kind of got fed up with trying to keep up with those guys.

"I went up to Lucas on night and was like 'I want to race these.' I talked to my wife and she was like 'if you find one, go ahead.'"

Luttjohann bought a Stock Car from Camdenton's Waylon Dimmitt and credits Dimmitt with giving him helpful advice. Driving the full-bodied car has been quite an adjustment, though.

"It's a totally different driving style," Luttjohann said. "A modified, you kind of throw it in there and it'll stick. These cars you can't do that. If you do, it's not gonna be good. I have a good car. Just learning to drive the car is my biggest thing. I'll still catch myself driving it like a Modified and that just doesn't work."

As for his car number, Luttjohann said his daughter picked out 23 after he sold his boat.

"Before I started racing I was bass fishing a lot, did some tournaments here and there. My daughter really loves to go fishing and she got mad at me because I decided to sell the boat to buy a race car," Luttjohann said. "She said if you're gonna do that, I get to pick the number. That's the number she liked."

Luttjohann is sponsored by KennCo Construction and Yocum Automotive.

"I just want to get better," he said of goals for the rest of the season. "I have to give a lot of credit to Waylon Dimmitt. He's helped me a bunch this year, plus I couldn't do all this without the support of my wife, Serenna."

Boats and dirt action this weekend: Fans can double up their fun at Lucas Oil Speedway this weekend with racing action scheduled on both the water and the dirt. Lake Lucas roars to life for the first time in 2025 as the Kentucky Drag Boat Association pays the first of three visits with the KDBA Summer Thunder on Friday and Saturday.

Three rounds of qualifying are set for Friday with spectator gates opening at 9 a.m. at the drag-boat facility. On Saturday, gates open at 9 with eliminations tentatively set to begin at 9:30 a.m.

For more information on the KDBA, visit kydragboat.com.

On the dirt track Saturday night, the Pitts Homes and Realty Weekly Racing Series returns as the O'Reilly Auto Parts USRA Stock Cars will run a special 25-lap feature for $750 to win. The Hermitage Lumber Late Models, Arctic Food Equipment USRA Modifieds, Clear Creek Golf Car B-Mods and the Hickamo Super Stocks also will be in action.

Gates for the dirt track open at 4 p.m. Saturday with hot laps at 6:30 and opening ceremonies at 7.

Fans purchasing drag boat tickets will be admitted free to the dirt track action.

Drag Boat Admission

Friday:

2-day pit pass - $35

General admission (6 and up) - $15

Kids (5-and-under) - FREE

Saturday:

Pit pass admission - $20 (includes entry to dirt track event)

General admission (6 and up) - $15

Kids (5 and under) - FREE

Combo Event (Drag Boat and Dirt Track)

Adults General Admission combo (13 and up) - $20

Seniors (62 and up) / Military GA Combo - $17

Youth GA Combo (6-12) - $20

Kids GA Combo (age 5 and under) - FREE

Family Pass GA Combo (Includes Admission for 2 Adults and Up to 2 Kids, ages 6-12) - $60

Dirt Track Admission

General Admission (ages 6 and up) - $5

Kids (5 and under) - FREE

Pit Pass - $35

Recliner giveaway for Father's Day: To celebrate Fathers's Day Weekend, all dads are invited to sign up for a chance to win a recliner, courtesy of Jamie Scott of Scott's furniture in Osceola. A drawing will be held during intermission to determine the winner.

For information on admission or camping for any Lucas Oil Speedway event in 2025, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 295-6043 or email her at nmcmillan@lucasoilspeedway.com for more information.

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 racing facilities in the nation. Located in Wheatland, Mo., approximately an hour from Springfield 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.

2025 Official Lucas Oil Speedway Marketing Partners

Bill Roberts Chevrolet

"The Official Truck" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Dixie Chopper

"The Official Mowers of Lucas Oil Speedway"

Iconic Apparel

"The Official Merchandise Provider 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

2025 Lucas Oil Speedway Supporters Include:

AM Pyrotechnics, Alliance Sport Marketing, Arctic Food Equipment, 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, Clear Creek Golf Cars, Clearlight Inn, Dixie Chopper, Eibach Springs, Encounter Ministry Inc., FSE Fire Systems, Fast Shafts by Axle Exchange, Foley Equipment-Cat Rental Store, Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare, Henry's Towing Service, Heritage Tractor, Hermitage Lumber, HICKAMO Country Store, Hobbytime Motorsports, Iconic Apparel, Impact Signs Awnings Wraps, In the Garden of Eden, 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, Outerwears Performance Products, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper, Ozarks Community Health Center, PEM, Pitts Homes, Pitts Realty, Pitts Cattle, 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, Summit Racing Equipment, Sunoco Race Fuels, Super 8 Bolivar Mo., US Army Corps of Engineers-Pomme de Terre, Vietti Marketing Group, WacoBill.com, Wheatland Motel, White's Marine Center, Wieland, Woods Supermarkets.