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Lucas Oil Speedway Spotlight: Dayton Pursley overcomes nerves, tough competition

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WHEATLAND, MO. (July 1, 2025) - Ask Dayton Pursley about his first Arctic Food Equipment USRA Modified feature win on June 21 at Lucas Oil Speedway and the 22-year-old from nearby Hermitage quickly recalls the nerves.

They even carried over to victory lane, where he struggled to enjoy the moment because he couldn't find the words to properly describe his emotions.

"I felt like Ricky Robby. I didn't know what to do with my hands," Pursley said with a laugh. "But seriously, it was really cool. With the talent at Wheatland, on a weekly basis, is was awesome. I'm just blessed to race with that group of people and to come out on top that one."

Pursley will race for the first time since his memorable victory at this week's Casey's Thursday Night Thunder program when an even deeper, more talented field visits. The Heartland Modified Tour will sanction the main event for the Modifieds, with several United States Modified Touring Series drivers expected for the 25-lap, $2,000-to-win feature.

"You can only get better when you race the best, so I enjoy that aspect," Pursley said.

Winning at Lucas Oil Speedway is special for Pursley, who grew up coming there to watch his dad, Jason, compete in the Modified division. Dayton picked up his first feature win at the track in 2023, in the Clear Creek Golf Cars USRA B-Mod class.

Dayton Pursley said it's tough to pick which one is more meaningful.

"This one probably topped it because it was in an A-Mod … but the B-Mod was my first win at Lucas, so that probably has a little more meaning," he said. "I don't know. The A-Mod, I think tops it. They're both special."

Making the recent win more remarkable, it was only his second time out in the MB Customs car he purchased from Lucas Gibbs. Pursley briefly flirted with a non-wing sprint car earlier this season, driving to an 18th place in a feature at Valley Speedway in Grain Valley. He decided to sell that car a few weeks ago and go back to his roots.

"I wanted to try something new," he said of the sprint car. "I had the opportunity to buy one. I've always wanted to race a sprint car since I was young and I had an opportunity so I went and did it. But there's just not enough places to race around home, so I went back to Modifieds."

Pursley credited Gibbs and another Modified driver, Tyler Wolff, along with Jason Pursley for their help in getting the right set-up. Dayton only had made about five laps in the car at Wheatland the week prior to his feature win, in which he took the lead early and led the rest of the way - though it wasn't easy.

Holding off a hard-charging Dustin Hodges over the final laps tested Pursley's mettle.

"I definitely lost focus on the last two," Pursley said. "I was watching the video board and it almost bit me. We were going 25 laps instead of 20, so it was five extra laps to be nervous. The first 23, I was OK. The last two, I knew the competition behind me was so stout that I didn't know what to do. I didn't know if they were on the top or close to me.

"I missed my mark the last lap. I was watching the board a little too close."

But he held on by a couple of car lengths and took the checkers.

"I'm just blessed to have that opportunity to finally get it done," said Pursley, who gets help on the car from his grandfather, Mike Terrell, along with his dad and Wolff.

Team sponsors include Loto Boat Lifts, Sweet Temptations, Earl-F-Electric, Tom Campbell Racing. Branch's Construction, Rick Keller Construction, MB Customs, DK Safety Solutions, Lobo Racing and Mach One Motorsports.

Racing, bicycles and fireworks: Casey's Thursday Night Thunder has a little bit of everything to kick off the July 4th weekend from top-notch action on the track, a big kids' bicycle giveaway during intermission and the area's largest fireworks extravaganza Preseneted by AM Pyrotechnics to conclude the night.

The Hermitage Lumber Late Models, O'Reilly Auto Parts Stock Cars and Clear Creek Golf Cars USRA B-Mods will join the Arctic Food Equipment/Heartland Modified Tour on the program.

The speedway is rounding up new bicycles and is asking fans, drivers and sponsors for help in either donating bikes for kids up to age 12 or money that can be used to purchase the bicycles. Donations will be accepted up until Thursday night and bicycles can be brought to the pit office prior to the races and cash donations can be dropped off at the office this week.

Youngsters ages 5 through 12 are invited to 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. General Manager Danny Lorton said the goal is to have a bicycle for every kid in attendance or at least 100 bikes for the kids to take home that evening.

Gates open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 6:30 and opening ceremonies at approximately 7. Visit participating area Casey's locations for $2 discount coupons.

Spectator Admission:

Adults (13 and up) - $20

Seniors (62 and up)/Military - $17

Youth (6-12) - $10

Kids (5 and under) - FREE

Family Pass - $50

Pit Pass - $40

For information on admission or camping for any Lucas Oil Speedway event in 2025, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-6119 or (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

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.