In the spotlight: Schultz off to flying USRA Modified start


WHEATLAND, Mo.—Terry Schultz is not the best-funded driver in the pit area, evidenced by his plain-blue race car that's missing the traditional assortment of sponsor lettering. Nor is he one who leaps from his car with fist pumps and boastful words to celebrate victories.

Instead, the veteran driver from Sedalia quietly—and effectively—goes about his business.

"He's kind of a quiet guy, but he's one of the best drivers in the area and he has been for years," fellow USRA Modified competitor Jason Pursley said of Schultz, this week's Tailgate Guys Radio Show Spotlight Driver of the Week at Lucas Oil Speedway.

Schultz got his season off to a flying start last weekend, sweeping both ends of the Pitts Homes USRA Modified doubleheader at Lucas Oil Speedway's Spring Nationals.

The soft-spoken Schultz, who started racing Street Stocks in 1990 and has been in mostly Modifieds since 2000, said there was nothing magical about his success.

"Luck played a lot into it," Schultz said earlier this week. "Sometimes, it just works out for you. We ran that car (MB Custom Chassis) all of last year and it was still pretty good from last year. We worked on a few things over the winter that looked like they might pan out. Luckily, they did."

The car noticeably was missing sponsorship. Schultz said he's making do by footing his own bill, at least for now.

"It would be nice," he said of sponsorship, "but we'll do as much as we can for as long as we can without any. If something comes along, that's great. If not, we'll keep chugging along."

Asked if finding victory lane twice in a weekend might grab attention of potential sponsors, Schultz laughed and said, "It doesn't hurt, that's for sure."

"We did it for a long, long time on our own," he added. "Then we got real lucky the last several years and had a whole bunch of help. Now if we have to stay doing it the old way, so be it."

Schultz, 42, beat Johnny Fennewald to the finish line in Friday's feature and then held off Darron Fuqua on Saturday. Pursley, who finished third on Saturday after an epic battle for the lead with Schutlz for much of the race, offered up praise for the winner.

"Terry is one of those guys you can race with and have confidence that he's not going to run into you and he's going to race you right," Pursley said. "He's been close to winning that USRA Modified (national) championship before. I hope he gets it one of these days."

Schultz plans another nomadic schedule in 2016. He doesn't have intentions to chase any specific track championship and plans to race at several tracks, including Lucas Oil Speedway, Central Missouri Speedway in Warrensburg and Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan.

"There are about 10 tracks within a couple of hundred miles of us," Schultz said. "We just kind of take it week by week and not really making up a schedule."

Asked if this could be the year he improves on more spot from his second-place USRA Modified championship finish from 2015, Schultz said he's not focused on that.

"We try not to set goals. We just try to run each race as it comes and do the best we can," he said. "We'll get to about the middle of the year and see how things are going and see what we want to do then."

The Tailgate Guys Radio Show Spotlight Driver of the Week, featuring competitors at Lucas Oil Speedway, will be a regular feature during the 2016 season.

The Tailgate Guys Radio Show airs on Saturdays from 11-noon on AM 1340 KICK in Springfield and can be heard online at 1340BigTalker.com. For more information on the show, check out its Facebook page at facebook.com/TailgateGuysRadio.

Racing resumes on Saturday at Lucas Oil Speedway with the first week of the Budweiser Weekly Championship Series beginning. Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 7 and racing at 7:30. Ticket prices are:

Adults (16 and up) $12
Seniors (62 and up)/Military $9
Youth (6-15) $5
Kids (5 and under) FREE
Family Pass $25
Pit Pass $25

A limited number of VIP Suites are available for Saturday's event. Contact LaRay Hankins at (417) 282-5984 or via email at laray@lucasoilspeedway.com for more info.

Lucas Oil Speedway is located at Highways 83 and 54 in Wheatland, Missouri. A campground with shower and bathroom facilities is also available. With it's entrance located just outside the pit gate this sprawling scenic camping facility will continue to enhance the racing experience at the Diamond of Dirt Tracks.

Click www.LucasOilSpeedway.com for more 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 Twitter, clicking "Like" at www.facebook.com/LucasOilSpeedway and on www.youtube.com/LucasOilSpeedway.