Whether J.C. Morton is representing one of his racing idols while driving his USRA B-Mod or chasing checkers behind the wheel of a Late Model, the Springfield driver is looking forward to another season of double duty at Lucas Oil Speedway.

Morton earned his third Lucas Oil Speedway track championship in the Clear Creek Golf Cars USRA B-Mods in 2024 while driving a Terry Phillips Bloodline Chassis. With two feature victories and seven top-fives in 11 events, Morton cruised to the title by 145 points over Logan Smith.

“We teamed up with Terry Phillips a season and a half ago and to turn around in my first full season with him, to win a championship, it’s good,” Morton said. “We’ve been close several times and lost by a couple of points here, by five points there, in the last two to three seasons. To be able to come out on top and to be in the Bloodline house car, that’s huge.”

Morton knows it won’t be easy, but he has a goal of chasing two championships next season. A hint of what could happen came in 2023 when Morton won features in the B-Mod and Late Model divisions on the same night.

Having Phillips, a Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer in his corner, is a great benefit for Morton. While Phillips no longer competes in the Late Model division, Morton said he’s a tremendous resource if he has questions, no matter the car.

“He’s got a vast knowledge there,” Morton said. “He’s not in the technology side of it like he used to be, because he’s not racing them anymore, but he’s still able to make a phone call or a text and is able to find out what’s happening. It helps.

“I try not to push him a whole lot on that because he’s not 100 percent involved on my Late Model world, but he still has so much knowledge. Like I think it was the USMTS race at Lucas last season, he made some suggestions (about the Late Model) and it was a lot better for us the second night.”

Morton is a proven champion in the B-Mod and figures to only get better the more experience he gets in the Bloodline chassis with Phillips in his corner.

“He’s been around it so long and he’s so good, it’s hard not to take what he says and try it,” Morton said of Phillips. “He’s had so much success and has been an idol for me since I was a kid.”

Morton said he looks forward to winning as many races as he can in 2025 after scoring 10 feature victories overall last season.

“The more races we’re winning, the more cars we’re gonna sell,” Morton said of the B-Mod. “Then I’d like to capitalize on the Late Model deal, hit all the points shows and hopefully we can knock off a championship there.

“It would be even cooler to have two championships. We’ll just have to see how the season goes. We’d like to knock out two championships, but will just show up week in and week out and see how many races we can win.”

Things can get hectic while competing in two divisions. Morton gave his long-time B-Mod crew of dad Gene, Danny Fender and Rich Cooper a lot of credit.

“They know what to do and I can bounce back and forth pretty easy,” Morton said. “The Late Model crew, I have the two brothers and another brother, Gary, and one of their sons will help once in a while. But yeah, every once in a while it will get hectic, if we tear one up and we’re rushing around, but for the most part, it’s not too bad.

“When it gets hot, it’s a little more demanding - especially when we’re racing back-to-back. I try to stay hydrated.”

Morton, who turns 35 in January, laughed while saying he still considers himself youthful. He credits daughters Zoey (12), Emmy (4) and son Huddy (four months) with keeping him on his toes and wife Destiny for keeping everyone pointed in the right direction.

“I’m getting a little older and it does catch up with you at the end of the night,” he said. “My girls keep me young. As long as I can keep up with them, I’ll be OK.”

Sponsors on Morton’s cars include Bloodline Race Cars, Yeoman Race Cars, Big Time Bail Bonds, R & R Graphics, Wehr’s Machine, Integra, CPD Race Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, Quarter Master, Sedalia Electric Motors and TNT Quick Time.

"Without all of them we wouldn’t be able to get up and down the road and race as much as we do," Morton said.

Gift cards, season pass renewals available: Time is running short, but Lucas Oil Speedway is offering gift cards in any amount which would make terrific Christmas presents. The gift cards and can be used in various ways from tickets, to concessions to the Track Treasures Gift Shop in 2025.

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 22 with March Full Body Madness after Open Test & Tune on March 15.

USRA Awards Banquet approaching: Celebrating the 2024 season for the Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series, the United States Racing Association will host their annual awards banquet at the Ameristar Casino Hotel in Kansas City on Saturday, January 25.

This year’s gala will once again be a joint effort for both the USRA and United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS). Competitors, crew members, track owners and officials, fans and members of the media are invited to attend this huge event.

Tickets are on sale now, and discounted hotel reservations are also available.

Attendees can call Kelsey or Janet at (515) 832-6000 for banquet reservions. Individual tickets are $65 each. When calling, let us know the number of quests coming with you, who the driver is that is joining you.

The ceremony will feature a luxurious and plentiful selection of fine food, plus a huge dessert bar. A cash bar will also be available. Doors open and social hour begins at 5 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6 and the awards ceremony begins around 7 p.m. (no jeans or hats please). Only 240 tickets will be available.

For hotel rook bookings, use code USMTS24 and call 855-778-8277 for the best available price. For booking online, visit AmeristarKansasCity.com. Ameristar has extended the discounted room rate for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Rooms rates are good through January 4.

The Ameristar Casino Hotel is an entertainment hub that offers something for everyone, including AAA-rated three-diamond full-service 184-room hotel with 36 mini and 12 king suites. Situated on 183-acres immediately east of the Interstate 435 Missouri River bridge (at 210 Highway), Ameristar Casino Hotel is only seven miles east of downtown Kansas City.

Entering its 25 season of dirt track racing in 2025, the United States Racing Association has attracted more and more racetracks and dirt track racers each year through fair, logical and cost-effective rules accompanied by an organization that puts the racers, racetracks and their fans first. During the 2024 Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series, more than 60 of America's finest dirt ovals hosted more than 1,000 nights of racing.

To learn more about the USRA, check out USRAracing.com and follow our social media platforms on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube. To get USRA news and exclusive promotions delivered to your inbox, click here.

USRA OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Beyea Headers, Chevrolet Performance, Christie Door Company, Fast Shafts, FK Rod Ends, KSE Racing Products, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Nitroquest Media, PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain, RacinDirt, Summit Racing Equipment, Sunoco Race Fuels.

USRA PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: ARMI Contractors, Boubin Tire & Automotive, Brodix Cylinder Heads, PBM Performance Products, YouDirt.com.

USRA CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Bryke Racing, BSB Manufacturing, Champ Pans, Deatherage Racing Opticians, Edelbrock, Gorsuch Performance Solutions, Gunshepherd.com, Hyperco, Integra Racing Shocks & Springs, JE Pistons, Keyser Manufacturing, Landrum Performance Springs, MD3, MSD Performance, Performance Bodies & Parts, QA1, Quarter Master, QuickCar Racing Products, RacerWebsite.com, Real Racing Wheels, Rush RaceGear by Austin Witt, Sweet Manufacturing, Swift Springs, Sybesma Graphics, Total Power, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Disc Brakes Day Motor Sports, KS Engineering.