It’s become an annual tradition at Lucas Oil Speedway, where fans can combine a great night of racing entertainment with helping feed their hungry neighbors.

This Saturday it’s Ozarks Food Harvest Food Drive Night presented by KOLR. Fans will gain one free general admission to the Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series program by bringing four non-perishable food items to the main gate.

“This is one of our more gratifying nights of the season as we partner with Ozarks Food Harvest,” Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager Danny Lorton said. “Race fans are known for their generosity and this is our way of thanking them, for helping those in need, with a free night of racing.”

Food items can be dropped off after gates open at 4 p.m. Hot laps begin at 6:30 and racing at 7:05.

The O’Reilly Auto Parts USRA Stock Cars will be the featured division, with a 25-lap, $750-to-win main event. The Cedar Creek Beef Jerky USRA Modifieds, ULMA Late Models and Ozark Golf Cars USRA Modifieds also will be in action.

Ozarks Food Harvest and Lucas Oil Speedway had its first Food Drive Night at the Races in 2008. The partnership has been annual event since 2011 with a total of 71,400 pounds of food donated overall, equating to 85,680 meals. Last year’s food drive at the speedway saw attendees donate more than 7,000 pounds of food.

Twenty-five percent of the food donated will go to Hickory County C.A.R.E.S., the Ozarks Food Harvest's partner in Wheatland. The remainder will be distributed across the organization's 28-county service area.

"We're looking forward to a great night of racing that will make a difference for people in our community," said Judy Gamble, social media coordinator for Hickory County C.A.R.E.S. "We want to thank all the fans for coming out to hep support a great cause."

Ozarks Food Harvest is the Feeding America food bank for southwest Missouri, serving 270 hunger-relief organizations across 28 Ozarks counties. Founded in 1983, Ozarks Food Harvest provides food distribution and services to 270 Ozarks nonprofits through programs such as the Weekend Backpack Program, Mobile Food Pantry, After-School and Summer Food programs, the Senior Food Program and more.

"We're so grateful to partner with Lucas Oil Speedway again to help give back to the community," said Denise Gibson, director of development and communications at Ozarks Food Harvest. "This is one of our largest food drives events of the year and a great opportunity for families to enjoy a fun night of racing together."

For more information about the Ozarks Food Harvest visit OzarksFoodHarvest.org.

Points battles heat up: On the track, season championship battles resume in each of the four divisions.

Five-time Lucas Oil Speedway champion Kris Jackson of Lebanon is 42 points in front of J.C. Morton in the Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mod class. The Cedar Creek Beef Jerky USRA Modified division finds Urbana’s Dillon McCowan 79 points ahead of Jason Pursley.

The most-comfortable points leader is David Hendrix of Waynesville, 136 clear of Darren Phillips in the O’Reilly Auto Parts USRA Stock Cars.

Frogs Jr Fan Club Pit Tour: As is a weekly tradition at Lucas Oil Speedway, young fans arriving early are invited to sign up for the Frogs Jr Fan Club Pit Tour. Kids ages 5-12 can sign up on the midway, behind the main grandstands, before 5 p.m. with eight names drawn for a special pit-area tour at 5:15 with flagman Mike Striegel.
 
They will get to meet some of the drivers, see the cars up close and attend the drivers' meeting prior to returning to the midway. Each of the eight will receive a Frogs Jr Fan Club T-Shirt, checkered flag and a gift bag sponsored by RaceGear Unlimited to put items in they receive from the drivers.

Drivers can pick up free tickets: Upon check-in at the pit office, drivers in attendance this Saturday can receive up to 50 free general admission tickets for Aug. 28 Rempfer Memorial Season Championship Night. Drivers with the most tickets used on Aug. 28 will win one free season crew member pit pass for 2022.

Gates open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:05.

Admission:
(FREE with four non-perishable food items)
Adults (16+) $12
Military & Seniors (62+) $9
Youth (6-15) $5
Kids (Under 6) FREE
Family Pass (two adults and up to three Youth) $30
Pit Pass $30

For ticket information for any event during the 2021 Lucas Oil Speedway season, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or via email at Nichole@lucasoilspeedway.com. Fans also can use the online ticketing system.