—After Debrya Faria’s father passed away just shy of his 95th birthday, soon followed by several of his fellow World World II veteran friends, Faria wanted to pay tribute to what’s often called America’s Greatest Generation.

So Faria came up with the unique idea of the “Freedom Jeep,” a vehicle airbrushed with images paying tribute to all military members and veterans by Nathan Curry, a renowned artist from Nixa, Missouri.

“I just want to bring awareness to the younger generation, so they realize what (the veterans) went through and what they sacrificed,” said Faria, who serves on the Women’s Auxiliary at American Legion Post 639 in Springfield. “Every kid loves a jeep and they swarm it.”

Faria’s Freedom Jeep will be on display Saturday on Lucas Oil Speedway’s Midway as part of the Veterans and Military Appreciation Night Presented by KOZL. All active military or veterans will be admitted free to the dirt-track program with ID. Gates open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:05.

Also on Saturday, the Unforgotten Heroes Foundation will be a part of the program on the Midway. It will have raffles, giveaways, games for kids with prizes and merchandise. The Unforgotten Heroes B-Mod will be on display.

Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager Danny Lorton said recognition of the military, active or retired, always is a part of the opening ceremonies at the speedway. There is added emphasis this week with Faria’s Freedom Jeep and the Unforgotten Heroes Foundation additional ways to recognize those who served or are serving their country.

Faria said the Freedom Jeep has several elements on it, beginning with the P-51 bomber plane, her father’s favorite from World War II. Her dad’s military helmet also is part of the display with his two bronze stars and the words “In Honor of Those Who Served.”

There also is recognition of Vietnam veterans with plans for Curry to add more art to the jeep, including blue lights coming out when the hood is raised with a tribute to the 9/11 tragedy and the Twin Towers plus the war in Afghanistan.

“I’ve had veterans come up to me and cry when they saw my Jeep,” Faria said. “That touches my heart. When they say ‘thank you’ and cry, I know I’m getting that message out.

“I love my veterans. People need to realize the sacrifice. It tears me up. Everybody says why do you spend so much money on the Jeep and I say, ‘Well it cost them their lives.’ You cannot put a price on what they sacrificed for us."

Faria said she is a die-hard racing fan, of both cars and drag boats, and is looking forward to the fans getting a close-up look at the Freedom Jeep on Saturday.

Drag boats and dirt-track doubleheader: It's a big doubleheader racing weekend of racing at Lucas Oil Speedway with the Kentucky Drag Boat Association firing up the KDBS Summer Thunder on Lake Lucas during the daytime, Saturday and Sunday. Round one of qualifying is tentatively set to begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Spectators can make it a full day of racing action by sticking around for Saturday night's action on the dirt track. The Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series resumes as KOZL Presents Veterans and Military Appreciation Night, with all veterans or military personnel admitted free with ID. Any spectator purchasing a drag boat ticket, or a two-day drag boat pass, also will gain free admittance to the dirt-track program.

On the dirt, the Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mods will be the evening's featured class running for a special 25-Lap, $750 to win Main Event. Hot laps are set for 6:30 p.m. with racing at 7:05.

Kids' Pit Tour: Prior to the dirt-track racing program, flagman Mike Striegel will lead his weekly Kids' Pit Tour on a large golf cart for youngsters ages 5-12. The kids can sign up at the Frogs Jr Fan Club on the south end of the Midway prior to 5 p.m. for a chance to go on the pit tour.

Saturday KDBA Summer Thunder on Lake Lucas schedule
7 a.m. - Registration opens
8 a.m. - Spectator gates open
9 a.m. - Round 1 qualifying sportsman session
10:30 a.m. - Round 1 qualifying pro session
12:30 p.m. - Round 2 qualifying sportsman session
2 p.m. - Round 2 qualifying pro session

Saturday Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series schedule
4 p.m. - Gates open
6:30 p.m. - Hot laps
7:05 p.m. - Racing begins

Sunday KDBA Summer Thunder on Lake Lucas schedule
8 a.m. - Gates open
9 a.m. - Racing begins

Saturday Drag Boat admission:
Adults GA/Pit Pass Combo (16 and up) - $30
Seniors (62 and up)/Military GA/Pit Pass Combo (62 and up) - $27
Youth GA/Pit Pass Combo (age 6 to 15) - $10
Kids GA/Pit Pass Combo (age 5 and under) - FREE
Family Pass GA/Pit Pass Combo $70 Includes Admission for 2 Adults and Up to 3 Kids Ages - (6-15)
Adult 2-Day GA/Pit Pass Combo - $55
Seniors (62 and up)/Military 2-Day GA/Pit Pass Combo - $49
Youth Ages (6-15) 2-Day GA/Pit Pass Combo - $20
(All tickets include access to the Drag Boat pit area)
(All Saturday and 2-Day tickets include entry to the Dirt Track Event on Saturday night)

Sunday Drag Boat Admission
Adults GA/Pit Pass Combo (16 and up) - $25
Seniors (62 and up)/Military GA/Pit Pass Combo (62 and up) - $22
Youth GA/Pit Pass Combo (age 6 to 15) - $10
Kids GA/Pit Pass Combo (age 5 and under) - FREE
Family Pass GA/Pit Pass Combo - $60 i(ncludes admission for 2 adults and up to 3 kids ages 6-15)
(All tickets include access to the Drag Boat pit area)

Dirt track admission:
Advance Discount Tickets online only (16 and up) $12
Adults (16 and up) $15
Seniors (62 and up)/Military $12
Youth (6-15) $5
Kids (5 and under) FREE
Family Pass $35 (Click Here for more information)
Pit Pass $30
(Grandstand admission FREE with Saturday drag boat ticket or 2-day drag boat pass)

To purchase tickets for any event on Lucas Oil Speedway's schedule, or to inquire about camping information, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 295-6043 or via email at nichole@lucasoilspeedway.com.

Visit usraracing.com for schedules, points, photos, souvenirs, videos and more. Follow our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Click here to get USRA news delivered to your inbox.

USRA OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Beyea Headers, Chevrolet Performance, Christie Door Company, Fast Shafts, FK Rod Ends, K1 RaceGear by Ryan Bowers, KS Engineering, KSE Racing Products, Mesilla Valley Transportation, MSD, Nitroquest Media, PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain, RacinDirt, Summit Racing Equipment, Sunoco Race Fuels.

USRA PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: ARMI Contractors, Boubin Tire & Automotive, Brodix Cylinder Heads, DAY Motorsports, Innovative AutoGlass & Window Tint, PBM Performance Products, Star 1 Roofing & Construction, Stealth Oilwell Services, Texas Locomotive Solutions, TNT Auto Parts, YouDirt.com.

USRA CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Bryke Racing, BSB Manufacturing, Champ Pans, Edelbrock, Hooker Harness, Integra Racing Shocks & Springs, JE Pistons, Keyser Manufacturing, Landrum Performance Springs, Medieval Chassis, Performance Bodies & Parts, QA1, RacerWebsite.com, Real Racing Wheels, Swift Springs, Sybesma Graphics, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Disc Brakes Five1seven Designs, Four Seven Designs Salon & Boutique, Hi-Tek Paving, Jerovetz Motorsports Racing Parts, Penske Racing Shocks, Race Smart Wraps, S&S Fishing & Rental, Traeger Wood Pellet Grills by Elliott Motorsports.

USRA RACETRACKS: 67 Speedway of Texarkana, 81 Speedway, Alien Motor Speedway, Ark-La-Tex Speedway, Big O Speedway, Bolivar Speedway, Callaway Raceway, Caney Valley Speedway, Cedar Lake Speedway, Centerville Super Speedway, Chateau Speedway, Crawford County Speedway, Cresco Speedway, Dallas County Speedway, Deer Creek Speedway, Diamond Park Speedway, Eagle Valley Speedway, Electric City Speedway, Elk City Motorsports Park, Fairmont Raceway, Fayette County Speedway, Gondik Law Speedway, Hamilton County Speedway, Humboldt Speedway, I-35 Speedway, I-90 Speedway, Lake Ozark Speedway, Lakeside Speedway, Lawton Speedway, Lucas Oil Speedway, Mason City Motor Speedway, Midway Speedway, Mississippi Thunder Speedway, Pike County Speedway, Rapid Speedway, Rocket Raceway Park, Sports Park Raceway, Springfield Raceway, Super Bee Speedway, Superbowl Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track, Tomahawk Speedway, Tri-State Speedway, Tulsa Speedway, Vado Speedway Park, West Texas Raceway, Winneshiek Raceway.