A Great Opening List of Drivers Vying to be the “Master” at I-44

By:
On:
In: Speedway News
The initial list of entries have arrived for the 4th Annual Champion Racing Oil “Masters of the Pros” 144 event that will be held at Lebanon I-44 Speedway Saturday, May 14th. The JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance will hit the 3/8 mile “High Banks’ and take on the stars of the NASCAR Whelen All American Series. The 144 lap event will pay $8000 to win plus bonuses, making it one of the highest paying Pro Late Model events in the country, plus the winner will be awarded a signature green jacket, similar to the one that is known for adorning the champion of golf’s Masters Event.

There is a very talented group of CRA drivers that have entered already including 2013 JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Champion Cody Coughlin. The Delaware, Ohio native won the ARCA/CRA Super Series event at Toledo Speedway on April 9th, which was his second ARCA/CRA Super Series win, to go with two JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour wins. Coughlin will make his appearance in between starts as a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competitor driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports. Three time ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion John VanDoorn brings a trophy chest with well over one hundred wins with his TK Racing #71 entry, the 18 time winner with the ARCA/CRA Super Series is seeking his first JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour victory.

Other top CRA drivers entered include 2014 and 2015 ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion Travis Braden, who’s car owner Bill Burba was the 2015 JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Owners Champion, 2015 JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Rookie of the Year Quinnton Bear in the Scott Neal Racing #4, Jack Smith, a winner of three of the last four series events in 2015, ARCA/CRA Super Series winner Brandon Oakley, Former Kalamazoo Speedway Champions Andy Bozell and his son Phil Bozell, and 2004 ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion Chuck Barnes Jr., who brought his Kevin Crider Motorsports Pro Late Model to a finish of second in this event in 2013 and fifth last year.

“It is exciting to see a list like this come into Lebanon, Missouri in just our 4th year of this event. Champion Racing Oils and Empire Energy have stepped in to be a huge partner for this event along with some of the other Evergreen partners and we are excited for 2016 and the future. This list of race teams that turned in their entries early represent winners from all over the country at so many different levels and just starts the excitement for the fans as more entries are received” said Lebanon I-44 Speedway General Manager, Kevin Greven.

Several other JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour 2016 regulars are entered including Austin Kunert, Tristen Van Wieringen, Dakota Stroup along with series rookies Travis Eddy, son of former ASA Tour Series Champion Mike Eddy, Jack Dossey III, Joshua James, Michael Clancy Jr. and Adam Johnson, a weekly competitor at Lebanon I-44 Speedway.

Two of Florida’s best are entered, including Steve Dorer winner of the series Springport Motor Speedway event in September of last year and a series event at Anderson Speedway in 2014 along with two ARCA/CRA Super Series wins in 2011, one of those was the Redbud 300. Pinellas Park’s Stephen Nasse is the other Florida driver entered to this point. He will race for veteran CRA competitor Rick Turner. The two teamed up for the first time for the Baby Rattler at South Alabama Speedway in March where they came away with the win.

Georgia racer Casey Roderick is entered in Ronnie Sanders #18. Roderick is a former competitor in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, but has raced mainly in the Southern Super Series lately, were he has three wins the last two seasons. Sanders car finished fourth in last year’s event with Hunter Robbins behind the wheel.

Former Lebanon I-44 Speedway and CRA regular Cole Rouse is the second entry to compete for local car owner Kevin Crider. Rouse is racing mainly in the NASCAR K&N Pro West Series where he sits 5th in points for the 2016 season up to now, but will also make selected late model starts. Lebanon I-44 Speedway racers David Wood and Mandy Chick are also entered.

“Two of the last three winners of this event have went on to do some pretty special things in NASCAR. Chase Elliott won in 2013 and was the 2014 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion and now sits in the #24 seat in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition that opened up when Jeff Gordon retired after last season. John Hunter Nemechek wo it last year and right now he leads the points in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series as well as winning the opening event at Daytona in February. There are so many other drivers that have competed in the last three years that are now racing in NASCAR’s higher ranks and many more that could do the same if the right door was opened for them. We are so thankful to have this caliber of talent compete in this event at Lebanon I-44 Speedway” Greven continued.

Additional entries for the Champion Racing Oil “Masters of the Pros” 144 will arrive over the next two weeks leading up to the event. The advanced entry deadline for this event is May 7th. Look for more releases within the next few days.

The Speedway will hold an open practice session on Friday Night, May 13th that will be FREE to the public to come watch in both the grandstand area and the “Wildside” Tier Parking area. Saturday the gates will open by 3pm with timed qualifying to help set the starting grid and last chance events for the 28 Car Field. Action will also feature a special autograph session following qualifying and two NASCAR support Classes competing as well.
 
Tickets for Saturdays Champion Racing Oil “Masters of the Pro’s” 144 will be just $22 for adults in the grandstands, $18 military, seniors and juniors (11-15) are only $10. Adults on the wild side are just $25, military and seniors are just $21 and juniors (11-15) are just $10 while kids 10 and under are FREE in both areas! 
 
Champion Brands, LLC, originally Lowe Oil Co. founded by Ralph Lowe in 1956, is a globally recognized industry leader in specialty lubricants for over 60 years. Champion also produces and blends more than 300 products including fuel, brake fluid, oil and engine additives and lubricants for the automotive, heavy truck, agricultural and specialty markets.
 
Champion Brands understands the complexities of doing business in today’s market and is always looking for new and better ways to make your company more efficient and increase your bottom line. Quality products are more than a commitment at Champion; our high standards define the way we do business.
 
The headquarters, located in Clinton, Missouri, just 75 miles southeast of Kansas City and 100 miles northwest of Lebanon I-44 Speedway, is ideal for timely, cost-effective service and distribution. Champion’s 450,000 square foot plant accommodates more than one million gallons of bulk storage with convenient rail siding.
 
Good people are the heart of Champion Brands. Passion, dedication, knowledge and a can-do attitude drive the growth of our company and assure you that you can always count on us.
 
Empire Energy is the local distributor of Champion Brands along with many other great products to serve their customers such as unleaded fuel, clear diesel, red diesel and VP Racing Fuel. Empire Energy is located at 320 West Pierce in Lebanon and ready to serve their customers with a wide range of quality racing, ag, bulk, construction and fuel products along with delivery services! Empire Energy constantly strives to exceed your expectations to keep you coming back!

   

For more information visit the website at www.i44speedway.net and be sure to like us at Lebanon I-44 Speedway on Facebook for updated information on Missouri’s only NASCAR sanction facility and the only weekly asphalt track within 300 miles. More information on the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance is available at www.cra-racing.com.  

I-44 Speedway PR

Speedway Digest Staff
Follow Me
Latest posts by Speedway Digest Staff (see all)
Post Views: 64