FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

BATAVIA, OHIO (January 7, 2017) - The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series has expanded an already aggressive 2017 slate. The captivating stars of the nation's premier dirt late model tour will invade Mansfield Motor Speedway on July 2nd for a 50-lap, $10,000-to-win event, dubbed - The Freedom 50.

The deep, rich and long history of racing in Mansfield, Ohio dates back to 1959, when the original track - Mansfield Raceway - first opened as a 3/8-mile dirt track.  It was converted to an asphalt track in 1999, renamed (Mansfield Motorsports Speedway) and has remained asphalt ever since.  The speedway saw its pinnacle moments from 2004-2008 where it held NASCAR Truck Series events and drew standing room only crowds of over 20,000 in attendance.

The .44-mile oval will be transformed into a dirt track in 2017, with many changes and upgrades anticipated before opening in the spring. "Dirt racing in Ohio is strong - and overall, across the country, it is in a much better situation than asphalt.  Mansfield is located in the heart of some of the best racing in the country and with a venue as nice as this [Mansfield], it is a shame it has not been put back on the map like it deserves," said Cody Sommer, President of Mansfield Motor Speedway.

"Mansfield was once nationally ranked in the top 5 of the greatest race tracks in the country and I don't see any reason why it can not return back to that very quickly," Sommer added. The state-of-the-art facility features a safer barrier, twelve luxury suites, a complete race control room, 7,200 aluminum bleacher seats with chair backed/ covered reserved seats for 2,000 spectators. The hillside seating option adds a unique experience for around 2,000 attendees - bringing total capacity to nearly 10,000.

Mansfield Motor Speedway (MMS) can be found online at www.MansfieldMotorSpeedway.com where a full website will be released soon.  In the meantime, Mansfield Motor Speedway suggests fans connect with them directly on social media to stay up to date on special news and announcements at www.Facebook.com/MansfieldMotorSpeedway and Twitter @RaceMansfield.  MMS has an information phone line at 419-465-RACE (7223).  Any inquiries can also be sent via email to:  info@MansfieldMotorSpeedway.com.

The updated 2017 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series tour schedule now features a record-breaking 55 events at 36 different venues, across 22 states, showcasing the talents of the nation's elite dirt late model teams. Included among those are: Scott Bloomquist, Tim McCreadie, Josh Richards, Jimmy Owens, Earl Pearson Jr., Don O'Neal, Steve Francis, Jared Landers, Darrell Lanigan, and more!

2017 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Schedule:


Date

Track

Event Title

Location

To Win

Laps

February 10

Golden Isles Speedway

Super Bowl of Racing

Brunswick, GA

$10,000

50

February 11

Golden Isles Speedway

Super Bowl of Racing

Brunswick, GA

$12,000

60

February 13

East Bay Raceway Park

41st Annual Winternationals

Tampa, FL

$5,000

25

February 14

East Bay Raceway Park

41st Annual Winternationals

Tampa, FL

$5,000

25

February 15

East Bay Raceway Park

41st Annual Winternationals

Tampa, FL

$7,000

35

February 16

East Bay Raceway Park

41st Annual Winternationals

Tampa, FL

$7,000

45

February 17

East Bay Raceway Park

41st Annual Winternationals

Tampa, FL

$10,000

50

February 18

East Bay Raceway Park

41st Annual Winternationals

Tampa, FL

$12,000

60

February 19

Bubba Raceway Park

Winter Nationals

Ocala, FL

$10,000

50

March 17

Atomic Speedway

Buckeye Spring 50

Chillicothe, OH

$10,000

50

March 18

Brownstown Speedway

20th Annual Indiana Icebreaker

Brownstown, IN

$12,000

60

March 30

Duck River Raceway Park

 

Wheel, TN

$10,000

50

March 31

Boyd's Speedway

 

Ringgold, GA

$10,000

50

April 1

East Alabama Motor Speedway

20th Annual Bama Bash

Phenix City, AL

$12,000

60

April 7, 8

Batesville Motor Speedway

Bad Boy 98

Batesville, AR

$20,000

98

April 21

Sharon Speedway

Steel Valley 50

Hartford, OH

$10,000

50

April 22

Hagerstown Speedway

36th Annual Stanley Schetrompf Classic

Hagerstown, MD

$12,000

60

April 23

Port Royal Speedway

 

Port Royal, PA

$10,000

50

April 28

Tri-City Speedway

Budweiser 50

Granite City, IL

$10,000

50

April 29

Macon Speedway

St. Louis U-Pic-A-Part 100

Macon, IL

$12,000

100

May 5

Tazewell Speedway

Toyota Knoxville 50

Tazewell, TN

$10,000

50

May 6

Florence Speedway

31st Annual Ralph Latham Memorial

Union, KY

$12,000

60

May 18

LaSalle Speedway

Spring Shootout

LaSalle, IL

$10,000

50

May 19

Luxemburg Speedway

Spring Shootout

Luxemburg, WI

$10,000

50

May 20

Deer Creek Speedway

 

Spring Valley, MN

$12,000

60

May 23

I-80 Speedway

Go 50

Greenwood, NE

$10,000

50

May 25

Lucas Oil Speedway

4th Annual Cowboy Classic

Wheatland, MO

$6,000

40

May 26

Lucas Oil Speedway

The Tribute to Don and Billie Gibson

Wheatland, MO

$6,000

40

May 27

Lucas Oil Speedway

25th Annual Lucas Oil Show-Me 100

Wheatland, MO

$30,000

100

June 15, 16, 17

Magnolia Motor Speedway

Clash at the Mag

Columbus, MS

$20,000

100

July 1

Portsmouth Raceway Park

Independence 60

Portsmouth, OH

$12,000

60

July 2

Mansfield Motor Speedway

Freedom 50

Mansfield, OH

$10,000

50

July 3

Muskingum County Speedway

 

Zanesville, OH

$12,000

60

July 6

Fayetteville Motor Speedway

Dunn-Benson Ford Wayne Gray Memorial

Fayetteville, NC

$10,000

50

July 7

Cherokee Speedway

19th Annual Grassy Smith Memorial

Gaffney, SC

$10,000

50

July 8

Smoky Mountain Speedway

Mountain Moonshine Classic

Maryville, TN

$12,000

60

July 14

Tri-City Speedway

NAPA Know How 50

Granite City, IL

$10,000

50

July 15

Lucas Oil Speedway

11th Annual Diamond Nationals

Wheatland, MO

$12,000

60

July 18

Brown County Speedway

Bullet SportsWear Shootout

Aberdeen, SD

$10,000

50

July 20, 21, 22

I-80 Speedway

7th Annual Silver Dollar Nationals

Greenwood, NE

$53,000

80

August 10

Florence Speedway

North/South Shootout

Union, KY

$10,000

50

August 11, 12

Florence Speedway

35th Annual Sunoco North/South 100

Union, KY

$50,000

100

August 17, 18, 19

Batesville Motor Speedway

25th Annual COMP Cams Topless 100

Batesville, AR

$40,000

100

August 25

Ponderosa Speedway

14th Annual John Bradshaw Memorial

Junction City, KY

$10,000

50

August 26

Lawrenceburg Speedway

Whiskey City 60

Lawrenceburg, IN

$12,000

60

September 2

Portsmouth Raceway Park

River Days Rumble

Portsmouth, OH

$12,000

60

September 3

Tyler County Speedway

49th Annual Hillbilly Hundred

Middlebourne, WV

$25,000

100

September 14

Knoxville Raceway

14th Annual Late Model Nationals

Knoxville, IA

$7,000

25

September 15

Knoxville Raceway

14th Annual Late Model Nationals

Knoxville, IA

$7,000

25

September 16

Knoxville Raceway

14th Annual Late Model Nationals

Knoxville, IA

$40,000

100

September 22, 23

Brownstown Speedway

38th Annual Jackson 100

Brownstown, IN

$20,000

100

September 30

Dixie Speedway

Dixie Shootout

Woodstock, GA

$12,000

60

October 1

Rome Speedway

Rome Showdown

Rome, GA

$10,000

50

October 6,7

Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway

29th Annual Pittsburgher 100

Imperial, PA

$20,000

100

October 20, 21

Portsmouth Raceway Park

37th Annual Dirt Track World Championship

Portsmouth, OH

$100,000

100