Emerging from his USRA Modified in victory lane last Saturday night, Terry Kirk heard a chorus of cheers from the Lucas Oil Speedway fans. It put a big smile on his face.

"You bet, I did hear those," Kirk said earlier this week. "I was surprised, but you know, I’ve been around forever. I’ve run a lot of races over there at Wheatland. I won a lot of races back before it was Lucas Oil and before it had a wall around it."

Back in the days of Wheatland Raceway, Kirk raced there and all over the place and won his share of races. The last few years, he's slowed to a part-time schedule with more focus on helping his son, Colson Kirk, campaign a USRA B-mod. Kirk joked that he can't remember the last time he won a feature at Lucas Oil Speedway just saying it's been "a long, long time."

The Urbana resident was in vintage form, leading all 20 years for the Cedar Creek Beef Jerky USRA Modified victory as he outdistanced season points leader Ryan Middaugh. It was just Kirk's night, it seemed, from when he checked into the pit building and drew a prime starting spot for the heat race.

"I drew good to start off and won the heat. Then on the re-draw I drew the one again," Kirk said. "It all sure worked out in my favor."

It was a fun night for Kirk, who's always driven in the top Modified class since he began racing in the late 1990s. Along with the old Wheatland track, he raced regularly at his hometown Dallas County Speedway, Warrensburg, Springfield "and wherever. We went out of state a lot. We went to Arkansas back then, out into Kansas. We ran a lot of USMTS back in the late ‘90s and early 2000s."

While estimating he's won around 40 career feature races, Kirk said he never was a points racer.

"I've just always went where I felt like going," Kirk said.

And he's had a good time and some memorable stories to tell from the journey.

"I won a race at Urbana, in the late '90s or about 2000," Kirk said. "I blew a motor during hot laps. I only live four or five miles from the track. We came home, me and a couple of my brothers and some guys who were helping me at the time and changed motors. We went back to the track, got there in time for the feature, started in the back of the pack and won.

"There was 16 or 18 in the feature. Back then, Dallas County was hot. There wasn't any place for another car to park or another spectator to get in.

"The only other place that a ran regularly and never could win a feature was Lamonte. I've run second up there, I'll bet 10 times. I never could win. A couple of times I led to the last lap. We thought we won one, one night, and they gave it to another guy. The finish line was past where the flag stand was and I let up at the flag stand and he passed me."

The last few years, he's run a newer GRT but not often. He competed only eight times in 2022 and has been on the track seven times this year.

"Colson won 12 or 13 races last year," Terry Kirk said. "He's hanging around the front but only has one win this year. He just ain’t got no luck. I drew the front Saturday night and he drew the highest number they had in the B-Mod. He an uphill run all night long. Went to Arrowhead on Friday night and it was the same thing.

"A lot of the time I’ll let (my car) sit so I can go with Colson, if he’s going somewhere interesting or if there’s a big-money race somewhere. The other night, we decided everybody was going to Lucas and we all went over there."

The Cedar Creek Beef Jerky USRA Modifieds will be the featured class on Saturday when it's Fan Appreciation Night for Round 13 of the Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series. The Modified winner of the 25-lap feature will earn $1,000.

Meanwhile, the Show Me Vintage Racing Club Cars will be on hand as our guest class and will be displaying their cars on the midway prior to the event.

Also during intermission, Kids' Power Wheel races will be held. The kids can enter their own battery-powered Power Wheel cars by signing up for the Frogs Jr. Fan Club on the south end of the Midway prior to the races. One Kids Power Wheel class will be the 6-12 volt cars and another will be for the 24-36 volt class. No power or speed enhancement modifications will be allowed.

Pit gates open at 4 p.m. with grandstands at 5, hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:05. Fans who purchase drag boat tickets on Saturday or two-day drag boat passes will be admitted free to the dirt track program.

Saturday dirt-track admission:
(free admission to those with Saturday or two-day drag boat tickets)
Advance Discount Tickets online only (16+) - $12
Adults (16+) - $15
Seniors (62+) & Military - $12
Youth (6-15) - $5
Kids (Under 6) - FREE
Family Pass - $35
Pit Pass - $35

Drag boats set for Saturday and Sunday: The Kentucky Drag Boat Association-sanctioned KDBA Summer Shootout on Lake Lucas will have $33,200 in prize money up for grabs in 10 divisions Saturday and Sunday.

In the Top Alcohol Hydro division, the fastest KDBA class with speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour, Rick Allen leads the season points division. Other KDBA championship leaders are Jacob Schneider (Pro Outlaw), Tyler Salsman (Pro Mod), Barry Salsman (Quick Eliminator), Dave Schmidt Jr. (Pro Eliminator), Scott Schutte (Pro Comp Flat), Shea Harrington (Top Eliminator), Hardy Cole (Modified Eliminator), Scott Malone (Stock Eliminator) and Sheila Still (Personal Watercraft).

The more information on the Kentucky Drag Boat Association, visit kydragboat.com to see results, standings, registration into and more.

KDBA Show-Me Shootout on Lake Lucas tentative schedule
Saturday:
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
Sunday:
8 a.m. - Spectator Gates Open
9 a.m. - Eliminations

KDBA Show-Me Shootout admission:
Saturday:
Adults GA/Pit Pass Combo (16+) - $25
Seniors (62+) & Military GA/Pit Pass Combo - $22
Youth GA/Pit Pass Combo (6-15) - $10
Kids GA/Pit Pass Combo (Under 6) - FREE
Family Pass GA/Pit Pass Combo (includes 2 and up to 3 kids 6-15) - $60
Adult 2-Day GA/Pit Pass Combo - $40
Seniors (62+) & Military 2-Day GA/Pit Pass Combo - $34
Youth Ages (6-15) 2-Day GA/Pit Pass Combo - $15
Sunday:
Adults GA/Pit Pass Combo (16+) - $15
Seniors (62+) & Military GA/Pit Pass Combo - $12
Youth GA/Pit Pass Combo (6-15) - $5
Kids GA/Pit Pass Combo (Under 6) - FREE
Family Pass GA/Pit Pass (includes 2 and up to 3 kids 6-15) - $35

SRX advance tickets on sale: It's just four weeks until some of the world's legendary drivers visit Lucas Oil Speedway to crown a champion in the Superstar Racing Experience Series.

General admission tickets remain on sale for the SRX "Thursday Night Thunder" on Aug. 17 at Lucas Oil Speedway, the finale of the six-race series which will determine the 2023 champion. All SRX races will air live on ESPN.

Drivers announced for the Lucas Oil Speedway event include NASCAR Cup Series champions Tony Stewart, Brad Keselowski and Bobby Labonte, along with NASCAR drivers Kenny Wallace, Ken Schrader, Ryan Newman, Clint Bowyer and Hailie Deegan. Also on hand will be four-time Indy 500 winer Helio Castroneves, plus reigning SRX Champion Marco Andretti and fellow IndyCar Series driver Paul Tracy and Trans-Am Series champion Ernie Franics Jr.

The series will pit the drivers against one another in identically prepared cars with points accumulated in each of the six events.

Tickets for the SRX event are $35 in advance or $40 at the gate (16+). Kids (6-15) will be $20 with 6 and under free. Pit passes are $50 and must be purchased the day of the event.

USRA Modifieds will be the support class with an invitational format set for the non-points event.

Tentative Lucas Oil Speedway SRX schedule:
12 p.m. - Pit gate will open for drivers and crews only
1 p.m. - Main grandstands open
2:10 p.m. - Modified hot laps
2:30-4:30 p.m. - SRX practice sessions
4:30-5 p.m. – Track prep
5 p.m. – Modified heat races
5:30-6:15 p.m. - SRX driver Q&A sessions (4)
6:15 p.m. – Modified feature
6:45-7:15 p.m. – Track prep and intermission break
7:15 p.m – SRX cars to grid
7:35 p.m. – SRX driver introductions
7:45 p.m. - Opening ceremonies and National Anthem
7:50 p.m. - SRX drivers to cars
8 p.m. – ESPN live
8:02 p.m. - Drivers start engines
8:12pm – SRX green flag
10 p.m. – Victory Lane set up and top 3 driver interviews for ESPN

For information on SRX Series tickets or about any event at Lucas Oil Speedway in 2023 contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or email her nichole@lucasoilspeedway.com for more information.

Lucas Oil Speedway is located near the intersection of Hwy 83 and 54 in Wheatland, Missouri. A campground with shower and bathroom facilities is also available. With its entrance located just outside the pit gate this sprawling scenic camping facility will continue to enhance the racing experience at the "Diamond of Dirt Tracks."

Complete Lucas Oil Speedway information can be found by visiting LucasOilSpeedway.com or call (417) 282-5984. The Lucas Oil Speedway EZ Texting number is (417) 804-4141.

In addition, fans can get social with Lucas Oil Speedway on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Lucas Oil Speedway is considered by fans, drivers and industry insiders to be one of the top five racing facilities in the nation. Located about an hour from Springfield and an hour and a half from the Kansas City metro area, the "Diamond of Dirt Tracks" lives up to its title.

Twenty-one VIP luxury suites, HD Jumbo-Tron screen, stadium-style Musco Sports Lighting, a Bose sound system, Go-kart slick track, The Diamond Bar, Track Treasures Gift Shop, the best track food in the country and paved pits are a few of the spectacular amenities setting Lucas Oil Speedway apart.

For more than two decades, the USRA 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. In the 2023 Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series, as many as 60 of America’s finest dirt ovals plan to host more than 1,000 nights of racing.

USRA competitors can register online at MyRacePass today. Alternatively, you can call (515) 832-6000 to register by phone, or submit a completed USRA License Application by email at office@usraracing.com or fax (515) 832-7958. You can download the application at usraracing.com/downloads.

To learn more, check out 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, KS Engineering, KSE Racing Products, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Nitroquest Media, PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain, RacinDirt, Summit Racing Equipment, Sunoco Race Fuels.

USRA PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Allen Autosports Race Cars, ARMI Contractors, Boubin Tire & Automotive, Brodix Cylinder Heads, DAY Motorsports, Duvall Electric, Gunshepherd.com, Innovative AutoGlass & Window Tint, PBM Performance Products, Star 1 Roofing & Construction, Stealth Thru Tubing, 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, Hyperco, Integra Racing Shocks & Springs, JE Pistons, K1 RaceGear by Ryan Bowers, Keyser Manufacturing, Landrum Performance Springs, MD3, Medieval Chassis, MSD, Performance Bodies & Parts, QA1, Quarter Master, QuickCar Racing Products, RacerWebsite.com, Real Racing Wheels, Swift Springs, Sybesma Graphics, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Disc Brakes.

USRA RACETRACKS: 67 Speedway of Texarkana, 81 Speedway, Alien Motor Speedway, Ark-La-Tex Speedway, Arrowhead Speedway, Bolivar Speedway, Boothill Speedway, Callaway Raceway, Caney Valley Speedway, Cedar Lake Speedway, Crawford County Speedway, Cresco Speedway, Dallas County Speedway, Deer Creek Speedway, Diamond Park Speedway, Eagle Valley Speedway, Elk City Motorsports Park, Fairmont Raceway, Fayette County Speedway, Hamilton County Speedway, Humboldt Speedway, Hunt County Raceway, I-35 Speedway, I-90 Speedway, Lakeside Speedway, Lawton Speedway, Legacy Speedway, Longdale Speedway, Lucas Oil Speedway, Mason City Motor Speedway, Mississippi Thunder Speedway, Monett Raceway, Outlaw Motor Speedway, Rapid Speedway, Red Cedar Speedway, Red Dirt Raceway, Rocket Raceway Park, Route 66 Motor Speedway, Sabine Speedway, Salina Highbanks Speedway, Sandia Speedway, Sports Park Raceway, Springfield Raceway, Super Bee Speedway, Thunder Valley Speedway, Tomahawk Speedway, Tri-State Speedway, Tulsa Speedway, US 36 Raceway, Vado Speedway Park, West Texas Raceway, Winneshiek Raceway.