Lucas Oil Modified Series

BY DAVE GRAYSON

The SuperClean Modified Racing Series held their gala awards banquet, January 23d, at the Blue Water Resort and Casino in Parker-Arizona. It was an evening to celebrate the impressive accomplishments of the series' 2009 season as well as acknowledge and salute the promise of excitement associated with the upcoming 2010 racing season.

Hosted by series co promoter Greg Scheidecker, the highlight of the evening was the presentation of the 2009 series' championship to Andrew Phipps. The Simi Valley-California driver more than earned the right to stand in front of his peers as the new champion. The 2009 season was a stellar racing year for his team that included three feature wins and eight top five finishes.

That highly consistent effort netted Phipps a check for $2,500 from the Hoosier Tire West points fund along with a $500 check from the Budweiser Fast Time Award. Phipps also received $1,000 in Lucas Oil products as well as a custom tool box from Mac Tools that was also valued at $1,000. The total value of the post season bonuses came to $5,000 and elevated his season earnings to $9,550.

Series co promoters Greg Scheidecker and Bill Rozhon were both all smiles after reflecting on the raw numbers from the series' 2009 season. During a year when harsh economic concerns swept the entire nation, neither of the veteran promoters were really sure what to expect during 2009. What they received was extremely strong and positive numbers in every category that you could name.

50 different race teams and drivers participated in the series eight points races last year with 13 of those teams running the entire schedule. The series' standard 22 car starting field for the 75 feature races was never in jeopardy. The car counts at each one of the series' events were healthy and nearly every one of those races required the use of a B main to accommodate the over flow of entries. The eight race points events sent five different drivers to victory lane in 2009. That included Andrew Phipps' three feature wins, Chris Gerchman's two feature victories along with single feature wins by James Cole, Jim Mardis and Jimmy Dickerson.

The series also had some very strong corporate supports during 2009 which allowed the co promoters to pay out $89,735 in purse money, $10,900 in post season bonus money and $7,250 in tow money to their teams.

During the course of his presentation Scheidecker announced that, after two years of outstanding support, SuperClean Products would not be returning as the series' title sponsor for the new 2010 season. The series co promoter made it a special point to thank SuperClean CEO Kraig Reash and his staff for their strong efforts towards making the series so successful.

But the big announcement of the evening involved the name of the series' new presenting sponsor: Rockstar Energy Drink. In what was described as an unprecedented partnership, Rockstar Energy Drink and Lucas Oil joined promotional forces that will benefit a large contingency of Lucas Oil racing series. Rockstar will now be the "official drink" for Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League, Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series, Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series and the now newly named Lucas Oil Modifieds presented by Rockstar Energy Drink.

In a recently released prepared statement Frank Guernsey, Rockstar Vice President of Marketing, said "with this new endeavor focusing on grass roots racing, we are eager to see Rockstar Energy Drink in the hands of people that may not have yet discovered our product. With Lucas Oil leading the way, we are confident that Rockstar will reach an exciting new new audience."

Also receiving a lot of enthusiasm from the banquet attendees were the details regarding the 2010 season schedule. The Lucas Oil Modifieds presented by Rockstar Energy Drink will visit five different tracks in three states this year. Two of the nine points races have special $10,000 purses. The June 12th event at Tucson Raceway Park will pay $1,400 to the winner and a $300 guarantee for starting the main event. The September 11th race at the Orange Show Speedway, in San Bernardino, will have the teams cutting their roofs off for the "Topless 100." This event also has a $10,000 purse along with a $1,500 winner's check and a $300 guarantee for starters.

The corporate support for the series seems to be stronger than ever heading into the start of the 2010 racing season. In addition to the new presenting sponsor, the series is supported by a highly potent marketing concept known as "Team Lucas." Team members include Lucas Oil Products, E3 Spark Plugs, R&L Carriers, General Tire, K&N Performance Filters, Geico Powersports, Canidae All Natural Pet Food, Copart, MAV-TV and of course Rockstart Energy Drink.

The Lucas Oil Modified Series, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink, is also enhanced by the presence of a large group of series sponsors that includes Hoosier Tire West, Budweiser, Blue Water Resort and Casino, Sunoco Race Fuels, Frank's Radio, DJ Safety, Steve Teets-STR Short Track Racing, Polydome Plastic Products, Racing Plus and Mac Tools.