News Feed
Jan. 3, 2012
BY DAVE GRAYSON
While officials from the Lucas Oil Modified Racing Series, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink, have been extremely busy preparing for their 2012 racing season, they will be taking at least one weekend off to celebrate their 2011 season. The series will be hosting their annual awards banquet, January 14th, at the beautiful Blue Water Resort and Casino in Parker-Arizona.
Highlighting the evening will be the distribution of over $16,000 in awards and post season bonus money to drivers who finished in the top 15 in the season points. That financial breakdown includes $10,000 from the Hoosier Tire West points fund, $1,000 from CANIDAE All Natural Pet Food, $500 from Eibach Springs and $2,500 in oil related products presented by Lucas Oil. Additionally, there is another $2,000 for special category awards based on competitive performance.
Banquet tickets, priced at $35, are still available. However, reservations are required and ticket requests must be turned in by January 6th. To reserve tickets, which can be picked up at the door, call Greg or Katie at 1-800-342-2512 or leave a voice mail at extension 1101. A social hour will commence at 6 pm followed by dinner at 7 pm. Patrons need to be reminded that this schedule is based on Arizona time.
For out of town race teams and fans, the Blue Water Resort and Casino will be offering a special room rate of $79.95, plus tax and fees, through January 6th. Call 1-888-243-3360 for reservations and mention the racer's discount code: ID #83.
Once the dinner plates have been removed from the tables, series officials will begin the process of presenting the awards highlighted by honoring their 2011 champion Jim Mardis. The Riverside-California driver now has the distinction of being the only driver to win two championships in series' history. The 2010 champion made it two titles in a row last year based on very consistent performance levels that included a feature win and nine top five finishes.
At the awards banquet he will be receiving $2,500 from the Hoosier Tire West points funds plus $1,000 worth of always needed Lucas Oil products. The post season awards will be Mardis' 2011 series earnings to $11,200. Making this situation even sweeter is the fact that Mardis' team is sponsored by Rockstar Energy Drink which is also the series' official presenting sponsor.
The one driver, in the Lucas Oil Modified Racing Series, who enjoyed a break out season was, without question, Austin Barnes who finished second in the final points standings. The Escondido-California teen driver literally hit his stride during the month of August and spent the final two months of the season scorching the competition. He finished the 2011 season with five regular season wins including four in a row. He also won the Lucas Oil portion of the Las Vegas Open Comp weekend, a post season non points event, for his sixth feature of the year. The 2011 collection of feature wins has earned him the J E Pistons/Roush Performance Parts Winner's Circle title.
Barnes' highly competitive year also included superiority during qualifying as well. He set the fast time seven times in 2011 including six times in a row. That will earn him a $500 bonus from the Budweiser Fast Time program. His share of the Hoosier Tire West points fund will be $1,500 which will elevate his season earnings to a series high $12,150.
Based on a very consistent four top five finishes, along with nine top tens, Aaron McMorrin finished third in the series' standings which will award him $1,100 in points money. Three times during the regular season the Las Vegas driver was awarded the hard charger of the race bonus. That competitive effort will award him the $500 bonus for winning the E3 Spark Plugs Hard Charger Of The Year Award. On three other occasions McMorrin was awarded the clean pass award and that effort will garner him the $500 bonus for winning the Magnaflow Exhaust Products Clean Pass Award.
Series veteran Tim Morse will collect $1,000 at the awards banquet for finishing fourth in the final standings based on a consistent five top five finishes along with eight top tens. The popular Burbank-California driver will also receive a $500 bonus for winning the Dart Machinery Trophy Dash Award.
For more information regarding the series, and the details regarding the January 14th banquet, dial up their official website at www.lucasoilmodifieds.com.
The intense excitement of the Lucas Oil Modified Racing Series' 2011 racing season was presented to its ever growing legion of fans by a highly potent marketing concept known as "Team Lucas." Team members include: Lucas Oil Products, Magnaflow Exhaust Products, E3 Spark Plugs, General Tire, K&N Performance Filters, GEICO, CANIDAE All Natural Pet Food, MAV-TV, Dart Machinery LTD, Rockstar Energy Drink and MasterCraft Safety Equipment.
The series is also strongly supported by a group of associate sponsors featuring: Eibach Springs, Hoosier Tire West, Budweiser, Blue Water Resort and Casino, Sunoco Race Fuels, Frank's Radio, Racing Plus, Roush Yates Performance Parts and J E Pistons.
