UPDATE - New Schedule for Lucas Oil Event - MEMPHIS

[Steve Quien]

NHRA Adjusts Lucas Oil Event Schedule with Racers in Mind.

MEMPHIS – In an effort to save racers a “vacation” day and also avoid this spring’s unseasonably cool evenings, the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is making a slight adjustment to the schedule for the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Sportsman Championships this month at Memphis Motorsports Park.

Originally scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 24-25, the two-day event moves into the weekend – to Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26 – and will run as a “daytime” event, instead of into the night.

The Lucas Oil stop in Memphis is the first of two electrifying NHRA events in Memphis this season, and the second of six races on the NHRA Division 4 (South Central) schedule, which includes racers and tracks in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Mexico. Memphis Motorsports Park has been a part of the series and South Central division since 1988.

Following is the competition schedule for the event:

Thursday, April 23
8:00 a.m. Facility Open for LODRS participants stacking. (Enter at Gate 23 off Victory Lane. No LODRS parking or tech on Thursday.)
6:00-10:00 p.m. Test-N-Tune (Street Legal Drags) $ 25

Friday, April 24
8:00 a.m. Gates Open
12:00-6:00 p.m. LODRS Tech
6:00-11:00 p.m. Test-N-Tune (LODRS competitors only) $ 50

Saturday, April 25
7:00 a.m. Gates Open
9:00 a.m. Time Trials & Qualifying

Sunday, April 26
7:00 a.m. Gates Open
9:00 a.m. Round 1 Eliminations

Run Order
Super Street
Stock
Sportsman M/C
Super Gas
Super Stock
Super Comp

Two Qualifying Sessions for Top Dragster, Top Sportsman, and Competition Eliminator.

For more information, call Memphis Motorsports Park at (901) 358-RACE (7223).

Hear the PA on FM 100.3 at MMP.

[Steve Quien]

Memphis Lucas Oil event switches to Saturday-Sunday format
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4/7/2009

NHRA South Central division director Craig Hutchinson has announced that the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Memphis Motorsports Park will change from a Friday/Saturday night race to a Saturday/Sunday daytime event. The race will remain on the same weekend in April but instead of running April 24 and 25, it will now be April 25 and 26.

"We had good success with the Friday/Saturday night race in Memphis last year," said Hutchinson. "We were going to do it again this year but April nights are too cold for it to be a good idea especially since this Spring has been colder than normal."

Hutchinson added that NHRA and track officials believe moving from night racing to daytime racing would be the best solution for all parties concerned and would be the least disruptive to the racers' schedules. He emphasized that while sometimes changes to the division's calendar are necessary, the division's intent is always to help racers limit the extra expenses that can be incurred because of those moves.

Tech for the Lucas Oil Series competitors at Memphis Motorsports Park will be open from noon to 6 p.m. on Friday and qualifying and time trials will start Saturday morning at 9. For a detailed schedule visit the division's web site at www.NHRAdiv4.com.

[Jeremy]

Sounds like a regular Divisional race now, only difference is you get to pay extra $50.00 for Friday. What a deal!

[Wade_Owens]

St Louis charged $20 for the test and tune prior to the Open this past weekend. $50 is pretty steep. Count me out......

Wade

[Kenny Wigington]

50 is cheap, compared to around here. They feel $100 is just right !

[Chad Rhodes]

Originally Posted by Kenny Wigington

50 is cheap, compared to around here. They feel $100 is just right !

you sure Painter didn't just get you for an extra $50 for the beer/cigar fund? lol

[Ed Wright]

So, only two rounds of qualifying?

[Chad Rhodes]

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

So, only two rounds of qualifying?

Are you coming Ed? we should have our new motor together by then, hopefully we will make it.

[Greg Hill]

Steve, I was wondering why you all scheduled your race the same weekend as Indy? There are a lot of us in d3 that like to come to Memphis but wil not be there because of the conflict? i bet it cost you 100 cars total.

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by Chad Rhodes

Are you coming Ed? we should have our new motor together by then, hopefully we will make it.

If nothing falls off it before then. We have an IHRA Div 4 race here in Tulsa the weekend after this one coming up. I think Memphis is the next week. If I draw that friggin red Dodge I'm going to need an extra couple of tenths, think you could load them to me? That thing could drive an old man to drinking.

Tell your Dad I said "Hi!"