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The final season of the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series produced some of the closest points battles in series history. One of the pro divisions even finished in a deadlock with a tie-breaking procedure needed to determine the champ.
Tyler Speer , a part time competitor in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, and Jim Richards both wound up with 1,896 points in Pro Outlaw following the General Tire World Finals earlier this month at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona. Speer, of Woodstock, Georgia, and his Georgia Outlaw wound up taking the championship by virtue of one event win and one second-place finish during the season.
Speer, who narrowly missed an unprecedented double championship after also contending for a Top Fuel Hydro title, lost in the opening round of eliminations in Pro Outlaw. Richards, in Alka-Hauler, made it to the semifinal round.
Richards had one event victory in 2018 but no second-place finishes and that gave the championship to Speer. Finishing just six points behind the pair was Shannon Beal in Split Decision 2.
The final season of the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series produced some of the closest points battles in series history. One of the pro divisions even finished in a deadlock with a tie-breaking procedure needed to determine the champ.
Tyler Speer and Jim Richards both wound up with 1,896 points in Pro Outlaw following the General Tire World Finals earlier this month at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona. Speer, of Woodstock, Georgia, and his Georgia Outlaw wound up taking the championship by virtue of one event win and one second-place finish during the season.
Speer, who narrowly missed an unprecedented double championship after also contending for a Top Fuel Hydro title, lost in the opening round of eliminations in Pro Outlaw. Richards, in Alka-Hauler, made it to the semifinal round.
Richards had one event victory in 2018 but no second-place finishes and that gave the championship to Speer. Finishing just six points behind the pair was Shannon Beal in Split Decision 2.
Champions will be crowned at the General Tire World Finals Presented by Lucas Oil, Nov. 2-4 at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona.
Pro division points chases remain up for grabs in several of the divisions with only Travis Tutle in Top Alcohol Hydro in total control headed to the World Finals. Tutle, in Short Fuse, has a 610-point lead over Rick Allen in Total Kaos.
The closest race is Pro Outlaw where Tyler Speer in Georgia Outlaw holds a narrow 14-point lead over Shannon Beal in Split Decision 2. It's also a tight race in Pro Modified as Robb Burklin in The Pearl is only 76 points in front of Shawn Reed in Top Secret. Mike Robbins in Nitro Nuts, riding two straight wins, has taken over the Top Fuel Hydro lead and takes a 121-point cushion over Speer in Shockwave into the finale. Bill Miller in Party to the Max has a 184-point lead over Tony Scarlata's Shazam in Top Alcohol Flat.
"We're looking forward to three greats days of racing in a fabulous setting," said Dan Robinson, Lucas Oil Director of Racing Operations for the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series. "It's always special to crown champions in the various divisions and watch the drivers and teams celebrate a season's worth of hard work.
"We also are giving the fans a great opportunity to enjoy the races in a unique way through the Top Eliminator Club and we're hopeful that many will take advantage of our packages that have been put together to make the weekend even more enjoyable."
Top Eliminator Club tickets can be purchased daily, or for all three days at a savings. The packages include event ticket, lunch, beverage vouchers, VIP parking, a souvenir merchandise bag and the best view of the racing in the house.
Club daily prices are $79 for the first day, $99 on Saturday and $99 for Sunday's final day. The three-day weekend package at $219 offers quite a savings for anyone planning to attend all three days. Tickets for both the Top Eliminator Club or regular admission can be purchased online.
Two rounds of qualifying are set for both Friday and Saturday, with eliminations on Sunday.
Lyndal Scranton
Lscranton755@gmail.com
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CHANDLER, Arizona (October 24, 2018)
"We're looking forward to an exciting finish to the 2018 season with Thunder on the River a big piece to the championship puzzle," said Dan Robinson, Director of Operations for the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series.
The points battles in the professional divisions find things especially tight in the Pro Mod class where Shawn Reed in "Top Secret" is just 28 points in front of Robb Burklin in "The Pearl." Here's a breakdown of the chases entering Thunder on the River:
Top Fuel Hydro
Tyler Speer, driving the Robert Montgomery boat "Shockwave," has a 106-point lead over Mike Robbins in "Nitro Nuts." Robbins closed the gap with a win last month at the Lucas Oil Diamond Drag Boat Nationals in Wheatland, Missouri, running Top Fuel Hydro-record 243.9502 miles per hour at 875-feet. Jarrett Silvey, driving Lou Osman's tradition-rich "Speed Sport" remains within striking distance 196 points out of the lead.
Top Alcohol Hydro
Travis Tutle in "Short Fuse" is having a season for the ages, winning three of four events in 2018 to build a 518-point lead over Rick Allen in "Total Kaos." Tutle saw his three-race winning streak come to an end at Wheatland, when Andy Reynolds pulled the upset in the finals in "Running With Scissors."
Top Alcohol Flat
Three drivers remain in title contention with Bill Miller in "Party to the Max" 90 points in front of multiple-time world champion Tony Scarlata in "Shazam" and Bill Diez in "War Party" who are tied for second. Diez, driving the Nancy Davis-owned vessel, put himself into contention with a final-round win at Wheatland.
Pro Outlaw
Along with leading the Top Fuel Hydro chase, Tyler Speer in his family owned "Georgia Outlaw" has a chance to make it a championship double as he's 112 points in front of Shannon Beal and "Split Decision 2." Continuing with the Wheatland trend, this division found an upset winner at Wheatland as Theresa Ward prevailed in "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot."
Pro Modifieds
Every point is going to be vital between the top two as Reed looks to keep his "Top Secret" in front of Burklin's "The Pearl" with just 28 points separating the duo. While she's 318 points behind Reed, third-place Shelby Ebert will be looking to pilot "Can't Touch This" to a second straight Pro Mod win after capturing the Wheatland finale.
For complete information on BlueWater Resort and Casino, including hotel accommodations, check out BlueWaterFun.com. Ticket info can be found at lucasoildragboats.com/tickets/thunderontheriver.
Lyndal Scranton
Lscranton755@gmail.com
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WHEATLAND, MO (October 3, 2018)
Early in his career, Woodstock native Tyler Speer has already shown he can hold his own in the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series, but this year, he has emerged as one of the top drivers in the world.
This season, Speer has positioned himself for a chance to win championships in two different divisions, leading the Top Fuel Hydro division by 106 points and leading the Pro Outlaw division by 112 points with two races to go.
“It’s been a crazy ride,” Speer said. “Obviously, you come into the season wanting to win, but we’ve had a lot of things break right for us this year. We just want to keep it going and finish it out.”
The pressure of trying to bring home a pair of titles will mount as the season comes to a close, but Speer does have experience closing out a championship season.
Lyndal Scranton
Lscranton755@gmail.com
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Corona, CA (September 1, 2018)
The world’s fastest boats return to Lucas Oil Speedway this weekend for the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series’ 8th annual Diamond Drag Boat Nationals, with three days of action on “Lake Lucas” in professional and sportsman divisions.
“Over the last few years, it’s turned into a Labor Day Weekend tradition of world-class drag boat racing and a big Saturday night of dirt-track racing as well,” said Dan Robinson, Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager and Interim Director of the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series.
The Lucas Oil MLRA Series will be in action Saturday night at the dirt track with the Larry Phillips Memorial, plus Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mods. Fans purchasing drag-boat tickets on Saturday will be admitted free to the dirt-track races.
“We certainly encourage everyone to come out and take advantage of a full day and night of racing on Saturday,” Robinson said.
On the water, Top Fuel Hydro always is an attention-grabber and this season is no exception. Season points leader Tyler Speer will be looking to retain the championship lead in Robert Montgomery’s “Shockwave” and back up his win in June’s John Haas Memorial on Lake Lucas. Speer leads Jarrett Silvey and “Speed Sports” by just 67 points entering this weekend.
Speer went 233.44 miles-per-hour with an elapsed time of 3.252 seconds in the June race, records at the 875-foot course length.
The Woodstock, Georgia, driver also will continue his pursuit of double championship as he also leads the Pro Outlaw division in his family owned boat “Georgia Outlaw” by a commanding 326 points over Terry Kain in “Racin' Kain.”
Another storyline to watch in the Top Fuel Hydro division this weekend is the return of Jeff Gregory to Wheatland for the first time since his terrible crash at the Diamond Nationals four years ago, that left him with multiple injuries. Gregory recently was named driver of the Todd Sorci-owned boat “Locked and Loaded” for the remainder of the season.
The closest pro division points race in Top Alcohol Flat and finds Tony Scarlata in “Shazam” four points in front of Bill Miller in “Party to the Max.” Top Alcohol Hydro sees Travis Tutle in “Short Fuse” with a 316-point advantage over Rick Allen in “Total Kaos” and in Shawn Reed in “Top Secret” leads Pro Mod by 318 points over Marty Logan in “Livin’ the Dream.”
Advance tickets are on sale for the Diamond Drag Boat Nationals at by contacting Lucas Oil Speedway Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or my email at nichole@lucasoilspeedway.com. Fans also can go online to purchase tickets.
Lyndal Scranton
Lscranton755@gmail.com
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Corona, CA (August 28, 2018)
Diamond Drag Boat Nationals just one month away, with Lucas Oil Drag Boat title chases set to resume
Championship chases in the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series will resume on the state-of-the-art, purpose-built waterway at Lucas Oil Speedway with a a full, three-day weekend of action set from Aug. 31-Sept. 2.
"We're eager to get going for the big Labor Day Weekend in what's become a cornerstone event on the schedule," Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series Interim Director Dan Robinson said. "I know the fans in the Midwest are looking forward to it, with advance tickets already being sold.
"This is an especially fun event with qualifying both Friday and Saturday before a big final day of eliminations," Robinson added. "I know the drivers and teams are pumped up to get back to racing and they always enjoy coming to Wheatland and it'll be here before we know it."
With just two events following the Diamond Nationals on the 2018 schedule, it will be a pivotal weekend for the championship chases in each of the divisions. A quick update of the pro divisions:
Top Fuel Hydro: Tyler Speer in Robert Montgomery's Shockwave will be looking for a third straight win. But Jarrett Silvey in the iconic Lou Osman's Speed Sports is just 67 points behind the leader entering the Diamond Drag Boat Nationals.
Top Alcohol Hydro: Travis Tutle in Short Fuse is 416 points clear of Rick Allen and Total Kaos in the Top Alcohol Hydro division. Tutle is a three-time winner this season.
Top Alcohol Flat: The margin atop the Top Alcohol Flat division is razor-thin. Tony Scarlata in Tommy Thompson's Shazam is just four points in front of Bill Miller in the Max Davis boat Party to the Max.
Pro Outlaw: Speer, of Woodstock, Georgia, looks to keep his pursuit of an unprecedented first double-championship will continue. Speer, in Georgia Outlaw, has a command 326-point leader over Terry Kain in Racing Kain in the Pro Outlaw division.
Pro Modified: Shawn Reed has driven Top Secret to a 318-point command over Marty Logan in Livin' the Dream. One of Reed's two wins this season came in June at the John Haas Memorial on "Lake Lucas."
Lyndal Scranton
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Corona, CA (July 31, 2018)
Tyler Speer has driven just about everything on dirt, pavement and water. Ask him to pick a favorite and he politely defers, saying that as long as he's going fast that is all that matters.
"They're all just so different," Speer said of a racing resume that started with motocross at age 5 and includes short-track crate late models, ARCA stock cars on dirt and pavement and, in the last few years, drag boats.
"I enjoy the uniqueness of all of them," the 27-year-old Speer said. "They all have their specialties that make them a blast to drive."
But these days, Speer is standing out for his work on the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series. The Woodstock, Georgia resident is chasing a first of its kind double championship, leading the points in both the Top Fuel Hydro and Pro Outlaw divisions.
The next step will come at the 8th annual Diamond Drag Boat Nationals, Aug. 31-Sept. 2 on "Lake Lucas" in Wheatland, Missouri. While there could be some ARCA dirt racing before that, Speer is otherwise clearing his racing slate to focus on the drag boats - where he's picked up a new title in 2018.
The Fastest Man on Water will take aim at a third straight Top Fuel Hydro win at Wheatland, where he scored his first back in June, aboard Robert Montgomery's "Shockwave" in just Speer's seventh career Top Fuel start. He went 233.44 miles-per-hour with an elapsed time of 3.252 seconds, records at the 875-foot course length.
"I think it's still sinking in a little bit," Speer said of the implications of backing that up with his second straight Top Fuel win, last month in San Angelo, Texas. "It's pretty cool to back it up. It puts some of the doubts of, 'it was a one-time-fluke type of thing' to rest.
So the 27-year-old Speer found it perfectly fitting on Saturday when he enjoyed the best day of his Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series career, as the 7th annual John Haas Memorial Drag Boat Classic wrapped up on "Lake Lucas."
Speer, of Woodstock, Georgia, captured his first career Top Fuel Hydro victory when he piloted Shockwave to a narrow victory over Mike Robbins in Nitro Nuts. Speer covered the 875-feet in 3.252 seconds at 227 miles-per-hour with Robbins at 3.3156 at 215.7142.
A few minutes later, Speer nearly scored a rare drag-boat double. His Georgia Outlaw was nipped for Pro Outlaw honors by Jim Richards in Alka-Hauler.
"To get one of them into the final, we were happy," a smiling Speer said. "To get both of them into the finals, we were pushing hard to get the round win in Pro Outlaw. But it was definitely a good points day, regardless if we got that win or not.
"Out here, when you get two boats into the finals, it's pretty awesome."
Speer marveled at the consistency of the Top Fuel boat over the two-day event, with elapsed times consistently between 3.2 and 3.3 both Friday and Saturday. He had a 233.44 pass in Friday's qualifying and that stood up throughout the weekend, for the Top Fuel speed record for the 875-foot course.
"We knew had to lay it down," he said of going up against Robbins and the Nitro Nuts team. Robbins had a 230.8764 miles-per-hour run in his semifinal round victory over Jarrett Silvey in Speed Sports.