World of Outlaws Late Model Series Makes First-Ever Visit To Lake Ozark Speedway On Tues., Aug. 15

ELDON, MO  (Aug. 7, 2006)  - Ask Lake Ozark Speedway general manager Ed Franko about the major dirt Late Model event his track will host on Tues., Aug. 15, and you'll get an emotional response.

"The World of Outlaws!" Franko practically shouted when he began talking about the Lake Ozark 50 a few days ago. "The big boys are coming to Lake Ozark Speedway, and everyone's excited."

The outgoing Franko is looking forward to the midweek special, which will feature the first-ever visit to the three-year-old track by the World of Outlaws Late Model Series.

"This is the biggest dirt Late Model show we've ever had here," said Franko, pointing to the night's $10,000 top prize and $50,000-plus total purse. "We had the World of Outlaws Sprints in for a race last year, but we haven't had a really big show for the dirt Late Models until now."

All of the WoO LMS travelers will be in the same boat after they sign in on Aug. 15: it will be their first appearances at the three-year-old track located in central Missouri.

Franko is confident that the tour's regulars will be impressed when they arrive at Lake Ozark Speedway, a modern facility owned by former racer Howard Schrock. Schrock previously owned and operated Capital Speedway, near Jefferson City, Mo., but encroaching civilization led to its closing and prompted Schrock to build Lake Ozark Speedway from the ground up.

What Schrock produced is a Midwest dirt-track showplace. Lake Ozark Speedway boasts a wide, semi-banked racing surface; Musco lights; a 5,000-seat grandstand; a lighted pit area; a 20-position scoreboard; a complete bar in the spectator area; and clean restrooms.

The track is also nestled near the Lake of the Ozarks, one of the Midwest's most popular resort destinations.

"We definitely have a good clay surface," Franko said of the Lake Ozark layout, "and we want to keep a little moisture in it so there will be a fast racetrack for (the Outlaws). If we do that, there should be plenty of three-wide racing - hopefully even some four-wide."

While the track does not run Super Late Models weekly as part of its Saturday-night shows, the speedway has hosted two events this season for DIRT MotorSports' Mid-America Racing Series (MARS) and both were successful. Arkansas driver Jeff Taylor bested a 28-car field on hand for a July 8 meet, and Wendell Wallace of Batesville, Ark., who toured with the WoO LMS for part of the 2004 season, topped the 33-car gathering on Aug. 5.

The WoO LMS will tow to Lake Ozark after competing on Mon., Aug. 14, at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway. With just six WoO LMS events remaining in the 2006 season after the Lake Ozark 50, the race is sure to play a key role in the titanic battle for the $120,000 tour points title.

Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., leads the WoO LMS points standings by 22 points over Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., entering the Farmer City/Lake Ozark doubleheader. Also within 60 points of McCreadie are Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., defending champion Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., and Rick Eckert of York, Pa.

Reserved seats (top 10 rows of the grandstand) are available for the Lake Ozark 50 at a cost of $30. General admission is $28, and children under 12 will receive free general admission. Pit passes will be $35.

The pit gates to Lake Ozark Speedway are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. CT on Tues., Aug. 15. Spectator gates will open at 5 p.m., with hot laps starting at 6:30 p.m. and time trials set for 7 p.m.

Franko said fans will be able to purchase tickets on Tuesday beginning at 11 a.m., when the box office window opens for business.

For more information visit www.lakeozarkspeedway.com  or call 573-302-4499.