Gordy Gundaker, who competed in 14 of the 19 races on the Lucas Oil MLRA tour this past season, reacted to Lucas Oil dissolving the tour.
Chris Simpson at Lucas Oil Speedway via FloRacing.com
Lucas Oil announced it was dissolving the series as “part of its long-term vision and commitment to continue nurturing the growth of dirt racing at the grassroots level and to provide a sustainable and exciting future for racers, fans and the entire Midwest motorsports community.”
The company detailed that the dissolution of the MLRA series “will allow the company to consolidate efforts and resources to better serve the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and to improve facilities and fan experiences at Lucas Oil Speedway.”
President of Lucas Cattle Company and Lucas Oil Speedway Jamie Devney stated, “Ending the MLRA was a difficult decision for everyone here at Lucas Oil. The series has brought fans incredible late model racing for years, but this shift helps us dedicate more time, energy and resources to growing the Late Model Dirt Series and enhancing the Lucas Oil Speedway.”
Devney added, “Lucas Oil Products remains fully committed to the ongoing development of Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri. There are significant projects already in progress, which include infrastructure improvements and facility upgrades. There is no doubt Lucas Oil Speedway will continue to serve as a cornerstone of grassroots racing for years to come. Our vision is to make the Speedway a must-see destination for racing fans and a venue for premier events guaranteed to attract audiences and competitors from across the country.”
The Lucas Oil MLRA hauler via FloRacing.com
Gundaker, who finished 10th in the Lucas Oil MLRA points for the 2024 season, reacted to the news in a post on Facebook, “Sad day for Regional racers across the Midwest. This gave guys in western Mo, Iowa, Kansas, Arkansas, etc places to race.”
He added, “Everyday we get a little bit closer to 1 or 2 National series traveling around and being just like NASCAR. Seems as if the higher ups want exactly that. 30-40 race teams traveling around. Damn shame.”
Gordy Gundaker on Facebook
Gundaker was not the only one to share such an opinion. Joseph Joiner shared his thoughts in a recent Hunt the Front Podcast episode, “It feels like it furthers that gap between the grassroots level, the lower level and the national, higher level of dirt racing. The last couple of years we’ve dumped a lot of money into this top level of the sport, the Lucas Oil series, World of Outlaws, Flo. There’s so much money at the top, but we’re having to shut down, not even the bottom, but the middle level, here, the middle ground with the MLRA because we’re not putting money there.”
He added, “You’re going to get it so separated from the lower level, the grassroots that you’re going to lose that connection.”
Joshua Joiner then added, “It looks a lot like NASCAR. It’s starting to look a lot like NASCAR disconnected from its grassroots base and where it came from and its growing into something that’s going to be so different from what it was that a lot of people aren’t going to recognize it. And aren’t going to feel like they’re part of it.”
What do you make of Gundaker and the Joiners’ reaction to Lucas Oil shutting down the MLRA series?