Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri is one of the most well-known and highly regarded multi-sport racing facilities in the country, but it wasn’t always that way. Lucas Oil Speedway is actually the second racing facility at the corners of Highways 54 and 83 in Wheatland. The land was originally a hayfield and soybean field among other agricultural uses prior to hosting motorsports events as Wheatland Raceway.
Local Wheatland residents Ron and Mary Jenkins built the original racing facility as a 3/8th mile dirt track, which opened in mid-2001 and was known as Wheatland Raceway. The raceway was a popular entertainment destination almost immediately as the track provided some of the best side-by-side short track dirt racing in the region. Wheatland’s Kent Smith was the original Manager of the facility when it opened and has fond memories of the great racing and the efforts of Ron and Mary Jenkins to provide a quality program at an affordable price for the local racing fans.
Wheatland Raceway continued to operate as a 3/8th mile dirt track running such classes as Open Late Models, A-Modifieds, Factory Stocks, and Pure Stocks through it’s formative years. The track also hosted many special events including the Buckner, Missouri based Midwest Late Model Racing Association. Fenton, Missouri native and NASCAR Star Ken Schrader even competed at Wheatland Raceway on occasion.
The landscape changed significantly in 2004 as Forrest and Charlotte Lucas began looking for a racetrack to call their own near their Cross Timbers, Missouri cattle ranch. Charlotte & ForrestAfter discussions with Ron and Mary Jenkins, Forrest and Charlotte Lucas purchased the Wheatland Raceway in late 2004. Upon the completion of the racing season, the Lucas Oil construction crew under the careful supervision of manager Gary Hubert set about to transform Wheatland Raceway into what is now known as the “Diamond of Dirt Tracks”, Lucas Oil Speedway.
Lucas Oil Speedway would undergo a massive multi-million dollar renovation project that lasted until mid-summer 2006.
As part of the project, the only item remaining was the dirt track itself. An all new grandstand complex complete with 21 Luxury VIP Suites, a state of the art bar, concession stand, and gift shop were erected. A completely new pit area was installed with concrete pit stalls plus electric and water in nearly every pit stall. An enclosed tech building, fabrication shop, and a full service parts store were also constructed.
With great fanfare, the facility reopened in June of 2006 as Lucas Oil Speedway with an MLRA Late Model Special. A capacity crowd was in attendance to witness the first ever race at the sparkling new Lucas Oil Speedway. Forrest and Charlotte Lucas and many Lucas Oil employees and other dignitaries were on hand to christen the new crown jewel of Hickory County.
Lucas Oil Speedway continues to operate one of the most successful dirt track programs in the country week in a week out including some of the largest events in the country such as the Show-Me 100, the Diamond Nationals, and the Pro-Pulling Nationals. Many of the events receive National Television coverage on CBS, SPEED, and ESPN.