Lucas Oil Speedway Spotlight: Darren Phillips looks to make final racing season a memorable one

 

WHEATLAND, MO. (June 12, 2024) – Darren Phillips has enjoyed a 27-year racing career on area dirt tracks, driving in a variety of divisions along the way. His top goal always has been to enjoy the ride, with his family.

It all began when Phillips got to race with his brother, Darrell Rife in 4-cylinders at Nevada Speedway, and has evolved to racing with his 23-year-old son Dalton Phillips. But Darren’s time behind the wheel is starting to wind down.

Phillips announced earlier this year that the 2024 racing season would be his last. He’s doing so by realizing a long-time dream of driving a Late Model and Phillips is having a solid season, currently eighth in the Hermitage Lumber POWRi Late Model points chase at Lucas Oil Speedway.

“Last year we went out and played around on the boat, did a bunch of other stuff with family, and had fun with it,” Phillips said. “It’s time to find something else to do. I’ve enjoyed my racing career a lot. I’ve met a lot of my closest friends racing.

“About everywhere you go you’re going to meet somebody or run into somebody you know. You’re gonna run into some people you have hard feelings with. But the next time, they might become some of your closest friends. I’ve had a few of those.”

Phillips, 46, is looking forward to Saturday night’s doubleheader at his hometown track in Wheatland. Along with the Big Adventure RV Weekly Championship Series Midseason Championships, the Hermitage Lumber POWRi Late Models will run their makeup feature from a May 25th rainout. That $2,000-to-win race will lead off the program.

Phillips has been a familiar face on area speedways, going back to the opening of the original Wheatland Raceway in the early 2000s. Phillips drove Factory Stocks in those days and has spent time in Modifieds, B-Mods, Mod Lites and USRA Stock Cars before finally taking a shot at Late Models midway through last season.

“That was my dream since I was a little kid,” Phillips said, recalling how he grew up watching MLRA Late Model standouts like Alan Vaughan and David Turner race at Nevada. “I loved watching all those guys and my dream was to run a Late Model. I knew I couldn’t afford it … I still can’t afford it, but I do what I can.

“When I had a chance to get into first Late Model I bought last year, I had a blast.”

Phillips traded his USRA Stock Car for a Late Model this season has said it’s “been a fun time” as he’s adjusted to car.

“We started out the year a little rocky trying to learn the new car,” he said. “I think I’ve got it working pretty good now. I’ve had a few good runs the last little bit. I’m looking forward to this weekend after the last three weekends when I’ve run pretty strong.”

Included were a pair of ninth-place feature runs at Lucas Oil Speedway and a fifth at Central Missouri Speedway. He’s eighth in Lucas Oil Speedway points, putting him within realistic range of achieving one of his goals.

“I would like to finish top five at Lucas for points and finish top 10, if not the top five, in (POWRi) national points,” he said. “Those are the biggest goals to end my career.”

The 2021 USRA Stock Cars Central Region champion and 2023 Bolivar Speedway champ in USRA Stock Cars said he has a lot of people to thank for supporting his racing career. Topping the list are his significant other, Bobbi Lehman, and five children. The family serves as his crew on race nights.

“I just want to thank everybody that’s helped me and thank all my kids for being there and helping me and thank my wife for sticking with me,” Phillips said. “My kids have been with me 100 percent. I’ve enjoyed doing this with my kids.”

The Big Adventure RV Weekly Championship Series Midseason Championship is Presented by the Bolivar Herald-Free Press. Look for discount coupons to Saturday’s action in The Bolivar Herald-Free Press.

Action will get underway with the Hermitage Lumber POWRi Late Models running their 30-lap makeup feature from a rainout on the final night of the Show-Me 100. The $2,000-to-win feature, using the lineup that was set to run on May 25th, will follow hot laps the regular racing program will get underway after the makeup race.

Midseason champions will be crowned in all four weekly divisions – the Arctic Food Equipment USRA Modifieds, O’Reilly Auto Parts USRA B-Mods, Clear Creek Golf Cars USRA B-Mods and POWRi Late Models. POWRi Super Stocks have been added as a special guest class with a $500-to-win feature.

This Saturday’s regularly-scheduled Late Model feature also marks the beginning of a “bounty” on Late Model points leader and defending track champion Justin Wells. The bounty will start at $500 to any driver able to beat Wells and each week that the bounty doesn’t get claimed, $100 will be added – June 22nd ($600), July 4th ($700), July 20th ($800) and July 27th ($900).

If no one claims the bounty in the five-week hunt, then Wells will receive the $900 bounty money plus an extra $100 to make it an even $1,000. The bounty has to be earned legally, with the driver’s car passing tech 100 percent and Wells has to have finished the race for it to be claimed.

Pit gates open at 4 p.m. Saturday with grandstands at 4:30, hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:05.

Saturday admission
Advance tickets (13 and over, online only) – $12
Adults (ages 13 and over) – $15
Seniors (62 and up)/Military – $12
Youth (ages 6-12) – $5
Kids GA (5 and under) – FREE
Pit pass – $35
Family pass (up to two adults, two youth, one FREE go-kart ride and 10 percent off Track Treasures Gift Shop purchase) – $35

For ticket information on any Lucas Oil Speedway event, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 295-6043 or via email at nmcmillan@lucasoilspeedway.com.

 

 

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Category: Lucas Oil Speedway, Missouri