The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is heading to Kokomo Speedway on September 20, 2019 for the Kokomo Speedway Late Model Shootout

If you ask dirt late model fans which dirt track should host a LOLMDS race, the majority answer is usually Kokomo Speedway.

Now, that will happen in 2019. Cody Sommer, the man behind the Gateway Dirt Nationals, The Dirt Million and the rebirth of Mansfield Motor Speedway will promote the event.

“When fans want something bad enough, we are going to do whatever it takes to make it happen. I fully expect this to be one of the most anticipated events on the 2019 schedule and I am excited to work with the O’Conner family, Kokomo Speedway staff and the Lucas Oil Series in bringing one of the most requested venues and race tracks into the national dirt late model spotlight next year” said Cody Sommer, the event’s promoter and president of the Dirt Racing Association.

Kokomo Speedway stated of the news, “This is going to be a spectacular event!!”

The new dirt racing event will be titled the Kokomo Speedway Late Model Shootout. If the LOLMDS race at Brownstown remains, that September 20th date would place it directly ahead of the Jackson 100 race.

Kokomo Speedway

Kokomo Speedway is a 1/4-mile dirt oval located in Kokomo, Indiana. The track first opened in 1947.

The track went mostly unchanged for nearly fifty years. In 1994, Kent Evans purchased the track.

As Evans took over the speedway, he installed a state of the art lighting system that still lights the track today. From there, it changed hands several times.

In the early 2000’s, the O’Connor family purchased the dirt track. They made drastic changes to the racing surface. They tore down the old flat track and started from zero.

They widened the track and increased the banking. They also installed a catch fence that’s IRL and NACSAR approved.

Nearly 15 years later, those changes set the current layout of the track. It’s a dirt track racing gem of a complex.

The track has a long list of famed competitors who went on to Indycar: A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Lloyd Ruby, Troy Ruttman, Johnny Parsons, Parnelli Jones, Bill Vuckovich, Pancho Carter, John Andretti, Steve Butler, J.J. Yeley, Steve Kinser, Jack Hewitt, Rich Vogler, Tom Bigelow, Tony Stewart and Mike Groff

Several NASCAR drivers have run at the track as well: Ryan Newman, Jeff Gordon, Ken Schrader, Kasey Kahne, Yeley, Stewart and Dave Blaney

The remainder of the 2019 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series schedule has yet to be released. Last year, the schedule was announced in mid-October.

More

How does a track get on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series schedule?

A new dirt track in Daisy, Georgia is looking to mirror the design of Kokomo Speedway

A new dirt track in Alabama is also looking to mirror the design of Kokomo Speedway

Rick Schwallie discusses the growth of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

LOLMDS director details future plans for the dirt late model series

2018 LOLMDS schedule will net record payouts to the drivers

Cody Sommer comments on dirt track safer barriers

Was Cody Sommer surprised with the success of the Gateway Dirt Nationals in just the first year of the show?

Cody Sommer recalls the first night of the Gateway Dirt Nationals

2018 LOLMDS Schedule

Links

Kokomo Speedway | Cody Sommer | Dirt Racing Association | Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series