9/2/2021
Lucas Oil Speedway
Lucas Oil Speedway Spotlight: Former pavement racer Willard looks for progress at MLRA Ron Jenkins Memorial
WHEATLAND, MO. (Sept. 2, 2021) - Brennon Willard knew the transition from being one of the region’s top asphalt Late Model drivers into the dirt-track world was going to be a challenge.
It has been that, and then some, for the racer from Lebanon. But despite limited success since making the leap beginning with the 2020 season, Willard is glad he made the move.
“It’s been tough. Anybody who tells you it’s not hard is lying to you,” Willard said this week, during his preparations for a two-race Lucas Oil MLRA Late Model swing which includes Saturday night’s 2nd annual Ron Jenkins Memorial at Lucas Oil Speedway.
“It turns into a business quickly, but in the back of your mind you have to remember that you are doing it for fun,” Willard said. “But that’s the hard part. I’m too competitive to not want to run better.”
Willard plans to debut a new Rocket XR1 this weekend, Friday at Lakeside Speedway for the Clyde Ellis Memorial and then on Saturday at what is now his home track.
Racing has been a life-long passion for Willard, whose grandfather Bill Willard, built the Lebanon I-44 Speedway and Bolivar Speedway in the mid-1980s. Brennon Willard’s family owns I-44 Speedway and Brennon raced on the pavement at both I-44 and Bolivar, winning championships there prior to moving to the dirt.
“It was hard in the fact that I still like asphalt racing,” the 37-year-old Willard said of his decision to switch surfaces. “I have nothing against it at all. I didn’t want to race at our own track. I didn’t want to race at Bolivar and worry about getting into somebody and they couldn’t race at Lebanon the next week.
“Travel is just too hard. The closest (asphalt) track next to us is six hours away. You can go race dirt Late Models any time, within three hours. It was kind of a no-brainer as far as deciding what to do. We won both championships that last year and it was like, ‘What do you want to do now?’
“I wasn’t getting any younger and felt like it was time to try something different.”
Even though the results don’t always show up - he has two top-10 MLRA finishes this season - Willard said he knows he’s getting better each time behind the wheel.
“I know we’re better, especially earlier in the night,” he said. “We’re qualifying better. We qualified eighth the last race and last year our qualifying wasn’t good. So, we’re getting better. It just takes time to learn.
“Every week you also know you’re getting better because of who you’re racing against. You’re racing against the best guys in the area and they teach you a lot, whether they know it or not.”
One preconceived notion that Willard had to overcome was the thought process that saving his tires and equipment - especially in lengthy races - was important.
“On asphalt, you’re being patient trying to save your equipment to be there at the end. Everything’s backwards on dirt,” Willard said. “On dirt, it’s a sprint. The harder you drive a dirt car usually, earlier in the night, the better you are. The harder you drive as asphalt car, the harder you wreck and the slower you are. It’s 100 percent backwards.”
Willard does have the benefit of having fellow Lebanon resident Tony Jackson Jr. to lean on for advice. Jackson leads the MLRA points and has done his share of racing on both dirt and asphalt over the years.
“He understands cars better than he’ll ever let anybody know,” Willard said of Jackson. “When you have him as a buddy and see what he’s doing at night - as he’s giving you a hard time for not working on your car he holds you accountable and pushes you. That’s the best thing. He pushes me whether he realizes it or not to try and be better.”
“It’s been good to have him to lean on. If I’m not sure of an adjustment or what to do, he helps me a lot. That’s been a positive.”
Willard said he’s eager to try and close the season strong. Including this weekend’s doubleheader, there are six MLRA events remaining.
“We’ll see what 2022 brings,” Willard said. “Hopefully the next month will be good and we’ll get ready for next year.”
The Ron Jenkins Memorial marks the final Late Model action of the season at Lucas Oil Speedway. Winner of the 40-lap Late Model feature will earn $6,000, which includes a $1,000 bonus from Mary Jenkins in memory of her late husband Ron Jenkins, builder of the original Wheatland Raceway. Mary Jenkins also is awarding a $500 Fast Time Qualifier bonus.
Included on the dirt track will be full programs for the Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mods and O'Reilly Auto Parts USRA Stock Cars, paying each 25-lap feature winner $750. While regular-season points are finalized in those divisions, drivers will continue to collect USRA national points.
For the complete MLRA schedule, point standings and archived stories, please visit MLRAracing.com.
Gates at Lucas Oil Speedway dirt track for the Ron Jenkins Memorial open at 4 p.m. Saturday with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:05.
Lucas Oil MLRA Ron Jenkins Memorial admission:
Adults (16 and over) $20
Seniors (62 and over)/Military - $17
Youth (ages 6-15) - $10
Kids (5 and under) - FREE
Family pass (2 adults and up to 3 kids) - $50
Pit pass - $40
*Admission free with 3-day drag boat, 2-day drag boat or Saturday drag boat ticket
On Lake Lucas: Sanctioned by the Kentucky Drag Boat Association, the Diamond Drag Boat Nationals, Friday through Sunday, will have a $40,000 purse.
Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager Danny Lorton reminds drag boat racers and fans that a revised pricing package is available for the lakeside RV and camping spots adjacent to Lake Lucas. They must be purchased in advance by contacting Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984.
For the three-day show, the Lakeside RV Package is $250. It includes a 20 by 45 foot space, one vehicle pass and one golf cart pass. Campers can deduct $50 per package if they do not need a vehicle pass and another $50 if a golf cart pass is not necessary.
In addition to the drag boat racing on Friday, the Steve Moeller Band will play from 8 p.m. until midnight at the beer tent on the Lake Lucas drag boat midway. Fans are invited to attend.
For more information on the Kentucky Drag Boat Association, please visit KDBA.net.
11th annual Diamond Drag Boat Nationals
Friday tentative schedule:
7 a.m. - Registration opens
8 a.m. - Spectator gates open
9 a.m. - Round 1 Sportsman qualifying
10:30 a.m. - Round 1 Pro qualifying
12:30 p.m. - Round 2 Sportsman qualifying
2 p.m. - Round 2 Pro qualifying
Friday drag boat admission:
Three-day general admission/pit pass combo - $60
Senior/Military three-day general admission/pit pass combo - $54
Youth (ages 6-15) three-day general admission/pit pass combo - $30
Ages 6 and over general admission/pit pass combo - $10
Kids 5-and-under - FREE
Saturday tentative schedule:
7 a.m. - Registration opens
8 a.m. - Spectator gates open
9 a.m. - Round 1 Sportsman qualifying
10:30 a.m. - Round 1 Pro qualifying
12:30 p.m. - Round 2 Sportsman qualifying
2 p.m. - Round 2 Pro qualifying
Saturday drag boat admission:
Adults (16 and over) general admission/pit pass combo - $25
Seniors (62 and over)/Military general admission/pit pass combo - $22
Youth (6-15) general admission/pit pass combo - $10
Kids (5 and under) - FREE
Family pass (2 adults and up to 3 kids ages 6-15 - $60
Adult 2-day general admission/pit pass combo - $50
Seniors/Military 2-day general admission/pit pass combo - $44
Youth (6-15) 2-day general admission/pit pass combo - $20
*All Saturday, 3-day and 2-day tickets include FREE admission to dirt track on Saturday night
Sunday tentative schedule
8 a.m. - Spectator gates open
9 a.m. - Eliminations begin
Sunday drag boat admission
Adults (16 and over) general admission/pit pass combo - $25
Seniors (62 and over)/Military general admission/pit pass combo - $22
Youth (6-15) general admission/pit pass combo - $10
Kids (5 and under) - FREE
Family pass (2 adults and up to 3 kids 6-15) - $60
For ticket information for any event during the 2021 Lucas Oil Speedway season, contact admissions director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or via email at Nichole@lucasoilspeedway.com. Fans also can use the online ticketing system.
CONTACT:
Danny Lorton
Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager
Office: (417) 282-5984
DLorton@lucasoilspeedway.com
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Article Credit: By Lyndal Scranton, Lucas Oil Speedway