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2012 Commonwealth 100 driver entry list heavy with Champions

Jamaica, VA – With the 3rd Annual Commonwealth 100 at Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway just four weeks away the driver’s list is looking like a who’s who in dirt late model royalty.

Leading the list of drivers expected to be competing for the $25,000 top prize is the event’s defending champion Steve Shaver of Vienna, WV driving the familiar K&L Rumley Enterprises #6 Rocket. Shaver was masterful in his approach to last year’s event, dominating the event to take home the top prize. For anyone that knows the history of Virginia Motor Speedway they also know that the K&L Rumley car will always be in contention for the win.

A long list of former national and regional tour champions will try to unseat Shaver as the marquee events defending champion, leading the list is the defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Champion Jimmy Owens. Other series champions expected to be on hand will be 2-time Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Champion Scott Bloomquist, 4-time Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Champion Earl Pearson Jr, 2011 World of Outlaws Late Model Champion Rick Eckert, two-time World of Outlaws Late Model Champion Josh Richards, 2007 World of Outlaws Late Model Champion Steve Francis, 2006 World of Outlaws Late Model Champion Tim McCreadie, 2-time UMP Late Model National Champion Dennis Erb, Jr. and 3-time Three State Flyers Champion Jason Covert.

Of the list of champions Bloomquist, Eckert and Covert have scored special event wins are the ½ mile facility with Bloomquist being the latest winner at Virginia Motor Speedway picking up the win in the $15,000 to win 32nd Annual USA 100 held last September.

With such a big prize on the line fans can expect a tremendous field of other national and regional talent to include 2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Rookie of the Year and current Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year contender Austin Hubbard, Jonathan Davenport, Jared Landers, Don O’Neal, Tyler Reddick, Terry Casey, John Blankenship, Eric Wells, Walker Arthur, Ricky Elliott, Jamie Lathroum and a host of other regional hot shoes.

Not only is this event shaping up to be one of the biggest events of the year to attend, but Lucas Oil Studios will also be on hand to tape the event. The Commonwealth 100 at Virginia Motor Speedway on April 13-14th will be the first televised event in 2012 for the LOLMDS. The event will air on both SPEED and NBC Sports Network in 2012. The SPEED Channel will air the event on May 13th at 6PM EST while NBC Sports Network will air the event on June 10 at 6PM EST.

This year’s edition will have a new twist as the Lucas Oil Late Model series will now sanction the $25,000 to win event. The weekend will also include a $3000 to win non-qualifiers race.

Fans have until April 1 to grab one of the best deals in dirt Late Model racing — a two-day advance adult ticket for just $30; Senior / Military are $27 and students (7-17) just $15. All tickets are general admission. No reserved seats will be sold for the event.

Fans can purchase tickets by visiting www.vamotorspeedway.com, downloading the advance ticket order form and sending it to the track with a money order or cashier’s check (no personal checks), or by calling the speedway office at 804-758-1867 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and using a Mastercard, Visa or Discover card.

Drivers, meanwhile, can also save by entering the Commonwealth 100 prior to the early-entry deadline of April 1. The $150 early-entry fee not only saves racers $50 off the regular $200 entry fee but also includes a two-day driver pit pass worth $50.

The Commonwealth 100 weekend kicks off on Fri., April 13, with Lucas Oil Late Model time trials and heat races, while B-Mains, a 30-lap Non-Qualifiers’ Race and the headline 100-lapper take center stage on Sat., April 14. A raindate of Sun., April 15, has been established for the event. Schedule of events is tentative and subject to change.

Don’t forget to like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/vamotorspeedway and follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/vamotorspeedway.com for a chance at special deals and prizes during the 2012 season.

Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway, an ASA affiliate track, is a 1/2-mile, dirt oval. The track is located on U.S. Route 17, eight miles north of Saluda, VA and 25 miles south of Tappahannock, VA in Jamaica, VA. The speedway is just a short drive from Richmond, Fredericksburg, Southern Maryland and the Hampton Roads areas.

To learn more about Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway and its 2012 schedule of events, fans may call the Speedway office at (804) 758-1VMS or visit the track’s web site at www.vamotorspeedway.com.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, visit the series’ website at www.lucasdirt.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: DAVE SEAY (804) 758-1867 OR (804) 357-7223

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