January 15, 2024 | By Lyndal Scranton

Lucas Oil Speedway GM Lorton named finalist for ARPY Regional Promoter of the Year award

WHEATLAND, Mo. — Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager Danny Lorton has been named a regional finalist for the 48th annual Auto Racing Promoter of the Year Award as one of five nominees in Region 5.

Lorton has been with Lucas Oil Speedway since December of 2015, when he was named Assistant General Manager. He was promoted to General Manager in September of 2018.

Joining Lorton as Region 5 finalists are Brad Stevens and Jessi Mynatt, 34 Raceway; John McCoy, Knoxville Raceway; Scotty Allen, Dallas County Speedway and John Allen of 81 Speedway.

"I'm honored and humbled to be nominated for this prestigious award and included with some outstanding people," Lorton said. "It's a tribute to our team at Lucas Oil Speedway for all their hard work."

Along with overseeing the Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series, Lorton guided a 2023 season with several highlights, including another successful running of the Show-Me 100, the first visit by the Camping World SRX Series with more than 8,000 fans in attendance and four visits by the Kentucky Drag Boat Association to Lake Lucas.

Fans can vote for a nominee in each region in online balloting at https://forms.gle/fqZdb6gXsdvvcJvo6. All regions must be voted for and ballots may be rejected if not completed. One vote per email address is permitted. Voting continues through midnight on Feb. 24 to determine award winners, plus the ARP Event of the Year award.

Region 1 Nominees: Paul Cole, Land of Legends Raceway, NY; Brett Deyo, Fonda and Utica Rome Speedway, NY; Kolten Gouse, BAPS Motor Speedway, PA; Alicia Hughes & Jay Fitzgerald, Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, NY; Steve O’Neal, Port Royal Speedway, PA; CV Elms & April May Preston, Bear Ridge Speedway, VT; The Arute Family, Stafford Motor Speedway, CT.

Region 2 Nominees: Tim Bryant, Five Flags Speedway, FL; Keely Dubensky & Jack McNelly, CARS Tour, NC; Scott Tripp, Lakeview Speedway, SC; Garrett Mitchell, Freedom Factory, FL; Wendall Durrance, All-Tech Raceway, FL; William Scoggin, Clarksville Speedway, TN.

Region 3 Nominees: Randy Maggio, Painesville Speedway/Lorain County Speedway, OH; Kevin Gundaker, Tri City Speedway, IL; The Deery Family, Rockford Speedway, IL; Larry Boos, Montpelier Motor Speedway & Rumble at Fort Wayne, IN; Jerry Gappens, Eldora Speedway, OH; Kim and Randy Smart, Midvale Speedway, OH.

Region 4 Nominees: Todd Thelen, Slinger Super Speedway, WI; Wayne Brevik, Marshfield Motor Speedway, WI; Terry Tucker, Jefferson Speedway, WI; Steve Sinclair, IRA Sprint Car Series, WI; Toby Kruse & Ratajczak Family, 141 Speedway, WI; Cole Queensland & Queensland Family, Deer Creek Speedway, MN; Doug Johnson, Huset’s Speedway, SD.

Region 5 Nominees: Brad Stevens and Jessi Mynatt, 34 Raceway, Iowa; John McCoy, Knoxville Raceway, Iowa; Scotty Allen, Dallas County Speedway, MO; John Allen, 81 Speedway, Kansas; Danny Lorton, Lucas Oil Speedway, MO.

Region 6 Nominees: Scott & Kim Russell, Placerville Speedway, CA; Dennis Gage, Marysville Raceway, CA; Peter Murphy, Skagit Speedway, WA; Kevin Sustaire, Rocket Raceway Park, TX; Brad Whitfield, Cocopah Speedway, AZ; Tim Huddleston, Irwindale Speedway, CA.; Jeremy Anders, Wenatchee Valley Super Oval, WA; Michelle Lackey Maynor, Alaska Raceway Park, AK.

Outstanding Event Nominees: Gerald Haers Memorial, Land of Legends Raceway, NY; Sean Lias Memorial, Penn Can Speedway, PA; Rockford Speedway’s Last Lap Season, Rockford Speedway, IL; Eldora Sprint Million, Eldora Speedway, OH; The Marvin Smith Memorial, Cottage Grove Speedway, OR; Buckeye Figure 8 Nationals, Painesville Speedway, OH; Fall Classic, 141 Speedway, WI.

For ticket information about any future event at Lucas Oil Speedway contact admissions director Nichole McMillan at (417) 295-6043 or email her at nmcmillan@lucasoilspeedway.com for more information.