BATAVIA, Ohio – The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is returning to action for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic forced several postponements and cancellations.

The Lucas Oil Reopening Tour provides the purse for six newly added May events. With the newly added events, along with the races contested at Speedweeks, the series drivers will still compete in 54 of the 57 original tour events.

As an added bonus, the number of scheduled televised races will remain as originally scheduled.

Because of the scheduling changes, a pair of unique $7,000-to-win events, on May 12-13, at Lucas Oil Speedway, in Wheatland, Mo., will signal the return, with all late model teams invited. These events will be fan-less, but fans will get a chance to tune in live via LucasOilRacing.tv, and free on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Facebook page at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT.

In addition to the back-to-back weekday races, Lucas Oil Speedway will hold a practice session on Monday, May 11 (closed to the public).

Racing will not stop after Lucas Oil Speedway, as the series will be racing (fan-less, once again), on May 19-20 at Golden Isles Speedway and May 26-27 at East Bay Raceway Park.

Race teams will be gunning for more than $70,000 in purse money at each venue. These races will pay $7,000 to-win each night. All races are full series points races, with a five-person limit per team.

In addition to race schedule updates, the Sunoco Road to Wheatland is now the Sunoco Road to East Bay. All teams that have perfect attendance with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series through May 27 will receive the $1,500 bonus from Sunoco Race Fuels.