Midwest Sheet Metal Challenge Back at Show-Me 100

Midwest Sheet Metal Challenge Back at Show-Me 100

Story By: Jeremy Shields/LOLMDS

Photos By: Heath Lawson/LOLMDS

BATAVIA, OH (May 23, 2018) – The goal is simple, win, and you’re in. The Midwest Sheet Metal Challenge will again offer Show-Me 100 non-qualifiers a last chance to chase the big prize.

“At the end of the day, there’s a lot of guys loading up their stuff and we’re giving 24 of them another opportunity,” said Midwest Sheet Metal owner Chris Davis. The winner of the 20-lap, Midwest Sheet Metal Challenge has the choice of keeping their $2,500 winnings, or forfeiting their earnings to start last in the 100-lap main event.

This year will mark the sixth Midwest Sheet Metal Challenge, prior to the Show-Me 100 main event. “That one guy is going to get an opportunity to change his whole life,” Davis said of the appeal of the race format. The last-to-first storybook run nearly came to fruition a couple of times.

In 2016, Bobby Pierce won the Midwest Sheet Metal Challenge and started 29th in the Show-Me 100. He was dueling for the lead late in the event, bringing fans to their feet in a duel with Scott Bloomquist and Jimmy Owens before a flat tire ruined his chances. Pierce still wound up sixth and earned $5,000.

“Everybody in racing wants to give to the leaders and the winners, and that’s all fine and good,” Davis said. “I’m giving 24 guys, who otherwise wouldn’t be getting anything, an opportunity to win 30 grand. They get that one more chance.”

Davis and Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager, Dan Robinson came up with the idea for the Challenge six years ago. In the format, the top 24 drivers that did not transfer into the Show-Me 100 (via preliminary events) are eligible for the 20-lap Challenge.

In addition to the winner’s share, the Midwest Sheet Metal Challenge pays a minimum of $250 to start so it gives everyone in the field a chance for additional winnings despite not making the main event.

“The Midwest Sheet Metal Challenge has really become an exciting part of Show-Me 100 weekend for the fans,” Robinson said. “It’s also an important event for the racers as they know it gives them not only one last shot to get into the Show-Me 100, but it also gives them a chance to make a little extra money if they have had a bit of a rough weekend.”

“Chris and Jan Davis [owners of Midwest Sheet Metal] are terrific supporters of dirt-track racing in not only southwest Missouri but all over the country. We appreciate him stepping up and making this race a key part of our biggest weekend once again.”

Midwest Sheet Metal is a family owned and operated business specializing in the design and custom fabrication of carbon steel, stainless and aluminum products. Midwest Sheet Metal has one of the nation’s largest in-stock inventories of steel, aluminum, stainless and structural shapes.

For more information on the company, check out www.msmfab.com or call (417) 869-1252.