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Annual food drive supports The Food Bank and hunger-relief partner Hickory County C.A.R.E.S.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Lucas Oil Speedway and KTTS are offering free admission to the races in Wheatland on Saturday, July 27 when race-goers donate four nonperishable food items for Ozarks Food Harvest.

Donations for admission will be collected the night of the race near an Ozarks Food Harvest truck at the main gate. Donors will receive one free ticket for every four nonperishable food items given. Gates open at 4 p.m., hot laps begin at 6:30 p.m. and racing starts at 7:05 p.m. Food donations will also support Ozarks Food Harvest’s partner food pantry in Wheatland, Hickory County C.A.R.E.S.

“It’s one of our more meaningful nights of the season. We’re honored to partner with the folks at Ozarks Food Harvest,” said Danny Lorton, general manager of Lucas Oil Speedway. “Our fans always rise to the occasion and we thank them for the willingness to help out so many in need while also getting to see a night of racing.”

Since 2011, Lucas Oil Speedway has helped collect more than 58,000 pounds of food to provide 48,400 meals for Ozarks Food Harvest.

Last year, event attendees donated 5,060 pounds of food, which helped provide 4,216 meals to hungry children, families and seniors in the Ozarks. This year, Lucas Oil Speedway and KTTS hope to collect even more food to help feed the 1 in 7 adults and 1 in 5 children facing hunger in the Ozarks.

“We’re grateful for this longstanding partnership with Lucas Oil Speedway,” said Denise Gibson, director of development and communication at Ozarks Food Harvest. “It’s one of our largest one-day food drives of the year, and it’s such a great opportunity for people to give back to those in need while enjoying a fun summer evening with their families.”

The speedway is located at 700 E. Highway 54 in Wheatland, and directions can be found at lucasoilspeedway.com. Regular admission is $12 for adults ages 16 and up, $9 for military and seniors ages 62 and up and $5 for youth ages 6 to 15. A list of most-needed items can be found on The Food Bank’s website at ozarksfoodharvest.org/fooddrive.

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About Ozarks Food Harvest — The Food Bank
Ozarks Food Harvest is the Feeding America food bank for southwest Missouri, providing food to 270 organizations across 28 Ozarks counties serving 261,000 unduplicated individuals. The Food Bank provides more than 17 million meals annually. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or twitter.com/ozksfoodharvest.