| BATAVIA, Ohio (April 25, 2026) – The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing is excited to announce a new partnership with Steering Buddy, based in Anniston, Alabama. Mike Pearl, founder of the Steering Buddy system, has agreed to sponsor the Dark Horse Winner category for the remainder of the 2026 season. The Dark Horse category will recognize any driver who has never won a full-points Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series feature event and goes on to capture their first Series victory in 2026. Eligible winners will receive an additional $1,000 bonus, courtesy of Steering Buddy. Pearl, who was eager to partner with the Series, saw this initiative as a meaningful way to give back to racers while also promoting his product. Steering Buddy was designed and developed several years ago by Mike Pearl and his son, Grant Pearl, an experienced dirt racing crew member. Maneuvering a race car in and out of a hauler, around the pits, and through technical inspection can be difficult – especially for a single person. To solve this problem, the Pearls created the original Steering Buddy device, which is now widely used across the country to help steer race cars safely and efficiently in pit areas. After four years of development, testing, and refinement – followed by three years of proven success in the field – the Steering Buddy is well-established in the racing industry. To learn more or to order, visit SteeringBuddy.com. “We are incredibly grateful to welcome another partner to the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series—especially one that supports a program giving back to racers,” said Wayne Castleberry, Corporate Sales for FloRacing. “We look forward to working with Mike and the entire Steering Buddy team and hope to see a Dark Horse driver in Victory Lane at some point in 2026.” |
