Corona, CA – September 12, 2012: Lucas Oil Racing announced today that Competition Director Tony Vanillo has decided to resign his position effective immediately. Vanillo has served in that role since the series was created by Lucas Oil and Forrest Lucas in 2009.

The series also announced that Administrative Director Sherry Vanillo also has resigned effective immediately.

“Tony Vanillo’s contribution to our series and the sport of short-course off-road racing have been both impactful and long lasting,” said Lucas Oil Executive Vice-President Bob Patison. “Certainly the same can be said for Tony’s wife Sherry as well. On behalf of our racers, sponsors and fans, we wish them well in their future business endeavors and thank them for helping make our short-course series the growing form of motorsports it is today.”

Lucas Oil’s executive management will explore a full range of options as it considers the Vanillo’s successors. The series has two more race weekends left on its 2012 racing season, including the LoanMart “Fight Under the Lights” presented by Las Vegas Events on Sept. 21-22 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“The staff at Lucas Oil is looking forward to executing next weekend’s big Las Vegas weekend with all the professionalism and experience that comes from putting on more than 300 races a year around the country,” added Patison. “While today’s news comes as a disappointment, the Lucas shows will always go on.”