Last year 21 people could claim perfect attendance on the grueling, month-long UMP DIRTcar Summernationals series.

And this year? With three more events contested than in 2016, the select group of diehards who attended every race actually swelled to 31. The Hell Tour honor roll features 19 team members (including three women), seven drivers, two officials, two media-types and one vendor. | Slideshow | Complete Summernationals coverage

What follows is our annual review of the hearty souls who MORE

WHEATLAND, MO. — Earl Pearson Jr. and Chris Simpson are good buddies, so it was no surprise to see them parked side-by-side in the pit area at Lucas Oil Speedway for last weekend’s 25th annual Show-Me 100 presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com.

The common subject the two drivers had to discuss, however, was a bit ironic. Both entered the crown jewel event having ridden out wild flips in Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series shows during the previous week — Pearson (pictured) on May 18 at La Salle MORE

Officially, Billy Vacek is Gary Stuhler’s crew chief this season. His mind, however, tells him something a little different.

For the 30-year-old Vacek, his current position transforms him into the youngster cheering on Stuhler that he used to be.

Indeed, when Vacek glanced at Stuhler while standing in Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway’s pit area prior to the April 23 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event, he spoke of the standout veteran driver from Greencastle, Pa., with the reverential tone of a MORE