The series began in 2004 under the name North American Racing Association (NARA), founded by Spencer Wilson with the stated goal of enforcing fair, consistent, and equal rules among competitors in the dirt late model discipline. The debut season saw the new tour make its mark on the stock car scene as a rules-focused national entity. In 2005, Wilson sold NARA to Lucas Oil, one of its major corporate sponsors, and the series was renamed to reflect its new title sponsor. Wilson stayed on as Series Director for several seasons following the sale, providing continuity in the transition.
Under Lucas Oil sponsorship the series expanded its reach and prestige, building a schedule that came to include some of the most significant events on the annual dirt late model calendar. Originally broadcast on ESPN2, the series later moved to FloSports for its television and streaming coverage, giving the tour a dedicated motorsports media platform. The series attracted top-tier dirt late model talent and developed a reputation for high-quality competition at marquee events.
The LOLMDS schedule is anchored by several high-profile races. The Winternationals at Golden Isle Speedway in Waynesville, Georgia, alongside stops at All-Tech and Ocala Speedways in Florida, open the season in the South. The Show-Me 100 at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri, is a signature Midwest event. The Silver Dollar Nationals at Shelby County Speedway in Iowa, the Topless 100 at Batesville Motor Speedway in Arkansas, and the Knoxville Late Model Nationals at the famous Knoxville Raceway in Iowa rank among the tour's most prestigious stops. The Pittsburgher 100 at Pennsylvania Motor Speedway and the Dirt Track World Championship at West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells round out the calendar's most significant dates.
The series has been won by a collection of dirt late model's most accomplished drivers. Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Florida, dominated the early years of the tour under Lucas Oil sponsorship, winning four consecutive championships from 2005 through 2008. Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tennessee, captured back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010 and added a third in 2016. Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tennessee, established himself as the series' most decorated champion by winning four titles, taking the championship in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2020. Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Georgia, won three times in 2015, 2018, and 2019. Tim McCreadie of Watertown, New York, claimed back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022. Hudson O'Neal won in 2023, Ricky Thornton Jr. of Martinsville, Indiana, took the 2024 crown, and Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, was the 2025 champion.
Like other premier dirt late model series, the LOLMDS features purpose-built chassis designed specifically for dirt racing on oval tracks. Teams utilize aluminum-head V8 engines typically displacing between 400 and 430 cubic inches, producing over 800 horsepower. Chassis design and component development remain highly competitive, with multiple builders operating across the field. The cars represent the cutting edge of American short-track racing technology.
At the conclusion of the 2025 season, FloSports acquired the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series from Lucas Oil Products. Under the terms of the arrangement, Lucas Oil agreed to a multi-year exclusive title sponsorship agreement, keeping the Lucas Oil name on the series while FloSports assumed operational ownership. The transaction aligned the series with one of the major streaming platforms in motorsports, continuing a relationship that had already seen FloSports broadcast the series' events.