Former Black Diamond house car driver Earl Pearson Jr. is returning to the Ronnie Stuckey-owned operation this weekend at Missouri's Lucas Oil Speedway on the Lucas Oil Midwest LateModel Racing Association, the Black Diamond team announced Wednesday evening.

Earl Pearson Jr. announced Friday he and his Jason Rauen-owned team will tour this season with the Lucas Oil Midwest LateModel Racing Association, the 25-race series that campaigns at racetracks within the Farley, Iowa-based operation's home state as well as Illinois, Kansas and Missouri.

Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., and Farley, Iowa-based car owner Jason Rauen announced late Friday night that the newly-formed team is no longer campaigning on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and is dropping off the tour before it resumes action Saturday at Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway.

It was the last weekend before the start of Georgia-Florida Speedweeks, and Earl Pearson Jr. had lounged around his Jacksonville, Fla., home with an inordinate amount of time on his hands.

Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., will continue his long run as a regular on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series in 2024 after securing a deal to drive for Jason Rauen’s Farley, Iowa-based team.

Earl Pearson Jr.’s stint of two-plus years driving for Jason Papich has ended with Monday’s announcement that the Californian is shutting down his Papich Racing operation.

The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series enters a brave new world when it kicks off the 2023 season Thursday at Golden Isles Speedway near Brunswick, Georgia. A new year will bring both new and familiar faces to the series this season.

PORT ROYAL, PA — At Port Royal Speedway in April, Earl Pearson Jr.’s best shot to dismantle his long string of tough luck to date in Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series competition vaporized in a fierce battle for the win gone awry with Kyle Larson.

VADO, N.M. — Earl Pearson Jr. wrapped up the 16th annual Wild West Shootout presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts with a runner-up finish in Sunday’s $25,000-to-win finale. Finishing 2.260 seconds behind miniseries champion Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., Pearson vaulted from seventh to fourth in the final point standings.

Who tops the all-time list of laps led in the Late Model crown jewel events at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio? Check out the historical breakdown in the table below:

For some added fun at home during Sept. 10-12’s Intercontinental Classic, play along with a selection of hypothetical proposition bets and driver matchups for Eldora Speedway’s fan-less, $50,000-to-win event:

How have Eldora Speedway's 48 Dirt Late Model Stream invitees fared in the legendary track's crown jewel events?  Andy Savary offers career statistical breakdowns of the numerical roster.