USMTS drivers, fans eye final half of April with 7 shows in

[USMTS]

LA MONTE, Mo. -- Since crowning a new “King of America” at the Humboldt Speedway in the final hours of the month of March, the engines have been silent while the drivers and teams of the United States Modified Touring Series earned a well-deserved break in the action.

Meanwhile, racing fans have enjoyed the Easter Holiday with families and friends while many also relaxed by the television to witness some dramatic sports theatre at the Augusta National Golf Club.

But the slow-moving serenity since April Fool’s Day will be replaced by extremely loud and incredibly close mud-slinging machines as the Masters of Modified racing invade the LA Raceway in La Monte, Mo., next Thursday for the first of seven blockbuster events spanning the final twelve days of the month …

[USMTS]

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Thursday, April 19 ... LA Raceway, La Monte, Mo.
USMTS Casey’s Cup Series – $2,000 to win, $250 to start
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Jason Hughes won last April at the LA Raceway for his second win in a row at the 3/8-mile clay oval and evened him up with Jeremy Payne as the only drivers to score two wins at Mike and Carol White’s facility.

Payne crossed the finish line first in 2009, but was later disqualified and the win was awarded to Grant Junghans who went on to capture the USMTS Rookie of the Year title that same year.

Other former winners at the LA Raceway include Kelly Shryock, Rodney Sanders and Grant Junghans. Sanders, who won his sixth career USMTS feature Saturday night in Humboldt, Kan., comes into the event where he won his first USMTS race as the points leader in the USMTS Casey’s Cup Series.

A smooth, fast and wide racing surface has been the norm with each visit to the LA Raceway. In fact, three of the seven main events here have gone green to checkered without a caution.

The 6th Annual Schwab’s Tinker Shop Show-Me Shootout will see gates opening at 4 p.m., with hot laps starting at 7 and the first heat race to follow. Also on the card will be the Iron Man Challenge featuring USRA B-Mods.

The LA Raceway is a located 3.5 miles west of SR 127 on Hwy Y. For more information, call 660-620-1152 or 660-563-9878 or check out http://www.laraceway.com online.

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Friday, April 20 ... Valley Speedway, Grain Valley, Mo.
USMTS Casey’s Cup Series – $2,000 to win, $250 to start
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The USMTS Modifieds made their debut at the Valley Speedway in 2011, and it’s hard to believe that any fans who witnessed that show could forgive themselves for missing the next one.

After a torrid battle for the top spot with Ryan Gustin and Rodney Sanders, 2010 USMTS National Champion Jason Hughes eventually emerged victorious after coming from the 15th starting spot while four of the top five finishers came from deeper than the fourth row on the starting grid.

The pit gate will open up at 4 p.m. and grandstand seats become available at 5 with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7 p.m. Lightning Sprints and Vintage Cars will also be on the racing card.

The Valley Speedway is a 1/3-mile semi-banked dirt oval located 0.9 mile south of I-70 (exit 24) on Main St. (Buckner-Tarnsey Rd.), then 0.4 mile east on Old US 40. For more information, call 816-229-2222 or visit http://www.valleyspeedway.com online.

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Saturday, April 21 ... Salina Highbanks Speedway, Salina, Okla.
USMTS Casey’s Cup Series – $2,000 to win, $250 to start
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Jason Hughes was the winner when the USMTS Modifieds made their only appearance at the Salina Highbanks Speedway on Aug. 27, 2004. The new owners of the track welcomed fans to the their first night of weekly racing one year ago, but last year’s return of the USMTS fell to rain.

In addition to the stars and cars of the USMTS Casey’s Cup Series, fans will get to see NASCAR legend Ken Schrader at the event. If that wasn't enough, fellow NASCAR personality Kenny Wallace is also scheduled to take part in the event. Both drivers have several USMTS events under their belts, competing in more than 70 shows over the past six seasons.

Support classes for the April 21 event will be Pure Stocks, Factory Stocks, Grand Nationals and 360 Modifieds. Gates open at 5 p.m. with the first green flag waving at 7 p.m.

The Salina Highbanks Speedway is a high-banked 3/8-mile clay oval located 7 miles east of Pryor on SR 20. For reservations and ticket information, visit the website at http://www.salinahighbanksspeedway.com or call 918-434-7223.

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Sunday, April 22 ... Monett Speedway, Monett, Mo.
USMTS Casey’s Cup Series – $2,000 to win, $250 to start
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The 7th Annual Race Brothers Farm & Home Supply Missouri Nationals will mark the 13th appearance of the USMTS Modifieds at Randy Mooneyham’s Monett Speedway.

Defending USMTS National Champion Ryan Gustin is a two-time winner at the ‘Grand Ol’ Lady’ including two of the last three stops at the 3/8-mile red clay oval.

Kelly Shryock, Johnny Bone Jr., Jason Hughes and Terry Phillips have each taken down two wins at Monett too while George White and Mark Noble have one apiece.

In addition to the USMTS Modifieds, fans will see USRA B-Mods, Pure Stocks and Legends Cars in action too. The pit gate opens at 4 p.m., grandstand gates open at 5, hot laps begin at 6:30 and the first green flag will be unfurled at 7 p.m.

The Monett Speedway is located just south of US 60 on Chapel Dr. For more information, visit http://www.monettspeedway.com.

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Thursday, April 26 ... Rice Lake Speedway, Rice Lake, Wis.
USMTS National Championship Series – $4,000 to win, $400 to start
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The longest-running racetrack in Northern Wisconsin, Rice Lake Speedway played host to the stars and cars of the USMTS for the first time in its 54-year history last year during the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup.

A huge crowd was on hand for the debut and fans witnessed Ryan Gustin score the 46th win of his USMTS career and 22nd triumph of the season en route to claiming the title.

This year’s event will be the first of three straight USMTS National Championship Series events with a $4,000 top prize and $400 to start the main event.

Pure Stocks and WISSOTA Midwest Mods are also scheduled to compete with race time slated for 7 p.m.

The Rice Lake Speedway is a high-banked 1/3-mile clay oval located 1 mile north of Rice Lake, between Hwy. 48 and Barron County SS. The track phone number is 715-236-2002 and more information can be obtained by calling 715-205-2861 or by checking the speedway website at http://www.ricelakespeedway.net.

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Friday, April 27 ... Mississippi Thunder Speedway, Fountain City, Wis.
USMTS National Championship Series – $4,000 to win, $400 to start
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Fastenal Company is joining forces with Mississippi Thunder Speedway to present the USMTS National Championship Series at the 2012 season opener on Friday, April 27.

The Mississippi Thunder Speedway is embarking upon its fourth season of top-notch dirt track action in Fountain City, Wis. The 3/8-mile dark clay high-banked oval is one of the best speedways in the upper Midwest, presenting dirt track racing in a fan and family friendly atmosphere every Friday night throughout the racing season.

Todd Scharkey, Kelly Shryock, Brad Waits and Al Hejna were all winners at the former Tri-Oval Speedway before driver/promoter Bob Timm assumed ownership in 2009 and reconfigured the track shape and brought in tons of new clay for the racing surface.

Since then, Tommy Myer and Tim Donlinger have both scored victories at the track while Ryan Gustin has three wins and Waits another on the current configuration. Jon Tesch won the most recent race on Aug. 19 last season.

“We are expecting car counts to be upwards of 60-70 cars for this event – not counting all of the competitors who will be on hand for the other support divisions that night as well,” said Timm. “I really think this could be one of our biggest events of the entire season. All of the best and most popular Modified races in the country will be on hand with our own local racers as well.”

Also on the card for the 7:30 p.m. season-opening spectacular will be the Industrial Material Surplus Iron Man Challenge for USRA B-Mods, plus Street Stocks and Pure Stocks.

For more details, visit the Mississippi Thunder Speedway web site at http://www.mississippithunder.com.

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Saturday, April 28 ... Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn.
USMTS National Championship Series – $4,000 to win, $400 to start
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More USMTS events have been staged at the Deer Creek Speedway than any other racetrack on the planet. The Justice Brothers Car Care Products Spring Showdown on Saturday, April 28, will be the 58th race here in the 14-year history of the United States Modified Touring Series.

Nine-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock was the first winner at ‘The Creek’ on May 25, 2002. Since that night he has added another eight victories at the Modified Capital of the World.

Other multiple winners include Jason Hughes (6 wins), Tim Donlinger (5), Jason Cummins (3), Zack VanderBeek (3), Terry Phillips (3), Corey Dripps (2), Ryan Ruter (2), Brad Waits (2) and Ryan Gustin (2).

Drivers tasting victory just once at Deer Creek include Steve Wetzstein, Mark Noble, Darin Walker, Tony Fraise, Dan Daniels, Dan Chapman, Les Duellman, Mike Hejna, Mike Spaulding, Brad McEwan, Mark Burgtorf, Chad Kinder, Steve Arpin, Jason Krohn, Jon Tesch, Dean Mahlstedt, Tommy Myer, Mike Sorensen and Randy Timms.

Pit gates will open at 2 p.m., grandstands open at 3, hot laps begin at 4:45 and racing starts at 5 p.m. Support classes will include Wissota Late Models racing for $2,000 to win, plus USRA B-Mods, Street Stocks and Midwest Mods.

Fan may purchase tickets online at http://www.deercreekspeedway.com or by calling toll-free 877-DCS-RACE. For track or campground info, call 507-346-2342.

The Deer Creek Speedway is a 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval located off of I-90 at Exit 209, then 11.3 miles south on US 63 (0.7 mile north of SR 16).