GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. (April 12) – The USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour powered by Swan Energy returns to action this Friday and Saturday, April 15-16, with a doubleheader of long-awaited debuts at a pair of Missouri’s most popular dirt-covered bullrings.
Friday night will find the USMTS Modifieds at the Valley Speedway in Grain Valley for the first time in the series’ 13-year history, and Saturday the traveling road show takes on another new venue when America’s premier open-wheel modified teams and machines tackle the Central Missouri Speedway in Warrensburg.
Both shows will serve as the season-opening programs for each speedplant and a $2,000 payday awaits the winner each night in the fourth and fifth events in the Schwab’s Tinker Shop Mo-Kan Region.
At age 20, Ryan Gustin already is fourth on the USMTS all-time win list with 29 victories under is belt and “The Reaper” sits atop the points heading into this weekend’s Show-Me State blockbusters where more than 50 drivers are expected to be in attendance.
Others that fans can look forward to seeing in action include nine-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock, defending USMTS National Champion Jason Hughes, Jon Tesch, Dustin Boney, Johnny Scott, Colt Mather, Zack VanderBeek, Rick Beebe, John Allen, Johnny Bone Jr., 2007 USMTS National Champion Jason Krohn, Tommy Myer, Rodney Sanders and many more.
But with the caliber of local drivers at both the Valley Speedway and Central Missouri Speedway, it’s not going to be a walk in the park for the touring USMTS titans.
On Friday, pit gates open at 4 p.m. and the grandstand gates swing open at 5 p.m. For the early bird fans, the concessions will have “happy hour” from 5-6 p.m. with discounted food and beverages. Hot laps begin at 7 p.m. and the first heat starts at 7:30.
Valley Speedway regulars expected to fight for the checkered flag on their home turf include Terry Schultz, Eddie Bray Jr., Kyle Westerhold, Scotty Martin, Buddy Benedict, Danny Barker, Kaleb Bray, Zachary Sanders, Jeremy Johnson, Jimmy Dowell and others.
Midwest Outlaw Vintage Cars and Midwest Mod Lites will also be on the racing card.
Race fans can visit area Casey’s General Store locations and pick up a coupon good for $5 off one adult ticket to this event.
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 in Grain Valley, Mo. For more information, call 816-229-2222 or visit www.valleyspeedway.com online.
Central Missouri Speedway has long been recognized as the ‘Home of the Mighty Modifieds’ and this statement will never ring more true than this Saturday, April 16.
Last year, Dustin Boney dominated at CMS with multiple feature wins including a $5,000 payday last July while Rick Beebe has traveled great distances in the early 2011 season competing with the USMTS and is another area driver expected to give the touring drivers a run for their money.
Additional “locals” to watch for include 2010 track champion Jason Thompson, Chad Lyle, Terry Schultz, Jason Bodenhamer, Mark Dotson and past CMS track champion Aaron Marrant.
This weekend’s action also features Street Stocks racing for an increased purse.
A reminder to fans and teams traveling to the track via Highway 13, there is a bypass currently in effect. Those who normally exit I-70 at the Higginsville Exit for Highway 13 South will need to make alternate route plans when heading to the track this weekend. The detour is clearly marked; additional information may be found at www.modot.org/tim.
The Central Missouri Speedway is a 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval located 3.5 miles north of US 50 on SR 13 (at the junction of CR V). For more information, call 660-747-2166 or check out www.centralmissourispeedway.net on the World Wide Web.
To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit www.usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944. You can also follow the USMTS on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and YouTube.
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USMTS TITLE SPONSORS: Casey’s General Stores, Swan Energy.
USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Awesome Race Suits, Cheetos, Intercomp, Karl Chevrolet, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, New Vision Graphics, Nitroquest, RACEceiver, SLAP Energy Drinks, Snickers.
USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Arnold Motor Supply, ASi Racewear, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, DAY Motor Sports, Dirthead.com, DirtKnights.com, Dirt Track Racing School, DrySlik Dirt Trak Racewear, Farm Boy BBQ Sauce, Intensitee Custom Racewear, Karl Performance Parts, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Olympic Fire Protection, Ramirez Race Cars, Ruter Farms, Schwab’s Tinker Shop, Sybesma Graphics, Yeager Machine.
USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, COMP Cams, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, Forty9Designs.com, Genesis Shocks, Hooker Harness, Hypercoil Springs, ISKY Racing Cams, The Joie of Seating, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, Out-Pace Racing Products, PBM Performance Products, Quarter Master, Real Racing Wheels, RHS – Racing Head Service, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, WIX Filters.