SPRING VALLEY, Minn. (July 24) – The Best of the Best in open-wheel dirt modified racing will converge on the Deer Creek Speedway this Wednesday through Saturday for the World Modified Dirt Track Championship.
Presented by Hanson Tire Service, the second annual event will award a record $25,000 to the winner of Saturday night’s 50-lap championship race, with each of the main event starters earning at least $1,500 for taking green flag.
Last year, Brad Waits of nearby Rochester shocked the world when he conquered one of the toughest, most talent-laden fields ever while driving a used chassis he acquired the week prior to the event.
The unique event will once again see drivers qualify on either Wednesday or Thursday, and all but one of the 98 pre-entered competitors has also purchased a “mulligan” that allows them to attempt to qualify again on Friday if their first night on Wednesday or Thursday does not turn out as hoped.
Group time trials with a green-white-checkered format will be staged each of the first three days, along with heat races and main events with drivers earning points for their performances in each. The top 6 points earners each day will earn one of 18 guaranteed starting spots in Saturday’s finale, with the highest overall points earner during the three days of qualifying garnering the pole for the big dance.
Saturday’s program will feature an “alphabet soup” of main events that will culminate with a 31-car starting field in the championship race. Even if a driver has some tough luck during qualifying on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, he or she still has the chance to climb the ladder of main events on Saturday to earn a spot in the finale.
The 31st starting spot will be auctioned off prior to the start of the race. In last year’s auction, event sponsor Randy Eastvold of Hanson Tire Service won the bidding contest and selected 2007 USMTS National Champion Jason Krohn as the bonus starter.
Nearly $100,000 has been earmarked for Saturday’s championship main event alone, with a total purse of more than $160,000 posted for the four-day extravaganza.
Grandstand gates open at 4 p.m. and hot laps begin at 6:30 each day Wednesday through Friday. All times are one hour earlier on Saturday. Tickets are $25 for adults during the first three days, and $35 on Saturday. Kids ages 12 and under are $10 each day. A four-day ticket for adults is available for $100 (save $10).
Joining the USMTS Modifieds on Wednesday will be Wissota Super Stocks while the Iron Man Challenge for USRA Stock Cars will be on the racing card on Thursday. Friday and Saturday night will feature Wissota Midwest Mods as the support class.
Miner’s Outdoor & Rec will have golf carts available to rent for this year’s event. Interested parties are urged to call in advance to reserve yours today to ensure availability. Rates are $175 for the week for a standard cart and $250 for a four-passenger cart. Quantities are limited. Call Miner’s Outdoor & Rec at 507-583-2712 to reserve your golf cart for the week.
This event is sanctioned by the United States Modified Touring Series and all USMTS rules apply. No points will be awarded for this event and no license is required. Tires allowed are the American Racer KK704, IMCA-stamped Hoosier G60, Wissota Hoosier 35 or H40. The Wissota Hoosier 35 will only be permitted for licensed Wissota drivers and the racecar must be completely Wissota legal.
The Deer Creek Speedway sits on 60 acres of scenic rural rolling hills with one of America’s most popular state-of-the-art racing complexes and a busy modern campground. The 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval is located 11.3 miles south of I-90 (exit 209) on US 63 (0.7 mile north of SR 16) in Spring Valley, Minn. For more info, call toll-free 877-DCS-RACE or 507-346-2342 on raceday or visit www.deercreekspeedway.com online.
To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit www.usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944. You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
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USMTS TITLE SPONSORS: Casey’s General Stores, Swan Energy.
USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Awesome Race Suits, Cheetos, Dominator Race Products, Intercomp, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, New Vision Graphics, Nitroquest, RACEceiver, SLAP Energy, Snickers.
USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Arbor Masters, Arnold Motor Supply, ASi Racewear, Beebe Heating & Air Conditioning, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Dirthead.com, DirtKnights.com, Erson Cams, Farm Boy BBQ Sauce, Intensitee Custom Racewear, Mesilla Valley Transportation, O’Brien Enterprises, Olympic Fire Protection, Ramirez Motorsports, Road Runner Trucking, Ruter Farms, Sybesma Graphics, Yeager Machine.
USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AERO Race Wheels, AFCO Racing Products, Beyea Custom Headers, COMP Cams, CPD Racing Tools, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, Forty9Designs.com, Genesis Shocks, Hooker Harness, Integra Racing Shocks & Springs, Keyser Manufacturing, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, PBM Performance Products, Quarter Master, Real Racing Wheels, Tiger Rear Ends.