OGILVIE, Minn. (Aug. 13) – After a four-race opening weekend, drivers competing in the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup get two days off before resuming their epic battle for the $15,000 champion’s check with five events at five dirt ovals in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin this Wednesday-Sunday, Aug. 15-19.
Each event will pay $3,000 to win and a minimum of $250 to start.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 15 – OGILVIE RACEWAY, OGILVIE, MN
The Best of the Best kick it all off on Wednesday, Aug. 15, at the Ogilvie Raceway in Ogilvie, Minn. Built in 2009, the Ogilvie Raceway has grown to be a favorite destination for both drivers and fans. The track hosted its first USMTS event last year with Jason Hughes getting the win at the 3/8-mile dirt oval.
A big field is expected to be on hand as the track will also host the USMTS National Championship Series finale on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 7-8. Plus, fans will get to see NASCAR star Kenny Wallace in action taking on the USMTS Modifieds Wednesday night.
Al Hejna and his #7 Snickers Modified will be at the Casey’s General Store located at 110 Central Ave. North in Milaca, Minn., from 12-2 p.m. prior to the USMTS event Wednesday night. Coupons worth $2 off adult admission will be available all day at Casey’s locations in Cambridge, Milaca and Princeton. To find the location nearest you, visit www.caseys.com.
Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 6:10 and racing at 6:30. Midwest Mods and Street Stocks will also be racing. The Ogilvie Raceway is located approximately 2 miles east of Ogilvie on the south side of Hwy. 23. For more information call 763-267-4572 or check out www.ogilvieraceway.com online.
THURSDAY, AUG. 16 – RICE LAKE SPEEDWAY, RICE LAKE, WI
Now in its 55th season, the longest-running racetrack in Northern Wisconsin – Rice Lake Speedway – will play host to the stars and cars of the USMTS for the second time this season.
Texan Chris Brown won the USMTS National Championship Series event at Rick Lake back in April while current USMTS Casey’s Cup Series points leader Ryan Gustin captured the win last August in the USMTS debut at the high-banked 1/3-mile clay oval.
The top drivers battling in this year’s Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup are expected to face a stiff challenge from local and area drivers such as Kevin “Buzzy” Adams, Mike Anderson, Dave Cain, Craig Thatcher and others.
Jason Cummins and his Cheetos-sponsored #71 Modified will meet ‘n’ greet fans from 12-2 p.m. at the Casey’s General Store located at 6162 Main St. in North Branch, Minn. Fans can pick up $2-off coupons throughout the day at Casey’s locations in North Branch and Wyoming, Minn.
Gates will open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 6:30 and the first heat race at 7 p.m. Super Stocks and Pure Stocks will also run a complete program.
Rice Lake Speedway is 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 www.ricelakespeedway.net.
FRIDAY, AUG. 17 – MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY, FOUNTAIN CITY, WI
The drivers load ‘em up and head two hours south on Friday for another blockbuster battle presented by NAPA of Winona and Fastenal at Bob Timm’s Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Fountain City, Wis.
After 40 years of racing under the name Tri-Oval Speedway, Timm assumed ownership and opened Mississippi Thunder Speedway for on-track action in 2009 with a completely remodeled, state-of-the-art racing facility. One of the oldest and most picturesque towns in Southern Wisconsin, the track is located along the Mississippi River right down Hwy. 35. Take a day and enjoy the hillsides, bluffs and magnificent river views plus many attractions nearby.
Todd Scharkey, Kelly Shryock, Brad Waits and Al Hejna were all winners at the former Tri-Oval Speedway. Since then, Tommy Myer, Tim Donlinger and Jon Tesch have each scored a victory at the new Mississippi Thunder Speedway while Ryan Gustin has three wins and Waits another on the current configuration. Terry Phillips won the most recent event this past April.
Al Hejna and his #7 Snickers machine will make an appearance at the Casey’s General Store located at 1600 Eastwood Rd. SE in Rochester, Minn., on Friday from 12-2 p.m. In addition to each Rochester store, fans can find $2-off coupons at all Casey’s locations Sparta and Tomah, Wis.
Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7 p.m. In addition to the USMTS Modifieds, action will include USRA B-Mods, Street Stocks and Pure Stocks.
The Mississippi Thunder Speedway is located 3.0 miles north of Fountain City on SR 35. For more information, call 608-687-3282 or visit www.mississippithunder.com on the World Wide Web.
SATURDAY, AUG. 18 – UPPER IOWA SPEEDWAY, DECORAH, IA
Ryan Gustin looks to make it two in a row at the Upper Iowa Speedway in Decorah, Iowa, when the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup invades the action-packed 1/4-mile clay oval on Saturday, Aug. 18.
The grandstands are always full at the Winneshiek County Fairgrounds when the USMTS comes to town, and for good reason. The short track offers some of the wildest and close competition on the campaign.
Zack VanderBeek captured his career-first USMTS victory at the Upper Iowa Speedway in 2005, and added another win here three years later. Al Hejna is also a two-time winner along with Ryan Gustin, who has taken two of the last three including a 40-lap thriller this past June. Jason Hughes and Jon Tesch have also visited victory lane at the Upper Iowa Speedway.
Jason Cummins and the #71 Cheetos Modified will be in person at the Casey’s General Store located at 1807 Old Stage Rd. in Decorah on Saturday from 12-2 p.m. Fans can pick up $2-off coupons throughout the day at Casey’s locations in Cresco, Decorah and Waukon.
Gates open at 5 p.m. and hot laps begin at 6:30 with racing to follow. Also on the racing card will be the Iron Man Challenge for USRA Stock Cars and USRA B-Mods.
The Upper Iowa Speedway is located 1.8 miles east of US 52 on SR 9, then 1.0 mile northwest on Montgomery St., then northeast on E. Main St. (at the Winneshiek County Fairgrounds). For day-of-race information, call the track hotline at 563-382-9984 or check out www.upperiowaspeedway.com online.
SUNDAY, AUG. 19 – NOBLES COUNTY SPEEDWAY, WORTHINGTON, MN
The five-night, five-track trek concludes Sunday, Aug. 19, with a return trip to the Nobles County Speedway in Worthington, Minn., where Ryan Gustin picked up a win last month during a USMTS National Championship Series contest.
It was his second career win at the track and made him the only repeat winner in six USMTS events since 2007. Other winners include Jason Krohn and Rodney Sanders, who each took wins last year, plus Jon Tesch and Kelly Shryock.
Jeremy Payne and his #186 SLAP Energy Drinks Modified will appear at the Casey’s General Stores located at 1704 Oxford in Worthington on Sunday from 12-2 p.m. Discount coupons good for $2 off adult admission are available at Casey’s General Stores locations in Fulda, Sibley and Worthington all day Sunday.
Sponsored by the Grain Exchange and Hickory Lodge Bar, gates open at 4 p.m. and hot laps begin at 5:30 with racing at 6 p.m. Also on the racing card will be the Iron Man Challenge for USRA Stock Cars and USRA B-Mods, plus USRA Hobby Stocks and Micro-Sprints.
The Nobles County Speedway is a 1/4–mile semi-banked clay oval located off of I-90 at Exit 43, then 0.4 mile south on SR 59, then 0.4 mile west on Oxford St., then 0.2 mile north on McMullan (Pioneer Village). For more information, call the track hotline at 507-360-3825 or check out www.noblescountyspeedway.net 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 at www.facebook.com/ustmts and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usmts.
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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.