MUSKOGEE, Okla. (April 3) – Oklahoma … where the roar of engines come sweeping down the plain this Friday and Saturday, April 5-6, as the United States Modified Touring Series invades a pair of Sooner State dirt ovals where the land is grand.
The USMTS Modifieds will be singing as they invade the Thunderbird Speedway in Muskogee Friday night for the first time in the 15-year history of the series.
Not only will fans in the region get their first and only chance to see the hottest open-wheel dirt modified drivers on the planet, race sponsor York Street Tires will be giving away a front-end alignment and two free tire rotations to some lucky fans in attendance at the inaugural event on the big half-mile oval.
The track will host a practice session on Thursday night beginning at 6 p.m. On Friday, the pits will be open all day to accommodate drivers arriving early. Hot laps will start at 6:45 and the first heat race gets the green flag at 7:30.
Street Stock, Pure Stock, 360 Modifieds and SportMod will also be in action. Grandstand tickets are $17 for adults with youth ages 12 and under admitted free of charge. Pit passes are $35.
The Thunderbird Speedway is a slightly-banked half-mile clay oval located 2.1 miles east of US 69 on Okmulgee St. to B St., then 0.9 mile south. For more information call 918-684-6149 or visit www.thunderbirdspeedwaymuskogee.com online.
Saturday night will find the carbureted cowboys and their iron steeds at the West Siloam Speedway near West Siloam Springs, Okla., as the track plays host to the USMTS Casey’s Cup Series for the 5th Annual Sooner Modified Nationals presented by Advanced Energy, Inc.
Jason Hughes visited victory lane the last time the USMTS Modifieds were here on April 30, 2011, and it was his third straight win at the track. Jason Krohn and Steve Holzkamper both picked up wins in 2008 and the 2007 doubleheader went to Kelly Shryock and Jay Noteboom.
Saturday’s program will also feature Grand Nationals, 360 Modifieds, Pure Stocks and Front-Wheel Drives and Late Models. Pit gates open at 12 noon, grandstand gates open at 3 p.m., hot laps begin at 5:30 and racing starts at 6 p.m.
Grandstand tickets are $15 for adults. Seniors 62 and older plus members of the military get in for $10 with their i.d. card. Kids ages 10 and under get in the grandstands for free.
The West Siloam Speedway is a 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval located 5.5 miles west of Arkansas/Oklahoma State Line on US 412. For more information call 479-427-9295 or check out www.westsiloamspeedway.com on the World Wide Web.
Both events on Friday and Saturday will pay $2,000 to win and award USMTS Casey’s Cup Series points in the USMTS Arbor Master Central Region presented by Day Motor Sports. The current top 10 in points are Stormy Scott, Ryan Gustin, Jason Hughes, Chase Junghans, Kelly Shryock, Mark Dotson, Johnny Scott, Terry Beckham II, Zack VanderBeek and Lucas Schott.
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/usmts, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usmts or check out our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usmtstv.
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USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Casey’s General Stores, Cheetos, COMP Cams®, Day Motor Sports, Intercomp, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, New Vision Graphics, Nitroquest, RACEceiver, RacinDirt.com, Snickers.
USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Allgayer Inc., Arbor Masters, ASi Racewear, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Erson Cams, Farm Boy BBQ Sauce, 4S Motorsports, FVP, Integra Racing Shocks & Springs, Intensitee Custom Racewear, Lecolift, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Olympic Fire Protection, Ramirez Motorsports, Ruter Farms, Something Inked, United Cellular Services.
USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AERO Race Wheels, AFCO Racing Products, Bell Racing Helmets, Beyea Custom Headers, BSB Manufacturing, Champ Pans, CPD Racing Tools, Crane Cams, Dominator Race Products, Edelbrock, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, FK Rod Ends, Forty9 Designs, Fuel Safe, Genesis Racing Shocks, Hooker Harness, JRi Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, MSD Ignition, PBM Performance Products, Power Lift Racing Products, Quarter Master, Real Racing Wheels, Sybesma Graphics, Tiger Rear Ends, VP Racing Fuels.