INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Dec. 8) – Officials from the United States Modified Touring Series released a tentative schedule of events for the 2012 racing season today at the International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS) in Indianapolis.
The 2012 campaign has 74 nights slated at 32 of the premier dirt ovals in America’s heartland, with an additional eight or more shows yet to be penciled in on the most ambitious and lucrative slate ever that will have drivers and fans alike flying first class.
The line-up of events showcasing the best of the best dirt modified drivers in the world features an exciting mix of classic events at familiar fan-favorite venues, as well as new stops for the 14th year of USMTS competition.
For the third straight year, the campaign will begin and end with a tripleheader in Baytown, Texas, as the Royal Purple Raceway hosts the 3rd Annual Spring Nationals on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 16-18, and the 6th Annual Winter Nationals on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15-16.
The season-opening night at Baytown will be the first of 30 or more USMTS Casey’s Cup Qualifiers that will pay at least $2,000 to win each. The stakes are raised on Friday and Saturday with the first two events of the new USMTS National Championship Series.
The USMTS National Championship Series will have as many as 27 events that will pay at least $4,000 to win and $400 to start and will start up to 30 cars in every main event. The driver with the best 20 showings during the USMTS National Championship Series will be named the 2012 USMTS National Champion and will take home a record $30,000 while the runner-up in the final ranking will get a cool $20,000.
As if that wasn’t enough, drivers competing in the USMTS Casey’s Cup Qualifiers will be battling for a spot in the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup, which will be comprised of 15-20 contests beginning Thursday, Aug. 9, at the Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Mo., and culminating with the 14th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree at the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 20-22.
All races during ‘The Hunt’ will pay a minimum of $3,000 to win with the 2012 USMTS Casey’s Cup champion pocketing $15,000 from the points fund.
The schedule is highlighted with return engagements to 28 facilities that hosted a USMTS event last season, one that is returning to the line-up after an absence of eight years and three dirt ovals that will host the touring USMTS titans for the first time ever.
Jason Hughes was the winner when the USMTS Modifieds made their only appearance at the Salina Highbanks Speedway in Salina, Okla., on Aug. 27, 2004. The track was closed for more than five years, but new owner Bob Goins pumped new life into the facility and re-opened last year to much fanfare. Rain forced the cancellation of the USMTS event scheduled there in 2011, but the series will return again in 2012 on Saturday, April 21, for a $2,000-to-win USMTS Casey’s Cup Qualifier.
The legendary Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., has been at the top of USMTS fans’ wish list for many years. The wish will finally become a reality on Friday the 13th in July will see the debut of America’s premier dirt modified series at the Lakeside Speedway for a $4,000-to-win USMTS National Championship Series event.
Two more first-time stops will take place in the middle of June. Sunday, June 10, will see the USMTS in action at the Beaver County Raceway in Beaver, Okla., and then on Wednesday, June 13, the series ventures in the Dairy State for a date at the Amsoil Speedway in Superior, Wis.
The two biggest-paying events in USMTS history will also return again in 2012.
The inaugural King of America Modified Nationals just wrapped up six weeks ago, and will move to March 28-31 for King of America II. Although the dates have changed, the format and location remains the same with three days of qualifying that leads up to the $15,000-to-win finale at the Humboldt Speedway in Humboldt, Kan.
The Deer Creek Speedway will host the 2nd Annual World Modified Dirt Track Championship, Wednesday-
Saturday, July 25-28, with a top prize of $20,000 awaiting the winner again this time.
2012 USMTS SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
USMTS Casey’s Cup Qualifiers:
Thu Feb 16 … Royal Purple Raceway, Baytown, TX ($2,000 to win)
Fri Mar 16 … Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS ($2,000 to win)
Sat Mar 17 … Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS ($2,000 to win)
Fri Mar 23 … LA Raceway, La Monte, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sat Mar 24 … I-35 Speedway, Winston, MO ($2,000 to win)
Fri Apr 20 … Valley Speedway, Grain Valley, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sat Apr 21 … Salina Highbanks Speedway, Salina, OK ($2,000 to win)
Sun Apr 22 … Monett Speedway, Monett, MO ($2,000 to win)
Thu May 10 … Heart O’ Texas Speedway, Elm Mott, TX ($2,000 to win)
Fri May 11 … TBA ($2,000 to win)
Sat May 12 … Cowtown Speedway, Kennedale, TX ($2,000 to win)
Wed May 23 … I-35 Speedway, Mason City, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu May 24 … Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA ($2,000 to win)
Fri May 25 … Chateau Raceway, Lansing, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sat May 26 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sun May 27 … Dodge County Speedway, Kasson, MN ($2,000 to win)
Fri Jun 1 … Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, NE ($2,000 to win)
Sat Jun 2 … Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, NE ($3,000 to win)
Fri Jun 8 … Southern Oklahoma Speedway, Ardmore, OK ($2,000 to win)
Sat Jun 9 … Route 66 Motor Speedway, Amarillo, TX ($2,000 to win)
Sun Jun 10 … Beaver County Raceway, Beaver, OK ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jun 13 … Amsoil Speedway, Superior, WI ($2,000 to win)
Thu June 14 … TBA ($2,000 to win)
Fri Jun 15 … Cedar Lake Speedway, Somerset, WI ($2,000 to win)
Sat Jun 16 … Cedar Lake Speedway, Somerset, WI ($2,000 to win)
Sat Jul 7 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sat Jul 21 … I-80 Speedway, Greenwood, NE ($2,000 to win)
The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup:
Thu Aug 9 … Valley Speedway, Grain Valley, MO ($3,000 to win)
Fri Aug 10 … Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS ($3,000 to win)
Sat Aug 11 … Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, MO ($3,000 to win)
Sun Aug 12 … Monett Speedway, Monett, MO ($3,000 to win)
Wed Aug 15 … Ogilvie Raceway, Ogilvie, MN ($3,000 to win)
Thu Aug 16 … Rice Lake Speedway, Rice Lake, WI ($3,000 to win)
Fri Aug 17 … Mississippi Thunder Speedway, Fountain City, WI ($3,000 to win)
Sat Aug 18 … Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, IA ($3,000 to win)
Wed Aug 29 … Fairmont Raceway, Fairmont, MN ($3,000 to win)
Thu Aug 30 … Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA ($3,000 to win)
Fri Aug 31 … Chateau Raceway, Lansing, MN ($3,000 to win)
Sat Sep 1 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($3,000 to win)
Sun Sep 2 … Dodge County Speedway, Kasson, MN ($3,000 to win)
Thu Sep 20 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($3,000 to win)
Fri Sep 21 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($4,000 to win)
Sat Sep 22 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($6,000 to win)
USMTS National Championship Series:
Fri Feb 17 … Royal Purple Raceway, Baytown, TX ($4,000 to win)
Sat Feb 18 … Royal Purple Raceway, Baytown, TX ($4,000 to win)
Fri Mar 9 … Heart O’ Texas Speedway, Elm Mott, TX ($4,000 to win)
Sat Mar 10 … Cowtown Speedway, Kennedale, TX ($4,000 to win)
Thu Apr 26 … Rice Lake Speedway, Rice Lake, WI ($4,000 to win)
Fri Apr 27 … Mississippi Thunder Speedway, Fountain City, WI ($4,000 to win)
Sat Apr 28 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($4,000 to win)
Fri May 4 … LA Raceway, La Monte, MO ($4,000 to win)
Sat May 5 … West Plains Motor Speedway, West Plains, MO ($4,000 to win)
Thu May 17 … TBA ($4,000 to win)
Fri May 18 … Southern Oklahoma Speedway, Ardmore, OK ($4,000 to win)
Sat May 19 … Route 66 Motor Speedway, Amarillo, TX ($4,000 to win)
Fri Jun 22 … Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS ($4,000 to win)
Sat Jun 23 … Valley Speedway, Grain Valley, MO ($4,000 to win)
Wed June 27 … TBA ($4,000 to win)
Thu Jun 28 … Fairmont Raceway, Fairmont, MN ($4,000 to win)
Fri Jun 29 … Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA ($4,000 to win)
Sat Jun 30 … Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, IA ($4,000 to win)
Thu Jul 12 … I-35 Speedway, Winston, MO ($4,000 to win)
Fri Jul 13 … Lakeside Speedway, Kansas City, KS ($4,000 to win)
Sat Jul 14 … Great American Dirt Track, Jetmore, KS ($4,000 to win)
Thu Jul 19 … Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA ($4,000 to win)
Fri Jul 20 … I-80 Speedway, Greenwood, NE ($4,000 to win)
Wed Aug 1 … TBA ($4,000 to win)
Thu Aug 2 … TBA ($4,000 to win)
Fri Aug 3 … TBA ($4,000 to win)
Sat Aug 4 … TBA ($4,000 to win)
Fri Sep 7 … Ogilvie Raceway, Ogilvie, MN ($4,000 to win)
Sat Sep 8 … Ogilvie Raceway, Ogilvie, MN ($4,000 to win)
Non-Points Special Events:
Wed Mar 28 … Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS – King of America Modified Nationals (qualifying)
Thu Mar 29 … Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS – King of America Modified Nationals (qualifying)
Fri Mar 30 … Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS – King of America Modified Nationals (qualifying)
Sat Mar 31 … Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS – King of America Modified Nationals Humboldt, KS ($15,000 to win)
Wed Jul 25 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN – World Modified Dirt Track Championship (qualifying)
Thu Jul 26 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN – World Modified Dirt Track Championship (qualifying)
Fri Jul 27 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN – World Modified Dirt Track Championship (qualifying)
Sat Jul 28 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN – World Modified Dirt Track Championship ($20,000 to win)
Thu Nov 15 … Royal Purple Raceway, Baytown, TX – 6th Annual Winter Nationals ($2,000 to win)
Fri Nov 16 … Royal Purple Raceway, Baytown, TX – 6th Annual Winter Nationals ($3,000 to win)
Sat Nov 17 … Royal Purple Raceway, Baytown, TX – 6th Annual Winter Nationals ($4,000 to win)
Thanks to the unwavering support of the fans, drivers, crews, families, track promoters, media and sponsors, more than $2 million is projected to be awarded in record purses and record points fund money during the 2012 racing season.
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, Snickers.
USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Arnold Motor Supply, ASi Racewear, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Day Motor Sports, Dirthead.com, DirtKnights.com, 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, Sybesma Graphics, Yeager Machine.
USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, COMP Cams, CPD Racing Tools, Eibach Springs, Erson Cams, 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, Tiger Rear Ends, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, WIX Filters.