HUMBOLDT, Kan. (March 26) — America’s toughest and most talented open-wheel dirt Modified drivers are headed for Humboldt, Kan., for the King of America II Modified Nationals as the historic Humboldt Speedway hosts the $15,000-to-win, $1,500-to-start event this Wednesday through Saturday, March 28-31.
Nearly $80,000 has been earmarked for Saturday’s “A” Main alone, with a total purse of more than $130,000 posted for the four-day extravaganza.
The inaugural running of the extravaganza took place this past October, and fans were treated to four nights of extraordinary close action that culminated with a 75-lap championship main event won by nine-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock.
The qualifying features on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday each ended with a pass for the lead during the last five laps of the race.
While officials decided to move the show to March this time around, the program will feature the same one-of-a-kind format that was utilized for the October race.
Drivers will qualify on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, but may also purchase a “mulligan” that allows them to attempt to qualify a second day if they aren’t satisfied with their first attempt.
Group time trials will be staged each of the first three days, followed by heat races and main events with drivers earning points for their performances in each. The top six points earners each day will earn one of 18 guaranteed starting spots in Saturday’s championship race, 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 30-car starting field for the championship race that will feature a three-wide start. Even if a driver has some tough luck during qualifying, he or she still has the chance to climb the ladder of main events on Saturday to earn a spot in the finale.
Pre-entered drivers include John Allen, Josh Angst, Shad Badder, Brandon Ball, Brandon Beckendorf, Rick Beebe, Jim Body, Johnny Bone Jr., Steven Bowers Jr., Chris Brown, Mickey Burrell, Jeff Carpenter, Lucas Conley, Dan Daniels, Scott Daniels, Brandon Davis, Mark Dotson, Corey Dripps, Joe Duvall, Dan Fetters, Justin Folk, Jordan Foster, Don Gerritsen Jr., Andy Gordon, Jordan Grabouski, Ryan Gustin, Al Hejna, T.J. Herndon, Daniel Hilsabeck, Jason Hughes, David Karst, Ron Keith, Jason Krohn, Shawn Langhover, Colt Mather, Jim Moody, Tanner Mullens, Rick Murcko, Jeremy Payne, Paden Phillips, Terry Phillips, Al Purkey, Jamie Ragland, Dereck Ramirez, Justin Rexwinkle, Bryan Rowland, Ryan Ruter, Rodney Sanders, Randy Sandvick, Kyle Schmidt, Tyler Schmidt, Lucas Schott, Jon Schwab, Johnny Scott, Stormy Scott, Lucas Shott, Kelly Shryock, Austin Siebert, Rodney Sigg, Jeff Stephens, Jon Tesch, Tyler Townsend, Zack VanderBeek, Mike Wedelstadt, Tommy Weder Jr., Jessy Willard and Randy Zimmerman.
USRA B-Mods will be part of the event each night too, racing for a stout purse and national points in the American USRA Weekly Racing Series. Each day will be a complete and separate show with $300, $400, $500 and $1,000 to win, respectively. USRA rules will apply except that B-Mods must utilize a solid pull bar.
General admission grandstand tickets are $20 on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and $25 on Saturday; Kids tickets are $10 each night. Pit passes are $35 on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and $40 on Saturday.
On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, pit gates open at 3:00, grandstands open at 5:00, hot laps start at 6:30 and time trials begin at 7:00. On Saturday pit gates open at 2:00, grandstands open at 4:00, hot laps start at 5:30 and racing begins at 6:00.
Grandstand tickets on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are $20 each while Saturday’s show is $25. All single-day tickets are general admission and will only be sold on the night of races.
The Humboldt Speedway is a located 0.1 mile west of US 169 at the Humboldt Exit, then 0.5 mile south, then 0.9 mile east on Georgia Rd. For more information call 620-431-2470 (office) or 620-473-3694 (track) or visit www.humboldtspeedway.com.
For camping, ATV and/or golf cart permits, call 620-473-3694.
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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