Memorial Day Weekend to remember: Five events at five tracks for USMTS Casey’s General Stores Nation

jdearing

Administrator
Staff member
OSKALOOSA, Iowa (May 24) – After a nearly six-week hiatus, the stars and cars of the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour jump back into high gear for five straight nights of racing action at five dirt ovals during the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend.
While Jason Hughes leads the standings in both the Dart Great Plains Region presented by Allstar Performance and Ryan Gustin holds down the top spot in the Falcon Wind Power Mo-Kan Region, it's a whole new ball game this week with the first two events of the Farm Boy BBQ Sauce Central States Region presented by Arnold Motor Supply and the first three shows in the Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region.
For the first time since the creation of four regions and Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship format in 2007, Kelly Shryock is not the points leader in the other two regions as the teams enter the Memorial Day Weekend swing.
Shryock captured his ninth USMTS crown last year, barely edging Gustin and Hughes in a battle that came down to the season finale during the Featherlite Fall Jamboree at the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn.
While Shryock’s only win this season came in February during the USMTS Castle Rock Recruiting Southern Series season opener, Hughes has muscled his way into victory lane four times with the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour while Gustin has picked up one win. Hughes also has four USMTS Castle Rock Recruiting Southern Series wins under his belt this year.
This Memorial Day Weekend, however, the mud-slinging Modifieds enter familiar territory for Shryock with visits to five facilities where he has notched 28 of his 152 career USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour triumphs.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 26 — SOUTHERN IOWA SPEEDWAY, OSKALOOSA, IA
It all gets started this Wednesday, May 26, for the first race in the Farm Boy BBQ Sauce Central States Region presented by Arnold Motor Supply as the fearless lead-footed Modified pilots invade the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa, for the 9th Annual Spring Classic.
The event will mark the 31st time the United States Modified Touring Series has churned the clay at the Mahaska County Monster, with Shryock laying claim to 11 of the previous 30 checkered flags. His last win, however, came nearly four years ago on Aug. 2, 2006
Last year it was defending track champion Brad Pinkerton who snared the third of three stops at Osky for his fourth career win under the USMTS banner – all of them coming at Oskaloosa.
Drivers with multiple wins at the Southern Iowa Speedway include Jason Krohn, Tommy Myer, John Vandenberg, and Chris Spieker with two wins each. Other former winners at Oskaloosa include Tony Fraise, Dan Bohr, Bruce Hanford, Mark Noble, Zack VanderBeek, Hughes and Al Hejna.
Pits open at 5 p.m., grandstands open at 5:30, hot laps begin at 7:15 and racing starts at 7:30.
Wednesday’s program will also feature the inaugural event of the Dart Iron Man Challenge for USRA Stock Cars. The inaugural season for the Dart Iron Man Challenge has 14 dates at 12 different premier speedways throughout Iowa, Minnesota and Missouri for the 2010 campaign. Each race will pay $600 to win and $125 to start the main event with 21 or more entries. The ten-race points fund will carry a $1,000 top prize with the tenth-place finisher earning $100.
Rounding out the evening’s racing card will be USRA Karl Performance Parts B-Mods and USRA Hobby Stocks racing for track and national points in the American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series.
Race fans can stop by the Casey’s General Store in Oskaloosa on Wednesday from 12-2 p.m. to help celebrate the kickoff of the Keeping the Dream Alive Tour with Zack VanderBeek and his Victory Junction USMTS Modified and pick up your $2-off coupon for the show that night at the Mahaska County Monster.
The Southern Iowa Speedway is located 0.5 mile west of US 63 on SR 92 (A Ave. West), then 0.3 mile north on N. I St. (at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds). Day-of-race information is available by calling 641-673-7004 or online at www.rlpromtions.com.
THURSDAY, MAY 27 — HIGHWAY 3 RACEWAY, ALLISON, IA
On Thursday, the rugged road warriors head north to the Highway 3 Raceway in Allison, Iowa, for the 9th Annual Butler County Spring Clash and the second points race in the Farm Boy BBQ Sauce Central States Region presented by Arnold Motor Supply.
Jon Tesch captured last year’s event for his first win at the half-mile clay oval. Other past winners at the Highway 3 Raceway include Kelly Shryock (3), Kevin Pittman (2), John Logue, Mike Sorensen, Johnny Saathoff, Ryan Ruter, Mark Noble, Mike Hejna, Tim Donlinger and Ryan Gustin, who won his first USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour event on Aug. 28, 2008.
The $2,000-to-win Butler County Fair sponsored event will kick off with hot laps at 6:30 p.m. and racing at 7. Also on the card that evening will be the Dart Iron Man Challenge for USRA Stock Cars racing for $600 to win, along with USRA Karl Performance Parts B-Mods ($300 to win) and USRA Hobby Stocks ($250 to win) will round out the night. Gates open at 5 p.m.
Race fans can pick up $2-off coupons on race day at the Casey's General Stores locations in Allison, Aplington and Clarksville.
The Highway 3 Raceway is located 0.3 miles north of SR 3 on S. Main St. (at the Butler County Fairgrounds). For more information, call 319-267-9977 or check out www.highway3raceway.com online.
FRIDAY, MAY 28 — CHATEAU RACEWAY, LANSING, MN
Friday, May 23, will find the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour at the Chateau Raceway in Lansing, Minn., for the 3rd Annual Guttormson Memorial and the first of three straight events in the Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region. The 1/3-mile semi-banked clay oval always provides for exciting side-by-side racing from the drop of the first green flag to the final checkered flag.
Past winners at the Chateau Raceway include Jason Hughes, 2008 USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Champion Tim Donlinger, 2007 USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Champion Jason Krohn, Tommy Myer, Jon Tesch, Kelly Shryock and Mike Chasteen. No driver has ever won two USMTS main events at the lightning-fast Lansing bullring.
Pits open at 5 p.m. and grandstand gates open at 5:30 with hot laps at 7 and racing to follow. Also racing Friday night will be IMCA Modifieds, WISSOTA Midwest Mods, Pure Stocks and Hornets.
Race fans can pick up $2-off grandstand admission coupons on race day at Casey's General Store in Austin, Stewartville, Rochester and Owatonna.
The Chateau Raceway is located 5.0 miles north of Austin on US 218 to the Lansing exit, then 1.3 miles eat on CR 2, then 0.4 mile south on CR 25, then 0.3 mile east . For more info, call 507-391-2486 or 507-433-4578 on raceday or visit www.chateauraceway.net.
SATURDAY, MAY 29 — DEER CREEK SPEEDWAY, SPRING VALLEY, MN
On Saturday, it's the first of five occasions this season that the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour will tackle the popular Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn. The 8th Annual A&A Electric Southern MN Spring Challenge will pit some of the best Modified drivers in the nation against arguably the toughest field of weekly racers on the planet.
The Deer Creek Speedway sits on 60 acres with one of America’s most popular state-of-the-art racing complexes. More USMTS main events have been staged at ‘The Creek’ than any other racetrack, and Saturday’s feature race will be the 40th here in the 12-year history of the United States Modified Touring Series.
Kelly Shryock win the first-ever race at Deer Creek on May 25, 2002, and has taken home the most hardware from the high-banked 3/8-mile oval with nine career wins. Jason Hughes has five and Tim Donlinger is a four-time winner while Corey Dripps, Ryan Ruter and Zack VanderBeek have two victories each. Drivers with one victory in their pocket include Tommy Myer, Dean Mahlstedt, Jon Tesch, Jason Krohn, Steve Arpin, Chad Kinder, Mark Burgtorf, Brad McEwan, Mike Spaulding, Mike Hejna, Les Duellman, Dan Chapman, Dan Daniels, Tony Fraise, Darin Walker, Mark Noble and Steve Wetzstein.
A full day of entertainment is on tap, beginning with Miner’s Outdoor & Rec demo and equipment from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with food and refreshments available. A charity bowling tournament benefiting Victory Junction begins at 11 a.m. at Strikers Corner in Stewartville, Minn. Lunch and drink specials, a raffle and silent auction items are among the fun activities on tap. To enter yourself and/or your team, call Chris Brown at 763-226-0725. A bean bag tournament will be held at the track at 2 p.m., followed by $1 Hormel hot dogs, Pepsi and Miller Lite products from 3-4 p.m. Tribute band ‘Poisoned’ will be performing behind the concession stands from 3:30-4 p.m. and again following the night’s racing.
Pit gates open at 2 p.m. and grandstands open for general admission seating at 3. Hot laps are at 4:45 and the first green flag is scheduled to wave at 5 p.m. Also on the racing card will be WISSOTA Super Stocks, Midwest Mods and Street Stocks.
Race fans can pick up $2-off grandstand admission coupons on race day at Casey's General Store in Austin, Stewartville, Rochester and Owatonna.
The Deer Creek Speedway is located 11.3 miles south of I-90 (exit 209) on US 63 (0.7 mile north of SR 16). For more info, call toll-free 877-DCS-RACE or 507-346-2342 on raceday or visit www.deercreekspeedway.com online.
SUNDAY, MAY 30 — KASSON SPEEDWAY, KASSON, MN
Set your TIVO or DVR to record the Indy 500 and World 600 because the best racing on Sunday will be at the Dodge County Speedway in Kasson, Minn., for the 9th Annual Stars & Stripes Shootout.
The Dodge County Speedway dates back to the early 1940s as a horse track turned auto racing track. The Dodge County Fair will celebrate its 153rd annual free fair in 2010 and has always held racing close to its heart. Sunday’s show will be the 24th time the USMTS Modifieds have taken the green flag at the speedplant.
Tim Donlinger held off Jason Hughes in a thriller last summer during the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship for his first USMTS win in Kasson. While Hughes has three wins at the Dodge County Speedway, Kelly Shryock tops he list with four career wins here. Brad Waits, Tommy Myer, Todd Scharkey and Dan Chapman are two-time winners while Mike Hejna, Mike Sorensen, Jon Tesch, Corey Dripps, Nate Wasmund, Scott Megonigle, Chris Spieker and Mike Chasteen have one win each.
Located less than 42 miles from Deer Cree, pit gates at the Dodge County Fairgrounds will open at 2 p.m. with grandstands open at 3. Hot laps are at 5:30 with racing at 6 p.m. USRA Karl Performance Parts B-Mods, WISSOTA Midwest Mods, Pure Stocks and Street Stocks are also on tap for Sunday's show.
The Dodge County Speedway is located 1.1 mile north of US 14 on SR 57 (at the Dodge County Fairgrounds). For more info, call 651 226-3706 or 507 634-6400 on raceday or visit www.dodgecountyspeedway.com online.
PAYOFF EACH NIGHT: Licensed – 1. $2000, 2. $1500, 3. $1000, 4. $900, 5. $800, 6. $700, 7. $650, 8. $600, 9. $550, 10. $500, 11. $450, 12. $425, 13. $400, 14. $375, 15. $350, 16-26. $300, Tow $90; Non-licensed – 1. $2000, 2. $1500, 3. $1000, 4. $800, 5. $700, 6. $600, 7. $550, 8. $500, 9. $450, 10. $400, 11. $350, 12. $300, 13. $275, 14-26. $250, Tow $75.
RULES & PROCEDURES: All USMTS rules apply. Qualifying will be done by heat race passing points and Real Racing Wheels “B” Mains. Draw for heat race starting spot ends 15 minutes before hot laps. RACEceivers and AMB transponders will be mandatory and available for rent or purchase from the USMTS. The American Racer KK704/G60 is the Official Tire of the USMTS; however, the Hoosier G60 or WISSOTA Hoosier H is also permitted. For complete rules, visit www.usmts.com.
LICENSES: There is no requirement to purchase a USMTS license to compete in any USMTS event. However, benefits enjoyed by licensed drivers includes higher event purses and bonus payouts, increased tow money, discounted entry fees, points funds, contingency awards, increased media recognition, a personalized driver profile page on the USMTS website and more. The cost of a USMTS regional license is $150.
ENTRY FEES: Pre-entry for each event is $90 for non-licensed drivers or $80 for licensed drivers. Late entry for each event is $100 for all drivers. Pre-entries must be postmarked at least six days before event date or must be received via phone, fax or email at least two days prior to event date. Please use the entry form on the back of this page to enter one or more of the events listed.
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 and Twitter.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
USMTS TITLE SPONSORS: Casey’s General Stores, Castle Rock Recruiting.
USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, AwesomeRacesuits.com, Intercomp, Karl Chevrolet, Kevko Oil Pans & Components, New Vision Graphics, Nitroquest, RACEceiver.
USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Allstar Performance, Arnold Motor Supply, ASi Racewear, Bear Tire, Big Dog Chassis & Fabrication, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Cagle Motorsports, DandyLand Farms, Day Motor Sports, Dirt Track Racing School, Dirthead.com, Falcon Wind Power, Farm Boy BBQ Sauce, Gressel Oil Field Service, Intensitee Custom Racewear, Just Say Yes, Karl Performance Parts, Olympic Fire Protection, Ramirez Race Cars, Ruter Farms, WIX Filters, Yeager Machine.
USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Ai-Racing, Belleville Motorsports, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, COMP Cams, Dart Machinery, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, Forty9Designs.com, GRT Race Cars, Hooker Harness, Hypercoil Springs, Isky Racing Cams, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, Out-Pace Racing Products, PBM Performance Products, Quarter Master, QuickTime Inc, Real Racing Wheels, RHS – Racing Head Service, Schoenfeld Headers, US Brake, Willy’s Carburetor & Dyno Shop, WIX Filters.
 




Back
Top