Best of the Best of both worlds team up as USMTS Modifieds, Lucas Oil Late Models set for Summer Speedweek July 2013

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (Dec. 17) – Just in time for Christmas and race fans to submit their time-off days for the coming new year, officials from the United States Modified Touring Series and Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series have announced two new doubleheader events to create the ultimate dirt track racing fan’s dream vacation, July 16-20, 2013.

The Best of the Best of both worlds will share the spotlight for four nights of racing over the course of five days at three historic racetracks beginning on Tuesday, July 16, at the legendary Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan.

From there, both series head north to the Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City, Iowa, for a Wednesday, July 17, tilt at the big half-mile fairgrounds facility.

“These are going to be two of the biggest shows ever for fans at Lakeside and Webster City,” said USMTS president Todd Staley. “We fully expect fans to head home after these races grinning from ear to ear. With this kind of talent packed into one program, you won’t see anything else like it. We can’t wait for July to get here.”

USMTS drivers will be battling in 40-lap features for at least $2,000 to win both nights, while both events will feature 50-Lap main events and pay $10,000 to win for the Lucas Oil Late Models.

“We are very excited to add such great venues to our schedule,” stated LOLMDS director Ritchie Lewis. “Lakeside Speedway and Hamilton County Speedway are both so historic in their communities and we look forward to being a part of these two venues, and having them as integral pieces of our Midwest swing in July.”

Tickets for both events go on sale Monday, Dec. 17, and can be purchased by calling 515-832-7944. Adult grandstand tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the gate on race day. Students ages 13-16 are $15, kids ages 6-12 are $5 and children 5 and under get in for free.

The Lakeside Speedway originally opened on April 17, 1955, and moved to its present location in 1988 where it operated as an asphalt track through the 1999 season. In 2000, it was again under new management, which converted the speedway to a semi-banked 3/8-mile dirt track. Since then, the track has seen many great racers in victory lane, including NASCAR star Clint Bowyer, who won back-to-back modified track championships in 2001 and 2002. Mike Johnson and Don Marrs recently purchased the famed speedplant, and look forward to the 2013 season with great enthusiasm and bringing the best talent in the country to the facility.

The USMTS Modifieds made their debut at Lakeside this past summer, with eventual series champion Ryan Gustin taking home the hardware in front of a packed house. Building upon that success, the series will return to Lakeside on three separate occasions in 2013.

The Hamilton County Speedway is the oldest speedway in the state of Iowa, opening in July 1910. In 1938, work began on the current location at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds. The half-mile, semi-banked dirt track was completed in the spring of 1939, and the first races were held on the track in September of that year.

The first three Featherlite Fall Jamborees were held at the Hamilton County Speedway from 1999-2002. Nine-time USMTS national champion Kelly Shryock won the first race on Oct. 7, 1999, while Ron Jones went on to capture the first Jamboree title two days later. Since then, drivers such as Kevin Pittman, Tommy Myer, Willy Kraft, Mark Noble, Johnny Saathoff, Jason Hughes and Ryan Gustin have found glory here, with Shryock winning the most recent race on Aug. 20, 2011.

The ultimate speed week for dirt racing freaks wraps up on Friday and Saturday, July 19-20, at the I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb., for the 3rd Annual Silver Dollar Nationals. In 2012, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series shared the spotlight with the USMTS Modifieds for the first time ever at the 2nd Annual Silver Dollar Nationals. The event was a rousing success which kept fans talking well past July after Brian Birkhofer captured the top prize for the late models while Terry Phillips snagged the modified portion of the program while serving double-duty in both classes.

Building on that success, race fans throughout the Great Plains will now have a chance to catch the Best of the Best of both worlds at three tracks in three states over the course of five days. The Thursday, July 18, program at the I-80 Speedway will consist of open practice for late models and modifieds plus a complete racing program featuring the SLMR/CDM Super Late Models, 360 Sprints and B-Mods.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com. Follow them as well at www.facebook.com/lucasdirt and www.twitter.com/lucasdirt.

The 15th season for the USMTS begins in a little over two months at the Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas, for the 4th Annual USMTS Spring Nationals, Feb. 21-23, 2013.

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.

Category: Iowa