Pepsi presents the USRA Late Model Shootout
by: Jeff Nun

BLOOMFIELD, IA (July 23) - This Friday night, July 27, the ground will shake at the Mountain Dew Bloomfield (Iowa) Speedway as the popular dirt late models return to the 3/8-mile, semi-banked clay oval for the final time this season as Pepsi presents the USRA Late Model Shootout.

Sharing the spotlight with the fendered rockets on wheels will be the USRA Casey’s General Stores Weekly Racing Series featuring a full program of Spilman Auto Parts USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and Kollision Korner Hornets.

Chris Smyser of Lancaster, Mo., sits atop the national points standings for the USRA Late Models, and leads the field into battle this Friday. The championship is boiling down to a three-way tussle to become the first-ever USRA Late Model national champion, as Chad Simpson of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, and Tommy Elston of Keokuk, Iowa, are close behind in second and third, respectively.

While both Smyser and Simpson are winless through the first six races of the season, Elston captured the season opener at the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Mo., as well as the most recent event on June 12 at the Highway 3 Raceway in Allison, Iowa. Simpson's brother, Chris, captured the checkers when the USRA Late Models last visited Bloomfield on May 25.

Friday's main event for the USRA Late Models will pay $2,000 to win and a minimum of $250 to start. The pit gate will open at 5 p.m. and the grandstand gates open at 5:30. Hot laps are slated for 7:15 with the night's first green flag to follow.

The Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway is located 1.0 mile west of Bloomfield on US 63/SR 2, then 0.8 mile north on CR J40 (at the Davis County Fairgrounds).

For more information, contact the RL Promotions offices at (515) 832-6000 or visit www.rlpromotions.com/bloomfield  online. Race day info is available by calling the track hotline at (641) 664-2500 for day-of-race information. For more information about the United States Racing Association (USRA), visit www.usraracing.com  online.

Remaining 2007 USRA Late Model Schedule:

Fri Jul 27 … Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway, Bloomfield, IA ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 10 … Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA ($2,000 to win)
Wed Aug 22 … Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 24 … Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway, Bloomfield, IA ($2,000 to win)
Sat Aug 25 … Pepsi Scotland County Speettp:, Memphis, MO ($2,000 to win)