3RD ANNUAL MUSCO LIGHTING GREAT AMERICAN STOCK CAR CHALLENGE STARTS MONDAY!
by: Jeff Nun

OSKALOOSA, Ia (June 8, 2006) - Fans and drivers alike are getting their game face on as the Southern Iowa Speedway gears up for the 3rd annual Musco Lighting Great American Stock Car Challenge this coming Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, June 12-14, at the historic Mahaska County Half-Mile Monster in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

The prestigious event, which attracts America's most talented Stock Car and Hobby Stock drivers in the business, will feature a whopping $5,000 to win the USRA Stock Car finale on Wednesday. While the top prize is huge, just making the 24-car main event field is worth more than the reward for winning most other Stock Car special events as all main event starters will earn a minimum of $1,000.

For the companion USRA Hobby Stock class, a $1,000 paycheck awaits the winner of Wednesday's finale while all starters in the big dance will pocket at least $400.

"We put our money where our mouth is," said event promoter Todd Staley. "While other big shows attract a lot of drivers, they also collect a lot of entry fees and pit passes, but you'd never know it by the dollar amount on the checks these drivers get at the pay window. We believe in rewarding those that buckle in to these machines and take the ultimate risk to give our fans the best show around.

"Great drivers love a great challenge, and that's what they get at the Musco Lighting Great American Stock Car Challenge. The USRA Stock Cars put on an incredible show each and every night at each and every USRA-sanctioned track. This is where the best ones come to find out who truly is the best of the best."

Presented by Mike’s Tire & Alignment and Arnold Motor Supply, the 3rd Annual Musco Lighting Great American Stock Car Challenge will kick off on Monday, June 12, with a full program of qualifying heats and preliminary features in both the USRA Stock Car and USRA Hobby Stock classes. All cars will draw on Monday and Tuesday night and redraw for the feature that night. The top six cars from Monday will run a dash on Tuesday night to decide the first six inside row starting spots in Wednesday's finale. On Tuesday, the same procedures are in place with the top six to the outside row in a dash to be run on Wednesday.

Wednesday night's program will feature last chance races, with line-ups determined by points accumulated during the first two nights. Tow money will be paid to all drivers racing all three days that fail to qualify for the main events. Tow will be $100 for Stock Cars and $75 for Hobby Stocks. There will also be a $100 award for the longest tow.

During all three nights, national points in both classes will be awarded for the USRA Casey's General Stores Weekly Racing Series. However, a USRA license is not required to compete in this annual blockbuster.

Pre-entries postmarked by this Friday, June 9, are $75 for Hobby Stocks and $150 for Stock Cars. At the track on race day, entry fees are $100 for Hobby Stocks and $200 for Stock Car competitors. For complete rules, visit www.usraracing.com  or call USRA headquarters at (515) 832-6000.

Each day, gates open 5 p.m. with hot laps at 7:15 and racing at 7:30.

On Monday and Tuesday, admission is $12 for adults while Wednesday's tickets are $15. Juniors (13-18) and Seniors (62+) are $8 all three days, while children 12 and under get in for FREE all three nights. Pit passes are $25 each night. There are no reserved seats for this event. All grandstand seats are general admission on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information about the 3rd annual Musco Lighting Great American Stock Car Challenge, visit www.sispeedway.com  online. Call (641) 673-7004 for race day status and weather information.