O’REILLY USMTS RELEASES HOTTEST SCHEDULE EVER, ANNOUNCES 2007 REGIONAL ALIGNMENT
by: Jeff Nun

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (Feb. 14) - On Valentines Day, the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series has something that both racing fans and drivers alike are going to love.

O’Reilly USMTS officials released the 2007 National Events schedule today, and this season's line-up features the most exciting slate of races in the nine-year history of America's Premier Modified Series. In addition to the inaugural season of the USMTS Southern Series which was announced last month, the regional alignment for the 58 scheduled National Events was also announced and brings the total number of events to 83 under the USMTS banner.

“We think the 2007 O’Reilly USMTS schedule will be popular with both fans and competitors,” said O’Reilly USMTS president Todd Staley. “The support from O’Reilly Auto Parts and our other great sponsors, as well as the growing popularity of the Series has allowed us to assemble a schedule that includes return events at our most popular venues, as well as bolstering the menu with some new racetracks which are the finest you'll find in the country.”

“We also appreciate the operators of the top-notch facilities hosting our events this season,” Staley added. “We are fortunate to be working with some of the finest event promoters in motorsports and we look forward to another great year in 2007.”

For the ninth straight season, the rugged road warriors of the O’Reilly USMTS will thrill race fans in America's heartland with an aggressive 2007 National Event campaign which currently features 58 events at 39 different venues in 9 States throughout middle America.

The tentative schedule is highlighted with return engagements to 27 facilities that hosted the O’Reilly USMTS in 2006, as well as 10 new venues encompassing some of the most exciting dirt ovals in America.

For the fourth straight year, the O’Reilly USMTS will open the season with a two-day show on Friday and Saturday, March 9-10, at the state-of-the-art Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb., for the 4th Annual Nebraska Spring Thaw. Friday’s event will pay $2,000 to win while the winner of Saturday’s main event will pocket $3,000. More than 70 entries are once again expected for the long-awaited lidlifter.

From there, the O’Reilly USMTS invades West Siloam Speedway near Siloam Springs, Okla., for a March 16-17 doubleheader boasting another back-to-back $2,000- and $3,000-to-win contests.

Teams will load 'em up and haul 'em to three different tracks the following weekend. The tripleheader weekend kicks off on Friday, March 23, at the Humboldt (Kan.) Speedway and ends up at the Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kan., on Sunday, March 25. Sandwiched between them on Saturday, March 24, the O’Reilly USMTS will make their debut at the new I-70 Speedway Dirt Track in Odessa, Mo. Adjacent to the historic half-mile asphalt oval, the I-70 Speedway Dirt Track will be christened by the O’Reilly USMTS as they embark on their first full season of racing on the clay.

The action kicks back into high gear in April with a return engagement at the Blackbird Bend Speedway in Onawa, Iowa, on Friday and Saturday, April 13-14. The three-race weekend wraps up on Sunday, April 15, as Southeast Iowa will get some major “tax relief” with the debut of the O’Reilly USMTS at the Quad City Raceway in East Moline, Ill.

Several other first-time venues will dot the 2007 schedule. The traveling titans of the O’Reilly USMTS will make their first-ever stop at the Iowa State Fair Speedway in Des Moines for a $2,000-to-win tilt on June 5, followed by a visit to the Dubuque (Iowa) Speedway on June 7. The third inaugural event in four days happens on June 8 at the Tri-Oval Speedway in Fountain City, Wis., where the Monsters of Modified Racing have penciled in a second event on July 20. The Nobles County Speedway in Worthington, Minn., will host the O’Reilly USMTS on June 23, while the lightning-fast high-banked Butler County Motorplex in Rising City, Neb., will present the O’Reilly USMTS on July 16. Finally, the O’Reilly USMTS has also tentatively scheduled back-to-back first-ever stops at the Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, Ill., and Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Mo., on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 3-4.

Throughout the 2007 racing season, the O’Reilly USMTS will make 2006 season encore stops at the Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa; Bolivar (Mo.) Speedway USA; Casino Speedway in Watertown, S.D.; Chateau Raceway in Lansing, Minn.; Cresco (Iowa) Speedway; Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn.; Eagle (Neb.) Raceway; Farley (Iowa) Speedway; Fox Ridge Speedway in Arcadia, Wis.; Highway 3 Raceway in Allison, Iowa; Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D.; Kasson (Minn.) Speedway; Knox County Fairgrounds in Knoxville, Ill.; Lebanon (Mo.) I-44 Speedway; Monett (Mo.) Speedway; Murray County Speedway in Slayton, Minn.; Park Jefferson (S.D.) Speedway; Pepsi Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Mo.; Rapid Speedway in Rock Rapids, Iowa; Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa; Upper Iowa Speedway in Decorah, Iowa; and West Liberty (Iowa) Raceway.

After a one-year hiatus, one of the most popular fan venues returns to the schedule in a big way as the O’Reilly USMTS returns to the Steele County Fairgrounds in Owatonna, Minn., for three big events: May 28 (Memorial Day), Aug. 16 and Sept. 3 (Labor Day).

The O’Reilly USMTS will return to the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., for the 9th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 6-8. The standing-room-only show has become one of the most popular races on the calendars of Modified fans, as well as one of the most lucrative for the drivers. Thursday’s main event winner will pocket $2,000, Friday’s winner will get $4,000 and a $6,000 paycheck awaits Saturday’s champion. Despite moving the date up two weeks this year to avoid recent weather woes, the 9th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree is once again expected to draw nearly 100 Modifieds with a rich pedigree pit area full of America’s best-known pilots.

As many as five more dates may yet to be added to the 2007 O’Reilly USMTS slate as discussions continue with several track operators. As the 2007 schedule nears completion, officials will announce the adjustments to regional alignments and National Events comprising ‘The Hunt’ for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship season-ending title chase.

Kelly Shryock will look to capture his unprecedented ninth O’Reilly USMTS crown in 2007 while a host of newcomers and veterans alike will try to become the first to dethrone the Fertile, Iowa, veteran. Last year's O’Reilly USMTS National Championship runner-up Zack VanderBeek will be back on the trail in 2007, as well as 2006 ‘Hunters’ such as Jason Friesen, Tommy Myer, Jon Tesch, Al Hejna, Brad McEwan, Mike Hejna, Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Jay Poidinger, Dean Mahlstedt and Mark Noble.

Other drivers planning a full National Events schedule and anticipating the opportunity to become the first driver to dethrone Shryock include Steve Arpin, Jay Noteboom, Mike Wedelstadt, Corey Dripps, Mike Spaulding, Willy Kraft, Kevin Larkins, Jim Horejsi and many more.

To learn more about the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters office at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com  online.



O’REILLY AUTO PARTS UNITED STATES MODIFIED TOURING SERIES
2007 NATIONAL EVENT SCHEDULE

Fri Mar 9 ... Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, NE ($2,000 to win) W
Sat Mar 10 ... Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, NE ($3,000 to win) W
Fri Mar 16 ... West Siloam Speedway, Siloam, OK ($2,000 to win) S
Sat Mar 17 ... West Siloam Speedway, Siloam, OK ($3,000 to win) S
Fri Mar 23 ... Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS ($2,000 to win) S
Sat Mar 24 ... I-70 Speedway Dirt Track, Odessa, MO ($2,000 to win) S
Sun Mar 25 ... Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, KS ($2,000 to win) W
Fri Apr 6 ... Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway, Bloomfield, IA ($2,000 to win) C
Sat Apr 7 ... Pepsi Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, MO ($2,000 to win) C
Fri Apr 13 ... Blackbird Bend Speedway, Onawa, IA ($2,000 to win) W
Sat Apr 14 ... Blackbird Bend Speedway, Onawa, IA ($3,000 to win) W
Sun Apr 15 ... Quad City Raceway, East Moline, IL ($2,000 to win) C
Thu May 24 ... Chateau Raceway, Lansing, MN ($2,000 to win) N
Fri May 25 ... Murray County Speedway, Slayton, MN ($2,000 to win) N
Sat May 26 ... Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win) N
Sun May 27 ... Kasson Speedway, Kasson, MN ($2,000 to win) N
Mon May 28 ... Steele County Fairgrounds, Owatonna, MN ($2,000 to win) N
Tue Jun 5 ... Iowa State Fair Speedway, Des Moines, IA ($2,000 to win) C
Wed Jun 6 ... Adams County Speedway, Corning, IA ($2,000 to win) C
Thu Jun 7 ... Dubuque Speedway, Dubuque, IA ($2,000 to win) C
Fri Jun 8 ... Tri-Oval Speedway, Fountain City, WI ($2,000 to win) N
Tue Jun 12 ... Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA ($2,000 to win) C
Wed Jun 13 ... Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, KS ($2,000 to win) W
Thu Jun 14 ... L A Raceway, LaMonte, MO ($2,000 to win) S
Fri Jun 15 ... Bolivar Speedway USA, Bolivar, MO ($2,000 to win) S
Sat Jun 16 ... Lebanon I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, MO ($2,000 to win) S
Sun Jun 17 ... Monett Speedway, Monett, MO ($2,000 to win) S
Tue Jun 19 ... Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, SD ($2,000 to win) W
Wed Jun 20 ... Huset’s Speedway, Brandon, SD ($2,000 to win) W
Thu Jun 21 ... Casino Speedway, Watertown, SD ($2,000 to win) W
Fri Jun 22 ... Rapid Speedway, Rock Rapids, IA ($2,000 to win) W
Sat Jun 23 ... Nobles County Speedway, Worthington, MN ($2,000 to win) N
Mon Jul 16 ... Butler County Motorplex, Rising City, NE ($2,000 to win) W
Tue Jul 17 ... Eagle Raceway, Eagle, NE ($2,000 to win) W
Wed Jul 18 ... Kasson Speedway, Kasson, MN ($2,000 to win) N
Thu Jul 19 ... Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, IA ($2,000 to win) N
Fri Jul 20 ... Tri-Oval Speedway, Fountain City, WI ($2,000 to win) N
Sat Jul 21 ...TBA
Tue Jul 31 ... West Liberty Raceway, West Liberty, IA ($2,000 to win) C
Wed Aug 1 ... Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA ($2,000 to win) C
Thu Aug 2 ... Knox County Fairgrounds, Knoxville, IL ($2,000 to win) C
Fri Aug 3 ... Tri-City Speedway, Pontoon Beach, IL ($2,000 to win) S **
Sat Aug 4 ... Lake Ozark Speedway, Eldon, MO ($2,000 to win) S **
Sun Aug 5 ... I-70 Speedway Dirt Track, Odessa, MO ($2,000 to win) S
Tue Aug 7 ... TBA
Wed Aug 8 ... TBA
Thu Aug 9 ... TBA
Fri Aug 10 ... Bolivar Speedway USA, Bolivar, MO ($2,000 to win) H
Sat Aug 11 ... Lebanon I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, MO ($2,000 to win) H
Sun Aug 12 ... Monett Speedway, Monett, MO ($2,000 to win) H
Tue Aug 14 ... Farley Speedway, Farley, IA ($2,000 to win) H
Wed Aug 15 ... TBA
Thu Aug 16 ... Steele County Fairgrounds, Owatonna, MN ($2,000 to win) H
Fri Aug 17 ... Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA ($2,000 to win) H
Sat Aug 18 ... Fox Ridge Speedway, Arcadia, WI ($2,000 to win) H
Thu Aug 30 ... Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA ($2,000 to win) H
Fri Aug 31 ... Chateau Raceway, Lansing, MN ($2,000 to win) H
Sat Sep 1 ... Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win) H
Sun Sep 2 ... Kasson Speedway, Kasson, MN ($2,000 to win) H
Mon Sep 3 ... Steele County Fairgrounds, Owatonna, MN ($2,000 to win) H
Thu Sep 6 ... Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win) H
Fri Sep 7 ... Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($4,000 to win) H
Sat Sep 8 ... Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($6,000 to win) H

W = Western Region
C = Central Region
S = Southern Region
N = Northeast Region
H = ‘The Hunt’ for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship
Here’s the O’Reilly USMTS National Events schedule regional alignment …



WESTERN REGION (12 events)
Fri Mar 9 ... Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, NE ($2,000 to win)
Sat Mar 10 ... Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, NE ($3,000 to win)
Sun Mar 25 ... Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, KS ($2,000 to win)
Fri Apr 13 ... Blackbird Bend Speedway, Onawa, IA ($2,000 to win)
Sat Apr 14 ... Blackbird Bend Speedway, Onawa, IA ($3,000 to win)
Wed Jun 13 ... Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, KS ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jun 19 ... Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, SD ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jun 20 ... Huset’s Speedway, Brandon, SD ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jun 21 ... Casino Speedway, Watertown, SD ($2,000 to win)
Fri Jun 22 ... Rapid Speedway, Rock Rapids, IA ($2,000 to win)
Mon Jul 16 ... Butler County Motorplex, Rising City, NE ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jul 17 ... Eagle Raceway, Eagle, NE ($2,000 to win)



SOUTHERN REGION (11 events)
Fri Mar 16 ... West Siloam Speedway, Siloam, OK ($2,000 to win)
Sat Mar 17 ... West Siloam Speedway, Siloam, OK ($3,000 to win)
Fri Mar 23 ... Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS ($2,000 to win)
Sat Mar 24 ... I-70 Speedway Dirt Track, Odessa, MO ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jun 14 ... L A Raceway, LaMonte, MO ($2,000 to win)
Fri Jun 15 ... Bolivar Speedway USA, Bolivar, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sat Jun 16 ... Lebanon I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sun Jun 17 ... Monett Speedway, Monett, MO ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 3 ... Tri-City Speedway, Pontoon Beach, IL ($2,000 to win) **
Sat Aug 4 ... Lake Ozark Speedway, Eldon, MO ($2,000 to win) **
Sun Aug 5 ... I-70 Speedway Dirt Track, Odessa, MO ($2,000 to win)



NORTHEAST REGION (10 events)
Thu May 24 ... Chateau Raceway, Lansing, MN ($2,000 to win)
Fri May 25 ... Murray County Speedway, Slayton, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sat May 26 ... Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sun May 27 ... Kasson Speedway, Kasson, MN ($2,000 to win)
Mon May 28 ... Steele County Fairgrounds, Owatonna, MN ($2,000 to win)
Fri Jun 8 ... Tri-Oval Speedway, Fountain City, WI ($2,000 to win)
Sat Jun 23 ... Nobles County Speedway, Worthington, MN ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jul 18 ... Kasson Speedway, Kasson, MN ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jul 19 ... Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, IA ($2,000 to win)
Fri Jul 20 ... Tri-Oval Speedway, Fountain City, WI ($2,000 to win)



CENTRAL REGION (10 events)
Fri Apr 6 ... Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway, Bloomfield, IA ($2,000 to win)
Sat Apr 7 ... Pepsi Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sun Apr 15 ... Quad City Raceway, East Moline, IL ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jun 5 ... Iowa State Fair Speedway, Des Moines, IA ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jun 6 ... Adams County Speedway, Corning, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jun 7 ... Dubuque Speedway, Dubuque, IA ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jun 12 ... Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jul 31 ... West Liberty Raceway, West Liberty, IA ($2,000 to win)
Wed Aug 1 ... Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu Aug 2 ... Knox County Fairgrounds, Knoxville, IL ($2,000 to win)



‘THE HUNT’ FOR THE O’REILLY USMTS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (15 events)
Fri Aug 10 ... Bolivar Speedway USA, Bolivar, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sat Aug 11 ... Lebanon I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sun Aug 12 ... Monett Speedway, Monett, MO ($2,000 to win)
Tue Aug 14 ... Farley Speedway, Farley, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu Aug 16 ... Steele County Fairgrounds, Owatonna, MN ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 17 ... Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA ($2,000 to win)
Sat Aug 18 ... Fox Ridge Speedway, Arcadia, WI ($2,000 to win)
Thu Aug 30 ... Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 31 ... Chateau Raceway, Lansing, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sat Sep 1 ... Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sun Sep 2 ... Kasson Speedway, Kasson, MN ($2,000 to win)
Mon Sep 3 ... Steele County Fairgrounds, Owatonna, MN ($2,000 to win)
Thu Sep 6 ... Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win)
Fri Sep 7 ... Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($4,000 to win)
Sat Sep 8 ... Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($6,000 to win)

‘The Hunt’ will be comprised of the final 15-16 races of the season. The O’Reilly USMTS National Championship points system will be used at all Regional events, with the top-10 in the final standings for each region earning 10 points for first place, 9 points for second place and so forth, descending to 1 point for tenth place in the region. In addition, each driver who competed at all events within a Region will also earn 5 bonus points. The total points earned for all regions will serve as the base points that each driver will start ‘The Hunt’ with.

After base points have been established, the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship points system will be used at the remaining events for the drivers in ‘The Hunt’ to determine the 2006 O’Reilly USMTS National Champion.

As few as 10 and as many as 50 or more different drivers could be in ‘The Hunt’ when the final swing begins on Friday, Aug. 10, at the Bolivar Speedway USA.

For the fans, the ‘The Hunt’ will serve as a “playoff” for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship. While handicapping gives a slight advantage to the drivers that compete on the entire National Events circuit, each of the top-10 drivers in any of the four regions or in the new USMTS Southern Series has a legitimate shot at capturing the National Championship. Without question, the ninth anniversary season for the O’Reilly USMTS will be the most exciting ever!

** signifies a tentative event

SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

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USMTS TITLE SPONSOR: O’Reilly Auto Parts.

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racing Tires, AMSOIL, Home Pride Companies, Intercomp, Marsh Racing Wheels, Nitroquest Web Solutions, Olympic Fire Protection, R.A. Benson Motorsports, Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: Belleville Motorsports, Hawk Performance, Hyperco, ISKY Racing Cams, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, KSE Racing Products, Quarter Master, QuickTime Performance Race Parts.