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USMTS EVENTS AT ALLISON, WEST UNION TO RAISE MONEY FOR PARKERSBURG TORNADO VICTIMS PARKERSBURG, IA (June 6) – When the United States Modified Touring Series travels into Northern Iowa next week, race fans will not only have the opportunity to witness some of the best Modified racers in America, they'll also be helping out families that were devastated by a tornado on May 25 that left eight people dead and destroyed more than 200 houses and damaged hundreds of others. While race teams from all across America's heartland will be driving their rigs into the Highway 3 Raceway in Allison on Wednesday, June 11, residents of the small town of Parkersburg, located just 12 miles south of Allison, will still be busy cleaning up after the disaster and rebuilding their town. According to news reports, more than half of Parkersburg - a town of 1,900 people - was destroyed, including several hundred homes, the city hall and high school. The path of the tornado that churned through Parkersburg and several other communities was up to a mile wide. Two additional people were killed in New Hartford and nearly 70 others were injured in the region. Debris from Parkersburg was discovered as far away as LaCrosse, Wis. USMTS officials invite the residents of Parkersburg to take a well-deserved night off and come enjoy an evening at the races on us. At both the Allison race on Wednesday, and at the Fayette County Speedway in West Union on Thursday, the USMTS will donate $2 from every adult grandstand ticket sold to the Tornado Relief Fund. In addition, every person with a Parkersburg drivers license will get into the night's events FREE of charge. "This is home base for us," said USMTS president and promoter Todd Staley. "Our hometown and offices are a short drive west of here in Webster City, and the heartbeat of the USMTS is in Northern Iowa and Southern Minnesota." In addition to the USMTS, Staley also operates the United States Racing Association (USRA), which sanctions weekly auto racing at several tracks in the region. "My family and I drove through Parkersburg last weekend." Staley added. "The photos you see on the news and the Internet don't come close to doing justice to the actual devastation these folks have suffered. Most of our fans, drivers and their crew members have friends or family from that area, or know somebody affected by this disaster. It's our hope that our small contribution to the relief efforts will have a positive effect on the people of Parkersburg and the surrounding towns hit by this tornado." In addition to donating $2 from every adult grandstand ticket to the Parkersburg Tornado Relief Fund, race fans can also pick up $2 off coupons on race day at Casey's General Stores locations in Allison, Aplington, Cedar Falls and Clarksville for the Wednesday, June 11, event at the Highway 3 Raceway, and at Casey's General Stores locations in Fredericksburg, Oelwein, Ossian and Postville for the Fayette County Speedway event on Thursday, June 12. As part of the festivities each race night, drivers will walk through the grandstands with their helmets and collect donations from generous race fans. Already, several sponsors have also pledged to offer financial contributions during the events, and a handful of drivers have expressed that they plan to donate their winnings each night to the relief effort too. Come out for some great racing for a great cause! For those who would like to make a donation directly to the relief fund, call Lincoln Savings Bank toll-free at 866-235-2098 or make checks payable to "LSB Foundation/Tornado Relief Fund" and mail to one of the following locations: Tornado Relief Fund c/o Lincoln Savings Bank 242 Tower Park Dr. Waterloo, IA 50701 Tornado Relief Fund c/o Lincoln Savings Bank 932 Parriott St. Aplington, IA 50604 At both O'Reilly USMTS National Tour events, pit gates open at 4:30 p.m. and grandstands open for general admission seating at 5:30. Hot laps are slated for 6:30 and the mud starts flying at 6:45. In addition to the thrilling action of the O'Reilly USMTS National Tour, the racing card will also feature USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars, USRA Karl Chevrolet B-Mods and USRA Hobby Stocks for a full night of racing. Fan favorite Mark Noble and his Miller Lite/Casey's General Stores Modified will appear at the Casey's location on Wednesday in Allison at 100 Cherry St. from 1-3 p.m., then again on Thursday in Postville at 164 W. Tildon St. from 1-3 p.m. The Highway 3 Raceway is a half-mile semi-banked clay oval located 0.3 miles north of SR 3 on S. Main St. (at the Butler County Fairgrounds). More information is available online at www.highway3raceway.com. The Fayette County Speedway is a 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval located 0.9 mile south of US 18 on SR 150, then 0.1 mile east on SR 56 (at the Fayette County Fairgrounds). Visit www.fayettecofair.com for more information. The USMTS is celebrating its 10th Anniversary Season in 2008 with many special promotions to show thanks to the fans, drivers, team members, families and sponsors who have helped make the USMTS the premier dirt modified series in the nation. To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online for the latest news and information from the USMTS — America's Hottest Ticket on Dirt. |