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Brutal slate of six races at six tracks in six days looms for USMTS title hopefuls MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (Aug. 30) – Traditionally, the Labor Day Weekend is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer and is often regarded as a time of rest and relaxation. Pfffffffffffft. For the drivers and teams in The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship, it’s a time to turn wrenches in the heat of the day, crawl around in the dirt changing rear-end gears, grind tires, straighten sheet metal, tune engines, strap on the helmet and mash the gas pedal, then load up the hauler, head down the highway in the dead of night and do it all over again the next day. For race fans, however, it’s a time to kick back and enjoy the greatest spectator sport in the world while they watch dozens of dirt-pounding daredevils lay it all on the line for the chance to be called USMTS National Champion. Ten races are in the books in The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship presented by Bad Boy Mowers. Six of the remaining nine events will happen over the course of six days and nights beginning this Tuesday, Aug. 31, at the Marshalltown Speedway in Marshalltown, Iowa. A whopping $20,000 will be awarded to the winner(s) of the six events with more than $100,000 in total prize money to be doled out during the brutal 144-hour stretch that also includes make-up features to wrap up the weekend. TUESDAY, AUG. 31 … MARSHALLTOWN SPEEDWAY, MARSHALLTOWN, IA The long-awaited return of the USMTS Modifieds at the Marshalltown Speedway takes place Tuesday at Toby Kruse's popular high-banked 1/4-mile clay oval at the Central Iowa Fairgrounds. Last year’s inaugural event saw Jon Tesch claim the victory in front of a standing-room-only audience as he held off Jason Hughes in the late stages of the main event. The event will be a homecoming for Marshalltown’s Ryan Gustin. The 19-year-old is the winningest USMTS driver this season and will be looking to rebound from last Saturday’s disappointment in Moberly, Mo., where he dropped to second in the points standings behind Hughes. Also on the racing card will be the first of three straight nights that the USMTS Modifieds will be accompanied by the Dart Iron Man Challenge for USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars. B-Mods will round out the program Tuesday night and will feature Gustin’s younger sister, Jenae, who won her career-first B-Mod feature last Friday at Marshalltown. As many as five members of the Gustin family will be racing in the three classes featured Tuesday night. Gates open at 5, hot laps begin at 6:30 and racing starts at 7. On race day, fans can pick up coupons good for $2 off adult admission at all four Casey’s General Stores locations in Marshalltown. Tim Donlinger and his #3D Cheetos USMTS Modified will be greeting fans and signing autographs from 12-2 p.m. at the 1402 S. 12th Ave. location in Marshalltown. The Marshalltown Speedway is located 1.5 miles east of SR 14 on US 30 to Exit 186, then 2.0 miles north (a the Central Iowa Fairgrounds). For more information, call 515-832-7944 or check out www.marshalltownspeedway.com online. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 1 … SOUTHERN IOWA SPEEDWAY, OSKALOOSA, IA The Southern Iowa Speedway welcomes back the USMTS Modifieds on Wednesday for the 7th Annual Musco Lighting Southern Iowa Challenge. It will be the 32nd time the series has visited the historic Mahaska County Monster. Ryan Gustin won the last time when the series invaded the semi-banked 1/2-mile oval on May 26, but Kelly Shryock owns the most wins here with 11 triumphs to his credit – the last of which came in August 2006. Although the 2010 season has been a lackluster one for Brad Pinkerton, the local favorite has won three of the last six events at Osky and four overall. Two-time winners at the Southern Iowa Speedway include Jason Krohn, Tommy Myer, John Van Den Berg and Chris Spieker. Drivers with one win include Al Hejna, Jason Hughes, Zack VanderBeek, Mark Noble, Bruce Hanford, Dan Bohr and Tony Fraise. Also on tap this Wednesday at Oskaloosa will be the Dart Iron Man Challenge for USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars competing in their next-to-last event of the 2010 season. Carter’s Manufacturing USRA B-Mods and USRA Hobby Stocks will also be on the racing card. Gates open at 5:30, hot laps begin at 7:15 and racing starts at 7:30. On Wednesday, race fans can pick up coupons worth $2 off adult admission at all three Casey's General Stores locations in Oskaloosa. Tim Donlinger and his Cheetos-sponsored USMTS Modified will be greeting fans and signing autographs from 12-2 p.m. at the 1310 A Ave. West location. Meanwhile, Colt Mather and his Snickers-sponsored USMTS Modified will be at the 1902 S. Market location from 12-2 p.m. also. The Southern Iowa Speedway is a half-mile semi-banked clay oval located 0.5 mile west of US 63 on SR 92, then 0.3 mile north on I St. (at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds). For more information, call 515-832-6000 or visit www.rlpromotions.com online. Race day info is available by calling the track hotline at 641-673-7004. THURSDAY, SEPT. 2 … HIGHWAY 3 RACEWAY, ALLISON, IA On Thursday, the rugged road warriors head north to the Highway 3 Raceway in Allison, Iowa, for the 6th Annual Hawkeye Summer Classic presented by Schroeder Racing Products. Corey Dripps captured the win at the big half-mile clay oval this past May. Other past winners at the Highway 3 Raceway include Kelly Shryock (3), Kevin Pittman (2), John Logue, Mike Sorensen, Johnny Saathoff, Ryan Ruter, Mark Noble, Mike Hejna, Tim Donlinger and Ryan Gustin, who won his first of 21 USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour events on Aug. 28, 2008, at the age of 17. The final event for the Dart Iron Man Challenge will take place Thursday, along with action in the USRA Karl Performance Parts B-Mods and USRA Hobby Stocks racing for national points in the American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series. Gates open at 5:30, hot laps begin at 6:30 and racing starts at 7. Discount coupons will be available on Thursday in Allison, Aplington, Clarksville and Waverly for the event at the Highway 3 Raceway Thursday evening. Donlinger will again be making an appearance at the 100 Cherry St. location in Allison from 12-2 p.m. The Highway 3 Raceway is located 0.3 miles north of SR 3 on S. Main St. (at the Butler County Fairgrounds). For more information, call 319-267-9977 or check out www.highway3raceway.com online. FRIDAY, SEPT. 3 … CHATEAU RACEWAY, LANSING, MN Friday, Sept. 3, will find the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour at the Chateau Raceway in Lansing, Minn., for the 5th Annual Cedar River Race. The 1/3-mile semi-banked clay oval always provides for exciting side-by-side racing from the drop of the first green flag to the final checkered flag. Past winners at the Chateau Raceway include Jason Hughes, Tim Donlinger, Jason Krohn, Tommy Myer, Jon Tesch, Kelly Shryock and Mike Chasteen. Most recently, Doug Hillson captured his first USMTS victory this past Memorial Day Weekend to the delight of the fans. No driver has won two USMTS main events at the lightning-fast Lansing bullring. Gates open at 5:30 with hot laps at 7 and racing to follow. Also racing Friday night will be WISSOTA Street Stocks and Pure Stocks. Race fans can pick up $2-off grandstand admission coupons on race day at Casey's General Stores locations in Austin, Mantorville, Owatonna, Rochester, Stewartville and West Concord. Colt Mather and his Snickers-sponsored Modified will be at the 1702 12th St. SW location in Austin from 12-2 p.m. The Chateau Raceway is located 5.0 miles north of Austin on US 218 to the Lansing exit, then 1.3 miles eat on CR 2, then 0.4 mile south on CR 25, then 0.3 mile east . For more info, call 507-391-2486 or 507-433-4578 on raceday or visit www.chateauraceway.net. SATURDAY, SEPT. 4 … DEER CREEK SPEEDWAY, SPRING VALLEY, MN On Saturday, it's the second of five occasions this season that the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour will tackle the popular Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn. The 6th Annual BP Labor Day Dual presented by Baudoin Oil will pit some of the best Modified drivers in the nation against arguably the toughest field of weekly racers on the planet. More USMTS main events have been staged at ‘The Creek’ than any other racetrack, and Saturday’s feature race will be the 41st here in the 12-year history of the United States Modified Touring Series. Kelly Shryock win the first-ever race at Deer Creek on May 25, 2002, and has taken home the most hardware from the high-banked 3/8-mile oval with nine career wins. However, Tim Donlinger has been the hottest driver of late, winning three of the last four events and five in all. Jason Hughes is also a five-time winner including last year’s thrilling Featherlite Fall Jamboree finale, while Corey Dripps, Ryan Ruter and Zack VanderBeek have two victories each. Drivers with one victory in their pocket include Tommy Myer, Dean Mahlstedt, Jon Tesch, Jason Krohn, Steve Arpin, Chad Kinder, Mark Burgtorf, Brad McEwan, Mike Spaulding, Mike Hejna, Les Duellman, Dan Chapman, Dan Daniels, Tony Fraise, Darin Walker, Mark Noble and Steve Wetzstein. Hot laps are set for 4:45 and the first green flag is scheduled to wave at 5 p.m. Also on the racing card will be the Cornbelt Clash Super Late Models, WISSOTA Super Stocks and WISSOTA Street Stocks. Race fans can pick up $2-off grandstand admission coupons on race day at Casey's General Stores locations in Austin, Mantorville, Owatonna, Rochester, Stewartville and West Concord. Tim Donlinger and his Cheetos-sponsored Modified will be live in person at the 605 S. Main St. location in Stewartville from 12-2 p.m. The Deer Creek Speedway is located 11.3 miles south of I-90 (exit 209) on US 63 (0.7 mile north of SR 16). For more info, call toll-free 877-DCS-RACE or 507-346-2342 on raceday or visit www.deercreekspeedway.com online. SUNDAY, SEPT. 5 … DODGE COUNTY SPEEDWAY, KASSON, MN On the sixth day, Sunday will be anything but a time for relaxing as make-up features from the July 14 rain-shortened program will precede a full program of events at the Dodge County Speedway. Sunday’s 9th Annual Kasson Klash will be the 26th occasion that the USMTS Modifieds have taken the green flag at the Kasson, Minn., speedplant. Tim Donlinger held off Jason Hughes in a thriller last summer during the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship for his first USMTS win in Kasson. While Hughes has three wins along with Memorial Day Weekend winner Tommy Myer, Kelly Shryock tops he list with four career wins here. Brad Waits, Todd Scharkey and Dan Chapman are two-time winners while Mike Hejna, Mike Sorensen, Jon Tesch, Corey Dripps, Nate Wasmund, Scott Megonigle, Chris Spieker and Mike Chasteen have one win each. Located less than 42 miles from Deer Creek, hot laps are at 4:30 with racing at 5 p.m. at the Dodge County Fairgrounds. USRA Karl Performance Parts B-Mods, WISSOTA Midwest Mods, Pure Stocks and Street Stocks are also on tap for Sunday's show. Just like the previous two days, race fans can pick up $2-off grandstand admission coupons on race day at Casey's General Stores locations in Austin, Mantorville, Owatonna, Rochester, Stewartville and West Concord. Colt Mather and his Snickers-sponsored Modified will be at the 214 State St. North location in West Concord from 12-2 p.m. on Sunday. The Dodge County Speedway is located 1.1 mile north of US 14 on SR 57 (at the Dodge County Fairgrounds). For more info, call 651 226-3706 or 507 634-6400 on raceday or visit www.dodgecountyspeedway.com online. All six events this week will pay $3,000 to the winner with $2,000 earmarked for the victor in Sunday’s make-up main event. With all qualifying events completed, the show was deemed unfinished business on July 14 with the Real Racing Wheels “B” Mains and WIX Filters “A” Main to be completed Sunday. Drivers that were not in attendance July 14 may purchase a pit pass, pay the entry fee and start at the rear of the field in one of the Real Racing Wheels “B” Mains. For licensed competitors that were on hand at the rain-out on July 14, they each received 45 show-up points for the event in the Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region and additional points earned at the Sept. 5 event will be added to each driver’s total final points for the Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region. For more information or to find the Casey’s General Store nearest you, check out www.caseys.com online. POINTS STANDINGS IN ‘THE HUNT’ With an impressive ten top-10 and nine top-5 finishes in ten events, Jason Hughes sits atop the points standings as he seeks his first USMTS National Championship. Hughes’ advantage is 30 points over last year’s runner-up, Ryan Gustin. Zack VanderBeek looms in third just 41 markers behind Hughes, followed by Tommy Myer (-72), Jason Krohn (-127), Kelly Shryock (-134), Dereck Ramirez (-210), Tim Donlinger (-216), Rodney Sanders (-236) and DandyLand Farms Rookie of the Year points leader Johnny Scott (-292). 1. 12 Jason Hughes, Westville,
OK ... 981 The 2010 season for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour will conclude at the 12th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 23-25, at the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., where the 2010 USMTS National Champion will be crowned. LIGHTS, CAMERAS, ACTION … Film crews for the Dirt Knights television show will be on hand capturing the action this week and at every race during the Hunt for the USMTS Casey's General Stores National Championship presented by Bad Boy Mowers. Dirt Knights will be an on-going dramatic series of one-hour programs that will air during the highly coveted Sunday evening time slot for 13 weeks. The much-anticipated show is set to debut in January of 2011 on VERSUS cable sports network, reaching more than 75 million households. USMTS drivers Corey Dripps, Ryan Gustin, Al Hejna, Mike Spaulding and Jon Tesch are the featured drivers of the Dirt Knights program. While life has taken them in unique directions, all of them have one thing in common: a hunger for the checkered flag. Night after night in town after town, the Dirt Knights seek out a life of danger and on-the-edge-thrills. The life of an American dirt track racer is not one that many could endure, but for the Dirt Knights it’s the only life worth living Through the Dirt Knights, we all get to go along for the wild ride. Visit www.dirtknights.com on the World Wide Web for more information or to view the trailer. Also look for Dirt Knights on Facebook and Twitter. To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit www.usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944. You can also follow the USMTS on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and YouTube. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = USMTS TITLE SPONSORS: Casey’s General Stores, Castle Rock Recruiting. USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, AwesomeRacesuits.com, GoPro, Intercomp, Karl Chevrolet, Kevko Oil Pans & Components, New Vision Graphics, Nitroquest, RACEceiver. USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Allstar Performance, Arnold Motor Supply, ASi Racewear, Bad Boy Mowers, Bear Tire, Big Dog Chassis & Fabrication, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Cagle Motorsports, Centex Motorsports, DandyLand Farms, Day Motor Sports, Dirt Track Racing School, Dirthead.com, DirtKnights.com, Falcon Wind Power, Farm Boy BBQ Sauce, Gressel Oil Field Service, Intensitee Custom Racewear, Just Say Yes, Karl Performance Parts, Olympic Fire Protection, Ramirez Race Cars, Ruter Farms, WIX Filters, Yeager Machine. USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Ai-Racing, Belleville Motorsports, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, COMP Cams, Dart Machinery, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, Forty9Designs.com, GRT Race Cars, Hooker Harness, Hypercoil Springs, Isky Racing Cams, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, Out-Pace Racing Products, PBM Performance Products, Quarter Master, QuickTime Inc, Real Racing Wheels, RHS – Racing Head Service, Schoenfeld Headers, US Brake, Willy’s Carburetor & Dyno Shop, WIX Filters.
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