WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (July 28) — The drivers and teams of the O'Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series are on a brief but well-deserved break as the month of July nears, but officials are busy working behind the scenes as they get ready for 28 National Events in 52 days that will wrap up the most exciting O'Reilly USMTS season ever and crown the ninth O'Reilly USMTS national champion.
 
Due to unforeseen circumstances, one track closing and in an effort to balance the number of regional events with quality venues for drivers and fans, a few changes have been made to the National Events schedule for late July and early August.
 
Citing financial reasons, the promoter at the Butler County Motorplex in Rising City, Neb., has canceled the inaugural event there scheduled for Monday, July 16. Therefore, the next event for the O'Reilly USMTS will be Tuesday, July 17, at the Eagle Raceway in Eagle, Neb., for a $2,000-to-win Western Region showdown. Despite thermostats peaking at a near-record 108 degrees for this event last year, more than 1,500 race fans were on hand to witness a full field of cars and sizzling on-track action at the historic 1/3-mile high-banked oval. With one of the largest weekly Modified car counts in the nation, this year's Modified Madness presented by 94.1 FM is sure to be another classic.
 
Originally slated for the West Liberty Raceway in West Liberty, Iowa, officials have moved the event on Tuesday, July 31, to the Cresco Speedway in Cresco, Iowa. NASCAR Nextel Cup Series stars Ken Schrader, Clint Bowyer and Kenny Wallace will appear at this event, signing autographs for the fans and strapping into their own Modifieds to take on The Best of the Best on the Cresco clay. Previously a Central Region points race, this race will now serve as the final points race in the Yeager Machine Northeast Region and will award the first set of National drivers a spot in 'The Hunt' for the O'Reilly USMTS National Championship.
 
The first week of August will see the other three regional champions crowned prior to the start of the 'The Hunt' at the Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kan., on Thursday, August 9 — a new date which was recently added to this year's slate, bringing the total number of races in 'The Hunt' to 16.
 
"We've added this race at Mayetta for a number of reasons, not the least of which is because it's a great track where we've had exciting finishes in the past," explained O'Reilly USMTS president Todd Staley. "The Hunt did not have a traditional Western Region track scheduled, so this gives us at least one event in each of the four regions. This added event also fits well with the travel schedule for teams before and after this event."
 
The final event for the Central Region will take place on Saturday, August 4, at the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Mo. From there, the rugged O'Reilly USMTS road warriors travel to the Humboldt Speedway in Humboldt, Kan., for the final event in the Southern Region. The recently-added date at Humboldt fills the date formerly reserved for the Blackbird Bend Speedway in Onawa, Iowa, which closed its doors last week. The Humboldt event brings the total number of Southern Region races to nine.
 
From there, drivers head north to the Beatrice Speedway in Beatrice, Neb., on Wednesday, August 8, for the final Western Region points race and the last event before 'The Hunt' for the O'Reilly USMTS National Championship begins on Thursday. Traveling teams expect a hard fought battle at Beatrice, which boasts some of the stiffest local competition they'll see this season.
 
The 2007 season wraps up with 'The Hunt' for the O'Reilly USMTS National Championship — 16 races in 32 days, culminating with the crowning of the 2007 O'Reilly USMTS national champion at the 9th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree at the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., Sept. 6-8.
 
To learn more about the O'Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series, call (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online.
 
O'REILLY AUTO PARTS UNITED STATES MODIFIED TOURING SERIES - 2007 SCHEDULE
Revised 6/28/07
 
O'REILLY USMTS NATIONAL EVENTS (56 events):
Fri Mar 9 … Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, NE (winner: Al Hejna) W
Sat Mar 10 … Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, NE (winner: Al Hejna) W
Fri Mar 16 … West Siloam Speedway, Siloam, OK (winner: Kelly Shryock) S
Sat Mar 17 … West Siloam Speedway, Siloam, OK (winner: Jay Noteboom) S
Sat Mar 24 … Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS (winner: Jason Krohn) S
Sun Mar 25 … Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, KS (winner: Greg Skaggs) W
Sun Apr 15 … Quad City Raceway, East Moline, IL (winner: Kelly Shryock) C
Fri Apr 20 … Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway, Bloomfield, IA (winner: Kelly Shryock) C
Sat Apr 21 … Pepsi Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, MO (winner: Kelly Shryock) C
Fri May 25 … Murray County Speedway, Slayton, MN (winner: Kelly Shryock) N
Sat May 26 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN (winner: Kelly Shryock) N
Sun May 27 … Kasson Speedway, Kasson, MN (winner: Brad Waits) N
Mon May 28 … Steele County Fairgrounds, Owatonna, MN (winner: Zack VanderBeek) N
Mon Jun 4 … Iowa State Fair Speedway, Des Moines, IA (winner: Dean Mahlstedt) C
Tue Jun 5 … Adams County Speedway, Corning, IA (winner: Kelly Shryock) C
Wed Jun 6 … Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA (winner: Jason Krohn) C
Thu Jun 7 … Dubuque Speedway, Dubuque, IA (winner: Ron Barker) C
Fri Jun 8 … Tri-Oval Speedway, Fountain City, WI (winner: Todd Scharkey) N
Tue Jun 12 … Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA (winner: Mike Hejna) C
Wed Jun 13 … I-70 Speedway Dirt Track, Odessa, MO (winner: Greg Skaggs) S
Thu Jun 14 … L A Raceway, LaMonte, MO (winner: Jeremy Payne) S
Fri Jun 15 … Bolivar Speedway USA, Bolivar, MO (winner: Johnny Bone Jr.) S
Sat Jun 16 … Lebanon I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, MO (winner: Jason Hughes) S
Sun Jun 17 … Monett Speedway, Monett, MO (winner: Kelly Shryock) S
Tue Jun 19 … Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, SD (winner: Jason Krohn) W
Wed Jun 20 … Huset's Speedway, Brandon, SD (winner: Kelly Shryock) W
Thu Jun 21 … Casino Speedway, Watertown, SD (winner: Scott Ward) W
Fri Jun 22 … Rapid Speedway, Rock Rapids, IA (winner: Jon Tesch) W
Sat Jun 23 … Nobles County Speedway, Worthington, MN (winner: Kelly Shryock) N
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
Tue Jul 31 … Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA ($2,000 to win) N
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 … Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway, Bloomfield, IA ($2,000 to win)
Sat Aug 4 … Pepsi Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, MO ($2,000 to win)
Tue Aug 7 … Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS ($2,000 to win) S
Wed Aug 8 … Beatrice Speedway, Beatrice, NE ($2,000 to win) W
Thu Aug 9 … Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, KS ($2,000 to win) H
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 … Echo Valley Speedway, West Union, IA ($2,000 to win) H
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
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 = Yeager Machine Northeast Region
H = 'The Hunt' for the O'Reilly USMTS National Championship
 
WESTERN REGION (10 events):
Fri Mar 9 … Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, NE (winner: Al Hejna)
Sat Mar 10 … Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, NE (winner: Al Hejna)
Sun Mar 25 … Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, KS (winner: Greg Skaggs)
Tue Jun 5 … Adams County Speedway, Corning, IA (winner: Kelly Shryock)
Tue Jun 19 … Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, SD (winner: Jason Krohn)
Wed Jun 20 … Huset's Speedway, Brandon, SD (winner: Kelly Shryock)
Thu Jun 21 … Casino Speedway, Watertown, SD (winner: Scott Ward)
Fri Jun 22 … Rapid Speedway, Rock Rapids, IA (winner: Jon Tesch)
Tue Jul 17 … Eagle Raceway, Eagle, NE ($2,000 to win)
Wed Aug 8 … Beatrice Speedway, Beatrice, NE ($2,000 to win)
 
SOUTHERN REGION (9 events):
Fri Mar 16 … West Siloam Speedway, Siloam, OK (winner: Kelly Shryock)
Sat Mar 17 … West Siloam Speedway, Siloam, OK (winner: Jay Noteboom)
Sat Mar 24 … Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS (winner: Jason Krohn)
Wed Jun 13 … I-70 Speedway Dirt Track, Odessa, MO (winner: Greg Skaggs)
Thu Jun 14 … L A Raceway, LaMonte, MO (winner: Jeremy Payne)
Fri Jun 15 … Bolivar Speedway USA, Bolivar, MO (winner: Johnny Bone Jr.)
Sat Jun 16 … Lebanon I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, MO (winner: Jason Hughes)
Sun Jun 17 … Monett Speedway, Monett, MO (winner: Kelly Shryock)
Tue Aug 7 … Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS ($2,000 to win)
 
YEAGER MACHINE NORTHEAST REGION (10 events):
Fri May 25 … Murray County Speedway, Slayton, MN (winner: Kelly Shryock)
Sat May 26 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN (winner: Kelly Shryock)
Sun May 27 … Kasson Speedway, Kasson, MN (winner: Brad Waits)
Mon May 28 … Steele County Fairgrounds, Owatonna, MN (winner: Zack VanderBeek)
Fri Jun 8 … Tri-Oval Speedway, Fountain City, WI (winner: Todd Scharkey)
Sat Jun 23 … Nobles County Speedway, Worthington, MN (winner: Kelly Shryock)
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)
Tue Jul 31 … Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA ($2,000 to win)
 
CENTRAL REGION (11 events):
Sun Apr 15 … Quad City Raceway, East Moline, IL (winner: Kelly Shryock)
Fri Apr 20 … Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway, Bloomfield, IA (winner: Kelly Shryock)
Sat Apr 21 … Pepsi Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, MO (winner: Kelly Shryock)
Mon Jun 4 … Iowa State Fair Speedway, Des Moines, IA (winner: Dean Mahlstedt)
Wed Jun 6 … Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA (winner: Jason Krohn)
Thu Jun 7 … Dubuque Speedway, Dubuque, IA (winner: Ron Barker)
Tue Jun 12 … Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA (winner: Mike Hejna)
Wed Aug 1 … Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu Aug 2 … Knox County Fairgrounds, Knoxville, IL ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 3 … Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway, Bloomfield, IA ($2,000 to win)
Sat Aug 4 … Pepsi Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, MO ($2,000 to win)
 
'THE HUNT' FOR THE O'REILLY USMTS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (16 events):
Thu Aug 9 … Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, KS ($2,000 to win)
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)
Wed Aug 15 … Echo Valley Speedway, West Union, 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)
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 16 races of the season, with qualifying through prior Regional events. 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 the 10th-place finisher in the Region. In addition, each driver who attended all events within a Region will 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.
 
USMTS Southern Series drivers are also eligible to qualify for 'The Hunt'. Drivers may use their best points combination of either four Regions or a combination of three Regions and the Southern Series as their base points to begin '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 2007 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 Thursday, Aug. 9, at the Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kan.
 
Created for the fans, the 'The Hunt' serves 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 the USMTS Southern Series has a legitimate shot at capturing the O'Reilly USMTS National Championship.
 
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USMTS TITLE SPONSOR: O'Reilly Auto Parts.
 
USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Race Tires, AMSOIL, Arizona Sport Shirts, BRODIX, Fast Company Performance, Holley Performance Products, Home Pride Companies, Intercomp, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, Marsh Racing Wheels, Nitroquest Web Solutions, Olympic Fire Protection, Real Racing Wheels, Rookies Rockin' Sports Bar, Yeager Machine.
 
USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Boom Drilling, Borco LP, Day Motor Sports, Gressell Oil Field Services, Hughes Racing Chassis, KraftKar Race Cars, McVicker Oil Fields, Rinehart Trucking.
 
USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Belleville Motorsports, Bilstein Shocks, Boyer's Engine Development, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, GRT Race Cars, Hawk Performance, Hyperco, Isky Racing Cams, KSE Racing Products, Quarter Master, QuickTime Performance Race Parts, Racer's Choice (RCI).