More than 60 dates highlight 2008 O’Reilly USMTS National Events schedule

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (Jan. 9) — United States Modified Touring Series officials released the 2008 O’Reilly USMTS National Events schedule today with a 60-plus-race line-up that features an exciting slate of races that will make Modified fans salivate.

WARNING: Looking at the 2008 O’Reilly USMTS National Events schedule may make the winter months feel like they'll never end!

“This year's schedule is off the hook,” said USMTS president Todd Staley. “The support we get from O’Reilly Auto Parts and our other great sponsors, along with our top-flight track promoters, 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.”

The rugged road warriors of the O’Reilly USMTS will thrill race fans in America's heartland with an aggressive National Events campaign which currently features 59 events at 41 different venues in nine different States. The tentative schedule is highlighted with return engagements to 28 facilities that hosted an O’Reilly USMTS National Event last season, along with 11 new venues encompassing some of the most exciting dirt ovals in America.

For the fifth straight year, the O’Reilly USMTS National Events campaign will kick off with a doubleheader at the state-of-the-art Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb. The 5th Annual Nebraska Spring Thaw is slated for Friday and Saturday, March 7-8, 2008. Friday’s event will pay $2,000 to win while the victor in Saturday’s main event will pocket $3,000. More than 70 entries are once again expected for the annual lidlifter at the 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval.

A tripleheader next weekend is on tap with a trio of $2,000-to-win shows. The O’Reilly USMTS National Tour makes its debut at the high-banked 1/3-mile oval at the U.S. 36 Raceway in Osborn, Mo., on Friday, March 14. From there, the action moves to the Humboldt (Kan.) Speedway on Saturday, March 15, before wrapping up the swing on Sunday, March 16, with an annual trek to the Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kan.

An encore engagement at U.S. 36 Raceway is slated for Friday, June 20.

One week later, the teams will load 'em up and haul 'em to three more tracks in the Show-Me State with another $6,000-to-win possible. The weekend kicks off on Friday, March 28, at the LA Raceway in LaMonte, Mo., and ends up at the Monett (Mo.) Speedway on Sunday, March 30. Sandwiched between them on Saturday, March 29, the O’Reilly USMTS Modified Masters will take on the lightning-fast Lebanon (Mo.) I-44 Speedway.

The action kicks back into high gear in April with a return engagement at the West Siloam Speedway in West Siloam Springs, Okla., on Friday and Saturday, April 4-5. The Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa, will host the first of three straight races the following weekend beginning Friday, April 11. On Saturday, April 12, it's a first-ever visit to the LaSalle (Ill.) Speedway with the weekend finale taking place at the Quad City Raceway in East Moline, Ill., on Sunday, April 13.

After a grueling first six weeks, teams will get more than a month to regroup before returning to battle on Friday, May 23, at the Chateau Raceway in Lansing, Minn.

In addition to the Osborn and LaSalle, several other first-time venues dot the 2008 schedule. The traveling O’Reilly USMTS titans will make their first-ever stop at the Fayette County Speedway in West Union, Iowa, for a $2,000-to-win tilt on Thursday, June 12. The Clay County Speedway in Spencer, Iowa, will host the O’Reilly USMTS mud-slingers on Wednesday, July 23, while the North Iowa Fairgrounds will come to life on Thursday, July 24, at the I-35 Speedway in Mason City, Iowa. Other first-time stops include the newly-reopened Rock County Speedway in Luverne, Minn., on Saturday, July 26, and the 24 Raceway in Moberly, Mo., on Saturday, Aug. 2.

Finally, the O’Reilly USMTS has also scheduled back-to-back-to-back-to-back first-ever stops at the 81 Speedway in Wichita, Kan., on Tuesday, Aug. 5; Heartland Park Topeka (Kan.) on Wednesday, Aug. 6; Nevada (Mo.) Speedway on Thursday, Aug. 7; and Midway Speedway in Lebanon, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 8.

Throughout the 2008 racing season, the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour will make 2007 season encore stops at the Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa; Bloomfield (Iowa) Speedway; Casino Speedway in Watertown, S.D.; Chateau Raceway in Lansing, Minn.; Cresco (Iowa) Speedway; Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn.; Eagle (Neb.) Raceway; Highway 3 Raceway in Allison, Iowa; Humboldt (Kan.) Speedway; Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D.; Iowa State Fairgrounds Speedway in Des Moines; Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb.; Kasson (Minn.) Speedway; Knox County Fairgrounds in Knoxville, Ill.; LA Raceway in LaMonte, Mo.; Lebanon (Mo.) I-44 Speedway; Monett (Mo.) Speedway; Murray County Speedway in Slayton, Minn. Nobles County Speedway in Worthington, Minn.; Park Jefferson (S.D.) Speedway; Quad City Raceway in East Moline, Ill.; Rapid Speedway in Rock Rapids, Iowa; Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa; Steele County Speedway in Owatonna, Minn.; Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kan.; Tri-Oval Speedway in Fountain City, Wis.; Upper Iowa Speedway in Decorah, Iowa; and West Siloam Speedway in West Siloam Springs, Okla.

After a one-year hiatus, one of the most popular fan venues returns to the schedule as the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour returns to the Mineral City Speedway in Fort Dodge, Iowa, for a $2,000-to-win event on Wednesday, June 18. The Mid America Speedway in South Coffeyville, Okla., is back on the calendar for the first time since the 2002 racing season with a $2,000-to-win event on Saturday, June 21.

The O’Reilly USMTS will return to the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., for the 10th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18-20. 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. Last season's Featherlite Fall Jamboree saw more than 130 Modifieds registered, with a rich pedigree pit area full of America’s best-known pilots.

As many as nine more dates are expected to be added to the 2008 slate as contracts and dates are finalized with several event promoters. The Hunt for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship season-ending title chase is tentatively set to begin on Friday, Aug. 8, at the Midway Speedway in Lebanon, Mo., and concludes with the finale of the 10th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree on Saturday, Sept. 20. USMTS officials plan to announce final regional alignments in the next few days as additional race dates become finalized.

The USMTS will be 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. More announcements about the 2008 season will be forthcoming over the next few weeks.

The sophomore season of the O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series will begin on Friday, April 18, at the Golden Triangle Raceway Park (formerly Motorama Speedway) in Beaumont, Texas, for a $2,000-to-win event, followed up on Saturday, April 19, with another $2,000-to-win show at the Gator Motorplex in Willis, Texas.

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.

UNITED STATES MODIFIED TOURING SERIES
O’REILLY USMTS NATIONAL TOUR - 2008 SCHEDULE

Fri Mar 7 … Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, NE ($2,000 to win)
Sat Mar 8 … Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, NE ($3,000 to win)
Fri Mar 14 … U.S. 36 Raceway, Osborn, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sat Mar 15 … Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS ($2,000 to win)
Sun Mar 16 … Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, KS ($2,000 to win)
Fri Mar 28 … LA Raceway, LaMonte, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sat Mar 29 … Lebanon I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sun Mar 30 … Monett Speedway, Monett, MO ($2,000 to win)
Fri Apr 4 … West Siloam Speedway, West Siloam Springs, OK ($2,000 to win)
Sat Apr 5 … West Siloam Speedway, West Siloam Springs, OK ($3,000 to win)
Fri Apr 11 … Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA ($2,000 to win)
Sat Apr 12 … LaSalle Speedway, LaSalle, IL ($2,000 to win)
Sun Apr 13 … Quad City Raceway, East Moline, IL ($2,000 to win)
Fri May 23 … Chateau Raceway, Lansing, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sat May 24 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sun May 25 … Kasson Speedway, Kasson, MN ($2,000 to win)
Mon May 26 … TBA
Sun Jun 1 … Nobles County Speedway, Worthington, MN ($2,000 to win)
Mon Jun 2 … Iowa State Fair Speedway, Des Moines, IA ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jun 3 … TBA
Tue Jun 10 … Adams County Speedway, Corning, IA ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jun 11 … Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jun 12 … Fayette County Speedway, West Union, IA ($2,000 to win)
Fri Jun 13 … Tri-Oval Speedway, Fountain City, WI ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jun 17 … Mineral City Speedway, Fort Dodge, IA ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jun 18 … TBA
Thu Jun 19 … TBA
Fri Jun 20 … U.S. 36 Raceway, Osborn, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sat Jun 21 … Mid America Speedway, South Coffeyville, OK ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jun 24 … Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, SD ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jun 25 … Huset’s Speedway, Brandon, SD ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jun 26 … Casino Speedway, Watertown, SD ($2,000 to win)
Fri Jun 27 … Rapid Speedway, Rock Rapids, IA ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jul 2 … TBA
Thu Jul 3 … Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA ($2,000 to win)
Fri Jul 4 … Murray County Speedway, Slayton, MN ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jul 22 … Kasson Speedway, Kasson, MN ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jul 23 … Clay County Speedway, Spencer, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jul 24 … I-35 Speedway, Mason City, IA ($2,000 to win)
Fri Jul 25 … Tri-Oval Speedway, Fountain City, WI ($2,000 to win)
Sat Jul 26 … Rock County Speedway, Luverne, MN ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jul 29 … Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jul 30 … Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jul 31 … Knox County Fairgrounds, Knoxville, IL ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 1 … Bloomfield Speedway, Bloomfield, IA ($2,000 to win)
Sat Aug 2 … 24 Raceway, Moberly, MO ($2,000 to win)
Mon Aug 4 … Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS ($2,000 to win)
Tue Aug 5 … 81 Speedway Wichita, KS ($2,000 to win)
Wed Aug 6 … Heartland Park Topeka, Topeka, KS ($2,000 to win)
Thu Aug 7 … Nevada Speedway, Nevada, MO ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 8 … Midway Speedway, Lebanon, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sat Aug 9 … Lebanon I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sun Aug 10 … Monett Speedway, Monett, MO ($2,000 to win)
Tue Aug 12 … Eagle Raceway, Eagle, NE ($2,000 to win)
Wed Aug 13 … Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu Aug 14 … Steele County Speedway, Owatonna, MN ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 15 … TBA
Thu Aug 28 … Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 29 … Chateau Raceway, Lansing, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sat Aug 30 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sun Aug 31 … Kasson Speedway, Kasson, MN ($2,000 to win)
Mon Sep 1 … TBA
Thu Sep 11 … TBA
Fri Sep 12 … Iowa State Fair Speedway, Des Moines, IA ($2,000 to win)
Sat Sep 13 … TBA
Thu Sep 18 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win)
Fri Sep 19 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($4,000 to win)
Sat Sep 20 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($6,000 to win)

SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

‘The Hunt’ will be comprised of the final 14-18 races of the season. The USMTS points system will be used at all regional events, with the top-10 in the final standings for each of the four regions earning 10 points for first place, 9 points for second place and so forth, descending to 1 point for 10th place in the region. In addition, each driver who competed at all events within a region will earn 5 bonus points. The total points earned for all regions (and/or the USMTS Southern Series) will serve as the base points that each driver will start ‘The Hunt’ with. After base points have been established, the USMTS points system will be used at the remaining events for the drivers in ‘The Hunt’ to determine the 2008 O’Reilly USMTS National Champion.

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 O’Reilly USMTS National Events circuit, any of the qualified drivers have a legitimate shot at capturing the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship. Without question, the 10th Anniversary Season for the O’Reilly USMTS will be the most exciting ever!

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.