MERRILL, Wis. -- Readers of Racing Promotion Monthly (RPM) have selected three first-time and three repeat nominees as Regional Auto Racing Promoters of the Year for 2010.

They came from among more than 100 different short tracks in 41 states receiving votes, and the nominees’ experience ranges from six years to over 51 years.

Among the nominees is the Queensland family which operates the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn. This is the second award for the Queensland Family as they were also awarded the Regional Promoter of the Year by RPM in 2008.

The Queenslands – Randy, Deb and their children, Justin, Cole, Ryan and Susan – began operating the 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval in 2002 and have since built one of the most popular dirt track racing venues in the United States.

The Queensland family (from left to right) - Front: Deb and Randy; Back: Justin, Cole, Ryan and Susan.

The Deer Creek Speedway annually hosts three USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour events – Memorial Day Weekend, Labor Day Weekend and the Featherlite Fall Jamboree.

In 2011, the racing complex will add four more nights of USMTS Modified action when they host the inaugural World Modified Dirt Track Championship, April 6-9, with a whopping $20,000 top prize awaiting the winner.

The appropriately-nicknamed ‘Mecca of Modified Racing’ races weekly on Saturday nights from April to September featuring five classes, including the USRA RHS Modifieds and USRA Karl Performance Parts B-Mods as part of the American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series.

The Deer Creek Speedway will also host a USRA Iron Man Challenge event for USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars in conjunction with one of the USMTS events in 2011.

The Auto Racing Promoter of the Year is selected by readers of Racing Promotion Monthly. Nominees operate weekly schedule oval tracks or dragstrips. Readers consider the success and longevity of the operations, reputation, character and contribution of the nominee to the industry, and to industry newcomers.

The ARPY will be revealed during the 38th Annual RPM Promoters Workshops, Feb. 14-16, in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The Auto Racing Promoter of the Year is short track racing’s most prestigious award for racetrack operators and managers. It is awarded each year after voting by promoters. The award was originated in 1976 by the editors of Racing Promotion Monthly.

For more information about Racing Promotion Monthly or the RPM Promoters Workshops, visit www.racingpromotionmonthly.com online.

The 2011 USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour campaign currently has a whopping 85 race nights slated at 57 premier dirt ovals in 13 states, with as many as eight additional shows yet to be penciled in. The line-up of events showcasing the premier dirt modified drivers in America features an exciting mix of classic events at familiar venues, as well as several new locales that are certain to jump start every race fan’s hunger for the series’ 13th year of competition.

The forthcoming grind will kick off Feb. 17-19 at the Royal Purple Raceway (formerly Houston Raceway Park) in Baytown, Texas, then moves to the Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb., for the 8th Annual Nebraska Spring Thaw on Friday and Saturday, March 4-5.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit www.usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944. For sponsorship and marketing inquiries, call 515-297-3935 or email media@usmts.com. You can also follow the USMTS on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and YouTube.

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USMTS TITLE SPONSORS: Casey’s General Stores.

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, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Cagle Motorsports, DandyLand Farms, Day Motor Sports, Dirt Track Racing School, Dirthead.com, DirtKnights.com, DrySlik Dirt Trak Racewear, 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, Yeager Machine.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Ai-Racing, Belleville Motorsports, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, COMP Cams, 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.