WEBSTER CITY, Iowa--News has been rolling out of the USMTS office in Webster City, Iowa at a swift pace this off-season. Perhaps the largest domino in the Staley family's 16 year tenure at the helm, has fallen into place today with the announcement of a possible $150,000 to win champions share of the season ending point fund.

“This is something we have wanted to do for some time now, but you have to have the support from drivers, fans and sponsors to make it work," said USMTS President Todd Staley. "Not only are the drivers who compete in the USMTS the best of the best, but this is proof that our fans and marketing partners are the best of the best too."

If any driver is able to secure all four regional championships and the Casey's General Stores Hunt for the USMTS National Championship, they will collect the coveted check, due in large part to additional support from Mesilla Valley Transportation.

A smaller but similar program was in place last season, but the level of parity amongst the field kept any one driver form collecting the big money. This has helped enable the program to grow to record breaking heights.

In 2015, the base point fund pay is as follows; each of the four regional champions will earn at least $5,000 while the National Champion is slated to earn $20,000 at season’s end. That’s a whopping $40,000 if one driver can win all four regions and the national crown, plus a $110,000 bonus.

With the champion able to capitalize on the top prize of $150,000, there are also incentives if the Championship pilot is able to win three regions and the championship, as well as two regional titles and the overall title.

Three regional championships plus the Hunt Championship will net the driver $35,000 plus a $65,000 bonus for a total payday of $100,000. Two regional triumphs and the Hunt will earn $30,000 plus a $20,000 bonus for $50,000 total.

"It’s a simple matter of putting your money where your mouth is, not your foot," Staley continued.

The 17th season for the United States Modified Touring Series and quest for the 2015 Casey's General Stores USMTS National Championship kicks off at the South Texas Speedway in Corpus Christi, Texas on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, February 12-14, for the first of four straight weekends along America’s warm southern border.

The series then moves to the Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas, for the 6th Annual Texas Spring Nationals on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, February 19-21.

From there, the USMTS treks to the El Paso Speedway Park for three nights on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, February 26-28, before heading a half-hour up Interstate 10 to the Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 5-7.

Each of the three-day shows will pay $2,000 to win Thursday, $3,000 to win Friday and $4,000 to win Saturday.

The February & March swing of races will also serve as one of four USMTS regions for 2015 with its own lucrative point's fund. By the end of the evening on March 7, the USMTS MVT Gulf Coast Border Region champion will be crowned and the first group of drivers will be qualified for the 2015 Casey's General Stores Hunt for the USMTS National Championship.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit www.usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944. You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usmts, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usmts or check out our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usmtstv.

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USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Casey’s General Stores, Chix Gear, COMP Cams, Day Motor Sports, Duvall Electric, Farm Boy BBQ Sauce, Intercomp, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, MSD, RACEceiver, RacinDirt.com, Rivers Edge Scrap Management, S&S Fishing & Rental, Snickers, U Motors, VP Racing Fuels.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Arizona Sport Shirts, ASi Racewear, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Double H Bands, ElbowsUp.com, Erson Cams, Integra Racing Shocks & Springs, Major League Bowhunter, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Olympic Fire Protection, Penn Transport, United Cellular Services.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Bell Racing Helmets, Beyea Custom Headers, Brass Monkey Racing Products, C&R Racing, CPD Racing Tools, Edelbrock, Fast Shafts, FK Rod Ends, Forty9 Designs, Fuel Safe, Genesis Racing Shocks, GRT Race Cars, Hooker Harness, JRi Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, PBM Performance Products, Power Lift Racing Products, Quarter Master, Real Racing Wheels, Sybesma Graphics, Tiger Rear Ends.