WEBSTER CITY, Iowa -- Fresh off of a full week of competition under the July sun, the summer will heat up even more this week for the stars and cars of the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series with a grueling four-day trek through three States.

After two days off to catch their collective breath, the O’Reilly USMTS makes its first stop of the 2005 season at the lightning-fast Crawford County Speedway in Denison, Iowa, for the Western Iowa Fair Race at the half-mile semi-banked oval on Wednesday, July 20. Pro-Ams and B-Mods will also be racing. Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 7 and racing at 7:30. Grandstand tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for kids (ages 13-17) and children 12 and under are admitted FREE. The Crawford County Speedway is located 0.6 mile north of US 30 on US 59 then 0.6 mile northeast on SR 39.

On Thursday, July 21, the "Best of the Best" will have their hands full at the 3/10-mile bullring of the Interstate Speedway in Jefferson, S.D. Local ace Jay Noteboom, who won at Park Jefferson on May 26, will be among the favorites to have a chance at knocking off the touring road warriors in Weatherton Contracting/KPTH Fox44 50-lap main event. Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7. Interstate Speedway is located just off of I-29 at Exit 4, then 0.2 mile east to SR 105, then 1.7 miles north (on the west side of SR 105).

With the completion of the Interstate Speedway battle, so too will Pro-Environmental Abatement Swing #3 come to an end with the season's third 10-race chunk in the books. So far, six-time defending O’Reilly USMTS champion Kelly Shryock has captured both of the first two swings, and currently holds a slim lead in the third swing.

The touring teams visit their third State in three days as the Murray County Speedway in Slayton, Minn., welcomes the O’Reilly USMTS for the second time this season for the Gopher Summer Challenge on Friday, July 22 -- race #1 of 10 comprising Dirt Works Race Cars Swing #4. Mike Sorensen of Rochester, Minn., held off the challenges of Blooming Prairie, Minn.'s Tommy Myer to take the $2,000 top prize on May 27 in one of the season's best wire-to-wire battles. Gates open at 5 p.m. Hot laps are at 7 with racing at 7:30. The Murray County Speedway is located 1 mile south of SR 30 on Juniper Ave. (at the Murray County Fairgrounds).

The four-day swing wraps up on Saturday, July 23, with the USMTS Hawkeye Summer Challenge at the Upper Iowa Speedway in Decorah, Iowa. Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks and Thunder Trucks will also be on the card with points racing in all three classes at the quarter-mile speedplant. Gates open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 6. The green flag flies at 6:30. The Upper Iowa Speedway is located 1.8 miles east of US 52 on SR 9, then 1.0 mile northwest on Montgomery St., then northeast on E. Main (at the Winneshiek County Fairgrounds).

A lightning-fast field of 24 cars will start the Holley "A" Main each night, with a $2,000 top prize on the line for each of the four events, plus $200 just to start each nightcapper.

A big field of cars is expected for each event, including O’Reilly National Drivers Kelly Shryock, Brad McEwan, Corey Dripps, Tommy Myer, Jason Hughes, Jon Tesch, Zack VanderBeek, Al Hejna, Ryan Ruter, Mike Sorensen, Jason Krohn, Mark Noble, Alan Mondus, Mike Hejna, Willy Kraft, Bruce Hanford, Mike Wedelstadt, Roger Hadan, Julie McDermid, Brad Bakken, Jay Poidinger, Tommy Weder Jr., Jeremy Keller, Brian Mullen, Jake Neal, Dean Mahlstedt, Gary Clark, Dustin Boney, Jodi Olson, Greg Metz, Scott Drake, Lynn Nillson, Jesse Frericks, Steve Holzkamper, Bub Lerette, Justin Cooper, Steve Wetzstein, Bob Timm, Gary March, Jeff Schluetter, Matt McDermid, Brandon Morton, Jeremy Payne, Mike Chasteen, Doug Hillson, Scott Mullen, Ray Guss Jr., Neil Eckhart, Jeff James, Tony Fraise, Sean Jerovetz, Jordy Nelson, Mark Eliott, Dan Fetters, Nate Wasmund, Kevin Stoa, Brad Waits, Matt Gilbertson, Johnny Bone Jr., Darin Duffy, Joe McBirnie, Steve Stewart, Russell Stewart, Martin Bennett, Brent Bohmont, Mark Dotson, Todd Dart, Tim Vogt, Danny Concelman, Mike Bennett, David Murray, Dan Daniels, Danny McKeighan, Ryan Meyer, John Vandenberg, Mike Spaulding and Mark Burgtorf.

For more information, call 515-832-7944 or log on to www.USMTS.com for all the latest news and information from the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series.

O’REILLY NATIONAL DRIVER STANDINGS:

1. 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa .... 2,644 pts.

2. 26 Brad McEwan, Storm Lake, Iowa .... 2,273

3. 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa .... 2,212

4. 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn. .... 2,209

5. 12 Jason Hughes, Colcord, Okla. .... 2,034

6. 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D. .... 1,996

7. 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa .... 1,909

8. 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa .... 1,675

9. 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa .... 1,552

10. 19 Mike Sorensen, Rochester, Minn. .... 1,240