BATESVILLE, Ark. -- Officials from the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series announced today that the "cream of the crop" in dirt modified racing will descend upon the Batesville Speedway during the 2006 season.

Located in Locust Grove, Ark., Batesville Speedway is a 3/8-mile red clay oval nestled in the foot hills of the Ozark Mountains in beautiful North Central Arkansas.

Mooney Starr, owner and promoter of the Batesville Speedway, confirmed on Monday that the O’Reilly USMTS invasion will take place on Friday and Saturday, July 28-29. Friday's main event will pay $2,000 to the winner while Saturday's purse will carry a $3,000 top prize.

"Batesville Speedway is one of the most competitive dirt tracks in America, and we are thrilled to be bringing the most competitive modified series to this great facility," said O’Reilly USMTS President Todd Staley. "The O’Reilly USMTS team is looking forward to giving the Batesville fans a show to remember."

The addition of Batesville Speedway brings the total number of events on the 2006 O’Reilly USMTS schedule to 66, which includes dates at 32 different racetracks in 10 states.

Seven-time defending O’Reilly USMTS champion Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa, will lead the charge of touring road warriors into Batesville, along with other top pilots such as Tommy Myer, Brad McEwan, Al Hejna, Corey Dripps, Zack VanderBeek, Ryan Ruter, Jon Tesch, Jason Hughes, Mark Noble and Dean Mahlstedt.

Familiar names like Wendell Wallace, Michael Murphree, Jared Landers, Jeff Taylor, Jack Sullivan, Jeremy Payne and Wayne Brooks will also be expected to take part in the battle to protect the home turf of the Razorback racers.

Hot laps are slated for 7:30 p.m. with racing scheduled for 8:00 each night. To-be-determined support classes will also join the racing card both nights. For more information, contact Batesville Speedway at (870) 251-1200 or visit www.BatesvilleSpeedway.com online.

The 2005 O’Reilly USMTS season will kick off at the Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb., on Friday and Saturday, March 11-12. More dates may be added to the 2006 O’Reilly USMTS slate as contract negotiations continue with several event promoters. As the tentative 2006 schedule nears completion, officials will announce the regional alignments for the 2006 “In The Hunt” season-ending title chase.

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.

O’REILLY AUTO PARTS UNITED STATES MODIFIED TOURING SERIES

TENTATIVE 2006 SCHEDULE (as of Jan. 23, 2006)

Fri, Mar 10 ... Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, NE ($2,000 to win)

Sat, Mar 11 ... Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, NE ($3,000 to win)

Fri, Mar 17 ... Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, KS ($2,000 to win)

Sat, Mar 18 ... Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, KS ($3,000 to win)

Fri, Mar 31 ... Bloomfield Speedway, Bloomfield, IA ($2,000 to win)

Sat, Apr 1 .... Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, MO ($2,000 to win)

Fri, Apr 7 .... Hancock County Speedway, Britt, IA ($2,000 to win)

Sat, Apr 8 .... Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA ($2,000 to win)

Fri, Apr 14 ... TBA

Sat, Apr 15 ... TBA

Fri, May 12 ... Bolivar Speedway USA, Bolivar, MO ($2,000 to win)

Sat, May 13 ... Lebanon I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, MO ($2,000 to win)

Sun, May 14 ... Monett Speedway, Monett, MO ($2,000 to win)

Thu, May 25 ... Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, SD ($2,000 to win)

Fri, May 26 ... Murray County Speedway, Slayton, MN ($2,000 to win)

Sat, May 27 ... Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win)

Sun, May 28 ... Dodge County Speedway, Kasson, MN ($2,000 to win)

Mon, May 29 ... Hancock County Speedway, Britt, IA ($2,000 to win)

Tue, Jun 6 .... Oshkosh SpeedZone Raceway, Oshkosh, WI ($2,000 to win)

Wed, Jun 7 .... Thunderhill Raceway, Sturgeon Bay, WI ($2,000 to win)

Thu, Jun 8 .... Langlade County Speedway, Antigo, WI ($2,000 to win)

Fri, Jun 9 .... Fox Ridge Speedway, Arcadia, WI ($2,000 to win)

Fri, Jun 16 ... Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS ($2,000 to win)

Sat, Jun 17 ... Lebanon I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, MO ($2,000 to win)

Sun, Jun 18 ... Monett Speedway, Monett, MO ($2,000 to win)

Tue, Jun 20 ... Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA ($2,000 to win)

Wed, Jun 21 ... Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA ($2,000 to win)

Thu, Jun 22 ... Adams County Speedway, Corning, IA ($2,000 to win)

Tue, Jun 27 ... Interstate Speedway, Jefferson, SD ($2,000 to win)

Thu, Jun 29 ... Casino Speedway, Watertown, SD ($2,000 to win)

Sat, Jul 1 .... TBA

Sun, Jul 2 .... TBA

Mon, Jul 3 .... TBA

Wed, Jul 12 ... Dodge County Speedway, Kasson, MN ($2,000 to win)

Thu, Jul 13 ... Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA ($2,000 to win)

Fri, Jul 14 ... Fox Ridge Speedway, Arcadia, WI ($2,000 to win)

Sat, Jul 15 ... Jackson Speedway, Jackson, MN ($2,000 to win)

Wed, Jul 19 ... Eagle Raceway, Eagle, NE ($2,000 to win)

Fri, Jul 21 ... Murray County Speedway, Slayton, MN ($2,000 to win)

Fri, Jul 28 ... Batesville Speedway, Batesville, AR ($2,000 to win)

Sat, Jul 29 ... Batesville Speedway, Batesville, AR ($3,000 to win)

Tue, Aug 1 .... Benton County Speedway, Vinton, IA ($2,000 to win)

Wed, Aug 2 .... Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA ($2,000 to win)

Thu, Aug 3 .... Knox County Fairgrounds, Knoxville, IL ($2,000 to win)

Fri, Aug 4 .... Bloomfield Speedway, Bloomfield, IA ($2,000 to win)

Sat, Aug 5 .... Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, MO ($2,000 to win)

Fri, Aug 11 ... Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, MO ($2,000 to win)

Sat, Aug 12 ... Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, MO ($3,000 to win)

Tue, Aug 15 ... West Liberty Raceway, West Liberty, IA ($2,000 to win)

Wed, Aug 16 ... Farley Speedway, Farley, IA ($2,000 to win)

Thu, Aug 17 ... Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, IA ($2,000 to win)

Fri, Aug 18 ... Fox Ridge Speedway, Arcadia, WI ($2,000 to win)

Sat, Aug 19 ... Jackson Speedway, Jackson, MN ($2,000 to win)

Fri, Sep 1 .... Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA ($2,000 to win)

Sat, Sep 2 .... Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win)

Sun, Sep 3 .... Dodge County Speedway, Kasson, MN ($2,000 to win)

Fri, Sep 15 ... Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA ($2,000 to win)

Sat, Sep 16 ... Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA ($3,000 to win)

Thu, Sep 21 ... Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN (TBD)

Fri, Sep 22 ... Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN (TBD)

Sat, Sep 23 ... Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN (TBD)

Fri, Oct 6 .... Adams County Speedway, Corning, IA ($2,000 to win)

Sat, Oct 7 .... Adams County Speedway, Corning, IA ($3,000 to win)

Thu, Oct 12 ... TBA

Fri, Oct 13 ... TBA

Sat, Oct 14 ... TBA

Fri, Oct 20 ... Bolivar Speedway USA, Bolivar, MO ($2,000 to win)

Sat, Oct 21 ... Bolivar Speedway USA, Bolivar, MO ($3,000 to win)

Fri, Oct 27 ... Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, MO ($2,000 to win)

Sat, Oct 28 ... Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, MO ($3,000 to win)