The mud-slinging masters of dirt modified racing return to the Southern New Mexico Speedway on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 20-22, for the Rancho Milagro Short Track Shootout and the one and only stop of the 2018 campaign at the Las Cruces, N.M., oval.

Presented by Premier Waste Services, Barnett Harley-Davidson, G3 Fitness, S&S Fishing & Rental, Gotta Race and Torco Race Fuels, fans will see the best of the best of both worlds as the blockbuster is both a USMTS Hunt for the Casey’s Cup national points race and a Summit USMTS Southern Series event.

Louisiana’s Cade Dillard has yet to win a USMTS main event this year, but he sits atop the national standings and is just two points behind Las Cruces native Johnny Scott in the southern points battle.

Dereck Ramirez, Jason Krohn, Johnny Scott and last week’s King of America VIII winner Lucas Schott fill the top five positions in this year’s fight for the $50,000-to-win USMTS national championship.

In the Summit USMTS Southern Series presented by Production Jars, USMTS rookie Ethan Dotson of Bakersfield, Calif., picked up his career-first win in February, and trails Johnny Scott and Dillard in the points chase entering the Rancho Milagro Short Track Shootout while two-time USMTS national champ Rodney Sanders and Ramirez rounded out the south’s top five.

Other hungry checkered flag chasers expected for the Rancho Milagro Short Track Shootout include “Big Daddy” Joe Duvall, Zack VanderBeek, Jake O'Neil, Terry Phillips, Logan Robertson, Bryan Rowland, Zane Ferrell and the other half of the twin Scott brothers duo, Stormy Scott.

While the USMTS is the pinnacle of the dirt modified world, the Southern New Mexico Speedway has no equal when it comes to local and regional talent capable of stealing the big money.

Former USRA national champions Fito Gallardo and his son, Jake Gallardo, of Las Cruces will join Mesilla Park’s Bumper Jones and his father, Royal Jones, to take on the high-speed invaders. Other regulars expected include USMTS rookie-of-the-year contender Carlos Ahumada Jr. of El Paso, Christy Barnett, Jimmy Ray, Donavon Flores, Dustin Smith, Austin Adams, Terry Tipton, Zane DeVilbiss, Butch Reid Jr., Sherman Barnett, Max Sadler, Philip Houston and more.

Also on the racing card all three nights of the Rancho Milagro Short Track Shootout will be Anthony Sosa Roofing Late Models, Out-Pace USRA B-Mods (X-Mods), Casa Nissan Legends Cars and Holley USRA Stock Cars presented by Medieval Chassis.

Modifieds will be co-sanctioned by the USRA and will earn Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series national, regional and track points all three nights along with Stock Cars and B-Mods.

An open practice is slated for Thursday, April 19, with gates opening at 5 p.m. and practice from 6-10 p.m. Pit passes are $25 (grandstands will be closed).

On Friday and Saturday, gates open at 5 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m. General admission is $12. A family pack is $30. Pit passes are $40 (three-day pit pass $110). Kids ages 10 and under get in for free all three days.

On Sunday, gates open at 3 p.m. with racing at 5 p.m. General admission is $15, a family pack is $35 and pit passes are $40.

The Southern New Mexico Speedway is a high-banked 3/8-mile clay oval located 11 miles west of Las Cruces at the Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds. Take exit 132, go left and take the frontage road south of I-10 heading west. For more information, call (575) 524-7913 or (505) 524-7913 or visit www.SNMSpeedway.com online. You can also check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SouthernNewMexicoSpeedway and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SNMSpeedway.

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 and Instagram at www.instagram.com/usmts or subscribe to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usmtstv. Keep up to speed with everything USMTS by joining our email list at www.usmts.com/subscribe.

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USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: Alpinestars, American Racer Racing Tires, Argo Manufacturing, Casey’s General Stores, Chevrolet Performance, CP-Carrillo, Deatherage Opticians, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, Intercomp, Jerovetz Motorsports Racing Parts, KSE Racing Products, Leaf Racewear & Safety Equipment, Malvern Bank, Mesilla Valley Transportation, MSD Performance, Nitroquest Media, Pace Performance, RacinDirt.com, S&S Fishing & Rental, Summit Racing Equipment, VP Racing Fuels.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Arizona Sport Shirts, ASi Racewear, Boubin Tire & Automotive, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Duvall Electric, Eagle Moon Farm, ElbowsUp.com, Evolution Powersports, Oreo Cookies, PBM Performance Products, Production Jars, Rancho Milagro Racing, River’s Edge Scrap Management, Snickers, Spike Hardcore Energy, Top of the World Ranch, YouDirt.com.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: 905 Ink, AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Alpine Stars, Beyea Custom Headers, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, BSB Manufacturing, Champ Pans, Edelbrock, FK Rod Ends, Forty9 Designs, Genesis Racing Shocks, GRT Race Cars, Holley Performance Products, Hooker Harness, Integra Shocks & Springs, Keyser Manufacturing, Maxima Racing Oils, Mr. Gasket, Out-Pace Racing Products, QA1, RacerWebsite.com, Real Racing Wheels, RHRSwag.com, Simpson Performance Products, Swift Springs, Sybesma Graphics, Tire Demon, Wehrs Machine & Race Products, Wilwood Disc Brakes.