HOUSTON — They say everything's bigger in Texas, and this weekend's Texas Winter Nationals should produce enough evidence to sway any doubters.

The biggest names in Modified racing throughout the South — as well as some of the hottest drivers from the North, East and West too — will converge on the "Big H" for big bucks and bragging rights this Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 29-30 and Dec. 1, as the Houston Raceway Park hosts the inaugural Texas Winter Nationals for the USMTS Southern Series.

The tripleheader will serve as the season finale for the USMTS Southern Series, and will see the crowning of the first champion during this inaugural season for the wildly popular mud-slinging touring series. Eight of the 19 USMTS Southern Series races this season have been staged in the Lone Star State, with seven different drivers visiting victory lane.

And while USMTS Southern Series events have proven to be the premier gathering places for the best of the best Modified drivers in the South, it will be Fertile, Iowa's Kelly Shryock who comes into the Texas Winter Nationals with the points lead and dreams of winning the USMTS Southern Series title.

On the strength of his series-leading five victories, Shryock will roll into Houston Raceway Park with a healthy, but not insurmountable lead in the points over Randy Timms of Wheatland, Okla. Shryock, who relinquished the O'Reilly USMTS National Championship crown for the first time in eight years this season, can clinch the USMTS Southern Series title by finishing fifth or better each night -- something he's accomplished in 14 of his 19 starts this season.

Timms leads a trio of fellow Sooner State drivers that occupy the remaining top-5 spots the points standings. Jason Hughes of Westville, Okla., has three wins to his credit (including two of the last three) and sits third, followed by his teammate Tommy Weder Jr. of Woodward, Okla. (2 wins), and Greg Skaggs of Bixby, Okla. (1 win). Steve Holzkamper (1 win), Scott Green, Rodney Sanders, Zack VanderBeek and Dena Wilson round out the top-10 in the rankings.

A tough contingent of local aces, however, will pose a threat to the invading road warriors. Chris Brown of Cleveland, Texas, is a top runner at HRP and shocked the traveling stars when he captured the win at his hometown track of 105 Speedway on April 29. The most recent USMTS Southern Series checkered flag waved two weeks ago at the South Texas Speedway in Corpus Christi with Houston's David Horner garnering the win.

Other Houston Raceway Park regulars expected to contend for the Texas Winter Nationals crown and cash include Kevin Battarbee, Kalif Sellier, Kenny Battarbee, Troy Seidl, Derek Knowles, Brent Nicholas, Andy McClelland, Jeff Whitehead, Kevin MiGura and Edward Wickham.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29: Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 7 and racing at 7:30. The USMTS Southern Series main event will pay $1,000 to win and $150 to start. Limited Mods will also be running for $500 to win and $40 to start.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30: Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 7 and racing at 7:30. The USMTS Southern Series main event will pay $2,000 to win and $200 to start. Limited Mods will also be running for $700 to win and $50 to start.

Friday night is designated as Childhelp Night, and race fans can help play a direct role in the treatment and prevention of child abuse by simply attending the races. For every ticket sold in the grandstands on Friday, a donation of $1 will go to Childhelp to help carry out their mission of meeting the physical, emotional, educational and spiritual needs of abused and neglected children. To make a donation to help abused children, contact Childhelp at (480) 922-8212 or visit them online at www.childhelp.org.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1: Gates open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 6 and racing at 6:30. The USMTS Southern Series main event will pay $3,000 to win and $250 to start. Limited Mods will also be running for $1,000 to win and $60 to start.

Houston Raceway Park is a state-of-the-art 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval located east of Houston on I-10 to Exit 798, then 3.0 miles south on SR 146, then 0.8 mile southeast on FM 1405, then 1.5 miles northeast on FM 565 in Baytown, Texas. For more information, call the track office at (281) 383-RACE or visit www.houstonraceway.com online.

All USMTS rules will apply. American Racer is the Official Tire of the USMTS, and any driver seeking to receive USMTS Southern Series points and/or contingency awards must use the American Racer KK-704 racing tire. The Hoosier G60 tire will also be allowed for this race, but must be mounted on all four wheels with no grooving allowed.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online.

USMTS SOUTHERN SERIES POINTS STANDINGS:
1. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa … 1711 (5 wins)
2. Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla. … 1592 (1 win)
3. Jason Hughes, Westville, Okla. … 1544 (3 wins)
4. Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, Okla. … 1532 (2 wins)
5. Greg Skaggs, Bixby, Okla. … 1497 (2 wins)
6. Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, Ark. … 1490 (1 win)
7. Scott Green, Derby, Kan. … 1256
8. Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas … 1053
9. Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa … 1041
10. Dena Wilson, Coweta, Okla. … 1018
11. Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas … 1007
12. Nicholas Littlejohn, Everman, Texas … 996
13. Jamie Burford, Keatchie, La. … 955
14. Brandon Morton, Coweta, Okla. … 775
15. John O. Whittington, Vidor, Texas … 703
16. Brandon Kenny, E. Woodward, Okla. … 683
17. Derek Ramirez, Woodward, Okla. … 672
18. Bobby Malchus, Red Oak, Texas … 665
19. Phil Dixon, Crosby, Texas … 641
20. Chase Allen, Midlothian, Texas … 609
Other winners: Jay Noteboom, Chris Brown, Jared Landers, Peyton Taylor and David Horner (1 each)

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USMTS SOUTHERN SERIES OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Race Tires, AMSOIL, BORCO LP, Day Motor Sports, Fast Company Performance, Holley Performance Products, Home Pride Companies, Intercomp, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, Kraft Kars, Marsh Racing Wheels, Nitroquest Web Solutions, Olympic Fire Protection, Real Racing Wheels, Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar, Yeager Machine.

USMTS SOUTHERN SERIES CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Boyer’s Engine Development, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, Edelbrock, Fast Shafts, GRT Race Cars, Hawk Performance, Hyperco, Isky Racing Cams, KSE Racing Products, Pflugerville Machine, Quarter Master, QuickTime Performance Race Parts, Racer’s Choice (RCI).