It will have been 118 long and cold days since the last checkered flag waved, but the wait is nearly over for thousands of race fans and drivers throughout America’s heartland as the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series is set kick off a thrilling 2007 season with the 4th Annual Nebraska Spring Thaw at the Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb., on Friday and Saturday, March 9-10. …

O’Reilly USMTS officials released the 2007 National Events schedule today, and this season's line-up features the most exciting slate of races in the nine-year history of America's Premier Modified Series. In addition to the inaugural season of the USMTS Southern Series which was announced last month, the regional alignment for the 58 scheduled National Events was also announced and brings the total number of events to 83 under the USMTS banner. …

Belleville Motorsports, Inc. (BMS) has signed on as a contingency sponsor of the O’Reilly USMTS for the 2007 racing season. As part of their commitment to O’Reilly USMTS competitors, BMS will be awarding product certificates to drivers competing in the O’Reilly USMTS Western Region, as well as product certificates to Rookie of the Year candidates and cash contributions to the Western Region points fund. …

Officials have announced that the inaugural event for the newly-formed USMTS Southern Series will kick off with a doubleheader at Enid (Okla.) Speedway Park, March 30-31, and end with a three-day extravaganza in November at South Texas Speedway in Corpus Christi, Texas, with nine events currently scheduled for the best Modified pilots in the South. …

Steve Arpin got his 2007 season off to a perfect start as he swept both nights of the inaugural North Florida Winternationals at the North Florida Speedway, Feb. 2-3. For his efforts, the 23-year-old from Fort Frances, Ont., Canada, pocketed $2,500 behind the wheel of his familiar No. 00 Larry Shaw Modified powered by Action Engineering. …

Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar is returning in 2007 as the title sponsor of the Rookie-of-the-Year award for the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series, officials announced recently. …

The O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series announced today that Hyperco has renewed their commitment to the drivers of America's Premier Modified Series as a contingency sponsor for the 2007 season. …

The O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series announced today that Marsh Racing Wheels has signed on as the Official “Halfway Leader Award” Sponsor for the 2007 season. This will be the second consecutive season that MRW has supported the rugged road warriors of the O’Reilly USMTS. …

The O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series announced today that KSE Racing Products has renewed their commitment to the drivers of America's Premier Modified Series as a contingency sponsor for the 2007 season. …

Steve Arpin embarked Monday on a 21-hour, 1,400-mile trek to Lake City, Fla., where he will open the 2007 season with a three-day event at the North Florida Speedway -- the first of 15 events in 17 days for the 23-year-old pilot. …