DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The Queensland family began operating the Deer Creek Speedway in 2002 and thus began the transformation of the 3/8-mile clay oval situated among the rolling hills of Spring Valley, Minn., into one of the most popular dirt track racing venues in the United States.

The Queenslands – Randy, Deb and their children, Justin, Cole, Ryan and Susan – began operating the 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval in 2002 and have since built one of the most popular dirt track racing venues in the United States.

Left to right: Stewart Doty, RPM Promoters Workshops event organizer; Debra and Randy Queensland, Deer Creek Speedway; and Matt Long, Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Last month, the Queensland family – Randy, Deb and their children, Justin, Cole, Ryan and Susan – were nominated for the honor by their peers as one of six Regional Auto Racing Promoters of the Year for 2010.

The Queenslands were also awarded the Regional Promoter of the Year Award in 2008. Today's announcement of the ARPY Award occurred at the 38th Annual RPM Promoters Workshops in Daytona Beach, Fla.

"The Queenslands define what a great racetrack promoter should be," said USMTS President Todd Staley. "Nobody could be more deserving than Randy, his family and their entire crew. Week in and week out they work hard, they get the job done, they do it right and they do it well."

The Deer Creek Speedway annually hosts three USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour powered by Swan Energy events – Memorial Day Weekend, Labor Day Weekend and the Featherlite Fall Jamboree. In in 2011 they will add four more nights of action when they host the inaugural $20,000-to-win World Modified Dirt Track Championship on Wednesday-Saturday, April 6-9.

With 48 shows in the books, more USMTS events have been staged at ‘The Creek’ than any other racetrack in the 12-year history of the series.

Nominees for the Auto Racing Promoter of the Year operate weekly schedule oval tracks or dragstrips. The success and longevity of the operations, reputation, character and contribution of the nominee to the industry, and to industry newcomers are taken into consideration by voters.

The Auto Racing Promoter of the Year is short track racing’s most prestigious award for racetrack operators and managers. It is awarded each year after voting by promoters.

The award was originated in 1976 by the editors of Racing Promotion Monthly. Past recipients include Hugh Deery, J.C. Agajanian, D.A. Venditti, Jack Gunn, George Eisenhart, Howard Tiedt, Richard O’Brien, Don Martin, Glenn Donnelly, Cary Agajanian, Bud Lunsford, Bob Daniels, Ray Wilkings, Howard Commander, Paul Kuhl, Robert Lawton, Earl Baltes, Jody Deery, Andy Vertrees, Charles Powell, C-Ray Hall, Larry Kemp, Charles Cathell, Chuck Deery, Ralph Capitani, Lanny Edwards, Nadine Strauss, Tom Curley, Steve York, John Padjen, Lynn Phillips, Alfred Gurley, Joe & Walt Doellefeld and Jeff & Cindy Nuckles.

For more information about Racing Promotion Monthly or the RPM Promoters Workshops, visit www.racingpromotionmonthly.com online.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit www.usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944. For sponsorship and marketing inquiries, call 515-297-3935 or email media@usmts.com. You can also follow the USMTS on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and YouTube.

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USMTS TITLE SPONSORS: Casey’s General Stores, Swan Energy.

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Awesome Race Suits, GoPro, Intercomp, Karl Chevrolet, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, New Vision Graphics, NITROQUEST, RACEceiver.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Arnold Motor Supply, ASi Racewear, Bad Boy Mowers, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Day Motor Sports, Dirt Track Racing School, Dirthead.com, DirtKnights.com, DrySlik Dirt Trak Racewear, Farm Boy BBQ Sauce, Intensitee Custom Racewear, Karl Performance Parts, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Olympic Fire Protection, Ramirez Race Cars, Ruter Farms, Yeager Machine.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Belleville Motorsports, COMP Cams, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, Forty9 Designs, Genesis Shocks, GRT Race Cars, Hooker Harness, Hypercoil Springs, ISKY Racing Cams, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, Out-Pace Racing Products, PBM Performance Products, Quarter Master, Real Racing Wheels, RHS – Racing Head Service, Schoenfeld Headers, US Brake, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Willy’s Carburetor & Dyno Shop.