WEBSTER CITY, Iowa -- United States Modified Touring Series officials announced today that beginning July 1, 2011, all competitors utilizing the CT525 crate engine must add an additional 50 pounds of weight in front of the mid-plate.

The overall racecar weight will now be 2,250 pounds.

As the first and only sanctioning body in the nation to implement the CT525 crate motor as an option for the Modified division, USMTS officials also had the burden of testing, doing research and observing the results. Those results led them to announce today's rules amendment.

“We've had the chance to see the crate in action now, and determined that this was the right move at this time,” said USMTS President Todd Staley. “We feel there is a performance advantage with the current configuration, and we need to remove that advantage. The crate motor is an option for drivers who want to be competitive, but at a lower cost. We don't want drivers to feel they need to have a crate motor under the hood in order to run up front.”

USMTS officials will continue to monitor the crate's performance – as well as every other aspect of the rulebook – to ensure a level playing field for all competitors, Staley noted.

“Although the addition of the crate option was a first for the Modifieds, we're sure that other sanctions will follow our lead. Hopefully the development work our team has done will help those organizations make more educated decisions in their implementation process too.”

In addition to other innovations and industry firsts in Modified racing, the USMTS was the first to introduce the quick change rear end as an option at the beginning of the 2007 season. Since then, most other organizations which sanction or promote open-wheel dirt Modified racing have recognized the increased safety and long-term cost savings to the competitor and have implemented the quick change as part of their rules package.

While taking pride in giving drivers and teams more choices and creative license in how they operate their racing program, the USMTS has also been at the forefront of reigning in those that push the limits like only the best drivers and crew chiefs in the sport can do. For instance, in April 2009 the USMTS was the first organization to publicly release a statement regarding the issue of raised/altered frame rails and mandating the elimination of the practice.

Attracting some of the most talented and professional drivers in America, the fan friendly and exciting event format has created an enthusiastic and loyal fan base, and the USMTS routinely competes in front of capacity crowds. And when it comes to a touring series that features the Best of the Best in Modified racing, the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour powered by Swan Energy has no equal.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit www.usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944. 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, Cheetos, Intercomp, Karl Chevrolet, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, New Vision Graphics, Nitroquest, RACEceiver, SLAP Energy, Snickers.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Arnold Motor Supply, ASi Racewear, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Day Motor Sports, 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, Sybesma Graphics, Yeager Machine.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, COMP Cams, CPD Racing Tools, Eibach Springs, Erson Cams, Fast Shafts, Forty9Designs.com, Genesis Shocks, Hooker Harness, Hypercoil Springs, ISKY Racing Cams, The Joie of Seating, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, Out-Pace Racing Products, PBM Performance Products, Quarter Master, Real Racing Wheels, RHS – Racing Head Service, Tiger Rear Ends, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, WIX Filters.