A look at a few of the top national and local drivers entered in this week's World Modified Dirt Track Championship presented by Hanson Tire Service:

Johnny Bone Jr., Car No. 12 (Pea Ridge, Ark.): The current American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series national points leader, with a 289-point lead over Brandon Davis. Bone has 16 USRA wins this season including six victories and three runner-up finishes in nine feature races at the Mid America Speedway in South Coffeyville, Okla., and is a 13-time USMTS main event winner.

Jason Cummins, Car No. 71 (New Richland, Minn.): The defending Deer Creek Speedway track champion and American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series national champion currently sits third in the USRA points standings. Cummins has yet to win a feature at Deer Creek this season, but has two wins at the Chateau Raceway in Lansing and another two at the Dodge County Speedway in Kasson.

Brandon Davis, Car No. 50iii (Medford, Minn.): The Modified rookie roared to his second feature win of the season at Deer Creek on Saturday, and also has a pair of wins each at the Chateau Raceway in Lansing and Dodge County Speedway in Kasson. The 2010 Wissota Midwest Mod national champ is currently second in the USRA Modified points standings behind Johnny Bone Jr.

Tim Donlinger, Car No. 3d (Rochester, Minn.): The 2008 USMTS National Champion is always tough to beat on his home track. Donlinger, a former Deer Creek track champion, wrapped up that national title when he won the '08 Featherlite Fall Jamboree "A" Main after coming through a "B" Main.

Jason Grimes, Car No. 99 (Jamestown, N.D.): Grimes is the current leader in the USMTS Rookie of the Year points standings. He has a lead of more than 600 points over Clyde Dunn Jr. and is looking for his first USMTS feature victory.

Ryan Gustin, Car No. 19r (Marshalltown, Iowa): The 2009-2010 USMTS national points runner-up has secured his place in this year's Hunt for the USMTS Casey's General Stores National Championship powered by Swan Energy, which begins Aug. 11 at the Great American Dirt Track in Jetmore, Kan. 'The Reaper' has won two USMTS regional titles, leads two more regions and is second in two. He has 16 feature wins and 38 top-five finishes in 42 starts this season.

Jason Hughes, Car No. 12 (Westville, Okla.): Hughes is tough to top at Deer Creek. He has won the past two Featherlite Fall Jamborees and, last year, secured the USMTS national crown during the Jamboree. On May 28, he finished second in a race at Deer Creek after starting 19th.

Jason Krohn, Car No. 7k (Slayton, Minn.): The 2007 USMTS National Champion has more than 25 career USMTS victories - sixth on the all-time wins list.

Jeremy Payne, Car No. 74 (Springfield, Mo.): Payne comes in to the WMDTC as the most recent USMTS feature winner, having won the "A" Main at the I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb., on Saturday. He has three other USMTS victories during his young career as a teammate to veteran second-generation driver Terry Phillips.

Terry Phillips, Car No. 75 (Springfield, Mo.): Phillips has always run at or near the front when he comes to Deer Creek. Two years ago, he finished second in the Fall Jamboree "A" Main, losing the top spot to Jason Hughes in the final 200 feet. Last year, Phillips won both preliminary features at the Jamboree.

Rodney Sanders, Car No. 20 (Happy, Texas): The 21-year-old is another up-and-comer in the series, along with Ryan Gustin and others. Sanders won twice on the USMTS Casey's General Stores National Tour powered by Swan Energy in June, including using a late-race pass to beat Ryan Gustin at the Nobles County Speedway in Worthington, Minn.

Kelly Shryock, Car No. 3 (Fertile, Iowa): The nine-time USMTS National Champion has set the standard in the touring series, with 172 career feature victories. He is second only to Ryan Gustin in wins this year with eight recorded victories so far - his best season since 2008. Shryock won his last USMTS title in 2009.

Jon Tesch, Car No. 14 (Watertown, S.D.): The veteran Modified driver has more than 30 career USMTS triumphs and more than 130 career victories overall plus multiple track championships at his hometown Casino Speedway. On his website, Tesch lists the WMDTC as the race he'd most like to win.

Zack VanderBeek, Car No. 33z (New Sharon, Iowa): VanderBeek has been hot lately, with three USMTS wins in the past month, including a victory at Deer Creek on July 13 during the Gopher 50. The 26-year-old was the 2004 USMTS Rookie of the Year.

www.postbulletin.com