BAYTOWN, Texas -- Too much rain overnight and through the early afternoon Thursday forced officials to cancel opening night, delaying the start of the 15th season for the United States Modified Touring Series.

The 4th Annual USMTS Texas Spring Nationals powered by Lecolift will continue with complete programs on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 22-23, at the Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas.

Friday night’s winner gets $3,000 and Saturday’s winner earns $4,000 but for some drivers the winner’s share will be $4,000, $5,000 and $6,000 to win, respectively.

Every driver is eligible to participate in the “Big Dog Buy-In” for an additional $100 at the time of registration. Those who “buy in” that night will race for an extra $2,000 to win that night.

On Friday, the pit gate opens at 4 p.m., grandstand gates open at 5, hot laps begin at 6 and racing kicks off at 6:30 p.m. All times are one hour earlier on Saturday.

Grandstand tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for teenagers, $5 for kids and children ages 5 & under get in free each day. Pit passes are $35 each day.

A track record 82 cars and drivers were on hand for the November event three months ago, and indications from driver responses and entries filed for the upcoming USMTS Texas Spring Nationals powered by Lecolift point to an even bigger field next week.

USRA Limited Mods will also be on the racing card each night too, battling for $600 to win Friday and $700 to win Saturday.

The top-finishing USRA Limited Mod drivers that have not raced a USMTS Modified or are not currently a USMTS Modified driver will get the following bonus money: Friday – $100, $75, $50; Saturday – $150, $100, $75, $50.

Plus, a $100 bonus will be paid each night to the Hard Charger Award in the “A” Main, courtesy of Express Race Cars.

The Royal Purple Raceway is located just east of Houston on I-10 to exit 799, then 2.5 miles south on SH 99 (Grand Parkway), then 0.3 mile west on FM 565. For more information, call the track office at 281-383-7223 or visit www.royalpurpleraceway.com online.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit www.usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944. You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usmts, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usmts or check out our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usmtstv.

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USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Casey’s General Stores, Cheetos, Day Motor Sports, Intercomp, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, New Vision Graphics, Nitroquest, RACEceiver, RacinDirt.com, Snickers, Swan Energy.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Allgayer Inc., Arbor Masters, ASi Racewear, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Erson Cams, Farm Boy BBQ Sauce, Integra Racing Shocks & Springs, Intensitee Custom Racewear, Lecolift, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Olympic Fire Protection, Ramirez Motorsports, Road Runner Trucking, Ruter Farms, Schwab’s Tinker Shop, Something Inked, Sybesma Graphics.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AERO Race Wheels, AFCO Racing Products, Bell Racing Helmets, Beyea Custom Headers, BSB Manufacturing, Champ Pans, COMP Cams, CPD Racing Tools, Crane Cams, Dominator Race Products, Edelbrock, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, FK Rod Ends, Forty9 Designs, Fuel Safe, Genesis Racing Shocks, Hooker Harness, JRi Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, MSD Ignition, PBM Performance Products, Quarter Master, Real Racing Wheels, Tiger Rear Ends.