<B>HUMBOLDT, Kan. --</B> The O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Series gets back into high gear this week with a busy slate of events that will take the rugged road warriors to seven different racetracks in eight days, June 16-23. Each of the seven events will pay $2,000 to win and a minimum of $200 to start the "A" main.

The mud starts flying on Friday, June 16, with the Summer Shootout presented by Whitworth Construction as the Modified Masters return to the Humboldt Speedway in Humboldt, Kan., for the first time since June 25, 2004. On Saturday, the O’Reilly USMTS returns to the Lebanon I-44 Speedway in Lebanon, Mo., for one final time this season, followed by the second and final visit of the season to the Monett Speedway in Monett, Mo.

“These are some of the best Modified drivers in the country, racing on one track, for one night,” Lebanon and Monett track promoter Randy Mooneyham said. “What people don’t realize is these USMTS guys aren’t just bringing the best talent in the nation here, but they’re meeting it head-on. Our local guys always race competitively with them, making any driver work hard for a win.”

While seven-time defending O’Reilly USMTS national champion Kelly Shryock and veteran ace Mark Noble won the last races at Lebanon and Monett, respectively, it was local favorite terry Beckham Jr. who was the man to beat. At Lebanon, mechanical woes beat Beckham late in the race while a disqualification wiped out a wire-to-wire apparent victory for Beckham at Monett.

All three weekend events will award points in the Dirt Works Race Cars Southern Region.

After a travel day on Monday, the “Best of the Best” invade the Highway 3 Raceway in Allison, Iowa, for the Inaugural Allison Clash on Tuesday, June 20. The best drivers in the State of Iowa will be on hand at the half-mile speedplant with an eye on the $2,000 top prize.

On Wednesday, June 21, the stars and cars of the O’Reilly USMTS make their long-awaited return to the Cresco Speedway in Cresco, Iowa, for the 2nd Annual Howard County Fair Summer Classic. Local speed merchants like Dan Bohr, Ron Konkel, Kevin Pittman and Joey Schaefer will give the touring pros all the competition they can handle on the lightning-fast high-banked Cresco clay.

On Thursday, June 22, the Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa, plays host to the 2nd Annual Corning Shootout. Drivers making plans on challenging for the O’Reilly USMTS national title will be on hand as the Series will return Oct. 6-7 as part of ‘The Hunt’ National Championship Series that will crown the 2006 O’Reilly USMTS national champ.

The eight-day swing wraps up with a bang on Friday, June 23, with the debut of the O’Reilly USMTS at the Rapid Speedway in Rock Rapids, Iowa.

A field of 24 cars will start the Holley "A" main each night, with qualifying through heat races and Real Racing Wheels "B" Mains. The top 12 drivers in Home Pride Passing Points accumulated in the heat races will be locked into the Holley "A" Main. Of those, eight drivers will re-draw for starting positions in the first four rows of the Holley "A" Main. An additional 10 cars will qualify from the Real Racing Wheels "B" Mains, with two provisional starters added to the field to create the 24-car starting field.

A big field of cars are expected for these events, including O’Reilly National Championship drivers Mark Noble, Kelly Shryock, Jon Tesch, Ryan Ruter, Jason Friesen, Tommy Myer, Dean Mahlstedt, Brad McEwan, Zack VanderBeek, Al Hejna, Mike Wedelstadt, Jeff Schluetter, Dustin Boney, Mike Steensma, Matt Gilbertson, Jay Poidinger, Scott Drake, Brandon Morton, Jason Hughes, Tommy Weder Jr., David Holder, Mike Hejna, Corey Dripps, Johnny Bone Jr., Josh Reisch, Kevin Larkins, Gary Clark, Alan Mondus, Ron Ver Beek, Chevy Hadan, Marlin Kracht, Brent Bohmont, David Mitchell, Brad Pinkerton, Scott Roberts, Chad Wheeler, Jeremy Tibben, Mark Elliott, Tony Fraise, Randy Timms, Jake Neal, Justin Cooper, Brett LaFollette, Greg Metz, Ben McVinua, Steve Arpin, Mark Burgtorf, Joshua Vinnedge, Chuck Stanton, Clayton Christenson, Jim Mathieson, Ryan Meyer, Steve Stewart, Patrick Linn, Joe Bradshaw, Scott Mullen, Dan Chapman, Brad Waits, Mel Saffran, Tommy Elston, Mike Chasteen, Julie McDermid, Michael Darnall, Ryan York, Randy Zimmerman, John VanDenBerg, John Schwab, Mark Dotson and Eric Dailey.

For more information, visit the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series online at www.USMTS.com.