HOUSTON, Texas -- Race fans in Texas have waited long enough ... it's time for a Lone Star State tripleheader featuring the USMTS Southern Series.

The Rinehart Trucking Texas Shootout will kick off at Motorama Speedway in Beaumont this Friday, April 27. From there, it's on to the Gator Motorplex in Willis on Saturday, April 28, before winding up at the 105 Speedway in Cleveland on Sunday, April 29. All three events will pay $2,000 to win and a minimum $200 to start.

Sponsored by Rinehart Trucking of Porter, Texas, drivers will also be battling for a three-race points fund worth $500 to first place, $300 to second and $200 for third to the highest points earners over the course of the weekend.

O'Reilly USMTS National Event regulars Kelly Shryock and Zack VanderBeek of Iowa lead the contingent of northern invaders into the Houston area. The eight-time defending O'Reilly USMTS National Champion, Shryock currently leads the USMTS Southern Series points standings on the strength of three wins in the first four events.

Among the contenders at this weekend's show are Houston-area hotshoes Howard Willis, John-O Whittington and Chris Brown. Other stout entries include David Horner, Brent Nicholas, Troy Taylor, George White, Clyde Dunn, Tim Clonch, Clyde Dunn Jr., Steven Whiteaker Jr., Jamie Burford and, of course, 17-year-old Rodney "The Rocket" Sanders, who currently sits third in USMTS Southern Series points, plus many, many more.

FAST FACTS

MOTORAMA SPEEDWAY - Beaumont, Texas
Friday, April 27, 2007
Track Configuration: 1/4-Mile High-Banked Clay Oval
Directions: 9.5 miles west of I-10 on US 90 (SSR)
Business: (409) 753-2370 or (409) 385-3076
Track: (409) 752-7200
Website: http://www.motoramaspeedway.com
Pit gate opens at 5:00 p.m.
Grandstand gate opens at 6:00 p.m.
Draw cut-off at 7:15 p.m.
Hot laps at 7:30 p.m.
Racing at 8:00 p.m.
Adults: $15.00
Seniors: $12.00
Kids 6-12: $5.00
Children 5 & Under: FREE
Pit Passes: $25
USMTS Modifieds - $2,000 to win, minimum $200 to start
Limited Modifieds - $1,000 to win ($50 entry fee)
Plus Outlaw Stocks/Hobby Stocks, Bombers/Pure Stocks

GATOR MOTORPLEX - Willis, Texas
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Track Configuration: 1/4-Mile High-Banked Clay Oval
Directions: I-45 to Shepherd Hill (Exit 98), then east, then 1.4 miles south on SR 75
Business: (936) 588-6127
Website: http://www.gatormotorplex.net
Gates open at 3:00 p.m.
Draw cut-off at 4:45 p.m.
Hot laps at 5:00 p.m.
Racing at 6:00 p.m.
Adults: $15.00
Kids 4-12: $6.00
Children 3 & Under: FREE
Pit Passes: $30
USMTS Modifieds - $2,000 to win, minimum $200 to start
Limited Modifieds - $1,000 to win (no entry fee)
Plus Southern Midget Racing Series, Hobby Stocks AND Pure Stocks

105 SPEEDWAY - Cleveland, Texas
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Track Configuration: 3/8-Mile Semi-Banked Clay Oval
Directions: 6.0 miles west of US 59 on SR 105, then 0.3 mile north on Fostoria Rd.
Business: (281) 592-RACE
Track: (281) 592-4371
Website: http://www.105speedway.net
Gates open at 3:00 p.m.
Draw cut-off at 4:45 p.m.
Hot laps at 5:00 p.m.
Racing at 6:00 p.m.
Adults: $15.00
Kids 6-12: $5.00
Children 5 & Under: FREE
Pit Passes: $25
USMTS Modifieds - $2,000 to win, minimum $200 to start
Limited Modifieds - $1,000 to win ($50 entry fee)
Plus Hobby Stocks

USMTS SOUTHERN SERIES 2007 SCHEDULE

Fri Mar 16 ... West Siloam Speedway, West Siloam Springs, OK (winner: Kelly Shryock)
Sat Mar 17 ... West Siloam Speedway, West Siloam Springs, OK (winner: Jay Noteboom)
Fri Mar 30 ... Enid Speedway Park, Enid, OK (winner: Kelly Shryock)
Sat Mar 31 ... Enid Speedway Park, Enid, OK (winner: Kelly Shryock)
Fri Apr 27 ... Motorama Speedway, Beaumont, TX ($2,000 to win)
Sat Apr 28 ... Gator Motorplex, Willis, TX ($2,000 to win)
Sun Apr 29 ... 105 Speedway, Cleveland, TX ($2,000 to win)
Fri May 11 ... Batesville Speedway, Batesville, AR ($2,000 to win)
Sat May 12 ... Batesville Speedway, Batesville, AR ($3,000 to win)
Fri Jul 27 ... Monticello Speedway, Monticello, AR ($2,000 to win)
Sat Jul 28 ... Fast Trax Speedway, Chatham, LA ($2,000 to win)
Thu Sep 13 ... Clinton Motorsports Park, Clinton, OK ($1,000 to win)
Fri Sep 14 ... Clinton Motorsports Park, Clinton, OK ($2,000 to win)
Sat Sep 15 ... Clinton Motorsports Park, Clinton, OK ($3,000 to win)
Thu Oct 18 ... Motorama Speedway, Beaumont, TX ($1,000 to win)
Fri Oct 19 ... Motorama Speedway, Beaumont, TX ($2,000 to win)
Sat Oct 20 ... Motorama Speedway, Beaumont, TX ($3,000 to win)
Thu Nov 15 ... South Texas Speedway, Corpus Christi, TX ($1,000 to win)
Fri Nov 16 ... South Texas Speedway, Corpus Christi, TX ($2,000 to win)
Sat Nov 17 ... South Texas Speedway, Corpus Christ, TX ($3,000 to win)
Thu Nov 29 ... 105 Speedway, Cleveland, TX ($1,000 to win)
Fri Nov 30 ... 105 Speedway, Cleveland, TX ($2,000 to win)
Sat Dec 1 ... 105 Speedway, Cleveland, TX ($3,000 to win)

To learn more about the USMTS Southern Series, call the headquarters office at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online.

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USMTS SOUTHERN SERIES OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Race Tires, Arizona Sport Shirts, Boom Drilling, Borco LP, Childhelp, Day Motor Sports, Fast Company Performance, Gressell Oil Field Services, Holley Performance Products, Home Pride Companies, Hughes Racing Chassis, Intercomp, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, KraftKar Race Cars, Marsh Racing Wheels, McVicker Oil Fields, Nitroquest Web Solutions, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Olympic Fire Protection, Real Racing Wheels, Rinehart Trucking.

USMTS SOUTHERN SERIES USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Boyer’s Engine Development, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, Edelbrock GRT Race Cars, Hawk Performance, Isky Racing Cams, KSE Racing Products, Quarter Master, QuickTime Performance Parts, Racer’s Choice, Inc. (RCI).