LOCUST GROVE, Ark. - The USMTS Southern Series will invade the Batesville Motor Speedway on Friday and Saturday, May 11-12. The popular Open Wheel Modifieds are the top division at the Batesville Motor Speedway, and the locals will attempt to defend their home turf against the touring stars of the USMTS Southern Series, along with many other top drivers from the region.

Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa is the eight-time defending O’Reilly USMTS National Champion and current points leader in both the National Evnets and USMTS Southern Series rankings in 2007. Last May at Batesville's Modified Madness event, many thought Shryock had the best car at the $20,000-to-win event but wound up a $12,000 runner-up after a flat tire early in the race.

Currently second in USMTS Southern Series points, Steve Holzkamper of Gentry, Ark., will make his shortest drive of the year as he hopes to pick up his first USMTS Southern Series victory close to home. Greg Skaggs of Bixby, Okla., is third with 556 points followed by Zack VanderBeek (541), Randy Timms (529), Tommy Weder Jr. (515), Rodney Sanders (494), Jason Hughes (471), Jamie Burford (444) and David Mitchell (432).

A total of 153 different drivers from 10 states have competed in the seven USMTS Southern Series races held thus far in 2007.

Among the local aces looking to show the rugged road warriors the fastest way around the Batesville clay are current points leader Ronnie Jeffrey, Tyson Franks, James Emerson, Robby McClain and Brandon Smith. Other regional hotshoes expected for this event include Wayne Brooks, Jared Landers, Michael Murphree, Patrick Linn, Peyton Taylor, Mike Bowers and many more.

On Friday, the race program will be a complete show for the fans and the competitors will be attempting to capture the $2,000 top prize. Once again, the drivers will follow the same format for Saturday, with the top money in the feature event worth $3,000.

Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks, E-Mods, and the Front-Wheel-Drive class will also compete both nights. Friday night’s racing action will be sponsored by Bad Boy Mowers of Batesville, while Saturday’s racing will be sponsored by S & S Liquidations. Gates open at 5 p.m. with racing at 8 p.m. both nights.

The Batesville Motor Speedway is a 3/8-mile semi-banked dirt oval located 8.0 miles west of Batesville at the junction of SR 14 and SR 25 on Heber Springs Rd. For more info, call (870) 251-1817 or (870) 251-1200 on raceday or visit www.batesvillespeedway.com online.

To learn more about the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series or 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, Fast Company Performance, Holley Performance Products, Home Pride Companies, Intercomp, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, Marsh Racing Wheels, Nitroquest Web Solutions, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Olympic Fire Protection, Real Racing Wheels.

USMTS SOUTHERN SERIES PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Boom Drilling, Borco LP, Day Motor Sports, Gressell Oil Field Services, Hughes Racing Chassis, KraftKar Race Cars, McVicker Oil Fields, Rinehart Trucking.

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