<B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="GRAY">by Todd Staley</FONT></B>

DENISON, IA (April 4, 2000) &#151; The United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) will make their first stop in Iowa this weekend.

Friday night, April 7, the racing action will begin at the Crawford County Speedway in Denison. Racing action is scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 8, the USMTS will move to the Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City. Hot laps are scheduled to get underway at 4 p.m. with racing to begin at 5. The rain date will be Sunday, April 9.

These two races will be the only chance until June to see some of America’s top modified drivers battle for the almost $30,000 in purse money at these fast 1/2-mile speedways. The winner of each event will receive $2,000. The A-main pays $200 to start. Any driver that does not qualify will receive $75 in tow money.

The USMTS kicked off the season last week in Adrian, Mo. with 49 cars on hand for the racing action. Chad Lyle picked up his first ever win and is leading the series points headed into Denison. Defending series champion, Kelly Shryock, finished second.

In addition to Lyle and Shryock, some of the expected drivers for the racing action this weekend include John Allen of Kansas; Mike Mashl and Brian Mullen of Wisconsin; Tommy Myer, Mark Noble, Ron Jones, Tim Donlinger and Mike Sorensen of Minnestoa; Jim Shereck of Missouri; Marty Thompson of Illinois; John Anderson, Johnny Saathoff and Steve Kosiski of Nebraska; and Iowa pilots Martin Bennett, Corey Dripps, John VanDenberg, Kevin Pittman, Dan Chapman and John Logue.

Also running at Denison will be the stock cars with $400 to win on the line and the hobby stocks racing for $300 to win.

Joining the card in Webster City will be the stock cars with a $300-to-win main event, the hobby stocks going for $200 to win and the econos for $100 to win.