LOCUST GROVE, Ark. — More than two months have passed since the USMTS Southern Series last sprayed mud, but the dirt is going to be flying again this week as the popular first-year tour for the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series screams back into action with back-to-back-to-back-to-back events at four of the best tracks in Arkansas and Louisiana.

All four events will pay $3,000 to win, sponsored by Larry Shaw Race Cars, Bad Boy Mowers and Mark Martin Ford.

And with a possible $12,000 to win over during four-race swing … and with more than 150 drivers having already competed in the inaugural season for the USMTS Southern Series … and with an average of 55+ cars at each of the first eight events of the season  … and with a spot in ‘The Hunt’ for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship on the line … and with drivers like Kelly Shryock, Steve Holzkamper, Randy Timms, Tommy Weder Jr., Greg Skaggs, Zack VanderBeek, Jason Hughes, Rodney Sanders, Jamie Burford, David Mitchell, Scott Green, Chase Allen, Brandon Morton, Bobby Malchus, Brandon Kenny, Steven Whiteaker Jr., Charles Lasater, Johnny Bone Jr., Chris Brown, Michael Robertson, Jack Sullivan, Kyle Pleasant, Jeremy Rasmussen, Wayne Brooks, Jared Landers, Peyton Taylor, Chris Henigan and more among the expected entries … drivers and fans alike can expect the unexpected … and then some.

THURSDAY, JULY 26: It all starts on Thursday, July 26, at the Batesville Motor Speedway in Locust Grove, Ark., with a $3,000-to-win show sponsored by Larry Shaw Race Cars, Bad Boy Mowers and Mark Martin Ford. Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks, E-Mods and  Front-Wheel-Drive cars will also compete. Gates open at 5 p.m. with racing at 8. The Batesville Motor Speedway is a 3/8-mile high-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.

FRIDAY JULY 27: On Friday, July 27, the USMTS Southern Series makes their debut at the Monticello (Ark.) Speedway for another $3,000-to-win clash sponsored by Larry Shaw Race Cars, Bad Boy Mowers and Mark Martin Ford. Also on the racing card will be Hobby Stocks, Street Stocks, Cruisers and Young Guns. Gates open at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 7:30. The Monticello Speedway is a quarter-mile semi-banked clay oval located 7.2 miles south of US 278 on US 425 (WSR). For more info, call (870) 723-4895 or (870) 367-RACE or visit www.monticellospeedway.com online.

SATURDAY, JULY 28: Fast Trax Speedway in Chatham, La., will be the venue on Saturday, July 28, with a $3,000 top prize up for grabs, sponsored by Larry Shaw Race Cars, Bad Boy Mowers and Mark Martin Ford. Southern SportsMods, Late Models, Street Stocks, Cruisers and the Young Guns Challenge will round out a complete show with gates opening at 5 p.m. and racing at 7:30. Fast Trax Speedway is a quarter-mile semi-banked clay oval located 4.0 miles southeast of SR 34 on SR 4 (NSR). For more information, call (318) 325-4568 or (318) 249-2443 on raceday or visit www.fasttraxspeedway.net online.

SUNDAY, JULY 29: The whirlwind week wraps up with a long-awaited visit to Boothill Speedway in Greenwood, La., on Sunday, July 29, as Marshall Mobile Homes presents the Battle of Boothill. USMTS Southern Series drivers will battle for $3,000 to win, while Limited Modifieds and Factory Stocks will race for $500 to win in each class. Gates will open at 5 p.m. and the mud starts flyin’ at 7:30. Boothill Speedway a 7/16-mile high-banked clay oval located west of Shreveport on I-20 to Exit 3, then 0.2 mile north, then 0.2 mile east on McGee Rd., then left, then right. For raceday information, call (515) 297-3870.

Like each of the four regions comprising the 56-race O’Reilly USMTS National Events schedule, the 24-race USMTS Southern Series will boast a separate points fund and drivers competing in the USMTS Southern Series will have the opportunity to qualify to compete in ’The Hunt’ for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship. The top 10 in USMTS Southern Series points at the start of ’The Hunt’ will qualify, as well as all other drivers with perfect attendance at USMTS Southern Series events up to that date.

The American Racer KK704 is the Official Tire of the USMTS Southern Series, but drivers not competing for points and/or points funds have the option to utilize the Hoosier G60 tire. There is no requirement that a driver purchase a USMTS license to compete in any USMTS event. However, benefits enjoyed by licensed drivers includes bonus payouts, increased tow money, contingency awards, points funds eligibility, provisional starting spots, increased media recognition, a personalized driver profile page at www.usmts.com and more.

The USMTS Southern Series gives top drivers from Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and surrounding areas a touring format that pits the best of the best in Modified racing under the banner of America’s top Modified touring series.

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.

USMTS Southern Series top 20 as of July 23, 2007:
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock, Fertile, IA … 773
2. 5 - Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, AR … 629
3. 5t - Randy Timms, Woodward, OK … 606
4. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, OK … 604
5. 27 - Greg Skaggs, Bixby, OK … 601
6. 33z - Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, IA … 595
7. 12 - Jason Hughes, Colcord, OK … 547
8. 20 - Rodney Sanders, Happy, TX … 539
9. 19 - Jamie Burford, Keatchie, LA … 496
10. 13 - David Mitchell, Ashdown, AR … 477
11. 25 - Scott Green, Derby, KS … 470
12. 76 - Chase Allen, Midlothian, TX … 460
13. 11 - Brandon Morton, Coweta, OK … 457
14. 4x - Bobby Malchus, Red Oak, TX … 432
15. 54 - Dena Wilson, Coweta, OK … 396
16. 21b - Brandon Kenny, E. Woodward, OK … 385
17. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, TX … 377
18. 7m - Brandon Melton, Longview, TX … 370
19. 4r - Derek Ramirez, Woodward, OK … 361
20. 17 - Charles Lasater, Garland, TX … 360

Remaining 2007 USMTS Southern Series Schedule:
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 ... Houston Raceway Park, Houston, TX ($1,000 to win)
Fri Nov 30 ... Houston Raceway Park, Houston, TX ($2,000 to win)
Sat Dec 1 ... Houston Raceway Park, Houston, TX ($3,000 to win)

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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).