HUMBOLDT, Kan. — With championship hopes and nine races in the next 10 days, there's just six words to describe this week's O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series agenda: big, huge, gigantic, massive, incredible and wow!

With the 2007 schedule now complete in both the Yeager Machine Northeast Region and Central Region, along with drivers qualified from the USMTS Southern Series, there are currently 23 drivers from 10 different States in ‘The Hunt’ for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship. Four additional drivers in the Southern and Western Regions are mathematically still alive to join this elite list, and drivers already in ‘The Hunt’ have two more events to garner precious points in their quest to become the ninth O’Reilly USMTS National Champion.

The rugged O’Reilly USMTS road warriors get back down to business this Tuesday, Aug. 7, at the Humboldt (Kan.) Speedway. The $2,000-to-win contest will be the ninth and final meeting in the Southern Region. When the O’Reilly USMTS visited “The Hummer” on March 24, Jason Krohn bested a field of 51 entries to take the win. The invaders will be led into battle by eight-time defending O’Reilly USMTS National Champ Kelly Shryock, along with Al Hejna, Greg Skaggs, Johnny Bone Jr., Zack VanderBeek, Jason Hughes, Tommy Weder Jr., Scott Green, Steve Holzkamper, Jeremy Rasmussen, Dustin Boney and more. The Humboldt locals are no pushovers, and drivers like Brian McGowen, Justin Boney, Justin Folk, Rodney Sigg, Jess Folk Jr., Ryan Whitworth, Mike Hoover, Justin Boots, Travis Patch and Steven Bowers Jr. will challenge for a seat in victory lane.

Gates open at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 7:30. The Humboldt Speedway is a 1/4-mile semi-banked clay oval located off of US 169 at the Humboldt Exit, then 0.1 mile west, then 0.5 mile south, then 0.9 mile east.

Then on Wednesday, Aug. 8, it's on to the Beatrice (Neb.) Speedway for another $2,000-to-win clash. The event at the Gage County Fairgrounds will be the 10th and final race in the tough Western Region, and will qualify the last batch of drivers into ‘The Hunt’ for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship. Kelly Shryock, Al Hejna, Zack VanderBeek, Jon Tesch, Jason Krohn, Jason Hughes, Scott Green, Jason Friesen, Tommy Weder Jr., Brent Bohmont, Corey Dripps, Jake Neal, Tommy Myer, Mike Spaulding, Brad McEwan, Dean Mahlstedt, Jeremy Rasmussen, Steve Holzkamper, Greg Skaggs and Donovan Lodge are just a few of the marquee names trying to find their way to the winners circle. Beatrice Speedway, however, boasts some of the nation's toughest weekly competition, and the O’Reilly USMTS stars can expect an uphill battle against the likes of local stars like Greg Metz, Johnny “The Jet” Saathoff, Dan Nelson, Dave Trauernicht, Clint Homan and Jordan Grabouski.

Gates open at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 7:30. The Beatrice Speedway is a 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval located 1.7 miles west of US 77, then 0.3 miles south on Logan.

NO REST FOR THE WICKED: With all four regions wrapped up and the pack of Modified superstars set for their shot at the crown, ‘The Hunt’ for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship begins on Thursday, Aug. 9, at the Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kan. — the first of 15 events that will crown the ninth O’Reilly USMTS National Champion and close the curtain on the most exciting season ever for America's Premier Modified Touring Series. The schedule for ‘The Hunt’ looks like this:

Thu Aug 9 … Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, KS ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 10 … Bolivar Speedway USA, Bolivar, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sat Aug 11 … Lebanon I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sun Aug 12 … Monett Speedway, Monett, MO ($2,000 to win)
Tue Aug 14 … Farley Speedway, Farley, IA ($2,000 to win)
Wed Aug 15 … Echo Valley Speedway, West Union, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu Aug 16 … Steele County Fairgrounds, Owatonna, MN ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 17 … Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu Aug 30 … Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 31 … Chateau Raceway, Lansing, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sat Sep 1 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sun Sep 2 … Kasson Speedway, Kasson, MN ($2,000 to win)
Mon Sep 3 … Steele County Fairgrounds, Owatonna, MN ($2,000 to win)
Thu Sep 6 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win)
Fri Sep 7 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($4,000 to win)
Sat Sep 8 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($6,000 to win)

After this week's five-race swing, drivers get Monday off to recuperate and travel, then get back in the ring on Tuesday for four straight nights of motorized mayhem. The season will conclude and the O’Reilly USMTS National Champion will be crowned at the conclusion of the 9th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree, Sept. 6-8 at the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley Minn.

Along with drivers qualified from the USMTS Southern Series, there are currently 23 drivers from 10 different States in ‘The Hunt’:

1. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, IA … 45
2. Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, IA … 37
3. Jason Hughes, Colcord, OK … 34
4. Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, OK … 27
5. Al Hejna, Clear Lake, IA … 16
6. Randy Timms, Woodward, OK … 14
7. Greg Skaggs, Bixby, OK … 13
8. Jon Tesch, Watertown, SD … 12
8. Jay Poidinger, Somerset, WI … 12
10. Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, AR … 10
10. Donovan Lodge, Moline, IL … 10
12. Rodney Sanders, Happy, TX … 8
13. Jamie Burford, Keatchie, LA … 7
14. Scott Green, Derby, KS … 6
14. Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, MN … 6
14. Dean Mahlstedt, Clear Lake, IA … 6
17. Brandon Morton, Coweta, OK … 5
17. Bobby Malchus, Red Oak, TX … 5
17. Dena Wilson, Coweta, OK … 5
17. Scott Vesely, Mosinee, WI … 5
21. Corey Dripps, Waterloo, IA … 3
21. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, IA … 3
23. Richie Gustin Jr., Gilman, IA … 2

There are four additional drivers in the Southern and Western Regions who are mathematically still alive to join this elite list.

Qualifying at all events will be done via Home Pride Passing Points in the Heat Races and Real Racing Wheels “B” Mains. Draw for Heat Race starting spots ends at 7 p.m. for all drivers. No license is required to race with the USMTS. However, license benefits include provisionals, points funds and contingencies, plus bonus payouts in the Holley “A” Main and for tow. American Race Tires is the Official Tire of the USMTS, and the American Racer KK704 or G60 tire is recommended. The Hoosier G60 tire is also allowed, but no points or contingencies will be awarded.

To learn more about the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series, call (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

USMTS TITLE SPONSOR: O’Reilly Auto Parts.

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Race Tires, AMSOIL, Arizona Sport Shirts, BRODIX, Fast Company Performance, Holley Performance Products, Home Pride Companies, Intercomp, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, Marsh Racing Wheels, Nitroquest Web Solutions, Olympic Fire Protection, Real Racing Wheels, Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar, Yeager Machine.

USMTS 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 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).