WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (March 20, 2001) - The United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) will kick off the first two races of the season at the Crawford County Speedway in Van Buren, Ark., on Friday and Saturday, March 30-31. This will be the first ever visit to Van Buren for the USMTS and we are very excited to get the season underway with the new format for drivers.

The USMTS has been a traveling series, which has had drivers racing all over the country. In 2001 the series has changed to a regional series, giving drivers that cannot travel all over the chance to run for a championship in a 12- to 15-race region.

Each region will have a series champion as well as a rookie, hard charger and a passing points champion. Drivers that run all regions will also be awarded, as a national champion will be crowned from all regions, as will a rookie, hard charger and a passing points champion.

USMTS did attempt to have four regions, but had to settle for three. Some of the tracks in the West region went into the North region and others into the South.

The first race of the season will be Friday night with the hot laps starting at 7 p.m. and racing at 7:30. On Saturday, the racing will start with hot laps at 4:30 p.m. and racing at 5 p.m.

The Series will move to the North region for the first two races of the season (weather permitting) at the Butler County Speedway in Allison, Iowa, on Friday, April 6, and the Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City, Iowa, on Saturday, April 7.

The Series will move back to the South region the next two weekends. The first will be at the Humboldt (Kan.) Speedway and the first ever visit to the Bethany (Mo.) Fairgrounds April 13-14.

The USMTS Stock Cars will also be running in Allison and Webster City for $600 to win.

On Saturday, April 14, the Stock Cars will run at Bethany for $800 to win.

The last race in April for the Series will be at the Mid America Motor Speedway in South Coffeyville, Okla., on Friday and Saturday, April 20-21, for a two-day, $3,000-to-win show.

The first weekend in May, the Series will move to the East region.

For more information, call the USMTS office at (515) 832-7944.