S. COFFEYVILLE, Okla. (April 16, 2001) - The United States Modified Touring Series will make its second appearance to the Mid America Motor Speedway this Friday and Saturday, April 20-21, for the Oklahoma Spring Challenge.

In 2000, the series visited the speedway and had 44 cars on hand. Eddie Martin from Stilwell, Okla., was the winner of the one-day show.

This year, the series has changed to a regional format and the South region has had four races scheduled. Last weekend the series was scheduled for two races in Kansas and Missouri. The first show was a success and 42 cars checked in for the racing action. On Saturday the series was scheduled to race for the first time ever at the Bethany (Mo.) Fairgrounds Speedway and that race was rained out and will be rescheduled for another date this summer.

The race this weekend will be the fourth race for the South region and will pay $3,000 to win. Racing will get underway this Friday at 7 p.m. We are expecting a very good field of cars for the race this weekend.

Kelly Shryock from Lemars, Iowa, is leading the South region points standings after the first three races. Some of the drivers expected for the race this weekend are Oklahomans Klint Pursley, Jason Hughes, Eddie Martin and Shawn Brassfield; Minnesota drivers Tommy Myer and Mark Noble; Iowa drivers Shryock, Tim Folkerts, Adam Larson and Brad McEwan; Kansas drivers John Allen, Brian McGowen and Dan Daniels; plus many, many more.

This will be the only visit of the season to the Speedway for the USMTS drivers and a very good car count is expected. On Friday the series will qualify only 12 cars for Saturday’s 50-lap A-main. All other cars will run Last Chance races on Saturday. We are expecting drivers from more than 10 states for the racing action so we hope to see everyone this weekend at the Mid America Motor Speedway in South Coffeyville, Okla.

For more information call Todd Staley at the USMTS office at 515-832-7944 or Larry Brown at 316-252-0305.