WEBSTER CITY, Iowa — Officials from the United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) announced Thursday the expansion of the “Top Dog” bonus program for 2008 — both financially and geographically.

In each of the four regions comprising the O’Reilly USMTS National Events schedule, the top-10 in points will be guaranteed a minimum $400 payday at each event where that driver is among the top-10 in points for that region.

“Previously, the Top Dog Bonus was available only to drivers ranked among the top-10 in national points,” said USMTS Communications Director Jeff Nun. “For the past two seasons, however, we have made it a priority to offer better compensation to local drivers who do not have the resources to travel the entire 50-plus-race national tour, but want to test their skills against the best drivers in their area of the country. Instead of 10, as many as 40 different drivers could now rake in at least $400 every time they compete at an O’Reilly USMTS race.”

As with each of the four regions, the Top Dog Bonus will also be in effect for those drivers who qualify for The Hunt for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship, which will be comprised of the final 15 to 18 races of the season.

New for this season, USMTS officials have also expanded the Top Dog Bonus to drivers in the USMTS Southern Series. The guarantee for USMTS Southern Series drivers will be a minimum of $300 for those among the top-10 in points and $200 for drivers ranked 11th through 15th in the current standings.

The Fine Print: Drivers must have perfect attendance in the region or USMTS Southern Series where the event is held. Once a driver misses a single race in a particular region or the USMTS Southern Series, that driver is no longer eligible for the Top Dog Bonus in that region or USMTS Southern Series. The Top Dog Bonus will take effect beginning with the third race in each region or the USMTS Southern Series.

The USMTS will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary Season in 2008 with many special promotions to show thanks to the fans, drivers, team members, families and sponsors who have helped make the USMTS the premier dirt modified series in the nation. More announcements about the 2008 season will be forthcoming over the next few weeks.

For the fifth straight year, the  O’Reilly USMTS National Events schedule will kick off with a doubleheader at the state-of-the-art Junction Motor Speedway. The 5th Annual Nebraska Spring Thaw is slated for Friday and Saturday, March 7-8, 2008. Friday’s event will pay $2,000 to win while the victor in Saturday’s main event will pocket $3,000. More than 70 entries are once again expected for the annual lidlifter at the 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval in McCool Junction, Neb.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online for the latest news and information from the USMTS — America's Hottest Ticket on Dirt.

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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, 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).