WEBSTER CITY, Iowa — Officials from the United States Modified Touring Series have announced that the 2008 rulebook is now available. General rules, procedures and car specifications are included for both the O’Reilly USMTS National Events campaign and the O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series.

“Last season we implemented the Brodix spec head engine and quick change rearends as two major cost-saving options, and both were very well-received,” said USMTS president Todd Staley. “Drivers will find very few changes to this year's rules. We think we accomplished a lot of things in 2007 that will carry over into 2008 and beyond.”

At the season-opening event last March, a half-dozen teams debuted the Brodix spec head engine and just one driver had a quick change rearend. By season's end at the 9th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree, more than 40 of the 120-plus entrants were utilizing the Brodix spec head engine and more than half of the field had a quick change rearend underneath their Modified.

After a record-setting season in 2007, few changes have been made to the 2008 rulebook. Minor adjustments to body panels and weight requirements, along with increased safety features are among the most notable changes.

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.

The sophomore season of the O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series will begin on Friday, April 18, at the Golden Triangle Raceway Park (formerly Motorama Speedway) in Beaumont, Texas, for a $2,000-to-win event, followed up on Saturday, April 19, with another $2,000-to-win show at the Gator Motorplex in Willis, Texas.

Rules can be viewed or downloaded online at www.usmts.com/rulebook.asp.

To receive a copy of the 2008 rules by mail or fax, call the USMTS headquarters at (515) 832-7944. To receive rules by email, send a request to media@usmts.com.

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, Featherlite, Gressell Oil Field Services, Hughes Racing Chassis, KraftKar Race Cars, McVicker Oil Fields, MUSCO Lighting, 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).