OSKALOOSA, Iowa — After a six-week hiatus, the stars and cars of the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour jump back into high gear for six straight nights of racing action during the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend.

While eight-time O’Reilly USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock leads the standings in both the Great Plains and Mo-Kan Regions, it's a whole new ball game this week with the first event of the Central States Region and first five in the Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region.

During the first eight races of the 2008 season,, six different drivers from five different States representing four different chassis manufacturers have muscled their way into victory lane in what is shaping up to be the closest, hardest-fought battle ever for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship crown.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21 — SOUTHERN IOWA SPEEDWAY, OSKALOOSA, IA

It all gets started this Wednesday, May 21, for the Central States Region opener as the fearless lead-footed Modified pilots invade the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa, for the 7th Annual Spring Classic. The event will mark the 26th time the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour has churned the clay at the Mahaska County Half-Mile Monster, with Shryock laying claim to 11 of the previous 25.

Last year, however, it was defending O’Reilly USMTS National Champ Jason Krohn of Slayton, Minn., who swept the pair of stops at Osky en route to becoming the first driver other than Shryock to take the coveted title. Fellow drivers with multiple USMTS wins at the Southern Iowa Speedway include Tommy Myer, John Vandenberg and Chris Spieker with two wins each. Other former winners at Oskaloosa include Tony Fraise, Dan Bohr, Bruce Hanford, Brad Pinkerton, Mark Noble and Zack VanderBeek.

Pit gates open at 4 p.m. and grandstands open at 5, with hot laps at 6:45 and racing at 7:15. Also on the racing card will be the USRA Casey's General Stores Weekly Racing Series featuring USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars, USRA Karl Chevrolet B-Mods and USRA Hobby Stocks as they race for track and national points.

O’Reilly USMTS National Tour standout Jason Hughes and his Modified will make an appearance at the Casey's General Stores location on “A” Ave. West (just a few blocks south of the racetrack) from 2-4 p.m. Race fans can pick up $2-off grandstand admission coupons on race day at any of the three Casey's General Store locations in Oskaloosa.

The Southern Iowa Speedway is a semi-banked half-mile dirt oval located 0.5 mile west of US 63 on SR 92 (A Ave. West), then 0.3 mile north on N. I St. (at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds). Day-of-race information is available by calling 641-673-7004 or online at www.rlpromtions.com/oskaloosa.

THURSDAY, MAY 22 — CRESCO SPEEDWAY, CRESCO, IA

On Thursday, the rugged road warriors of the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour head north to the Cresco Speedway in Cresco, Iowa, for the 4th Annual Cresco Bowl. The event will be the first of five straight to kick off action in the ultra-competitive Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region.

Several drivers have designated the Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region as their battlefield to earn a spot in the season-ending Casey's General Store Hunt for the USMTS National Championship, including Mark Noble, Tommy Myer, Tim Donlinger, Bob Timm, Brad Waits, Corey Dripps and many more. Needless to say, a pit area filled with the cream of the crop in Modified racing awaits.

Pit gates open at 4 p.m. and grandstands open at 5, with hot laps at 6:45 and racing at 7:15. Also on the racing card will be the USRA Casey's General Stores Weekly Racing Series featuring USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars, USRA Karl Chevrolet B-Mods, Outlaw Hobbys and USRA Hobby Stocks as they race for track and national points.

Jason Hughes, who leads the O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series points with four wins in nine starts, will make an appearance at the Casey's General Store location in Cresco at 601 2nd Ave. SW (Hwy. 9, just a few blocks south of the racetrack) from 1-3 p.m. Race fans can pick up $2-off grandstand admission coupons on race day at Casey's General Store in Cresco and Decorah.

The Cresco Speedway is a 4/10-mile high-banked clay oval located 0.2 miles north of SR 9 on SW 7th (at the Howard County Fairgrounds). Race day information is available by calling the track at 563-547-3400 or online at www.rlpromotions.com/cresco.

FRIDAY, MAY 23 — CHATEAU RACEWAY, LANSING, MN

Friday, May 23, will find the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour at the Chateau Raceway in Lansing, Minn., for the 11th Annual Guttormson Memorial. While this race was rained out last season, the teams returned in August for a barnburner that saw Tommy Myer hold off Jason Hughes for the victory.

Hughes will appear at the Casey's General Store location at 1702 12th St. SW in Austin from 1-3 p.m. Race fans can pick up $2-off grandstand admission coupons on race day at Casey's General Store in Austin, Stewartville, Rochester and Owatonna.

Pit gates will open at 5 p.m. and grandstands open at 5:30, with hot laps at 7 and racing at 7:30. Race fans can enjoy Happy Hour with two beers for $3 from 5:30 until the playing of the National Anthem, while kids ages 12 and under get in for free if they're wearing their Chateau shirt. Also racing Friday night will be Midwest Modifieds, Pure Stocks and Hornets.

The Chateau Raceway is a 1/3-mile semi-banked dirt oval located 5.0 miles north of Austin on US 218 to the Lansing exit, then 1.3 miles eat on CR 2, then 0.4 mile south on CR 25, then 0.3 mile east . For more info, call 507-391-2486 or 507-433-4578 on raceday or visit www.chateauraceway.net.

SATURDAY, MAY 24 — DEER CREEK SPEEDWAY, SPRING VALLEY, MN

On Saturday, it's the first of five occasions this season that the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour will tackle the tricky, lightning-fast Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn. The 6th Annual Olympic Fire Protection Southern MN Spring Challenge will pit some of the best Modified drivers in the nation against arguably the toughest field of weekly racers on the planet.

Pit gates open at 2 p.m. and grandstands open for general admission seating at 3. Hot laps are at 4:45 and the first green flag is scheduled to wave at 5 p.m. Also on the racing card will be WISSOTA Super Stocks and WISSOTA Midwest Mods.

Jason Hughes will continue his road show as part of the Casey's Crew, appearing at the Casey's General Store location at 605 Main St. in Stewartville from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Race fans can pick up $2-off grandstand admission coupons on race day at Casey's General Store locations in Austin, Stewartville, Rochester and Owatonna.

The Deer Creek Speedway is a 3/8-mile high-banked dirt oval located 11.3 miles south of I-90 (exit 209) on US 63 (0.7 mile north of SR 16). For more info, call toll-free 877-DCS-RACE or 507-346-2342 on raceday or visit www.deercreekspeedway.com online.

SUNDAY, MAY 25 — KASSON SPEEDWAY, KASSON, MN

Set your TIVO to record the Indy 500 and World 600 because the best racing on Sunday will be at the Kasson Speedway for the 7th Annual Stars & Stripes Shootout.

Located less than 42 miles from the Deer Creek Speedway, pit gates at the Dodge County Fairgrounds in Kasson will open at 2 p.m. with grandstands open at 3. Hot laps are at 5:30 with racing at 6 p.m. WISSOTA Midwest Mods, Pure Stocks, Street Stocks are also on tap for Sunday's show.

The Kasson Speedway is a 1/3-mile semi-banked dirt oval located 1.1 mile north of US 14 on SR 57 (at the Dodge County Fairgrounds). For more info, call 651 226-3706 or 507 634-6400 on raceday or visit www.kassonspeedway.com online.

Hughes and his familiar #12 Hughes Chassis machine will be at the Casey's General Store location at 4500 18th Ave. NW in Rochester from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Race fans can pick up $2-off grandstand admission coupons on race day at Casey's General Store locations in Austin, Stewartville, Rochester and Owatonna.

MONDAY, MAY 26 — STEELE COUNTY SPEEDWAY, OWATONNA, MN

Just a short 28-mile drive down the road from Kasson, the whirlwind weekend will wrap up with the long-awaited return of the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour for the 5th Annual Memorial Day Shootout at the Steele County Speedway in Owatonna, Minn., on Monday, May 26.

Pit gates are slated to open at 2 p.m. and grandstands begin filling up at 3. Hot laps are at 5 and the mud starts flying at 4:30. WISSOTA-sanctioned Midwest Mods will also be racing.

The Steele County Speedway is a 1/2-mile semi-banked dirt oval located 1.0 mile east of I-35 on US 14, then 1.2 miles north on CR 45 (at the Steele County Fairgrounds). For more info, call 507-451-5305 or 507-456-1034 or visit www.scff.org online.

Hughes will make his final on-site salute to the fans on Monday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Casey's General Stores location at 475 18th St. SE in Owatonna, just a few blocks from the track. Race fans can pick up $2-off grandstand admission coupons on race day at Casey's General Store locations in Austin, Stewartville, Rochester and Owatonna.

PAYOFF: All six events will pay $2,000 to the Holley “A” Main winner, with a minimum $250 to start the main event each night.

RULES: All USMTS rules apply. The American Racer KK704 is the Official Tire of the USMTS; however drivers may use the Hoosier G60 but will not earn points or be eligible for contingency awards. Qualifying will be done by heat race passing points and B-mains. Draw for heat race starting spot ends 15 minutes before hot laps start. Roll bar padding plus a window net or arm restraints are required. Aluminum heads are legal, but must have 25 lbs. in front of motor plate. Total weight rule is 2,400 lbs.

LICENSES: There is no requirement to purchase a USMTS license to compete in any USMTS event. However, benefits enjoyed by licensed drivers includes higher event purses and bonus payouts, increased tow money, discounted entry fees, contingency awards, points funds, provisional starting spots, increased media recognition, a personalized driver profile page at www.USMTS.com and more. The cost of a license is $150 for any region of the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour.

ENTRY FEES: Pre-entry is $90 for non-licensed drivers or $80 for drivers with a license. Late entry for all drivers is $100. Drivers who have not yet entered may still get the early entry rate by calling the USMTS offices at 515-832-7944.

The USMTS is 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.

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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TITLE SPONSOR: O’Reilly Auto Parts.

PRESENTING SPONSOR: Casey’s General Stores.

OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Race Tires, Arizona Sport Shirts, Awesome Race Suits, Bear Tire Company, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Childhelp, Gressel Racing, Houston Specialty Products Co., KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, New Vision Graphics, Nitroquest Web Solutions, Q.E.M., Inc., TrackTek Racing Fuel, Western Flyer Xpress.

PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Boom Drilling, Day Motor Sports, Kraft/Ramirez Race Cars, Olympic Fire Protection, Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar, Ruter Farms, Yeager Machine.

CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Belleville Motorsports, Bert Transmission, BSB Manufacturing, COMP Cams, Duralite Racing Wheels, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, GRT Race Cars, Hawk Performance, Holley Performance Products, Hyperco, ISKY Racing Cams, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, Quarter Master, QuickTime Performance Race Parts, Real Racing Wheels, US Brake.