FORT SMITH, Ark. - After opening the 2008 season with five straight weekends of racing in April and May, the O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series return to action this week with five shows over five nights during Southern Speedweek.

TUESDAY, JUNE 3 - On Tuesday, June 3, the O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series opens up Southern Speedweek at the Tri-State Speedway in Pocola, Okla. Although it is the first-ever USMTS-sanctioned event at Tri-State Speedway, the track has some great history and a location that makes for a perfect fit to kick off Southern Speedweek.

Tri-State Speedway is a 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval located 1.6 miles west of the Arkansas-Oklahoma State line on US 271, then 0.3 mile north. For more information, call the track office at (479) 806-4101 or (918) 436-2914 on race day or log on to www.tri-statespeedway.com.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4 - Wednesday, June 4, will find the rugged road warriors of the O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series at the I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark., for another first-time-ever invasion by the United States Modified Touring Series. The second race of Southern Speedweek will also serve as a tune-up for the 10th Annual Topless Modified Nationals, Oct. 3-4 at I-30 Speedway, so TIVO the taxi cab show on HBO and come out to see real dirt track racers go head to head on the exciting I-30 Speedway bullring.

I-30 Speedway is a 1/4-mile high-banked clay oval located 7.0 miles southwest of Little Rock on I-30 to Exit 126 (County Line Rd.), then south to frontage road, then east (SSR). The track phone number is (501) 455-4567 and the website is www.i-30speedway.com.

THURSDAY, JUNE 5 - Race #3 of Southern Speedweek will take place at Ark-La-Tex Speedway in Vivian, La., on Thursday, June 5. Gene Boyter's popular 1/4-mile semi-banked clay oval will offer some of the toughest local competition of the weekend as the O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series comes to town for the first time.

Ark-La-Tex Speedway is located 0.6 mile south of SR 2 on SR 1, then 0.7 mile west on Airport Rd., then 2.2 miles south on Boyter Lane Rd. (ESR). For more information, call the office at (318) 218-9430 or the track at (318) 375-3470 on race day. Ark-La-Tex Speedway's website is online at www.arklatexspeedway.net.

FRIDAY, JUNE 6 - On Friday, June 6, the O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series returns to the Monticello Speedway in Monticello, Ark., for an encore of one of the biggest races on last year's calendar that saw 73 Modifieds in attendance. The event is sponsored by Commercial Bank of Monticello.

Monticello Speedway is an exciting 1/4-mile semi-banked clay oval located 7.2 miles south of US 278 on US 425 (WSR). Call (870) 367-RACE for more information, or visit them on the World Wide Web at www.monticellospeedway.com.

SATURDAY, JUNE 7 - Southern Speedweek will wrap up on Saturday, June 7, with a return to Fast Trax Speedway in Chatham, La., where Randy Timms captured the checkered flag last year.

Fast Trax Speedway's 3/8-mile semi-banked red clay oval is located 4.0 miles southeast of SR 34 on SR 4 (NSR). The track's office phone number is (318) 325-4562 and the track phone will ring by calling (318) 249-2443. More info is also available online at www.fasttraxspeedway.net.

The event originally scheduled for Sunday, June 8, at the Thunder Valley Speedway in Glenmora, La., has been canceled. Officials are working on a possible new date at the track for later this fall.

All five events will pay $2,000 to the winner, making for a possible $10,000 take-home pay for one lucky and talented driver.

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 $200 for the entire O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series.

ENTRY FEES: Pre-entry is $90 for non-licensed drivers or $80 for drivers with an O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series license. Late entry for all drivers is $100. Drivers may pre-enter by phone 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., Karl Chevrolet, 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.