McALLEN, Texas (Jan. 2, 2003) - The new Southern Series for the United States Modified Touring Series will start off the season with the first ever USMTS Winter Nationals. This race will be held at the Rio Grande Speedway in McAllen, Texas, and will feature some of the top modified drivers from throughout the United States.

There will be an open practice session on Wednesday night, Jan. 29, from 6:30-10 p.m.

The USMTS has changed its three-day show format to a complete show each day. On Thursday, the first race for the Southern Series will pay $1,000 to the winner. On Friday, the winner will pocket $2,000 and the final night of racing will see the winner take home $3,000.

Each night, fans will be treated to some great modified racing with wheel-to-wheel excitement. Heat races, consolations and a feature event will be run.

The racing action will get underway at 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday with racing set for 6 p.m. on Saturday.

We have had tons of interest for this new series and we are looking forward to getting the season started. This new series is completely separate from the well-established North and South Regions for the USMTS. This series will have between 20 and 30 races and will pay $4,000 to the champion.

As of Jan. 2, all of the races that the USMTS will run during the Southern Series will be on the American Racer G60 tire.

Some of the expected drivers for the inaugural USMTS Winter Nationals include Jason Hughes, Klint Pursley, Johnny Bone Jr., Howard Willis, Steve Kosiski, Phil Dixon, Chris Bragg, Brandon Reid, Billy Robinson, Brian Killingsworth, Gregg Killingsworth, Randy Timm, Sean Jones, Jerry Thompson, Brandon Houk, Troy Taylor, Lindsey Shields, John Fenton, Doug Hibbard, Triston Dycus, Paul White, George White, Robert Sliva, Rodnet Stanford, Steve Crane and many more.

With the new format, drivers will be able to race one night or all three, and will not be penalized as a draw/redraw will be used each night.

Wednesday's practice will be $15 for all people in the pits. Thursday will be $20 for pit passes and $25 for Friday and Saturday pit admission. The grandstands will be $8 on Thursday, $10 on Friday and $12 on Saturday.

For more information, call the USMTS office at 515-832-7944 or log on to the USMTS website at www.usmts.com.