MCALLEN, Texas (Jan. 27, 2003) - The United States Modified Touring Series will kick off the racing season this Thursday night at the Rio Grande Speedway in McAllen, TX for the first ever USMTS Winter Nationals. Thursday’s racing program will be the first race of the new USMTS Southern Series that will feature races in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. This series will be a completely different series from the USMTS north and south regions that have been running the last two seasons. USMTS has put together this series and has already sold more than thirty licenses in the new southern series. This new series will feature some of the top modified drivers in the country.

Racing action will kick off this week with an open practice on Wednesday night from 6:30 pm until 10pm. This practice will be free for fans in the stands. USMTS runs a different format than most racetracks and will run a complete show each night that pays the drivers good money. On Thursday the racing will kick off at 7pm and will feature the modifieds racing a complete show that will pay $1000 to the winner. Also running will be the hobby stocks and thunder cars. On Friday night the same classes will be running with the modified feature winner taking home the $2000 paycheck. Racing will again begin at 7pm. The final night of racing will get underway Saturday at 6pm with the same cars running and the modified winner pocketing $3000. A very tough field of modifieds has already pre-entered for the event with many more drivers expected. Drivers will be able to pre-enter on the practice night. Some of the expected drivers include: Randy Zimmerman, Jason Hughes, Johnny Bone, Klint Pursley, Howard Willis, Steve Kosiski, George and Paul White, Steve Majek, Brandon Reid, Doug Hibbard, Steve Holzkamper, Dan Daniels, Shawn Brassfield, Aaron Hudgeons, Chris Bragg, Sean Jones, Phil Dixon, Jason Krohn, BJ Robinson, Brian and Gregg Killingsworth, Steve Crane to name a few drivers.

This race will be the first race of the season for the USMTS South and USMTS expects some great interest from this new series. A lot of time and work has been put into this new series and fans will be treated to some great modified racing. For more information on this race call the USMTS office at 515-832-7944. We hope to see everyone this weekend at the Rio Grande Speedway in McAllen, TX.