EDNA, Texas – The O'Reilly USMTS Southern Series will invade the Texana Raceway Park on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 20-22, for the Inaugural Texas Winter Challenge and an added challenge on the racetrack.

NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader has announced that he will compete with the O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series on the dirt oval in Edna, Texas, during all three days of the tripleheader. While he is best known for circling America's superspeedways with the NASCAR Cup Series, he is a prolific dirt track racer with a pedigree.

He won't be looking for show up points, he'll be looking to win.

It was on the dirt tracks where Schrader's career began. He started out driving mostly open-wheel cars and won in every division he raced, including two USAC championships—1982 Silver Crown and '83 Sprint Car. Schrader is a veteran second-generation racer, and competed in his 731st career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race this past weekend at the Texas Motor Speedway driving the No. 96 Hall of Fame Racing DLP HDTV Toyota Camry.

The story of how Schrader’s racing career began has been told so many times that it is almost legend in the NASCAR ranks.

At the young age of three, Schrader’s dad Bill tied a cable from his go-kart to a post in the backyard of their Midwestern home. Schrader would go round and round in circles. When the go-kart ran out of gas, Schrader would ask his dad to fill it back up and he would start going in circles all over again.

Schrader’s love of racing has only progressed over the years.

“I guess you could say that I have been dizzy ever since,” Schrader said. “I really don’t think it is an exaggeration when I say that racing is all I’ve ever known. I’ve been racing since I could walk, and it is really all I have ever wanted to do. To be honest, I would race everyday if I had the opportunity.”

And that’s no understatement. At one point in his career, Schrader was running in excess of 100 races each year. In recent years, Schrader has cut that number back to about 90 races a season, including 10 events with the O'Reilly USMTS National Tour last season, but he still climbs in that race car every time he has the chance.

“I want to spend my time racing,” Schrader added. “It’s not only my job, but it’s also my hobby. I love the time that I get to spend behind the wheel, and as long as I can, I’m going to race whenever I get the chance.”

At the Inaugural Texas Winter Challenge, Nov. 20-22, USMTS Southern Series drivers will be racing for $1,000 to win on Thursday and $2,000 to win on Friday. Saturday's main event winner will pocket $3,000.

An open practice will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 6-10 p.m. Pit passes for the test 'n' tune session will be $20. Admission to the grandstands is free. On Thursday and Friday, gates will open at 4 p.m. with racing at 7. Gates will open at 3 p.m. on Saturday and the mud starts flying at 6.

The tripleheader is expected to draw dozens of big guns from the Lone Star State and surrounding States as well.

Jason Hughes of Westville, Okla. comes into the event atop the O'Reilly USMTS Southern Series standings on the strength of his series-leading five victories. Steve Holzkamper of Gentry, Ark. sits second in points and will be looking to pick up his second win of the season. Tommy Weder Jr. of Woodward, Okla. is third, followed by a pair of Texans: John O Whittington of Vidor and Paul White of Temple, both of whom are seeking their first triumphs under the USMTS banner.

Other drivers entered for this weekend's blockbuster include Dereck Ramirez, Shane Hebert, Morgan Bagley, Bryan Rowland, Brandon Kenny, Dustin Hyde, Rodney Sanders, David Mitchell, Scott Green, Steven Whiteaker Jr., Timothy Culp and Jeremy Ross.

Invading from the north, O'Reilly USMTS National Tour standouts Kelly Shryock, Jon Tesch and Mark Noble are also expected to compete for the $6,000 winner's share of the weekend purse. Shryock is the defending O'Reilly USMTS Southern Series champion.

Among the local favorites to cash in are 2008 track champion Nick Hardcastle, Jesse Manning, Art Rodriguez, Dale Flanagan, Vince Kacir, Brian Spindelman, John Armstrong, Lawrence Mikulencak, Mickey Helms, Steve Miller, Elias Anderson, Kalif Sellier, David Horner, Benny Perry, Kevin Battarbee, Kenny Battarbee and others.

Limited/Sport Mods will also be competing all three nights for an increased purse, racing for $800 to win on Thursday and $1,000 to win on both Friday and Saturday, with $40 to start the main event each night. There is no entry fee for Limited Mods.

The Texana Raceway Park is a 5/16-mile high-banked clay oval located 2 miles east of Edna on SR 111, then left on Haines Rd. (FM 412). For more information, call the track's business office at (979) 758-4440 or (361) 781-0411 on race day. More details can also be found online at www.texanaracewaypark.org.

THURSDAY PAYOUT: 1. $1000, 2. $700, 3. $500, 4. $400, 5. $350, 6. $300, 7. $250, 8. $225, 9. $200, 10. $175, 11. $150, 12. $150, 13. $150, 14. $150, 15. $150, 16. $150, 17. $150, 18. $150, 19. $150, 20. $150, 21. $150, 22. $150, 23. $150, 24. $150, Tow $40.

FRIDAY PAYOUT: 1. $2000, 2. $1200, 3. $800, 4. $600, 5. $500, 6. $450, 7. $400, 8. $350, 9. $300, 10. $275, 11. $250, 12. $225, 13. $200, 14. $200, 15. $200, 16. $200, 17. $200, 18. $200, 19. $200, 20. $200, 21. $200, 22. $200, 23. $200, 24. $200, Tow $60.

SATURDAY PAYOUT: 1. $3000, 2. $2000, 3. $120, 4. $800, 5. $600, 6. $500, 7. $450, 8. $400, 9. $350, 10. $300, 11. $275, 12. $250, 13. $250, 14. $250, 15. $250, 16. $250, 17. $250, 18. $250, 19. $250, 20. $250, 21. $250, 22. $250, 23. $250, 24. $250, Tow $80.

Published payouts are for non-licensed drivers. 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 O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series.

ENTRY FEES:
Thursday: early licensed $50, early non-licensed $60, late entry all drivers $75.
Friday: early licensed $80, early non-licensed $90, late entry all drivers $100.
Saturday: early licensed $100, early non-licensed $110, late entry all drivers $125.

Early entries must be received in the USMTS office, postmarked no later than Nov. 16, 2008. Entry forms can be downloaded at www.usmts.com/entry.asp.

RULES & PROCEDURES: All USMTS rules apply. The American Racer KK704 is the Official Tire of the USMTS; however drivers may utilize 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 begin.

TOP DOG BONUS: Drivers ranked among the top-10 in points will be guaranteed a minimum of $300 on both Friday and Saturday night, while drivers ranked 11th through 15th are guaranteed $200. There is no Top Dog Bonus for Thursday's show.

O’REILLY USMTS SOUTHERN SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (top 20):
1. 12 Jason Hughes, Westville, Okla. … 1355 (5 wins)
2. 5 Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, Ark. … 1283 (1 win)
3. 02 Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, Okla. … 1197
4. 5w John O Whittington, Vidor, Texas … 1030
5. 2w Paul White, Temple, Texas … 1028
6. 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla. … 994
7. 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La. … 956
8. 5r Morgan Bagley, Longview, Texas … 928
9. 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla. … 918
10. 21b Brandon Kenny, Woodward, Okla. … 895
11. 8j Dustin Hyde, Texarkana, Texas … 891
12. 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas … 885
13. 13 David Mitchell, Ashdown, Ark. … 876 (1 win)
14. 25 Scott Green, Derby, Kan. … 875
15. 89 Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas … 857
16. C8 Timothy Culp, West Monroe, La. … 845
17. 19 Jamie Burford, Keatchie, La. … 843
18. 38r Jeremy Ross, Locust Grove, Okla. … 805
19. 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa … 728
20. 31 Elias Anderson, Austin, Texas … 651
Other winners:
1w Howard Willis, Dayton, Texas (1)
10 George White, Fort Worth, Texas (1)
21 Chris Brown, Cleveland, Texas (1)
51 Eddie Martin, Stilwell, Okla. (1)
18 Jack Sullivan, Greenbrier, Ark. (1)
1a Duke Whiseant, Texarkana, Ark. (1)
12 Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge, Ark. (1)
60b Mike Bowers, North Little Rock, Ark. (1)

O’REILLY USMTS SOUTHERN SERIES 2008 SCHEDULE:
Friday, April 18 … Golden Triangle Raceway Park, Beaumont, Texas (winner: Howard Willis)
Saturday, April 19 … Gator Motorplex, Willis, Texas (winner: Steve Holzkamper)
Friday, May 2 … Lake Country Speedway, Ardmore, Okla. (winner: Jason Hughes)
Saturday, May 3 … Cowtown Speedway, Kennedale, Texas (winner: George White)
Thursday, May 8 … Champion Park Speedway, Minden, La. (winner: David Mitchell)
Friday, May 9 … Sabine Speedway, Many, La. (winner: Jason Hughes)
Saturday, May 10 … Pike County Speedway, Magnolia, Miss. (winner: Jason Hughes)
Friday, May 16 … 105 Speedway, Cleveland, Texas (winner: Chris Brown)
Saturday, May 17 … Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, Texas (winner: Jason Hughes)
Tuesday, June 3 … Tri-State Speedway, Pocola, Okla. (winner: Eddie Martin)
Wednesday, June 4 … I-30 Speedway, Little Rock, Ark. (winner: Jack Sullivan)
Thursday, June 5 … Ark-La-Tex Speedway, Vivian, La. (winner: Duke Whiseant)
Friday, June 6 … Monticello Speedway, Monticello, Ark. (winner: Jason Hughes)
Saturday, June 7 … Fast Trax Speedway, Chatham, La. (winner: Johnny Bone Jr.)
Friday, Oct. 3 … I-30 Speedway, Little Rock, Ark. (winner: Mike Bowers)
Thursday, Nov. 20 … Texana Raceway Park, Edna, Texas ($1,000 to win)
Friday, Nov. 21 … Texana Raceway Park, Edna, Texas ($2,000 to win)
Saturday, Nov. 22 … Texana Raceway Park, Edna, Texas ($3,000 to win)
Thursday, Dec. 4 … Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, Texas ($2,000 to win)
Friday, Dec. 5 … Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, Texas ($3,000 to win)
Saturday, Dec. 6 … Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, Texas ($4,000 to win)

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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