BAYTOWN, Texas – Dozens of the best dirt Modified drivers in America are heading for the Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas, for the 2nd Annual Texas Winter Nationals, Dec. 3-6.

The O'Reilly USMTS Southern Series champion will emerge from the weekend tripleheader, and one particular driver with a dozen on his door is looking to seal the deal on his first title under the USMTS banner.

Coming into the event, Jason Hughes of Westville, Okla., holds a healthy advantage in the standings (1626 to 1536) over fellow chassis builder Steve Holzkamper of Gentry, Ark., and can clinch the title the night before the finale with a pair of strong runs in the Thursday and Friday night main events.

With a series-leading six victories in eighteen events, odds are that Hughes will take down at least one of this weekend's feature races. Eleven different drivers have won the other twelve main events this season, with fellow Sooner State veteran Eddie Martin joining Hughes as the only repeat winner this season after a victory two weeks ago at the Texana Raceway Park in Edna, Texas. Martin won on Friday while Hughes captured Saturday's finale.

The O'Reilly USMTS Southern Series championship carries with it a $10,000 paycheck.

Last year nearly 70 top-flight Modified racers competed in the inaugural Texas Winter Nationals. Officials expect to top that number this year, possibly eclipsing the 100 entry threshold.

The event will be the highest-paying O'Reilly USMTS Southern Series event in the two-year existence of the popular tour, with a possible $9,000 to win over three nights.

The main event will pay $2,000 to win and a minimum $200 to start on Thursday. A $3,000 top prize is earmarked for Friday's winner with at least $250 going to each main event starter and Saturday's finale will pay an O'Reilly USMTS Southern Series record $4,000 to win with at least $300 guaranteed for each starter.

An open practice will be held on Wednesday night, Dec. 3, and drivers in all classes are invited to participate. Due to the high number of racecars expected for the weekend tripleheader, this will be the only night for hot laps. The pit gate will open at 4 p.m. and practice will be held from 6-10 p.m. Pit passes are $20 and admission to the grandstands will be free.

On Thursday and Friday, gates will open at 5 p.m. with racing at 7:30. On Saturday, gates open at 4 p.m. and the mud starts flying at 6:30.

Defending winners of the Texas Winter Nationals are Paul White (Thursday), Alan Mondus (Friday) and Kelly Shryock (Saturday).

Limited Mods will also be competing all three nights for an increased purse, racing for $500 to win on Thursday, $700 to win on Friday and $1,000 to win on Saturday. More than 60 different Limited Mods competed in last year's event. There is no entry fee on any night for Limited Mods. However, any driver racing in both Modifieds and Limited Mods will pay an entry of $30 on Thursday and Friday, and $35 on Saturday.

Houston Raceway Park is a 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval located east of Houston on I-10 to Exit 798, then 3.0 miles south on SR 146, then 0.9 miles SE on FM 1405, then 1.5 miles NE on FM 565. For more information, call the track office at (281) 383-RACE or visit www.houstonraceway.com online.

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, AwesomeRaceSuits.com, 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, Buzzard Racing Engines, 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.