WEBSTER CITY, Iowa – Officials from the United States Modified Touring Series released the 2009 USMTS National Tour schedule of events Thursday which features an exciting slate of races that is sure to make the winter months seem even longer to thousands of action-hungry race fans.

The assembled slate of mud-slinging shows includes return events at some the most popular USMTS venues, as well as a bolstered menu of new racetracks representing the finest in the country.

The rugged road warriors of the USMTS National Tour will thrill race fans in America's heartland with an aggressive campaign which currently features 61 events at 39 different venues in 10 different States. The schedule is highlighted with return engagements to 31 facilities that hosted an O’Reilly USMTS National Event last season, one facility returning to the line-up after a two-year hiatus and seven new venues encompassing some of the most exciting dirt ovals in America.

For the sixth straight year, they USMTS National Events campaign will kick off with a doubleheader at the Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb. The 6th Annual Nebraska Spring Thaw is slated for Friday and Saturday, March 6-7. Friday’s event will pay $2,000 to win while the victor in Saturday’s main event will pocket $3,000. More than 70 entries are once again expected for the annual lidlifter at the 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval.

The following weekend will find the USMTS National Tour at the Caney Valley Speedway in Caney, Kan., for the first time on Friday, March 13, followed by a Saturday date at the Humboldt Speedway in Humboldt, Kan., on Saturday, March 14.

The month on March wraps up with trips to the LA Raceway in La Monte, Mo., on Friday, March 27, and Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kan., on Saturday, March 28.

The West Siloam Speedway in West Siloam Springs, Okla., will host the second doubleheader of the season for the third straight year on Friday and Saturday, April 3-4. The event, which pays $2,000 and $3,000 to win, respectively, is expected to attract a powerful field of entries as both USMTS National Tour and USMTS Southern Series points will be awarded.

The only other USMTS National Tour dates during the month of April happen on Friday, April 10, with an inaugural event at Kevin and Tammy Gundaker's legendary Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, Ill. Then on Saturday, April 11, the action heads to the 24 Raceway in Moberly, Mo., for the first of two stops there in 2009.

A busy month of May kicks off with a three-day swing through the Show-Me State, beginning Friday, May 15, at the Midway Speedway in Lebanon, Mo. Saturday, May 16, will find the USMTS National Tour at the Springfield Raceway in Springfield, Mo., for the first time after last year's first-ever attempt fell to rain. The tripleheader weekend winds up at Randy Mooneyham's Monett Speedway in Monett, Mo., on Sunday, May 17.

Tuesday, May 19, finds the touring titans back on familiar ground with a $2,000-to-win stop at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa, for the first of seven straight days of racing action. After rain swept away chances of the much-anticipated debut in 2008 at the Marshalltown Speedway in Marshalltown, Iowa, the USMTS National Tour is back at Toby Kruse's blistering-fast bullring in 2009 on Wednesday, May 20. Thursday, May 21, it's on to the Cresco Speedway in Cresco, Iowa, followed by annual Memorial Day Weekend events at the Chateau Raceway, Lansing, Minn., on Friday, May 22; Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., on Saturday, May 23; Dodge County Speedway in Kasson, Minn., on Sunday, May 24; and Tri-Oval Speedway in Fountain City, Wis., on Monday, May 25.

After a one-week break, the dirt merchants get back to business in June with more nights on the racetrack than not.

Six straight shows start off the sixth month of the year with a Monday, June 1, engagement at the Iowa State Fair Speedway in Des Moines, Iowa. From there, it's on to the Hancock County Speedway in Britt, Iowa, on Tuesday, June 2; Highway 3 Raceway in Allison, Iowa, on Wednesday, June 3; Buena Vista Raceway in Alta, Iowa, on Thursday, June 4; Murray County Speedway in Slayton, Minn., on Friday, June 5; and Upper Iowa Speedway in Decorah, Iowa, on Saturday, June 6.

After a well-deserved ten-day rest, the engines fire up again on Tuesday, June 16, at the Park Jefferson Speedway in Jefferson, S.D., for the first of ten shows planned for the next eleven calendar dates. On Wednesday, June 17, the USMTS National Tour returns to the Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D., then heads north to the Casino Speedway in Watertown, S.D., on Thursday, June 18. Two yet-to-be-determined venues are penciled in for Friday and Saturday, June 19-20, before trekking to the Nobles County Speedway in Worthington, Minn., on Sunday, June 21. Everybody gets to take a breath on Monday before moving on to the Mineral City Speedway in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Tuesday, June 23.

By popular demand, race fans will get their first chance to see the stars and cars of the USMTS National Tour at Joe Ringsdorf's  I-35 Speedway in Mason City, Iowa, on Wednesday, June 24.

"Joe is one of the premier promoters in the country," said USMTS promoter Todd Staley. "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with him to bring the USMTS to the I-35 Speedway fans in 2009."

Thursday, June 25, is reserved for a to-be-announced event prior to invading the U.S. 36 Raceway in Osborn, Mo., on Friday, June 26. After a two-year hiatus, the USMTS National Tour returns to the state-of-the-art Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., on Saturday, June 27, to close the curtain on a busy month of June and kick off a nearly four-week "summer vacation" for the tireless USMTS National Tour teams before returning to battle on Thursday, July 24, at the Fayette County Speedway in West Union, Iowa.

Another new and exciting venue, and a one-of-a-kind event is in store on Friday and Saturday, July 24-25, as the USMTS National Tour invades the famed Elko Speedway in Elko, Minn. Come watch as Elko's asphalt track is transformed into a dirt gridiron for the Dirt Nationals. Races will take place Wednesday through Saturday with a free post-race bonfire and live music following the races every night.

Things get busy again in August as the USMTS National Tour returns to the Cresco Speedway on Thursday, Aug. 4. The five-day swing continues on Friday, Aug. 5, with the second stop of the season at the Southern Iowa Speedway. On Thursday, Aug. 6, one of the longest-running events on the USMTS schedule happens at the 10th Annual UPS Store Illinois Challenge at the Knox County Fairgrounds in Knoxville, Ill., takes place, followed by another new first-time venue on Friday, Aug. 7, at the Kankakee County Speedway in Kankakee, Ill. The week concludes with a Saturday, Aug. 8, appointment with the 24 Raceway Park in Moberly, Mo.

Four encore performances are on tap for Tuesday through Friday, Aug. 11-14, at the Monett Speedway, LA Raceway, Springfield Raceway and Humboldt Speedway. After a classic battle in the inaugural event last season, the USMTS National Tour returns to Heartland Park Topeka in Topeka, Kan., on Saturday, Aug. 15, the wrap up the second five-race swing of August.

Thursday, Aug. 20, will take place at the Steele County Speedway in Owatonna, Minn., during the annual Steele County Free Fair—the largest county fair in Minnesota. The Tri-Oval Speedway hosts the USMTS National Tour for the second time in 2009 on Friday, Aug. 21, as does the Upper Iowa Speedway on Saturday, Aug. 22. On Wednesday, Sept. 2, it's a return to the Highway 3 Raceway to kick off four nights of Labor Day Weekend action. The Buena Vista Raceway awaits again on Thursday, Sept. 3, followed by the 4th Annual Cedar River Races at the Chateau Raceway on Friday, Sept. 4; the 6th Annual Labor Day Dual on Saturday, Sept. 5, at the Deer Creek Speedway; and the 8th Annual Kasson Klash at the Dodge County Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 6.

The USMTS National Tour will return to the Deer Creek Speedway for the 11th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 24-26. The standing-room-only show has become one of the most popular races on the calendars of Modified fans, as well as one of the most lucrative for the drivers. Thursday’s main event winner will pocket $2,000, Friday’s winner will get $4,000 and a $6,000 paycheck awaits Saturday’s champion. Last season's Featherlite Fall Jamboree saw more than 120 drivers compete, with a rich pedigree pit area full of America’s best-known pilots.

USMTS NATIONAL TOUR 2009 SCHEDULE

Fri Mar 6 … Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, NE ($2,000 to win)
Sat Mar 7 … Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, NE ($3,000 to win)
Fri Mar 13 … Caney Valley Speedway, Caney, KS ($2,000 to win)
Sat Mar 14 … Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS ($2,000 to win)
Fri Mar 27 … LA Raceway, La Monte, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sat Mar 28 … Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, KS ($2,000 to win)
Fri Apr 3 … West Siloam Speedway, West Siloam Springs, OK ($2,000 to win)
Sat Apr 4 … West Siloam Speedway, West Siloam Springs, OK ($3,000 to win)
Fri Apr 10 … Tri-City Speedway, Granite City, IL ($2,000 to win)
Sat Apr 11 … 24 Raceway Park, Moberly, MO ($2,000 to win)
Fri May 15 … Midway Speedway, Lebanon, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sat May 16 … Springfield Raceway, Springfield, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sun May 17 … Monett Speedway, Monett, MO ($2,000 to win)
Tue May 19 … Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA ($2,000 to win)
Wed May 20 … Marshalltown Speedway, Marshalltown, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu May 21 … Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA ($2,000 to win)
Fri May 22 … Chateau Raceway, Lansing, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sat May 23 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sun May 24 … Dodge County Speedway, Kasson, MN ($2,000 to win)
Mon May 25 … Tri-Oval Speedway, Fountain City, WI ($2,000 to win)
Mon Jun 1 … Iowa State Fair Speedway, Des Moines, IA ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jun 2 … Hancock County Speedway, Britt, IA ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jun 3 … Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jun 4 … Buena Vista Raceway, Alta, IA ($2,000 to win)
Fri Jun 5 … Murray County Speedway, Slayton, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sat Jun 6 … Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, IA ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jun 16 … Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, SD ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jun 17 … Huset’s Speedway, Brandon, SD ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jun 18 … Casino Speedway, Watertown, SD ($2,000 to win)
Fri Jun 19 … TBA
Sat Jun 20 … TBA
Sun Jun 21 … Nobles County Speedway, Worthington, MN ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jun 23 … Mineral City Speedway, Fort Dodge, IA ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jun 24 … I-35 Speedway, Mason City, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jun 25 … TBA
Fri Jun 26 … U.S. 36 Raceway, Osborn, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sat Jun 27 … Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, MO ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jul 23 … Fayette County Speedway, West Union, IA ($2,000 to win)
Fri Jul 24 … Elko Speedway, Elko, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sat Jul 25 … Elko Speedway, Elko, MN ($3,000 to win)
Tue Aug 4 … Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA ($2,000 to win)
Wed Aug 5 … Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu Aug 6 … Knox County Fairgrounds, Knoxville, IL ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 7 … Kankakee County Speedway, Kankakee, IL ($2,000 to win)
Sat Aug 8 … 24 Raceway Park, Moberly, MO ($2,000 to win)
Tue Aug 11 … Monett Speedway, Monett, MO ($2,000 to win)
Wed Aug 12 … LA Raceway, La Monte, MO ($2,000 to win)
Thu Aug 13 … Springfield Raceway, Springfield, MO ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 14 … Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS ($2,000 to win)
Sat Aug 15 … Heartland Park Topeka, Topeka, KS ($3,000 to win)
Thu Aug 20 … Steele County Speedway, Owatonna, MN ($3,000 to win)
Fri Aug 21 … Tri-Oval Speedway, Fountain City, WI ($3,000 to win)
Sat Aug 22 … Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, IA ($3,000 to win)
Wed Sep 2 … Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA ($3,000 to win)
Thu Sep 3 … Buena Vista Raceway, Alta, IA ($3,000 to win)
Fri Sep 4 … Chateau Raceway, Lansing, MN ($3,000 to win)
Sat Sep 5 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($3,000 to win)
Sun Sep 6 … Dodge County Speedway, Kasson, MN ($3,000 to win)
Thu Sep 24 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win)
Fri Sep 25 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($4,000 to win)
Sat Sep 26 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($6,000 to win)

Schedule is tentative and subject to change without notice. USMTS officials plan to announce regional alignments and the events comprising the Hunt for the USMTS National Championship in the next few days.

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.

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