The USMTS schedule is as big and exciting as ever, and will feature some new tracks, returning tracks and a few tracks we have not been to for some time.

• The Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., will host the USMTS National Tour again with a stop there on Saturday, June 27. This is one of those facilities that is a gem. If you have not been there, this is a must-see place. The event will also serve as the final race in the Mo-Kan Region. Track Website: www.lucasoilspeedway.com.

• The Elko Speedway in Elko, Minn., will be hosting a week-long Dirt Nationals on the historic asphalt track. Promoter Tom Ryan will truck in several tons of dirt and put it right on top of the concrete. This will be a two-day show that will pay $2,000 to the winner on Friday and $3,000 on Saturday. The USMTS National Tour will be running with the IRA Outlaw Sprint Cars, so it should be a great show with a huge crowd. Track Website: www.elkospeedway.com.

• Another new track for 2009 is the Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, Ill. Kevin and Tammy Gundaker have been talking with us over the past three seasons and we finally got it done. This track runs under the UMP rules for Modifieds, so the tire rule allow the Hoosier ADH 40 or the American Racer KK704. Track Website: www.tricityspeedway.net.

• Another new one for 2009 is a stop at is the Caney Valley Speedway in Caney, Kan. Kerry Gorby reopened the facility last year and we are looking forward to stopping there on Friday, March 13. Track Website: www.caneyvalleyspeedway.net.

• After a one-year hiatus, the USMTS Southern Series will return to the Boothill Speedway in Greenwood, La., on Sunday, April 26. Track Website: http://boothillspeedway.net.

• On May 16, the USMTS National Tour will once again make a stop at the Springfield (Mo.) Raceway. We tried last season but Mother Nature did not cooperate, so we are going there twice in 2009. Track Website: www.springfieldraceway.com.

• Another one that got rained-out was the Marshalltown (Iowa) Speedway, but we will be back on Wednesday, May 20. Toby Kruse has done very well in making Marshalltown a premier facility. Track Website: www.marshalltownspeedway.com.

• Kankakee (Ill.) County Speedway is another new track we will visit for the first time on Friday, Aug. 7. Track Website: www.kankakeecountyspeedway.com.

• 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. Ringsdorf is one of the premier promoters in the country and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with him to bring the USMTS to the I-35 Speedway fans in 2009. Track Website: www.i-35speedway.com.

• Bob Timm has purchased the track in Fountain City, Wis., and has renamed it Mississippi Thunder Speedway. He's done all kinds of work at the speedway and will make it into a circle track ... no more tri-oval. The track will be similar to the Deer Creek Speedway in nearby Spring Valley, Minn. We can’t wait to see the improvements, and wish Bob and his staff good luck. Track Website: www.mississippithunder.com.

• A doubleheader at the North Central Speedway in Brainerd, Minn., will precede this year's Jamboree. Slated for Sept. 18-19, Friday's main event winner will earn $2,000 while a top prize of $3,000 awaits the victor on Saturday. Track Website: www.racencs.net.

• The Battleground Speedway in Highlands, Texas, is on the USMTS Southern Series schedule for the first time ever on Friday, May 8. The Series returns to the Battleground Speedway on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 1-3, with a top prize of $1,000, $2,000 and $3,000, respectively, for the weekend.

• And, of course, don’t forget the 11th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree at Deer Creek. This is the biggest race of the season and last year's event saw more than 115 different Modifieds raced the three-day show. This is a race that you do not want to miss. Two classes of Modifieds and more than 5,000 people watched the final night of racing with drivers from 14 States in appearance. Track Website: www.deercreekspeedway.com.