HOUSTON, Texas – The 2009 schedule of events is now set for the USMTS Southern Series with the addition of two new venues to the campaign.

On April 24, the Texarkana 67 Speedway in Texarkana, Ark., will play host to a $2,000-to-win event while the Heart O’ Texas Speedway in Elm Mott (Waco), Texas, will see the USMTS Southern Series invade on May 3.

Both facilities are first-time stops for the mud-slinging USMTS Modifieds, and brings the total number of USMTS Southern Series dates to 33. The line-up includes 18 top-notch dirt ovals throughout Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

One other change was made to the 2009 slate as the May 10 rendezvous at the 105 Speedway in Cleveland, Texas, has been moved to April 19.

USMTS officials have also released regional alignments for the USMTS Southern Series.

The USMTS Southern Series will be divided into two geographical regions with 11 races in each. Then, just like the USMTS National Tour has done for the past three seasons, the season will end with an 11-race “playoff” to determine the 2009 USMTS Southern Series champion.

“This will be the third season for the USMTS Southern Series, and the popularity of the series among drivers, fans and racetrack operators alike has exploded,” said USMTS president and promoter Todd Staley. “With 33 races penciled in, it makes sense for us to regionalize the schedule.

“We're confident that this will lessen the burden on some drivers, while at the same time encouraging others to commit to running a particular region, then racing for the championship at season's end.”

The East Region will kick things off with the GRT Race Cars Topless Modified Nationals, March 20-21 at the I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark. A tripleheader scheduled for the weekend of April 24-26 and the 3rd Annual Southern Speedweek, June 9-14, will make up the remainder of the East Region events.

EAST REGION (11 events):
Fri Mar 20 … I-30 Speedway, Little Rock, AR ($2,000 to win)
Sat Mar 21 … I-30 Speedway, Little Rock, AR ($5,000 to win)
Fri Apr 24 … Texarkana 67 Speedway, Texarkana, AR ($2,000 to win)
Sat Apr 25 … Champion Park Speedway, Haughton, LA ($2,000 to win)
Sun Apr 26 … Boothill Speedway, Greenwood, LA ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jun 9 … Tri-State Speedway, Pocola, OK ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jun 10 … I-30 Speedway, Little Rock, AR ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jun 11 … Ark-La-Tex Speedway, Vivian, LA ($2,000 to win)
Fri Jun 12 … Fast Trax Speedway, Chatham, LA ($2,000 to win)
Sat Jun 13 … Drew County Speedway, Monticello, AR ($2,000 to win)
Sun Jun 14 … Boothill Speedway, Greenwood, LA ($2,000 to win)

Action in the West Region will start April 3 at the West Siloam Speedway in West Siloam Springs, Okla., before wrapping up May 9 at the Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas.

WEST REGION (11 events):
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 17 … Golden Triangle Raceway Park, Beaumont, TX ($2,000 to win)
Sat Apr 18 … Gator Motorplex, Willis, TX ($2,000 to win)
Sun Apr 19 … 105 Speedway, Cleveland, TX ($2,000 to win)
Fri May 1 … Lake Country Speedway, Ardmore, OK ($2,000 to win)
Sat May 2 … Cowtown Speedway, Kennedale, TX ($2,000 to win)
Sun May 3 … Heart O’ Texas Speedway, Elm Mott, TX ($2,000 to win)
Fri May 8 … Battleground Speedway, Highlands, TX ($2,000 to win)
Sat May 9 … Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, TX ($2,000 to win)

All events in both regions will be part of a swing comprised of two, three or more shows in a row. Regional battles will end with the June 14 event at the Boothill Speedway in Greenwood, La.

At this point, all drivers qualified for The Hunt for the USMTS Southern Series Championship are also qualified to compete in The Hunt for the Casey's General Stores USMTS National Championship. The 18-race campaign will begin Aug. 11 at the LA Raceway in La Monte, Mo., and end with the 11th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree at the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., Sept. 24-26.

The Hunt for the USMTS Southern Series Championship will be comprised of 11 events at four racetracks in the Lone Star State. The kickoff for the title chase will begin with a tripleheader at the Battleground Speedway in Highland, Texas, Oct. 1-3, and will wrap up with the 3rd Annual Texas Winter Nationals, Dec. 3-5, at the Houston Raceway Park. Thursday's show will be worth $2,000 to the winner, while Friday's main event carries a $3,000 top prize and Saturday's winner takes home $4,000.

THE HUNT FOR THE USMTS SOUTHERN SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP (11 events):
Thu Oct 1 … Battleground Speedway, Highlands, TX ($1,000 to win)
Fri Oct 2 … Battleground Speedway, Highlands, TX ($2,000 to win)
Sat Oct 3 … Battleground Speedway, Highlands, TX ($3,000 to win)
Fri Oct 23 … Gator Motorplex, Willis, TX ($2,000 to win)
Sat Oct 24 … Gator Motorplex, Willis, TX ($3,000 to win)
Fri Nov 27 … Texana Raceway Park, Edna, TX ($1,000 to win)
Sat Nov 28 … Texana Raceway Park, Edna, TX ($2,000 to win)
Sun Nov 29 … Texana Raceway Park, Edna, TX ($3,000 to win)
Thu Dec 3 … Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, TX ($2,000 to win)
Fri Dec 4 … Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, TX ($3,000 to win)
Sat Dec 5 … Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, TX ($4,000 to win)

The USMTS points system will be used at all regional events, with the top-10 in the final standings for each of the two regions earning a spot in The Hunt for the USMTS Southern Series Championship. Furthermore, any driver who has perfect attendance in either region will also be qualified. Regional champions will earn 20 points to begin The Hunt for the USMTS Southern Series, with 18 points for second and so forth, descending to 2 points for the tenth-place finisher in the region. In addition, each driver who competed at all events within a region will also earn 5 bonus points. The total points earned in both regions (maximum 50 points) will serve as the base points that each driver will have to begin The Hunt for the USMTS Southern Series Championship. The USMTS points system will be used at the remaining events to determine the 2009 USMTS Southern Series champion.

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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TITLE SPONSOR: Casey’s General Stores.

OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Awesome Racewear, 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, PBM Performance Products, Q.E.M., Inc., Western Flyer Xpress.

PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Boom Drilling, Buzzard Racing Engines, Day Motor Sports, Ramirez Race Cars, Olympic Fire Protection, Ruter Farms, Yeager Machine.

CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Belleville Motorsports, BSB Manufacturing, COMP Cams, Duralite Racing Wheels, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, GRT Race Cars, Holley Performance Products, Hyperco, ISKY Racing Cams, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, Quarter Master, QuickTime Performance Race Parts, Real Racing Wheels, US Brake.