WHAT: 6th Annual Nebraska Spring Thaw, races #1 and 2 for the 2009 USMTS Casey's General Stores National Tour and races #1 and 2 in the Great Plains Region.

WHEN: Friday and Saturday, March 6-7, 2009.

TRACK: Junction Motor Speedway, 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval.

LOCATION: McCool Junction, Neb.

DIRECTIONS: Five miles south of I-80 (York Exit) on US 81.

STARTING FIELD: Depending on the number of entries, 24 or 26 cars will start the “A” main each night, with qualifying through heat races and “B” mains. The top 12 or 13 cars in passing points accumulated in the heat races will be locked into the “A” main each night. An additional 8 or 9 cars will qualify from the “B” mains, with 4 provisional starters added to the rear of the “A” main starting field.

PURSE: Friday - $2,000 to win, $250 to start; Saturday - $3,000 to win, $300 to start.

PROMOTER: Delmar Friesen, Junction Motor Speedway, P.O. Box 524, Sutton, NE 68979; Tel: 402-773-5538; Email: jmsinfo@junctionmotorspeedway.com; Website: www.junctionmotorspeedway.com.

SCHEDULE:

Friday, March 6
12:00 noon - Pit gate opens
4:30 p.m. - Grandstand gate opens
5:15 p.m. - Draw ends for heat race line-ups
5:30 p.m. - Hot laps begin
6:30 p.m. - Drivers meeting
7:00 p.m. - Heat races begin

Saturday, March 7
10:00 a.m. - Pit gate opens
12:00 noon - Grandstand gate opens
12:45 p.m. - Draw ends for heat race line-ups
1:00 p.m. - Hot laps begin
1:30 p.m. - Drivers meeting
2:00 p.m. - Heat races begin

TICKETS:

Friday, March 6
General Admission - Adults $12, Kids (6-12) $4, Under 6 FREE
Pit Pass - $30

Saturday, March 7
General Admission - Adults $15, Kids (6-12) $4, Under 6 FREE
Pit Pass - $30

PAST WINNERS AT JUNCTION MOTOR SPEEDWAY:

March 12, 2004 - Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa
March 13, 2004 - Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
June 22, 2004 - Jason Hughes, Colcord, Okla.
March 11, 2005 - Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa
March 12, 2005 - Johnny Saathoff, Beatrice, Neb.
March 10, 2006 - Jason Friesen, Sutton, Neb.
March 11, 2006 - Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D.
March 9, 2007 - Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa
March 10, 2007 - Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa
March 21, 2008 - Justin Boney, Leavenworth, Kan.
March 22, 2008 - John Allen, Chanute, Kan.

NOTES OF INTEREST: The 6th Annual Nebraska Spring Thaw will be the first and second of 63 events on the 2009 USMTS Casey's General Stores National Tour schedule, and the first and second of 10 events in the Great Plains Region … Friday's main event winner will earn $2,000 while the winner of Saturday's finale will pocket $3,000 … A big field of America's hottest Modified drivers on dirt are expected, including NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader of Concord, N.C., defending Great Plains Region champion, eight-time USMTS National Champion and USMTS all-time wins leader Kelly Shryock, last year’s winners at Junction Motor Speedway Justin Boney and John Allen, former event winners Al Hejna, Jon Tesch, Jason Friesen, Johnny Saathoff, Corey Dripps and Mark Noble, plus other top drivers such as Tommy Myer, Zack VanderBeek, Brad Waits, Dereck Ramirez, Scott Green, Jason Krohn, Rich Lewerke, Josh Reisch, Jay Noteboom, Mike Lineberry, Steve Kosiski, Alan Mondus, Andrew Gordon, Ryan Cannon, Brian Shaw, Dylan Smith, Dean Mahlstedt, Jeff Schluetter, Mike Albertsen, Chris Mills, Brandon Aggen, Chris Spieker, Garry Oskerson, Jeremy Rasmussen, Jacob Dahle, Don Eischens, Dan DeMey, Jim Mathieson, Colt Mather, Mike Sorensen, Bob Timm, Richie Gustin Jr. and more … Last year's event drew 44 entries while the event record is 77, set in 2004 … Open Stock Cars will also be on the racing card both days.

FINAL 2008 GREAT PLAINS REGION POINTS (top 10):

1. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa … 830
2. Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa … 784
3. Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D. … 771
4. Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla. … 689
5. Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa … 688
6. Brandon Kenny, Woodward, Okla. … 679
7. Scott Green, Derby, Kan. … 631
8. Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, Okla. … 623
9. Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn. … 604
10. Jason Hughes, Westville, Okla. … 576

2009 USMTS CASEY'S GENERAL STORES NATIONAL TOUR SCHEDULE (63 events):

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

[C] = Central States Region
[G] = Great Plains Region
[M] = Bear Tire Mo-Kan Region
[U] = Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region
[H] = The Hunt for the USMTS Casey's General Stores National Championship

ABOUT THE USMTS: The United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) is the fastest growing and most popular dirt modified touring series in the country. Attracting some of the most talented and professional drivers in America, the fan friendly format and exciting show creates an enthusiastic and loyal fan base, and the USMTS routinely competes in front of capacity crowds. With no less than 20,000 men and women competing nationwide on any given weekend, the Modified is by far the most popular and most widely-used type of race car circling America’s dirt tracks today, and when it comes to a touring series that features the Best of the Best in Modified racing, the USMTS has no equal. Beginning its 11th season in 2009, the USMTS is the ultimate playground for America’s hottest Modified drivers, while the USMTS rulebook allows for close competition and inclusion among local racers. More than 800 different drivers from 23 States took part in USMTS events in 2008 as the rugged road warriors staged nearly 80 events at 45 unique venues in 14 different States throughout America’s heartland. In 1998, Todd and Janet Staley acquired the fledgling five-year-old United States Modified Series (USMS) and began racing under the USMTS name in 1999. In the nine seasons since then, the USMTS has doled out nearly $10 million in prize money to more than 4,000 different drivers while traveling to 139 different venues in 15 States.

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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USMTS TITLE SPONSOR: Casey’s General Stores.

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Childhelp, COMP Cams, Houston Specialty Products Co., Karl Chevrolet, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, New Vision Graphics, Nitroquest Media, PBM Performance Products, Q.E.M., Inc., Western Flyer Xpress.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Awesome Racewear, Bear Tire Company, Boom Drilling, Buzzard Racing Engines, DandyLand Farms, Day Motor Sports, Gressel Racing, Just Say Yes, Ramirez Race Cars, Olympic Fire Protection, Ruter Farms, Yeager Machine.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Belleville Motorsports, BSB Manufacturing, 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.