HOUSTON, Texas – Officials from the United States Racing Association (USRA) and the United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) announced today that the USRA will sanction a new series for Limited Modifieds that will join the full-blown, mud-slinging outlaw-style Modifieds of the USMTS Southern Series as they travel throughout Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

Licensed drivers competing in the USRA Southern Limited Modified Series will battle for a separate points fund that will pay the top-10 spots at season's end, including $1,000 to the series champion, $600 for second, $400 for third, $300 for fourth, $250 for fifth, $200 for sixth, $175 for seventh, $150 for eighth, $125 for ninth and $100 for tenth.

Furthermore, those same drivers will also earn national points for the USRA Karl Chevrolet B-Mod class in the American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series, which also pays 10 positions and awards $1,000 to the champion.

The points will be awarded at each event and will be separated into two regions similar to the USMTS Southern Series. USRA Southern Limited Modified Series drivers will then be racing their own version of "The Hunt" to determine the series champion.

A license will not be required to compete in the USRA Southern Limited Modified Series, but drivers must have a valid USRA license in order to earn points and be eligible for points funds. The cost of a license is $90 and is good for all events.

Drivers wishing to race for points and subsequent points funds will be charged a $25 entry fee at each event, which will go directly into the points fund for the USRA Southern Limited Modified Series. These drivers will also race for $500 to win. Drivers not wanting to earn points will not be required to pay an entry fee, and will race for the normal track purse at these events.

The first race for the USRA Southern Limited Modified Series will happen on Friday, April 24, when the USMTS Southern Series invades the Texarkana 67 Speedway in Texarkana, Ark. This will be an East Region race. The first West Region race will be Saturday, May 2, at the Cowtown Speedway in Kennedale, Texas.

The Championship Hunt for the Limited Modifieds will begin at the Batleground Speedway in Highlands, Texas, on Thursday, Oct. 1. The season finale for both groups will be the 3rd Annual Texas Winter Nationals at the Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 3-5.

Rules are available online at www.usraracing.com.

USRA SOUTHERN LIMITED MODIFIED SERIES 2009 SCHEDULE

East Region:
Fri Apr 24 … Texarkana 67 Speedway, Texarkana, AR ($500 to win)
Sat Apr 25 … Champion Park Speedway, Haughton, LA ($500 to win)
Sun Apr 26 … Boothill Speedway, Greenwood, LA ($500 to win)
Thu Jun 11 … Ark-La-Tex Speedway, Vivian, LA ($500 to win)
Fri Jun 12 … Fast Trax Speedway, Chatham, LA ($500 to win)
Sat Jun 13 … Drew County Speedway, Monticello, AR ($500 to win)
Sun Jun 14 … Boothill Speedway, Greenwood, LA ($500 to win)

West Region:
Fri May 1 … Lake Country Speedway, Ardmore, OK ($500 to win)
Sat May 2 … Cowtown Speedway, Kennedale, TX ($500 to win)
Sun May 3 … Heart O’ Texas Speedway, Elm Mott, TX ($500 to win)
Thu May 7 … Golden Triangle Raceway Park, Beaumont, TX ($500 to win)
Fri May 8 … Battleground Speedway, Highlands, TX ($500 to win)
Sat May 9 … Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, TX ($500 to win)
Sun May 10 … Gator Motorplex, Willis, TX ($500 to win)

Championship Hunt:
Thu Oct 1 … Battleground Speedway, Highlands, TX ($500 to win)
Fri Oct 2 … Battleground Speedway, Highlands, TX ($500 to win)
Sat Oct 3 … Battleground Speedway, Highlands, TX ($500 to win)
Fri Oct 23 … Gator Motorplex, Willis, TX ($500 to win)
Sat Oct 24 … Gator Motorplex, Willis, TX ($500 to win)
Fri Nov 27 … Texana Raceway Park, Edna, TX ($500 to win)
Sat Nov 28 … Texana Raceway Park, Edna, TX ($500 to win)
Sun Nov 29 … Texana Raceway Park, Edna, TX ($500 to win)
Thu Dec 3 … Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, TX ($500 to win)
Fri Dec 4 … Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, TX ($500 to win)
Sat Dec 5 … Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, TX ($500 to win)

NOTE: $500 to win for drivers possessing a valid USRA license and paying a $25 entry fee. Other drivers will race for normal track purse.

For more information about the United States Racing Association, call 515-832-6000 or visit www.usraracing.com online.