JEFFERSON, S.D. – The USMTS Casey's General Stores National Tour is back in action this week with a tripleheader at three South Dakota speedplants on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, June 16-18.

All three events will award valuable points in the Great Plains Region and each night's Sunoco "A" Main will see the winner pocket $2,000 while all other main event starters will earn at least $250.

Among the drivers expected for the three-race test of ultimate toughness are Tommy Myer, Jon Tesch, Kelly Shryock, Al Hejna, Corey Dripps, Rich Lewerke, Jake Neal, Mike Lineberry, Scott Green, Mike Steensma, Dereck Ramirez, Jay Poidinger, Don Gerritsen Jr., Jason Krohn, Grant Junghans, Mike Albertsen, Jim Mathieson, Josh Reisch, Anthony Mann, Dan DeMey, Rich Hesse, Scott Ward, Brandon Aggen, Dean Mahlstedt, Chris Prussman and others.

Race fans will get an added bonus and drivers will get an added challenge as NASCAR fan favorite and television personality Kenny Wallace will be in attendance all three days. Wallace will be signing autographs and entertaining the fans, as well as looking for his first USMTS victory. More information about “The Hermanator” is available at www.kennywallace.com.

TUESDAY, JUNE 16 - PARK JEFFERSON SPEEDWAY

The swing kicks off on Tuesday at the Park Jefferson Speedway in Jefferson, S.D., as track promoter Denny Moore welcomes the tough-as-nails touring titans for the 5th Annual All-Star Challenge. Past winners of the event include Jay Noteboom (2005), Kelly Shryock (2006), Jason Krohn (2007) and Jason Hughes (2008).

Bob Moore, Chris Abelson, Reese Coffee, Dirk Kirk, Denny Johnson, Mark Gaskill, Jason Briese, Leon Mulder, Jesse Cowles and Dean Palmer are just a few of the weekly Modified competitors at Park Jeff expected to be on hand to defend their home turf.

Pit gates open at 4:00, grandstand gates open at 6:00, hot laps begin at 7:00 and the first heat race is slated to take the green flag at 7:30. B-Mods and Hornets will also be on the racing card.

Race fans can pick up $2-off coupons on race day at the Casey's General Stores locations in Elk Point and throughout nearby Sioux City.

The Park Jefferson Speedway is a 4/10-mile semi-banked clay oval located off of I-29 at Exit 4, then 2 blocks east to SR 105, then 1.8 miles north. For more information, call (712) 274-6324 or (605) 966-5517 on race day or visit www.parkjeffersonspeedway.com online.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17 - CASINO SPEEDWAY

Wednesday will find the mud-slinging Modified masters at Earl Benson's Casino Speedway for the 5th Annual Team Electronics Summer Slam.

The fan-friendly facility is in its 56th year of racing on the shores of beautiful Lake Kampeska in Watertown, S.D., and racers will find plenty of parking in the new pit area, a new concrete wall encompassing the racing surface and new track lighting… Plus food and beverages are now delivered directly to the drivers in the pit area.

Jon Tesch is a two-time USMTS feature winner at his home track where he was a three-time track champion (1998, 2000-01). Tesch captured the main event in 2006 but spun out on the first lap of the 2007 race while another Watertown racer, Scott Ward, won the race. Tesch bounced back to win last year's contest and comes into this year's battle as the clear favorite.

The 32-year-old has four USMTS Casey's General Stores National Tour wins this season and is the current points leader in the Central States Region. He's ranked second in both the Great Plains Region and Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region.

Tommy Myer won the inaugural event at the Casino Speedway on June 16, 2005, and is the current points leader in the Great Plains Region.

Local favorites expected to compete include Scott Hansen, Kent Arment, Ryan Engels, Jay Triplett, Darren Bistodeau, Joel Waba, Arne Anderson, Todd Stark, David Orr, Jordan Foster and more.

Pit gates open at 3:00 and grandstands open up at 5:00. Hot laps are set for 6:30 with racing action at 7:00. WISSOTA Street Stocks will also be in action.

Race fans can pick up $2-off coupons on race day at all three Casey's General Stores locations in Watertown.

The Casino Speedway is a 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval located 4 miles northwest of US 212 on SR 20, then 0.7 mile south on Stokes-Thomas Lake Rd. (next to the city park). For more information call the track office at (605) 882-1221 or the track hotline on race day at (605) 882-2855. The track's Official Website can be found at www.casinospeedway.com.

THURSDAY, JUNE 18 - HUSET'S SPEEDWAY

Greg and Steve Rubin's historic Huset's Speedway will rumble on Thursday night as the USMTS Casey's General Stores National Tour pays a visit to the popular 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval for the fourth straight year.

Eight-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa, visited victory lane in the first two installments at the speedplant near Sioux Falls, S.D., in 2006-07. Al Hejna scored his first USMTS win of 2008 at Huset's Speedway while Shryock's bid for a third straight win ended with a crash on the first lap of the main event.

Gates open at 5:00 with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:00. Also on the racing card will be USRA B-Mods and USRA Hobby Stocks racing for national points in the American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series.

FAST FACTS

PROCEDURES: Qualifying will be done by heat race passing points and Real Racing Wheels “B” Mains. If 40 or less cars are entered, 12 will qualify through heat races and 8 through Real Racing Wheels “B” Mains with 4 provisionals creating a 24-car starting field. If 41 or more cars are entered, 12 will qualify through heat races and 10 through Real Racing Wheels “B” Mains with 4 provisionals creating a 26-car starting field.

RULES: All USMTS rules apply. Roll bar padding and a window net are required. If utilizing a flat tappet or BRODIX aluminum spec head engine, the minimum weight of the racecar must be 2,400 lbs. If utilizing steel or aluminum heads with a 23-degree valve angle, the minimum weight must be 2,450 lbs. If utilizing raised runner heads or heads with less than a 23-degree valve angle, the minimum weight must be 2,500 lbs. Racecars with aluminum heads other than the approved BRODIX aluminum spec heads must have 25 lbs. in front of mid-plate. Complete rules are online at www.usmts.com.

PROVISIONALS: Four provisional starting spots will be awarded in each Sunoco “A” Main starting field. The first two provisionals will be awarded to non-qualified drivers ranked highest in USMTS regional points. The second two provisionals will be awarded to non-qualified drivers ranked highest in Modified track points for the hosting racetrack.

TOP DOG BONUS: Drivers ranked in the top-10 in regional points are guaranteed a minimum of $400 at each event where that driver is among the top-10 in points for the region.

LICENSES: There is no requirement to purchase a license to compete in any USMTS event. However, benefits enjoyed by licensed drivers includes higher event purses and bonus payouts, increased tow money, discounted entry fees, points funds, provisional starting spots, increased media recognition, a personalized driver profile page at www.usmts.com and more. The cost of a license is $150 for each region.

PAYOFF (Licensed/Non-Licensed): 1. $2000/$2000, 2. $1500/$1500, 3. $1000/$1000, 4. $900/$800, 5. $800/$700, 6. $700/$600, 7. $650/$550, 8. $600/$500, 9. $550/$450, 10. $500/$400, 11. $450/$350, 12. $425/$300, 13. $400/$275, 14. $375/$250, 15. $350/$250, 16-26. $300/$250, Tow $90/$75.

GREAT PLAINS REGION POINTS STANDINGS:
1. 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn. ... 301
2. 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D. ... 282
3. 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa ... 275
4. 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa ... 268
5. 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa ... 264
6. 97 Rich Lewerke, Garner, Iowa ... 221
7. 14j Jake Neal, Omaha, Neb. .... 213
8. 72 Mike Lineberry, Fremont, Neb. .... 211
9. 25 Scott Green, Derby, Kan. .... 210
10. 10 Mike Steensma, Luverne, Minn. ... 204
11. 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla. .... 192
12. 49x Jay Poidinger, Somerset, Wis. ... 167
13. 27 Don Gerritsen Jr., Rock Rapids, Iowa ... 166
14. 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn. ... 161
15. 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan. .... 160
16. Z3 Mike Albertsen, Audubon, Iowa ... 159
17. M80 Jim Mathieson, Sioux City, Iowa ... 151
18. 98 Josh Reisch, Luverne, Minn. ... 126
19. 20 Anthony Mann, Luverne, Minn. ... 120
20. 15 Dan DeMey, Denison, Iowa ... 117
21. 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa ... 109
21. 29g Rich Hesse, Hinton, Iowa ... 109
23. 1f Jason Friesen, Sutton, Neb. .... 94
24. 9 Ken Schrader, Concord, N.C. .... 82
25. B1 Scott Ward, Watertown, S.D. ... 65
26. 01 Brandon Aggen, Rushmore, Minn. ... 55
27. 7n Jay Noteboom, Hinton, Iowa ... 53
28. 21m Dean Mahlstedt, Clear Lake, Iowa ... 50
29. 3 Arne Anderson, Watertown, S.D. ... 45
29. 70 Jesse Dennis, Prescott, Iowa ... 45
29. 11c Chris Prussman, Brookings, S.D. ... 45

GREAT PLAINS REGION SCHEDULE:
Fri Mar 6 … Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, NE (winner: Tommy Myer)
Thu Jun 4 … Buena Vista Raceway, Alta, IA (winner: Al Hejna)
Fri Jun 5 … Murray County Speedway, Slayton, MN (winner: Al Hejna)
Tue Jun 16 … Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, SD ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jun 17 … Casino Speedway, Watertown, SD ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jun 18 … Huset’s Speedway, Brandon, SD ($2,000 to win)
Sun Jun 21 … Nobles County Speedway, Worthington, MN ($2,000 to win)

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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USMTS TITLE SPONSOR: Casey’s General Stores.

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Awesome Racewear, AwesomeRaceSuits.com, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, COMP Cams, Intensitee Custom Racewear, Intercomp, Karl Chevrolet, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, New Vision Graphics, Nitroquest, PBM Performance Products, Sunoco Race Fuels.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: ASi Racewear, Bear Tire, Big Dog Chassis & Fabrication, DandyLand Farms, Day Motor Sports, Diamond Oil Company, Dirthead.com, Gressel Oil Field Service, Just Say Yes, Ramirez Race Cars, Lone Star Super Gas, Olympic Fire Protection, Ruter Farms, WatchModsLive.com, Yeager Machine.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, Hyperco, ISKY Racing Cams, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, Out-Pace Racing Products, Quarter Master, QuickTime Performance Race Parts, Real Racing Wheels, US Brake.