WEST UNION, Iowa – After a well-deserved three-week break, the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour will kick back into full-bore action next week as the countdown begins for The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship.

RETURN TO FAYETTE COUNTY SPEEDWAY UP NEXT

On Thursday, July 23, the action heats up with a return to the Fayette County Speedway in West Union, Iowa, for a $2,000-to-win clash in the Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region of the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour.

In the first-ever USMTS-sanctioned event there last year, Jake Neal picked up his first-ever win on a rain-saturated rough racetrack that made the drivers feel more like bull riders than race car drivers. At 18 years of age, it made Neal the second youngest winner in the ten-year history of the Series. That honor belongs to Ryan Gustin, who won the main event at the Highway 3 Raceway in Allison, Iowa, last September at the age of 17 years, 10 months and 12 days.

Chuck and Todd Ihde, who also promote the Upper Iowa Speedway in Decorah, Iowa, took over the reigns at the facility in 2009 and have transformed the racing surface. Throughout this season, some great racing action on a smooth surface has been the norm, and drivers can expect a well-prepared racetrack on Thursday night.

Pits and grandstand gates will open at 5:00, hot laps are at 6:30 and the mud starts flying around 7:00. Also on the racing card will be USRA Stocks Cars, USRA B-Mods and USRA Hobby Stocks racing for national and track points in the American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series.

Race fans can pick up $2-off discount coupons on Thursday at Casey's General Stores locations in Fredericksburg, Ossian, Maynard and Sumner.

The Fayette County Speedway is a 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval is located 0.9 mile south of US 18 on SR 150, then 0.1 mile east on SR 56 in West Union, Iowa (at the Fayette County Fairgrounds). For more information, call 563-382-0711 or visit www.fayettespeedway.com online.

ELKO SPEEDWAY’S “DIRT NATIONALS” A ONE-OF-A-KIND EVENT

Another new and exciting venue, and a one-of-a-kind event is in store for both fans and drivers on Friday and Saturday, July 24-25, as the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour invades the famed Elko Speedway in Elko, Minn., as the historic asphalt track is transformed into a dirt gridiron for the inaugural Dirt Nationals.

Friday night's main event will pay $2,000 to win while Saturday night's victor will pocket $3,000. Drivers will again be battling for points in the Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region.

Elko Speedway owner Tom Ryan, who also owns a construction company, will be bringing in several tons of black dirt to make this a must-see show. Thousands of tickets have already been pre-sold, and fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance at a discounted price.

Pits will open at 4:00 each day, with grandstand gates opening at 5:00, hot laps at 6:00 and racing at 7:00. Also appearing on the racing card both nights will be the IRA Outlaw Sprint Car Series and the INEX Legends Cars.

There will be a live band playing after the races each night as part of the weekend festivities.

The Elko Speedway is a 3/8-mile semi-banked clay (temporarily) oval located off of I-35 at Exit 76, then 1.6 miles west on CR 2, then 0.3 mile south on France Ave. in Elko, Minn. For more information, check out the track's Official Website at www.elkospeedway.com or call 952-461-7223.

Race fans can pick up $2-off discount coupons on Friday at Casey's General Stores locations in Lonsdale, New Prague and Northfield.

GREAT PLAINS REGION WRAPS UP SUNDAY AT NOBLES COUNTY SPEEDWAY

On Sunday, July 26, the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour will move back to the Nobles County Speedway in Worthington, Minn., for an event that was postponed by rain on June 21.

The racetrack is always in great shape and traditionally draws great fan support when the USMTS touring titans travel to town.

This will be the final race in the Great Plains Region, with the first group of drivers getting qualified for The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship, which begins on Aug. 11. Currently, there are 17 drivers in the Great Plains Region who can make the cut for ‘The Hunt.’

Eight-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock found victory lane when the Series last visited the Nobles County Speedway in 2007. The 2008 event was rained-out.

Pit gates open at 3:00, grandstands open at 4:30, hot laps are scheduled for 5:30 and the first heat race takes to the track at 6:00.

A full program is on tap with USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods and USRA Hobby Stocks racing for track and national points in the American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series, plus the local Sportsman division in action.

Race fans can pick up $2-off coupons on Sunday at both Casey's General Stores locations in Worthington. Check out www.caseys.com for more information or to find the Casey's General Store location nearest you.

The Nobles County Speedway is a 1/4-mile semi-banked clay oval located off of I-90 at Exit 43, then 0.4 mile south on SR 59, then 0.4 mile west on Oxford St., then 0.2 mile north on McMullan (Pioneer Village) in Worthington, Minn. For more information, call the track hotline at 507-360-3825 or check out www.noblescountyspeedway.net on the World Wide Web.

THREE MORE REGIONAL FINALES KICK OFF BUSY AUGUST

The countdown to 'The Hunt' will continue on Monday, Aug. 3, at the Mineral City Speedway in Fort Dodge, Iowa, for a Central States Region make-up for a rain-out on June 23.

From there, it’s on to the Cresco Speedway in Cresco, Iowa, on Tuesday, Aug. 4, for the Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region finale, then south through the Hawkeye State to the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa, on Wednesday night, Aug. 5.

2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Bobby Labonte, NASCAR fan favorite Kenny Wallace and Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip will be in Cresco and Oskaloosa to sign autographs and race their own high-powered USMTS Modifieds.

The USMTS steamroller treks to the Knox County Fairgrounds in Knoxville, Ill., for the 10th Annual UPS Store Illinois Challenge featuring the Ed Sheckler Memorial race on Thursday, Aug. 6.

On Saturday, Aug. 8, the Series will visit the 24 Raceway Park for the second time this season – this time to crown the Central States Region champion and advance the final group of drivers to compete in The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship.

THE HUNT FOR THE USMTS CASEY’S GENERAL STORES NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

The quest for the crown begins on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the LA Raceway in La Monte, Mo., with the first of 18 events in The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship. The Series will make it's final stop at the Deer Creek Speedway on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 24-26, for the 11th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree and the crowning of the 2009 USMTS National 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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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.