Countdown to the Hunt (10 events):
Thu Jul 23 … Fayette County Speedway, West Union, IA ($2,000 to win) - Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region
Fri Jul 24 … Elko Speedway, Elko, MN ($2,000 to win) - Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region
Sat Jul 25 … Elko Speedway, Elko, MN ($3,000 to win) - Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region
Sun Jul 26 … Nobles County Speedway, Worthington, MN ($2,000 to win) - Great Plains Region
Mon Aug 3 … Mineral City Speedway, Fort Dodge, IA ($2,000 to win) - Central States Region
Tue Aug 4 … Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA ($2,000 to win) - Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region
Wed Aug 5 … Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA ($2,000 to win) - Central States Region
Thu Aug 6 … Knox County Fairgrounds, Knoxville, IL ($2,000 to win) - Central States Region
Fri Aug 7 … TBA
Sat Aug 8 … 24 Raceway Park, Moberly, MO ($2,000 to win) - Bear Tire Mo-Kan Region

At this point, drivers ranked among the top-10 in points in any region, plus any other driver with perfect attendance in a region, will be qualified for the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship.

Currently, Jon Tesch leads the rankings in three of the four regions, while Jason Hughes sits atop the Bear Tire Mo-Kan Region standings.

Tim Donlinger is the defending titleist in the Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region, while eight-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock captured the other three regional crowns in 2008. Donlinger went on to upset Shryock in the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship, sealing the deal with a thrilling victory on the final night of the Featherlite Fall Jamboree at the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn.

The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship will be comprised of the final 18 races of the season, with more than $300,000 in prize money up for grabs during the campaign. ’The Hunt’ will start on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the LA Raceway in La Monte, Mo., and wrap up back at Deer Creek with the 11th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 24-26, where the 2009 USMTS National Champion will be crowned.

The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship (18 events):
Tue Aug 11 … LA Raceway, La Monte, MO ($3,000 to win)
Wed Aug 12 … Monett Speedway, Monett, MO ($3,000 to win)
Thu Aug 13 … Springfield Raceway, Springfield, MO ($3,000 to win)
Fri Aug 14 … Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS ($3,000 to win)
Sat Aug 15 … Caney Valley Speedway, Caney, KS ($3,000 to win)
Thu Aug 20 … Steele County Speedway, Owatonna, MN ($3,000 to win)
Fri Aug 21 … Mississippi Thunder Speedway, Fountain City, WI ($3,000 to win)
Sat Aug 22 … Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, IA ($3,000 to win)
Wed Sep 2 … Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA ($3,000 to win)
Thu Sep 3 … Buena Vista Raceway, Alta, IA ($3,000 to win)
Fri Sep 4 … Chateau Raceway, Lansing, MN ($3,000 to win)
Sat Sep 5 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($3,000 to win)
Sun Sep 6 … Dodge County Speedway, Kasson, MN ($3,000 to win)
Fri Sep 18 … North Central Speedway, Brainerd, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sat Sep 19 … North Central Speedway, Brainerd, MN ($3,000 to win)
Thu Sep 24 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win) - 11th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree
Fri Sep 25 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($4,000 to win) - 11th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree
Sat Sep 26 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($6,000 to win) - 11th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree

The USMTS points system is used at all regional events, with the top-10 in the final standings for each of the four regions earning a spot in ’The Hunt.’ In addition, any driver who has perfect attendance in a region will also be qualified. After the completion of the regional schedule and base points have been established, the USMTS points system will be used at the remaining events to determine the 2009 USMTS National Champion.

Drivers ranked among the top-10 and/or with perfect attendance in either of the two regions in the USMTS Southern Series are also qualified to compete for the USMTS National Championship crown.

For the fans, the ’The Hunt’ serves as a “playoff” for the ultimate prize in Modified racing. While handicapping gives a slight advantage to the drivers that compete on the entire USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour circuit, any of the qualified drivers have a legitimate shot at capturing the crown.

Past USMTS National Champions include Kelly Shryock (1999-2006), Jason Krohn (2007) and Tim Donlinger (2008).

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, Fast Shafts, 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.