The most anticipated battle for the title in the 11-year history of the United States Modified Touring Series is just hours away as the quest for the crown begins on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the LA Raceway in La Monte, Mo. — the first of 18 blockbuster events that will ultimately decide the 2009 USMTS National Champion.

A record 60 drivers representing 12 different States comprise the class of 2009 title-chasers, with each competitor possessing a legitimate shot at becoming the next king of dirt Modified racing.

While the drivers participating in the 'Hunt' will be grappling for their piece of nearly $40,000 in points fund money, all entrants will lock horns on a nightly basis for a $3,000 top prize and a minimum $250 to start each main event.

With more than $400,000 in prize money up for grabs during the 18-race campaign, officials are readying for overflow pit areas and race fans can expect to see the very best of the best — the “who's who” of dirt Modified racing.

THE SCHEDULE:
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)
Fri Sep 25 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($4,000 to win)
Sat Sep 26 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($6,000 to win)

The ’Hunt’ will wrap up back at the Deer Creek Speedway with the 11th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 24-26, where the 2009 USMTS National Champion will be crowned.

Proving that any driver in the ’Hunt’ is capable of winning the title, Tim Donlinger found himself outside of the top-10 in points after the first two races of last year's championship crusade. He won the third event, but was only seventh in the rankings and still 59 markers behind the points leader. Donlinger went on to upset Shryock for the USMTS National Championship in 2008, sealing the deal with a thrilling victory on the final night of the Featherlite Fall Jamboree.

Shryock again finds himself atop the points going into the ’Hunt’ in 2009. Donlinger finds himself in a tie for 18th this time — ironically, 59 markers behind the points leader.

THE POINTS:
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock, Fertile, IA … 76
2. 14 - Jon Tesch, Watertown, SD … 72
3. 33z - Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, IA … 55
4. 4r - Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, OK … 50
5. 7 - Al Hejna, Clear Lake, IA … 43
6. 12 - Jason Hughes, Westville, OK … 40
7. 20 - Rodney Sanders, Happy, TX … 37
8. 65 - Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, MN … 35
9. 31 - Corey Dripps, Waterloo, IA … 34
9. 19r - Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, IA … 34
11. 20r - Bryan Rowland, Woodward, OK … 30
12. 12 - Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge, AR … 26
13. 2 - Grant Junghans, Manhattan, KS … 22
14. 12h - Mike Hansen, Alton, IA … 18
15. 25 - Scott Green, Derby, KS … 17
15. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, TX … 17
17. 22 - Dustin Boney, Tonganoxie, KS … 16
18. 16 - Chris Henigan, Marshall, TX … 15
18. 72 - Mike Lineberry, Fremont, NE … 15
18. 3d - Tim Donlinger, Rochester, MN … 15
18. 7 - Ryan Dolan, Lisbon, IA … 15
22. 9 - Shane Hebert, Lafayette, LA … 14
22. 14j - Jake Neal, Omaha, NE … 14
22. 18 - Jack Sullivan, Greenbrier, AR … 14
22. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt, Clear Lake, IA … 14
26. 5r - Morgan Bagley, Longview, TX … 13
27. 111 - Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, NM … 12
27. 51 - Eddie Martin, Stilwell, OK … 12
27. 02x - B.J. Robinson, Shreveport, LA … 12
27. 10 - Mike Steensma, Luverne, MN … 12
27. 66 - Dan Bohr, Decorah, IA … 12
27. 18 - Michael Long, Quincy, IL … 12
33. 05x - Garrett Durrett, Simsboro, LA … 11
33. 90 - Steve Wetzstein, West Concord, MN … 11
35. 5a - Wes Armstrong, Marshall, TX … 5
35. 57 - Jason Armstrong, Marshall, TX … 5
35. 19 - Jamie Burford, Keatchie, LA … 5
35. 52 - Chad Davis, Tulsa, OK … 5
35. 60 - William Gould, Calera, OK … 5
35. 5 - Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, AR … 5
35. 12h - Jeff Huckaby, Texarkana, TX … 5
35. 8j - Dustin Hyde, Texarkana, TX … 5
35. 18 - Chase Junghans, Manhattan, KS … 5
35. 7k - Jason Krohn, Slayton, MN … 5
35. 4m - Bobby Malchus, Red Oak, TX … 5
35. M80 - Jim Mathieson, Sioux City, IA … 5
35. 98 - Josh Reisch, Luverne, MN … 5
35. 05 - Michael Robertson, Minden, LA … 5
35. 10 - Kyle Schmidt, Farmington, AR … 5
35. 75 - Alan Sharpensteen, Amarillo, TX … 5
35. 18 - Cody Smith, Kaufman, TX … 5
35. 71k - Kevin Sustaire, Emery, TX … 5
35. 5t - Randy Timms, Wheatland, OK … 5
35. 12t - Tyler Townsend, Longview, TX … 5
35. 88 - Chad Wheeler, Muskogee, OK … 5
35. 5w - John O Whittington, Vidor, TX … 5
35. 72 - Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, MN … 5
35. 49x - Jay Poidinger, Somerset, WI … 5
35. 8 - Colt Mather, Webster, IA … 5
35. 4r - Ron Ver Beek, Oskaloosa, IA … 5

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

HOW IT WORKS: The ‘Hunt’ is comprised of the final 18 races of the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour season, with qualifying through 37 regional events and 18 USMTS Southern Series races. The USMTS points system is used at all regional events, with the top-10 in the final standings of each region earning 15 base points for first place, 14 points for second place and so forth, descending to 6 points for the 10th-place finisher in the region. In addition, each driver who attended all events in a region earns 5 bonus points. The cumulative base points earned are the points that each driver will start the ‘Hunt’ with. USMTS Southern Series drivers are also eligible. Drivers may use their best points combination from the four regions or a combination of three regions and one USMTS Southern Series region in their base points. Once the ‘Hunt’ begins, the USMTS points system will be used at the remaining 18 events to determine the 2009 USMTS National Champion.

WHY IT WORKS: Created for the fans, the ‘Hunt’ serves as a “playoff” for the USMTS National Championship. While handicapping gives a moderate advantage to the drivers that compete on the entire National Tour circuit, each of the drivers who have earned a spot in the ‘Hunt’ has a legitimate shot at capturing the USMTS National Championship.

CASEY'S CREW: Corey Dripps, Tommy Myer and Zack VanderBeek will represent Casey’s General Stores and their affiliated vendors during the ‘Hunt.’ All three members of the Casey's Crew will have special, unique theme graphics for their Modifieds, new driving suits, autograph cards and more, plus each driver will be making appearances at local Casey's General Stores locations at each event throughout the campaign. Dripps will have his #31 BC Chassis decked out in the Cheetos colors this season. Myer, who is second only to Kelly Shryock in career USMTS starts, got the nod for his #65 GRT Modified to be embellished with the Snickers brand. VanderBeek, who wore the Cheetos colors last season, will carry another Frito-Lay brand as his #33z Skyrocket Modified will have a Doritos design on it. Be sure to stop by a Casey’s location before and after the races for all your supplies and needs, and tell your fans not to forget about the $2-off coupons available on raceday at most USMTS events.

TOP DOG BONUS: Beginning with Tuesday's kick-off event at the LA Raceway, all drivers in the top-10 points of the ‘Hunt’ are guaranteed a minimum $400 against their winnings at each show. So, stay in the top-10 and you're going home with at least $400 every night. If you're absent from just one (1) race, however, the guarantee is out the window.

PROVISIONALS: Two provisional starting spots in the Sunoco "A" Main will be awarded at each event based on points in the ‘Hunt,’ plus two provisionals based on track points at the venue the Series is competing at on that night. On nights when there are 40 or fewer cars entered, 20 will qualify through the heat races and Real Racing Wheels "B" Mains, plus four provisionals to create a 24-car main event starting field. On nights when 41 or more cars check in, 22 qualifiers will be joined by two USMTS provisionals and two track provisionals to make up a 26-car starting field. Track provisionals will generally be awarded based on track points, but drawings or other means may be used at the discretion of the promoter if the track does not normally feature a Modified division.

FOUR FOR FOUR IN REGIONAL RACES: For the first time in the four-year history of utilizing the regional format and the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship, four different drivers claimed regional crowns during the 2009 season. With a runner-up finish on Saturday night at the 24 Raceway in Moberly, Mo., Zack VanderBeek secured his first regional title in the Central States Region. Jon Tesch won the Great Plains Region finale en route to capturing the crown in that region, and Jason Hughes won the Bear Tire Mo-Kan Region to go along with his points lead in the USMTS Southern Series. Kelly Shryock won the Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region to earn a measure of redemption after Tim Donlinger captured that regional points championship last season. Prior to that, Shryock had won all four regions during the first two seasons under the current format.

TESCH GOING FOR FOUR: Kelly Shryock, Jason Krohn and Tim Donlinger captured the last three USMTS National Championships, but the fastest driver out of the gates in each of those campaigns has been Jon Tesch. In 2006, Tesch claimed the 'Hunt' opener at the Upper Iowa Speedway in Decorah, Iowa, after a spirited battle with brothers Mike and Al Hejna. In 2007, he won the first race of the 'Hunt' by leading all 40 laps of the main event at the Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kan. Last year was another wire-to-wire whooping as Tesch collected the top prize after leading all 40 laps at the Midway Speedway in Lebanon, Mo. Tesch's hopes to keep his opening-event win percentage at 100 when the USMTS invades the LA Raceway on Tuesday for the fourth different opening-event venue to kick off the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship.

TUESDAY, AUG. 11 - LA RACEWAY, LA MONTE, MO.

The touring titans of the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour will battle this Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the LA Raceway in La Monte, Mo. This will be the fourth different venue to open the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship, and the first-ever 'Hunt' race staged at the LA Raceway.

When the USMTS Modifieds last visited the LA Raceway on June 26, Rodney Sanders collected his career-first win under the USMTS banner by holding off Jason Hughes over the final five laps of the caution-free 40-lapper. Last year's stop at the 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval saw eight-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock hold off Hughes to take the win. Jeremy Payne won the inaugural event at the LA Raceway in 2007, while Shryock claimed the runner-up spot and Hughes took fourth.

Gates will open at 5:00, with hot laps slated for 7:00. The green flag will wave to start the first heat race at 7:30. Also on the racing card will be local 305 Winged Sprint Cars.

Race fans can pick up $2-off coupons on Tuesday at the Casey's General Stores locations in Sedalia and Warrensburg. Race fans can meet Corey Dripps and see his new Cheetos-sponsored Modified at the Casey's General Store located at 101 W. Front St. in La Monte from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. Check out www.caseys.com for more information or to find the location nearest you.

The LA Raceway is located 3.5 miles west of SR 127 on Hwy Y. For more information, call the track hotline at 660-563-9878 or visit www.laraceway.com online.

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.