WILLIS, Texas – Drivers will end a four-month furlough this weekend as the USMTS Dirthead.com Southern Series roars back into action at the Gator Motorplex in Willis, Texas.

The TrackTek Racing Fuels Halloween Havoc will take place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 22-24, and will serve as the venue for the opening event of the Hunt for the USMTS Dirthead.com Southern Series Championship presented by Dirt Modified Magazine.

Thursday will be a test ’n’ tune practice session for all classes, with free admission to the grandstands for fans who want a sneak peek at what's in store for the weekend action. Pit gates will open at 3 p.m. with practice from 6-10 p.m.

Friday will be the opening round of the ’Hunt’ with a $2,000 top prize up for grabs. Pit gates will open at 1 p.m., with USMTS Modified hot laps at 6:45 and racing at 7:00. On Saturday, the ante gets upped with a $3,000-to-win main event capping off the evening. Pit gates open at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, grandstands open at 11:00 with USMTS Modified hot laps at 6:45 and racing at 7:00.

Past USMTS Dirthead.com Southern Series winners at the Gator Motorplex include Greg Skaggs (2007), Steve Holzkamper (2008) and Jason Hughes, who captured the main event earlier this season on May 10.

Kelly Shryock captured his ninth USMTS National Championship this season while rival Jason Hughes came up short in his bid for the crown and wound up third in the final standings.

The roles are reversed this time, however, as Hughes leads the charge to the Gator Motorplex as the points leader in the Hunt for the USMTS Dirthead.com Southern Series Championship presented by Dirt Modified Magazine, while Shryock is now the pursuer and ranked second. After finishing third and fourth in both the East and West Region points, Rodney Sanders and Steven Whiteaker Jr. come into the ’Hunt’ ranked third and fourth, respectively, while Louisiana's Shane Hebert sits fifth.

Local favorites that fans can expect to see defending their home turf are Kevin Sturgess, Bryan Vollmer, Doug Byrns, Keith Wright, Monty Locke, Alan Drewry, Steve Pugh, Derek Knowles, Kalif Sellier, Jeff Wood and others. More than 50 entries are expected for this weekend's blockbuster event.

Also competing will be USRA Southern Limited Modifieds, Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks and Pure Stocks. Support classes will begin their hot laps at 1:30 and complete their qualifying heats prior to action in the USMTS Modifieds.

For spectator comfort, bring your lawn chair or blanket to watch the races from the hill or the grandstands. Plus, during intermission kids can ride the Gator School Bus around the track for an unforgettable racing experience.

POINTS STANDINGS:
1. 12 Jason Hughes, Westville, Okla. ... 50
2. 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa ... 46
3. 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas ... 42
4. 89 Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas ... 38
5. 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La. ... 19
6. 5r Morgan Bagley, Longview, Texas ... 18
6. 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla. ... 18
8. 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla. ... 17
9. 16 Chris Henigan, Marshall, Texas ... 15
9. 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D. ... 15
11. 18 Jack Sullivan, Greenbrier, Ark. ... 14
12. 12b Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge, Ark. ... 12
12. 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M. ... 12
12. 51 Eddie Martin, Stilwell, Okla. ... 12
12. 02x B.J. Robinson, Shreveport, La. ... 12
16. 05x Garrett Durrett, Simsboro, La. ... 11
17. 57 Jason Armstrong, Marshall, Texas ... 10
17. 5a Wes Armstrong, Marshall, Texas ... 10
17. 52 Chad Davis, Tulsa, Okla. ... 10
17. 60 William Gould, Calera, Okla. ... 10
17. 4m Bobby Malchus, Red Oak, Texas ... 10
17. 10 Kyle Schmidt, Farmington, Ark. ... 10
23. 19 Jamie Burford, Keatchie, La. ... 5
23. 25 Scott Green, Derby, Kan. ... 5
23. 5 Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, Ark. ... 5
23. 12h Jeff Huckaby, Texarkana, Texas ... 5
23. 8j Dustin Hyde, Texarkana, Texas ... 5
23. 05 Michael Robertson, Minden, La. ... 5
23. 75 Alan Sharpensteen, Amarillo, Texas ... 5
23. 18 Cody Smith, Kaufman, Texas ... 5
23. 71k Kevin Sustaire, Emery, Texas ... 5
23. 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla. ... 5
23. 12t Tyler Townsend, Longview, Texas ... 5
23. 5w John O Whittington, Vidor, Texas ... 5

Drivers are reminded that mufflers are mandatory at the Gator Motorplex. Contact Day Motorsports by calling 800-543-6238 or online at www.daymotorsports.com. The Gator Motorplex also has a limited supply of auger inserts for sale at the track - call Randy at 936-856-9729 (office), 936-588-6127 (track) or 936-537-5265 (alternate) for more information and to check availability.

The Gator Motorplex is a 1/4-mile high-banked clay oval located off I-45 to Shepherd Hill (Exit 98), then east, then 1.4 miles south on SR 75. The track's official website is online at www.gatormotorplex.net or call 936-588-6127 for more information.

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, SuperFlow, 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.