USMTS readies for stacked spring swing

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (April 15)-One week from today, the United States Modified Touring Series returns to action for a three-day swing to kick off more than twenty nights of racing between now and Memorial Day.

After 20 days off since the checkered flag dropped and Zack VanderBeek was crowned the sixth King of America, the stars of the USMTS Casey's Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental are getting set for six straight weekends of intense racing.

The party gets started at the Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., on Friday, April 22, to kick off a three-race weekend that will also see the bad boys with fast toys invade the Randolph County Raceway in Moberly, Mo., on Saturday, April 23, and then a first-ever trip to the Atchison County Raceway in Atchison, Kan., on Sunday, April 24, for a high-horsepower "cage match."

All three events will award $3,000 to the main event winner and valuable points in the MSD Central Region presented by Day Motor Sports.

With just one race complete in the region, Jason Hughes holds a slim points lead over Ryan Gustin and newly-crowned King VanderBeek, with Hunter Marriott and Daniel Hilsabeck rounding out the top five.

The 5th Annual Tompkins Industries Rumble on the River's Edge at the Lakeside Speedway will put the spotlight not only on the USMTS Modifieds but the Iron Man Challenge featuring Holley USRA Stock Cars and Out-Pace USRA B-Mods will also be in action, along with Grand Nationals and Factory Stocks.

Pits open at 4:30, spectator gates open at 5, hot laps start at 7 and racing begins at 7:30. General admission seating is $20 for adults, $15 for kids ages 7-12. Terrace admission is $25 for adults, $8 for kids ages 7-12. Suites are available on a limited basis at $25 for adults and $10 for kids ages 12 and under. Children ages 6 and under get in for free and pit passes are $35 for all ages.

Terry Phillips and Rodney Sanders have each won three of the last six USMTs races at the historic half-mile dirt oval. Jeremy Payne also has three career wins while Phillips leads all with four overall to his credit. Ryan Gustin, Nic Bidinger and Matt Dotson each have one win here.

Fans can save $2 off admission by picking up a commemorative discount coupon at Casey's General Stores locations in Leavenworth, Lenexa, Platte City and Shawnee. To find the location nearest you, visit www.caseys.com.

The Lakeside Speedway is located 1.0 mile west of I-435 (exit 18) on SR 5 (northwest of Kansas City). For more information, call (913) 299-9206 or visit www.lakesidespeedway.net.

On Saturday, the Randolph County Raceway hosts the 6th Annual Sydenstricker Farm & Lawn Shootout to mark the second year in a row that the USMTS will invade the high banks in Moberly, Mo.

VanderBeek, Jon Tesch, Michael Long, Jason Hughes and Jason Krohn have all tasted victory on the high banks, along with Jesse Sobbing who captured his career-first USMTS win here last year.

Fresh off of an opening night USRA Modified victory, defending track champion Robbie Reed will put his vast knowledge of his home track to good use as he will have a full field of top notch competition.

Also on the night's racing card will be the Iron Man Challenge for Out-Pace USRA B-Mods, ULMA late Models, Macon Coca Cola 4-Cylinders and Claypoole Construction Hobby Stocks.

Happy hour runs from 5-6 p.m. with all Coca-Cola products, hot dogs and Bud products just $1 each (no beer bucket specials until after 6). So come early, get your favorite seat and enjoy happy hour before the nation's best dirt track drivers buckle in to put on one awesome night of racing action.

Gates open at 5, hot laps are at 6:15 and racing starts at 7. General admission is $20, kids ages 6-13 are $10 and children 5 and under get in for free.

Fans can pick up $2-off discount coupon at Casey's General Stores locations in Higbee, Madison, Moberly and Paris. To find the location nearest you, visit www.caseys.com.

The Randolph County Raceway is located 3.5 miles east of US 63 on US 24 (5 miles east of Moberly). For more information, call (660) 651-8599 or check out www.randolphcountyraceway.com on the World Wide Web.

Then on Sunday, April 24, the series makes its debut at the exciting Atchison County Raceway in Atchison, Kan., for the inaugural USMTS "Cage Match" with pit gates opening at 3 p.m., grandstands opening at 4:30, hot laps at 6:45 and the first heat race at 7.

General admission tickets are $20 for adults, youth ages 6-12 are $5 and children 5 and under are free. Pit passes are $35. Fans can pick up $2-off discount coupon at Casey's General Stores locations in Atchison, Highland, Platte City, St. Joseph and Wathena. To find the location nearest you, visit www.caseys.com.

For the third straight night, the Iron Man Challenge featuring Out-Pace USRA B-Mods will share the spotlight.

The Atchison County Raceway is located 2.0 miles north of Atchison on Sedgewick Rd. (past 302nd St.). For more information, call (913) 370-2520 and see www.acraceway.com online.

MSD Central Region Points:
1. 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla. ... 103 (1 win)
2. 19R Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa ... 95
3. 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa ... 91
4. 62 Hunter Marriott, Brookfield, Mo. ... 87
5. 22D Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa ... 84
6. 5 Todd Shute, Des Moines, Iowa ... 81
7. 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas ... 78
8. 52 Jason Thoennes, Garfield, Minn. ... 76
9. 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo. ... 74
10. 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La. ... 70
11. 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla. ... 68
12. 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla. ... 66
13. 37 Mike Jergens, Plover, Iowa ... 64
14. 99 Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa ... 62
15. 49jr Jake Timm, Winona, Minn. ... 58

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit www.usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944. You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usmts, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usmts and Instagram at www.instagram.com/usmts or subscribe to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usmtstv.

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USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Argo Manufacturing, Casey's General Stores, Chix Gear Racewear, COMP Cams, CP-Carrillo, Day Motor Sports, Deatherage Opticians, Fast Shafts, Intercomp, Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Service, Kevko Oil Pans & Components, KSE Racing Products, Leaf Racewear & Safety Equipment, Malvern Trust & Savings Bank, MSD, RacerWebsite.com, RacinDirt.com, RealTruck.com, S&S Fishing & Rental, The Joie of Seating, VP Racing Fuels.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: AMP Energy Drink, Arizona Sport Shirts, ASi Racewear, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Duvall Electric, ElbowsUp.com, Erson Cams, I-29 Trailer Sales, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Oreo, Production Jars, Rivers Edge Scrap Management, Snickers, Sour Patch Kids, YouDirt.com.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Bell Helmets, Beyea Custom Headers, BSB Manufacturing, Driven Racing Oil, Edelbrock, Eibach Springs, FK Rod Ends, Forty9 Designs, Fuel Safe Racing Cells, Genesis Racing Shocks, GRT Race Cars, Holley Performance Products, Hooker Custom Harness, Integra Shocks & Springs, Keyser Manufacturing, Midwest Sheet Metal, Out-Pace Racing Products, PBM Performance Products, QA1 Precision Products, Quarter Master, Real Racing Wheels, Sybesma Graphics, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Engineering.

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Contact Info:
Jeff Nun
Communications Director
United States Modified Touring Series, Inc. (USMTS)
1715 W. 2nd St., P.O. Box 905
Webster City, IA 50595
Tel: 515-297-3835