Lebanon I-44 Speedway Welcomes USMTS Modifieds Saturday; UMP Late Models Tuesday
By Andrew McNaughton/Lebanon I-44 Speedway

LEBANON, MO (June 14) - The Lebanon I-44 Speedway welcomes two of the top touring series in dirt track racing in the coming days.

The excitement starts Saturday, as the United States Modified Touring Series hits the high banks of the Lebanon I-44 Speedway in a $2000 to win feature race.

Track owner Randy Mooneyham expects to have up to 40 cars competing, with USMTS favorites like Kelly Shryock, Zack VanderBeek, Al Hejna, and Greg Skaggs facing off against the top Modified drivers at the Lebanon I-44 Speedway, including last week's feature winner David Hendrix from Buckhorn, or 2006 Lebanon I-44 Speedway Modified Champion Justin Neuman.

Greg Skaggs of Bixby, Okla., gave himself the better birthday present Wednesday as the cars and stars of the O'Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series made their first appearance at the I-70 Speedway Dirt Track. Skaggs, who celebrates his 37th birthday on Thursday, swapped the lead with Kelly Shryock three times from laps 4-9, then pulled away over the remaining 31 laps to score his second O'Reilly USMTS National Event win of the season.

"The USMTS is like the World of Outlaws for Modifieds," says Mooneyham. "These guys are the cream of the crop."

Meanwhile, the UMP Late Model Summer Nationals begin Friday in Kankakee, Illinois, and the touring Late Model competition that will visit 28 tracks in the Midwest over the next 30 days, and makes an early stop at the Lebanon I-44 Speedway Tuesday night.

UMP Late Model points leader Wes Steidinger, and others like Kevin Cole, Jason Feger, and Rusty Schlenk will tangle with Lebanon I-44 Speedway favorites like Larry Jones, Dustin Mooneyham, Brandon McCormick and 2006 I-44 Speedway Late Model Champion Brad Looney.

This Saturday night at the Lebanon I-44 Speedway, come see the USMTS series for the fastest open wheel dirt track action out there. Saturday's races start at 7:30PM, and will also feature the Factory Stocks, B-Mods, Bombers and Rookies. And get ready for a special Tuesday night of racing at the high banks of the Lebanon I-44 Speedway with UMP Late Model Summer Nationals.