16TH ANNUAL MUSCO LIGHTING FALL CHALLENGE SET FOR SEPT. 14-15 AT OSKALOOSA
by: Jeff Nun

OSKALOOSA, Iowa (Sept. 11) - Residents of Oskaloosa, Iowa, won't be hearing the roar of engines on Wednesday nights until the Spring of 2008, but one more wild weekend of action remains at the Southern Iowa Speedway as drivers and fans flock to half-mile clay oval for the 16th Annual MUSCO Lighting Fall Challenge on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 14-15.

Featuring USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods and USRA Hobby Stocks both nights, the traditional curtain-closer is a big-money, big-action mainstay at the Mahaska County Half-Mile Monster … and this year's edition promises to be more of the same!

The action kicks off on Friday night with a complete program of qualifying heats and preliminary features for all four classes. Saturday night's event will feature qualifying heats, last-chance races and the championship features in all four divisions.

All cars will draw on Friday and Saturday night for starting position. Modifieds will re-draw each night with a complete show. The top-6 finishers in Friday's Hobby Stock, Stock Car and B-Mod features will be locked into Saturday’s main event. Drivers will redraw for starting positions for the Saturday championship features.

Modifieds will race for $1,000 to win on Friday and $2,000 to win on Saturday. Stock Cars battle for $500 to win Friday with a top prize of $1,000 on Saturday. Friday night's B-Mod feature will pay the winner $200, with Saturday's winner getting $500. Hobby Stock drivers will race for $250 to win on Friday and a $500 first-place paycheck on Saturday night.

On Friday, pit gates open at 4 p.m., grandstands open for general admission seating at 5:30, hot laps are at 7 and racing begins at 7:30. On Saturday, pit gates open at 4 p.m. with grandstand gates swinging open at 5, hot laps at 6 and the first green flag waving at 6:30. Adult general admission grandstand tickets are $12 on Friday and just $15 Saturday. Juniors (12-18) and seniors (62+) get in for $10 Friday, $12 Saturday. Kids 11 and under get in for free both days. Pit passes are $25 each night.

Defending champions of the MUSCO Lighting Fall Challenge are Zack VanderBeek (Modifieds and Stock Cars), Matt Lettow (B-Mods) and Nathan Wood (Hobby Stocks).

This event is sanctioned by the United States Racing Association (USRA). USRA national points will be awarded each night to USRA-licensed drivers, however, a USRA license is not required to compete in this event. For Modifieds, Stock Cars and B-Mods, American Racer KK704 or G60 racing tires are preferred. The Hoosier G60 tire will also be allowed, but no USRA points will be awarded. For complete rules go to www.rlpromotions.com/oskaloosa  and click on the Classes link.

Entry fees postmarked by September 11, 2007, are $30 for Hobby Stocks and B-Mods, $50 for Stock Cars and $100 for Modifieds. At the track on race day, Hobby Stocks and B-Mods are $50, Stock Cars $75 and Modifieds are $150. Entry forms are available by calling 515-832-6000 or online at www.rlpromotions.com/oskaloosa/fallchallenge.doc .



FRIDAY PAYOUTS:

Modifieds - $1000, $700, $500, $400, $350, $300, $250, $200, $175, $150, $125, $100, $90, $85, $85, $80, $80, $75, $75, $75, $75, $75, $75, $75.

Stock Cars - $500, $400, $300, $250, $200, $175, $150, $125, $100, $90, $80, $75, $75, $70, $70, $65, $65, $60, $60, $55, $55, $50, $50, $50.

B-Mods - $200, $150, $110, $100, $80, $70, $65, $60, $55, $50, $45, $45, $40, $40, $35, $35, $35, $35, $35, $35, $35, $35, $35, $35.

Hobby Stocks - $250, $200, $175, $150, $125, $100, $90, $80, $75, $70, $65, $60, $55, $50, $50, $45, $45, $40, $40, $40, $40, $40, $40, $40.



SATURDAY PAYOUTS:

Modifieds - $2000, $1200, $800, $600, $500, $450, $400, $350, $300, $250, $200, $180, $160, $150, $150, $150, $150, $150, $150, $150, $150, $150, $150, $150. Tow $100.

Stock Cars - $1000, $800, $600, $500, $400, $300, $250, $200, $175, $150, $140, $130, $120, $110, $100, $90, $80, $75, $75, $75, $75, $75, $75, $75. Tow $75.

B-Mods - $500, $350, $250, $200, $175, $150, $125, $100, $90, $80, $75, $70, $65, $65, $60, $60, $55, $55, $50, $50, $50, $50, $50, $50. Tow $50.

Hobby Stocks - $500, $400, $300, $200, $175, $150, $130, $120, $110, $105, $100, $90, $80, $75, $75, $70, $70, $65, $65, $60, $60, $55, $55, $50. Tow $50.

Drivers must race both nights to be eligible for the Saturday payouts. Drivers only racing on Saturday night will race for the Friday purse. Must race both days to receive tow money. Tow money is based on winnings.

For more information call the Southern Iowa Speedway office at 515-832-6000. The Southern Iowa Speedway is a half-mile semi-banked clay oval located 0.5 mile west of US 63 on SR 92, then four blocks north on N. I St. (at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds). For day-of-race information, call the track hotline at (507) 634-4281 or visit www.rlpromotions.com/oskaloosa online. For more information about the USRA, visit www.usraracing.com.