NASCAR STARS ADD SIZZLE TO O’REILLY USMTS EVENTS AT CRESCO, OSKALOOSA
by: Jeff Nun

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (July 22) - As the cars and stars of the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series continue to blaze a trail throughout America’s heartland this summer, fans and drivers alike can expect some added heat and some additional bright stars to light up the nights.

NASCAR stars Clint Bowyer, Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace will appear at back-to-back O’Reilly USMTS events in the Hawkeye State next week, making a stop at the Cresco (Iowa) Speedway on Tuesday, July 31, then traveling south to the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa on Wednesday, Aug. 1. At both shows, all three drivers will be signing autographs for the fans, then strapping into their own high-powered Modifieds to take on the best the division has to offer.

While they are best known for circling America’s superspeedways with the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, all three are accomplished short track racers that cut their teeth on the dirt ovals of the Midwest. They won't be looking for show up points, they'll be looking to make an appearance — in victory lane.

CLINT BOWYER: Bowyer, who turned 28 on May 30, currently pilots the #07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and the #2 BB&T Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the NASCAR Busch Series, both for Richard Childress Racing, as well as the #2 Chevrolet Silverado for Kevin Harvick Incorporated in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Bowyer captured more than 200 wins and numerous championships during his dirt track racing career. In 1996, he began racing street stocks at Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kan., and won the Modified championship there in 2000. He racked up 18 wins and 32 top-five finishes on his way to capturing the 2001 Modified track championships at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., and Heartland Park Topeka.

KEN SCHRADER: It was on the dirt tracks of the Midwest where Schrader’s career began. He started out driving mostly open-wheel cars and won in every division he raced, including two USAC championships. Schrader is a veteran second-generation racer, and currently drives the #21 Motorcraft/Little Debbie Ford Fusion for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. He appears as a television analyst on Inside Nextel Cup on the SPEED Channel, and is also the owner of Ken Schrader Racing, which fields entries for himself in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the Whelen All-American Series for Chris Bristol. Schrader is also the owner of I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo.

KENNY WALLACE: Wallace currently drives the #78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. He also works as an on-air personality for SPEED Channel on shows such as NASCAR RaceDay and NASCAR Victory Lane. He was also featured on the show NASCAR Drivers: 360 on FX. He has two brothers who are also current or former NASCAR drivers: Rusty Wallace and Mike Wallace. As a child, Wallace’s boisterous behavior earned him the nickname “Herman,” after a mischievous cartoon character named Herman the German. Earlier this season, Wallace was voted in by fans to compete in the NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Wallace has already tasted victory on dirt this season, beating O’Reilly USMTS competitor Steve Arpin at the Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., in February, and, most recently, winning a UMP Modified feature at the Peoria (Ill.) Speedway on May 23.

The rugged road warriors of the O’Reilly USMTS will be led into battle by Fertile, Iowa's Kelly Shryock as the current national points leader seeks his unprecedented ninth crown. Other drivers expected for these barnburners include Zack VanderBeek, Jason Hughes, Al Hejna, Tommy Weder Jr., Scott Green, Corey Dripps, Jon Tesch, Jason Krohn, Tommy Myer, Mike Spaulding, Dean Mahlstedt, Mark Noble, Mike Hejna, Richie Gustin Jr., Ryan Gustin, Jeff Schluetter, Donovan Lodge, Brad McEwan, Alan Mondus, Scott Vesely, Joey Schaefer, Steve Wetzstein, Brian Shaw, Brad Pinkerton, Dan Bohr and more!

TUESDAY, JULY 31 — CRESCO SPEEDWAY

The Mighty Howard County Fairgrounds speedplant will host the final event for the Yeager Machine Northeast Region and will qualify the first group of National drivers to be a part of ‘The Hunt’ for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship. In addition to the grandstands and the pits, race fans can purchase a one-of-a-kind Party Pass. For just $20 per person, drive your vehicle inside the track and watch the races from the infield! Bring your own food, drinks and grills! First come first served for infield spots. Passenger cars and trucks only. No scaffolding.

The infield opens for Party Pass fans at 4:00 p.m., as well as pit and grandstand gates. The NASCAR Driver Autograph Session will be from 5:45 to 6:30. Hot laps begin at 7:15 with a full night of racing action to follow. In addition to the O’Reilly USMTS Modifieds, the USRA Casey's General Stores Weekly Racing Series featuring USRA Stock Cars, USRA Hobby Stocks, USRA B-Mods and Outlaw Hobbys will be in action with all three classes racing for USRA national and track points.

Race day info is available by calling the track hotline at (563) 547-3400 or visit www.rlpromotions.com/cresco online. The Cresco Speedway is a 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval located 0.2 miles north of SR 9 on SW 7th (at the Howard County Fairgrounds).


WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1 - SOUTHERN IOWA SPEEDWAY


The Mahaska County Half-Mile Monster will host the first of four straight nights in the O’Reilly USMTS Central Region and will qualify the second group of National drivers to be a part of ‘The Hunt’ which begins Aug. 9.

Also on tap will be the USRA Casey's General Stores Weekly Racing Series featuring USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods and USRA Hobby Stocks, with all three classes racing for USRA national and track points. Pit and grandstand gates open at 4:00 p.m. The NASCAR Driver Autograph Session will be from 5:45 to 6:30. Hot laps begin at 7:15 with the first green flag slated to wave at 7:30.

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.

To learn more about the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters office at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online.



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USMTS TITLE SPONSOR: O’Reilly Auto Parts.

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Race Tires, AMSOIL, Arizona Sport Shirts, BRODIX, Fast Company Performance, Holley Performance Products, Home Pride Companies, Intercomp, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, Marsh Racing Wheels, Nitroquest Web Solutions, Olympic Fire Protection, Real Racing Wheels, Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar, Yeager Machine.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Boom Drilling, Borco LP, Day Motor Sports, Gressell Oil Field Services, Hughes Racing Chassis, KraftKar Race Cars, McVicker Oil Fields, Rinehart Trucking.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Belleville Motorsports, Bilstein Shocks, Boyer’s Engine Development, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, GRT Race Cars, Hawk Performance, Hyperco, Isky Racing Cams, KSE Racing Products, Quarter Master, QuickTime Performance Race Parts, Racer’s Choice (RCI).