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Countdown to The Hunt: Algona, Cresco, Jackson, Slayton in USMTS crosshairs Aug. 3-6

ALGONA, Iowa (Aug. 2) – Two regional champions will be determined and the class of 2010 field will be set for The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship after the United States Modified Touring Series invades four tracks in Iowa and Minnesota this Tuesday-Friday, Aug. 3-6.

Among the drivers pre-entered or expected to be on hand for the intense final tune-up before The Hunt are Ryan Gustin, Kelly Shryock, Colt Mather, Corey Dripps, Al Hejna, Jon Tesch, Dereck Ramirez, Zack VanderBeek, Tim Donlinger, Doug Hillson, Steve Wetzstein, Tommy Myer, Jason Krohn, Nick Deal, Mark Elliott, Ryan Ruter, Ryan Peckham, Mike Albertsen, Mark Dotson, Bumper Jones, Chris Spieker, Steve Holzkamper, Mike Hansen, Chase Junghans, Kevin Pittman, Jeff Schluetter, Ryan Dolan, Michael Long, Mike Jergens, Mike Steensma, Jim Mathieson and more.

All four events will pay $2,000 to the winner of the USMTS Modified main event.

Each blockbuster event also features the exciting Dart Iron Man Challenge for USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars racing for $1,000 to win each night, plus B-Mods and Hobby Stocks. Drivers in each class will be battling for national points in the American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 3 – ALGONA RACEWAY (ALGONA, IA)

On Tuesday, Aug. 3, the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour kicks off the annual Kossuth County Fair with a return to the Algona Raceway in Algona, Iowa, for the first time since Johnny Bone Jr. won a thriller there on Aug. 5, 2004.

The much-anticipated show will award points in the Farm Boy BBQ Sauce Central States Region presented by Arnold Motor Supply where Gustin is the points leader over Shryock, Mather, Dripps and Hejna.

Gates open at 5:00 with hot laps at 6:45 and racing at 7:00.

On race day, fans can pick up coupons worth $2 off adult admission at both Casey’s General Stores locations in Algona. Check out www.caseys.com for more information or to find the location nearest you.

The Algona Raceway is a 4/10-mile semi-banked dirt oval located on the south edge of Algona on US 169 (at the Kossuth County Fairgrounds). The track's website can be found at www.algonaraceway.com.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4 – CRESCO SPEEDWAY (CRESCO, IA)

The Cresco Speedway in Cresco, Iowa, will welcome back the USMTS dirt merchants on Wednesday, Aug. 4, for the 6th Annual Kabrick Distributing Cresco Bowl  - the final event in the Farm Boy BBQ Sauce Central States Region presented by Arnold Motor Supply.

Kelly Shryock has been dominant at Cresco over the years. Mike Spaulding won the first USMTS race at the Mighty Howard County Fairgrounds in 2002, but since then Shryock has captured eight of the 14 checkered flags.

Al Hejna and Jason Krohn are both two-time winners at Cresco, while Alan Mondus and Zack VanderBeek join Spaulding with one win apiece.

Gates open at 5:00, hot laps start at 6:45 and the first green flag waves at 7:00.

On race day, fans can pick up coupons worth $2 off adult admission at Casey’s General Stores locations in Cresco, Decorah, New Hampton, Ossian, Riceville. Check out www.caseys.com for more information or to find the location nearest you.

The Cresco Speedway is a 4/10-mile semi-banked clay oval located 0.2 miles north of SR 9 on SW 7th (at the Howard County Fairgrounds). Day-of-the-race info is available by calling the track office at 563-547-3400. The Cresco Speedway is online at www.mhcfair.com/speedway.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 5 – JACKSON SPEEDWAY (JACKSON, MN)

The Jackson Speedway in Jackson, Minn., is back on the calendar after a four-year absence. The USMTS Modifieds will take to the half-mile oval on Thursday, Aug. 5, for a Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region points race.

The USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour has competed five times on the big half-mile fairgrounds oval, but just two different drivers have tasted victory at Jackson.

Kelly Shryock won the inaugural event on June 3, 2003, while Tommy Myer won two months later that same year. Myer also won in 2004 but Shryock came back to win the main events in 2005 and 2006.

The way the points shake out will determine who gets qualified for The Hunt from the Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region, but the regional champ won’t be officially decided until Sept. 5 at the Kasson Speedway when the rain-shortened event from July 14 is completed prior to a full program that night.

Gates will open at 5:00 for grandstand seating and hot laps will commence at 6:45. The first heat race is scheduled to take to the track at 7:00.

On race day, fans can pick up coupons worth $2 off adult admission at Casey’s General Stores locations in Estherville (Iowa), Jackson, Spirit Lake (Iowa) and Windom. Check out www.caseys.com for more information or to find the location nearest you.

The Jackson Speedway is a 1/2-mile semi-banked gumbo clay oval located 0.25 mile south of I-90 (exit 73) on US 71, then 1 mile east on CR 38, then 1 mile south on CR 51 (at the Jackson County Fairgrounds). Race day information is available by calling the track hotline at 507-841-1957 and the track’s online home is at www.jacksonspeedway.com on the World Wide Web.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 6 – MURRAY COUNTY SPEEDWAY (SLAYTON, MN)

The Dart Great Plains Region presented by Allstar Performance will crown a champion and advance another batch of competitors into The Hunt with the region’s final race on Friday, Aug. 6, at the Murray County Speedway in Slayton, Minn., for the 7th Annual Minnesota Summer Challenge.

This will be the 13th time the tireless USMTS touring titans have invaded “Slaytona” and, once again, Kelly Shryock leads the all-time win list with four victories – all coming in back-to-back seasons from 2005 to 2007, including twice in 2006.

Tim Donlinger was the first driver to capture a USMTS feature at the Murray County Speedway on May 24, 2002, and he won again in 2008 en route to winning the USMTS National Championship later that year.

Tommy Myer is also a two-time winner at MCS while Scott Drake, Jon Tesch, Mike Sorensen and defending event winner Al Hejna have each tasted victory one time.

Gates open at 5:00, hot laps begin at 6:45 and the green flag is unfurled at 7:00.

Race fans can pick up $2-off coupons on Friday at Casey’s General Stores locations in Fulda and Tracy. Check out www.caseys.com for more information or to find the location nearest you.

The Murray County Speedway is located on the west side of Slayton on SR 30, then 0.8 mile south on Juniper Ave. For more information, call the track hotline at 507-393-3075 or visit www.murraycountyspeedway.net online.

USMTS CASEY’S GENERAL STORES NATIONAL TOUR
POINTS STANDINGS AS OF AUG. 2, 2010

Showing all drivers with a mathematical chance of finishing among the top-10 in regional points.

Farm Boy BBQ Sauce Cenral States Region presented by Arnold Motor Supply (after 6 of 8 events):
1. 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, IA ... 570 (4 wins) *
2. 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, IA ... 548 *
3. 8 Colt Mather, Webster, IA ... 464
4. 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, IA ... 458 (1 win)
5. 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, IA ... 440
6. 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, IA ... 418
7. 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, MN ... 408
8. 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, MN ... 405
9. 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, NM ... 384
9. 55d Nick Deal, Walnut, IA ... 384
11. 12 Mark Elliott, Webster City,, IA ... 355
12. 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, TX ... 353
13. 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, IA ... 342
14. 11 Ryan Peckham, Corning, IA ... 317
15. Z3 Mike Albertsen, Audubon, IA ... 305
16. 85d Mark Dotson, Cameron, MO ... 294
17. 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, NM ... 287
18. 56 Chris Spieker, Massena, IA ... 281
19. 5 Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, AR ... 275
20. 12h Mike Hansen, Alton, IA ... 262
21. 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, KS ... 251
22. 26p Kevin Pittman, Waterloo, IA ... 238
23. 35 Jeff Schluetter, New Hampton, IA ... 176
24. 7 Ryan Dolan, Lisbon, IA ... 161
25. 18L Michael Long, Quincy, IL ... 159
26. 37 Mike Jergens, Plover, IA ... 138
Other winners: Mike Steensma, Luverne, MN (1 win)

Dart Great Plains Region presented by Allstar Performance (after 8 of 9 events):
1. 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, IA ... 809 (5 wins) *
2. 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, IA ... 747 (1 win) *
3. 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, SD ... 707 *
4. 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, OK ... 584 *
5. 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, IA ... 572 *
6. 12h Mike Hansen, Alton, IA ... 556 *
7. 10 Mike Steensma, Luverne, MN ... 548 *
8. 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, KS ... 509
9. 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, MN ... 462 (1 win)
10. M80 Jim Mathieson, Sioux City, IA ... 415
11. 99 Jason Grimes, Jamestown, ND ... 394
12. 37 Scott Ward, Watertown, SD ... 351
13. 24s  Mike  Stearns , Hecla , SD  ... 275
Other winners: Ken Schrader, Concord, NC (1 win)

Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region (after 9 of 10 events):
1. 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, IA ... 901 (1 win) *
2. 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, MN ... 889 (4 wins) *
3. 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, MN ... 869 (2 wins) *
4. 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, IA ... 862 *
5. 3d Tim Donlinger, Rochester, MN ... 820 (1 win) *
6. 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, SD ... 800 *
7. 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, IA ... 710
8. 72 Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, MN ... 696 (1 win)
9. 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, OK ... 678
10. 90 Steve Wetzstein, West Concord, MN ... 647
11. 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, IA ... 596
12. 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, KS ... 567

* = clinched top-10 finish in regional points.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit www.usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944. You can also follow the USMTS on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and YouTube.

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USMTS TITLE SPONSORS: Casey’s General Stores, Castle Rock Recruiting.

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, AwesomeRacesuits.com, GoPro, Intercomp, Karl Chevrolet, Kevko Oil Pans & Components, New Vision Graphics, Nitroquest, RACEceiver.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Allstar Performance, Arnold Motor Supply, ASi Racewear, Bad Boy Mowers, Bear Tire, Big Dog Chassis & Fabrication, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Cagle Motorsports, Centex Motorsports, DandyLand Farms, Day Motor Sports, Dirt Track Racing School, Dirthead.com, DirtKnights.com, Falcon Wind Power, Farm Boy BBQ Sauce, Gressel Oil Field Service, Intensitee Custom Racewear, Just Say Yes, Karl Performance Parts, Olympic Fire Protection, Ramirez Race Cars, Ruter Farms, WIX Filters, Yeager Machine.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Ai-Racing, Belleville Motorsports, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, COMP Cams, Dart Machinery, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, Forty9Designs.com, GRT Race Cars, Hooker Harness, Hypercoil Springs, Isky Racing Cams, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, Out-Pace Racing Products, PBM Performance Products, Quarter Master, QuickTime Inc, Real Racing Wheels, RHS – Racing Head Service, Schoenfeld Headers, US Brake, Willy’s Carburetor & Dyno Shop, WIX Filters.