Rancho Milagro ropes big bonus for USMTS Hunt winners

TAOS, N.M. (Jan. 13) -- Seventy-six nights of racing await USMTS drivers as the series travels to a record 44 unique dirt ovals in a dozen different states during the 2017 campaign.

Drivers in each region will race for at least $3,000 to win a one-night show, but even more is possible during The Hunt thanks to Rancho Milagro.

The "playoff" season takes place from Feb. 9 through July 22 in three geographical regions to set the stage for the Hunt for the USMTS National Championship.

Drivers qualifying for The Hunt through a single region will get a $1,000 bonus for winning a race during The Hunt (that's $4,000 to win). If you qualify through two regions, the Rancho Milagro Bonus climbs to $1,500. Qualifying through all three regions earns you a $2,000 bonus, making a win during The Hunt worth $5,000.

The USMTS Northern and Central Regions will carry a top prize of $6,000 for the points champion while the 21-race Production Jars USMTS Southern Region carries a $10,000 prize for the points champ.

Any driver finishing in the top-15 in points or with perfect attendance in a region is qualified for The Hunt which will once again pay $25,000 to the series champ. The Hunt will be a 21-race journey (not counting rain-outs) which begins Aug. 3 and crowns the 2017 USMTS National Champion on opening night of the 19th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree on Sept. 21. Every driver with perfect attendance at all Hunt races is guaranteed no less than $2,000 in points fund money.

Located in Taos, N.M., Rancho Milagro grows organic hay for dairies, operates a Mother Cow calf operation and is heavily involved in team roping. The group's main ranch is called and Top of The World Ranch and the Healy Foundation funds multiple land and water issues in the region.

The 19th season of the undisputed Best of the Best in dirt modified competition takes place over the course of 269 days and is jam-packed with a mix of ongoing classic events at staple venues and new venues that are sure to please fans of dirt modified racing.

Overall, more than $300,000 is earmarked just for the main event winners along the 2017 USMTS campaign trail, with nearly $2 million in purses and contingencies going into the pockets of the world's greatest dirt modified racers.

The 2017 campaign for the USMTS Casey's Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental will launch in February with USMTS Winter Speedweeks-a five-weekend slate of shows in Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Oklahoma.

Opening weekend for the 19th season of the Best of the Best in dirt modified racing takes place Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 9-11, at the Cotton Bowl Speedway in Paige, Texas, with a top prize of $2,000 Thursday, $3,000 Friday and $4,000 to win on Saturday.

Another Lone Star State tripleheader takes place the following weekend at the Shady Oaks Speedway in Goliad, Feb. 16-18. After that, the series treks into Mississippi for the first time at the Jackson Motor Speedway in Byram on Friday, Feb. 24; Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian on Saturday, Feb. 25; and Greenville Speedway on Sunday, Feb. 26.

The Ark-La-Tex Speedway in Vivian, La., hosts the 6th Annual Cajun Clash, March 2-4, and the five-week grind wraps up March 9-11 at the Southern Oklahoma Speedway in Ardmore.

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. Keep up to speed with everything USMTS by joining our email list at www.usmts.com/subscribe.

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USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: Alpinestars, 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 Bank, MSD, RacerWebsite.com, RacinDirt.com, RacingJunk.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, Rancho Milagro, 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, 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