Regional schedules set for 2017 USMTS campaign

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (December 14) -- Seventy-six nights of racing await United States Modified Touring Series drivers and fans during the 2017 calendar year as the series travels to a record 44 unique dirt ovals in a dozen different states.

The "playoff" season takes place from February 9 through July 22 in three geographical regions to set the stage for the Hunt for the USMTS National Championships-a 21-race journey which begins August 3 and crowns the 2017 USMTS national champ on opening night of the 19th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree on September 21.

Production Jars USMTS Southern Region:
Thu Feb 9 ... Inaugural Event - Cotton Bowl Speedway, Paige, Texas ($2,000 to win)
Fri Feb 10 ... Inaugural Event - Cotton Bowl Speedway, Paige, Texas ($3,000 to win)
Sat Feb 11 ... Inaugural Event - Cotton Bowl Speedway, Paige, Texas ($4,000 to win)
Thu Feb 16 ... 3rd Annual Event - Shady Oaks Speedway, Goliad, Texas ($2,000 to win)
Fri Feb 17 ... 3rd Annual Event - Shady Oaks Speedway, Goliad, Texas ($3,000 to win)
Sat Feb 18 ... 3rd Annual Event - Shady Oaks Speedway, Goliad, Texas ($4,000 to win)
Thu Feb 23 ... Inaugural Event - Jackson Motor Speedway, Byram, Miss. ($2,000 to win)
Fri Feb 24 ... Inaugural Event - Jackson Motor Speedway, Byram, Miss. ($3,000 to win)
Sat Feb 25 ... Inaugural Event - Whynot Motorsports Park, Meridian, Miss. ($3,000 to win)
Thu Mar 2 ... 6th Annual Cajun Clash - Ark-La-Tex Speedway, Vivian, La. ($2,000 to win)
Fri Mar 3 ... 6th Annual Cajun Clash - Ark-La-Tex Speedway, Vivian, La. ($3,000 to win)
Sat Mar 4 ... 6th Annual Cajun Clash - Ark-La-Tex Speedway, Vivian, La. ($4,000 to win)
Thu Mar 9 ... 5th Annual Event - Southern Oklahoma Speedway, Ardmore, Okla. ($2,000 to win)
Fri Mar 10 ... 5th Annual Event - Southern Oklahoma Speedway, Ardmore, Okla. ($3,000 to win)
Sat Mar 11 ... 5th Annual Event - Southern Oklahoma Speedway, Ardmore, Okla. ($4,000 to win)
Thu May 4 ... 5th Annual Event - Southern Oklahoma Speedway, Ardmore, Okla. ($3,000 to win)
Fri May 5 ... TBA ($3,000 to win)
Sat May 6 ... 8th Annual Amarillo Ambush - Route 66 Motor Speedway, Amarillo, Texas ($3,000 to win)
Thu May 11 ... 3rd Annual North Texas Nationals - Superbowl Speedway, Greenville, Texas ($3,000 to win)
Fri May 12 ... 3rd Annual Event - Kennedale Speedway Park, Kennedale, Texas ($3,000 to win)
Sat May 13 ... 4th Annual Event - Lonestar Speedway, Kilgore, Texas ($3,000 to win)

USMTS Central Region:
Thu Mar 23 ... Prelude to The King - Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, Kan. ($3,000 to win)
Thu Apr 20 ... 2nd Annual Cage Match - Atchison County Raceway, Atchison, Kan. ($3,000 to win)
Fri Apr 21 ... 6th Annual Rumble on the River - Lakeside Speedway, Kansas City, Kan. ($3,000 to win)
Sat Apr 22 ... 9th Annual Missouri Meltdown - I-35 Speedway, Winston, Mo. ($3,000 to win)
Wed Jun 7 ... 6th Annual Event - 81 Speedway, Park City, Kan. ($3,000 to win)
Thu Jun 8 ... 3rd Annual Event - Caney Valley Speedway, Caney, Kan. ($3,000 to win)
Fri Jun 9 ... TBA ($3,000 to win)
Sat Jun 10 ... 7th Annual Event - Adams County Speedway, Corning, Iowa ($3,000 to win)
Tue Jul 18 ... TBA ($3,000 to win)
Wed Jul 19 ... TBA ($3,000 to win)
Fri Jul 21 ... 7th Annual Silver Dollar Nationals - I-80 Speedway, Greenwood, Neb. (Qualifying)
Sat Jul 22 ... 7th Annual Silver Dollar Nationals - I-80 Speedway, Greenwood, Neb. ($10,000 to win)

USMTS Northern Region:
Thu May 18 ... 2nd Annual Midweek Madness - Ogilvie Raceway, Ogilvie, Minn. ($3,000 to win)
Fri May 19 ... 3rd Annual Event - I-94 Speedway, Fergus Falls, Minn. ($3,000 to win)
Sun May 20 ... Inaugural Event - Devils Lake Speedway, Doynon, N.D. ($3,000 to win)
Fri May 26 ... 10th Annual Event - Mississippi Thunder Speedway, Fountain City, Wis. ($3,000 to win)
Sat May 27 ... 15th Annual Minnesota Spring Challenge - Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn. ($3,000 to win)
Sun May 28 ... 10th Annual Event - Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, Iowa ($3,000 to win)
Sun Jun 11 ... 2nd Annual Event, Mason City Motor Speedway, Mason City, Iowa ($3,000 to win)
Tue Jun 13 ... 2nd Annual Event - Brown County Speedway, Aberdeen, S.D. ($3,000 to win)
Wed Jun 14 ... TBA ($3,000 to win)
Thu Jun 15 ... Prelude to The Masters - Cedar Lake Speedway, New Richmond, Wis. ($3,000 to win)
Tue Jul 11 ... 3rd Annual Event - Luxemburg Speedway, Luxemburg, Wis. ($3,000 to win)
Wed July 12 ... Inaugural Event - 141 Speedway, Maribel, Wis. ($3,000 to win)
Thu Jul 13 ... Inaugural Event - Oshkosh SpeedZone Raceway, Oshkosh, Wis. ($3,000 to win)

The Hunt for the USMTS National Championship:
Thu Aug 3 ... 4th Annual Event - Mid-America Speedway, South Coffeyville, Okla. ($3,000 to win)
Fri Aug 4 ... 12th Annual Event - Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, Kan. ($3,000 to win)
Sat Aug 5 ... 8th Annual Lucas Slick Mist Show-Me Shootout - Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, Mo. ($3,000 to win)
Sun Aug 6 ... 11th Annual Missouri Nationals - Monett Speedway, Monett, Mo. ($3,000 to win)
Thu Aug 10 ... 3rd Annual Event - Red Cedar Speedway, Menomonie, Wis. ($3,000 to win)
Fri Aug 11 ... 3rd Annual Event - Amsoil Speedway, Superior, Wis. ($3,000 to win)
Sat Aug 12 ... 6th Annual Event - Ogilvie Raceway, Ogilvie, Minn. ($3,000 to win)
Sun Aug 13 ... 6th Annual Event - Mason City Motor Speedway, Mason City, Iowa ($3,000 to win)
Fri Aug 18 ... 5th Annual Event - Lakeside Speedway, Kansas City, Kan. ($3,000 to win)
Sat Aug 19 ... 5th Annual Event - Salina Highbanks Speedway, Pryor Creek, Okla. ($3,000 to win)
Sun Aug 20 ... 5th Annual Event - 81 Speedway, Park City, Kan. ($3,000 to win)
Wed Aug 23 ... 11th Annual Event - Hamilton County Speedway, Webster City, Iowa ($3,000 to win)
Fri Aug 25 ... 5th Annual Event - Rapid Speedway, Rock Rapids, Iowa ($3,000 to win)
Sat Aug 26 ... 8th Annual Event - Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, S.D. ($3,000 to win)
Sun Aug 27 ... 9th Annual Event - Casino Speedway, Watertown, S.D. ($3,000 to win)
Wed Aug 30 ... 2nd Annual Event - Kossuth County Speedway, Algona, Iowa ($3,000 to win)
Thu Aug 31 ... 10th Annual Summer Spectacular - Fairmont Raceway, Fairmont, Minn. ($3,000 to win)
Fri Sep 1 ... 5th Annual Event - Fayette County Speedway, West Union, Iowa ($3,000 to win)
Sat Sep 2 ... 12th Annual Labor Day Duel - Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn. ($3,000 to win)
Sun Sep 3 ... 14th Annual Cresco Bowl - Cresco Speedway, Cresco, Iowa ($3,000 to win)
Thu Sep 21 ... 19th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree - Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn. ($5,000 to win)

USMTS Gold Crown Series:
Fri Mar 24 ... King of America VII Modified Nationals - Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, Kan. (Qualifying)
Sat Mar 25 ... King of America VII Modified Nationals - Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, Kan. ($10,000 to win)
Fri Jun 16 ... Modified Masters - Cedar Lake Speedway, New Richmond, Wis. (Qualifying)
Sat Jun 17 ... Modified Masters - Cedar Lake Speedway, New Richmond, Wis. ($50,000 to win)
Fri Jul 21 ... 7th Annual Silver Dollar Nationals - I-80 Speedway, Greenwood, Neb. (Qualifying)
Sat Jul 22 ... 7th Annual Silver Dollar Nationals - I-80 Speedway, Greenwood, Neb. ($10,000 to win)
Thu Sep 21 ... 19th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree - Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn. ($5,000 to win)
Fri Sep 22 ... 19th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree - Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn. ($5,000 to win)
Sat Sep 23 ... 19th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree - Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn. ($10,000 to win)
Fri Nov 3 ... 2nd Annual Chisholm Trail Showdown - 81 Speedway, Park City, Kan. (Qualifying)
Sat Nov 4 ... 2nd Annual Chisholm Trail Showdown - 81 Speedway, Park City, Kan. (TBA)

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.

For the fourth year in a row, the season will launch in February with a flurry of three-day shows running through the end of March.

Opening weekend takes place Thursday-Saturday, February 9-11, with the inaugural event at the Cotton Bowl Speedway in Paige, Texas.

Two weeks later, the series will trek to the State of Mississippi for the first time with stops penciled in at the Jackson Motor Speedway in Byram on Thursday and Friday, February 23-24, and the Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian on Saturday, February 24.

The 6th Annual Cajun Clash takes place Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 2-4, at Gene Boyter's Ark-La-Tex Speedway in Vivian, Louisiana, followed by another tripleheader shoot-out the following weekend at the Southern Oklahoma Speedway in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

The month of March wraps up in style with the running of the $15,000-to-win King of America VII Modified Nationals, March 23-25, at the Humboldt Speedway in Humboldt, Kansas.

Several venues return to the calendar after being absent for one or more years. Kennedale Speedway Park in Kennedale, Texas, is back for the first time since 2013 on Friday, May 12, after two rain-outs the previous two tries and two wins by Johnny Scott in the two before that.

Another two-time victim of Mother Nature over the last five seasons-the Lonestar Speedway in Kilgore, Texas-looks to see the green flag for the first time since 2011 on Saturday, May 13.

On Tuesday, June 13, the USMTS returns to the Brown County Speedway in Aberdeen, South Dakota, for the first time since 2011, and a tripleheader in Wisconsin happens July 11-13 at the Luxemburg Speedway in Luxemburg, 141 Speedway in Maribel and Oshkosh SpeedZone Raceway in Oshkosh.

The Mid-America Speedway, South Coffeyville, Okla.-now under new ownership and managed by legendary racer Al Purkey-will kick off the 2017 Hunt for the USMTS Casey's Cup on Thursday, August 3.

Finally, on Wednesday, August 30, the series will make its way back to the Kossuth County Speedway in Algona, Iowa, for the first time since 2010 in a pivotal Labor Day Weekend clash during the Hunt for the USMTS National Championship.

In addition to King of America VII in March, four other high-profile big-money special events are on the list. The 19th Annual Modified Masters will take place at the Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wisconsin, on Friday and Saturday, June 16-17, where the single biggest paycheck in series history will be handed out when the winner collects a whopping $50,000.

Friday and Saturday, July 21-22, will see the USMTS join the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series once again for the 7th Annual Silver Dollar Nationals at the I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb., with a $10,000 reward awaiting the USMTS winner.

Two big shows cap the 2017 season, beginning with the 19th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minnesota, Thursday through Saturday, September 21-23, and the curtain will close with the 2nd Annual Chisholm Trail Showdown at the 81 Speedway in Park City, Kansas, on Friday and Saturday, November 3-4.

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.

This preliminary schedule is tentative and subject to change without notice. To see the full 2017 schedule, check out www.usmts.com/schedule online.

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. You can also join the USMTS email list by signing up at https://goo.gl/T2Dqdj.

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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 Trust & Savings Bank, MSD, RacerWebsite.com, RacinDirt.com, RealTruck.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, 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, Eibach Springs, 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