Mississippi tripleheader on tap for USMTS


BYRAM, Miss. (March 4)--The 9th Annual Summit USMTS Winter Speedweeks presented by MSD Performance continues this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 9-11, when the USMTS invades three of the fastest dirt tracks in Mississippi for a two-fer featuring the Summit USMTS Southern Series and USMTS Hunt for the Casey's Cup.

The titanic tripleheader gets started Friday at the historic Jackson Motor Speedway in Byram where Cade Dillard notched the victory last season to kick off the series' swing through the Magnolia State.

The pit gate opens at 4 p.m. and spectator gates open at 5:30. Hot laps start around 7 with racing at 7:30. Adult grandstand tickets are $20, seniors and members of the armed forces get in for $16, kids ages 7-12 are $10 and children ages 6 and under are free. Pit passes are $35 for big kids, $20 for little kids ages 7-12 and free for children ages 6 and under.

Support classes will be NeSmith Crate Late Models, NeSmith 602 Sportsmans and Factory Stocks. The track will also host a test 'n' tune session on Thursday, March 8, with gates open at 5:30 p.m. and practice from 7-10 p.m.

The Jackson Motor Speedway is a semi-banked 1/4-mile dirt oval located south of Jackson on I-55 to exit 85 (Byram), then 0.7 mile east on Siwel Rd. to Old Byram Rd., then 0.4 mile north, then east (5448 Old Byram Rd., Byram, MS 39272). For more information call (601) 373-0076 or check out the track's website at www.jacksonmotorspeedway.net. You can also like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jacksonmotorspeedway, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jmspeedway and see them on Instagram at www.instagram.com/jacksonmotorspeedway.

Cade Dillard captured last year's inaugural visit to the Jackson Motor Speedway, as well as the following night at the Whynot Motorsports Park where the series will return on Saturday, March 10, as the touring titans of the USMTS bring the boom to the "House of Hook" in Meridian with six racing divisions on tap.

NeSmith Crate Late Models, NeSmith Late Model Sportsmans, NeSmith Street Stocks, Factory Stocks and Hot Shots round out the program with pit gates opening at 1 p.m., grandstands open at 3, hot lap at 6 and racing at 6:30.

Adults are $20 to get in the grandstands, kids age 6-12 are $10. Pit passes are $35 for adults, $15 for kids ages 6-12. Children 5 and under get in for free on both sides of the fence.

The Whynot Motorsports Park is a semi-banked 3/10-mile dirt oval located at the intersection of JW Reynolds Rd. and Old Hwy. 19 Southeast (4773 JW Reynolds Rd., Meridian, MS 39301). For questions please call Phillip Hathcock at (205) 965-3070 or Rodney Wing at (601) 527-0084. The track's website can be found at www.whynotmotorsportspark.com. You can also like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/whynotmotorsportspark, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Whynotracing1 and see them on Instagram at www.instagram.com/whynot_motorsports_park.

The action reaches a boiling point on Sunday, March 11, as the meanest machines in America make their maiden voyage to the legendary Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus for a wheel-to-wheel showdown at "The Mag" with four classes in action including 604 Crate Late Models, 602 Crate Late Models and Factory Stocks.

The pit gate opens at 1 p.m. and spectator gates open at 3. Hot laps start at 4:45 and the green flag waves at 5:15. Grandstand tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and military, $10 for juniors ages 11-16 and kids ages 10 and under are free.

The Magnolia Motor Speedway is a 3/8-mile dirt oval located near the intersection of US 82 and US 45 (take the Macon/Meridian exit off US 82). The track's website is www.magnoliadirt.com.

For fans unable to attend the action in person this weekend, all three shows-including every lap of every division-will be broadcast live on www.RacinDirt.com.

While this weekend marks the first events of the season for the USMTS Hunt for the Casey's Cup national series, three races are complete in the Summit USMTS Southern Series. On the strength of his back-to-back victories at the South Texas Speedway in Corpus Christi, Johnny Scott is the points leader over Dillard by 11 markers (288 to 277).

Rookie Ethan Dotson, who notched his career-first USMTS win on Friday at the Kennedale Speedway Park, is third with 268 points, followed by two-time USMTS national champion Rodney Sanders (248) and "Big Daddy" Joe Duvall (235). The rest of the top 10 spot belong to Jon Mitchell (235), Zane Ferrell (223), Carlos Ahumada Jr. (218), Bryan Rowland (216) and Logan Robertson (204).

In the Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year points, Dotson leads Ferrell by 45 points (268 to 223). Ahumada is third with 218, Bo Day sits fourth with 188 points and Manuel Williams II is fifth with 184.

Drivers can get rules, entry forms and more at www.usmts.com/downloads.

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, Chevrolet Performance, CP-Carrillo, Deatherage Opticians, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, Intercomp, Jerovetz Motorsports Racing Parts, KSE Racing Products, Leaf Racewear & Safety Equipment, Malvern Bank, Mesilla Valley Transportation, MSD Performance, Nitroquest Media, Pace Performance, RacinDirt.com, S&S Fishing & Rental, Summit Racing Equipment, VP Racing Fuels.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Arizona Sport Shirts, ASi Racewear, Boubin Tire & Automotive, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Duvall Electric, Eagle Moon Farm, ElbowsUp.com, Evolution Powersports, Oreo Cookies, PBM Performance Products, Production Jars, Rancho Milagro Racing, River's Edge Scrap Management, Snickers, Spike Hardcore Energy, Top of the World Ranch, YouDirt.com.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: 905 Ink, AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Alpine Stars, Beyea Custom Headers, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, BSB Manufacturing, Edelbrock, FK Rod Ends, Forty9 Designs, Genesis Racing Shocks, GRT Race Cars, Holley Performance Products, Hooker Harness, Integra Shocks & Springs, Keyser Manufacturing, Maxima Racing Oils, Mr. Gasket, Out-Pace Racing Products, QA1, RacerWebsite.com, Real Racing Wheels, RHRSwag.com, Simpson Performance Products, Swift Springs, Sybesma Graphics, Tire Demon, Wehrs Machine & Race Products, Wilwood Disc Brakes.