SPRING VALLEY, Minn. -- The dates for the 2nd Annual World Modified Dirt Track Championship presented by Hanson Tire Service are approaching fast, and the faster that drivers get their entry forms submitted the more cash they can keep in their pocket.

Somebody is leaving the Land of 10,000 Lakes with a $20,000 paycheck on Saturday, July 28, and last year more than 100 of the world’s best open-wheel dirt modified drivers added their name to the list of one-armed bandits staking claim to the prize.

The Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., will host the second annual World Modified Dirt Track Championship presented by Hanson Tire Service on Wednesday-Saturday, July 25-28, with a whopping $20,000 going to the winner and each of the 30 main event qualifiers pocketing a minimum $1,500.

Drivers may register to qualify on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, but may also purchase a “mulligan” that allows them to attempt to qualify on Friday if their first night on Wednesday or Thursday does not turn out as hoped. The cost of a mulligan is $100, but drivers that pre-enter by June 10 will get their priceless mulligan free of charge.

The entry fee is $250 if received by June 10 (includes free mulligan). After that date, the entry fee is $300 if received on or before July 1. The entry fee is $350 if received after July 1 but on or before July 24, and the entry fee is $400 if received after July 24 or at the gate on race day.

After June 10, mulligans are an additional $100 and must be included with the completed entry form. The entry form is available for download at www.usmts.com/Documents/entry_20120725-28.pdf online.

Group time trials with a green-white-checkered format will be staged each of the three days, along with heat races and main events with drivers earning points for their performances in each. The top-6 points earners each day will earn one of 18 guaranteed starting spots in Saturday’s $20,000-to-win championship main event, with the highest overall points earner during the three days of qualifying garnering the pole for the big dance.

Saturday’s program will feature an “alphabet soup” of main events that will culminate with a 31-car starting field in the championship race. Even if a driver has some tough luck during qualifying on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, he or she still has the chance to climb the ladder of main events on Saturday to earn a spot in the finale.

The 31st starting spot will be auctioned off prior to the start of the race, with the lowest bid starting at $2,000. Of that amount, $1,500 goes to that driver for that finishing spot while all additional money raised during the auction will be spread out among the drivers finishing 10th through 30th.

Nearly $100,000 has been earmarked for Saturday’s championship main event alone, with a total purse of more than $160,000 posted for the four-day extravaganza.

This year, officials will limit the number of entries on Wednesday and Thursday to the first 50 registered drivers on a first-come, first-served basis. Drivers may register to qualify on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, but drivers qualifying on Wednesday or Thursday who purchased a mulligan will be able to qualify again on Friday if they elect to use their mulligan.

SATURDAY’S POSTED PAYOUTS

“A” MAIN: 1. $20,000, 2. $10,000, 3. $6000, 4. $4500, 5. $3500, 6. $2700, 7. $2200, 8. $2000, 9. $1800, 10. $1700, 11. $1600, 12. $1575, 13. $1550, 14. $1525, 15. $1500, 16. $1500, 17. $1500, 18. $1500, 19. $1500, 20. $1500, 21. $1500, 22. $1500, 23. $1500, 24. $1500, 25. $1500, 26. $1500, 27. $1500, 28. $1500, 29. $1500, 30. $1500, 31. $1500.

“B” MAIN: 1-12. transfer, 13. $1,000, 14. $800, 15. $700, 16. $650, 17. $600, 18. $600, 19. $600, 20. $600, 21. $600, 22. $600, 23. $600, 24. $600.

“C” MAIN: 1-10. transfer, 11. $650, 12. $600, 13. $575, 14. $550, 15. $500, 16. $500, 17. $500, 18. $500, 19. $500, 20. $500, 21. $500, 22. $500, 23. $500, 24. $500.

“D” MAIN: 1-6. transfer, 7. $450, 8. $450, 9. $450, 10. $450, 11. $450, 12. $450, 13. $450, 14. $450, 15. $450, 16. $450, 17. $450, 18. $450, 19. $450, 20. $450, 21. $450, 22. $450, 23. $450, 24. $450.

“E” MAIN: 1-6. transfer, 7. $400, 8. $400, 9. $400, 10. $400, 11. $400, 12. $400, 13. $400, 14. $400, 15. $400, 16. $400, 17. $400, 18. $400, 19. $400, 20. $400, 21. $400, 22. $400, 23. $400, 24. $400.

“F” MAIN: 1-6. transfer, 7. $375, 8. $375, 9. $375, 10. $375, 11. $375, 12. $375, 13. $375, 14. $375, 15. $375, 16. $375, 17. $375, 18. $375, 19. $375, 20. $375, 21. $375, 22. $375, 23. $375, 24. $375.

“G” MAIN: 1-6. transfer, 7. $350, 8. $350, 9. $350, 10. $350, 11. $350, 12. $350, 13. $350, 14. $350, 15. $350, 16. $350, 17. $350, 18. $350, 19. $350, 20. $350, 21. $350, 22. $350, 23. $350, 24. $350.

“H” MAIN: 1-6. transfer, 7. $350, 8. $325, 9. $300, 10. $300, 11. $300, 12. $300, 13. $300, 14. $300, 15. $300, 16. $300, 17. $300, 18. $300, 19. $300, 20. $300, 21. $300, 22. $300, 23. $300, 24. $300.

This event is sanctioned by the United States Modified Touring Series and all USMTS rules apply. No points will be awarded for this event and no license is required. Tires allowed are the American Racer KK704, IMCA-stamped Hoosier G60, Wissota Hoosier 35 or H40. The Wissota Hoosier 35 will only be permitted for licensed Wissota drivers and the racecar must be completely Wissota legal.

The Deer Creek Speedway sits on 60 acres of scenic rural rolling hills with one of America’s most popular state-of-the-art racing complexes and a busy modern campground. The 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval is located 11.3 miles south of I-90 (exit 209) on US 63 (0.7 mile north of SR 16) in Spring Valley, Minn. For more info, call toll-free 877-DCS-RACE or 507-346-2342 on raceday or visit www.deercreekspeedway.com 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 and follow us on Twitter.

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USMTS TITLE SPONSORS: Casey’s General Stores, Swan Energy.

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Awesome Race Suits, Cheetos, Dominator Race Products, Intercomp, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, New Vision Graphics, Nitroquest, RACEceiver, SLAP Energy, Snickers.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Arbor Masters, Arnold Motor Supply, ASi Racewear, Beebe Heating & Air Conditioning, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Dirthead.com, DirtKnights.com, Erson Cams, Farm Boy BBQ Sauce, Intensitee Custom Racewear, Mesilla Valley Transportation, O’Brien Enterprises, Olympic Fire Protection, Ramirez Motorsports, Road Runner Trucking, Ruter Farms, Sybesma Graphics, Yeager Machine.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AERO Race Wheels, AFCO Racing Products, Beyea Custom Headers, COMP Cams, CPD Racing Tools, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, Forty9Designs.com, Genesis Shocks, Hooker Harness, Integra Racing Shocks & Springs, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, PBM Performance Products, Quarter Master, Real Racing Wheels, Tiger Rear Ends.