HUMBOLDT, Kan. -- The mud-slinging Modifieds of the USMTS National Championship Series take aim at a stellar doubleheader this Friday and Saturday, June 22-23, in the Sunflower and Show-Me States.

On Friday, the series returns to the Humboldt Speedway in Humboldt, Kan., for the first time since the King of America II Modified Nationals in March. Gates open at 5:30 with the first heat race at 8:00. Also on the racing card will be USRA B-Mods, Factory Stocks and Pure Stocks.

Saturday will find the Best of the Best in open-wheel dirt modified racing at the Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Mo. Gates open at 5:00 with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:00. Joining the USMTS Modifieds will the Iron Man Challenge for USRA B-Mods plus Vintage Cars.

Each event will pay $4,000 to win with a minimum of $300 to start ($400 for licensed drivers), and valuable points will be up for grabs in the USMTS National Championship Series which will award $30,000 to the champion at season’s end.

Defending USMTS National Champion Ryan Gustin holds a slight lead over 2010 champ Jason Hughes in the current points chase. With 10 career wins at ‘The Hummer,’ many fans will have Hughes at the top of their brackets but several other touring titans will also be favorites, including last year’s King of America winner Kelly Shryock.

Hughes also won the inaugural event at ‘The Valley’ last year while Gustin topped the main event when the USMTS Casey’s Cup Series paid a visit on April 20.

Other drivers entered or expected for this weekend’s shows include Rodney Sanders, Johnny Scott, Stormy Scott, Chase Junghans, Dereck Ramirez, Jason Krohn, Chris Brown, Zack VanderBeek, Bryan Rowland, Terry Phillips, Mike Sorensen, Rick Beebe, Austin Siebert, Jeremy Payne, Brandon Davis, Ron Keith and many more.

The USMTS touring titans can expect a stiff challenge from the local USRA Modified specialists at each venue. John Allen, Al Purkey, Chase Sigg, Scott Daniels and 2011 USRA National Champion Johnny Bone Jr. will look to defend their home turf in Humboldt while drivers such as Dean Wille, Gunner Martin, Jim Moody, Dennis Elliott and Zachary Sanders hope to keep the bulk of the prize money at home in Grain Valley.

The Humboldt Speedway is a located 0.1 mile west of US 169 at the Humboldt Exit, then 0.5 mile south, then 0.9 mile east on Georgia Rd. For more information call 620-431-2470 (office) or 620-473-3694 (track) or visit www.humboldtspeedway.com.

The Valley Speedway is a 1/3-mile semi-banked dirt oval located 0.9 mile south of I-70 (exit 24) on Main St. (Buckner-Tarnsey Rd.), then 0.4 mile east on Old US 40. For more information, call 816-229-2222 or visit www.valleyspeedway.com online.

Mufflers are requiered at the Valley Speedway event.

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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