JEFFERSON, S.D. -- Drivers in both the USMTS National Championship Series and USMTS Casey’s Cup Series will look to make their move toward a title in 2012 with four huge events slated for this Thursday through Sunday, July 19-22.

America’s hottest ticket on dirt over a 100-hour span kicks off on Thursday, July 19, with the USMTS National Championship Series returning to Raceway Park in Jefferson, S.D., for the first time in six years.

The USMTS National Championship Series will award $30,000 to this year’s champion, and each driver’s points total is based on his/her best 20 finishes. The quest for the crown will begin to take shape Thursday when the Best of the Best in open-wheel dirt modified racing invade Raceway Park for the 20th event of the season.

In two trips to the former Interstate Speedway in 2005 and 2006, nine-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock has taken the checkered flag both times at the popular high-banked 1/4-mile oval. He’ll have his hands full in his quest for a three-peat with the likes of points leader Ryan Gustin, current points runner-up Rodney Sanders, 2010 USMTS National Champion Jason Hughes, South Dakota’s Jon Tesch and money others.

Other marquee names expected to fill the pit area are Johnny and Stormy Scott, Dereck Ramirez, Chris Brown, Chase Junghans, Zack VanderBeek, Mike Sorensen, Terry Phillips, Bryan Rowland, Rick Beebe, Jeremy Payne, Ron Keith, Austin Siebert, Ryan Ruter, Al Hejna and Corey Dripps.

In addition to the USMTS Modifieds, the Iron Man Challenge featuring USRA B-Mods will also share the racing card. Gates will open at 5 p.m., hot laps begin at 6:30 and the first heat race gets the green flag at 7 p.m.

The wheel-to-wheel action on the bullring at Raceway Park will not disappoint, so grab your family and come on out. Raceway Park is located just 10 miles north of Sioux City, Iowa. Take I-29 to exit 4, then 0.2 mile east to SR 105 then 1.7 mile north (on the west side of SR 105). For more information about the track, check out www.racewayparkinc.com online.

On Friday and Saturday, July 20-21, thousands of race fans will descend upon the I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb., for the 2nd Annual Silver Dollar Nationals. While the Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series may be getting a lot of press with their $25,000-to-win main event, the best Modified drivers in the country will share the spotlight in the biggest dirt race in Nebraska History.

Friday’s event will be a $4,000-to-win USMTS National Championship Series contest while Saturday’s show will pay $2,000 to win and will serve as the final USMTS Casey’s Cup Series race of the season. The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup begins Aug. 9, at the Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Mo. Seventeen races are on tap during ‘The Hunt’ with a $15,000 payoff awaiting the series champ.

For more information, visit www.i-80speedway.com or call the track office at 402-342-3453.

This coming quadrupleheader weekend wraps up on Sunday, July 22, for another $4,000-to-win USMTS National Championship Series blockbuster at the Nobles County Speedway in Worthington, Minn., with the exciting Iron Man Challenge featuring USRA B-Mods joining the program presented by Running Fleet & Farm. Also on tap at the 1/4–mile semi-banked dirt oval will be USRA Stock Cars and USRA Hobby Stocks racing for national points, as well as Micro-Sprint to round out the list of classes in action.

Pit gates will open at 2 p.m., grandstand gates open at 3 p.m., hot laps begin at 5:30 and racing starts at 6 p.m.

The Nobles County Speedway is located off of I-90 at Exit 43, then 0.4 mile south on SR 59, then 0.4 mile west on Oxford St., then 0.2 mile north on McMullan (Pioneer Village). For more information, call the track hotline at 507-360-3825 or check out www.noblescountyspeedway.net 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/ustmts and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usmts.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

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, Keyser Manufacturing, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, PBM Performance Products, Quarter Master, Real Racing Wheels, Tiger Rear Ends.