The USMTS Hunt for the Casey’s Cup powered by Summit reignites the engines this Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 12-14, when the Best of the Best in the dirt modified world invade the Canyon Speedway Park for their maiden voyage into the state of Arizona.

While most of America’s heartland has been snow blind this early spring with cancellation after cancellation, drivers and fans headed to this weekend’s “Showdown at Canyon” are in store for temperatures in the eighties and even higher decibels.

An open practice for drivers in all divisions will kick off the three nights of action on Thursday. The pits will be cleared at 5 p.m. and practice starts at 7 p.m. General admission for spectators is free. Pit passes are $20 (free for kids 11 and under).

Then on Friday and Saturday, the mud-chucking monsters of modified racing tear into the semi-banked 3/8-mile clay oval in Peoria, Ariz., for their first time in the twenty-year history of the series as they chase a $3,000 top prize both nights.

A complete show is on tap each day with Arizona Differential Northern Sport Mods, Desert Restorations Hobby Stocks, Dwarf Cars and Sport Compacts also on the card.

On Friday, spectator gates open at 5 p.m. and racing begins at 7:30. General admission is $20 for adults while seniors (60+) and members of the military get in for $15. Kids ages 11 and under are free. Pit passes are $40 for adults, $20 for kids ages 7 to 11 or free for children ages 6 and under.

Gates open at 5 p.m. on Saturday and the green flag waves at 7 p.m. General admission is $25 for adults while seniors (60+) and members of the military get in for $20. Kids ages 11 and under are free. Pit passes are $40 for adults, $20 for kids ages 7 to 11 or free for children ages 6 and under.

Originally opened on June 4, 1981, the Canyon Speedway Park has a large parking lot located directly behind the main grandstands. There is also parking for the pit area near the pit entrance, as well as a large dry camping area that is open all weekend with plenty of room for everybody.

The facility can seat around 1,600 spectators in their all-aluminum grandstands on the front straight-away with views of the entire track surface.

Tickets can be purchased the day of the race at the Canyon Speedway Park box office or advanced tickets can be purchased by calling (602) 258-7223. Cash and debit cards accepted (Visa, MasterCard, Discover).

For unfortunate souls unable to make the drive to the desert, every lap of every race in every division will be broadcast live via pay-per-view at www.racindirt.com both nights.

Cade Dillard of Robeline, La., is the current USMTS national series points leader while Dereck Ramirez of Woodward, Okla., and 2007 USMTS national champion Jason Krohn of Slayton, Minn., are close behind in second and third.

Johnny Scott of Las Cruces, N.M., sits fourth, just ahead of this year’s King of America VIII winner Lucas Schott of Chatfield, Minn. USMTS veteran Zack VanderBeek of New Sharon, Iowa, is sixth, followed by Tucson’s Jake O'Neil; Jake Timm of Winona, Minn.; Stormy Scott of Las Cruces, N.M.; and Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo.

Others expected to contend for gold in the Copper State include four-time and defending USMTS national champion Jason Hughes, two-time USMTS national champ Rodney Sanders, Arizona ace Ricky Thornton Jr., Joe "Big Daddy" Duvall, current Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year points leader Ethan Dotson, Logan Robertson, New Mexico father-and-son duo Fito and Jake Gallardo, Bumper Jones, Bryan Rowland, Adam Kates, Carlos Ahumada Jr., Chris Clark, Lance Mari, Bubba Stafford Jr., Jason Noll, Austin Kuehl, Joey Moriarty and more.

You can view the complete standings at www.usmts.com/points/caseys-cup.

The Canyon Speedway Park is located 25 miles north of Phoenix on I-17 to exit 223-B, and then 6.8 miles west on SR 74, and then 0.2 mile south on N. Lake Pleasant Pkwy., and then 0.2 mile west on W. Carefree Hwy. (9777 W Carefree Hwy, Peoria, AZ 85383). For more information, check out www.canyonspeedwaypark.com or call (602) 258-7223.

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.

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