The mega-modifieds of the USMTS join the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series for two colossal nights of racing at the 8th Annual Imperial Tile Silver Dollar Nationals on Friday and Saturday, July 20-21.

Both divisions will compete in double qualifying heat races on Friday with a pair of 20-car qualifying features for the USMTS Modifieds that will lock in eight drivers from each into Saturday’s $8,000-to-win championship race.

Saturday will feature last-chance races for both classes of cars, culminating with an $8,000-to-win main event for the USMTS Modifieds and the $53,000-to-win Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series championship.

Tommy Myer won the first-ever USMTS race at the I-80 Speedway in 2005. The series returned in 2011 to be a part of the inaugural Silver Dollar Nationals with Kelly Shryock capturing the preliminary night feature and Jeremy Payne collecting the winner’s check on Saturday.

One year later, Jason Hughes won the Friday night feature while Terry Phillips claimed the 2nd Annual Silver Dollar Nationals trophy on Saturday. Hughes also captured a win during the USMTS Hunt for the Casey’s Cup in 2012 and another here in 2013.

Since 2013, however, nobody has been close to matching the dominance of Rodney Sanders. Since topping the preliminary night of the 3rd Annual Silver Dollar Nationals on July 19, 2013, the two-time USMTS national champ has won seven of the last nine USMTS races at the I-80 Speedway, including a clean sweep of the Silver Dollar Nationals for four straight seasons.

Last year, the Silver Dollar Nationals was just one of the several USMTS crown jewel events that saw Ryan Gustin in victory lane. For Gustin, it was his 85th career USMTS triumph but his first at the I-80 Speedway and may have cleaned up some unfinished business he had with the race track after the heartbreaker he suffered in the Late Model main event while leading in 2013.

Sanders, ironically, won his 84th career USMTS feature this past Wednesday in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and could make Saturday’s show at the Silver Dollar Nationals his 85th victory too.

Tickets and times: Adult general admission tickets are $34 on Friday and $40 on Saturday. Youth ages 6-12 are just $12 each night and children ages 5 and under get in for free both days. Pit passes are $40 on Friday and $45 on Saturday.

The pits open at noon on Friday with will call at 2 and grandstands opening at 3. On Saturday, the pits open at 3 p.m. with will call and grandstands opening at 1. The drivers meeting convenes at 6:30, hot laps begin at 7, the national anthem and invocation are at 7:25 and racing gets underway at 7:30 both nights. There will be a live band on Saturday from 2-6:45 p.m.

For those unable to be there in person, every lap of every race during the 8th Annual Imperial Tile Silver Dollar Nationals will be carried live at www.dirtondirt.com.

Made in the shade: Racers and fans alike are invited to take advantage of some awesome deals at the Oakley souvenir trailer provided by Deatherage Opticians on the grandstand midway, and any driver wanting to redeem certificates on some quality shades are encouraged to visit.

The Official Sunglasses of the United States Modified Touring Series, Deatherage Opticians is based in Wichita Falls, Texas, and was founded by dirt track racing legend Terry Deatherage in the late 1980s. The company is now owned and operated by his son, Greg Deatherage. Check out www.deatherageopticians.com to learn more.

Traffic Alert: Nebraska Highway 63 is closed just south of exit 420 off of Interstate 80. Drivers and fans coming from the south should find alternate routes. Alternate routes include coming across Church Road to Highway 63 just south of the interstate or taking Highway 50 North to Highway 66 and then coming through South Bend and getting on Interstate 80 at Mahoney State Park (exit 426).

The I-80 Speedway is located one block north of Interstate 80 at exit 420, halfway between Omaha and Lincoln. The physical address is 13909 238th St, Greenwood, NE 68366. The entrance to the track is at 13631 238th Street. For more information, visit www.i-80speedway.com or call (402)-342-3453.

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, Beyea Custom Headers, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, BSB Manufacturing, Champ Pans, 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.