by Todd Staley

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (April 8, 2002) - The United States Modified Touring Series next race will be April 19-20 at the Spoon River Speedway in Canton (Banner), IL. This will be the only visit of the season to the high banked 3/8 mile speedway for the USMTS. USMTS visited the speedway twice in 2001 with Mike Chasteen picking up both wins at the speedway. The last race at the Spoon Chasteen passed Rodney Bowman on the last lap coming out of turn four for the checkered flag in one of the most exciting races of the season for the USMTS. This year will be no different as a great field of cars is expected for the event that will pay $4000 to win the two-day show. All the local favorites will be on hand as will be the USMTS travelers.

Some of the expected drivers for this event will be: USMTS 3-time National Champion and current point leader Kelly Shryock, John Allen, Tommy Myer, Steve Holzkamper, Mike Chasteen, Dan Daniels, Klint Pursley, Mark Noble, Jason Hughes, Kevin Peters, Tim Donlinger, Corey Dripps, Jeff Leka, Mike Marlar, Jimmy Owens, Joey Kates, Luke Cochran, Todd Klees, Mike Sorensen, and Bill Yeast plus many more.

After two events Kelly Shryock has picked up both of the $3000 to win races the first being at Winston, MO and then Fayetteville, AR this last weekend. Also running on Friday and Saturday will be the Trucks, E-mods, Pro Streets, and Late Models. The first night of racing will have all classes running. The Trucks, E-mods, Pro Streets and Late Models will run heat races and a dash that will determine the Saturday feature line-up. The dash will pay the winner money.

Any new car that races on Saturday only in the support classes will start at the tail of all cars that raced on Friday. The trucks will pay $175 to win, the E-mods and Pro Streets will pay $250 to win, and the Late Models will pay $425 to win.

All classes will pay $50 to start the A-main on Saturday except the late models will pay $60.

The modified portion will have heat races, B-mains, and an A-main qualifier that will pay $500 to win on Friday. The top eight cars in Fridays main qualifier will be locked into Saturdays $4000 to win race. On Saturday modifieds will run heats, B-mains, and the 40 lap $4000 to win main event. This will be the first race of the season at the Spoon River Speedway racing will get underway on Friday with hot laps at 7pm and racing at 7:30 pm.

On Saturday hot laps will start at 6pm with racing slated for 6:30. Pre-entries for this race are due by April 14th any entries at the track will be considered late. All drivers that pre-enter are guaranteed the entry fee back.

No entry fee for support classes.

Pit passes for this race will be $25 each night. Grandstand gates will open at 5pm each night and prices for the stands are $8 for adults and $3 for kids on Friday and $12 and $3 on Saturday. For more information call the USMTS office at 515-832-7944 or Morey Denney at 309-668-2735. This race will be a south region race.