OBERLIN, Kan. -- When the cars and stars of the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series invade the Junction Motor Speedway this weekend for the season-opening USMTS Nebraska Spring Thaw, they’ll have more to contend with than just the lightning-fast 3/8-mile clay oval.

Defending and three-time I.M.C.A. Modified National Champion David Murray Jr. will journey to the McCool Junction, Neb., facility this Friday and Saturday, March 11-12, with an eye on the $2,000 and $3,000 top prizes for each night's events.

Murray has competed in only a handful of O’Reilly USMTS events in the past with mixed results, but hopes to change his luck when he makes his first visit to "The Junction."

"We’d like to chase some of the big-dollar shows this season and make some USMTS races," said the 37-year-old veteran from Oberlin, Kan. "We’ll be at Junction this weekend, then run Mayetta (Kan.) and hopefully make some other shows too. I really like running with these guys."

Murray, who has collected 389 feature wins during his career, has already gotten his feet wet this season. Motor problems plagued his Ultimate Machine/BMS Modified while in Arizona last month, then mechanical woes and "bad racing luck" made for an unsatisfying trip to Las Cruces, N.M. this past weekend, where O’Reilly USMTS regular Jason Hughes took the top prize.

"We saw Jason in Las Cruces over the weekend, and he said he’ll be running the whole USMTS deal," Murray noted. "We might not have enough engine to run with them this weekend, but we'll do the best we can."

The upcoming battle at Junction Motor Speedway will be the first meeting between Murray and defending O’Reilly USMTS champion Kelly Shryock since the two waged a wire-to-wire war at the Boone Supernationals last September. For now, Murray holds the bragging rights after holding off Shryock and fellow O’Reilly USMTS superstar Mark Noble for the win at Boone, but a hungry field of Modified aces are expected to contend for this weekend’s USMTS Nebraska Spring Thaw and it’s anybody’s guess who will be left standing at the end of this title bout.

David Murray Jr. battles to the inside of Kelly Shryock during last year's Supernationals main event.

This weekend’s O’Reilly USMTS opener is the first of 10 events comprising Swing #1 on the 2005 slate. Last season saw more than 65 Modifieds sign in to do battle, with Shryock picking up the $2,000 paycheck on Friday night. On Saturday, Noble pocketed the $3,000 top prize.

Some of the drivers that fans can expect to see include local hot shoes Jason Friesen, Johnny "The Jet" Saathoff, Ronnie Wallace, Kevin Larkins, Steve Kosiski, Joe Kosiski, Jeff James, Brian Foote, Alan Dix, Jeff Stephens, Jay Noteboom, Tony Gregg, Reese Coffee, Jon Schwartz, Jon Thompson, Bill Flegg, Greg Metz, Jerry Warner, Roger Hadan, Don Hagan, Kurt Johnston, Stacey Wilhelm and Brant Fastnacht.

In addition to Shryock and Noble, some of the expected O’Reilly Auto Parts USMTS stars expected include Hughes, Tommy Myer, Bruce Hanford, Jeremy Payne, Craig Scott, Willy Kraft, Dean Mahlstedt, Julie McDermid, Mike Wedelstadt, Brad McEwan, Zack Vanderbeek, Mike Sorensen, Gary March, Alan Mondus, Jon Tesch, Corey Dripps, Jason Krohn, Ryan Ruter, Al Hejna, Brad Bakken, Danny Concelman and Brian Edel.

Junction Motor Speedway is located 5 miles south of I-80 (York exit) on U.S. Hwy. 81, and is a state-of-the-art facility entering it's second year of operation. The track is a fast, 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval boasting 80-foot-wide straight-aways that make for a lot of racing room for the drivers and a lot of wheel-to-wheel action for fans.

Gates will open at 4 p.m. on Friday with hot laps slated for 6:30 and racing action to follow. Friday night's O’Reilly USMTS feature winner will pocket a $2,000 paycheck. On Saturday, the O’Reilly Auto Parts USMTS will take to the track again, with the winner of the Holley A-main taking home $3,000. Gates will open at noon on Saturday with hot laps slated for 3 p.m. and racing to follow.

This is a race you won’t want to miss! For more information, contact the USMTS office by calling 515-832-7944 or email Race Director Todd Staley at todd@usmts.com. For Junction Motor Speedway information, call 402-773-5538 (ext. 9) or email P.R. Director Steve Hansen at steve@junctionmotorspeedway.com.