JIMMY SPENCER ADDS EXCITEMENT TO NASCAR NIGHTS

[rebelracewriter]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, July 14, 2007

 

JIMMY SPENCER ADDS EXCITEMENT TO NASCAR NIGHTS AT CRESCO,

OSKALOOSA

 

CRESCO, Iowa (July 14) — As the cars and stars of the

O’Reilly USMTS National Tour continue to blaze a trail

throughout America’s heartland this summer, fans and

drivers alike can expect some added excitement from the

stars of NASCAR at a pair of upcoming events.

 

United States Modified Touring Series officials announced

today that the colorful and legendary Jimmy Spencer will

join in the fun when fellow NASCAR veterans Ken Schrader

and Kenny Wallace take on the Masters of Modifieds at a

pair of legendary ovals in the Hawkeye State.

 

The trio will appear at back-to-back O’Reilly USMTS events

later this month, making a stop at the Cresco (Iowa)

Speedway on Tuesday, July 29, then traveling south to the

Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa on Wednesday, July 30.

 

At both shows, all three drivers will be signing

autographs for the fans. While Schrader and Wallace will

strap into their own high-powered Modifieds to take on the

best the division has to offer, Spencer will serve as both

Grand Marshall and Master of Ceremonies as "Mr.

Excitement" will flag races, entertain the crowd and who

knows what else.

 

Spencer, who turned 51 this past February, began his

career racing asphalt modifieds in the Northeast, and was

nicknamed "Mr. Excitement" for his sometimes aggressive

racing style. He is currently a co-host with John Roberts

and Kenny Wallace on SPEED Channel's pre-race and

post-race NASCAR shows: NASCAR RaceDay and NASCAR Victory

Lane. Originally from Berwick, Pa., Spencer is one a

handful of drivers to have won a race in all three of

NASCAR's top series: Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series and

Craftsman Truck Series. He has also briefly served as a

driving mentor to Brent Sherman and Stuart Kirby as well

as many other drivers throughout his career.

 

While they are best known for circling America’s superspeedways with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Schrader

and Wallace are equally accomplished short track racers

that cut their teeth on the bullrings of the Midwest. They

won't be looking for show up points at Cresco and

Oskaloosa, they'll be looking to make an appearance in

victory lane.

 

It was on the dirt tracks of the Midwest where Schrader’s

career began. He started out driving mostly open-wheel

cars and won in every division he raced, including two

USAC championships. Schrader is a veteran

second-generation racer and appears as a television

analyst on Inside Nextel Cup on SPEED Channel, and is also

the owner of Ken Schrader Racing, which fields entries for

himself in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the

Whelen All-American Series for Chris Bristol. Schrader is

also the owner of I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo.

 

Wallace works as an on-air personality for SPEED Channel

on shows such as NASCAR RaceDay and NASCAR Victory Lane.

He was also featured on the show NASCAR Drivers: 360 on

FX. He has two brothers who are also current or former

NASCAR drivers: Rusty Wallace and Mike Wallace. As a

child, Wallace’s boisterous behavior earned him the

nickname “Herman,” after a mischievous cartoon character

named Herman the German. Last season, Wallace was voted in

by fans to compete in the NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge

at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

 

The rugged road warriors of the O’Reilly USMTS National

Tour will be led into battle by Jason Hughes, Tim

Donlinger, Al Hejna, Zack VanderBeek, Mark Noble and Kelly

Shryock as he seeks his unprecedented ninth O'Reilly USMTS

National Championship. Other drivers expected for these

barnburners include Brandon Kenny, Steve Wetzstein, Alan

Mondus, Tommy Myer, Jay Noteboom, Dereck Ramirez, Bob

Timm, Dan Bohr, Mike Sorensen, Jason Krohn, Dean

Mahlstedt, Bryan Rowland, Corey Dripps, Doug Hillson, Jake

Neal, Ryan Gustin, Joey Schaefer, Kevin Pittman, Steve

Stewart, Jay Poidinger, Brad Waits, Shawn Peterson, Nate

Wasmund, Josh Reisch, Tom Paulson, Joe Wernecke, Ryan

York, Ryan Ruter, Jeff Schluetter, Jay Ihrke, Terry

Timmerman, Brady Peterson, Carey Umbarger, Jacob Dahle,

T.J. Stalker, Scott Green, Tommy Weder Jr., Mike

Wedelstadt, Layne Meyer, Julie McDermid, Ron Konkel, Brady Peterson, Mick Glenn, Ron Ver Beek, Donovan Lodge, Colt

Mather, Richie Gustin Jr., Cale Sponsler, Brad Pinkerton,

Chris Spieker, Nate Caruth, Josh Truman, Michael Long,

Brandon Banks, Steve Kosiski, David Holder, Scott Dickey,

Matt Waugh, and Jerry King.

 

TUESDAY, JULY 29 — CRESCO SPEEDWAY

 

The Mighty Howard County Fairgrounds speedplant will host

the final event for the Yeager Machine Upper Midwest

Region and will qualify the second group of O'Reilly USMTS

National Tour drivers to be a part of The Casey's General

Stores Hunt for the USMTS National Championship. In

addition to the grandstands and the pits, race fans can

purchase a one-of-a-kind Party Pass. For just $20 per

person, drive your vehicle inside the track and watch the

races from the infield! Bring your own food, drinks and

grills! First come first served for infield spots.

Passenger cars and trucks only. No scaffolding.

 

The infield opens for Party Pass fans at 4 p.m., as well

as pits. Grandstands open at 5 p.m. and the V.I.P.

Autograph Session will be from 5 to 5:30. Schrader,

Spencer and Wallace will be signing autographs for the

fans from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. Hot laps begin at 6:45 with a

full night of racing action to follow. In addition to the

O’Reilly USMTS Modifieds, the USRA Casey's General Stores

Weekly Racing Series featuring USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock

Cars, USRA Karl Chevrolet B-Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and

Outlaw Hobbys will be in action with all three classes

racing for USRA national and track points.

 

Race day info is available by calling the track hotline at

(563) 547-3400 or visit www.rlpromotions.com/cresco

online. The Cresco Speedway is a 3/8-mile high-banked clay

oval located 0.2 miles north of SR 9 on SW 7th (at the

Howard County Fairgrounds).

 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30 - SOUTHERN IOWA SPEEDWAY

 

The Mahaska County Half-Mile Monster will host the first

of four straight nights in the O’Reilly USMTS Central

States Region and will qualify the third group of O'Reilly

USMTS National Tour drivers to be a part of ‘The Hunt’

which begins Aug. 8.

Also on tap will be the USRA Casey's General Stores Weekly

Racing Series featuring USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars

($400 to win), USRA Karl Chevrolet B-Mods ($300 to win)

and USRA Hobby Stocks ($300 to win), with all three

classes racing for USRA national and track points. Pit

gates open at 4:00 p.m. and grandstand gates open at 5:00

p.m. The V.I.P. Autograph Session will be from 5:00 to

5:30, and fans can take part in an autograph session in

front of the grandstands from 6:00 to 6:45. Hot laps begin

at 7:00 with the first green flag slated to wave at 7:30.

 

The Southern Iowa Speedway is a half-mile semi-banked clay

oval located 0.5 mile west of US 63 on SR 92, then four

blocks north on N. I St. (at the Southern Iowa

Fairgrounds). For day-of-race information, call the track

hotline at (507) 634-4281 or visit

www.rlpromotions.com/oskaloosa online.

 

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring

Series, call the headquarters at (515) 832-7944 or visit

www.usmts.com online for the latest news and information

from the USMTS — America's Hottest Ticket on Dirt.