USMTS South back in action for Topless Mod Nationals

[NickHolt]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Monday, September 29, 2008

 

O’REILLY USMTS SOUTHERN SERIES BACK IN ACTION OCT. 3-4 FOR

10TH ANNUAL GRT RACE CARS TOPLESS MODIFIED NATIONALS

 

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Sept. 29) – The O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series will scream back into action this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 3-4 for the 10th Annual GRT Race Cars Topless Modified Nationals at the I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark. with a possible $7,000 winner's share of the purse up for grabs.

 

With the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour wrapping up their business for the 2008 season two weeks ago, this year's "Topless" race is expected to draw dozens of big guns from north, south, east and west.

 

Jason Hughes of Westville, Okla. comes into the event atop the O'Reilly USMTS Southern Series standings on the strength of his series-leading five victories. Steve Holzkamper of Gentry, Ark. sits second in points and will be looking to pick up his second win of the season in his home state. Tommy Weder Jr. of Woodward, Okla. is third, followed by a pair of Texans: John O Whittington of Vidor and Paul White of Temple, both of whom are seeking their first triumphs under the USMTS banner.

 

Other drivers entered for this weekend's blockbuster include Dereck Ramirez, Brandon Kenny, Shane Hebert, Bryan Rowland, Dustin Hyde, Jamie Burford, Rodney Sanders, David Mitchell, Morgan Bagley, Scott Green, Timothy Culp, Steven Whiteaker Jr., Jeremy Ross and Jeff Huckaby.

 

Invading from the north, O'Reilly USMTS National Tour standouts Kelly Shryock, Jon Tesch, Zack VanderBeek and Al Hejna are also expected to compete for the chance to become the 10th Annual GRT Race Cars Topless Modified Nationals champion.

 

Among the favorites to win this year's event, however, is Greenbrier's Jack Sullivan, who captured the O'Reilly USMTS Southern Series race at I-30 Speedway on June 4 and was also the winner of the 2001 GRT Race Cars Topless Modified Nationals.

 

Past winners of the prestigious event include Charlie Armstrong (1999-2000), Sullivan (2001), Skeet Amason (2002), Wayne Brooks (2003), Kevin Salter (2004), Tim Crawley (2005-06) and Mike Bowers (2007).

 

On Thursday night, Oct. 2, the I-30 Speedway will be warming up with a test 'n' tune session for all drivers.

Admission to the grandstands is free, with pit passes just $10.

 

Friday night will be the first of two complete shows at the high-banked quarter-mile clay oval. The main event for the O'Reilly USMTS Southern Series Modifieds will pay $2,000 to win with a minimum $200 to start. On Saturday, a $5,000 top prize awaits the winner of the feature race, with a guaranteed $500 to start the Holley "A" Main.

 

Pit gates will open at 4 p.m., grandstands open at 5, hot laps are at 6:30 and racing starts at 7:30 both nights. Sprint cars will also join the racing card both nights.

 

The I-30 Speedway is located 7 miles southwest of Little Rock on I-30 to Exit 126 (County Line Rd.), then south to frontage road, then east (SSR). For race day information, call the track hotline at (501) 455-4567 or visit www.i-30speedway.com.