"Countdown to the Hunt" continues at Mineral City Speedway

[NickHolt]

’COUNTDOWN TO THE HUNT’ CONTINUES MONDAY AT MINERAL CITY SPEEDWAY

 

FORT DODGE, Iowa (Aug. 2) – The USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour is back in action on Monday, Aug. 3, as they kick off a swing of five races in six days at the Mineral City Speedway in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

 

Inclement weather on June 23 forced officials to postpone the $2,000-to-win Fort Dodge Modified Nationals until this Monday, but the weatherman has had nothing to offer but good news regarding Monday night's blockbuster event at the half-mile semi-banked clay oval.

 

While the forecast is supreme, Kenny Wallace informed officials on Sunday that he will not be able to attend the race in Fort Dodge due to Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Pocono being rain-delayed until Monday.

 

"Man, I feel really bad for having to miss Monday's USMTS show in Fort Dodge," Wallace said. "I've been there before and I love that track, but with the NASCAR race being rained-out I have to do the Speed Channel thing on Monday."

 

Mineral City Speedway promoter Kit Hovey announced that tickets will be reduced to $15 and anybody who purchased tickets in advance will be able to get a refund on the difference at the ticket window Monday. Race fans can also pick up $2-off coupons on Monday at Casey's General Stores locations in Fort Dodge. Check out www.caseys.com for more information or to find the location nearest you.

 

Monday's showdown will be a Central States Region race for the USMTS touring titans. Jon Tesch is the current points leader as he holds a slim margin over Zack VanderBeek, Kelly Shryock and Ryan Gustin.

 

Other drivers expected for this event include USMTS Southern Series points leader Jason Hughes, Michael Long, Al Hejna, Ryan Dolan, Corey Dripps, Dean Mahlstedt, Dereck Ramirez, Colt Mather, Richie Gustin Jr., Tommy Myer, Pat Graham, Ron Ver Beek, Scott Green, Mike Hansen, Mike Albertsen, DandyLand Farms Rookie of the Year points leader Grant Junghans, Matt Waugh, Jeff Schluetter, Josh Truman, Ryan Ruter, Jake Neal, Scott Drake, Rodney Sanders, Steven Blattler, Brad Moriarty, Tim Shields, Brad Pinkerton, Mark Schulte, Scott Dickey, J.D. Auringer and more.

 

Gates open at 4:00, with hot laps at 6:45 and the first heat race taking the green flag at 7:30. Stock Cars and 360 Mods will also be on the racing card.

 

The Mineral City Speedway is a 1/2-mile semi-banked clay oval located 0.9 mile north of US 20 on US 169, then 0.5 mile east on 230th. For more information, call the track hotline at 515-574-RACE or check out www.fdspeed.com online.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS ...

 

After the shoot-out in Fort Dodge, it’s on to the Cresco Speedway in Cresco, Iowa, on Tuesday, Aug. 4, for the Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region finale, then south through the Hawkeye State to the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa, on Wednesday night, Aug. 5. NASCAR fan favorite Kenny Wallace and Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip will be in Cresco and Oskaloosa to sign autographs and race their own high-powered USMTS Modifieds.

 

The USMTS steamroller treks to the Knox County Fairgrounds in Knoxville, Ill., for the 10th Annual UPS Store Illinois Challenge featuring the Ed Sheckler Memorial race on Thursday, Aug. 6, then on Saturday, Aug. 8, visits the 24 Raceway Park for the second time this season – this time to crown the Central States Region champion and advance the final group of drivers to compete in The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship.

 

The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship will be comprised of the final 18 races of the season, with more than $300,000 in prize money up for grabs during the campaign. ’The Hunt’ will start on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the LA Raceway in La Monte, Mo., and wrap up back at the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., with the 11th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 24-26, where the 2009 USMTS National Champion will be crowned.

 

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.