USMTS invades Junction Motor Speedway this weekend for 8th Annual Nebraska Spring Thaw
McCOOL JUNCTION, Neb. — The USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour powered by Swan Energy return to action this weekend as the nation’s elite open-wheel modified drivers make the early-season trek to the Cornhusker State for the eight straight year this Friday and Saturday, March 4-5, for the 8th Annual Nebraska Spring Thaw at the Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb.
Friday’s feature winner will garner $2,000 while a top prize of $3,000 is set aside for the driver visiting victory lane on Saturday.
Ryan Gustin scored the first of his series-best sixteen wins last year at the Junction Motor Speedway. Making just his second start in his new ride with the Gressel Racing team, “The Reaper” started on the pole and beat Jon Tesch to the turn at the drop of the green flag, then fought off every challenge from the “Wizard of Watertown” for the entire 30-lapper.
In addition to Gustin and Tesch, other past Nebraska Spring Thaw champions expected this weekend include two-time winner Al Hejna, Corey Dripps and nine-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock, who captured the debut event at JMS in 2004.
Friday’s event will pay $2,000 to win while the victor in Saturday’s main event will pocket $3,000. Open Stock Cars and Two-Man Cruisers will also be on the racing card both nights.
In addition to the usual stars and cars of the USMTS and the Dirt Knights television series, NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader has announced that he will be competing both days for the third straight year.
Race fans will also be treated to the Iron Man Challenge for USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars along with two-man Cruisers both days.
An open practice will be held on Thursday, March 3, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. with free admission to the grandstands and $20 pit passes.
On Friday, pit gates will open at 12 noon, grandstand gates open at 5:00 and racing is set for 7:00.
On Saturday, pit gates will open at 10:00 a.m. and grandstands open at 12 noon with racing at 2:00. If needed, Sunday will be used as a rain date with the same start times as Saturday.
The event will be the first points race in the Great Plains Region of the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour powered by Swan Energy.
Camelot Inn and Suites is located just five minutes north of the racetrack and is offering a special rate for USMTS fans. To book your reservation, call 402-362-6885 or visit www.camelotyork.com online.
Located five miles south of I-80 on US 81, the Junction Motor Speedway is a state-of-the-art facility entering its eighth year of operation. The track is a super-fast, 3/8-mile clay oval boasting 80-foot-wide straight-aways, making for a lot of racing room for the drivers and a lot of wheel-to-wheel action for fans.
For more information, call 402-773-5538 or check out www.junctionmotorspeedway.com.
To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit www.usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944. You can also follow the USMTS on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and YouTube.
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USMTS TITLE SPONSORS: Casey’s General Stores, Swan Energy.
USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Awesome Race Suits, GoPro, Intercomp, Karl Chevrolet, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, New Vision Graphics, Nitroquest, RACEceiver.
USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Arnold Motor Supply, ASi Racewear, Bad Boy Mowers, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Day Motor Sports, Dirt Track Racing School, Dirthead.com, DirtKnights.com, DrySlik Dirt Trak Racewear, Farm Boy BBQ Sauce, Intensitee Custom Racewear, Karl Performance Parts, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Olympic Fire Protection, Ramirez Race Cars, Ruter Farms, Yeager Machine.
USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Belleville Motorsports, COMP Cams, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, Forty9Designs.com, Genesis Shocks, GRT Race Cars, Hooker Harness, Hypercoil Springs, ISKY Racing Cams, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, Out-Pace Racing Products, PBM Performance Products, Quarter Master, Real Racing Wheels, RHS – Racing Head Service, Schoenfeld Headers, US Brake, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Willy’s Carburetor & Dyno Shop.
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