HUMBOLDT — Tickets for the King of America Modified Nationals II went on sale at the beginning of January. After a successful inaugural event last October at Humboldt Speedway, the United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) returns to the local dirt track in March.
The nation’s elite dirt modified drivers are expected to descend again on the historic Humboldt Speedway for the $15,000-to-win, $1,500-to-start event slated for Wednesday through Saturday, March 28-31.
Tickets may be purchased online at usmts.com or by calling 515-832-7944. Four-day reserved tickets are $75. Single-day tickets on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are $20 each while Saturday’s show is $25. All single-day tickets are general admission and only will be sold on the night of the races.
The inaugural running of the extravaganza took place 16 weeks ago, and fans were treated to four nights of extraordinarily close action that culminated with a 75-lap championship main event won by nine-time USMTS national champion Kelly Shryock.
The qualifying features on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday each ended with a pass for the lead during the last five laps of the race.
While officials decided to move the show to March for this and future runnings, the program will feature the same one-of-a-kind format that was utilized for the October race.
Drivers register to qualify on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, but also may purchase a “mulligan” that allows them to attempt to qualify a second day if they aren’t satisfied with their initial result.
Group time trials will be staged each of the first three days, followed by heat races and main events with drivers earning points for their performances. The top six points earners each day will earn one of 18 guaranteed starting spots in Saturday’s championship race, with the highest overall points earner during the three days of qualifying getting the pole for the big dance.
Saturday’s program will feature an “alphabet soup” of main events that will culminate with a 30-car starting field for the championship race that will feature a three-wide start. Even if a driver has some tough luck during qualifying, he or she still has a chance to climb the ladder of main events on Saturday to earn a spot in the finale.
Nearly $80,000 has been earmarked for Saturday’s A main alone, with a total purse of more than $130,000 posted for the four-day extravaganza.
The Humboldt Speedway is a tenth of a mile west of U.S. 169 at the Humboldt exit, half a mile south, then nine-tenths of a mile east on Georgia Road. For more information call 620-431-2470 (office) or 620-473-3694 (track) or visit humboldtspeedway.com.
B-Mods also will be a part of the event, racing for a stout purse too. Each day will be a complete and separate show with $300, $400, $500 and $1,000 to win on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Any B-Mod driver racing three or four nights will not have any entry fee — only pit passes — and may purchase a four-day pit pass for $125 (a savings of $20). Drivers wanting to race only the last two nights or Saturday night will be charged a $75 entry fee.
Humboldt Speedway’s B-Mod rules will be used, and are very similar to USRA B-Mod rules. Drivers with rules questions may call the track’s tech director Carl Flowers at 785-640-6104 or check out humboldtspeedway.com online for information.
For camping, ATV and/or golf cart permits, call 620-473-3694.
To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944. You also may follow the USMTS on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and YouTube.
