MERRILL, Wis. -- Readers of Racing Promotion Monthly (RPM) have selected three first-time and three repeat nominees as Regional Auto Racing Promoters of the Year for 2010.

They came from among more than 100 different short tracks in 41 states receiving votes, and the nominees’ experience ranges from six years to over 51 years.

Among the nominees is the Queensland family which operates the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn. This is the second award for the Queensland Family as they were also awarded the Regional Promoter of the Year by RPM in 2008.

The Queenslands – Randy, Deb and their children, Justin, Cole, Ryan and Susan – began operating the 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval in 2002 and have since built one of the most popular dirt track racing venues in the United States.

The Queensland family (from left to right) - Front: Deb and Randy; Back: Justin, Cole, Ryan and Susan.

The appropriately-nicknamed ‘Mecca of Modified Racing’ races weekly on Saturday nights from April to September featuring five classes, including the USRA RHS Modifieds and USRA Karl Performance Parts B-Mods as part of the American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series.

The Deer Creek Speedway will also host a USRA Iron Man Challenge event for USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars in conjunction with one of the USMTS events in 2011.

The Deer Creek Speedway annually hosts three USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour events – Memorial Day Weekend, Labor Day Weekend and the Featherlite Fall Jamboree – and in 2011, the racing complex will add four more nights of USMTS Modified action when they host the inaugural World Modified Dirt Track Championship, April 6-9, with a whopping $20,000 top prize awaiting the winner.

The Auto Racing Promoter of the Year is selected by readers of Racing Promotion Monthly. Nominees operate weekly schedule oval tracks or dragstrips. Readers consider the success and longevity of the operations, reputation, character and contribution of the nominee to the industry, and to industry newcomers.

The ARPY will be revealed during the 38th Annual RPM Promoters Workshops, Feb. 14-16, in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The Auto Racing Promoter of the Year is short track racing’s most prestigious award for racetrack operators and managers. It is awarded each year after voting by promoters. The award was originated in 1976 by the editors of Racing Promotion Monthly.

For more information about Racing Promotion Monthly or the RPM Promoters Workshops, visit www.racingpromotionmonthly.com online.

The USRA was founded in 2002 with the sanctioning of Modifieds and Stock Cars at the Thunder Valley Speedway in Fayetteville, Ark. Hobby Stocks were added in 2003 and the organization grew steadily over the next three years with 14 tracks hosting USRA events in 2005. The B-Mod division arrived on the scene in 2006 and since then, USRA Weekly Racing Series national champions have been crowned in all four premier divisions.

To learn more about the USRA, visit www.usraracing.com or call 515-832-6000. You can also follow the USRA on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

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USRA TITLE SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires.

USRA OFFICIAL SPONSORS: Awesome Racewear, Intercomp, Karl Chevrolet, Karl Performance Parts, Kevko Oil Pans & Components, Nitroquest, RACEceiver, RHS – Racing Head Service.

USRA PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Boubin Tire & Automotive, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Day Motor Sports, SpeedNet Direct.

USRA CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: COMP Cams, Eibach Springs, Forty9Designs.com, Hooker Custom Harness, Marsh Racing Wheels, QuickTime Inc, Racing Optics, Real Racing Wheels.