TUCSON, Ariz. -- While the 2011 racing season draws nearer and racers are feverishly working on their racecars in preparation for the upcoming season, the USA Raceway is also busy drawing out the game plan for the next 12 months.

In a joint effort to bring the race fans of Tucson the best in racing, USA Raceway has shifted directions and will join the United States Racing Association (USRA) to sanction Modified racing at the popular facility.

The USA Raceway will join Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, N.M.; El Paso (Texas) Speedway Park and Thunder Raceway in Show Low, Ariz., in a joint effort to promote weekly Modified racing throughout the Southwest, giving competitors a legitimate opportunity to compete for a sizable national points fund while also competing for extraordinary track point funds in the USRA Weekly Racing Series.

Drivers in the USRA Western RHS Modified division will compete for a points fund worth $1,500 at season’s end to the track champion and a $10,000 top prize awaiting the division’s national champion in the USRA Weekly Racing Series.

With several non-conflicting race schedules between the participating tracks, racers will have the opportunity to race well over 30 events throughout the 2011 season.

“We are excited about the future of Modified racing here at USA,” commented co-promoter Benji Lyons. “It’s no secret that we’ve got some work to do if we are going to continue to grow the class like we have in the past. There was a time when car counts were upwards of 30 to 40 cars a night and racers could run more than just once a week. As the cost to compete got higher and higher, we have left a ton of racers sitting on the couch each Saturday night.”

The USRA Western RHS Modified rules will tailor to the weekly racer and the affordability of racers in the Southwest.

For the first time at the USA Raceway in any division comes an RPM limit rule. All competitors in the class will be required to have an 8,000 RPM chip installed at all times. The “Western” rules at the 3/8-mile clay oval will also call for the removal of the rear spoiler and give weight breaks allowing racers to compete with more affordable engines. Shocks and suspension components will also be more limited than in years past.

By USRA rules, measures are in place not only to further control the cost but to allow more drivers the opportunity to compete on a level playing field.

“Our goal is to allow the weekly racer an opportunity to race in a premier division without refinancing their house and selling off one of their kids. I know we can accomplish this and still maintain hard competitive racing for our fans.”

The first USRA Western RHS Modified race will kick off at the 5th Annual “Copper on Dirt” scheduled for Feb. 18-19 for two separate shows and then move to Southern New Mexico Speedway the following weekend for the USRA Winter Meltdown & Chub Daniels Memorial.

The 5th Annual “Copper on Dirt” will feature ASCS National Wing Sprint Cars, Midgets, the West Coast Late Model Shootout vs. Total Seal Late Model Dirt Racing Series and USRA RHS Modifieds all taking part in a sensational racing spectacle at Tucson’s USA Raceway's for two nights on Feb. 18-19, marking USA Raceway as the only dirt track venue in the country to host these four premier divisions all in one event.

Advanced tickets are on sale now. Ticket pricing, seating charts and purchasing information can be found online at www.usaraceway.net/uploads/copperondirttickets.pdf or by calling the USA Raceway office at 520-574-8515.

Hotel information can be found at www.usaraceway.net/lodging.php or by calling the Tucson Airport Courtyard by Marriott at 520-573-0000.

The USA Raceway is located east of Tucson off I-10 at exit 265, then 1.6 miles south on Craycroft Rd. (turns into Los Reales Rd.). For more information, contact the track at 520-574-8515 or visit www.usaraceway.net 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 SPONSOR: 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, Western Flyer Sport Mods.

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

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