WINSTON, Mo. -- In just eight days, two new champions of the USRA Iron Man Challenge will emerge.

With the final four events of the 2011 campaign between now and then, the racing action will be boiling hot as the USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Car and USRA Karl Performance Parts B-Mod drivers battle it out for this year’s titles.

Two of those contests happen this week as the tough-as-nails grassroots tour joins the USMTS Modifieds on Thursday, Aug. 25, at the I-35 Speedway in Winston, Mo., and Saturday, Aug. 27, at the Upper Iowa Speedway in Decorah, Iowa.

This will be the second voyage to Winston this season after the opening event was held here on April 2. The Show-Me State shootout produced two winners from the Hawkeye State as Washington’s Matt Greiner led flag to flag in the Stock Car feature while Matt Lettow of Roland charged to victory in the B-Mod main event.

Lettow claimed the points lead that night and has remained on top ever since, but lurking behind him are several challengers with their eye on the crown.

Defending USRA B-Mod National Champion Brandon Hare is close behind while young gun Parker Hale, five-time feature winner Cayden Carter and Jared Timmerman round out the top 5 in points.

Conversely, the Stock Cars have seen four different drivers lead the rankings this season. Nathan Wood wrestled the lead away from Greiner in the second event of the season and Justin Temeyer moved ahead of Wood two weeks ago.

But the current man to beat is Newton, Iowa’s Mike Van Genderen who is coming off a runner-up finish and his third win of the season in the last two contests.

Coming into Sunday night’s race in Worthington, Minn., last year’s Iron Man bridesmaid held just a seven-point cushion over Wood, but Van Genderen stretched out his advantage to 44 markers over the defending Iron Man titleist. Temeyer remains third, followed by veteran Steve Jackson and Jeff Joldersma.

Grandstands gates will swing open at 5 p.m. Thursday, with hot laps starting at 6:30 and the first green flag at 7 p.m. The I-35 Speedway is located 10 miles north of Cameron on SR 6 (exit 64). For more information, call the track at 660-749-5317 or visit www.i-35speedway.net online.

Action moves to the Upper Iowa Speedway on Saturday night which is expected to bring together some of the biggest and fastest fields of the season. The semi-banked quarter-mile clay oval features some of the top USRA Stock Car and B-Mod drivers each and every week, and this weekend’s clash should provide plenty of thrills for the expected sell-out crowd.

Grandstands open at 5 p.m. Saturday, hot laps are slated to begin at 6:30 and racing begins at 7. Also on the racing card will be the USRA Hobby Stocks battling for national points in the American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series.

The Upper Iowa Speedway is located 1.8 miles east of US 52 on SR 9, then 1.0 mile northwest on Montgomery St., then northeast on E. Main St. (at the Winneshiek County Fairgrounds). For day-of-race information, call the track hotline at 563-382-9984 or check out www.upperiowaspeedway.com online.

USRA Stock Cars will be racing for $700 to win and $125 to start both nights while USRA B-Mods will compete for a $500 top prize and $80 to start. Tow money for non-qualifiers will be $75 and $50, respectively. Stock Cars will have a $25 entry fee while the B-Mod entry fee is $15.

After this weekend, the next-to-last race of the season takes place on Wednesday, Aug. 31, at the Fairmont Raceway in Fairmont, Minn., before wrapping up the 2011 campaign on Thursday, Sept. 1, at the Highway 3 Raceway in Allison, Iowa.

Nineteen dates at fourteen dirt ovals in four states comprise the 2011 schedule for the second season of the Iron Man Challenge. Points for both classes will be awarded based on a driver’s 10 best nights.

Licensed USRA drivers in both classes also earn national points in the American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series, and some tracks may also award track points.

The Iron Man Challenge points fund for the Stock Cars carries a $2,000 top prize with the tenth-place finisher earning $200. In the B-Mod class, the points champion will earn $700 with tenth-place taking home $100.

POINTS STANDINGS (top 10):

USRA Karl Performance Parts B-Mods
1. 21L Matt Lettow, Roland, Iowa ... 892 (2 wins)
2. 56h Brandon Hare, Elma, Iowa ... 811 (2 wins)
3. 28 Parker Hale, Grand Meadow, Minn. ... 734
4. 10 Cayden Carter, Oskaloosa, Iowa ... 725 (5 wins)
5. 7t Jared Timmerman, Norwalk, Iowa ... 705
6. 7 Carter VanDenBerg, Oskaloosa, Iowa ... 700
7. 14 Brian Schrage, Cresco, Iowa ... 584
8. 80 Josh Bonnstetter, Slayton, Minn. ... 572
9. 64 Brandon Leeman, Roland, Iowa ... 561
10. 23k Ben Kates, Tonganoxie, Kan. ... 494
Other winners:
1 Nick Johansen, Russell, Minn. (2 wins)
19 Jake Timm, Winona, Minn. (1 win)
83 Kylie Kath, Owatonna, Minn. (1 win)
03 Mark Mundell, Ottumwa, Iowa (1 win)

USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars
1. 57v Mike Van Genderen, Newton, Iowa ... 909 (3 wins)
2. 52 Nathan Wood, Sigourney, Iowa ... 865 (1 win)
3. 56t Justin Temeyer, Independence, Iowa ... 863 (1 win)
4. 2j Steve Jackson, Polk City, Iowa ... 785
5. 66 Jeff Joldersma, McClelland, Iowa ... 747 (1 win)
6. 14 Todd Staley, Webster City, Iowa ... 743
7. 33 Kevin Donlan, Decorah, Iowa ... 739 (2 wins)
8. 27t Tory Reicks, Waucoma, Iowa ... 724 (1 win)
9. 01u Chris Ulrich, Kiron, Iowa ... 715 (1 win)
10. R31 Ryan Leeman, Roland, Iowa ... 550
Other winners:
11 Jake Masters, Graettinger, Iowa (1 win)
29 Matt Greiner, Washington, Iowa (1 win)
35 Wayne Crimmins, Fort Dodge, Iowa (1 win)
15 Mitch Hovden, Decorah, Iowa (1 win)

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

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USRA OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Awesome Race Suits, Intercomp, Karl Chevrolet, Karl Performance Parts, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, Nitroquest, RACEceiver, RHS – Racing Head Service, Western Flyer Race Cars.

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

USRA CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: COMP Cams, Dirthead.com, Eibach Springs, Forty9Designs.com, Genesis Shocks, Hooker Custom Harness, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, New Vision Graphics, PBM Performance Products, Real Racing Wheels, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products.