HUMBOLDT, Kan. -- The third season of the Iron Man Challenge will kick off the 2012 campaign this weekend as the USRA B-Mods join the USMTS Modifieds at the ‘7th Annual Spring Fling @ The Bullring’ this Friday and Saturday, March 16-17, at the Humboldt Speedway in Humboldt, Kan.

Both nights will pay $500 to win and $75 to start the main event.

This will be the first venture into the Sunflower State for the Iron Man Challenge and the first USRA-sanctioned event for B-Mods at ‘The Hummer’ which will sanction the division as part of their weekly Friday night programs in 2012.

Last season 367 tough-as-nails drivers took part in the Iron Man Challenge, including 237 different B-Mod drivers and 130 Stock Car competitors.

Gates open at 5 p.m. on Friday with the first heat race at 7. On Saturday, gates open at 4 p.m. with racing getting underway at 6.

The Humboldt Speedway is a located 0.1 mile west of US 169 at the Humboldt exit, then 0.5 mile south, then 0.9 mile east on Georgia Rd. For more information call 620-431-2470 (office) or 620-473-3694 (track) or visit www.humboldtspeedway.com online.

The third season for the Iron Man Challenge boasts 26 dates at 13 popular dirt ovals in 6 states. On the calendar are 24 shows for USRA B-Mods and 16 for the full-fendered USRA Stock Cars. Both classes will race together on 14 nights while B-Mods will have 10 solo nights and Stock Cars will have 2 nights to themselves.

Both the Stock Cars and B-Mods will compete next weekend when the Iron Man Challenge accompanies the USMTS Modifieds to the LA Raceway in La Monte, Mo., and the I-35 Speedway in Winston, Mo., on Friday and Saturday, March 23-24.

2012 IRON MAN CHALLENGE SCHEDULE:

Fri Mar 16 ... Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS (B-Mods)
Sat Mar 17 ... Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS (B-Mods)
Sat Mar 24 ... I-35 Speedway, Winston, MO (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Sun Mar 25 ... LA Raceway, La Monte, MO (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Thu May 24 ... Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Sat May 26 ... Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Wed Jun 27 ... Mineral City Speedway, Fort Dodge, IA (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Thu Jun 28 ... Fairmont Raceway, Fairmont, MN (B-Mods)
Fri Jun 29 ... Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA (B-Mods)
Sat Jun 30 ... Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, IA (B-Mods)
Thu Jul 12 ... I-35 Speedway, Winston, MO (B-Mods)
Fri Jul 13 ... Lakeside Speedway, Kansas City, KS (B-Mods)
Thu Jul 19 ... Interstate Speedway, Jefferson, SD (B-Mods)
Sun Jul 22 ... Nobles County Speedway, Worthington, MN (B-Mods)
Thu Jul 26 ... Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN (Stock Cars)
Fri Aug 17 ... Mississippi Thunder Speedway, Fountain City, WI (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Sat Aug 18 ... Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, IA (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Sun Aug 19 ... Nobles County Speedway, Worthington, MN (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Sun Aug 26 ... Huset’s Speedway, Brandon, SD (B-Mods)
Wed Aug 29 ... Fairmont Raceway, Fairmont, MN (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Thu Aug 30 ... Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Sat Sep 15 ... Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN (Stock Cars)
Fri Oct 5 ... Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Sat Oct 6 ... Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Fri Oct 12 ... Mineral City Speedway, Fort Dodge, IA (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Sat Oct 13 ... Mineral City Speedway, Fort Dodge, IA (B-Mods & Stock Cars)

The 2012 points champion will be determined by the best 12 finishes for B-Mods while Stock Cars will count their best 10 nights. To be eligible for points funds, drivers must possess a valid USRA license, utilize the American Racer KK704 racing tire on all four wheels and compete in at least half of the events for their division.

All Iron Man Challenge events will also award USRA national points.

Iron Man Challenge Points Funds: USRA Stock Cars – 1. $2000, 2. $1500, 3. $1000, 4. $800, 5. $600, 6. $500, 7. $400, 8. $300, 9. $250, 10. $200; USRA B-Mods – 1. $1000, 2. $700, 3. $500, 4. $400, 5. $350, 6. $300, 7. $200, 8. $175, 9. $150, 10. $125.

USRA National Points Funds: USRA Stock Cars – 1. $1500, 2. $1000, 3. $700, 4. $600, 5. $500, 6. $450, 7. $400, 8. $350, 9. $300, 10. $250; USRA B-Mods – 1. $2000, 2. $1500, 3. $1000, 4. $800, 5. $600, 6. $500, 7. $400, 8. $350, 9. $300, 10. $250.

There is no requirement to purchase a USRA license to compete in the Iron Man Challenge, but benefits enjoyed by licensed drivers include higher event purses, a piece-of-mind $100,000 insurance policy and an unmatched points fund for the competitors of grassroots racing. The cost of a USRA license is $100 for Stock Cars and $90 for B-Mods.

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

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