WEBSTER CITY, Iowa -- The Cresco Speedway in Cresco, Iowa, will present the long-awaited season opener this Sunday night, April 17, under new promoters Todd and Janet Staley. The Staleys, who own and operate the O'Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series, will promote a total of four weekly tracks in 2005 under the RL Promotions, LLC banner.

The weekly tracks operated by the Staleys will be run under RL Promotions, LLC, with sanctioning through the United States Racing Association and the USRA Casey's General Stores Championship Series.

The Staleys, who operated the Bentz GM Country Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Mo., and the Carriker Ford Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa, last season have now added two more speedways to their busy schedule. This season the Staleys will also promote the Pritchard Family Auto Stores Hancock County Speedway in Britt, Iowa, and the Cresco Speedway.

The season will kick off this Sunday at Cresco with hot laps beginning at 5:30 p.m. and racing set for 6 p.m.. Racing each and every Sunday night will be the USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, Street Stocks and Hornets.

Several special races have been scheduled this season including a pair of Late Model specials, the O’Reilly USMTS in June and July, and the Bumper-To-Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series in September.

By popular demand, racing action has been switched back to Sunday nights for the 2005 season.

"We feel the return to the traditional Sunday racing at Cresco will bring in more cars and more fans," said Todd Staley. "In addition, we will host Kids’ Night once a month while kids 11 and under will be admitted free all season long.

General admission prices in 2005 will be $9 for adults and $7 for Juniors (12-18) and Seniors (65 and older).

"We are also looking at staging a $5,000-to-win Stock Car special in July," Staley added.

The USRA Casey’s General Stores Championship Series will offer drivers a national points fund that will pay $1,500 in addition to what each USRA-sanctioned track pays. The national points fund will be based on a drivers best 30 USRA-sanctioned finishes. The top-10 will be paid in national points.

This Sunday, April 17, will be the first points race of the season at the Cresco Speedway.

For more information, Check the official track website at www.crescospeedway.com, or call 515-832-7944.