WEBSTER CITY, Iowa -- Officials from the United States Racing Association (USRA) have announced an increase in the winner’s share of the purse at headline events for the USRA Late Models during the 2007 season. In all there are 12 events that were formerly announced as $2,000-to-win shows will now carry a $3,000 top prize instead.

“We’ve had a lot of interest from several teams throughout the Midwest regarding the USRA Late Models,” said USRA president Todd Staley. “With the renewed support this year from Casey’s General Stores, along with the increased sponsor support we’ve received this year, we were fiscally able to pad the USRA Late Model purses.”

The 2007 season will mark the first time that the high-powered Late Model division will compete under the USRA banner. All headline events will carry a top prize of $3,000 to win, while events co-headlined by the popular O’Reilly USMTS Modifieds will pay $2,000 to win for both the USRA Late Models and the O’Reilly USMTS Modifieds.

The first of 17 scheduled events will take place on Friday, April 20, at the Mountain Dew Bloomfield (Iowa) Speedway. On Saturday, April 28, the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Mo., will host the USRA Late Models, which will return to Memphis three more times during the 2007 season on June 2, July 28 and Aug. 25.

The month of May will see three shows, beginning May 4 at the Cresco (Iowa) Speedway. The Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa, will host the USRA Late Models on May 16, with a return visit to the Mountain Dew Bloomfield (Iowa) Speedway slated for May 25.

June will have four races on tap at four unique facilities, including three events which will accompany the O’Reilly USMTS Modifieds each night. Four more events are scheduled in July and four races will round out the month of August. The 2007 season finale for the USRA Late Models is set for Saturday, Aug. 25, at the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway.

More events may be added to the schedule, and officials are currently working with several companies regarding additional contingency awards, event sponsorship and title sponsorship of the series. A lucrative year-end points fund will also be announced in the near future.

For more information, call the USRA headquarters at (515) 832-6000 or visit the USRA online at www.usraracing.com.

USRA LATE MODELS - TENTATIVE 2007 SCHEDULE

Fri Apr 20  ... Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway, Bloomfield, IA ($3,000 to win)
Sat Apr 28 ... Pepsi Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, MO ($3,000 to win)
Fri May 4 ... Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA ($3,000 to win)
Wed May 16 ... Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA ($3,000 to win)
Fri May 25 ... Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway, Bloomfield, IA ($3,000 to win)
Sat Jun 2 ... Pepsi Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, MO ($3,000 to win)
Wed Jun 6 ... Adams County Speedway, Corning, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jun 7 ... Dubuque Speedway, Dubuque, IA ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jun 12 ... Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jul 3 ... Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA ($3,000 to win)
Fri Jul 27 .... Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway, Bloomfield, IA ($3,000 to win)
Sat Jul 28 ... Pepsi Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, MO ($3,000 to win)
Tue Jul 31 ... West Liberty Raceway, West Liberty, IA ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 10 ... Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA ($3,000 to win)
Tue Aug 14 ... Farley Speedway, Farley, IA ($2,000 to win)
Wed Aug 22 ... Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA ($3,000 to win)
Sat Aug 25 ... Pepsi Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, MO ($3,000 to win)

Note: $2,000-to-win events will be co-headlined by the O’Reilly USMTS Modifieds

SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

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USRA TITLE SPONSOR: Casey’s General Stores

USRA OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Tires, Nitroquest Web Solutions.

USRA CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: Boyer’s Engine Development, Edelbrock, Holley Performance Products, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, Nitroquest Web Solutions, QuickTime Performance Race Parts, RaceQuest Sponsorship Marketing, Racing Optics, Real Racing Wheels, TCI Automotive.