Ken Schrader will be making his 27th career start with the USMTS Thursday night at the Cresco Speedway.

As the cars and stars of the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour continue to blaze a trail throughout America’s heartland this summer, fans and drivers alike can expect some added heat and some additional bright stars to light up the nights.

NASCAR star Ken Schrader will appear at the Cresco Speedway in Cresco, Iowa, on Thursday, May 21, and will be signing autographs for the fans, then strapping into his own high-powered USMTS Modified to take on the best the division has to offer in the 5th Annual Cresco Bowl.

While he is best known for circling America’s superspeedways with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Schrader is an accomplished short track racers that cut his teeth on the dirt ovals of the Midwest. He won't be looking for show up points, he'll be looking to make an appearance — in victory lane.

It was on the dirt tracks of the Midwest where Schrader’s career began. He started out driving mostly open-wheel cars and won in every division he raced, including two USAC championships. Schrader is a veteran second-generation racer, and currently drives the #21 Motorcraft/Little Debbie Ford Fusion for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. He appears as a television analyst on SPEED Channel, and is also the owner of Ken Schrader Racing, which fields entries for himself in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the Whelen All-American Series. Schrader is also the owner of I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo.

Schrader will be making his 27th career start with the USMTS, where he has six top-5 and twelve top-10 finishes with a career-best of third (twice in 2008).

The rugged road warriors of the USMTS will be led into battle by defending USMTS National Champion Tim Donlinger. Other drivers expected for Thursday's barnburner include

Also on tap for the Thursday, May 21, event will be the first points race of the season for the American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series featuring USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars, USRA Karl Chevrolet B-Mods and USRA Hobby Stocks.

Pit gates will open at the Mighty Howard County Fairgrounds at 4:00, with grandstand gates opening at 5:00. Hot laps begin at 6:30 and the first heat race takes to the track at 7:00.

Fans can pick up $2-off discount coupons at Casey's General Store locations in Cresco, Decorah and New Hampton.

Drivers expected Thursday include defending USMTS National Champion Tim Donlinger, defending Cresco Speedway track champion Darrin Walch, Zack VanderBeek, Jason Hughes, eight-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock, Al Hejna, Alan Mondus, Bob Timm, Dereck Ramirez, Steve Wetzstein, Dan Bohr, Tommy Myer, Jason Krohn, Mark Noble, Corey Dripps, Dean Mahlstedt, Mike Sorensen, Brad Waits, Doug Hillson, Bryan Rowland, Ryan Gustin, Jeff Schluetter, Scott Green, Jay Poidinger, Ryan York, Tom Paulson, Joe Wernecke, Nate Wasmund, Josh Reisch, Terry Timmerman, Ron Konkel, Jay Ihrke, Layne Meyer, Jon Tesch, Joel Alberts, Josh Angst, Don Eischens, Andrew Gordon, Pat Graham, Rich Lewerke, Anthony Mann, Craig Scott, Matt Waugh and many others.

The Cresco Speedway is a 4/10-mile semi-banked clay oval located 0.2 miles north of SR 9 on SW 7th (at the Howard County Fairgrounds). For more information, contact the RL Promotions offices at (515) 832-6000 or visit www.rlpromotions.com online. Race day info is available by calling the track hotline at (563) 547-3400.

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CRESCO SPEEDWAY SPONSORS: A&W/Long John Silvers, Budweiser, CARQUEST Auto Parts, Casey's General Stores, CIA Insurance, Cresco Liquor Store, Cresco Times-Plain Dealer, Cresco Union Savings Bank, Dan's Standard, Fisk's Farm & Home Supply Store, Hawkeye Sanitation, Kabrick Distributing, NAPA Auto Parts, New Hampton Chiropractic, Pepsi, Subway, V&V Insurance Agency, Zahasky Photography & Art Gallery.