Fairmont, Allison tilts to decide Iron Man Challenge champions


FAIRMONT, Minn. -- A season-long struggle for supremacy will culminate this week with the final pair of events for the Iron Man Challenge featuring USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars and USRA Karl Performance Parts B-Mods.

The tough-as-nails grassroots tour make its debut appearance at the Fairmont Raceway in Fairmont, Minn., this Wednesday, Aug. 31, before wrapping up the 2011 campaign on Thursday, Sept. 1, at the Highway 3 Raceway in Allison, Iowa.

Stock Cars will be racing for $700 to win and $125 to start each night while B-Mods will compete for a $500 top prize and $80 to start.

What’s more, the Iron Man Challenge champions will merge from Thursday’s finale where the points fund for the Stock Cars carries a $2,000 top prize while the B-Mod champion will earn $700.

The USMTS Modifieds will round out the spectacular tripleheader of events both nights.

Mike Van Genderen sits atop the Stock Car standings. Justin Temeyer is 46 points back in second and defending Iron Man Challenge titleist Nathan Wood is 65 markers from the lead. However, three-time winner Kevin Donlan is 91 points behind Van Genderen but has competed in just nine shows so far. With a solid top-5 finish in the next event, Donlan will become a factor in the points race.

Matt Lettow’s season-long lead is now only 15 points over Cayden Carter in the B-Mod title hunt while last year’s American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series B-Mod National Champion Brandon Hare is 84 markers behind, but has competed in just nine events to date.

At Fairmont on Wednesday, pit gates open at 4 p.m., grandstands open at 5, hot laps are slated to begin at 7 and the first green flag waves at 7:30. Race fans can pick up $2-off admission coupons at both Casey’s General Stores locations in Fairmont.

The Fairmont Raceway is a high-banked half-mile dirt oval located 1.0 mile south of I-90 (Exit 99) on CR 39 (at the Martin County Fairgrounds). For more information call 515-295-5555 or 507-235-6996 on race day or visit www.fairmontraceway.com online.

Thursday’s event in Allison will kick off with spectator gates opening at 5 p.m. Hot laps begin at 6:30 and racing starts at 7. Race fans can pick up $2-off coupons on race day at the Casey's General Stores locations in Allison, Cedar Falls, Nashua and Waverly.

The Highway 3 Raceway is located 0.3 miles north of SR 3 on S. Main St. (at the Butler County Fairgrounds). For more information, call 319-267-9977 or check out www.highway3raceway.com online.

At both venues this week, 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.

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.

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.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

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.