John Hansen of Brush, Colo., captured the inaugural championship crown for the BST Modified Series. Hansen will return in 2006 to defend his title.

BROOMFIELD, Colo. -- Officials from the United States Racing Association announced today that the Blood, Sweat & Tears Modified Series will compete under the USRA banner during their sophomore season in 2006.

Under the direction of series promoter and founder Joe Bellm, the BST Modified Series experienced a successful inaugural season in 2005. The BST Modified Series was created to gather the best dirt modified racers in the eastern plains of the Rocky Mountains for head-to-head competition while boosting exposure for the track owners and promoters and maintaining a safe, cost-effective division for the drivers.

The BST Modified Series management and drivers in attendance at the recent awards party voted overwhelmingly to sanction with the USRA for the 2006 season.

“We have been watching the USRA and we believe the direction they are headed is the same direction we envisioned when the BST Modified Series was founded,” said BST Communications Director Chris Martinez. “We like their approach to PR and feel our strengths will compliment theirs and vise-versa.”

As part of the USRA Casey's General Stores Championship Series, BST Modified Series drivers will compete for a $1,000 top prize from the USRA and American Race Tires for winning the BST Modified Series championship. In addition, all BST Modified Series competitors will be eligible to earn points toward the USRA Casey's General Stores Championship Series national title which is worth $10,000 to the national champ.

“We are thrilled to be working with Joe Bellm and the great drivers that run with the BST Modified Series,” said USRA President Todd Staley. “They turned a lot of heads in their first season last year, and our association with them is a win-win-win situation for our organizations, our drivers, our sponsors and our fans.”

Nine of last year's final top-10 drivers have announced that they will return to the BST Modified Series in 2006, including defending champion John Hansen of Brush, Colo. Other returning regulars include Will Brack, Danny Concelman, Joe Bellm, Bill Brack, Don Shepherd, Adam Hilton, Mike Shaw and Joe Mullins.

Several other first-year competitors have also expressed their intent to run the entire series, including Matt Brack, Jeremy Franier, D.J. Banks and Kevin Massey.

“I appreciate Todd Staley's willingness to take some risks in his vision of modified racing,” said Bellm. “We share an ideal that we both appreciate, and after discussing the sanction with USRA with our traveling teams we are convinced that this will be a powerful co-existence in the world of dirt modifieds.

“I am also excited about the chance to prove to regional tracks in our area that sanctioning with the USRA is a win-win situation.”

The 2005 season saw a total of 138 different drivers take the green flag with the BST Modified Series over 20 events at 13 different venues.

The tentative 2006 schedule for the BST Modified Series is highlighted by 23 events at 17 different racetracks in four States. The season is scheduled to kick off at the Sherman County Speedway in Goodland, Kan., on Friday, May 5. The 2006 grind will culminate on Saturday, Sept. 30, at the Phillips County Speedway in Holyoke, Colo.

For more information on the BST Modified Series call 720-422-5244 or visit www.bstracing.com online.

ABOUT THE USRA: Founded in 2001, the United States Racing Association (USRA) was created to provide a combination of cost-effective rules for competitors in weekly auto racing and effective marketing strategies to assist in the growth and popularity of the tracks at which they compete. More than just a set of rules or a familiar logo, the USRA serves as a marketing partner with the bottom line of our sanctioned tracks and drivers at interest, and we are committed to maintaining guidelines to make racing affordable and fun for racers, yet exciting and competitive for fans.

USRA TITLE SPONSOR: Casey's General Stores.

USRA OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Race Tires.

USRA CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: Boyer’s Engine Development, Edelbrock, Holley Performance Products, KSE Racing Products, MRW Racing Wheels, QuickTime Performance Race Parts, Racequest, Real Racing Wheels, TCI Automotive.