WHEATLAND, Mo. -- Officials from the new Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., have announced that they will be sanctioning their weekly Modified class with the United States Racing Association (USRA) for the 2006 racing season as part of the USRA Casey's General Stores Weekly Racing Series.

"It's a big feather in our hat to have the USRA banner flying at Lucas Oil Speedway," said USRA president Todd Staley. "The incredible money, labor and thought that has gone into the building of this facility is mind-boggling. Lucas Oil Speedway will most certainly be one of -- if not the -- Mecca of dirt track racing."

Weekly racing at the multi-million-dollar 3/8-mile dirt track facility will feature six classes, including the USRA Modifieds, limited late models, factory stocks, pure stocks, b-mods and an outlaw figure-8 class.

The "Diamond of Dirt Tracks" will be complete and the first green flag of the 2006 season will fly on Saturday night, May 20. The Lucas Oil Speedway will be state-of-the art in every way, including the best of the best amenities for race fans as well as the racing competitors.

Amenities for race fans at the new facility will include a slick surface go-kart rental track, racecar simulators at the video game and arcade center and a complete playground for children. The grandstand area will also feature a world class concession stand with weekly food specials and an inside dining area, a complete souvenir stand and a full service bar. A non-alcohol family bleacher section is also in place. Bleacher-style seating includes seat backs, while seats in the top six rows, or the reserved section, are stadium style chairs. New Musco lighting will provide TV quality lighting on the speedway and a high tech Bose PA system provides quality sound for all events. Plans also include state of the art scoring towers with a high-resolution video commercial and message board. VIP suites of various sizes are also available for rent on a nightly or annual basis. For the campers, there will be a full service campground located around the complex's beautiful five-acre lake. Wooded camping sites are also in the plans.

Amenities for competitors will include an asphalt and concrete pit area, a spacious staging area, an off-track work area and an easy-access drive-on scale with a three-lane tech barn. A separate bleacher section, including rest rooms and concessions, are also provided for those who are watching the races from the pits. Also located in the pit area are a fuel station, car wash and full service parts store and fabrication shop.

Beginning with the season opener on Saturday, May 20, USRA Modified competitors at the Lucas Oil Speedway will be racing for $1,000 to win the track championship, plus a shot at the $10,000 top prize for winning the USRA Modified national championship.

As part of USRA Casey's General Stores Weekly Racing Series, the following amounts are in place for the final top-10 in the USRA Modified points standings at each USRA-sanctioned track:

1st place - $1,000

2nd place - $700

3rd place - $500

4th place - $400

5th place - $300

6th place - $250

7th place - $200

8th place - $175

9th place - $150

10th place - $125

In addition, the following guaranteed minimum USRA Casey's General Stores Weekly Racing Series national championship points fund has been established for the USRA Modified division:

1st place - $10,000

2nd place - $5,000

3rd place - $3,500

4th place - $2,000

5th place - $1,500

6th place - $1,000

7th place - $1,000

8th place - $1,000

9th place - $1,000

10th place - $1,000

The Lucas Oil Speedway is located on US 54 at the east city limits of Wheatland, Mo. For more information about the Lucas Oil Speedway, call 417-282-5984. For a complete schedule of the 2006 events, continued information and to follow the progress at the Lucas Oil Speedway log on at www.lucasoilspeedway.com.