Officials from RL Promotions and the Southern Iowa Speedway are readying one final extravaganza to end the 2008 season with a bang as the Mahaska County Half-Mile Monster comes alive for the 22nd Annual MUSCO Lighting Fall Challenge on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 10-11.

More than $40,000 in four classes up for grabs.

The event will feature the “cream of the crop” in all four USRA-sanctioned classes — Modifieds, Stock Cars, B-Mods and Hobby Stocks — with a twist on the payoff that will see the cream rise to the top in each division.

Each of the four classes will race for $1,000 to win on Friday and each class will race for $1,500 to win on Saturday.

The 22nd Annual MUSCO Lighting Fall Challenge will feature some of the best drivers and teams that each division has to offer, and the fans will get to enjoy a complete show each night. All drivers in each class will draw each night for heat race starting positions.

On Friday night, pita gates open at 4 p.m. and grandstands will open at 4:30, with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7. On Saturday, pit gates open at 3 p.m. with grandstands opening at 3:30, hot laps at 5:30 and the mud starts flying at 6 p.m. All seats are general admission, so get there early!

Camping sites with hook-ups are available at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds.

There is no USRA license requirement to compete in this blockbuster event, but licensed drivers will be racing for national points on the next-to-last weekend of points for the USRA Casey’s General Stores Weekly Racing Series. With tight points battles emerging, nearly every one of the top-10 drivers in each class are expected as officials are readying the pit areas for a possible 150 cars or more.

Drivers may view additional information and download an entry form at www.rlpromotions.com/fallchallenge.pdf. Early entry forms must be postmarked by Oct. 7.

For complete rules go to www.usraracing.com.

Defending MUSCO Lighting Fall Challenge champions are Dean Mahlstedt of Clear Lake (Modifieds), Bobby Greiner Jr. of Ottumwa (Stock Cars), Ken Bryant of Ottumwa (B-Mods) and Bill Gibson of Knoxville (Hobby Stocks).

For more information, call the RL Promotions offices at (515) 832-6000. For day-of-race information, call the track hotline at (507) 634-4281 or visit www.rlpromotions.com/oskaloosa online.