NO REST FOR THE WICKED: O’REILLY USMTS ROLLS INTO MAYETTA THIS WEEKEND

MAYETTA, Kan. (March 13) - After a thrilling opening weekend at the Junction Motor Speedway, the stars of the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series will barely have time to catch their breath as America's premier Modified series rolls on this Friday and Saturday, March 17-18, with a doubleheader event at the Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kan.

"Last weekend's show is going to be a tough act to follow," said O’Reilly USMTS race organizer Todd Staley. "The track was tough on Friday but in excellent shape on Saturday, and we had a great crowd despite the chilly weather. I don't think a single person left their seat before the checkered flag.

"If you thought this past weekend was good, just wait and see what these guys will do now that they've gotten warmed up!"

After a pair of top-5 finishes on Friday and Saturday, seven-time defending O’Reilly USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa, enters the 4th Annual Kansas Spring Fling tied for fourth in the O’Reilly National points standings, and will be looking to put his familiar No. 3 Skyrocket back in the winners circle. Shryock swept both nights at Thunderhill Speedway last season en route to his seventh O’Reilly USMTS National Championship.

Shryock also swept all three events at Thunderhill in 2004. Only Dustin Boney and Tommy Myer have been able to beat Shryock at the Mayetta, Kan., speedplant, with their wins coming during the inaugural event in 2003.

After a pair of top-5 runs himself this past weekend, Mark Noble of Blooming Prairie, Minn., leads all points contenders into this weekend's race. On the strength of his win Saturday, Jon Tesch of Watertown, S.D., sits second in points with Ryan Ruter of Forrest City, Iowa, in third. Shryock is tied for fourth of Randy Timms of Wheatland, Okla.

Other O’Reilly USMTS drivers expected this weekend include Steve Arpin, Johnny Bone Jr., Dustin Boney, Mike Chasteen, Clayton Christensen, Gary Clark, Justin Cooper, Mookie Cunningham, Michael Darnall, Scott Drake, Tony Fraise, Jason Friesen, Matt Gilbertson, Chevy Hadan, Al Hejna, Jim Horejsi, Jason Hughes, Marlin Kracht, Brett LaFollette, Kevin Larkins, Dean Mahlstedt, Jim Mathieson, Matt McDermid, Brad McEwan, Greg Metz, Alan Mondus, Scott Mullen, Jake Neal, Chris Oertel, Jay Poidinger, Josh Reisch, Jeff Schluetter, John Schwab, Chuck Stanton, Mike Steensma, Jeremy Tibben, Zack VanderBeek, Joshua Vinnedge, Nate Wasmund, Mike Wedelstadt, Tommy Weder Jr., Ryan York.

Expected Western Region competitors include John Allen, Matt Bonine, Reese Coffee, Jim Cole, Wade Cross, Mike Hansen, Dave Hardesty, Mike Johnson, Tim Karrick, Darrick Klima, Mike Lineberry, Jay Noteboom, Matt Richards, Johnny Saathoff, Ricky Stephan, Jason Thoennes and Scott Ward.

Friday's "A" Main winner will pocket $2,000 while Saturday's winner will take home $3,000.

Gates open at 4 p.m. on Friday with hot laps at 6:30 and racing to follow. Grandstand general admission is $12 for adults and $4 for kids. On Saturday, gates open at 12 noon, with hot laps at 3 p.m. and racing at 3:30. Grandstand general admission is $15 for adults and $5 for kids. Children under 6 are admitted free both days. Pit passes are $25 Friday, $30 Saturday.

USRA Stock Cars (formerly Factory Stocks) and USRA Hobby Stocks will also be on the racing card both days (no entry fee - pit pass only). The USRA Stock Car winner will earn $250 Friday and $400 Saturday. USRA Hobby Stocks will pay $200 to win on Friday and $300 to win on Saturday. This event will be a national points race for both USRA-sanctioned classes -- the first USRA points races of the 2006 season.

The 4th Annual Kansas Spring Fling will be the third and fourth of 74 races on the 2006 schedule for the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series -- the third and fourth of 14 scheduled events comprising the Western Region slate

For more information, contact the USMTS office by calling 515-832-7944 or email Race Director Todd Staley at todd@usmts.com. The O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series is online at www.usmts.com.

O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series
National Points Standings (top 20) after March 11, 2006:

1. 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, MN .... 205
2. 14 John Tesch, Watertown, SD .... 196 (1 win)
3. 555 Ryan Ruter, Forrest City, IA .... 188
4. 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, IA .... 187
4. 5 Randy Timms, Wheatland, OK .... 187
6. 1f Jason Friesen, Sutton, NE .... 170 (1 win)
7. 00eh Steve Arpin, Fort Frances, ON, CAN .... 164
8. 26 Brad McEwan, Storm Lake, IA .... 159
9. 12 Jason Hughes, Colcord, OK .... 140
10. 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, MN .... 139
11. 4 Chevy Hadan, Waterloo, NE .... 136
12. 1 Scott Mullen, Seymour, WI .... 126
13. 4x Kevin Larkins, Greenwood, NE .... 125
14. 98a John Allen, Chanute, KS .... 124
15. 2 Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, OK .... 118
16. 21m Dean Mahlstedt, Clear Lake, IA .... 115
17. 00 Joshua Vinnedge, Forreston, IL .... 107
17. X Mike Wedelstadt, Hortonville, WI .... 107
19. 17 Jeremy Tibben, Stanton, IA .... 101
20. 35 Jeff Schluetter, New Hampton, IA .... 100