NOBLE TRIPLES UP IN CASINOMAHA “DOUBLE DOWN” SHOWDOWN PRELIM
by: Jeff Nun

ONAWA, Iowa (April 14, 2006) – In the game of blackjack, experts will tell you a good way to enlarge your stack of chips is to double your wager – referred to as “doubling down” -- when your cards are a seven and a four.

Perhaps an even better way to beat the house is to bet on the driver with a seven and a four on the door when the O’Reilly USMTS is in town.

Continuing his remarkable rags-to-riches season, veteran racer Mark Noble powered his No. 74 Olympic Fire Protection/Yeager Implement Kraft Modified to a wire-to-wire win as he dominated Friday night’s O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series main event at the Blackbird Bend Speedway -- the first of two nights for the inaugural CasinOmaha “Double Down” Showdown at the action-packed 1/3-mile oval.

Noble, who started on the outside of the front row of the 30-lapper, took command at the drop of the green flag, survived several cautions and held off Mike Hejna and Kelly Shryock early in the contest before pulling away to a 10-car-length margin of victory when the checkered flags waved.

Throughout the 2005 season, it seemed like the popular pilot from Blooming Prairie, Minn., was constantly breaking mirrors while he walked beneath a ladder with a black cat in his path. Mechanical failures happened more often than not, and a crash in May at the Deer Creek Speedway sidelined Noble for nearly a month. He ended the season with just three top-5 and four top-10 finishes, earning $11,100 and squeaking into a 10th-place finish in the final standings with just a two-point margin over 11th-place Jason Krohn.

What a difference a year makes.

In the 2006 season (so far), Noble has now scored three wins in seven races, and has finished no worse than fourth in the other four races. And on the eve of the deadline for having to file his federal tax bill on last year’s winnings, the 49-year-old crowd favorite has already accumulated $11,500 in earnings for his 2006 Form 1040.

In Friday night’s Holley “A” Main, polesitter Mike Hejna of Clear Lake, Iowa, hugged the low line as he kept the pressure on the high-groove-running Noble. Four cautions with double-file restarts kept the field within striking distance of Noble throughout the first 10 laps. Over the final caution-free 20 laps, however, Noble extended his advantage as he sifted through lapped traffic en route to a $2,000 pay day.

Shryock, meanwhile, hounded Hejna for 23 laps before finally making the pass with a slingshot move to the low side of turn 4. The seven-time defending O’Reilly USMTS national champion from Fertile, Iowa, held on for the runner-up finish while Hejna relinquished third-place to his older brother, Al, with two laps to go.

Brad McEwan of Storm Lake, Iowa, passed 10 cars on his way to a fifth-place finish while Colcord, Okla.’s Jason Hughes passed 14 cars to finish sixth and earn the Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger honors.

With the win, Noble padded his points lead in both the O’Reilly National Driver standings, as well as the Western Region rankings, and also gave Kraft Kar Race Cars a one-point lead over Shryock’s Skyrocket Chassis in the UNIJIG Builders Championship standings. By leading lap 15, Noble also earned the Marsh Racing Wheels Halfway Leader Award – his second of the season.

The CasinOmaha “Double Down” Showdown continues on Saturday (April 15) at Blackbird Bend Speedway with a $3,000-to-win main event to close out the weekend doubleheader. Saturday’s fun will kick off at 2 p.m., however, as CasinOmaha hosts the first-ever “USMTS All Star Poker Challenge” -- a No Limit Texas Hold 'Em poker tournament paying the winner $500 from a $1,000 prize pool sponsored by CasinOmaha.

The “USMTS All Star Poker Challenge” will feature 12 players, including the top-5 drivers in the O’Reilly USMTS national points standings (Noble, Jon Tesch, Shryock, Ryan Ruter and Jason Friesen) and five randomly-drawn drivers from Friday night’s entries (Jay Noteboom, Matt Bonine, Jim Mathieson, Brad McEwan and Mike Wedelstadt). The final two seats will be filled by O’Reilly USMTS promoter Todd Staley and Arianne Shawes, whose winning ticket was drawn among the fans in Friday night’s jam-packed grandstands. A $100 bonus is up for grabs to the player who knocks Staley out of the game.

Gates open at 4 p.m. on Saturday with hot laps at 6:30 and racing scheduled to begin at 7. Adult tickets are just $15 with kids (ages 6-12) $5 and children 5 and under admitted free of charge. Pit passes are $30. Hobby Stocks and 360 Sportmods will also be on the racing card.

For more information, call (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online.

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

OFFICIAL RESULTS
O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series
Inaugural CasinOmaha “Double Down” Showdown
Blackbird Bend Speedway, Onawa, Iowa
Friday, April 14, 2006

Showing finishing position, car number, driver, hometown and starting position in parentheses.

The top 12 drivers in Home Pride Passing Points accumulated in the heat races are locked into the Holley “A” Main, with the top 8 re-drawing for starting positions 1-8.


ISKY RACING CAMS HEAT RACE #1 (10 laps):
1. 7ii - Mike Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (1)
2. 10 - Mike Steensma -- Luverne, MN (7)
3. 1f - Jason Friesen -- Sutton, NE (3)
4. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (6)
5. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (8)
6. 25 - Ricky Stephan -- S. Sioux City, NE (2)
7. 98 - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN (9)
8. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (10)
9. 34 - Jay Goosman -- Himton, IA (5)
10. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (4) DNF

HEAT RACE #2 (10 laps):
1. X - Mike Wedelstadt -- Hortonville, WI (3)
2. 4x - Kevin Larkins -- Greenwood, NE (4)
3. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (5)
4. 19 - Marlin Kracht -- Luverne, MN (1)
5. 4r - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (7)
6. 80 - Josh Pruitt -- Dexter, IA (10)
7. 3n - Mark Neal -- N. Sioux City, IA (2)
8. m80 - Jim Mathieson -- Sioux City, IA (9)
9. 14x - Matt Bonine -- Onawa, IA (8)
10. z98 - Denny Johnson -- Sioux City, IA (6)

HEAT RACE #3 (10 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (5)
2. 20 - Dustin Boney -- Shawnee, KS (1)
3. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (10)
4. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA (6)
5. 57 - Chad Williamson -- Watertown, SD (3)
6. 36 - Ben McVinua -- Storm Lake, IA (4)
7. 27 - Randy Brands -- Boiden, IA (8)
8. 83 - Jesse Cowles -- Sioux City, IA (9)
9. 48 - Bob Moore -- Sioux City, IA (7) DNF
10. 4 - Chevy Hadan -- Waterloo, NE (2) DNF

HEAT RACE #4 (10 laps):
1. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (3)
2. 23 - Matt Gilbertson -- Montevideo, MN (4)
3. 86jr - Dirk Kirk -- Sloan, IA (5)
4. 12h - Mike Hansen -- Alta, IA (8)
5. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (6)
6. 27h - Clint Homan -- Bellevue, NE (9)
7. 70h - Steve Hawks -- Topeka, KS (1)
8. J - Chris Johnson -- Lead, SD (2)DNF
9. 555 - Ryan Ruter -- Forest City, IA (7) DNF

HEAT RACE #5 (10 laps):
1. 35 - Jeff Schluetter -- New Hampton, IA (4)
2. 16 - Reese Coffee -- Hinton, IA (5)
3. 9 - Kent Arment -- Aberdeen, SD (6)
4. 18s - Brent Bohmont -- Martell, NE (7)
5. 55x - Jim Cole -- Sioux City, IA (3)
6. 49 - Ken Murray -- Crandon, WI (8)
7. 1s - John Klynsma -- Hospers, IA (9)
8. 7m - Mitch Dowhower -- Homer, NE (2)
9. 72 - Mike Lineberry -- Fontanelle, NE (1)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 1f - Jason Friesen -- Sutton, NE (3)
2. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA (4)
3. 55x - Jim Cole -- Sioux City, IA (8)
4. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (1)
5. 98 - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN (10)
6. 19 - Marlin Kracht -- Luverne, MN (5)
7. 48 - Bob Moore -- Sioux City, IA (16)
8. 25 - Ricky Stephan -- S. Sioux City, NE (9)
9. 27h - Clint Homan -- Bellevue, NE (7)
10. 27 - Randy Brands -- Boiden, IA (11)
11. m80 - Jim Mathieson -- Sioux City, IA (13)
12. 34 - Jay Goosman -- Himton, IA (15) DNF
13. 72 - Mike Lineberry -- Fontanelle, NE (17) DNF
14. 12h - Mike Hansen -- Alta, IA (2) DNF
15. 70h - Steve Hawks -- Topeka, KS (12) DNF
16. 80 - Josh Pruitt -- Dexter, IA (6) DNF
17. z98 - Denny Johnson -- Sioux City, IA (18) DNF
18. J - Chris Johnson -- Lead, SD (14) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (6)
2. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (4)
3. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (3)
4. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (17)
5. 4r - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (5)
6. 86jr - Dirk Kirk -- Sloan, IA (1)
7. 1s - John Klynsma -- Hospers, IA (10)
8. 18s - Brent Bohmont -- Martell, NE (2)
9. 83 - Jesse Cowles -- Sioux City, IA (13)
10. 49 - Ken Murray -- Crandon, WI (8)
11. 3n - Mark Neal -- N. Sioux City, IA (11)
12. 14x - Matt Bonine -- Onawa, IA (15)
13. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (12)
14. 7m - Mitch Dowhower -- Homer, NE (14) -1 Lap
15. 57 - Chad Williamson -- Watertown, SD (7) DNF
16. 36 - Ben McVinua -- Storm Lake, IA (9) DNF
17. 555 - Ryan Ruter -- Forest City, IA (16) DNF
18. 4 - Chevy Hadan -- Waterloo, NE (18) DNF

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (30 laps):
1. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (2)
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (4)
3. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (8)
4. 7ii - Mike Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (1)
5. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA (15)
6. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (20)
7. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (19)
8. X - Mike Wedelstadt -- Hortonville, WI (5)
9. 1f - Jason Friesen -- Sutton, NE (13)
10. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (16)
11. 16 - Reese Coffee -- Hinton, IA (6)
12. 20 - Dustin Boney -- Shawnee, KS (12)
13. 98 - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN (21)
14. 4r - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (22)
15. 35 - Jeff Schluetter -- New Hampton, IA (7)
16. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (18) -1 Lap
17. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (24) -1 Lap
18. 55x - Jim Cole -- Sioux City, IA (17) DNF
19. 9 - Kent Arment -- Aberdeen, SD (11) DNF
20. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (14) DNF
21. 10 - Mike Steensma -- Luverne, MN (3) DNF
22. 23 - Matt Gilbertson -- Montevideo, MN (10) DNF
23. 555 - Ryan Ruter -- Forest City, IA (23) DNF
24. 4x - Kevin Larkins -- Greenwood, NE (9) DNF

Lap Leaders: Noble 1-30.
Total Laps Led: Noble 30.
Provisional Starters: Ruter, Poidinger.
Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger: Hughes (started 20th, finished 6th).
Next Race: April 15, Blackbird Bend Speedway, Onawa, Iowa.
O’Reilly National Driver Points (top 10): Noble 727, Tesch 635, Shryock 622, Ruter 533, Friesen 529, McEwan 525, Myer 509, A. Hejna 484, Wedelstadt 461, VanderBeek 440.
Western Region Points (top 10): Noble 516, Tesch 450, Shryock 440 Ruter 397, Friesen 383, McEwan 362, Myer 355, Noteboom 326, Larkins 308, A. Hejna 304.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points (top 5): Friesen 83, Steensma 45, Larkins 37, Ver Beek 35, Reisch 30.
UNIJIG Builders Championship Points (top 5): Kraft 64, Skyrocket 63, GRT 48, Hughes 47, BMS 35.

Contingency Awards:
Bassett Racing Wheel – A. Hejna.
Belleville Motorsports – McEwan, Tesch, Schluetter, Myer.
Boyer’s Engine Development – Noble.
Dynatech Racing Exhaust – Noble, Shryock.
Edelbrock – Noble, Shryock.
Fast Shafts – McEwan.
GRT Race Cars – Hughes.
Isky Racing Cams – M. Hejna.
KEVKO Oil Pans & Components – M. Hejna.
KSE Racing Products – Wedelstadt.
Larson Racing Specialists – Reisch.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Noble.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Noteboom.
RaceQuest – Noble, Kracht, Kirk.
Real Racing Wheels – Friesen, Myer.
T.A.R. Race Car Bodies – Tesch.
UNIJIG – A. Hejna.

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

USMTS TITLE SPONSOR: O’Reilly Auto Parts.

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Race Tires, Holley Performance Products, Home Pride Companies, Intercomp, Marsh Racing Wheels, Olympic Fire Protection, R.A. Benson Motorsports, Real Racing Wheels, Reich Concrete, Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar, SpeedNet Direct, UNIJIG, Yeager Machine.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Bassett Racing Wheel, Bell Racing, Belleville Motorsports, Bert Transmission, Boyer’s Engine Development, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, Edelbrock, Fast Shafts, GRT Race Cars, Hyperco, Intensitee Custom Clothing, Isky Racing Cams, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, KSE Racing Products, Larson Racing Specialists, Quarter Master, QuickTime Performance Race Parts, RaceQuest, T.A.R. Race Car Bodies, US Brake.