O’REILLY USMTS TRIPLEHEADER AWAITS MISSOURI RACE FANS
by: Jeff Nun

WEBSTER CITY, Ia (May 8, 2006) - The O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Series returns to the Show-Me State this coming weekend for a tripleheader journey to three of Missouri's fastest and finest dirt ovals for the 3rd Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts Missouri Spring Nationals.

Six-time defending O’Reilly USMTS champion Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa, leads the talented road warriors into the Bolivar Speedway USA on Friday, May 12, for the first of three $2,000-to-win events. On Saturday, the series travels to the Lebanon I-44 Speedway before winding up at the Monett Speedway on Sunday.

Other O’Reilly USMTS national drivers expected include current national points leader Mark Noble of Blooming Prairie, Minn., as well as Tommy Myer, Jon Tesch, Brad McEwan, Al Hejna, Ryan Ruter, Jason Friesen and Oklahoma standout Jason Hughes.

"These Modified drivers are the best in the entire nation," track promoter Randy Mooneyham said. "We should see 35 to 40 Modifieds check in."

Each show will pay $2,000 to win and $200 to start the main event.

On Friday, Modified Masters travel to Bolivar Speedway USA for the first leg of the three-race weekend. Last year, local pilot Jesse Stovall of Galena upset the invading aces with a crowd-pleasing victory at the 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval.

Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:30. Adult general admission tickets are $13, kids ages 13-16 are $5 and children ages 12 and under are admitted FREE. The track is located 3 miles south of Bolivar on SR 13 to CR U, then west to Frontage Rd., then 0.3 mile south, then 0.5 mile west.

On Saturday, May 13, the tireless touring aces head for the Lebanon I-44 Speedway where Al Hejna of Clear Lake, Iowa, took the $2,000 top prize in an exciting battle at the 4/10-mile high-banked clay oval last season.

Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 7 and racing at 7:30. Adult general admission tickets are $13, kids ages 13-15 are $5 and children 12 and under are admitted FREE. Tier parking on the "Wild Side" of the Speedway is just $15. The track is located 6 miles northeast of Lebanon on I-44 to exit 135 (Sleeper), then north to Outer Dr., then 1.1 miles west on Historic US 66.

The three-race weekend wraps up on Sunday, May 14, the Monett Speedway where Johnny Bone Jr. of Pea Ridge, Ark., will be looking to defend his victory last year at the 3/8-mile semi-banked oval.

Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 7 and racing at 7:30. Adult general admission tickets are $13, kids ages 13-15 are $5 and children 12 and under are admitted FREE. The track is located 1 mile east of SR 37 on US 60, then north on Chapel Dr. Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 7 and racing at 7:30 p.m.

A field of 24 cars will start the "A" main each night, with qualifying through heat races and "B" mains. The top 12 drivers in passing points accumulated in the heat races will be locked into the "A" main. Of those, eight drivers will re-draw for starting positions in the first four rows of the "A" main. An additional 10 cars will qualify from the "B" mains, with two provisional starters added to the field to create the 24-car starting field.

A big field of cars is expected for this event, including O’Reilly National Championship drivers Mark Noble, Kelly Shryock, Jon Tesch, Ryan Ruter, Jason Friesen, Tommy Myer, Brad McEwan, Zack VanderBeek, Al Hejna, Mike Wedelstadt, Dean Mahlstedt, Mike Steensma, Jeff Schluetter, Matt Gilbertson, Jay Poidinger, Dustin Boney, Mike Hejna, Josh Reisch, Kevin Larkins, Alan Mondus, Ron Ver Beek, Chevy Hadan, Marlin Kracht, Scott Drake, Jason Hughes, Brad Pinkerton, Brandon Morton, Tommy Weder Jr., Jeremy Tibben, Mark Elliott, Tony Fraise, Randy Timms, Jake Neal, Corey Dripps, Justin Cooper, Brett LaFollette Greg Metz, Ben McVinua, Steve Arpin, Mark Burgtorf, Joshua Vinnedge, Gary Clark, Chuck Stanton, Clayton Christenson, Jim Mathieson, Brent Bohmont, Ryan Meyer, Steve Stewart, Joe Bradshaw, Scott Mullen, Johnny Bone Jr., Dan Chapman, Brad Waits, Scott Roberts, Mel Saffran, Tommy Elston, Mike Chasteen, Julie McDermid, Michael Darnall, David Mitchell, Ryan York, Randy Zimmerman, John VanDenBerg, John Schwab, Mark Dotson, Eric Dailey, Brantlee Gotschall, Doug Buzzard and David Holder.

For more information, visit the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series online at www.USMTS.com.

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

Current standings as of May 8, 2006

O’REILLY NATIONAL DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP:
1. Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, MN .... 909 pts.
2. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, IA .... 839 pts.
3. Jon Tesch, Watertown, SD .... 820 pts.
4. Ryan Ruter, Forest City, IA .... 696 pts.
5. Jason Friesen, Sutton, NE .... 671 pts.
6. Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, MN .... 667 pts.
7. Brad McEwan, Storm Lake, IA .... 645 pts.
8. Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, IA .... 596 pts.
9. Al Hejna, Clear Lake, IA .... 573 pts.
10. Mike Wedelstadt, Hortonville, WI .... 558 pts.
11. Dean Mahlstedt, Clear Lake, IA .... 556 pts.
12. Mike Steensma, Luverne, MN .... 515 pts.
13. Jeff Schluetter, New Hampton, IA .... 472 pts.
14. Matt Gilbertson, Montevideo, MN .... 451 pts.
15. Jay Poidinger, Somerset, WI .... 447 pts.
16. Dustin Boney, Shawnee, KS .... 380 pts.
17. Mike Hejna, Clear Lake, IA .... 358 pts.
18. Josh Reisch, Luverne, MN .... 325 pts.
19. Kevin Larkins, Greenwood, NE .... 308 pts.
20. Alan Mondus, Lakeville, MN .... 284 pts.

SOUTHERN REGION CHAMPIONSHIP:
1. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, IA .... 109 pts.
2. Jon Tesch, Watertown, SD .... 95 pts.
3. Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, MN .... 92 pts.
4. Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, MN .... 88 pts.
4. Brandon Morton, Coweta, OK .... 88 pts.
4. Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, IL .... 88 pts.
7. Brad Pinkerton, New Sharon, IA .... 80 pts.
7. Dean Mahlstedt, Clear Lake, IA .... 80 pts.
9. Dustin Boney, Shawnee, KS .... 78 pts.
9. Corey Dripps, Waterloo, IA .... 78 pts.

ROOKIES ROCKIN' SPORTS BAR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:
1. Jason Friesen, Sutton, NE .... 197 pts.
2. Mike Steensma, Luverne, MN .... 150 pts.
3. Jeff Schluetter, New Hampton, IA .... 124 pts.
4. Matt Gilbertson, Montevideo, MN .... 115 pts.
5. Jay Poidinger, Somerset, WI .... 111 pts.

HOME PRIDE NATIONAL PASSING POINTS:
1. Jason Friesen, Sutton, NE .... 51.0 pts.
2. Ryan Ruter, Forest City, IA .... 48.0 pts.
3. Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, MN .... 45.0 pts.
4. Brad McEwan, Storm Lake, IA .... 40.5 pts.
4. Mike Steensma, Luverne, MN .... 40.5 pts.

UNIJIG BUILDERS CHAMPIONSHIP:
1. Skyrocket Chassis (Skyrocket) .... 83 pts.
2. Kraft Kar Race Cars (Kraft) .... 79 pts.
3. GRT Race Cars (GRT) .... 64 pts.
4. Hughes Chassis (Hughes) .... 58 pts.
5. Belleville Motorsports (BMS) .... 45 pts.

AMSOIL LAP LEADERS:
1. Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, MN .... 76 laps
2. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, IA .... 67 laps
3. Dean Mahlstedt, Clear Lake, IA .... 46 laps
4. Jon Tesch, Watertown, SD .... 30 laps
5. Jason Friesen, Sutton, NE .... 22 laps

HOLLEY "A" MAIN WINNERS:
1. Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, MN .... 3 wins
1. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, IA .... 3 wins
3. Jason Friesen, Sutton, NE .... 1 win
3. Jon Tesch, Watertown, SD .... 1 win
3. Dean Mahlstedt, Clear Lake, IA .... 1 win