WISCONSIN SUMMER NATIONALS ON TAP FOR O’REILLY USMTS
by: Jeff Nun

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (June 2, 2006) - School’s out for the summer, but the stars and cars of the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series are readying for their annual trek to the Dairy State, June 6-9, for the annual Wisconsin Summer Nationals tripleheader where they plan to keep class in session and serve up a lesson to the locals about the fastest way around three of the State’s fastest and most exciting dirt ovals.

On Tuesday, June 6, the rugged road warriors will find themselves in unfamiliar territory as the O’Reilly USMTS makes its inaugural visit to the Oshkosh Speed Zone Raceway in Oshkosh, Wis., for what promises to be an epic battle between a tough local contingent and the tireless touring aces in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Wisconsin Summer Nationals.

“The track is a one-third-mile on the inside and a half-mile on the outside,” said Jeff Lemiesz, who co-promotes the Winnebago County Fairgrounds facility with Eric Kellesvig and Larry Stratton. “We have them five-wide in the turns on many occasions, so there is plenty of room to race.”

Oshkosh regulars like Jay Schaufnagel, Dave Diemel, John Schultz, Brian Drexler and Scott Mullen and will be looking to defend their home turf against seven-time defending O’Reilly USMTS national champion Kelly Shryock, who leads the invasion force into Oshkosh with an eye on the $2,000 top prize. Other top touring pros such as Mark Noble, Ryan Ruter, Tommy Myer, Al Hejna, Brad McEwan, Zack VanderBeek, Jason Friesen, Dean Mahlstedt and Mike Wedelstadt are also expected to contend for the title.

Wedelstadt, who currently sits 11th in O’Reilly USMTS national points, will have even more to shoot for as he eyes his first O’Reilly USMTS win in his home state and, by doing so, could pocket some additional cash too.

On Wednesday, June 7, the Series travels to Sturgeon Bay's Thunderhill Raceway for the Forest County Potawatomi Wisconsin Summer Nationals presented by 105.7 WAPL where promoter Bryan Wodack has tacked on an additional $1,000 to win for any driver from the State of Wisconsin, bringing the winner's share to $3,000 for the winner if he or she hails from Wisconsin.

In addition to Wedelstadt, other contenders for the Badger resident bonus bucks include Julie McDermid of Fremont, Matt McDermid of Ocatona Falls, Jay Poidinger of Somerset, Chris Oertel of Marshfield and Scott Mullen of Seymour. Local contenders at the top of the “smart bet” set include current track points leader Jeremy Jacobs, Jared Siefert, Jay Matthias, Dan Ratacjak, Benji LaCrosse, Nick Anvelink, Sean Jerovetz and five-time Thunderhill Raceway track champ Todd Dart.

Jon Tesch of Watertown, S.D., is the defending champion of the event at the 3/8-mile slightly-banked dirt oval.

After a travel day on Wednesday, the tripleheader concludes on Friday night, June 9, with the first of three trips this season to the Fox Ridge Speedway in Arcadia. Tommy Myer of Blooming Prairie, Minn., returns as defending champ of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Wisconsin Summer Nationals at “The Ridge” while Brad McEwan of Storm Lake, Iowa, seeks redemption after leading the first 31 of 35 laps in last season's event.

A mega-tough bunch of USRA Casey's General Stores Weekly Racing Series regulars will be in full force with home field advantage at the 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval, including current track points leader Ron Konkel, Tim Donlinger, Rick Hauser, John Doelle, Gary Doelle, Brad Waits, Tom Paulson, Les Duellman, Hank Rollinger, Steve Arpin, Darin Duffy and Dan Bohr.

A fast and furious field of 24 cars will start the Holley “A” Main each night, with qualifying through heat races and Real Racing Wheels “B” Mains. The top 12 cars in Home Pride Passing Points accumulated in the heat races will be locked into the Holley “A” Main. An additional 10 cars will qualify from the Real Racing Wheels “B” Mains, with two provisional starters added to the Holley “A” Main to create the 24-car starting field. Additional track provisional(s) may be awarded.

Each show will pay $2,000 to win and a minimum of $200 to start the main event. All three events will award points in the Reich Concrete/Yeager Machine Northeast Region.

FAST FACTS:

TUESDAY, JUNE 6: The inaugural O’Reilly Auto Parts Wisconsin Summer Nationals at the Oshkosh Speed Zone Raceway in Oshkosh, Wis., will be the 18th of 73 races on the 2006 schedule for the O’Reilly USMTS -- the fourth of 12 scheduled events comprising the Reich Concrete/Yeager Machine Northeast Region slate. Pit gates will open at 4 p.m. with grandstands opening at 5. Hot laps start at 6:30 with racing scheduled for 7. Adult tickets are $15, with kids ages 6-14 getting in for $5 and children under 6 admitted free of charge. Pit passes are $25. Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks and Four-Cylinders will also be on the card (no entry fee, pit pass only). The Oshkosh Speed Zone Raceway is located off of US 41 at Exit 124, then southeast on US 76 (Jackson St.), then 0.8 mile south, then 0.5 mile east on CR Y (at the Winnebago County Fairgrounds). For race day information, call (920) 426-1111 or visit www.oshkoshspeedzone.net online.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7: The Forest County Potawatomi Wisconsin Summer Nationals presented by 105.7 WAPL at Thunderhill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., will be the 19th of 73 races on the 2006 schedule for the O’Reilly USMTS -- the fifth of 12 scheduled events comprising the Reich Concrete/Yeager Machine Northeast Region slate. Gates will open at 4 p.m., with hot laps at 6 and racing scheduled to start at 6:30. Adult tickets are $12, with seniors (60 and older) and students (13-17) admitted for $5. Kids ages 6-12 get in for $5 and children under 6 are admitted at no charge. Pit passes are $25. Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks and Four-Cylinders will also be on the card (no entry fee, pit pass only). Thunderhill Raceway is located 2.2 miles north of drawbridge on SR 42/57, then 0.6 mile west on CR T (Alabama St.), then 0.1 mile south on N. 15th Pl. (at the Door County Fairgrounds). For race day information, call (920) 743-7052 or visit www.racethunderhill.com online.

FRIDAY, JUNE 9: The O’Reilly Auto Parts Wisconsin Summer Nationals at Fox Ridge Speedway in Arcadia, Wis., will be the 20th of 73 races on the 2006 schedule for the O’Reilly USMTS -- the sixth of 12 scheduled events comprising the Reich Concrete/Yeager Machine Northeast Region slate. Gates will open at 5 p.m., with hot laps at 7. The green flag waves for the first heat race at 7:30. Adult tickets are $15, with kids ages 6-12 getting in for $5 and children under 6 admitted free of charge. Pit passes are $25. WISSOTA Super Stocks, WISSOTA Street Stocks, WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds and Hornets will also be on the card (no entry fee, pit pass only). The Fox Ridge Speedway is located 0.9 mile west of SR 93 on SR 95, then 0.5 mile north on Oak St., then right for 0.2 mile. For race day information, call (608) 323-3396 or visit www.foxridgespeedway.com online.

USMTS NATIONAL DRIVERS: Steve Arpin, Brent Bohmont, Dan Bohr, Johnny Bone Jr., Dustin Boney, Joe Bradshaw, Mark Burgtorf, Dan Chapman, Mike Chasteen, Clayton Christensen, Gary Clark, Justin Cooper, Mookie Cunningham, Eric Dailey, Michael Darnall, Tim Donlinger, Mark Dotson, Scott Drake, Corey Dripps, Les Duellman, Tommy Elston, Tony Fraise, Jason Friesen, Matt Gilbertson, Chevy Hadan, Mike Hejna, Al Hejna, David Holder, Jim Horejsi, Jason Hughes, Marlin Kracht, Tyson Kraft, Jason Krohn, Brett LaFollette, Kevin Larkins, Patrick Linn, Dean Mahlstedt, Jim Mathieson, Matt McDermid, Julie McDermid, Brad McEwan, Ben McVinua, Greg Metz, Ryan Meyer, David Mitchell, Alan Mondus, Brandon Morton, Scott Mullen, Tommy Myer, Jake Neal, Mark Noble, Garry Oskerson, Tom Paulson, Brad Pinkerton, Jay Poidinger, Josh Reisch, Scott Roberts, Ryan Ruter, Mel Saffran, Joey Schaefer, Jeff Schluetter, John Schwab, Kelly Shryock, Mike Sorensen, Mike Spaulding, Chuck Stanton, Mike Steensma, Steve Stewart, Russell Stewart, Jon Tesch, Jeremy Tibben, Bob Timm, Randy Timms, John VanDenBerg, Zack VanderBeek, Ron Ver Beek, Joshua Vinnedge, Brad Waits, Nate Wasmund, Mike Wedelstadt, Tommy Weder Jr., Steve Wetzstein, Chad Wheeler, Ryan York and Randy Zimmerman.


REICH CONCRETE/YEAGER MACHINE NORTHEAST REGION DRIVERS: Jason Hyerdall, Dave Mass, Chris Oertel, Bobby Sorensen and Joe Wernecke.


USMTS TITLE SPONSOR: O’Reilly Auto Parts.


USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Race Tires, AMSOIL, Dirt Works Race Cars, Holley Performance Products, Home Pride Companies, Intercomp, Marsh Racing Wheels, Nitroquest Web Solutions, 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, Impact Racing, 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.



O’REILLY NATIONAL DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:

1. 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa .... 1605
2. 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn. .... 1510
3. 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn. .... 1363
4. 555 Ryan Ruter, Forest City, Iowa .... 1359
5. 1F Jason Friesen, Sutton, Neb. .... 1244
6. 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa .... 1240
7. 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa .... 1210
8. 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D. .... 1196
9. 21m Dean Mahlstedt, Clear Lake, Iowa .... 1194
10. 26 Brad McEwan, Storm Lake, Iowa .... 1192


REICH CONCRETE/YEAGER MACHINE NORTHEAST REGION STANDINGS:

1. 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa .... 305
2. 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn. .... 288
3. 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa .... 262
4. 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa .... 256
5. 555 Ryan Ruter, Forest City, Iowa .... 253
6. 26 Brad McEwan, Storm Lake, Iowa .... 214
7. 1F Jason Friesen, Sutton, Neb. .... 213
8. 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn. .... 191
9. 7II Mike Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa .... 188
10. 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa .... 183


ROOKIES ROCKIN’ SPORTS BAR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR STANDINGS:

1. 1F Jason Friesen, Sutton, Neb. .... 369
2. 10 Mike Steensma, Luverne, Minn. .... 225
3. 35 Jeff Schluetter, New Hampton, Iowa .... 214
4. 23 Matt Gilbertson, Montevideo, Minn. .... 200
5. 49x Jay Poidinger, Somerset, Wis. .... 184


UNIJIG BUILDERS CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:

1. Skyrocket Chassis, Fertile, Iowa .... 159
2. Kraft Kar Race Cars, Lakefield, Minn. .... 131
3. Hughes Chassis, Colcord, Okla. .... 109
4. GRT Race Cars, Greenbrier, Ark. .... 92
5. Belleville Motorsports, Belleville, Kan. .... 81


HOME PRIDE PASSING POINTS (National):

1. 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn. .... 75.0
2. 1F Jason Friesen, Sutton, Neb. .... 73.5
3. 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa .... 69.0
4. 555 Ryan Ruter, Forest City, Iowa .... 66.0
4. 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa .... 66.0


HOME PRIDE PASSING POINTS (Regional):

1. 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa .... 19.5
2. 19 Mike Sorensen, Rochester, Minn. .... 16.5
3. 26 Brad McEwan, Storm Lake, Iowa .... 13.5
4. 24 Brad Waits, Zumbrota, Minn. .... 10.5
4. 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa .... 10.5


2006 MAIN EVENT WINNERS:

1. 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa .... 7
2. 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn. .... 4
3. 555 Ryan Ruter, Forest City, Iowa .... 2
4. 1F Jason Friesen, Sutton, Neb. .... 1
4. 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D. .... 1
4. 21m Dean Mahlstedt, Clear Lake, Iowa .... 1
4. 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn. .... 1



2006 AMSOIL LAP LEADERS:

1. 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa .... 146
2. 555 Ryan Ruter, Forest City, Iowa .... 90
3. 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn. .... 76
4. 21m Dean Mahlstedt, Clear Lake, Iowa .... 46
5. 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn. .... 37


2006 SCHEDULE:

[W] Fri Mar 10 - Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, NE (winner: Jason Friesen)
[W] Sat Mar 11 - Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, NE (winner: Jon Tesch)
[W] Fri Mar 24 - Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, KS (winner: Mark Noble)
[W] Sat Mar 25 - Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, KS (winner: Dean Mahlstedt)
[C] Fri Apr 7 - Pritchard Family Auto Stores Hancock County Speedway, Britt, IA (winner: Kelly Shryock)
[C] Sat Apr 8 - Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA (winner: Mark Noble)
[W] Fri Apr 14 - Blackbird Bend Speedway, Onawa, IA (winner: Mark Noble)
[C] Fri May 5 - Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway, Bloomfield, IA (winner: Kelly Shryock)
[S][C] May 6 - Pepsi Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, MO (winner: Kelly Shryock)
[S] Fri May 12 - Bolivar Speedway USA, Bolivar, MO (winner: Ryan Ruter)
[S] Sat May 13 - Lebanon I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, MO (winner: Kelly Shryock)
[S] Sun May 14 - Monett Speedway, Monett, MO (winner: Mark Noble)
[W] Thu May 25 - Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, SD (winner: Kelly Shryock)
[N] Fri May 26 - Murray County Speedway, Slayton, MN (winner: Kelly Shryock)
[N] Sat May 27 - Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN (winner: Ryan Ruter)
[N] Sun May 28 - Dodge County Speedway, Kasson, MN (winner: Tommy Myer)
[C] Mon May 29 - Pritchard Family Auto Stores Hancock County Speedway, Britt, IA (winner: Kelly Shryock)
[N] Tue Jun 6 - Oshkosh Speed Zone Raceway, Oshkosh, WI ($2,000 to win)
[N] Wed Jun 7 - Thunderhill Raceway, Sturgeon Bay, WI ($2,000 to win)
[N] Fri Jun 9 - Fox Ridge Speedway, Arcadia, WI ($2,000 to win)
[S] Fri Jun 16 - Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS ($2,000 to win)
[S] Sat Jun 17 - Lebanon I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, MO ($2,000 to win)
[S] Sun Jun 18 - Monett Speedway, Monett, MO ($2,000 to win)
[C] Tue Jun 20 - Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA ($2,000 to win)
[N] Wed Jun 21 - Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA ($2,000 to win)
[W] Thu Jun 22 - Adams County Speedway, Corning, IA ($2,000 to win)
[W] Fri Jun 23 - Rapid Speedway, Rock Rapids, IA ($2,000 to win)
[W] Tue Jun 27 - Interstate Speedway, Jefferson, SD ($2,000 to win)
[W] Wed Jun 28 - Dakota State Fair Speedway, Huron, SD ($2,000 to win)
[W] Thu Jun 29 - Casino Speedway, Watertown, SD ($2,000 to win)
[S] Sat Jul 1 - Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, MO (Preliminaries)
[S] Sun Jul 2 - Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, MO (Preliminaries)
[S] Mon Jul 3 - Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, MO ($5,000 to win)
[N] Wed Jul 12 - Dodge County Speedway, Kasson, MN ($2,000 to win)
[N] Thu Jul 13 - Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA ($2,000 to win)
[N] Fri Jul 14 - Fox Ridge Speedway, Arcadia, WI ($2,000 to win)
[N] Sat Jul 15 - Jackson Speedway, Jackson, MN ($2,000 to win)
[W] Wed Jul 19 - Eagle Raceway, Eagle, NE ($2,000 to win)
[W] Thu Jul 20 - Huset’s Speedway, Brandon, SD ($2,000 to win)
[N] Fri Jul 21 - Murray County Speedway, Slayton, MN ($2,000 to win)
[S] Fri Jul 28 - Batesville Speedway, Batesville, AR ($2,000 to win)
[S] Sat Jul 29 - Batesville Speedway, Batesville, AR ($3,000 to win)
[C] Tue Aug 1 - Benton County Speedway, Vinton, IA ($2,000 to win)
[C] Wed Aug 2 - Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA ($2,000 to win)
[C] Thu Aug 3 - Knox County Fairgrounds, Knoxville, IL ($2,000 to win)
[C] Fri Aug 4 - Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway, Bloomfield, IA ($2,000 to win)
[S][C] Sat Aug 5 - Pepsi Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, MO ($2,000 to win)
[S] Fri Aug 11 - Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, MO ($2,000 to win)
[S] Sat Aug 12 - Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, MO ($3,000 to win)
[C] Tue Aug 15 - West Liberty Raceway, West Liberty, IA ($2,000 to win)
[C] Wed Aug 16 - Farley Speedway, Farley, IA ($2,000 to win)
[H] Thu Aug 17 - Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, IA ($2,000 to win)
[H] Fri Aug 18 - Fox Ridge Speedway, Arcadia, WI ($2,000 to win)
[H] Sat Aug 19 - Jackson Speedway, Jackson, MN ($2,000 to win)
[H] Thu Aug 31 - Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA ($2,000 to win)
[H] Fri Sep 1 - Chateau Raceway, Lansing, MN ($2,000 to win)
[H] Sat Sep 2 - Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win)
[H] Sun Sep 3 - Dodge County Speedway, Kasson, MN ($2,000 to win)
[H] Fri Sep 15 - Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA ($2,000 to win)
[H] Sat Sep 16 - Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA ($2,000 to win)
[H] Thu Sep 21 - Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN (Preliminaries)
[H] Fri Sep 22 - Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN (Preliminaries)
[H] Sat Sep 23 - Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN (TBD)
[H] Fri Oct 6 - Adams County Speedway, Corning, IA ($2,000 to win)
[H] Sat Oct 7 - Adams County Speedway, Corning, IA ($3,000 to win)
[H] Thu Oct 12 - State Fair Speedway, Oklahoma City, OK (Preliminaries)
[H] Fri Oct 13 - State Fair Speedway, Oklahoma City, OK (Preliminaries)
[H] Sat Oct 14 - State Fair Speedway, Oklahoma City, OK ($25,000 to win)
[H] Fri Oct 20 - Bolivar Speedway USA, Bolivar, MO ($2,000 to win)
[H] Sat Oct 21 - Bolivar Speedway USA, Bolivar, MO ($3,000 to win)
[H] Fri Nov 3 - Pepsi Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, MO ($2,000 to win)
[H] Sat Nov 4 - Pepsi Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, MO ($3,000 to win)


[W] = Western Region
[C] = Central Region
[S] = Dirt Works Race Cars Southern Region
[N] = Reich Concrete/Yeager Machine Northeast Region
[H] = ‘The Hunt’ - National Championship Series


‘The Hunt’ will be comprised of the final 21 races of the season. The O’Reilly USMTS National Championship points system will be used at all regional events, with the top-10 in the final standings for each region earning 10 points for first place, 9 points for second place and so forth, descending to 1 point for tenth place in the region. Each driver who competed at all events within a region will also earn 5 bonus points. The total points earned for all regions will serve as the base points that each driver will start ‘The Hunt’ with. The O’Reilly USMTS National Championship points system will be used at the remaining events for the drivers in ‘The Hunt’ to determine the 2006 O’Reilly USMTS National Champion. Any driver finishing among the top-10 in the final points standings or attending all events in one or more regions will qualify to be in ‘The Hunt’ and thereby earn a legitimate shot at becoming the 2006 O’Reilly USMTS National Champion.

ABOUT THE USMTS: To learn more about the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series, call the O’Reilly USMTS headquarters at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.USMTS.com online.