BECKHAM SEEKS VINDICATION AT MONETT

MONETT, Mo. (June 17, 2006) - Saturday night's scheduled O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series event at the Lebanon I-44 Speedway was rained out. Tomorrow (Sunday, June 18), the O’Reilly USMTS returns for their second and final visit of the season to the Monett Speedway in Monett, Mo.

For Terry Beckham Jr., it's a chance to once again prove himself to be among the best of the best, and an opportunity to take home the trophy he had to give back last time.

While seven-time defending O’Reilly USMTS national champion Kelly Shryock and veteran ace Mark Noble won the last races at Lebanon and Monett on May 13 and 14, respectively, it was local favorite Beckham who was the man to beat. At Lebanon, mechanical woes beat Beckham late in the race while an apparent wire-to-wire victory at Monett was wiped out when he failed to make the post-race weight minimum and was disqualified.

“Like I always say, these are some of the best Modified drivers in the country, racing on one track, for one night,” track promoter Randy Mooneyham said.

O’Reilly USMTS regulars won’t find easy pickings at the Monett Speedway. USRA Modified talents like Jeff Cutshaw, Justin Neuman, Steve Martin and USRA Casey's General Stores Weekly Racing Series national points leader Jesse Stovall will make life miserable for the invading road warriors

“What people don’t realize is these USMTS guys aren’t just bringing the best talent in the nation here, but they’re meeting it head-on,” Mooneyham added. “Our local guys always race competitively with them, making any driver work hard for a win.”

Mooneyham expects anywhere from 45 to 50 Modifieds to check in for the event. Forty-seven drivers checked in for the previous O’Reilly USMTS race at Monett.

“This is going to be one heck of a show,” Mooneyham concluded.

After a travel day on Monday, the O’Reilly USMTS teams invade the Highway 3 Raceway in Allison, Iowa, for the Inaugural Allison Clash on Tuesday, June 20. Then on Wednesday, June 21, the stars and cars of the O’Reilly USMTS make their long-awaited return to the Cresco Speedway in Cresco, Iowa, for the 2nd Annual Howard County Fair Summer Classic. On Thursday, June 22, the Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa, plays host to the 2nd Annual Corning Shootout while the eight-day swing wraps up with a bang on Friday, June 23, with the debut of the O’Reilly USMTS Modifieds at the Rapid Speedway in Rock Rapids, Iowa.

For more information, or to learn more about the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series, call (515) 832-7944 or visit www.USMTS.com online.