Shryock takes home Knox County victory, but not trophy or prize money

KNOXVILLE, Ill. (Aug. 3, 2006) - Just like previous seasons, race fans packed the Knox County Fairgrounds grandstands Thursday night as the stars and cars of the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series made their yearly stop at the half-mile Knoxville, Ill., oval for the 7th Annual UPS Store Illinois Challenge.

The annual fair-time event has been a standing-room-only extravaganza since its inception thanks to dozens of sponsors, a supportive community and the hard work of O’Reilly USMTS Marketing Director Ed Sheckler, who also executes most of the marketing efforts for both the Mountain Dew Bloomfield (Iowa) Speedway and the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Mo.

Sheckler, who lives in nearby Monmouth, Ill., was diagnosed with severe liver cancer in early May. Since beginning chemotherapy soon after the diagnosis, the popular racing ambassador has been a missing piece of the crew at most events this summer. Nonetheless, he was at Thursday night's event to the delight of the fans, drivers, crews, sponsors and officials.

Kelly Shryock picked up another victory on this night to extend his winning streak to a record 10 straight against the best field of Modifieds in America. While it could have been Shryock's night to bask in the spotlight, he instead announced in victory lane that he would donate his entire $2,500 winner's paycheck to Sheckler and his family. Perhaps just as important to Ed, he also got Kelly's trophy to take home too while the seven-time defending O’Reilly USMTS national champion proved he is not only a winner on the track, but off as well.

The Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway in Bloomfield, Iowa, hosts the O’Reilly USMTS for the second time this season tomorrow night (Friday, Aug. 5) with a $2,000-to-win, $200-to-start event on tap. Also on the racing card will be the USRA Casey’s General Stores Weekly Racing Series featuring Hougland's Repair Shop USRA Stock Cars, Kirkland Auto USRA Hobby Stocks and Kollision Korner Hornets. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the mud starts flying at 7:30. For event info call (515) 832-7944 or call (641) 664-2500 for race day information.

On Saturday, Aug. 5, the five-race swing winds down with a Central-Southern co-regional race at the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Mo. the winner of the 2nd Annual Memphis Shootout presented by Walker Motor & Collision and Spilman Auto Parts will pocket $2,000. USRA Casey’s General Stores Weekly Racing Series action featuring USRA Stock Cars, Advance Trading USRA B-Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks, Outlaw Hobbies and Hornets are also on the menu. Gates open at 4 p.m., hot laps at 6:15 and racing starts at 6:30. For event info call (515) 832-7944 or call (660) 465-8948 for race day information.

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.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series
7th Annual UPS Store Illinois Challenge
Knox County Fairgrounds, Knoxville, Ill.
Thursday, August 3, 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 #1 (8 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (5)
2. 45 - Tony Fraise -- Donnellson, IA (1)
3. 555 - Ryan Ruter -- Forest City, IA (9)
4. 18 - Michael Long -- Quincy, IL (4)
5. 61 - Bruce Hanford -- Davenport, IA (2)
6. g1 - Gabe Menser -- Ashmore, IL (7)
7. 32 - Lonne Heap -- Macomb, IL (8)
8. g77 - Chad Goff -- Monmouth, IL (3)
9. h7 - Dean McGee Sr. -- Galesburg, IL (6) DNF

HEAT #2 (8 laps):
1. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (2)
2. 105 - Kevin Peters -- Monmouth, IL (4)
3. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA (6)
4. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (8)
5. X - Mike Wedelstadt -- Hortonville, WI (1)
6. 2b - Tim Bradley -- LeClaire, IA (5)
7. 00 - Billy Brickley -- Galesburg, IL (3)
8. 5d - Bob Dominacki -- Bettendorf, IA (7) DNS

HEAT #3 (8 laps):
1. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (2)
2. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (3)
3. 112 - Ray Guss -- Milan, IA (4)
4. 44x - Shaune Lewis -- Kewanee, IL (1)
5. 82m - Ryan Meyer -- Liberty, IL (8)
6. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (5)
7. 17 - Steve Stewart -- Washington, IA (7) DNF
8. m50 - Darin Thye -- Burlington, IA (6) DNF

HEAT #4 (8 laps):
1. 21s - Denny Schwartz -- Ashmore, IL (2)
2. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (7)
3. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (4)
4. 77 - Ray Bollinger -- Kewanee, IL (3)
5. 30 - Mark Massey -- Worthington, IA (8)
6. 71 - Dennis LaVeine -- Burlington, IA (6)
7. 128 - Billy Tuckwell -- Peoria, IL (5)
8. 25 - Marty Thompson -- Mineral, IL (1) -1 Lap

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (10 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (1)
2. 30 - Mark Massey -- Worthington, IA (2)
3. 61 - Bruce Hanford -- Davenport, IA (4)
4. g1 - Gabe Menser -- Ashmore, IL (5)
5. 44x - Shaune Lewis -- Kewanee, IL (3)
6. 32 - Lonne Heap -- Macomb, IL (7)
7. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (6)
8. 17 - Steve Stewart -- Washington, IA (8) DNF
9. g77 - Chad Goff -- Monmouth, IL (9) DNF
10. m50 - Darin Thye -- Burlington, IA (10) DNF
11. h7 - Dean McGee Sr. -- Galesburg, IL (11) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (10 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 18 - Michael Long -- Quincy, IL (2)
2. 82m - Ryan Meyer -- Liberty, IL (1)
3. 77 - Ray Bollinger -- Kewanee, IL (3)
4. X - Mike Wedelstadt -- Hortonville, WI (4)
5. 25 - Marty Thompson -- Mineral, IL (10)
6. 71 - Dennis LaVeine -- Burlington, IA (6)
7. 2b - Tim Bradley -- LeClaire, IA (5)
8. 00 - Billy Brickley -- Galesburg, IL (7) -1 Lap
9. 128 - Billy Tuckwell -- Peoria, IL (8) DNF
10. 5d - Bob Dominacki -- Bettendorf, IA (9) DNS

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (30 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (1)
2. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (6)
3. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (7)
4. 555 - Ryan Ruter -- Forest City, IA (5)
5. 21s - Denny Schwartz -- Ashmore, IL (8)
6. 61 - Bruce Hanford -- Davenport, IA (17)
7. 45 - Tony Fraise -- Donnellson, IA (10)
8. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (11) -1 Lap
9. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA (9) -1 Lap
10. X - Mike Wedelstadt -- Hortonville, WI (20) -1 Lap
11. 18 - Michael Long -- Quincy, IL (14) -1 Lap
12. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (13) –1 Lap
13. 112 - Ray Guss -- Milan, IA (12) -1 Lap
14. 25 - Marty Thompson -- Mineral, IL (22) –1 Lap
15. 77 - Ray Bollinger -- Kewanee, IL (18) –1 Lap
16. 44x - Shaune Lewis -- Kewanee, IL (21) –1 Lap
17. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (23) –1 Lap
18. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (2) –1 Lap
19. 17 - Steve Stewart -- Washington, IA (24) DNF
20. g1 - Gabe Menser -- Ashmore, IL (19) DNF
21. 105 - Kevin Peters -- Monmouth, IL (4) DNF
22. 30 - Mark Massey -- Worthington, IA (15) DNF
23. 82m - Ryan Meyer -- Liberty, IL (16) DNF
24. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (3) DNF

AMSOIL Lap Leaders: Shryock 1-30.
Total Laps Led: Shryock 30.
Provisional Starters: Poidinger (regional), Stewart (national).
Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger: Hanford (started 17th, finished 6th).
Next Race: Friday, Aug. 4, Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway, Bloomfield, Iowa.
O’Reilly National Driver Points: Shryock 3841, Myer 3204, VanderBeek 2998, Ruter 2842, McEwan 2737, Jon Tesch 2734, Mark Noble 2628, Mahlstedt 2546, A. Hejna 2505, Poidinger 1992.
Central Region Points: Shryock 981, Mahlstedt 832, VanderBeek 813, Myer 753, Ruter 733, A. Hejna 701, McEwan 695, Poidinger 627, M. Hejna 609, Mark Noble 566.
Home Pride Passing Points - National: Shryock 159.0, Ruter 136.5, Myer 121.5, A. Hejna 120.0, McEwan 111.0.
Home Pride Passing Points - Central Region: Myer 45.0, McEwan 33.0, Jason Friesen 31.5, Shryock 31.5, Ruter 31.5.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points: Poidinger 583, Jason Friesen 409, Matt Gilbertson 327, Tommy Weder Jr. 304, Mike Steensma 290.
UNIJIG Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 375, Hughes 279, Kraft 267, GRT 241, Bullet 192.

Contingency Awards:
Bassett Racing Wheel – VanderBeek.
Belleville Motorsports – not awarded.
Boyer’s Engine Development – Shryock.
Edelbrock – Shryock, Hughes.
Fast Shafts – not awarded.
GRT Race Cars – Hanford.
Isky Racing Cams – Shryock.
KEVKO Oil Pans & Components – Ruter.
KSE Racing Products – Mondus.
Larson Racing Specialists – not awarded.
Marsh Racing Wheels – not awarded.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Fraise.
RaceQuest – Shryock.
Real Racing Wheels – Mahlstedt, Long.
T.A.R. Race Car Bodies – Wedelstadt.
UNIJIG – not awarded.