Al Hejna stomps O’Reilly USMTS field at Pepsi Scotland County Speedway
by Brian Neal


MEMPHIS, MO. (Nov. 04, 2006) - Al Hejna of Clear Lake, Iowa, ran away with the win Saturday on the first night of the Pepsi/Mountain Dew Mid-America Nationals at the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Mo. The event is the final weekend of racing in 2006 for both the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series and the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway.

Forty-three fierce drivers and their Modifieds signed in to battle it out for the 24 starting spots in the 30-lap, $2,000-to-win Holley "A" Main. Hejna and his younger brother, Mike, along with Jon Tesch of Watertown, S.D., David Wietholder of Liberty, Ill., and Martin Bennett of Ankeny, Iowa, all took home wins in the five qualifying heat races. Michael Long of Quincy, Ill., and Brian Shaw of Brownsdale, Minn., took the top spots in the Real Racing Wheels "B" Mains to set the field of 22 cars for the main event. The final two starting spots went to Tommy Myer of Blooming Prairie, Minn., and Brad McEwan of Storm Lake, Iowa, each taking a series provisional to get into the Holley "A" Main.

Mark Burgtorf of Quincy, Ill., and Al Hejna drew the front row of the feature race, with Hejna taking the lead on the drop of the green flag. Hejna and Burgtorf had a great side-by-side battle going for the lead, as Mike Hejna quickly moved up from his sixth place starting spot to challenge them for the lead. Al Hejna, however, moved away from the pack and quickly pulled out to a half-straight-away lead.

The first and only caution came out on lap 18 for Wietholder's spin in turn 1. By that time, Al Hejna had built a half-track lead over the battle for second between Mike Hejna and Burgtorf.

On the restart, "The A-Train" once again took off into the lead, leaving Mike Hejna and Burgtorf battling for second. Al Hejna pulled away from the field over the final 12 laps to take home the win and the $2,000 top prize.

The battle for second went to Burgtorf, Mike Hejna settled for third, Zack VanderBeek of New Sharon, Iowa, started 12th and moved up to finish in fourth, with Long coming from 13th to round out the top-5.

Mark Schulte of Delhi, Iowa, took home the Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger honors after starting in the 21st spot and passing 12 cars to cross the finish line in ninth.

Seven-time defending O’Reilly USMTS national champion Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa, finished sixth, which allowed VanderBeek to cut into his lead in ‘The Hunt’ for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship. Entering Sunday's finale, Shryock maintains a 12-point advantage over VanderBeek, who is trying to become the first driver to swipe the national crown away from Shryock.

With a 14th-place finish, Sutton, Neb.'s Jason Friesen continues to hold down the third spot in ‘The Hunt’ standings, but will be mathematically eliminated from title contention when Shryock or VanderBeek take a green flag on Sunday.

Who will come out on top? The final night of 2006 will be one race you don't want to miss.

After 58 races at 33 tracks in nine States, The O’Reilly USMTS road warriors will wrap their nine-month campaign with the final night of the 5th Annual Pepsi/Mountain Dew Mid-America Nationals at the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Mo., on Sunday, Nov. 5. Gates open at 12 noon, with hot laps at 2:30 and racing at 3 p.m.

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

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series
5th Annual Pepsi/Mountain Dew Mid-America Nationals - Night 1 of 2
Pepsi Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, Mo.
Saturday, Nov. 4, 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 (10 laps):
1. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (1)
2. 69m - Mark Burgtorf -- Quincy, IL (7)
3. 18 - Michael Long -- Quincy, IL (2)
4. 55x - Brian Shaw -- Brownsdale, MN (6)
5. 21m - Russ Olson -- Cedar Rapids, IA (8) DNF
6. 18m - Jacob Murray -- Hartford, IA (5) DNF
7. 57b - Dennis Betzer -- Central City, IA (4) DNF
8. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (3) DNF
9. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA (9) DNS

HEAT #2 (10 laps):
1. 7ii - Mike Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (2)
2. 82m - Ryan Meyer -- Liberty, IL (1)
3. 1f - Jason Friesen -- Sutton, NE (6)
4. 85d - Mark Dotson -- Cameron, MO (3)
5. 29 - Jeff LeBaube -- Dittmer, MO (7)
6. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (9)
7. 83 - Willy Kraft -- Lakefield, MN (8)
8. 96 - Tim Greif -- West Liberty, IA (5)
9. 4g- David Holder -- Clarence, IA (4) DNF

HEAT #3 (10 laps):
1. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, S.D. (2)
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (3)
3. 17 - Garry Oskerson -- Fairmont, MN (4)
4. 27m - Mark Schulte -- Delhi, IA (6)
5. 28r - Robbie Reed -- Mexico City, MO (1)
6. 8 - Rich Smith -- Davenport, IA (5)
7. 6 - Virgil Jeffery -- Ashland, MO (7)
8. 7g - Chad Goff -- Monmouth, IL (8)

HEAT #4 (10 laps):
1. 05 - David Wietholder -- Liberty, IL (2)
2. 43 - Milo Veloz Jr. -- Colona, IL (4)
3. X - Mike Wedelstadt -- Hortonville, WI (7)
4. b4 - Rickey Frankel -- Quincy, IL (1)
5. z71 - Jim Sandusky -- Coal Valley, IL (3)
6. 20/20 - Chris Eggers -- Lancaster, MO (5)
7. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (8)
8. 25 - Butch Weisser -- Peoria, IL (6) DNF

HEAT #5 (10 laps):
1. 99 - Martin Bennett -- Ankeny, IA (2)
2. 45 - Tony Fraise -- Donnellson, IA (4)
3. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (6)
4. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (3)
5. 11 - Mike Hughes -- Rose Hill, IA (7)
6. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (5)
7. 70 - Todd Ihde -- Decorah, IA (1)
8. 1 - Vance Wilson -- Frankford, MO (8)
9. 75 - James Parker -- Dodge Center, MN (9) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 18 - Michael Long -- Quincy, IL (2)
2. 83 - Willy Kraft -- Lakefield, MN (10)
3. 82m - Ryan Meyer -- Liberty, IL (1)
4. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (5)
5. 27m - Mark Schulte -- Delhi, IA (3)
6. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA (15)
7. 85d - Mark Dotson -- Cameron, MO (4)
8. 11 - Mike Hughes -- Rose Hill, IA (6)
9. 28r - Robbie Reed -- Mexico City, MO (7)
10. 96 - Tim Greif -- West Liberty, IA (13)
11. 18m - Jacob Murray -- Hartford, IA (8) DNF
12. 70 - Todd Ihde -- Decorah, IA (12) DNF
13. 75 - James Parker -- Dodge Center, MN (16) DNF
14. 20/20 - Chris Eggers -- Lancaster, MO (9) DNS
15. 57b - Dennis Betzer -- Central City, IA (11) DNS
16. 25 - Butch Weisser -- Peoria, IL (14) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 55x - Brian Shaw -- Brownsdale, MN (2)
2. 29 - Jeff LeBaube -- Dittmer, MO (5)
3. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (6)
4. 17 - Garry Oskerson -- Fairmont, MN (1)
5. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (10)
6. 6 - Virgil Jeffery -- Ashland, MO (11)
7. 8 - Rich Smith -- Davenport, IA (8)
8. 21m - Russ Olson -- Cedar Rapids, IA (3)
9. 4g- David Holder -- Clarence, MO (15)
10. b4 - Rickey Frankel -- Quincy, IL (4)
11. 7g - Chad Goff -- Monmouth, IL (13)
12. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (12) DNF
13. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (9) DNF
14. 1 - Vance Wilson -- Frankford, MO (14) DNF
15. z71 - Jim Sandusky -- Coal Valley, IL (7) DNF

HOLLEY "A" MAIN (30 laps):
1. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (1)
2. 69m - Mark Burgtorf -- Quincy, IL (6)
3. 7ii - Mike Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (2)
4. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (12)
5. 18 - Michael Long -- Quincy, IL (13)
6. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (10)
7. 83 - Willy Kraft -- Lakefield, MN (15)
8. 45 - Tony Fraise -- Donnellson, IA (8)
9. 27m - Mark Schulte -- Delhi, IA (21)
10. X - Mike Wedelstadt -- Hortonville, WI (9)
11. 43 - Milo Veloz Jr. -- Colona, IL (5)
12. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (23)
13. 99 - Martin Bennett -- Ankeny, IA (7)
14. 1f - Jason Friesen -- Sutton, NE (11)
15. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, S.D. (4)
16. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA (24)
17. 82m - Ryan Meyer -- Liberty, IL (17)
18. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (22)
19. 29 - Jeff LeBaube -- Dittmer, MO (16)
20. 55x - Brian Shaw -- Brownsdale, MN (14)
21. 17 - Garry Oskerson -- Fairmont, MN (20) DNF
22. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (19) DNF
23. 05 - David Wietholder -- Liberty, IL (3) DNF
24. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (18) DNF

AMSOIL Lap Leaders: A. Hejna 1-30.
Total Laps Led: A. Hejna 30.
Provisional Starters: Myer (regional), McEwan (national).
Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger: Schulte (started 21st, finished 9th).
Next Race: Sunday, Nov. 5, Pepsi Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, Mo.
‘The Hunt’ Points Standings: Shryock 1187, VanderBeek 1175, Friesen 1096, Myer 1059, Tesch 1035, Ryan Ruter 898, McEwan 887, A. Hejna 854, M. Hejna 771, Mondus 733, Poidinger 679, Dean Mahlstedt 470, Noble 304, Jason Hughes 198, Mike Lineberry 5.
Home Pride Passing Points (national): Shryock 240, Ryan Ruter 186, VanderBeek 166½, Myer 165, A. Hejna 160½.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points: Poidinger 854, Friesen 802, Mondus 561, Brent Bohmont 431, Tommy Weder Jr. 367.
UNIJIG Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 558, Hughes 369, GRT 331, Kraft 323, Bullet 287.

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

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USMTS TITLE SPONSOR: O’Reilly Auto Parts.

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing 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, Hawk Performance, 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, RaceMN Motorsports Expo, T.A.R. Race Car Bodies, US Brake.