Hejna hauls to O'Reilly USMTS victory at Junction Motor Speedway
by Jeff Nun

McCOOL JUNCTION, Neb. (March 9, 2007) – With a stout racecar, flawless driving and a little help from lapped traffic, Al Hejna picked up where he left off in 2006 with a victory in Friday night’s season opener for the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series in the 4th Annual Nebraska Spring Thaw at the Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb.

With the $2,000 victory, Hejna made it three in a row going back to last October’s back-to-back wins at the season finale in Memphis, Mo. – his fourth win in the last five races.

Before the start of the Holley “A” Main, it looked like luck was on the side of eight-time defending O’Reilly USMTS champion Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa, as he drew the pole position for the 30-lapper. But perhaps the luck was with Hejna, who drew the seventh starting spot to match the digit on his familiar black No. 7 Skyrocket Modified.

At the drop of the green flag, Shryock steered his No. 3 Skyrocket to a three-car-length advantage with Sutton, Neb.’s Jason Friesen giving chase. Friesen, who captured last year’s O’Reilly USMTS opener here, pressured Shryock for the first 12 laps before a broken driveshaft sidelined the local ace.

On the restart, Zack VanderBeek of New Sharon, Iowa, assumed the role of the hunter and kept pace with Shryock until lapped traffic came into play on lap 16. Hejna was able to motor by VanderBeek, then set his sights on the leader. Slowed by a lapped car on lap 18, Shryock moved up the track while Hejna slipped underneath to lead the 19th circuit. From there, the ‘A-Train’ raced untouched to the winners circle.

“I need to catch my breath, I was holding it there for those last five laps,” Hejna said in victory lane. “The lapped traffic played a big part there. He (Shryock) got a bit high down in turn 4 and I was fortunate to get by him.”

Rebounding from a near spin earlier in the main event, BMS Modified builder and driver Darrick Klima of Belleville, Kan., nipped VanderBeek at the finish line to score a third-place paycheck and break up the top-5 sweep by the Skyrocket machines. Tim Karrick of Bashor, Kan., held off Johnny ‘The Jet’ Saathoff for fifth.

After struggling to make the final transfer spot in the second Real Racing Wheels “B” Main, Jon Tesch of Watertown, S.D., raced from the 22nd starting spot to finish seventh and earn the Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger honors.

Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year contender Andrew Gordon of Murdock, Minn., was eighth, while Mark Dotson of Cameron, Mo., finished ninth with Jay Noteboom of Hinton, Iowa, rounding out the top-10.

On Saturday, the O’Reilly USMTS stars and cars will take to the track again, with the winner of the “A” Main taking home a $3,000 top prize. Gates will open at noon on Saturday with hot laps slated for 3:30 p.m. and racing to follow.

Open Stock Cars will also be on the card racing for $300 to win.

Located five miles south of I-80 (York exit) on U.S. Hwy. 81, Junction Motor Speedway is a state-of-the-art facility entering its fourth year of operation. The track is a super-fast, 3/8-mile clay oval boasting 80-foot-wide straight-aways, making for a lot of racing room for the drivers and a lot of wheel-to-wheel action for fans.

To learn more about the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters office 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
4th Annual Nebraska Spring Thaw - Night 1 of 2
Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, Neb.
Friday, March 9, 2007

Showing finishing position, car number, driver, hometown and starting position in parentheses. The top 12 drivers in Home Pride Passing Points accumulated in the Heats 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. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (1)
2. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (8)
3. 9R - Robby Haines -- Benkelman, NE (2)
4. 7N - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (9)
5. 92 - Jeff Stephens -- Arion, IA (6)
6. 15x - Dan DeMay -- Denison, IA (3)
7. 19 - Jake Bitker -- Halsted, MN (4)
8. 31J - Jeremy Rasmussen -- Bentonville, AR (7) DNF
9. 07 - Mike Goldfuss -- Dwight, NE (5) DNS

HEAT #2 (10 laps):
1. 1F - Jason Friesen -- Sutton, NE (5)
2. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (9)
3. 1 - Scott Mullen -- Seymour, WI (3)
4. 93 - Cale Sponsler -- Grimes, IA (7)
5. 47 - Ryan Canon -- Clearwater, MN (2)
6. 21H - Brandon Hagan -- Culbertson, NE (6)
7. 2G - Troy Girolamo -- Strum, WI (1)
8. 76s - Daniel Svee -- Colfax, WI (8)
9. z98 - Denny Johnson -- Sioux City, IA (4) DNF

HEAT #3 (10 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (6)
2. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (1)
3. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA (4)
4. 2 - Blake Jegtvig -- Hawley, MN (2)
5. 14J - Jake Neal -- Omaha, NE (3)
6. 128 - Mark Trautner -- Mahnomen, MN (8)
7. 18s - Brent Bohmont -- Martell, NE (7)
8. 1R - Matt Richards -- Lincoln, NE (9)
9. 21 - Wade Cross -- Phillips, NE (5) DNF

HEAT #4 (10 laps):
1. 96J - Johnny Saathoff -- Beatrice, NE (2)
2. 1K - Tim Karrick -- Bashor, KS (3)
3. 2k - Darrick Klima -- Belleville, KS (8)
4. 4K - Kent Willms -- Willmar, MN (7)
5. 19s - Charles Stryker -- Eddyville, NE (4)
6. 70 - Loren Dauer -- Lindsborg, KS (9)
7. 31 - Andy Kotek -- Wood Lake, MN (1)
8. 94H - Don Hagan -- McCook, NE (5)
9. 28 - Ryan Hill -- Liberal, KS (6) DNF

HEAT #5 (10 laps):
1. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (6)
2. 55x - Jim Cole -- Sioux City, IA (1)
3. 98 - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN (7)
4. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (3)
5. 85D - Mark Dotson -- Cameron, MO (9)
6. 1cc - Clayton Christensen -- Spencer, IA (2)
7. 5J - John Schwab -- Liberal, KS (8)
8. 83 - Jesse Cowles -- Sioux City, IA (5) DNF
9. 29E - Eric Rempel – Palmyra, NE (4)

HEAT #6 (10 laps):
1. 21 - Andrew Gordon -- Murdock, MN (5)
2. 27 - Clint Homan -- Bellevue, NE (4)
3. 97M - David Murray -- Oberlin, KS (6)
4. 33 - Kyle Berck -- Marquette, NE (9)
5. 55 - Brian Shaw -- Brownsdale, MN (3)
6. 6B - Blake Borgan -- Perley, MN (7)
7. 8 - Justin Bell -- Omaha, NE (2)
8. 31 - Barry Sandeman -- Creston, IA (8) DNF
9. 00c - Chris Mills -- Sioux City, IA (1) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 33 - Kyle Berck -- Marquette, NE (3)
2. 97M - David Murray -- Oberlin, KS (1)
3. 93 - Cale Sponsler -- Grimes, IA (4)
4. 55x - Jim Cole -- Sioux City, IA (2)
5. 85D - Mark Dotson -- Cameron, MO (6)
6. 6B - Blake Borgan -- Perley, MN (11)
7. 55 - Brian Shaw -- Brownsdale, MN (10)
8. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (7)
9. 29E - Eric Rempel -- Palmyra, NE (21)
10. 21H - Brandon Hagan -- Culbertson, NE (12)
11. 5J - John Schwab -- Liberal, KS (13)
12. 76s - Daniel Svee -- Colfax, WI (17)
13. 1R - Matt Richards -- Lincoln, NE (16)
14. 31 - Andy Kotek -- Wood Lake, MN (15)
15. 14J - Jake Neal -- Omaha, NE (9)
16. 70 - Loren Dauer -- Lindsborg, KS (8) DNF
17. 21 - Wade Cross -- Philips, NE (20) DNF
18. 2G - Troy Girolamo -- Strum, WI (14) DNF
19. 83 - Jesse Cowles -- Sioux City, IA (18) DNF
20. 9R - Robby Haines -- Benkelman, NE (5) DNF
21. 07 - Mike Goldfuss -- Dwight, NE (19) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 7N - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (2)
2. 2 - Blake Jegtvig -- Hawley, MN (6)
3. 31 - Barry Sandeman -- Creston, IA (18)
4. 31J - Jeremy Rasmussen -- Bentonville, AR (16)
5. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (1)
6. 15x - Dan DeMay -- Denison, IA (11)
7. 4K - Kent Willms -- Willmar, MN (4)
8. 19 - Jake Bitker -- Halsted, MN (13)
9. 8 - Justin Bell -- Omaha, NE (15)
10. z98 - Denny Johnson -- Sioux City, IA (19)
11. 94 - Don Hagan -- McCook, NE (17) DNF
12. 18s - Brent Bohmont -- Martell, NE (14) DNF
13. 92 - Jeff Stephens -- Arion, IA (7) DNF
14. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA (3) DNF
15. 1cc - Clayton Christensen -- Spencer, IA (12) DNF
16. 28 - Ryan Hill -- Liberal, KS (20) DNF
17. 1 - Scott Mullen -- Seymour, WI (5) DNF
18. 47 - Ryan Canon -- Clearwater, MN (8) DNF
19. 128 - Mark Trautner -- Mahnomen, MN (10) DNF
20. 00c - Chris Mills -- Sioux City, IA (21) DNF
21. 19s - Charles Stryker -- Eddyville, NE (9) DNS

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (30 laps):
1. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (7)
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (1)
3. 2k - Darrick Klima -- Belleville, KS (9)
4. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (5)
5. 1K - Tim Karrick -- Bashor, KS (12)
6. 96J - Johnny Saathoff -- Beatrice, NE (3)
7. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (22)
8. 21 - Andrew Gordon -- Murdock, MN (2)
9. 85D - Mark Dotson -- Cameron, MO (21)
10. 7N - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (14)
11. 2 - Blake Jegtvig -- Hawley, MN (16)
12. 55x - Jim Cole -- Sioux City, IA (19)
13. 93 - Cale Sponsler -- Grimes, IA (17)
14. 31J - Jeremy Rasmussen -- Bentonville, AR (20)
15. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (24)
16. 27 - Clint Homan -- Bellevue, NE (10)
17. 31 - Barry Sandeman -- Creston, IA (18) DNF
18. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA (23) DNF
19. 33 - Kyle Berck -- Marquette, NE (13) DNF
20. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (8) DNF
21. 97M - David Murray -- Oberlin, KS (15) DNF
22. 1F - Jason Friesen -- Sutton, NE (4) DNF
23. 98 - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN (11) DNF
24. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (6) DNF

AMSOIL Lap Leaders: Shryock 1-18, Hejna 19-30.
Total Laps Led: Shryock 18, Hejna 12.
Provisional Starters: McEwan (regional), Poidinger (national).
Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger: Tesch (started 22nd, finished 7th).
Next Race: Saturday, March 10, Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, Neb.
O’Reilly National Points: Hejna 107, Shryock 98, Tesch 93, VanderBeek 88, Noteboom 76, Sponsler 70, Rasmussen 70, Poidinger 62, Homan 60, McEwan 56.
Western Region Points: Hejna 107, Shryock 98, Klima 97, Tesch 93, VanderBeek 88, Gordon 76, Noteboom 76, Cole 75, Sponsler 70, Rasmussen 70.
Home Pride Passing Points (National): Hejna 10½, Noble 9, Shryock 7½, Green 7½, Noteboom 7½.
Home Pride Passing Points (Western): Hejna 10½, Noble 9, Shryock 7½, Green 7½, Klima 7½, Noteboom 7½.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points: Sponsler 21, Rasmussen 19, Homan 17, Green 15, Schwab 10, Trautner 10.
Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 10, BMS 9, GRT 8, J-Car 7, Owens 6.

Contingency Awards:
Belleville Motorsports – Karrick, Noteboom, Poidinger, Green.
GRT Race Cars – not awarded.
Hawk Performance – Gordon.
Isky Racing Cams – VanderBeek.
Kevko Oil Pans & Components – Karrick, Sponsler.
KSE Racing Products – Shryock, VanderBeek.
Marsh Racing Wheels – not awarded.
Nitroquest Web Solutions - Klima.
Quarter Master – Hejna, Dotson.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Tesch.
Real Racing Wheels – Noteboom.

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USMTS TITLE SPONSOR: O’Reilly Auto Parts.

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Race Tires, AMSOIL, Holley Performance Products, Home Pride Companies, Intercomp, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, Marsh Racing Wheels, Nitroquest Web Solutions, Olympic Fire Protection, Real Racing Wheels, Reich Concrete, Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar, UNIJIG, Yeager Machine.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Bell Racing, Belleville Motorsports, Bert Transmission, Bilstein Shocks, BORCO LP, Boyer’s Engine Development, Day Motor Sports, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, Edelbrock, Fast Shafts, GRT Race Cars, Hawk Performance, Hyperco, Intensitee Custom Clothing, Isky Racing Cams, Kraft Kars, KSE Racing Products, Quarter Master, QuickTime Performance Race Parts, Racer’s Choice (RCI), US Brake.