Mahlstedt motors to O’Reilly USMTS win at Iowa State Fairgrounds
by: Jeff Nun

DES MOINES, Iowa (June 4)  - It may have been just another typical Monday in June for most people, but for nearly 4,000 people in Des Moines, Iowa, it was more like Christmas morning. A jam-packed grandstand of race fans flocked to the Iowa State Fair Speedway to witness a star-studded event headlined by the first ever visit of the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series to the historic half-mile dirt oval.

On the other side of the fence, the pit area was stretched to its limit with 160 cars and drivers among four classes signing in to do battle. Of those, a season-high 60 O’Reilly USMTS Modifieds were on hand, including a special appearance by NASCAR Nextel Cup Series veteran Ken Schrader.

While 36 entrants were trading in there driving suits for street clothes, a stout field of 24 men and their machines took to the track for the 25-lap O’Reilly USMTS main event. Polesitter Corey Dripps of Waterloo paced the field to the green flag, but it was Clear Lake's Dean Mahlstedt snagging the top spot on lap 1. The first and only caution of the Holley “A” Main waved on lap 4, allowing eight-time defending O’Reilly USMTS national champion Kelly Shryock of Fertile to move into second and up to Mahlstedt's rear bumper.

But that was as close as Shryock would get as Mahlstedt pulled away from the pack on the restart, then out-maneuvered Shryock through lapped traffic to capture his first O’Reilly USMTS victory of the season. In addition to the $2,000 he pocketed for the victory, Mahlstedt also picked up an additional $500 for winning the Marsh Racing Wheels Halfway Leader Award, as well as contingencies from Boyer's Engine Development.

Shryock held on for second while Dripps walked away with a third-place paycheck. Brad Pinkerton of New Sharon finished fourth, followed by Canadian Steve Arpin in fifth. Sixth through 10th were Tommy Weder Jr. of Woodward, Okla.; Jason Hughes of Colcord, Okla.; Jeff Schluetter of New Hampton; and Mike Hejna of Clear Lake.

Schrader, who started 16th in the main event after winning the third Real Racing Wheels “B” Main, gave the fans something to cheer about as he muscled his way through the pack. The former USAC champ and four-time NASCAR Nextel Cup Series event winner climbed as high as third before engine troubles knocked his No. 9 Red Baron Pizza machine from the race. Schrader will be back in action with the O’Reilly USMTS on Tuesday, June 19, at Park Jefferson Speedway in Jefferson, S.D., then five more times yet before the end of August.

The next stop for the O’Reilly USMTS will be Tuesday for a Western Region tilt at the Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa, for another NASCAR vs. USMTS showdown featuring NASCAR Nextel Cup Series driver Clint Bowyer. The O’Reilly USMTS invaders can also expect some stiff competition from current track points leader Jerry Carlson, as well as other local aces like Jeremy Tibben, Dan Mueller, Chris Hogan, Russell Stewart, Randy Foote, Ryan Peckham, Kirby Stiens, Larry Foote, Richard Spriggs, Brian Foote and Jeff James.

In addition to the O’Reilly USMTS Modifieds, Tuesday's showcase event will be co-headlined by the high-powered USRA Late Models. Current points leader Chad Simpson leads a stout field into Corning, including his brother Chris Simpson, Chris Smyser, Tommy Elston, multi-time IMCA Late Model National Champion Jeff Aikey, Justin Reed, Adams County Speedway regulars Todd and Troy McKee, Dave Eckrich, Jason Utter, Gary Wilson, Todd Shute and recent World of Outlaws Late Model Series winner Brian Harris. Among the track regulars expected to contend for the victory are Chris Spieker, Jason O'Brien, Karl Ritterbusch, Trent Jackson, Ryan Vicker, Joe Kosiski, Jeremy Houck, Jamie Kinyon, Scott Koskovich, Justin Zeitner, Paul Glendenning, Leon Zeitner, Josh Most, Kenny Edwards, Corey Zeitner, Todd Morgan, Andrew Kosiski, Gary Hopp, Harley Moen, Al Zeitner, Ed Kosiski and Jay Stewart.

Pit gates will open at 4:30 p.m. and grandstand gates will swing open at 5:00. Bowyer will be signing autographs for the fans from 5:30 to 6:30. After that, he will suit up for hot laps before competing with the O’Reilly USMTS Modifieds. The first green flag is scheduled to wave at 7:00. Tickets are available at the track, and all grandstand seating will be general admission only, so get there early to grab your seat for this one-of-a-kind event.

Also on the racing card will be Stock Cars ($300 to win) and Hobby Stocks ($200 to win). Cars legal under Adams County Speedway "Tradition" rules will be able to compete, but there will be no points awarded and drives will be allowed to groove tires. There is no license required for drivers competing in any of the four classes Tuesday night.

The Adams County Speedway is a half-mile semi-banked dirt oval located 0.8 mile north of US 34 on SR 148, then east on 12th. For more information, call the Adams County Speedway business office at (712) 785-3271 or visit www.acspeedway.com online. Day-of-race info is available by calling the track hotline at (641) 322-4184.

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
NASCAR vs. USMTS Showdown
Iowa State Fair Speedway, Des Moines, Iowa
Monday, June 4, 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 (8 laps):
1. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (4)
2. 62 - Greg Cox -- Altoona, IA (2)
3. 47 - Josh Truman -- Indianola, IA (5)
4. 29 - Dennis Elliott -- Mt. Ayr, IA (9)
5. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (7)
6. 5c - Chris Hogan -- Lenox, IA (6)
7. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (8) DNF
8. 9x - Ryan Giles -- West Des Moines, IA (3) DNF
9. 72 - Mike Lineberry -- Fontanelle, NE (1) DNF
10. 61 - Bruce Hanford -- Davenport, IA (10) DNS

HEAT #2 (8 laps):
1. 27M - Mark Schulte -- Delhi, IA (2)
2. 00eh - Steve Arpin -- Rochester, MN (6)
3. 2 - Joey Schaefer -- Waterloo, IA (4)
4. 40 - Scott Dickey -- Packwood, IA (1)
5. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (5)
6. 9 - Ken Schrader -- Concord, NC (10)
7. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (3)
8. 19G - Richie Gustin Jr. -- Gilmar, IA (8)
9. 1K - Pat Graham -- Ames, IA (7)
10. 81 - Randy Killen -- Des Moines, IA (9) DNF

HEAT #3 (8 laps):
1. 17p - Brad Pinkerton -- New Sharon, IA (3)
2. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (7)
3. 42 - Gene Claxton -- Kansas City, KS (8)
4. 10H - Jack Housley -- Des Moines, IA (1)
5. 10b - Dan Banker -- Mitchell, IA (5)
6. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (9)
7. 17s - Stoney Stuart -- Creston, IA (4)
8. 7K - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (10) DNF
9. 36T - Jeff Wiggins -- Greenfield, IA (2) DNF
10. 4 - Brian George -- Altoona, IA (6) DNF

HEAT #4 (8 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (3)
2. 7ii - Mike Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (4)
3. 56 - Chris Spieker -- Massena, IA (2)
4. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (8)
5. 5t - Todd Inman -- Runnells, IA (6)
6. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (5)
7. 93 - Cale Sponsler -- Grimes, IA (7)
8. 11s - Steve Starmer -- New Hampton, MO (10)
9. 7c - Nate Caruth -- Ames, IA (1) DNF
10. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (9) DNF

HEAT #5 (8 laps):
1. 14J - Jake Neal -- Omaha, NE (1)
2. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (7)
3. 18s - Brent Bohmont -- Martell, NE (4)
4. 12e - Mark Elliott -- Webster City,, IA (3)
5. 5M - Jacob Murray -- Hartford, IA (8)
6. 1 - Greg Elliott -- Webster City, IA (2)
7. 18 - Jake Durbin -- Perry, IA (6)
8. 64 - Russell Stewart -- Mount Ayr, IA (9)
9. 78 - Josh Pruitt -- Dexter, IA (5) DNF

HEAT #6 (8 laps):
1. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (3)
2. 35 - Jeff Schluetter -- New Hampton, IA (5)
3. 50 - Brad Bakken -- Garner, IA (9)
4. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (4)
5. 02x - John Davis -- Altoona, IA (7)
6. 49J - Jason Murray -- Hartford, IA (2) DNF
7. 66 - Gordan Head -- West Des Moines, IA (6) DNF
8. 17s - Mike Spaulding -- Bemidji, MN (8) DNF
9. 31j - Barry Sandeman -- Creston, IA (1) DNF
10. 4x - Jake George -- Altoona, IA (10) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (10 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (2)
2. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (9)
3. 56 - Chris Spieker -- Massena, IA (3)
4. 1K - Pat Graham -- Ames, IA (13)
5. 62 - Greg Cox -- Altoona, IA (1)
6. 10b - Dan Banker -- Mitchell, IA (7)
7. 1 - Greg Elliott -- Webster City, IA (8)
8. 11s - Steve Starmer -- New Hampton, MO (11)
9. 19G - Richie Gustin Jr. -- Gilmar, IA (12) DNF
10. 5t - Todd Inman -- Runnells, IA (6) DNF
11. 18 - Jake Durbin -- Perry, IA (10) DNF
12. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (5) DNF
13. 78 - Josh Pruitt -- Dexter, IA (14) DNF
14. 10H - Jack Housley -- Des Moines, IA (4) DNS
15. 81 - Randy Killen -- Des Moines, IA (15) DNS
16. 4x - Jake George -- Altoona, IA (16) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (10 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 12e - Mark Elliott -- Webster City,, IA (4)
2. 2 - Joey Schaefer -- Waterloo, IA (2)
3. 29 - Dennis Elliott -- Mt. Ayr, IA (1)
4. 5c - Chris Hogan -- Lenox, IA (7)
5. 64 - Russell Stewart -- Mount Ayr, IA (11)
6. 02x - John Davis -- Altoona, IA (5)
7. 17s - Stoney Stuart -- Creston, IA (9)
8. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (6)
9. 5M - Jacob Murray -- Hartford, IA (3)
10. 66 - Gordan Head -- West Des Moines, IA (10)
11. 49J - Jason Murray -- Hartford, IA (8) DNS
12. 17s - Mike Spaulding -- Bemidji, MN (12) DNS
13. 36T - Jeff Wiggins -- Greenfield, IA (13) DNS
14. 31j - Barry Sandeman -- Creston, IA (14) DNS
15. 4 - Brian George -- Altoona, IA (15) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #3 (10 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 9 - Ken Schrader -- Concord, NC (5)
2. 18s - Brent Bohmont -- Martell, NE (2)
3. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (7)
4. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (8)
5. 93 - Cale Sponsler -- Grimes, IA (9)
6. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (6)
7. 40 - Scott Dickey -- Packwood, IA (3)
8. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (15)
9. 47 - Josh Truman -- Indianola, IA (1)
10. 9x - Ryan Giles -- West Des Moines, IA (11)
11. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (4) DNF
12. 72 - Mike Lineberry -- Fontanelle, NE (12) DNF
13. 7K - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (10) DNS
14. 7c - Nate Caruth -- Ames, IA (13) DNS
15. 61 - Bruce Hanford -- Davenport, IA (14) DNS

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (25 laps):
1. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (2)
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (6)
3. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (1)
4. 17p - Brad Pinkerton -- New Sharon, IA (3)
5. 00eh - Steve Arpin -- Rochester, MN (4)
6. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (5)
7. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (14)
8. 35 - Jeff Schluetter -- New Hampton, IA (10)
9. 7ii - Mike Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (13)
10. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (22)
11. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (24)
12. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (7)
13. 14J - Jake Neal -- Omaha, NE (11)
14. 27M - Mark Schulte -- Delhi, IA (8)
15. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (17)
16. 12e - Mark Elliott -- Webster City,, IA (15)
17. 50 - Brad Bakken -- Garner, IA (9)
18. 29 - Dennis Elliott -- Mt. Ayr, IA (21) DNF
19. 18s - Brent Bohmont -- Martell, NE (19) DNF
20. 2 - Joey Schaefer -- Waterloo, IA (18) DNF
21. 9 - Ken Schrader -- Concord, NC (16) DNF
22. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (23) DNF
23. 56 - Chris Spieker -- Massena, IA (20) DNF
24. 42 - Gene Claxton -- Kansas City, KS (12) DNF

AMSOIL Lap Leaders: Mahlstedt 1-25.
Total Laps Led: Mahlstedt 25.
AFCO Pole Award: Tesch.
Provisional Starters: Lodge (regional), Holzkamper (national).
Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger: Holzkamper (started 24th, finished 11th).
Next Race: Tuesday, June 5, Adams County Speedway, Corning, Iowa.
O’Reilly National Points: Shryock 1401, VanderBeek 1071, A. Hejna 884, Holzkamper 864, Hughes 825, Weder 721, Greg Skaggs 710, Poidinger 700, Jay Noteboom 651, Sponsler 602.
Central Region Points: Shryock 420, VanderBeek 333, Pinkerton 326, Lodge 293, A. Hejna 290, Ryan Gustin 259, Hughes 255, Richie Gustin Jr. 246, Weder 228, Mahlstedt 226.
Home Pride Passing Points (National): Shryock 90, Hughes 48, VanderBeek 40½, Green 37½, A. Hejna 34½.
Home Pride Passing Points (Central Region): Shryock 21, Weder 18, VanderBeek 16½, Richie Gustin Jr. 13½, Schluetter 13½.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points: Jay Noteboom 187, Sponsler 168, Ryan Gustin 150, Green 119, Richie Gustin Jr. 119.
Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 138, Hughes 98, TRE 62, Razor 47, Kraft 47.

Contingency Awards:
Belleville Motorsports – not awarded.
Boyer’s Engine Development – Mahlstedt.
GRT Race Cars – not awarded.
Hawk Performance – Schluetter.
Isky Racing Cams – Tesch.
Kevko Oil Pans & Components – Arpin, Neal.
KSE Racing Products – Shryock, Pinkerton.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Mahlstedt.
Nitroquest Web Solutions - Dripps.
Quarter Master – Mahlstedt, M. Hejna.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Hughes.
Real Racing Wheels – Hughes, Elliott, Schrader.