Mike Hejna nabs O’Reilly USMTS gelt at Allison

ALLISON, Iowa — Mike Hejna claimed his first O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series win of the season Tuesday with a dominating wire-to-wire victory at the Highway 3 Raceway in Allison, Iowa. The win was worth $2,000 and was his first since September 4, 2006.

Hejna drew the pole position for the 30-lap Holley “A” Main and jumped out to a three-car-length advantage by the second orbit. Al Hejna — the older of the two brothers who co-own Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar in Clear Lake, Iowa — gave chase for the first half of the race before a broken rearend thwarted his opportunity to pick up his first win in his new Harris Chassis Modified.

From there, Mike was never challenged en route to the checkered flag at the half-mile Butler County Fairgrounds oval. Tommy Weder Jr. of Woodward, Okla., claimed the runner-up paycheck, while fellow Sooner Stater Jason Hughes (Colcord) finished third after starting 10th. Decorah, Iowa's Dan Bohr was fourth and Jason Krohn of Slayton, Minn., rounded out the top-5 finishers. Sixth through 10th went to Ron Ver Beek, Mark Noble, 18th-starting Corey Dripps, Kelly Shryock and Steve Holzkamper.

Holzkamper's charge from the 23rd starting position earned him the Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger honors.

Tuesday's event at Allison also featured the high-powered USRA Late Models co-headlining the evening with a $2,000-to-win main event of their own, plus action in the USRA B-Mod and USRA Hobby Stocks divisions. Winners were Tommy Elston (USRA Late Model), Brian Kunkle (USRA B-Mod) and Shane Barnett (USRA Hobby Stock).

After a three-month delay, the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series will make its debut Wednesday night, June 13, on the dirt track at I-70 Speedway. Along with the cars and stars of the nation’s most popular Modified touring series, a Stock Car “Shoot Out” paying $250 to win and $30 to start will share the schedule. Pit gates will open at 4:30 while grandstand gates open at 5:30. Registration and draw cutoff will be 6:45, with hot laps beginning at 7:00 and racing starting promptly at 7:30. For additional Information regarding I-70 Speedway, call (816) 230-0080 visit www.i70speedway.net online.

NOTES:

• Adjacent to the historic half-mile asphalt oval, the newI-70 Speedway dirt track was to be christened by the O’Reilly USMTS as they embarked on their first full season of racing on the clay. Two rain-outs in early Spring, however, pushed the date back until tomorrow (Wednesday, June 13). Nonetheless, the O’Reilly USMTS will be the first major National Event at the I-70 Speedway dirt track, and a large field of victory-seekers are expected.

• Kelly Shryock will celebrate his 42nd birthday at the I-70 Speedway on Wednesday. Other O’Reilly USMTS National drivers celebrating birthdays in June include Randy Timms (37 years old) on June 13, Jon Tesch (31) and Jeff Schluetter (43) on June 16, Tommy Myer (42) on June 17, Brad Pinkerton (35) on June 20 and Tony Fraise (41) on June 24.

• Tuesday's event was the first of 10 races in 11 days, with the swing wrapping up at the Nobles County Speedway in Worthington, Minn., on June 23. After that, drivers will have more than three weeks to recuperate before the next event at the Butler County Motorplex in Rising City, Neb., on Monday, July 16.

• The chase for the Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year title remains close, and could go to the driver who puts forth the best attendance. Cale Sponsler currently holds the top spot with 225 points, while one point separates the next four: Jay Noteboom (187), Scott Green (186), Ryan Gustin (186) and Richie Gustin Jr. (186). With Noteboom backing away from full-time O’Reilly USMTS competition, Sponsler is in the driver's seat but it is unknown if he will make the trip for the next five events in the Southern Region. Scott Green plans to hit these events, which may catapult him into the RRSBRoY points lead by the time the teams head north to Park Jefferson Speedway on June 19.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Wed Jun 13 ... I-70 Speedway Dirt Track, Odessa, MO ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jun 14 ... L A Raceway, LaMonte, MO ($2,000 to win)
Fri Jun 15 ... Bolivar Speedway USA, Bolivar, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sat Jun 16 ... Lebanon I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sun Jun 17 ... Monett Speedway, Monett, MO ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jun 19 ... Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, SD ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jun 20 ... Huset’s Speedway, Brandon, SD ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jun 21 ... Casino Speedway, Watertown, SD ($2,000 to win)
Fri Jun 22 ... Rapid Speedway, Rock Rapids, IA ($2,000 to win)
Sat Jun 23 ... Nobles County Speedway, Worthington, MN ($2,000 to win)

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
National Event - Central Region
Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, Iowa
Tuesday, June 12, 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. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (1)
2. 66 - Dan Bohr -- Decorah, IA (4)
3. 2 - Joey Schaefer -- Waterloo, IA (2)
4. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (6)
5. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (5)
6. 93 - Cale Sponsler -- Grimes, IA (3)
7. 9 - Leon Wilson -- Hopkins, IA (7)

HEAT #2 (8 laps):
1. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (1)
2. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (4)
3. 4R - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (5)
4. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (2)
5. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (7)
6. 17s - Mike Spaulding -- Bemidji, MN (3)
7. 1k - Pat Graham -- Ames, IA (6)

HEAT #3 (8 laps):
1. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (1)
2. 7ii - Mike Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (3)
3. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (4)
4. 70 - Jerry King -- Waterloo, IA (2)
5. 72 - Doug Hillson -- Blooming Prairie, MN (6)
6. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (5)
7. 91 - Shawn Ryan -- Waterloo, IA (7)

HEAT #4 (8 laps):
1. 26p - Kevin Pittman -- Waterloo, IA (1)
2. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (4)
3. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (3)
4. 50 - Brad Bakken -- Garner, IA (5)
5. 19g - Richie Gustin Jr. -- Gilman, IA (6)
6. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (7)
7. 5w - Darrin Walch -- Postville, IA (2)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (8 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (3)
2. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (2)
3. 19g - Richie Gustin Jr. -- Gilman, IA (4)
4. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (5)
5. 91 - Shawn Ryan -- Waterloo, IA (8)
6. 9 - Leon Wilson -- Hopkins, IA (7)
7. 17s - Mike Spaulding -- Bemidji, MN (6)
8. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (1) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (8 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 70 - Jerry King -- Waterloo, IA (2)
2. 50 - Brad Bakken -- Garner, IA (1)
3. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (4)
4. 1k - Pat Graham -- Ames, IA (7)
5. 93 - Cale Sponsler -- Grimes, IA (5)
6. 72 - Doug Hillson -- Blooming Prairie, MN (3)
7. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (6)
8. 5w - Darrin Walch -- Postville, IA (8)

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (30 laps):
1. 7ii - Mike Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (1)
2. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (2)
3. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (10)
4. 66 - Dan Bohr -- Decorah, IA (6)
5. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (12)
6. 4R - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (9)
7. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (5)
8. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (18)
9. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (13)
10. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (23)
11. 1k - Pat Graham -- Ames, IA (20)
12. 70 - Jerry King -- Waterloo, IA (14)
13. 50 - Brad Bakken -- Garner, IA (16)
14. 91 - Shawn Ryan -- Waterloo, IA (21)
15. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (8)
16. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (15)
17. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (24) DNF
18. 2 - Joey Schaefer -- Waterloo, IA (11) DNF
19. 19g - Richie Gustin Jr. -- Gilman, IA (17) DNF
20. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (7) DNF
21. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (19) DNF
22. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (3) DNF
23. 26p - Kevin Pittman -- Waterloo, IA (4) DNF
24. 93 - Cale Sponsler -- Grimes, IA (22) DNF

AMSOIL Lap Leaders: M. Hejna 1-30.
Total Laps Led: M. Hejna 30.
AFCO Pole Award: Ryan Gustin.
Provisional Starters: Holzkamper (regional), Mahlstedt (national).
Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger: Holzkamper (started 23rd, finished 10th).
Next Race: Tuesday, June 13, I-70 Speedway, Odessa, Mo.
O’Reilly National Points: Shryock 1876, VanderBeek 1455, Hughes 1263, A. Hejna 1257, Holzkamper 1228, Weder 1088, Poidinger 965, Jon Tesch 851, Sponsler 772, Greg Skaggs 710.
Central Region Points: Shryock 701, VanderBeek 553, Hughes 525, A. Hejna 505, Lodge 474, Weder 450, Richie Gustin Jr. 435, Holzkamper 420, M. Hejna 410, Brad Pinkerton 371.
Home Pride Passing Points (National): Shryock 102, VanderBeek 63, Hughes 58½, A. Hejna 54, Scott Green 42.
Home Pride Passing Points (Central): Shryock 27, VanderBeek 25½, Weder 21, Richie Gustin Jr. 18, Jeff Schluetter 13½, A. Hejna 13½.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points: Sponsler 225, Jay Noteboom 187, Scott Green 186, Ryan Gustin 186, Richie Gustin Jr. 186.
Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 186, Hughes 140, TRE 89, Harris 68, GRT 68.

Contingency Awards:
Belleville Motorsports – not awarded.
Boyer’s Engine Development – M. Hejna.
GRT Race Cars – Ver Beek.
Hawk Performance – Dripps.
Isky Racing Cams – Ryan Gustin.
Kevko Oil Pans & Components – Krohn.
KSE Racing Products – Weder, Bohr.
Marsh Racing Wheels – not awarded.
Nitroquest Web Solutions - Hughes.
Quarter Master – M. Hejna, Shryock.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Noble.
Real Racing Wheels – Shryock.