Hughes scores another wire-to-wire win at Monett

MONETT, Mo. (Aug 12) -  Jason Hughes made it two-in-a-row with the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series Sunday night with another wire-to-wire win to secure his place atop The Hunt for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship. The win — his sixth overall and third in the last five races — was worth $2,000 to the Colcord, Okla., pilot as he stretched his lead in ‘The Hunt’ to 18 over eight-time defending O’Reilly USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa.

For the second straight night, Hughes drew the pole position for the Holley “A” Main, and for the second straight night he warded off all threats from start to finish. After seven visits to the Monett Speedway, Hughes also became the first repeat winner at the 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval.

Jeremy Payne of Springfield, Mo., pocketed the runner-up paycheck, while Steve Holzkamper of Gentry, Ark., recorded his best finish of ‘The Hunt’ with a third-place showing. Local favorite Terry Beckham Jr. of Webb City, Mo., was fourth and Watertown, S.D.'s Jon Tesch wound up fifth. Shryock, Mike Roach, Jason Krohn, Eddie Martin and Jamie Burford completed the top-10.

Burford, of Keatchie, La., garnered the Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger honors by passing 14 cars from his 24th-place starting spot.

Krohn continues to sit third in The Hunt for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship with 372 points, followed by Tesch (371), Greg Skaggs (349), Zack VanderBeek (346), Tommy Weder Jr. (345), AFCO Pole Award winner Dean Mahlstedt (323), Holzkamper (322) and Tommy Myer (300).

The rugged O’Reilly USMTS road warriors have raced 14 times in the past 17 days, but they don't get a much of a break quite yet. After taking Monday off for travel, the action heats back up on Tuesday, Aug. 14, at the Farley (Iowa) Speedway for the first of two nights featuring NASCAR star Ken Schrader. Schrader joins the Bad Boys With Fast Toys again on Wednesday as the O’Reilly USMTS makes their first-ever appearance at the Echo Valley Speedway in West Union, Iowa. On Thursday, the teams venture north to the Steele County Fairgrounds in Owatonna, Minn., then return to the Cresco (Iowa) Speedway on Friday, Aug. 17. The race at Cresco will be the 18th event in 21 days, but drivers will get nearly two weeks off before returning to action for the last half of the The Hunt for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship.

THE SCHEDULE:
Thu Aug 9 … Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, KS (winner: Jon Tesch)
Fri Aug 10 … Bolivar Speedway USA, Bolivar, MO (winner: Greg Skaggs)
Sat Aug 11 … Lebanon I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, MO (winner: Jason Hughes)
Sun Aug 12 … Monett Speedway, Monett, MO (winner: )
Tue Aug 14 … Farley Speedway, Farley, IA ($2,000 to win)
Wed Aug 15 … Echo Valley Speedway, West Union, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu Aug 16 … Steele County Fairgrounds, Owatonna, MN ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 17 … Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu Aug 30 … Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 31 … Chateau Raceway, Lansing, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sat Sep 1 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sun Sep 2 … Kasson Speedway, Kasson, MN ($2,000 to win)
Mon Sep 3 … Steele County Fairgrounds, Owatonna, MN ($2,000 to win)
Thu Sep 6 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win)
Fri Sep 7 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($4,000 to win)
Sat Sep 8 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($6,000 to win)

THE STANDINGS:
1. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK … 426
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA … 408
3. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN … 372
4. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD … 371
5. 27 - Greg Skaggs -- Bixby, OK … 349
6. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA … 346
7. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK … 345
8. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA … 323
9. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR … 322
10. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN … 300
11. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA … 275
12. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA … 273
13. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS … 268
14. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA … 206
15. 12b - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR … 205
16. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI … 203
17. 31j - Jeremy Rasmussen -- Bentonville, AR … 193
18. 58 - Scott Vesely -- Mosinee, WI … 185
19. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL … 176
20. 11 - Brandon Morton -- Coweta, OK … 170
21. 1f - Jason Friesen -- Sutton, NE … 78
22. 5t - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK … 14
23. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX … 8
24. 4x - Bobby Malchus -- Red Oak, TX … 5
24. 54 - Dena Wilson -- Coweta, OK … 5
26. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA … 3
27. 19g - Richie Gustin Jr. -- Gilman, IA … 2

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
The Hunt for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship (Race 4 of 16)
Monett Speedway, Monett, Mo.
Sunday, Aug. 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 (10 laps):
1. 118 - Terry Beckham Jr. -- Webb City, MO (2)
2. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (5)
3. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (1)
4. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (3)
5. 00 - Jesse Stovall -- Galena, MO (9)
6. 27 - Greg Skaggs -- Bixby, OK (8)
7. 4r - Derek Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (4)
8. 0f - Ryan Fuller -- Bentonville, AR (6) DNF
9. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (7) DNF

HEAT #2 (10 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (2)
2. 56 - Tony Jackson -- Lebanon, MO (5)
3. 17h - Brent Holman -- Rogers, AR (1)
4. 12B - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR (7)
5. 66 - Mike Paillou -- Pass Christian, MS (4)
6. 58 - Scott Vesely -- Mosinee, WI (3)
7. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (6) DNF
8. 37v - Joey Vaughn -- Siloam Springs, AR (8) DNS

HEAT #3 (10 laps):
1. 74 - Jeremy Payne -- Springfield, MO (5)
2. 31j - Jeremy Rasmussen -- Bentonville, AR (1)
3. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (6)
4. 38 - Jeremy Ross -- Locus Grove, OK (4)
5. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- East Woodward, OK (8)
6. 7x - Willie Gammill -- Siloam Springs, AR (2)
7. B29 - Tammy Mitchell -- Pea Ridge, AR (3) DNF
8. 17s - Mike Spaulding -- Bemidji, MN (7) DNF

HEAT #4 (10 laps):
1. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (6)
2. 33r - Mike Roach -- Woodward, OK (2)
3. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (5)
4. 11 - Brandon Morton -- Coweta, OK (3)
5. 51 - Eddie Martin -- Stilwell, OK (4)
6. 96t - R.C. Whitwell -- Sahuarita, AZ (7)
7. 18s - Brent Bohmont -- Martell, NE (8)
8. 357 - Clayton Wormington -- Springdale, AR (1)

HEAT #5 (10 laps):
1. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (3)
2. 52 - Mitch Keeter -- Webb City, MO (2)
3. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (4)
4. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (8)
5. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (6)
6. 51m - Michael Murphree -- Little Rock, AR (1)
7. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (5)
8. 33 - Stephen Muilenburg -- Sparta, MO (7)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (1)
2. 12B - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR (2)
3. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (6)
4. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- East Woodward, OK (4)
5. 51 - Eddie Martin -- Stilwell, OK (7)
6. 17h - Brent Holman -- Rogers, AR (3)
7. 96t - R.C. Whitwell -- Sahuarita, AZ (8)
8. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (12)
9. 38 - Jeremy Ross -- Locus Grove, OK (5)
10. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (15)
11. 37v - Joey Vaughn -- Siloam Springs, AR (13)
12. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (11)
13. 18s - Brent Bohmont -- Martell, NE (10) DNF
14. 357 - Clayton Wormington -- Springdale, AR (14) DNF
15. 7x - Willie Gammill -- Siloam Springs, AR (9) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 00 - Jesse Stovall -- Galena, MO (3)
2. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (1)
3. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (4)
4. 17s - Mike Spaulding -- Bemidji, MN (13)
5. 27 - Greg Skaggs -- Bixby, OK (7)
6. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (2)
7. 33 - Stephen Muilenburg -- Sparta, MO (14)
8. 11 - Brandon Morton -- Coweta, OK (5)
9. 4r - Derek Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (10)
10. 66 - Mike Paillou -- Pass Christian, MS (6)
11. 51m - Michael Murphree -- Little Rock, AR (9)
12. 0f - Ryan Fuller -- Bentonville, AR (12) DNF
13. 58 - Scott Vesely -- Mosinee, WI (8) DNF
14. B29 - Tammy Mitchell -- Pea Ridge, AR (11) DNF

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (1)
2. 74 - Jeremy Payne -- Springfield, MO (2)
3. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (4)
4. 118 - Terry Beckham Jr. -- Webb City, MO (5)
5. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (13)
6. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (12)
7. 33r - Mike Roach -- Woodward, OK (10)
8. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (17)
9. 51 - Eddie Martin -- Stilwell, OK (21)
10. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (24)
11. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (16)
12. 17s - Mike Spaulding -- Bemidji, MN (20)
13. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (8)
14. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (7)
15. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (3) DNF
16. 27 - Greg Skaggs -- Bixby, OK (22) DNF
17. 00 - Jesse Stovall -- Galena, MO (14) DNF
18. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (23) DNF
19. 12B - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR (15) DNF
20. 52 - Mitch Keeter -- Webb City, MO (11) DNF
21. 56 - Tony Jackson -- Lebanon, MO (6) DNF
22. 31j - Jeremy Rasmussen -- Bentonville, AR (9) DNF
23. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (18) DNF
24. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- East Woodward, OK (19) DNF

AMSOIL Lap Leaders: Hughes 1-35.
Total Laps Led: Hughes 35.
AFCO Pole Award: Mahlstedt.
Provisional Starters: Hejna, Burford.
Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger: Burford (started 24th, finished 10th).
Next Race: Tuesday, Aug. 14, Farley Speedway, Farley, Iowa.
O’Reilly USMTS National Championship Points: Hughes 426, Shryock 408, Krohn 372, Tesch 371, Skaggs 349, VanderBeek 346, Weder 345, Mahlstedt 323, Holzkamper 322, Myer 300.
Home Pride Passing Points: Shryock 172.5, Hughes 130.5, VanderBeek 120.0, Hejna 118.5, Weder 88.5.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points: Green 758, Donovan Lodge 309, Ryan Gustin 299, Rasmussen 254, Cale Sponsler 235.
Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 415, Hughes 345, Harris 228, GRT 200, Bullet 162.

Contingency Awards:
Belleville Motorsports – not awarded.
Boyer’s Engine Development – Hughes.
GRT Race Cars – not awarded.
Hawk Performance – Krohn.
Isky Racing Cams – Beckham.
Kevko Oil Pans & Components – Tesch, Weder.
KSE Racing Products – Payne, Beckham.
Marsh Racing Wheels – not awarded.
Nitroquest Web Solutions - Holzkamper.
Quarter Master – Hughes, Martin.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Roach.
Real Racing Wheels – Tesch.

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USMTS TITLE SPONSOR: O’Reilly Auto Parts.

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

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Boom Drilling, Day Motor Sports, Gressell Oil Field Services, Hughes Racing Chassis, KraftKar Race Cars, McVicker Oil Fields, Rinehart Trucking.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Belleville Motorsports, Bilstein Shocks, Boyer’s Engine Development, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, GRT Race Cars, Hawk Performance, Hyperco, Isky Racing Cams, KSE Racing Products, Quarter Master, QuickTime Performance Race Parts, Racer’s Choice (RCI).