O’REILLY USMTS TEAMS READY FOR IOWA-MISSOURI BORDER WAR
by: Jeff Nun

Bloomfield, Ia (March 28) -- Race fans in Bloomfield, Iowa, are finally getting what they've been asking for as America's dirt modified masters will invade the Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway this Friday, March 31, for the inaugural invasion of the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series at the 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval.

Friday's $2,000-to-win clash will also serve as the first of two nights in two States as the O’Reilly USMTS travels 30 miles south on Saturday to the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Mo., for another battle royal worth $2,000 to the winner.

Thanks to new and improved lighting at both facilities, fans will get an even better look at the cars on the track. New lights were installed at the Bloomfield speedplant last season while the Memphis facility's new MUSCO lighting will shine for the first time this Saturday.

Mark Noble of Blooming Prairie, Minn., leads the O’Reilly USMTS national points standings heading into this weekend's doubleheader. The 49-year-old veteran ended a two-year winless drought last Friday at the Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kan., then scored his fourth straight top-5 finish on Saturday to expand his advantage (412 to 372) over Jon Tesch of Watertown, S.D.

Seven-time defending O’Reilly USMTS national champ Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa, suffered a rare DNF in Saturday's main event and currently sits fourth in the points chase -- three markers behind Forest City, Iowa's Ryan Ruter.

Other O’Reilly National drivers expected for both shows include Steve Arpin, Brent Bohmont, Johnny Bone Jr., Dustin Boney, Joe Bradshaw, Dan Chapman, Mike Chasteen, Clayton Christensen, Gary Clark, Justin Cooper, Michael Darnall, Scott Drake, Tony Fraise, Jason Friesen, Matt Gilbertson, Chevy Hadan, Al Hejna, Jim Horejsi, Jason Hughes, Marlin Kracht, Brett LaFollette, Kevin Larkins, Dean Mahlstedt, Jim Mathieson, Julie McDermid, Matt McDermid, Brad McEwan, Greg Metz, Alan Mondus, Brandon Morton, Scott Mullen, Tommy Myer, Jake Neal, Mark Noble, Jay Poidinger, Josh Reisch, Ryan Ruter, Jeff Schluetter, John Schwab, Kelly Shryock, Mike Spaulding, Chuck Stanton, Mike Steensma, Russell Stewart, Jon Tesch, Jeremy Tibben, Randy Timms, Zack VanderBeek, Joshua Vinnedge, Nate Wasmund, Mike Wedelstadt, Brad Waits, Tommy Weder Jr., Ryan York, Randy Zimmerman.

Friday's inaugural O'Reilly USMTS event at the Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway will be the fifth of 74 races on the 2006 schedule, and the first of 14 scheduled events comprising the Central Region slate. USRA Stock Cars ($300 to win), USRA B-Modifieds ($300 to win) and USRA Hobby Stocks ($250 to win) will also be on the card racing for national points in the USRA Casey's General Stores Weekly Racing Series.

Saturday's 3rd Annual Missouri Spring Challenge at the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway will be the sixth of 74 races on the 2006 schedule, as well as the second of 14 scheduled events comprising the Central Region slate and the first of 13 in the Southern Region. USRA Stock Cars ($300 to win), USRA B-Modifieds ($300 to win) and Outlaw Hobbies ($250 to win) will also be on the card racing for national points in the USRA Casey's General Stores Weekly Racing Series.

Gates open on Friday at 4 p.m., with hot laps at 6:30 and racing slated to begin at 7. Gates open on Saturday at 3 p.m., with hot laps at 5 and racing slated to begin at 5:30. On both nights, general admission grandstand tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for kids (6-12). Children under 6 are admitted free of charge. Pit passes are $25.

The Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway is located 1.0 mile west of Bloomfield on US 63/SR 2, then 0.8 mile north on CR J40 (at the Davis County Fairgrounds). The Pepsi Scotland County Speedway is located 1.0 mile west of Memphis, Mo., on US 136 to SR 15, then east (at the Scotland County Fairgrounds).

For more information about these events, or to learn more about the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series, call (515) 832-7944 or visit www.USMTS.com online.

O’REILLY NATIONAL DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:
1. 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn. .... 412
2. 14 John Tesch, Watertown, S.D. .... 372
3. 555 Ryan Ruter, Forest City, Iowa .... 346
4. 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa .... 343
5. 1f Jason Friesen, Sutton, Neb. .... 305
6. 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn. .... 301
7. 26 Brad McEwan, Storm Lake, Iowa .... 268
8. 21m Dean Mahlstedt, Clear Lake, Iowa .... 265
9. 4x Kevin Larkins, Greenwood, Neb. .... 258
10. 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa .... 233

ROOKIES ROCKIN’ SPORTS BAR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR STANDINGS:
1. 1f Jason Friesen, Sutton, Neb. .... 50
2. 4x Kevin Larkins, Greenwood, Neb. .... 34
3. 00eh Steve Arpin, Fort Frances, Ont. .... 28
4. 5 Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla. .... 24
5. 02 Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, Okla. .... 22

UNIJIG BUILDERS CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:
1. Kraft Kar Race Cars (Kraft), Lakefield, Minn. .... 35
1. Skyrocket Chassis (Skyrocket), Fertile, Iowa .... 35
3. GRT Race Cars (GRT), Greenbrier, Ark. .... 29
4. Hughes Chassis (Hughes), Colcord, Okla. .... 23
5. Belleville Motorsports (BMS), Belleville, Kan. .... 22