Skaggs bags Kansas Spring Fling loot

MAYETTA, Kan. (March 25, 2007) - For the last three races, Greg Skaggs could smell victory with the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series. On Sunday he finally got to taste it.

After two third-place finishes in the last three events, Skaggs sealed the deal this time and scored his career-first O’Reilly USMTS main event win in the 5th Annual Kansas Spring Fling at the Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kan. Starting from the outside of the front row, the 36-year-old ace took the lead away from polesitter Bobby Moore on lap 5, then paced the final 30 orbits to take the top prize of $2,000 back home to Bixby, Okla.

Fellow Sooner State speedster Jason Hughes of Colcord, Okla., turned around his recent streak of bad luck and followed Skaggs across the finish line in the runner-up position. Eight-time defending O'Reilly USMTS national champion Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa, finished third to retain his spot at the top of the current national rankings and also move himself into the lead for the Western Region title.

Mike Sorensen of Rochester, Minn., finished fourth while Steve Wetzstein of W. Concord, Minn., completed the first five to the checkered flag. Jason Krohn of Slayton, Minn., who won Friday's event at the Humboldt (Kan.) Speedway, was sixth and Clear Lake, Iowa's Al Hejna took seventh but slipped to second in the Western Region standings -- one point in arrears to Shryock. Mark Dotson of Cameron, Mo.; Tim Karrick of Bashor, Kan.; and Jason Friesen of Sutton, Neb., respectively, rounded out the top-10 finishers.

Cale Sponsler of Grimes, Iowa, was the top-finishing Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year contender with his 13th-place finish. Jay Noteboom of Hinton, Iowa, failed to finish Sunday's Holley “A” Main and finished 23rd, but continues to lead Sponsler in the rookie points, 130 to 116.

The Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger honors went to Karrick, who started 23rd and finished 9th.

UP NEXT:

The Enid (Okla.) Speedway Park will feature some of the top Modified drivers from throughout the South as the USMTS Southern Series rolls into town for a doubleheader event. Friday's main event winner will earn $2,000 while Saturday's victor will pocket $3,000. Each night, race fans will be treated to some great Modified racing with heat races, consolations and a feature event, along with local support classes. Gates are slated to open both days at 3 p.m., with the first green flag waving at 7 p.m. Enid Speedway Park will also present Street Stocks and E-Mods on the racing card both nights.

The next O'Reilly USMTS National Events will take place the following Friday and Saturday, April 6-7, with the 2nd Annual Iowa-Missouri Border War. Friday's show will take place at the Mountain Dew Bloomfield (Iowa) Speedway while the rugged road warriors invade the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Mo., on Saturday. Both events will kick off the fight for the Central Region title.

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
5th Annual Kansas Spring Fling
Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, Kan.
Sunday, March 25, 2007

Showing finishing position, car number, driver, hometown and starting position in parentheses. The top 13 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. 1f - Jason Friesen -- Sutton, NE (1)
2. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (4)
3. 1k - Tim Karrick -- Bashor, KS (2)
4. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (5)
5. 5j - Matt Johnson -- Archie, MO (3)
6. 96j - Johnny Saathoff -- Beatrice, NE (7)
7. 18s - Brent Bohmont -- Martell, NE (9)
8. 1 - Scott Mullen -- Seymour, WI (6)
9. 7 - Nate Caruth -- Ames, IA (8)

HEAT #2 (10 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (5)
2. 4j - Jake Richards -- Edwardsville, KS (3)
3. 2x - Lyle Shepard -- Manhattan, KS (6)
4. 93 - Cale Sponsler -- Grimes, IA (7)
5. 19b - Nic Baalman -- Wichita, KS (1)
6. 70 - Aaron Marrant -- Orrick, MO (4)
7. 2 - Bryan Lariviere -- Wichita, KS (9)
8. 42 - Tom Paulson -- Kasson, MN (2)
9. 2k - Darrick Klima -- Belleville, KS (8)

HEAT #3 (10 laps):
1. 98 - John Allen -- Chanute, KS (4)
2. 19 - Mike Sorensen -- Rochester, MN (5)
3. 85d - Mark Dotson -- Cameron, MO (1)
4. 37 - Jeremy Chambers -- Oswego, KS (6)
5. 68 - Kerry Davis -- Parkville, MO (9)
6. 31j - Jeremy Rasmussen -- Bentonville, AR (3)
7. L99 - Loren Dauer -- Lindsborg, KS (7)
8. 810 - Jesse Wheeler -- Independence, MO (2)
9. 24 - Dennie Gieber -- Dwight, KS (8)

HEAT #4 (10 laps):
1. 27 - Greg Skaggs -- Bixby, OK (2)
2. 77 - Steven Bowers -- Topeka, KS (3)
3. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (9)
4. 71 - Mike Hoover -- Mexico, MO (7)
5. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (8)
6. 96 - Jim Johnson -- Wichita, KS (1)
7. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (6)
8. M80 - Mat Stallbaumer -- Tecumseh, KS (4)
9. 222 - Dustin Boney -- Tonganoxie, KS (5)

HEAT #5 (10 laps):
1. 48 - Bobby Moore -- Sioux City, IA (2)
2. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (5)
3. 17 - Garry Oskerson -- Fairmont, MN (3)
4. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (8)
5. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA (4)
6. 7d - Danny Holt -- Topeka, KS (1)
7. 54 - Paul Snyder -- Wellswell, KS (6)
8. 15x - Dan DeMay -- Denison, IA (7)
9. 11h - Jim Hernandez -- Topeka, KS (9)

HEAT #6 (10 laps):
1. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (2)
2. 90 - Steve Wetzstein -- W. Concord, MN (4)
3. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (3)
4. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (8)
5. 86 - Brian Franz -- Hallstead, KS (6)
6. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (9)
7. 27 - Clint Homan -- Bellevue, NE (1)
8. 2j - Grant Junghans -- Manhattan, KS (5)
9. Q37 - Allison Quick -- Redding, IA (7)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 2x - Lyle Shepard -- Manhattan, KS (1)
2. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (5)
3. 85d - Mark Dotson -- Cameron, MO (3)
4. 96j - Johnny Saathoff -- Beatrice, NE (7)
5. 93 - Cale Sponsler -- Grimes, IA (2)
6. 96 - Jim Johnson -- Wichita, KS (8)
7. 2k - Darrick Klima -- Belleville, KS (13)
8. 5j - Matt Johnson -- Archie, MO (6)
9. 11h - Jim Hernandez -- Topeka, KS (14)
10. 37 - Jeremy Chambers -- Oswego, KS (4)
11. 54 - Paul Snyder -- Wellswell, KS (10)
12. 42 - Tom Paulson -- Kasson, MN (11)
13. 15x - Dan DeMay -- Denison, IA (12)
14. 2 - Bryan Lariviere -- Wichita, KS (9)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (1)
2. 68 - Kerry Davis -- Parkville, MO (4)
3. 71 - Mike Hoover -- Mexico, MO (2)
4. 86 - Brian Franz -- Hallstead, KS (5)
5. 17 - Garry Oskerson -- Fairmont, MN (3)
6. 70 - Aaron Marrant -- Orrick, MO (7)
7. L99 - Loren Dauer -- Lindsborg, KS (9)
8. 7d - Danny Holt -- Topeka, KS (8)
9. 27 - Clint Homan -- Bellevue, NE (10)
10. 810 - Jesse Wheeler -- Independence, MO (11)
11. 2j - Grant Junghans -- Manhattan, KS (12)
12. 24 - Dennie Gieber -- Dwight, KS (13)
13. 19b - Nic Baalman -- Wichita, KS (6)
14. Q37 - Allison Quick -- Redding, IA (14)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #3 (12 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (3)
2. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (1)
3. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (4)
4. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA (6)
5. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (12)
6. 31j - Jeremy Rasmussen -- Bentonville, AR (7)
7. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (9)
8. 1k - Tim Karrick -- Bashor, KS (2)
9. M80 - Mat Stallbaumer -- Tecumseh, KS (11)
10. 1 - Scott Mullen -- Seymour, WI (10)
11. 18s - Brent Bohmont -- Martell, NE (8)
12. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (5)
13. 222 - Dustin Boney -- Tonganoxie, KS (13)

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. 27 - Greg Skaggs -- Bixby, OK (2)
2. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (3)
3. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (8)
4. 19 - Mike Sorensen -- Rochester, MN (4)
5. 90 - Steve Wetzstein -- W. Concord, MN (11)
6. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (6)
7. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (7)
8. 85d - Mark Dotson -- Cameron, MO (20)
9. 1k - Tim Karrick -- Bashor, KS (23)
10. 1f - Jason Friesen -- Sutton, NE (9)
11. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (16)
12. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (15)
13. 93 - Cale Sponsler -- Grimes, IA (24)
14. 4j - Jake Richards -- Edwardsville, KS (12)
15. 2x - Lyle Shepard -- Manhattan, KS (14) DNF
16. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (10) DNF
17. 98 - John Allen -- Chanute, KS (5) DNF
18. 77 - Steven Bowers -- Topeka, KS (13) DNF
19. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (22) DNF
20. 68 - Kerry Davis -- Parkville, MO (18) DNF
21. 48 - Bobby Moore -- Sioux City, IA (1) DNF
22. 71 - Mike Hoover -- Mexico, MO (21) DNF
23. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (17) DNF
24. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (19) DNF

AMSOIL Lap Leaders: Moore 1-5, Skaggs 6-35.
Total Laps Led: Skaggs 30, Moore 5.
AFCO Pole Award: Hughes.
Provisional Starters: Karrick (regional), Sponsler (national).
Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger: Karrick (started 23rd, finished 9th).
Next Race: Friday, March 30, Enid Speedway Park, Enid, Okla. (USMTS Southern Series).
O’Reilly National Points: Shryock 607, Hejna 540, Noteboom 465, VanderBeek 434, Sponsler 416, Dotson 398, Green 392, Skaggs 364, Rasmussen 361, Holzkamper 338.
Western Region Points: Shryock 289, Hejna 288, Karrick 243, VanderBeek 235, Noteboom 221, Dotson 219, Saathoff 215, Tesch 213, Sponsler 202, Klima 196.
Home Pride Passing Points (National): Shryock 42, Green 33, Noteboom 27, Mark Noble 24, Hughes 24.
Home Pride Passing Points (Western Region): Shryock 28½, Green 22½, Noteboom 19½, Hejna 18, Mark Noble 16½.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points: Noteboom 130, Sponsler 116, Green 109, Rasmussen 87, Klima 58.
Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 59, Hughes 41, Razor 34, TRE 26, Jet 26.

Contingency Awards:
Belleville Motorsports – Wetzstein, Friesen.
Boyer’s Engine Development – Skaggs.
GRT Race Cars – not awarded.
Hawk Performance – Dotson.
Isky Racing Cams – Friesen.
Kevko Oil Pans & Components – Wetzstein, Sponsler.
KSE Racing Products – Hughes, Sorensen.
Marsh Racing Wheels – not awarded.
Nitroquest Web Solutions - Shryock.
Quarter Master – Skaggs, Karrick.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Hejna.
Real Racing Wheels – VanderBeek, Holzkamper.

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USMTS TITLE SPONSOR: O’Reilly Auto Parts.

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Race Tires, AMSOIL, 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, 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).