Shryock does The Dew, clinches O’Reilly USMTS Central Region title

BLOOMFIELD, Ia (Aug. 3) - Eight-time defending O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series national champion Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa, notched another victory Friday night, capturing the 35-lap Holley "A" Main at the Mountain Dew Bloomfield (Iowa) Speedway. The win, worth $2,000, was Shryock's 14th National Event win in 37 starts as he clinched the O’Reilly USMTS Central Region title.

AFCO Pole Award winner Al Hejna of Clear Lake, Iowa, retained the pole position after the redraw, and led the first eight laps in his Harris chassis before Watertown, S.D.'s Jon Tesch assumed the top spot. Driving a new GRT chassis for just the fourth time, Tesch paced the field for the next 16 laps before surrendering the top spot to Shryock's No. 3 Skyrocket chassis.

Jason Krohn of Slayton, Minn., won the first Real Racing Wheels "B" Main, then earned the Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger honors as he raced from 13th on the grid to a second-place finish. Tesch hung on for a third-place payday, followed by Jason Hughes of Colcord, Okla., and Zack VanderBeek of New Sharon, Iowa.

Rounding out the top-10 at the flagstand were Ron Ver Beek, Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year points leader Scott Green, NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader, Tommy Weder Jr. and Ryan Gustin.

On Saturday night, the O’Reilly USMTS road warriors travel to the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Mo., for the Ed Sheckler Memorial at Memphis presented by Pepsi, and the final event in the Central Region. While Shryock has clinched the regional crown with 968 points, the rest of the top-10 are up for grabs as drivers look to earn their way into ‘The Hunt’ for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship. VanderBeek sits second in the Central Region with 809 points, followed by Hughes (807), Hejna (728), Weder (676), Donovan Lodge (661), Ryan Gustin (579), Richie Gustin Jr. (578), Dean Mahlstedt (571) and Krohn (550).

Still mathematically alive are Jay Poidinger (513), Brad Pinkerton (500), Corey Dripps (461), Mike Hejna (455), Tony Fraise (448) and Tesch (441). Poidinger, Dripps and Tesch are already in ‘The Hunt’ by virtue of their performances in the Yeager Machine Northeast Region. Pinkerton, Mike Hejna and Fraise, however, need good runs Saturday and a little help to make the cut. None of the three are mathematically alive in any of the other regions.

With show-up points at Memphis on Saturday, Poidinger will earn five bonus points for perfect attendance in the Central Region. Shryock, VanderBeek, Al Hejna, Lodge and Richie Gustin Jr. will also earn the perfect attendance bonus when they sign in the gate at Memphis.

The Marsh Racing Wheels Halfway Leader Award will be worth a record $750 at Memphis. The prize goes to the leader at the halfway point of the main event if that driver is using Marsh Racing Wheels. The amount goes up $50 for every race it's not claimed.

On Saturday, the pit gate will open at 4:30 p.m. and the grandstand gates will open at 5. Hot laps begin at 6:30 with racing to follow. Also in action will be the USRA Casey’s General Stores Weekly Racing Series featuring USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks, Outlaw Hobbys, Hornets and the debut of the Pro Hornet division. While the Pepsi-sponsored O’Reilly USMTS main event will pay $2,000 to win, extra money is also up for grabs in the other classes. Officials from RL Promotions have also announced that there will be no registration fees or USRA licenses required for the remaining events this season and, as it has been all season, Hoosier G60 tires are allowed (no points). In addition, any regular driver (one that has raced at Memphis two or more times in 2007) that brings a new driver (has raced one or no times in 2007) on Aug. 4, the regular driver will receive a free pit pass on that night!

The O’Reilly USMTS has competed 20 times at the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway, with Shryock (6) and Hughes (4) owning half of those wins. Other former winners include Al Hejna (3), Scott Megonigle (2), Mike Hejna, Mahlstedt, Tommy Myer, Johnny Bone Jr. and Mike Spaulding, who won the first O’Reilly USMTS event at Memphis on Aug. 4, 2001.

For more information, contact the RL Promotions offices at (515) 832-6000 or visit www.rlpromotions.com online. Race day info is available by calling the track hotline at (660) 465-8948. The Pepsi Scotland County Speedway is located 1.0 mile west of Memphis on US 136 to SR 15, then east (at the Scotland County Fairgrounds).

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
National Event - Central Region
Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway, Bloomfield, Iowa
Friday, Aug. 3, 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. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (6)
2. 29 - Dennis Elliott -- Mt. Ayr, IA (5)
3. 17p - Brad Pinkerton -- New Sharon, IA (7)
4. 40 - Scott Dickey -- Packwood, IA (1)
5. 94 - Steven Blattler -- Oskaloosa, IA (9)
6. 21 - Jeff Gerhardt -- Niota, IL (3)
7. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (2) DNF
8. 222 - Dustin Boney -- Tonganoxie, KS (8) DNF
9. 77 - Jim Lynch -- Bloomfield, IA (4) DNF

HEAT #2 (10 laps):
1. 45 - Tony Fraise -- Donnellson, IA (1)
2. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (5)
3. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (8)
4. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (7)
5. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (2)
6. 61 - Bruce Hanford -- Davenport, IA (6)
7. 1k - Pat Graham -- Ames, IA (9)
8. 18L - Michael Long -- Quincy, IL (4) DNF
9. 118 - Terry Beckham Jr. -- Webb City, MO (3) DNF

HEAT #3 (10 laps):
1. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (1)
2. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (4)
3. 9 - Ken Schrader -- Concord, NC (7)
4. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (5)
5. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (8)
6. 17s - Mike Spaulding -- Bemidji, MN (6)
7. 35 - Jeff Schluetter -- New Hampton, IA (3) DNF
8. 19g - Richie Gustin Jr. -- Gilman, IA (2) DNF

HEAT #4 (10 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (3)
2. 4R - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (2)
3. 17 - Steve Stewart -- Washington, IA (5)
4. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (6)
5. 7c - Nate Caruth -- Ames, IA (1)
6. 76 - Bill Tuckwell -- Metamore, IL (4)
7. 22 - Brandon Banks -- Washington, IA (7) DNS
8. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (8) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (3)
2. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (1)
3. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (4)
4. 17s - Mike Spaulding -- Bemidji, MN (6)
5. 1k - Pat Graham -- Ames, IA (7)
6. 94 - Steven Blattler -- Oskaloosa, IA (2)
7. 77 - Jim Lynch -- Bloomfield, IA (11) DNF
8. 21 - Jeff Gerhardt -- Niota, IL (5) DNF
9. 19g - Richie Gustin Jr. -- Gilman, IA (10) DNF
10. 35 - Jeff Schluetter -- New Hampton, IA (8) DNS
11. 222 - Dustin Boney -- Tonganoxie, KS (9) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 18L - Michael Long -- Quincy, IL (9)
2. 61 - Bruce Hanford -- Davenport, IA (5)
3. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (1)
4. 7c - Nate Caruth -- Ames, IA (4)
5. 118 - Terry Beckham Jr. -- Webb City, MO (11)
6. 76 - Bill Tuckwell -- Metamore, IL (6)
7. 22 - Brandon Banks -- Washington, IA (8)
8. 40 - Scott Dickey -- Packwood, IA (3)
9. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (10)
10. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (2) DNF
11. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (7) DNS

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (3)
2. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (13)
3. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (4)
4. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (8)
5. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (15)
6. 4R - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (11)
7. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (17)
8. 9 - Ken Schrader -- Concord, NC (10)
9. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (2)
10. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (5)
11. 1k - Pat Graham -- Ames, IA (21)
12. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (18)
13. 61 - Bruce Hanford -- Davenport, IA (16) DNF
14. 18L - Michael Long -- Quincy, IL (14) DNF
15. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (1) DNF
16. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (23) DNF
17. 22 - Brandon Banks -- Washington, IA (24) DNF
18. 45 - Tony Fraise -- Donnellson, IA (7) DNF
19. 17 - Steve Stewart -- Washington, IA (12) DNF
20. 7c - Nate Caruth -- Ames, IA (20) DNF
21. 17p - Brad Pinkerton -- New Sharon, IA (9) DNF
22. 29 - Dennis Elliott -- Mt. Ayr, IA (6) DNF
23. 118 - Terry Beckham Jr. -- Webb City, MO (22) DNF
24. 17s - Mike Spaulding -- Bemidji, MN (19) DNF

AMSOIL Lap Leaders: A. Hejna 1-8, Tesch 9-24, Shryock 25-35.
Total Laps Led: Tesch 16, Shryock 11, A. Hejna 8.
AFCO Pole Award: A. Hejna.
Provisional Starters: Poidinger, Banks.
Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger: VanderBeek (started 15th, finished 5th).
Next Race: Saturday, Aug. 4, Pepsi Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, Mo. (Central Region).
O’Reilly National Points: Shryock 3545, VanderBeek 2881, Hughes 2859, A. Hejna 2769, Weder 2400, Poidinger 1888, Green 1823, Tesch 1809, Dripps 1749, Krohn 1748.
Central Region Points: Shryock 968, VanderBeek 809, Hughes 807, A. Hejna 728, Weder 676, Lodge 661, Ryan Gustin 579, Richie Gustin Jr. 578, Mahlstedt 571, Krohn 550.
Home Pride Passing Points (National): Shryock 148½, Hughes 114, VanderBeek 112½, A. Hejna 109½, Green 78.
Home Pride Passing Points (Central): VanderBeek 42, Shryock 31½, A. Hejna 30, Hughes 28½, Krohn 25½.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points: Green 610, Ryan Gustin 280, Cale Sponsler 235, Lodge 234, Richie Gustin Jr. 225.
Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 353, Hughes 283, Harris 200, GRT 149, Bullet 131.

Contingency Awards:
Belleville Motorsports – not awarded.
Boyer’s Engine Development – Shryock.
GRT Race Cars – not awarded.
Hawk Performance – Schrader.
Isky Racing Cams – A. Hejna.
Kevko Oil Pans & Components – VanderBeek, Hanford.
KSE Racing Products – Krohn, Hughes.
Marsh Racing Wheels – not awarded.
Nitroquest Web Solutions - Tesch.
Quarter Master – Shryock, Weder.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Green.
Real Racing Wheels – Krohn, Long.

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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, Borco LP, 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).