Hurst first at Dubuque, becomes fifth USRA Late Model winner in five races
by: Jeff Nun

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Five races in the books, five different faces in victory lane.

On Thursday night, the USRA Late Models invaded the Dubuque Speedway in Dubuque, Iowa, for the fifth contest of the inaugural season for the high-powered machines. It was the second event in 48 hours that the USRA Late Models shared the limelight with the popular O'Reilly USMTS Modifieds, and for the second time this week it was a local ace taking home the $2,000 top prize.

By virtue of winning his heat race and earning the most passing points, Dubuque's Jeremiah Hurst scored a wire-to-wire victory from the pole position to become the fifth different winner during the first five races of the young 2007 season.

Although Hurst led all 30 laps, the action throughout the pack was intense from start to finish. Chris Smyser of Lancaster, Mo., netted his second straight runner-up paycheck and wrestled the USRA Late Model national points lead away from Chad Simpson, who struggled to a 10th-place finish. Iowa City's Andy Eckrich raced to a third-place finish from 12th on the starting grid, followed by Russ Scheffler of Pewaukee, Wis., and Jason Rauen of Farley, Iowa.

Eight-time defending O'Reilly USMTS national champion Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa, competed in the USRA Late Model division tonight – his first time behind the wheel of dirt late model in more than a decade. Driving a car owned by Jeff Larson, Shryock finished sixth, with Danny Shelliam, Curt Martin, Sam Harren and Simpson finished seventh through 10th, respectively.

The high-powered USRA Late Models are back in action next Tuesday, June 12, at the Highway 3 Raceway in Allison, Iowa, for another $2,000-to-win event as they co-headline the show with the O'Reilly USMTS Modifieds. The Highway 3 Raceway is a half-mile semi-banked oval located 0.3 miles north of SR 3 on S. Main St. (at the Butler County Fairgrounds). For more information, call RL Promotions at (515) 832-6000.

For more information about the United States Racing Association (USRA), visit them online at www.usraracing.com.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
USRA Casey's General Stores Weekly Racing Series
Dubuque Speedway, Dubuque, Iowa
Thursday, June 7, 2007

Showing finishing position, car number, driver, hometown and starting position in parentheses. Passing Points accumulated in the Heats determine the starting line-up for the “A” Main.

USRA LATE MODELS

Heat #1 (8 laps):
1. 74 - Russ Scheffler -- Pewaukee, WI (1)
2. 1 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (6)
3. 45 - Tommy Elston -- Keokuk, IA (5)
4. B1 - Jeff Larson -- Freeport, IL (7)
5. 40 - Joe Callahan -- Dubuque, IA (3)
6. 14B - Levi Benn -- Dyersville, IA (2)
7. 16h - Sam Harren -- West Liberty, IA (4) DNF

Heat #2 (8 laps):
1. 77 - Jeremiah Hurst -- Dubuque, IA (4)
2. 25 - Chad Simpson -- Mount Vernon, IA (1)
3. 28c - Terry Neal -- Ely, IA (2)
4. 31 - Jason Utter -- Columbus Junction, IA (6)
5. 77c - Mitch Current -- Buford, GA (3)
6. 5M - Mike Fryer -- Freeport, IL (5)
7. 69 - Becky Roth -- Hazel Green, WI (7)

Heat #3 (8 laps):
1. 11 - Ace Ihm -- Hazel Green, WI (4)
2. 25s - Chris Smyser -- Lancaster, MO (2)
3. 98 - Jason Rauen -- Farley, IA (5)
4. 56 - Andy Eckrich -- Iowa City, IA (6)
5. 16 - Danny Shelliam -- Hazel Green, WI (3)
6. 45x - Curt Martin -- Independence, IA (1)

“A” Main (30 laps):
1. 77 - Jeremiah Hurst -- Dubuque, IA (1)
2. 25s - Chris Smyser -- Lancaster, MO (6)
3. 56 - Andy Eckrich -- Iowa City, IA (12)
4. 74 - Russ Scheffler -- Pewaukee, WI (4)
5. 98 - Jason Rauen -- Farley, IA (8)
6. 1 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (3)
7. 16 - Danny Shelliam -- Hazel Green, WI (15)
8. 45x - Curt Martin -- Independence, IA (18)
9. 16h - Sam Harren -- West Liberty, IA (19)
10. 25 - Chad Simpson -- Mount Vernon, IA (5)
11. 45 - Tommy Elston -- Keokuk, IA (7)
12. 28c - Terry Neal -- Ely, IA (10)
13. 5M - Mike Fryer -- Freeport, IL (17)
14. 77c - Mitch Current -- Buford, GA (14)
15. 14B - Levi Benn -- Dyersville, IA (16)
16. 11 - Ace Ihm -- Hazel Green, WI (2) DNF
17. 31 - Jason Utter -- Columbus Junction, IA (11) DNF
18. B1 - Jeff Larson -- Freeport, IL (9) DNF
19. 69 - Becky Roth -- Hazel Green, WI (20) DNF
20. 40 - Joe Callahan -- Dubuque, IA (13) DNF

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USRA TITLE SPONSOR: Casey’s General Stores

USRA OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Race Tires.

USRA CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: Boyer’s Engine Development, Holley Performance Products, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, Nitroquest Web Solutions, QuickTime Performance Race Parts, RaceQuest Sponsorship Marketing, Racing Optics, Real Racing Wheels, TCI Automotive.