USMTS AT OSBORN, MO

OSBORN, Mo. – They say that the U.S. 36 Raceway in Osborn, Mo., is a “lightning fast” racetrack, and that was never more true than it was on Friday night.

While the fans in the grandstands were facing south and focused squarely on the wild action happening on the 1/3-mile high-banked clay oval, a massive thunderstorm riddled with lightning was creeping up from the north behind them. Officials worked to move the show along quickly, foregoing driver introductions and the traditional four-wide “Salute to America” parade lap.

Cool winds and sprinkles began peppering the track with four laps to go in the 40-lap Holley “A” Main, but the fans got a complete show featuring a battle up front between two heavyweights, and the drivers got a workout that would make Lance Armstrong break a sweat.

Sunshine was abundant late in the afternoon, but by the end of hot laps clouds began to block the sun and helped keep the racing surface fast and sticky throughout the night. Nonetheless, the rugged road warriors of the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour found three different grooves on the racetrack, which provided plenty of action and passing in the main event.

Eight-time O’Reilly USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock drew the outside of the front row for the start of the main event and snagged the top spot from polesitter Scott Green at the drop of the green flag. Shryock went on to lead all 40 laps, but he was challenged the entire distance by last year's O’Reilly USMTS National Champ, Jason Krohn of Slayton, Minn.

After starting ninth on the 24-car grid, Krohn used every inch of the track to claw his way to the front. By lap 20, he was in second place and challenging Shryock for the lead. Despite several cautions and a last-lap dive underneath by Krohn, the veteran from Fertile, Iowa, never bobbled and held off his fellow Skyrocket Chassis pilot to earn his sixth O’Reilly USMTS National Tour victory of the season.

Sixth through tenth went to Green, Rookies Rockin' Sports Bar Rookie of the Year points leader Brandon Kenny, Jason Hughes, Gary Langworthy Jr. and Dereck Ramirez.

With the $2,000 win, Shryock padded his points lead in the Mo-Kan Region and now holds a 65-point advantage over Hughes (684 to 619) heading into Saturday's Mo-Kan Region tilt at the Mid America Speedway in South Coffeyville, Okla. Tesch is third with 580 markers, followed by Allen (576), VanderBeek (526), Boney (521), Kenny (518), Krohn (510), Johnny Bone Jr. (490) and Langworthy (454), who moved up three spots in the standings.

Saturday's event at the Mid America Speedway will be the sixth of 12 events scheduled over 13 grueling days:

Mon Jun 16 - Iowa State Fair Speedway, Des Moines, Iowa (winner: Jason Hughes)
Tue Jun 17 … Mineral City Speedway, Fort Dodge, Iowa (winner: Zack VanderBeek)
Wed Jun 18 … Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, S.D. (winner: Jason Hughes)
Thu Jun 19 … Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, Kan. (rained out)
Fri Jun 20 … U.S. 36 Raceway, Osborn, Mo. (winner: Kelly Shryock)
Sat Jun 21 … Mid America Speedway, South Coffeyville, Okla.
Mon Jun 23 … Independence Motor Speedway, Independence, Iowa
Tue Jun 24 … Buena Vista Raceway, Alta, Iowa w/ Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace
Wed Jun 25 … Huset’s Speedway, Brandon, S.D. w/ Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace
Thu Jun 26 … Casino Speedway, Watertown, S.D.
Fri Jun 27 … Rapid Speedway, Rock Rapids, Iowa
Sat Jun 28 … Nobles County Speedway, Worthington, Minn.

Afterwards, the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour teams get a well-deserved Summer Break before returning to action on Tuesday, July 22, at the Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa, for the final stretch run to the Casey's General Stores Hunt for the USMTS National Championship.

The USMTS is celebrating its 10th Anniversary Season in 2008 with many special promotions to show thanks to the fans, drivers, team members, families and sponsors who have helped make the USMTS the premier dirt modified series in the nation.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online for the latest news and information from the USMTS — America's Hottest Ticket on Dirt.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
O’Reilly USMTS National Tour (Mo-Kan Region)
Inaugural Event
U.S. 36 Raceway, Osborn, Mo.
Friday, June 20, 2008

Showing finishing position, car number, driver, hometown and starting position in parentheses. The top 12 drivers in passing points accumulated in the heat races are locked into the Holley “A” Main, with the top 8 re-drawing for starting positions 1-8.

ISKY RACING CAMS HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (2)
2. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (1)
3. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (3)
4. 39 - Gary Langworthy Jr. -- Coffeyville, KS (4)
5. 71 - David Holder -- Clarence, MO (6)
6. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (7)
7. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (8)
8. 7s - Shayne Bailey -- Lathrop, MO (5)

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 19 - Richie Gustin Jr. -- Gilman, IA (2)
2. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (1)
3. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (4)
4. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (6)
5. 81 - Richard Spriggs -- Savannah, MO (3)
6. 29 - Dennis Elliott -- Mt. Ayr, IA (8)
7. 85d - Mark Dotson -- Cameron, MO (7)
8. 2 - Carey Umbarger -- Garner, IA (5) DNF

HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (4)
2. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (1)
3. 98 - John Allen -- Chanute, KS (8)
4. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (5)
5. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (6)
6. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (7)
7. 72 - Mike Lineberry -- Fremont, NE (3)
8. 26s - Steven Glenn -- Hamilton, MO (2)

HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (2)
2. 67d - Isaac Dotson -- Lathrop, MO (4)
3. 9b - Blake Sedgwick -- Cameron, MO (6)
4. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (7)
5. 7x - Chris Dawson -- Post, TX (5)
6. 55d - Michael Dotson -- Lathrop, MO (1)
7. 11s - Steve Starmer -- New Hampton, MO (3)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (10 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (1)
2. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (2)
3. 29 - Dennis Elliott -- Mt. Ayr, IA (5)
4. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (6)
5. 71 - David Holder -- Clarence, MO (3)
6. 81 - Richard Spriggs -- Savannah, MO (4)
7. 72 - Mike Lineberry -- Fremont, NE (8)
8. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (7)
9. 7s - Shayne Bailey -- Lathrop, MO (9)
10. 26s - Steven Glenn -- Hamilton, MO (10)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (10 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (1)
2. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (3)
3. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (5)
4. 39 - Gary Langworthy Jr. -- Coffeyville, KS (2)
5. 7x - Chris Dawson -- Post, TX (4)
6. 11s - Steve Starmer -- New Hampton, MO (8)
7. 85d - Mark Dotson -- Cameron, MO (7)
8. 55d - Michael Dotson -- Lathrop, MO (6)
9. 2 - Carey Umbarger -- Garner, IA (9) DNS

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (2)
2. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (9)
3. 98 - John Allen -- Chanute, KS (3)
4. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (16)
5. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (12)
6. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (1)
7. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (15)
8. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (5)
9. 39 - Gary Langworthy Jr. -- Coffeyville, KS (20)
10. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (18)
11. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (6)
12. 85d - Mark Dotson -- Cameron, MO (24)
13. 29 - Dennis Elliott -- Mt. Ayr, IA (17)
14. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (10)
15. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (11)
16. 9b - Blake Sedgwick -- Cameron, MO (8)
17. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (13) DNF
18. 67d - Isaac Dotson -- Lathrop, MO (7) DNF
19. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (19) DNF
20. 19 - Richie Gustin Jr. -- Gilman, IA (4) DNF
21. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (14) DNF
22. 7x - Chris Dawson -- Post, TX (22) DNF
23. 71 - David Holder -- Clarence, MO (21) DNF
24. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (23) DNF

Lap Leaders: Shryock 1-40.
Total Laps Led: Shryock 40.
AFCO Pole Winner: Shryock.
Provisional Starters: Noble, Mark Dotson.
Ruter Farms Long Tow: Dawson (755.56 miles).
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Boney (started 16th, finished 4th).
Next Race: Saturday, June 21, Mid America Speedway, South Coffeyville, Okla. (Mo-Kan Region).
Mo-Kan Region Points: Shryock 684, Hughes 619, Tesch 580, Allen 576, VanderBeek 526, Boney 521, Kenny 518, Krohn 510, Johnny Bone Jr. 490, Langworthy 454.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points: Kenny 423, Ramirez 391, Rowland 295, Langworthy 151, Colt Mather 111.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Sput’s 182, Mullins 156, Wanders 139, A.S.I. 138, JR 122.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 196, Hughes 170, Harris 132, Kraft 90, GRT 62.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – Shryock.
American Racer – Noble.
Belleville Motorsports – not awarded.
BSB Manufacturing – Ramirez.
Hawk Performance – Shryock, Langworthy.
Isky Racing Cams – Green.
KSE Racing Products – Boney.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Noble.
New Vision Graphics – Gustin.
Nitroquest Web Solutions - Allen.
Quarter Master – Shryock, Hughes.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Kenny.
Real Racing Wheels – Weder, Holzkamper.
Ruter Farms – Dawson.
TrackTek Racing Fuel – not awarded.