OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (May 1, 2005) -- O’Reilly USMTS national driver Scott Drake of Webb City, Mo., won the first of three Xtreme Super Nationals modified events on Sunday, May 1, at the State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City, Okla.

The top eight drivers from Saturday night transferred to Sunday’s "A" feature, including Drake and fellow O’Reilly USMTS ace Jason Hughes of Colcord, Okla.

Drake and Hughes started on the front row for the big $5,000-to-win, 30-lap feature with Hughes taking the lead as the green flag fell. Drake trailed in second while Hughes quickly opened a 10-car length advantage by lap 2.

Caution on lap 3 slowed the pace, but Hughes again jumped out front to a comfortable lead when the race resumed, eventually opening a half-stretch lead by lap 10.

The caution waved again on lap 11 when a tractor tire was knocked onto the track in turn 3, but Hughes again looked to check out from the field on the restart with Drake continuing to hold down the runner-up spot.

With Hughes again out to a half-stretch lead and seemingly unchallenged for the last half of the race, gremlins struck on lap 17 as Hughes pulled to the infield off the backstretch with motor problems.

This allowed Drake to inherit the lead, and a clear track allowed him to easily open a comfortable half-stretch lead with 10 laps to go.

In the end there was no catching Drake as he went on to a 10-car-length victory, a $5,000 payday and a guaranteed starting position for the Oct. 13-15 $25,000-to-win Xtreme Super Nationals race, again to be staged at State Fair Speedway.

While Drake and Hughes set the pace for the entire race, three other O’Reilly USMTS pilots were thrilling the crowd with back-to-front charges through the field. Brad McEwan of Storm Lake, Iowa, won the "C" feature then finished fourth in the "B" feature just to make the main event. From there, McEwan blitzkrieged the pack to finish sixth at the checkers.

Jon Tesch of Watertown, S.D., came from the "B" feature and followed McEwan through the field to a seventh-place paycheck.

Blooming Pririe, Minn.'s Tommy Myer also came from the "C" and "B" features before winding up 10th in the "A" feature.

UP NEXT:

The O’Reilly USMTS returns to the Show-Me State in two weeks with a tripleheader journey to three of Missouri's finest dirt ovals.

On Friday, May 13, America's Premier Modified Series travels to the Bolivar Speedway for the "O’Reilly Auto Parts Spring Challenge" at the 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval. Bolivar Speedway is located 3 miles south of Bolivar on SR 13 to CR U, then west to Frontage Rd., then 0.3 mile south, then 0.5 mile west.

On Saturday, May 14, the teams head for the Lebanon I-44 Speedway for the "O’Reilly Auto Parts Spring Fling." Lebanon I-44 Speedway is located 6 miles northeast of Lebanon on I-44 to exit 135 (Sleeper), then north to Outer Dr., then 1.1 miles west on Historic US 66.

The three-race weekend wraps up on Sunday, May 15, with the "O’Reilly Auto Parts Spring Classic" at the Monett Speedway. The Monett Speedway is located 1 mile east of SR 37 on US 60, then north on Chapel Dr.

Each show will pay $2,000 to win and $200 to start the Holley "A" Main.

A field of 24 cars will start the Holley "A" Main each night, with qualifying through heat races and "B" Mains. The top 12 drivers in Home Pride Passing Points accumulated in the heat races will be locked into the Holley "A" Main. The top 8 drivers in Home Pride Passing Points will re-draw for starting positions 1-8 in the Holley "A" Main. An additional 10 cars will qualify from the "B" Mains, with two provisional starters added to the Holley "A" Main to create the 24-car starting field. Additional sponsor provisional(s) may also be awarded.

A big field of cars is expected for this event, including O’Reilly National Championship drivers Kelly Shryock, Jason Hughes, Mike Sorensen, Brad McEwan, Corey Dripps, Jon Tesch, Tommy Myer, Zack Vanderbeek, Al Hejna, Ryan Ruter, Roger Hadan, Mark Noble, Julie McDermid, Mike Wedelstadt, Jason Krohn, Bruce Hanford, Greg Metz, Mike Hejna, Dean Mahlstedt, Gary Clark, Brad Bakken, Dustin Boney, Jeremy Payne, Jake Neal, Scott Drake, Lynn Nillson, Bub Lerette, Steve Wetzstein, Jesse Frericks, Alan Mondus, Brandon Morton, Gary March, Jeff James, Matt Gilbertson, Dan Fetters, Matt McDermid, Justin Cooper, Bob Timm, Ray Guss Jr, Mike Chasteen, Tim Vogt, Danny Concelman, Brian Mullen, Mike Bennett, Willy Kraft, Scott Mullen, David Murray, Dan Daniels, Nate Wasmund, Danny McKeighan, Jordy Nelson, Sean Jerovetz, Ryan Meyer, Jay Poidinger, Jeff Schluetter, Steve Stewart, John Vandenberg, Joe McBirnie, Neil Eckhart, Mark Dotson, Brad Waits, Mark Burgtorf, Darin Duffy and Tony Fraise.

For more information, visit the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series online at www.USMTS.com.

RESULTS

"C" FEATURE:

1. Brad McEwan

2. Howard Willis

3. Tommy Myer

4. Chad Wheeler

5. Eric Turner

6. Nathan Mayes

7. Gary Clark

8. Alan Sharpensteen

9. Billy Melton

10. Richard Griffin

11. Johnny Scott

12. Tommy Weder Jr.

13. Richard Griffin

14. Gary Clark

15. Ronnie Chism

16. Tommy Weder Jr

17. Bobby Smith Jr

18. Mickey Lassiter

19. Eddie Martin

20. Jimmy Littlejohn

"B" FEATURE:

1. Johnny Bone Jr.

2. Jon Tesch

3. Tommy Myer

4. Brad McEwan

5. Howard Willis

6. David Grigg

7. Stanley Reed Jr.

8. Chad Wheeler

9. Billy Melton

10. Eric Turner

11. Nathan Mayes

12. Johnny Scott

13. Richard Griffin

14. Gary Clark

15. Ronnie Chism

16. Tommy Weder Jr.

17. Tim Knott

18. Scott Green

19. Alan Sharpensteen

20. Tony Anderson

"A" FEATURE (30 laps):

1. Scott Drake ($5,000)

2. George White

3. Steve Holzkamper

4. Paul White

5. Randy Timms

6. Brad McEwan

7. Jon Tesch

8. Howard Willis

9. Brian Franz

10. Tommy Myer

11. Johnny Scott

12. Richard Griffin

13. David Grigg

14. Billy Melton

15. Jason Johnson

16. Gary Clark

17. Tommy Weder Jr.

18. Eric Turner

19. Stanley Reed Jr.

20. Ronnie Chism

21. Chad Wheeler

22. Johnny Bone Jr.

23. Nathan Mayes

24. Jason Hughes

Lap leaders: Hughes 1-17, Drake 18-30.