WEBSTER CITY, Iowa -- The O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series is widely regarded as the premier collection of Modified racing talent in America. When a driver has conquered all there is to conquer at the local level, yet the desire still burns to cross new frontiers, the O’Reilly USMTS is the place to go.

This week when the "best of the best" venture to the northern boundaries of the Great Plains for a speedfest tripleheader at three of South and North Dakota's premier facilities, one of those superstar Modified masters -- Jon Tesch -- will (for once) be keeping the mileage low on the tow rig, and looking to cash in on his home turf.

On Thursday, June 16, the O’Reilly USMTS juggernaut invades the Casino Speedway for the Team Electronics South Dakota Summer Slam 40 with $2,000 up for grabs for the main event winner. While the Series is making it's first ever visit to the Watertown, S.D. racetrack, Tesch will be drawing upon experience at his hometown track as he looks to return to the O’Reilly USMTS winners circle for the first time since April.

Currently eighth in the O’Reilly USMTS points standings, Tesch is a three-time Modified track champion at Casino Speedway (1998, 2000, 2001) with more knowledge of the fast way around the 3/8-mile clay oval than any other driver on the O’Reilly USMTS travelling thrill show.

But don't expect Tesch to be giving away secrets or offering legitimate gear selection tips to his adversaries. In fact, one of his toughest competitors may well come from the local contingent -- namely Kent Arment, winner of the last three Modified track titles and currently third in the track's point standings.

On Friday, June 17, the O’Reilly USMTS makes their debut at the Dacotah Speedway in Mandan, N.D., for the Pro-Environmental/O’Reilly Auto Parts 40, with another $2,000 top prize on the line. The track is a wicked-fast high-banked 3/8-mile oval with a slew of tough-as-nails local talent. Fans can definitely expect this one to become an instant classic!

The final stage of the three-day stint winds up at the Jamestown (N.D.) Speedway -- the only track of the three that has hosted the O’Reilly USMTS superstars. Once again, $2,000 awaits the winner of the main event at the high-banked 1/3-mile oval. In two previous visits to Jamestown, Kelly Shryock has emerged the winner.

The current points leader and six-time defending O’Reilly USMTS champion will be looking to lock down his second 10-race "swing" title of the season with a third victory at Jamestown, and another $1,000 bonus for winning the Pro-Line Buildings Swing #2. The Fertile, Iowa, ace secured the first "championship within a championship" of the 2005 season by topping the points for the Wander's Automotive Swing #1. In addition to more than $20,000 in winnings so far, Shryock pocketed $1,000 for taking the Swing #1 title on the strength of four wins.

A lightning-fast field of 24 cars will start the Holley "A" Main each night, with a $2,000 top prize on the line for each of the six events, with $200 just to start each nightcap!

A big field of cars is expected for this event, including O’Reilly National Drivers Kelly Shryock, Mike Sorensen, Brad McEwan, Jason Hughes, Corey Dripps, Jon Tesch, Tommy Myer, Al Hejna, Zack VanderBeek, Ryan Ruter, Mark Noble, Roger Hadan, Julie McDermid, Gary Clark, Mike Wedelstadt, Jason Krohn, Bruce Hanford, Scott Drake, Greg Metz, Mike Hejna, Dean Mahlstedt, Brad Bakken, Alan Mondus, Brandon Morton, Dustin Boney, Jeremy Payne, Jake Neal, Gary March, Lynn Nillson, Bub Lerette, Willy Kraft, Steve Wetzstein, Jesse Frericks, Justin Cooper, Jordy Nelson, Tommy Weder Jr., Jeff James, Matt Gilbertson, Dan Fetters, Matt McDermid, Mike Chasteen, Johnny Bone Jr., Bob Timm, Ray Guss Jr., Tim Vogt, Danny Concelman, Brian Mullen, Mike Bennett, Steve Holzkamper, Scott Mullen, David Murray, Dan Daniels, Nate Wasmund, Danny McKeighan, 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, call 515-832-7944 or log on to www.USMTS.com for all the latest news and information from the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series.

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O’REILLY NATIONAL DRIVER STANDINGS:

Top 20 as of June 14, 2005

1. 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile , Iowa .... 1557

2. 12 Jason Hughes, Colcord ,Okla. .... 1434

3. 26 Brad McEwan, Storm Lake , Iowa .... 1426

4. 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo , Iowa .... 1346

5. 19 Mike Sorensen, Rochester , Minn. .... 1240

6. 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha , Iowa .... 1170

7. 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie , Minn. .... 1167

8. 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown , S.D. .... 1110

9. 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon , Iowa .... 1104

10. 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake , Iowa .... 1064

11. 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie , Minn. .... 792

12. 61 Bruce Hanford, Davenport , Iowa .... 731

13. 4 Roger Hadan, Omaha , Neb. .... 660

14. X Mike Wedelstadt, Hortonville , Wis. .... 622

15. 1M Julie McDermid, Fremont , Wis. .... 615

16. 7II Mike Hejna, Clear Lake , Iowa .... 595

17. 7K Jason Krohn, Slayton , Minn. .... 568

18. 4g Gary Clark, Walker , Mo. .... 468

19. 83 Willy Kraft, Lakefield , Minn. .... 467

20. 20 Dustin Boney, De Soto , Kan. .... 446

2005 SCHEDULE:

As of June 14, 2005

March 11 - Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, Neb. (winner: Corey Dripps)

March 12 - Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, Neb. (winner: Johnny Saathoff)

March 18 - Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, Kan. (winner: Kelly Shryock)

March 19 - Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, Kan. (winner: Kelly Shryock)

April 1 - Pritchard Family Auto Stores Hancock County Speedway, Britt, Iowa (winner: Corey Dripps)

April 2 - Pritchard Family Auto Stores Hancock County Speedway, Britt, Iowa (winner: Jon Tesch)

April 8 - Carriker Ford Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, Iowa (winner: Kelly Shryock)

April 9 - Carriker Ford Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, Iowa (winner: Kelly Shryock)

May 14 - Lebanon I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, Mo. (winner: Chad Kinder)

May 15 - Monett Speedway, Monett, Mo. (winner: Terry Phillips)

May 26 - Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, S.D. (winner: Jay Noteboom)

May 27 - Murray County Speedway, Slayton, Minn. (winner: Mike Sorensen)

May 28 - Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn. (canceled)

May 29 - Dodge County Speedway, Kasson, Minn. (winner: Mike Sorensen)

May 30 - *Steele County Fairgrounds, Owatonna, Minn. (winner: Kelly Shryock)

May 30 - Pritchard Family Auto Stores Hancock County Speedway, Britt, Iowa (winner: Jason Hughes)

June 6 - Adams County Speedway, Corning, Iowa (winner: Tony Fraise)

June 7 - I-80 Speedway @ Nebraska Raceway Park, Greenwood, Neb. (winner: Tommy Myer)

June 16 - Casino Speedway, Watertown, S.D.

June 17 - Dacotah Speedway, Mandan, N.D.

June 18 - Jamestown Speedway, Jamestown, N.D.

June 21 - Langlade County Speedway, Antigo, Wis.

June 22 - Thunderhill Raceway, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

June 23 - Luxemburg Speedway, Luxemburg, Wis.

June 24 - Fox Ridge Speedway, Arcadia, Wis.

July 13 - Carriker Ford Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, Iowa

July 16 - Jackson Speedway, Jackson, Minn.

July 17 - Cresco Speedway, Cresco, Iowa

July 20 - Crawford County Speedway, Denison, Iowa

July 21 - Interstate Speedway, Jefferson, S.D.

July 22 - Murray County Speedway, Slayton, Minn.

July 23 - Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, Iowa

Aug. 3 - Carriker Ford Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, Iowa

Aug. 4 - Knox County Fairgrounds, Knoxville, Ill.

Aug. 5 - Quincy Raceways, Quincy, Ill.

Aug. 6 - Bentz GM Country Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, Mo.

Aug. 17 - Steele County Fairgrounds, Owatonna, Minn.

Aug. 18 - Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, Iowa

Aug. 19 - Pritchard Family Auto Stores Hancock County Speedway, Britt, Iowa

Aug. 20 - Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, Iowa

Aug. 21 - Cresco Speedway, Cresco, Iowa

Sept. 2 - Steele County Fairgrounds, Owatonna, Minn.

Sept. 3 - Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn.

Sept. 4 - Dodge County Speedway, Kasson, Minn.

Sept. 9 - Bolivar Speedway, Bolivar, Mo.

Sept. 10 - Lebanon I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, Mo.

Sept. 11 - Monett Speedway, Monett, Mo.

Sept. 15 - Adams County Speedway, Corning, Iowa

Sept. 16 - Carriker Ford Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, Iowa

Sept. 17 - Carriker Ford Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, Iowa

Sept. 22 - *Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn.

Sept. 23 - *Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn.

Sept. 24 - *Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn.

Sept. 29 - *Pritchard Family Auto Stores Hancock County Speedway, Britt, Iowa

Sept. 30 - *Pritchard Family Auto Stores Hancock County Speedway, Britt, Iowa

Oct. 1 - *Pritchard Family Auto Stores Hancock County Speedway, Britt, Iowa

Oct. 21 - Bentz GM Country Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, Mo.

Oct. 22 - Bentz GM Country Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, Mo.

* - non-points events

SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE