BOLIVAR, Mo. -- For fans looking for a some meat on their racing plate, the table is set and a feast is waiting this weekend as three of Southern Missouri's premier facilities host the O’Reilly Auto Parts Missouri Nationals, Sept. 9-11.

The O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series invades the Show-Me State this Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the inaugural tripleheader event which features the biggest prize in Modified racing this weekend. Only the "Best of the Best" Modified drivers will be on hand as they look to gulp down their share of the big money each night.

Six-time defending O’Reilly USMTS champion Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa, leads the talented road warriors into the Bolivar Speedway on Friday for the first of three $2,000-to-win events. On Saturday, the series travels to the Lebanon I-44 Speedway before winding up at the Monett Speedway on Sunday.

Other O’Reilly USMTS national drivers expected include Minnesota's Tommy Myer and Mark Noble, Jon Tesch of South Dakota, Iowa hotshoes Brad McEwan and Al Hejna, and Oklahoma standout Jason Hughes.

"These Modified drivers are the best in the entire nation," track promoter Randy Mooneyham said. "We should see 35 to 40 Modifieds check in."

No fillers. No preservatives. Nothing but grade-A choice cuts!

Local drivers Terry Beckham Jr., Jeff Cutshaw, Jesse Stovall and Erik Maggard will be challenging the national drivers and defending their home tracks.

On Saturday, Chad Kinder of Newton, Ill., will be on hand to defend his victory earlier this season at the Lebanon I-44 Speedway, and get some redemption from his runner-up finish to Shryock at the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Mo., just a few weeks ago.

"There's no more gratification than running with these guys," Kinder said. "It's the best of the best, so it's a good feeling."

While a good performance this weekend could mathematically clinch a seventh O’Reilly USMTS title for Shryock, the $3,000 top prize and crown are up for grabs in the AFCO Challenge. With two races completed, Gopher State pilots Mike Spaulding and Brad Waits sit tied atop the AFCO Challenge standings. Shryock sits third in the AFCO Challenge rankings with 183 points -- just two markers behind the leaders. A mere 12 points separate the current top 6 with Dean Mahlstedt (178), Bob Timm (174) and Mike Hejna (173) in a tight battle for the $5,000 top prize in the 10-race "series within a series."

A minimum of 24 cars will start the "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 "A" main. The top 8 drivers in Home Pride Passing Points will re-draw for starting positions 1-8 in the "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 and/or track provisional(s) may be awarded.

The 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. Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 7:30 and racing at 8 p.m. Legends Cars will make their final season appearance at Bolivar on Friday night. Super Stocks, Factory Stocks and Bombers will also be racing.

The 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. Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 7 and racing at 7:30 p.m. Factory Stocks, Super Stocks and Bombers will also be racing. There will be no open Late Models.

The Monett Speedway is located 1 mile east of SR 37 on US 60, then north on Chapel Dr. Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 7 and racing at 7:30 p.m. Sunday night at Monett, Legends Cars will also make their last season appearance. Factory Stocks, Cruisers and Bombers will be competing as well.

General admission each day is just $13 for adults while kids (ages 6-12) tickets are $4. Pit passes are $25 each day.

For more information, check us out online at www.USMTS.com or call 515-297-3870 for up-to-the-minute schedule and weather information for the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series.

Dinner is served!

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STATISTICS AS OF SEPTEMBER 8, 2005:

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O’Reilly National Championship standings:

1. Kelly Shryock .... 3855

2. Tommy Myer .... 3308

3. Brad McEwan .... 3302

4. Corey Dripps .... 3030

5. Al Hejna .... 2763

6. Zack VanderBeek .... 2732

7. Jon Tesch .... 2712

8. Ryan Ruter .... 2570

9. Jason Hughes .... 2034

10. Jason Krohn .... 1908

Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year standings:

1. Brad McEwan .... 429

2. Ryan Ruter .... 261

3. Zack VanderBeek .... 253

4. Mike Sorensen .... 163

5. Mike Hejna .... 144

Home Pride Companies Passing Points standings:

1. Tommy Myer .... 162.0

2. Kelly Shryock .... 136.5

3. Brad McEwan .... 114.0

4. Jon Tesch .... 111.0

5. Corey Dripps .... 105.0

AFCO Challenge standings (after 2 of 10 events):

1. Mike Spaulding .... 185

1. Brad Waits .... 185

3. Kelly Shryock .... 183

4. Dean Mahlstedt .... 178

5. Bob Timm .... 174

6. Mike Hejna .... 173

7. Corey Dripps .... 153

8. Brad McEwan .... 146

9. Mike Sorensen .... 144

10. Al Hejna .... 137

"A" Main winners:

1. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa - 14

2. Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa - 5

3. Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn. - 4

4. Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa - 2

4. Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D. - 2

4. Jason Hughes, Colcord, Okla. - 2

4. Mike Sorensen, Rochester, Minn. - 2

8. Johnny Saathoff, Beatrice, Neb. - 1

8. Chad Kinder, Newton, Ill. - 1

8. Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo. - 1

8. Jay Noteboom, Orange City, Iowa - 1

8. Tony Fraise, Donnellson, Iowa - 1

8. Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa - 1

8. Brad Pinkerton, New Sharon, Iowa - 1

8. Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa - 1

8. Mike Spaulding, Bemidji, Minn. - 1

Remaining 2005 schedule:

Sept. 9 - # Bolivar Speedway, Bolivar, Mo., O’Reilly Auto Parts Missouri Nationals ($2,000 to win)

Sept. 10 - # Lebanon I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, Mo., O’Reilly Auto Parts Missouri Nationals ($2,000 to win)

Sept. 11 - # Monett Speedway, Monett, Mo., O’Reilly Auto Parts Missouri Nationals ($2,000 to win)

Sept. 15 - # Adams County Speedway, Corning, Iowa, Hawkeye Clash ($2,000 to win)

Sept. 16 - # Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, Iowa, Musco Lighting Iowa Clash ($2,000 to win)

Sept. 17 - # Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, Iowa, Musco Lighting Iowa Clash ($3,000 to win)

Sept. 22 - * Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn., 7th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree ($2,000 to win)

Sept. 23 - * Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn., 7th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree ($4,000 to win)

Sept. 24 - * Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn., 7th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree ($12,000 to win)

Sept. 29 - * Hancock County Speedway, Britt, Iowa, Country Moose Fall Classic ($1,000 to win)

Sept. 30 - * Hancock County Speedway, Britt, Iowa, Country Moose Fall Classic ($1,000 to win)

Oct. 1 - * Hancock County Speedway, Britt, Iowa, Country Moose Fall Classic ($10,000 to win)

Oct. 21 - # Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, Mo., Pepsi/Mountain Dew Mid-America Nationals ($2,000 to win)

Oct. 22 - # Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, Mo., Pepsi/Mountain Dew Mid-America Nationals ($2,000 to win)

# - AFCO Challenge event

* - non-points event