MAYETTA, Kan. -- Mark Noble is back.

Noble, a racing legend in the dirt modified racing fraternity, ended a two-year drought Friday night as the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series opened the 4th Annual Kansas Spring Fling at the Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kan.

For Noble, it was his first O’Reilly USMTS main event win since March 13, 2004. The 49-year-old veteran grabbed the lead on lap 12 then pulled away to take a 10-car-length victory over seven-time defending O’Reilly USMTS champion Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa.

While the win snapped a streak of his own, Noble also ended Shryock's dominating two-year five-race win streak at the track.

The win was worth $2,000 to the Blooming Prairie, Minn., veteran and solidified his position at the top of the O’Reilly USMTS national points standings. Heading into the second night of the doubleheader at the 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval, Noble holds a 26-point advantage (317 to 291) over Shryock in the quest for the 2006 O’Reilly USMTS title.

Polesitter Ryan Ruter jumped into the lead at the drop of the green flag to start Friday night's 30-lapper. Ruter's reign was short-lived, however, as the young gun from Forrest City, Iowa, relinquished the lead after five laps, then retired from the event on lap 7.

Jason Friesen of Sutton, Neb., assumed the point on the sixth lap as he looked forward to picking up his second O’Reilly USMTS checkers of the 2006 season. By lap 10, however, Noble had reeled in Friesen. Making the pass on lap 12, Noble put his familiar white and green Olympic Fire Protection No. 74 Kraft Modified in the lead and never looked back.

Shryock, who started 11th behind the 10th-starting Noble, was unable to challenge the elated winner and had to settle for the runner-up paycheck.

Making their first O’Reilly USMTS starts of the season, a trio of series non-regulars completed the top-5 finishers. Greg Skaggs of Bixby, Okla., was as impressive as any driver in the field as he finished third after starting 22nd on the 24-car grid, and earned the Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger honors. Fourth went to Kerry Davis of Parksville, Mo., while defending O’Reilly NCRA Modified Series champion Brian Franz of Halstead, Kan., grabbed fifth. Davis and Franz started 16th and 15th, respectively.

After leading early in the race, Friesen suffered a flat tire but rebounded to take an 11th-place finish and assumed the points lead in the Rookies Rockin' Sport Bar Rookie of the Year standings.

By leading lap 15 on Marsh Racing Wheels, Noble became the first driver this season to cash in on the Marsh Racing Wheels Halfway Leader Award. By virtue of his win, Noble also helped Kraft Kar Race Cars take sole possession of the points lead in the UNIJIG Builders Championship.

The action continues on Saturday (March 25) at the Thunderhill Speedway for the second day of the 4th Annual Kansas Spring Fling. Gates open at 12 noon with racing at 3 p.m.

For more information, call 515-832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS

O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series

4th Annual Kansas Spring Fling - Night 1 of 2

Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, Kan.

Friday, March 24, 2006

Showing finishing position, car number, driver and hometown.

The top 13 drivers in Home Pride 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 #1 (8 laps):

1. 10 - Mike Steensma -- Luverne, MN

2. 12b - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR

3. 118 - Terry Beckham Jr. -- Webb City, MO

4. 24x - Brad Waits -- Zumbrota, MN

5. 35 - Jeff Schluetter -- New Hampton, IA

6. 11 - Brandon Morton - Coweta, OK

7. m21 - Steven Martin -- Willard, MO

8. 810 - Jesse Wheeler -- Independence, MO

9. 54 - Paul Snyder -- Wellswell, KS

10. 70h - Steve Hawks -- Topeka, KS (DNF)

HEAT #2 (8 laps):

1. 1f - Jason Friesen -- Sutton, NE

2. 555 - Ryan Ruter -- Forrest City, IA

3. 02x - Delbert Smith -- Wichita, KS

4. 68 - Kerry Davis -- Parksville, MO

5. 2 - Grant Juneghans -- Manhattan, KS

6. 35 - Tim Echevarria -- Junction City, KS

7. 24 - Darin Walker -- Bowling Green, MO

8. 98 - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN

9. 1m - Julie McDermid -- Fremont, WI

10. 99 - Lee Hibner -- Chillicothe, MO

HEAT #3 (8 laps):

1. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN

2. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA

3. 86 - Brian Franz -- Halstead, KS

4. 4j - Jordy Nelson -- Marysville, KS

5. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD

6. 71 - David Holder -- Clarence, MO

7. 86jr - Dirk Kirk -- Sloan, IA

8. 37 - Scott Ward -- Watertown, SD

9. 19 - Marlin Kracht -- Luverne, MN (DNF)

10. 20 - Dustin Boney -- Shawnee, KS (DNF)

HEAT #4 (8 laps):

1. 96 - Chad Lyle -- Long Jack, MO

2. X - Mike Wedelstadt -- Hortonville, WI

3. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA

4. 27 - Greg Skaggs -- Bixby, OK

5. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK

6. 15w - Will Brack -- Mead, CO

7. 72 - Mike Lineberry -- Fontenelle, NE

8. q37 - Allison Quick -- Reading, IA

9. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI

10. 57 - Chad Williamson -- Watertown, SD

HEAT #5 (8 laps):

1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA

2. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS

3. 23 - Matt Gilbertson -- Montevideo, MN

4. 2k - Darrick Klima -- Belleville, KS

5. 4g - Gary Clark -- Walker, MO

6. 12d - Scott Drake -- Joplin, MO

7. 21k - Kevin Sloan -- Kansas City, KS

8. 10c - Justin Cooper -- Prescott, IA (DNF)

9. k15 - Jimmy Dowell -- Marshall, MO (DNF)

10. 21z - Mark Zorn -- Russel, KS (DNF)

HEAT #6 (8 laps):

1. 8 - Joe Bradshaw -- Sedalia, MO

2. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN

3. 00 - Jim Moody -- Odessa, MO

4. 89 - Tyler Hibner -- Chillicothe, MO

5. 77 - Steven Bowers -- Topeka, KS

6. 12h - Jim Hernandez -- Hoyt, KS

7. 29 - Greg Metz -- Washington, KS (DNF)

8. 23L - Brett LaFollette -- Kansas City, KS (DNF)

9. 18s - Brent Bohmont -- Martell, NE (DNF)

10. 14p - Travis Patch -- Holton, KS (DNS)

HEAT #7 (8 laps):

1. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA

2. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA

3. 4x - Kevin Larkins -- Greenwood, NE

4. 4 - Chevy Hadan -- Waterloo, NE

5. 25 - Ricky Stephan -- Sioux City, NE

6. 16mb - Matt Brack -- Mead, CO

7. 96x - Jim Johnson -- Wichita, KS

8. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (DNF)

9. 178 - Alan Halderman -- Topeka, KS (DNF)

10. 17 - Jeremy Tibben -- Stanton, IA (DNF)

REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 3 advance):

1. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA

2. 98 - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN

3. 23 - Matt Gilbertson -- Montevideo, MN

4. 24 - Darin Walker -- Bowling Green, MO

5. 86jr - Dirk Kirk -- Sloan, IA

6. 25 - Ricky Stephan -- Sioux City, NE

7. 2 - Grant Juneghans -- Manhattan, KS

8. 89 - Tyler Hibner -- Chillicothe, MO

9. q37 - Allison Quick -- Reading, IA

10. 71 - David Holder -- Clarence, MO

11. 21k - Kevin Sloan -- Kansas City, KS

12. 4 - Chevy Hadan -- Waterloo, NE (DNF)

13. 02x - Delbert Smith -- Wichita, KS (DNF)

14. 23L - Brett LaFollette -- Kansas City, KS (DNF)

15. 4g - Gary Clark -- Walker, MO (DNS)

16. 1m - Julie McDermid -- Fremont, WI (DNS)

17. k15 - Jimmy Dowell -- Marshall, MO (DNS)

18. 99 - Lee Hibner -- Chillicothe, MO (DNS)

19. 21z - Mark Zorn -- Russel, KS (DNS)

REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 3 advance):

1. 86 - Brian Franz -- Halstead, KS

2. 24x - Brad Waits -- Zumbrota, MN

3. 2k - Darrick Klima -- Belleville, KS

4. 15w - Will Brack -- Mead, CO

5. 4x - Kevin Larkins -- Greenwood, NE

6. 29 - Greg Metz -- Washington, KS

7. X - Mike Wedelstadt -- Hortonville, WI

8. 35 - Tim Echevarria -- Junction City, KS

9. 11 - Brandon Morton - Coweta, OK

10. 12h - Jim Hernandez -- Hoyt, KS

11. 37 - Scott Ward -- Watertown, SD

12. m21 - Steven Martin -- Willard, MO

13. 4j - Jordy Nelson -- Marysville, KS (DNF)

14. 19 - Marlin Kracht -- Luverne, MN (DNF)

15. 20 - Dustin Boney -- Shawnee, KS (DNF)

16. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (DNS)

17. 18s - Brent Bohmont -- Martell, NE (DNS)

18. 178 - Alan Halderman -- Topeka, KS (DNS)

19. 14p - Travis Patch -- Holton, KS (DNS)

REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN #3 (15 laps, top 3 advance):

1. 68 - Kerry Davis -- Parksville, MO

2. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD

3. 27 - Greg Skaggs -- Bixby, OK

4. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA

5. 12d - Scott Drake -- Joplin, MO

6. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK

7. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA

8. 35 - Jeff Schluetter -- New Hampton, IA

9. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI

10. 72 - Mike Lineberry -- Fontenelle, NE

11. 96x - Jim Johnson -- Wichita, KS

12. 57 - Chad Williamson -- Watertown, SD

13. 77 - Steven Bowers -- Topeka, KS (DNF)

14. 17 - Jeremy Tibben -- Stanton, IA (DNF)

15. 54 - Paul Snyder -- Wellswell, KS (DNF)

16. 70h - Steve Hawks -- Topeka, KS (DNF)

17. 10c - Justin Cooper -- Prescott, IA (DNF)

18. 810 - Jesse Wheeler -- Independence, MO (DNF)

19. 16mb - Matt Brack -- Mead, CO (DNF)

HOLLEY "A" MAIN (30 laps):

1. (10) 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN

2. (11) 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA

3. (22) 27 - Greg Skaggs -- Bixby, OK

4. (16) 68 - Kerry Davis -- Parksville, MO

5. (15) 86 - Brian Franz -- Halstead, KS

6. (6) 96 - Chad Lyle -- Long Jack, MO

7. (12) 8 - Joe Bradshaw -- Sedalia, MO

8. (2) 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN

9. (21) 2k - Darrick Klima -- Belleville, KS

10. (19) 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD

11. (5) 1f - Jason Friesen -- Sutton, NE

12. (18) 24x - Brad Waits -- Zumbrota, MN

13. (14) 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA

14. (3) 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA

15. (24) 4x - Kevin Larkins -- Greenwood, NE

16. (20) 23 - Matt Gilbertson -- Montevideo, MN

17. (9) 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (DNF)

18. (17) 98 - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN (DNF)

19. (23) 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA (DNF)

20. (4) 118 - Terry Beckham Jr. -- Webb City, MO (DNF)

21. (7) 12b - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR (DNF)

22. (13) 00 - Jim Moody -- Odessa, MO (DNF)

23. (8) 10 - Mike Steensma -- Luverne, MN (DNF)

24. (1) 555 - Ryan Ruter -- Forrest City, IA (DNF)

Lap Leaders: Ruter 1-5, Friesen 6-11, Noble 12-30.

Total Laps Led: Noble 19, Friesen 6, Ruter 5.

Provisional Starters: McEwan, Larkins.

Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger: Skaggs (started 22nd, finished 3rd).

Next Race: March 25, Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, Kan.

O’Reilly National Driver Points (top 10): Noble 317, Shryock 291, Tesch 277, Friesen 241, Ruter 239, McEwan 218, Myer 215, Larkins 196, Timms 187, Hadan 181.

Western Region Points (top 10): Noble 317, Shryock 291, Tesch 277, Friesen 241, Ruter 239, McEwan 218, Myer 215, Larkins 196, Timms 187, Klima 183.

UNIJIG Builders Championship Points (top 5): Kraft 27, Skyrocket 26, GRT 23, BMS 20, Hughes 18.

Contingency Awards:

Bassett Racing Wheel – not awarded.

Belleville Motorsports – Tesch, Larkins, Beckham.

Boyer’s Engine Development – Noble.

Dynatech Racing Exhaust – Noble, Shryock.

Edelbrock – Noble, Shryock.

Fast Shafts – not awarded.

GRT Race Cars – not awarded.

Isky Racing Cams – Steensma.

KEVKO Oil Pans & Components – not awarded.

KSE Racing Products – Myer.

Larson Racing Specialists – VanderBeek.

Marsh Racing Wheels – Noble.

QuickTime Performance Parts – Bradshaw.

RaceQuest – Noble, Waits, Noteboom.

Real Racing Wheels – VanderBeek.

T.A.R. Race Car Bodies – Tesch.

UNIJIG – Steensma.

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USMTS TITLE SPONSOR: O’Reilly Auto Parts.

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Race Tires, Holley Performance Products, Home Pride Companies, Intercomp, Marsh Racing Wheels, Olympic Fire Protection, R.A. Benson Motorsports, Real Racing Wheels, Reich Concrete, Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar, SpeedNet Direct, UNIJIG, Yeager Machine.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Bassett Racing Wheel, Bell Racing, Belleville Motorsports, Bert Transmission, Boyer’s Engine Development, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, Edelbrock, Fast Shafts, GRT Race Cars, Hyperco, Intensitee Custom Clothing, Isky Racing Cams, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, KSE Racing Products, Larson Racing Specialists, Quarter Master, QuickTime Performance Race Parts, RaceQuest, T.A.R. Race Car Bodies, US Brake.