HUMBOLDT, Kan. — Drivers and fans alike have waited more than six months since the last O’Reilly USMTS National Tour in September of last year, but they were rewarded handsomely for their patience Saturday night as the Best of the Best in Modified racing staged a thriller at the Humboldt Speedway in Humboldt, Kan.

Despite temperatures reaching no higher than 48 degrees, a star-studded field of 48 teams dotted the pit area of the quarter-mile oval while a packed grandstand was the backdrop for a race that will keep fans hungry for more until America's Hottest Ticket on Dirt returns to Humboldt on Monday, Aug. 4, with NASCAR stars Clint Bowyer, Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace in action.

Jason Hughes of Westville, Okla., set the tone early by earning the AFCO Pole Award and garnering an automatic spot in the first four rows of the Holley “A” Main. Last year's runner-up in the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship started the main event from the outside of row 2, but he didn't stay there long.

Driving the Casey's General Stores #7 Harris Modified, Clear Lake, Iowa's Al Hejna drew the pole position for the 40-lap nightcap, but it was Jon Tesch of Watertown, S.D., who led the first circuit with Hughes in tow.

With Tesch racing around the high side of the track and Hughes hugging the bottom groove, the pair set a torrid pace as they battled side by side for 39 straight laps without trading a flake of paint. On more than one occasion the two drivers went three-wide with lapped cars, only to resume their door-to-door battle the next lap.

Lapped traffic came into the picture one last time with two laps remaining. Hughes made his move on the final, getting a strong run on the bottom of the racetrack to nip Tesch by a car-length at the finish. Tommy Weder Jr. and 12th-starting Johnny Bone Jr. were closing on the leaders in the late stages of the race, but had to settle for third and fourth, respectively. Eight-time O’Reilly USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock rounded out the top-5 finishers after starting 15th on the 24-car grid.

“As usual, (promoter) Ron Whitworth and this crew had this track in perfect shape — and I mean perfect,” said USMTS promoter Todd Staley. “First race of the year and freezing cold, but still a great racetrack. Hats off to the Humboldt crew. This was an awesome kick off to the 2008 season.”

Greg Skaggs, Zack VanderBeek, John Allen, Rodney Sanders and Corey Dripps completed the top-10. VanderBeek, who started 21st, picked up the night's Hard Charger Award for passing 15 competitors in the 40-lap contest. Mike Wedelstadt came all the way from Hortonville, Wis., and pocketed some extra cash from Ruter Farms. The Ruter Farms Long Distance Award will add some relief at the gas pump for drivers as a cash award of $100 will be given at each O’Reilly USMTS National Tour event to the team that travels the farthest distance to race that night.

The doubleheader race weekend will wrap up on Sunday, March 16, at the Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kan., for the 6th Annual Kansas Spring Fling. Greg Skaggs of Bixby, Okla., captured the first of his three O’Reilly USMTS National Tour wins last season at Mayetta, and he'll be one of the favorites again this year when the intimidating field of peerless mud-slingers return to the lightning-fast 4/10-mile high-banked clay oval near the northern border of the Sunflower State.

Thunderhill Speedway is located 14.6 miles north of US 24 on US 75 to 142nd St., then 2.2 miles west. For more information, visit www.thunderhillmayetta.com or call the office at (785) 966-2575 or the track at (785) 966-2844. Pit gates open at 12 noon and grandstands open at 1. Hot laps are at 2 with the first heat race at 2:30.

Race fans can pick up $2-off discount coupons on race day at Casey's General Stores locations in Holton and the 600 SE Rice Rd. store in Topeka. Al Hejna and his Casey's General Stores #7 Harris Modified will make an appearance on Sunday from 12-2 p.m. at the Topeka location just off of I-470.

The 6th Annual Kansas Spring Fling will be the second race in the Mo-Kan Region and first in the Great Plains Region. Sunday's main event winner will pocket $2,000 and each of the other 23 starters in the Holley “A” Main will earn at least $200.

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
O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series
O’Reilly USMTS National Tour - Mo-Kan Region
3rd Annual Havoc at The Hummer
Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, Kan.
Saturday, March 15, 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 (10 laps):
1. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (2)
2. 07b - Steve Becker -- Elsmore, KS (4)
3. 4r - Derek Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (8)
4. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (9)
5. 31j - Jeremy Rasmussen -- Bentonville, AR (10)
6. 39 - Gary Langworthy Jr. -- Coffeyville, KS (7)
7. B29 - Tammy Mitchell -- Pea Ridge, AR (6)
8. 40 - Jessy Willard -- Pleasanton, KS (1)
9. 22 - Brian McGowen -- Frontenac, KS (3)
10. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (5)

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (10 laps):
1. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (2)
2. 12 - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR (1)
3. 220 - Dustin Boney -- Tonganoxie, KS (5)
4. 52w - Nate Wasmund -- Rochester, MN (9)
5. X - Mike Wedelstadt -- Hortonville, WI (8)
6. 1k - Pat Graham -- Ames, IA (3)
7. 37 - Jeremy Chambers -- Oswego, KS (4)
8. 1sm - Scott Mullen -- Seymour, WI (7)
9. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- East Woodward, OK (6)
10. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (10)

HEAT RACE #3 (10 laps):
1. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (1)
2. 98 - John Allen -- Chanute, KS (7)
3. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (4)
4. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (9)
5. 6 - Justin Folk -- Iola, KS (10)
6. 4g - Gary Clark -- Walker, MO (6)
7. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (3)
8. 19 - Mike Sorensen -- Rochester, MN (2)
9. 46 - Trevor Latham -- Rogers, AR (5)
10. 12e - Cody Elnicki -- Girard, KS (8)

HEAT RACE #4 (10 laps):
1. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (1)
2. 98x - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN (4)
3. 12v - Chris Vannoster -- Coffeyville, KS (2)
4. X2 - Brian Bolin -- Fort Scott, KS (8)
5. 1 - Dennis Bishop -- Chanute, KS (6)
6. 63 - Ryan Whitworth -- Humboldt, KS (5)
7. 5c - Don Crnkovich -- Lenexa, KS (7)
8. 75 - Joe Wright -- Beggs, OK (9)
9. 8r - Darrin Roberts -- Archie, MO (3)

HEAT RACE #5 (10 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (5)
2. 27 - Greg Skaggs -- Bixby, OK (8)
3. 118 - Terry Beckham Jr. -- Webb City, MO (6)
4. 26 - Brian Williams -- Fayetteville, AR (9)
5. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (3)
6. 54 - Dena Wilson -- Coweta, OK (1)
7. 38r - Jeremy Ross -- Locus Grove, OK (2)
8. 85d - Mark Dotson -- Cameron, MO (7)
9. 91 - Joe Duvall -- Chelsea, OK (4)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 220 - Dustin Boney -- Tonganoxie, KS (3)
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (1)
3. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (2)
4. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (18)
5. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (11)
6. X - Mike Wedelstadt -- Hortonville, WI (6)
7. 46 - Trevor Latham -- Rogers, AR (16)
8. 1k - Pat Graham -- Ames, IA (8)
9. 38r - Jeremy Ross -- Locus Grove, OK (12)
10. 31j - Jeremy Rasmussen -- Bentonville, AR (5)
11. 63 - Ryan Whitworth -- Humboldt, KS (9)
12. 91 - Joe Duvall -- Chelsea, OK (17)
13. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (4)
14. B29 - Tammy Mitchell -- Pea Ridge, AR (10)
15. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (7) DNF
16. 19 - Mike Sorensen -- Rochester, MN (14) DNF
17. 40 - Jessy Willard -- Pleasanton, KS (13) DNS
18. 22 - Brian McGowen -- Frontenac, KS (15) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (17)
2. 4g - Gary Clark -- Walker, MO (8)
3. X2 - Brian Bolin -- Fort Scott, KS (3)
4. 37 - Jeremy Chambers -- Oswego, KS (10)
5. 39 - Gary Langworthy Jr. -- Coffeyville, KS (7)
6. 12v - Chris Vannoster -- Coffeyville, KS (4)
7. 8r - Darrin Roberts -- Archie, MO (16)
8. 5c - Don Crnkovich -- Lenexa, KS (11)
9. 1 - Dennis Bishop -- Chanute, KS (6)
10. 54 - Dena Wilson -- Coweta, OK (9)
11. 52w - Nate Wasmund -- Rochester, MN (1) DNF
12. 85d - Mark Dotson -- Cameron, MO (14) DNF
13. 75 - Joe Wright -- Beggs, OK (12) DNF
14. 6 - Justin Folk -- Iola, KS (5) DNF
15. 1sm - Scott Mullen -- Seymour, WI (13) DNS
16. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- East Woodward, OK (15) DNS
17. 12e - Cody Elnicki -- Girard, KS (18) DNS
18. 26 - Brian Williams -- Fayetteville, AR (2) DQ - Underweight

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (4)
2. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (2)
3. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (8)
4. 12 - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR (12)
5. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (15)
6. 27 - Greg Skaggs -- Bixby, OK (7)
7. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (21)
8. 98 - John Allen -- Chanute, KS (6)
9. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (17)
10. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (5)
11. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (14)
12. 220 - Dustin Boney -- Tonganoxie, KS (13)
13. 4r - Derek Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (3)
14. 4g - Gary Clark -- Walker, MO (16)
15. 118 - Terry Beckham Jr. -- Webb City, MO (11) -1 Lap
16. 39 - Gary Langworthy Jr. -- Coffeyville, KS (22) -1 Lap
17. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (1) DNF
18. X2 - Brian Bolin -- Fort Scott, KS (18) DNF
19. 07b - Steve Becker -- Elsmore, KS (9) DNF
20. 31j - Jeremy Rasmussen -- Bentonville, AR (24) DNF
21. 98x - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN (10) DNF
22. 37 - Jeremy Chambers -- Oswego, KS (20) DNF
23. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (19) DNF
24. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (23) DNF

Lap Leaders: Tesch 1-39, Hughes 40.
Total Laps Led: Tesch 39, Hughes 1.
AFCO Pole Award: Hughes.
Provisional Starters: Green, Rasmussen.
Hard Charger Award: VanderBeek (started 21st, finished 7th).
Ruter Farms Long Tow Award: Wedelstadt (717 miles).
Next Race: Sunday, March 16, Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, Kan. (Mo-Kan/Great Plains Region).
Mo-Kan Region Points: Hughes 104, Tesch 98, Weder 96, Bone 95, Shryock 94, VanderBeek 92, Skaggs 82, Allen 76, J. Boney 73, Dripps 72.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points:
Hard Charger Points: VanderBeek 14, Shryock 10, Bone 8, Langworthy 6, Weder 5.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points:
Chassis Builders Championship Points:

Contingency Awards:
Arizona Sport Shirts - not awarded.
Belleville Motorsports – not awarded.
BSB Manufacturing - not awarded.
Hawk Performance - Hughes, Sanders.
Isky Racing Cams – Dripps.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Green.
New Vision Graphics - Tesch.
Nitroquest Web Solutions - Weder.
Quarter Master – Hughes, Allen.
QuickTime Performance Parts – VanderBeek.
Real Racing Wheels – D. Boney, J. Boney.

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TITLE SPONSOR: O’Reilly Auto Parts.

PRESENTING SPONSOR: Casey’s General Stores.

OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Race Tires, Awesome Race Suits, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Houston Specialty Products Co., KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, New Vision Graphics, Nitroquest Web Solutions, TrackTek Racing Fuel.

PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Boom Drilling, Day Motor Sports, Kraft Kar Race Cars, Olympic Fire Protection, Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar, Ruter Farms, Yeager Machine.

CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Belleville Motorsports, Bert Transmission, BSB Manufacturing, COMP Cams, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, GRT Race Cars, Hawk Performance, Holley Performance Products, Hyperco, ISKY Racing Cams, Marsh Racing Wheels, Quarter Master, QuickTime Performance Race Parts, Real Racing Wheels, US Brake.