McCOOL JUNCTION, Neb. — Against a stout field of heavy hitters, Justin Boney raced with a heavy heart and a heavy right foot Friday night to capture the opening night win of the 5th Annual Nebraska Spring Thaw at the Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb.

"We're still working some things out in the car, but this win is encouraging" said Boney, "I want to dedicate this win for my grandmother."

It was the first O’Reilly USMTS National Tour win since 2003 for the Leavenworth, Kan., driver, whose grandmother passed away last week.

Making his first-ever stop at the 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval, the 2002 Rookies Rockin' Sports Bar Rookie of the Year started fourth in the main event, but wrestled the lead away on lap 2 from last year's top rookie, Scott Green. Despite five cautions, including one with two laps remaining, Boney was able to fend off all challengers as he rode the high side of the racetrack to victory.

"The track was smooth up on top," said Boney, "I just told myself to stay up top and everything came around."

The win was worth $2,000 and also propelled Boney to the top of the Great Plains Region standings.

Going into the second turn on the final lap, Brad Waits nosed ahead of Boney and could very well have delivered a "slide job" to shut the door on Boney. Instead, the veteran from Zumbrota, Minn., held his line and gave Boney just enough room to power back around the outside to secure the top spot.

Meanwhile, 14th-starting Zack VanderBeek of New Sharon, Iowa, edged in front of Waits in the final turn but watched as Waits powered back ahead to take the runner-up position by a bumper.

Defending O’Reilly USMTS National Champion Jason Krohn of Slayton, Minn., challenged Boney for the lead in the early stages of the 30-lapper, but had to settle for a fourth-place paycheck at the end of the night. Eight-time O’Reilly USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa, started ninth in the main event but slid all the way back as far as 14th during the first 10 laps before finding his groove and recovering for a fifth-place finish.

Jon Tesch, John Allen, 26th-starting Jay Noteboom, Mark Noble and Green rounded out the top-10, respectively.

With two races in the books, the Great Plains Region points battle is heating up with Boney just one marker ahead of Shryock (198 to 197), followed by Tesch with 185 points. The rest of the current top-10 are VanderBeek (183), Allen (171), Steve Kosiski (145), Krohn (140), Josh Reisch (140), Brandon Kenny (132) and Al Hejna (125).

The action continues on Saturday for round 2 of the 5th Annual Nebraska Spring Thaw. Gates will open at 10 a.m. with hot laps slated for 1:30 p.m. and racing to follow. Open Stock Cars will also be on the card racing for $300 to win.

Race fans can stop by Casey's General Store locations in York and Geneva on Saturday to pick up a coupon good for $2 off admission price at the racetrack.

Located five miles south of I-80 (York Exit) on U.S. Hwy. 81, Junction Motor Speedway is a state-of-the-art facility entering its fifth year of operation. The track is a super-fast, 3/8-mile clay oval boasting 80-foot-wide straight-aways, making for a lot of racing room for the drivers and a lot of wheel-to-wheel action for fans.

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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O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series
O’Reilly USMTS National Tour - Great Plains Region
5th Annual Nebraska Spring Thaw (Night 1 of 2)
Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, Neb.
Friday, March 21, 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 (8 laps):
1. 8 - Colt Mather -- Webster, IA (2)
2. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (6)
3. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (10)
4. 31j - Jeremy Rasmussen -- Bentonville, AR (5)
5. 22 - Steve Kosiski -- Papillion, NE (1)
6. 19 - Mike Sorensen -- Rochester, MN (9)
7. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (8)
8. 40 - Scott Dickey -- Packwood, IA (3)
9. 2 - Grant Junghans -- Manhattan, KS (4)
10. 9e - Don Eischens -- Richmond, MN (7) DNF

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 4r - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (3)
2. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (9)
3. 19x - Richie Gustin Jr. -- Gilman, IA (4)
4. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (5)
5. 15 - Dan DeMey -- Denison, IA (2)
6. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (10)
7. 95 - Dylan Smith -- Osceola, NE (7)
8. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (8)
9. 1m - Mannix Winningham -- Lincoln, NE (1)
10. 35 - Jeff Schluetter -- New Hampton, IA (6) DNF

HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (1)
2. 24 - Brad Waits -- Zumbrota, MN (5)
3. 1f - Jason Friesen -- Sutton, NE (6)
4. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (8)
5. 02x - Jacob Dahle -- Morristown, MN (2)
6. 102 - Delbert Smith -- Wichita, KS (4)
7. 31x - Dan Carl -- North Platte, NE (9)
8. 7x - Bob Ruisinger -- Bennett, NE (10) DNF
9. 3L - Brian Levander -- Grand Island, NE (7) DNF
10. 57h - Terry Hanson -- Elk River, MN (3) DNF

HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 98 - John Allen -- Chanute, KS (4)
2. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (3)
3. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (6)
4. 00c - Chris Mills -- Sioux City, IA (2)
5. 33zx - Kyle Berck -- Marquette, NE (7)
6. 72 - Mike Lineberry -- Fremont, NE (9)
7. 12b - Brett Smith -- Fort Morgan, CO (1)
8. 67d - Isaac Dotson -- Lathrop, MO (8)
9. 01 - Brandon Aggen -- Rushmore, MN (10)
10. 98x - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN (5) DNF

HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- East Woodward, OK (1)
2. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (5)
3. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (7)
4. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (6)
5. 17 - Garry Oskerson -- Fairmont, MN (4)
6. M80 - Jim Mathieson -- Sioux City, IA (2)
7. 49 - Bob Timm -- Rollingstone, MN (9) DNF
8. 56 - Chris Spieker -- Massena, IA (3) DNF
9. B18 - Jason Gaver -- Columbus, NE (8) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (2)
2. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (4)
3. 98x - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN (19)
4. 22 - Steve Kosiski -- Papillion, NE (7)
5. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (3)
6. 35 - Jeff Schluetter -- New Hampton, IA (18)
7. 102 - Delbert Smith -- Wichita, KS (9)
8. 31x - Dan Carl -- North Platte, NE (10)
9. 17 - Garry Oskerson -- Fairmont, MN (8)
10. 01 - Brandon Aggen -- Rushmore, MN (15)
11. 12b - Brett Smith -- Fort Morgan, CO (12)
12. 1m - Mannix Winningham -- Lincoln, NE (16)
13. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (11) DNF
14. 1f - Jason Friesen -- Sutton, NE (1) DNF
15. B18 - Jason Gaver -- Columbus, NE (17) DNF
16. 19 - Mike Sorensen -- Rochester, MN (6) DNF
17. 33zx - Kyle Berck -- Marquette, NE (5) DNF
18. 67d - Isaac Dotson -- Lathrop, MO (14) DNF
19. 40 - Scott Dickey -- Packwood, IA (13) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (1)
2. 31j - Jeremy Rasmussen -- Bentonville, AR (3)
3. 19x - Richie Gustin Jr. -- Gilman, IA (2)
4. 49 - Bob Timm -- Rollingstone, MN (10)
5. 00c - Chris Mills -- Sioux City, IA (4)
6. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (13)
7. 15 - Dan DeMey -- Denison, IA (7)
8. 02x - Jacob Dahle -- Morristown, MN (8)
9. 56 - Chris Spieker -- Massena, IA (14)
10. 72 - Mike Lineberry -- Fremont, NE (6)
11. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (5)
12. M80 - Jim Mathieson -- Sioux City, IA (9)
13. 95 - Dylan Smith -- Osceola, NE (11) -1 Lap
14. 9e - Don Eischens -- Richmond, MN (17) -1 Lap
15. 2 - Grant Junghans -- Manhattan, KS (15) -1 Lap
16. 7x - Bob Ruisinger -- Bennett, NE (12) -1 Lap
17. 57h - Terry Hanson -- Elk River, MN (18) -1 Lap
18. 3L - Brian Levander -- Grand Island, NE (16) -1 Lap

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (30 laps):
1. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (4)
2. 24 - Brad Waits -- Zumbrota, MN (6)
3. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (14)
4. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (5)
5. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (9)
6. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (12)
7. 98 - John Allen -- Chanute, KS (7)
8. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (26)
9. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (11)
10. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (2)
11. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- East Woodward, OK (10)
12. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (13)
13. 49 - Bob Timm -- Rollingstone, MN (20)
14. 00c - Chris Mills -- Sioux City, IA (22)
15. 4r - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (1)
16. 1f - Jason Friesen -- Sutton, NE (25)
17. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (23)
18. 31j - Jeremy Rasmussen -- Bentonville, AR (16)
19. 72 - Mike Lineberry -- Fremont, NE (24) DNF
20. 8 - Colt Mather -- Webster, IA (8) DNF
21. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (3) DNF
22. 98x - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN (17) DNF
23. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (21) DNF
24. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (15) DNF
25. 19x - Richie Gustin Jr. -- Gilman, IA (18) DNF
26. 22 - Steve Kosiski -- Papillion, NE (19) DNF

Lap Leaders: Green 1, Boney 2-30.
Total Laps Led: Boney 29, Green 1.
AFCO Pole Award: Krohn.
Provisional Starters: Ramirez, Lineberry, Friesen (promoter), Noteboom (promoter).
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award: Noteboom (started 26th, finished 8th).
Ruter Farms Long Tow Award: Timm (484.9 miles).
Next Race: Saturday, March 22, Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, Neb.
Great Plains Region Points: Boney 198, Shryock 197, Tesch 185, VanderBeek 183, Allen 171, Kosiski 145, Krohn 140, Reisch 140, Kenny 132, Hejna 125.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points: Ramirez 69, Gary Langworthy Jr. 46, Rodney Sanders 46, Rowland 30, Mills 25.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Sput’s 28, A.S.I. 25, Buzzard 20, Wanders 19, Mullins 17.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: GRT 28, Skyrocket 26, Hughes 25, TRE 13, Harris 13.

Contingency Awards:
Arizona Sport Shirts - not awarded.
Belleville Motorsports – Shryock, Green, Ver Beek, Mather.
BSB Manufacturing - not awarded.
Hawk Performance - Boney, Noble.
Isky Racing Cams – Mather.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Kosiski.
New Vision Graphics - Ver Beek.
Nitroquest Web Solutions - VanderBeek.
Quarter Master – Boney, Noteboom.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Allen.
Real Racing Wheels – Weder, VanderBeek.

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TITLE SPONSOR: O’Reilly Auto Parts.

PRESENTING SPONSOR: Casey’s General Stores.

OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Race Tires, Awesome Race Suits, Bear Tire Company, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Gressel Racing, 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/Ramirez 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, Duralite Racing Wheels, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, GRT Race Cars, Hawk Performance, Holley Performance Products, Hyperco, ISKY Racing Cams, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, Quarter Master, QuickTime Performance Race Parts, Real Racing Wheels, US Brake.