McCOOL JUNCTION, Neb. — On Friday and Saturday, the Junction Motor Speedway played host to the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour for the 5th Annual Nebraska Spring Thaw. While cold and windy conditions kept the racing surface dry and the fans bundled up, the drivers provided plenty of heat with nail-biting finishes both nights.

When all was said and done, it was a pair of Sunflower State pilots taking the bulk of the prize money back home across the Kansas border.

Justin Boney of Leavenworth, Kan., earned his first win since 2003 on Friday night, while Saturday's laurels went to John Allen of Chanute, Kan. Just one week shy of going six years without a win under the USMTS banner, the veteran Modified racer used a late-race restart to snag the lead from Brad Waits, then pull away for the $3,000 victory.

An extremely dry racing surface produced little passing in the Real Racing Wheels “B” Mains, while thick dust made for treacherous racing.

“I can give us a better racetrack,” Junction Motor Speedway owner and promoter Delmar Friesen told USMTS and track officials prior to the start of the 30-lap Holley “A” Main.

So, Friesen climbed aboard the water truck and began to lay down some heavy water on the top and bottom of the racetrack to not only make it safer, but produce a better finale for the race fans who braved the chilly weather.

“It's one of those things where if we have a big crash, then I'm the ass,” he explained. “We had to give it a shot.”

The shot turned out to be a bulls-eye as the feature race produced plenty of action, multiple grooves and four lead changes among three drivers.

“Overall it added about 20 minutes to the program, but I think we got a pretty good racetrack out of it,” Friesen added.

Mike Sorensen grabbed the early lead from polesitter Mark Noble, and led the first three circuits before giving up the lead to Allen, who was moving quickly on the bottom of the racetrack. On lap 10, Waits found the high side of the high-banked 3/8-mile oval to his liking and powered around Allen for the top spot.

On lap 18, the second caution flag of the race waved and Waits saw his lead of nearly a straight-away wiped out. He picked right up where he left off, however, and began to pull away from Allen while Oklahoma's Tommy Weder Jr. followed Waits' high line into the second spot.

The race's third and final yellow flag waved with just two laps to go, and again Waits paced the field for the double-file restart and a green-white-checkered finish. As the green flag waved, Allen dove to the inside of Waits and held the advantage as the leaders dove into the first turn. Allen was able to slide up in front of Waits, then powered his way around the top side of the racetrack to take the his first O’Reilly USMTS National Tour victory since March 29, 2002.

For a disappointed Waits, it was his second runner-up finish in as many days.

“Did you spin the tires,” USMTS promoter Todd Staley asked Waits, referring to the restart with two laps to go.

Waits just grimaced and nodded.

The final restart did not bode well for Weder either, as he slipped back to fourth at the finish behind Zack VanderBeek, who scored his second third-place finish of the doubleheader weekend. Steve Kosiski rounded out the top-5 after winning the first Real Racing Wheels “B” Main and starting 13th in the main event.

Alan Mondus, Jay Noteboom, Kelly Shryock, Sorensen and Jon Tesch finished sixth through 10th, respectively.

Despite struggling throughout the event, Shryock earned the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award and enough points to reclaim the points lead in the Great Plains Region. VanderBeek moved up to second in the rankings, just nine markers back of the eight-time O’Reilly USMTS National Champion (286 to 279). With the win, Allen moved up to third with 274 points, followed by Boney (271), Tesch (261), Kosiski (237), Weder (213), Brandon Kenny (203), Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year points leader Dereck Ramirez (189), defending O’Reilly USMTS National Champion Jason Krohn and Josh Reisch (185 each).

Next up for the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour will be a Show-Me State tripleheader on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 28-30. The action kicks off at the L A Raceway in La Monte, Mo., on Friday, then moves on to the Lebanon I-44 Speedway and Monett Speedway on Saturday and Sunday for the 5th Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts Missouri Nationals. All five races will earn points for drivers in the Mo-Kan Region, and all five will pay a minimum of $2,000 to win and $250 to start the main event.

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 2 of 2)
Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, Neb.
Saturday, March 22, 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. 49 - Bob Timm -- Rollingstone, MN (2)
2. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (5)
3. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (1)
4. 22 - Steve Kosiski -- Papillion, NE (3)
5. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (6)
6. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (9)
7. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (4)
8. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (7)
9. 35 - Jeff Schluetter -- New Hampton, IA (8)

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 24 - Brad Waits -- Zumbrota, MN (5)
2. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (7)
3. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- East Woodward, OK (6)
4. 40 - Scott Dickey -- Packwood, IA (2)
5. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (8)
6. 02x - Jacob Dahle -- Morristown, MN (3)
7. 3L - Brian Levander -- Grand Island, NE (1)
8. 17 - Garry Oskerson -- Fairmont, MN (4)
9. 33zx - Kyle Berck -- Marquette, NE (9) DNS

HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 19x - Richie Gustin Jr. -- Gilman, IA (1)
2. 98 - John Allen -- Chanute, KS (7)
3. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (5)
4. 1f - Jason Friesen -- Sutton, NE (6)
5. 00c - Chris Mills -- Sioux City, IA (4)
6. 72 - Mike Lineberry -- Fremont, NE (2)
7. Z3 - Mike Albertsen -- Audubon, IA (3) DNF
8. 8 - Colt Mather -- Webster, IA (8) DNF
9. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (9) DNF

HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (1)
2. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (7)
3. 19 - Mike Sorensen -- Rochester, MN (9)
4. 31j - Jeremy Rasmussen -- Bentonville, AR (5)
5. 15 - Dan DeMey -- Denison, IA (8)
6. 56 - Chris Spieker -- Massena, IA (6)
7. 95 - Dylan Smith -- Osceola, NE (4)
8. 01 - Brandon Aggen -- Rushmore, MN (2)
9. M80 - Jim Mathieson -- Sioux City, IA (3) DNF

HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (2)
2. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (3)
3. 96j - Johnny Saathoff -- Beatrice, NE (4)
4. 102 - Delbert Smith -- Wichita, KS (5)
5. 9e - Don Eischens -- Richmond, MN (1)
6. 12b - Brett Smith -- Fort Morgan, CO (6)
7. 98x - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN (7) DNS
8. 57h - Terry Hanson -- Elk River, MN (8) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 22 - Steve Kosiski -- Papillion, NE (5)
2. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (1)
3. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (4)
4. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (2)
5. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (10)
6. 35 - Jeff Schluetter -- New Hampton, IA (15)
7. Z3 - Mike Albertsen -- Audubon, IA (11)
8. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (6)
9. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (16)
10. 00c - Chris Mills -- Sioux City, IA (7)
11. 01 - Brandon Aggen -- Rushmore, MN (14)
12. 56 - Chris Spieker -- Massena, IA (9)
13. 17 - Garry Oskerson -- Fairmont, MN (13)
14. 31j - Jeremy Rasmussen -- Bentonville, AR (3) DNF
15. 02x - Jacob Dahle -- Morristown, MN (8) DNF
16. 98x - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN (12) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (6)
2. 96j - Johnny Saathoff -- Beatrice, NE (1)
3. 1f - Jason Friesen -- Sutton, NE (2)
4. 40 - Scott Dickey -- Packwood, IA (5)
5. 9e - Don Eischens -- Richmond, MN (7)
6. 15 - Dan DeMey -- Denison, IA (4)
7. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (12)
8. 95 - Dylan Smith -- Osceola, NE (11)
9. 102 - Delbert Smith -- Wichita, KS (3)
10. 33zx - Kyle Berck -- Marquette, NE (15)
11. M80 - Jim Mathieson -- Sioux City, IA (16)
12. 3L - Brian Levander -- Grand Island, NE (10)
13. 72 - Mike Lineberry -- Fremont, NE (8)
14. 12b - Brett Smith -- Fort Morgan, CO (9) DNF
15. 8 - Colt Mather -- Webster, IA (13) DNF
16. 57h - Terry Hanson -- Elk River, MN (14) DNS

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (30 laps):
1. 98 - John Allen -- Chanute, KS (3)
2. 24 - Brad Waits -- Zumbrota, MN (7)
3. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (8)
4. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (10)
5. 22 - Steve Kosiski -- Papillion, NE (13)
6. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (5)
7. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (11)
8. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (21)
9. 19 - Mike Sorensen -- Rochester, MN (2)
10. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (14)
11. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- East Woodward, OK (12)
12. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (17)
13. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (6)
14. 49 - Bob Timm -- Rollingstone, MN (4)
15. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (1)
16. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (19)
17. 19x - Richie Gustin Jr. -- Gilman, IA (9)
18. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (15)
19. 9e - Don Eischens -- Richmond, MN (22)
20. 40 - Scott Dickey -- Packwood, IA (20) DNF
21. 15 - Dan DeMey -- Denison, IA (24) DNF
22. 1f - Jason Friesen -- Sutton, NE (18) DNF
23. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (23) DNF
24. 96j - Johnny Saathoff -- Beatrice, NE (16) DNS

Lap Leaders: Sorensen 1-3, Allen 4-10, Waits 11-28, Allen 29-30.
Total Laps Led: Waits 18, Allen 9, Sorensen 3.
AFCO Pole Award: Waits.
Provisional Starters: Dripps, DeMey.
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award: Shryock (started 21st, finished 8th).
Ruter Farms Long Tow Award: Waits (473.07 miles)
Next Race: Friday, March 28, L A Raceway, La Monte, Mo. (Mo-Kan Region).
Great Plains Region Points: Shryock 286, VanderBeek 279, Allen 274, Boney 271, Tesch 261, Kosiski 237, Weder 213, Kenny 203, Ramirez 189, Krohn 185, Reisch 185.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points: Ramirez 88, Kenny 83, Gary Langworthy Jr. 46, Rodney Sanders 44, Rowland 40.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Sput’s 37, A.S.I. 30, Buzzard 30, Wanders 27, Mullins 24.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Hughes 35, Skyrocket 35, GRT 33, Harris 20, Razor 17.

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

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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.