O’Reilly USMTS tripleheader awaits Missouri race fans
<B>WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (May 9, 2005) --</B> The O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Series returns to the Show-Me State this weekend for a tripleheader journey to three of Missouri's fastest and finest dirt ovals.
On Friday, May 13, America's Premier Modified Series travels to the Bolivar Speedway for the "O’Reilly Auto Parts Spring Challenge" at the 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval. 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.
On Saturday, May 14, the teams head for the Lebanon I-44 Speedway for the "O’Reilly Auto Parts Spring Fling." 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.
The three-race weekend wraps up on Sunday, May 15, with the "O’Reilly Auto Parts Spring Classic" at the Monett Speedway. 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.
General admission each day is $12 for adults while kids tickets are $4. Pit passes are $25 each day.
In 2004, Kelly Shryock picked up two wins in four stops at the three tracks -- one at Lebanon and another at Monett -- as he looks to get his fifth win of the 2005 season. Randy Zimmerman of Ft. Scott, Kan., took the checkers in last year's Bolivar stop, while Texas superstar George White took the victory in the second stop at Monett.
Each show will pay $2,000 to win and $200 to start the Holley "A" Main.
A field of 24 cars will start the Holley "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 Holley "A" Main. Of those, eight drivers will re-draw for starting positions in the first four rows of the Holley "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 provisional(s) may also be awarded.
A big field of cars is expected for this event, including O’Reilly National Championship drivers Kelly Shryock, Jason Hughes, Mike Sorensen, Brad McEwan, Corey Dripps, Jon Tesch, Tommy Myer, Zack Vanderbeek, Al Hejna, Ryan Ruter, Roger Hadan, Mark Noble, Julie McDermid, Mike Wedelstadt, Jason Krohn, Bruce Hanford, Greg Metz, Mike Hejna, Dean Mahlstedt, Gary Clark, Brad Bakken, Dustin Boney, Jeremy Payne, Jake Neal, Scott Drake, Lynn Nillson, Bub Lerette, Steve Wetzstein, Jesse Frericks, Alan Mondus, Brandon Morton, Gary March, Jeff James, Matt Gilbertson, Dan Fetters, Matt McDermid, Justin Cooper, Bob Timm, Ray Guss Jr, Mike Chasteen, Tim Vogt, Danny Concelman, Brian Mullen, Mike Bennett, Willy Kraft, Scott Mullen, David Murray, Dan Daniels, Nate Wasmund, Danny McKeighan, Jordy Nelson, Sean Jerovetz, Ryan Meyer, Jay Poidinger, Jeff Schluetter, Steve Stewart, John Vandenberg, Joe McBirnie, Neil Eckhart, Mark Dotson, Brad Waits, Mark Burgtorf, Darin Duffy and Tony Fraise.
Shryock, of Fertile, Iowa -- the current national points leader and six-time O’Reilly USMTS champion -- will look to pad his advantage in the national standings over Jason Hughes of Colcord, Okla. Both Shryock and Hughes won main events this past weekend at a special event in Fayetteville, Ark., and are on a roll coming into the Show-Me State swing.
For more information, visit the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series online at www.USMTS.com.
<B>=================================
CURRENT POINTS STANDINGS
O’Reilly National Driver Championship
After races on April 9, 2005</B>
1. 3 Kelly Shryock .... 795 (4 wins)
2. 12 Jason Hughes .... 695
2. 19 Mike Sorensen .... 695
4. 26 Brad McEwan .... 691
5. 31 Corey Dripps .... 671 (2 wins)
6. 14 Jon Tesch .... 656 (1 win)
7. 65 Tommy Myer .... 619
8. 33z Zack Vanderbeek .... 540
9. 7 Al Hejna .... 536
10. 555 Ryan Ruter .... 518
11. 4 Roger Hadan .... 501
12. 74 Mark Noble .... 482
13. 1M Julie McDermid .... 473
14. X Mike Wedelstadt .... 438
15. 7K Jason Krohn .... 405
16. 61 Bruce Hanford .... 399
17. 29 Greg Metz .... 360
18. 7II Mike Hejna .... 357
19. 21M Dean Mahlstedt .... 355
20. 4g Gary Clark .... 306
21. 50 Brad Bakken .... 293
22. 20 Dustin Boney .... 290
22. 186 Jeremy Payne .... 290
24. 14J Jake Neal .... 280
25. 12d Scott Drake .... 279
26. 12N Lynn Nillson .... 240
26. 3L Bub Lerette .... 240
28. 90 Steve Wetzstein .... 232
29. 52 Jesse Frericks .... 202
30. 55 Alan Mondus .... 193
31. 11 Brandon Morton .... 186
32. 5M Gary March .... 170
33. 71J Jeff James .... 160
33. 23 Matt Gilbertson .... 160
33. 26F Dan Fetters .... 160
33. 67 Matt McDermid .... 160
37. 10c Justin Cooper .... 153
38. 49 Bob Timm .... 136
39. 22 Ray Guss Jr. .... 122
40. c40 Mike Chasteen .... 120
40. x4 Tim Vogt .... 120
40. 40 Danny Concelman .... 120
43. 72 Brian Mullen .... 117
44. 32 Mike Bennett .... 102
45. 83 Willy Kraft .... 101
46. 1 Scott Mullen .... 94
47. 97M David Murray Jr. .... 92
47. 3D Dan Daniels .... 92
49. 52 Nate Wasmund .... 90
50. z62 Danny McKeighan .... 80
50. 4J Jordy Nelson .... 80
50. 37 Sean Jerovetz .... 80
50. 82M Ryan Meyer .... 80
50. 49x Jay Poidinger .... 80
50. 35 Jeff Schluetter .... 80
50. 17 Steve Stewart .... 80
50. 5M John Vandenberg .... 80
58. 82 Joe McBirnie .... 53
59. 7E Neil Eckhart .... 40
59. 85d Mark Dotson .... 40
59. 24 Brad Waits .... 40
59. 69M Mark Burgtorf .... 40
59. 19x Darin Duffy .... 40
59. 45 Tony Fraise .... 40