<B>MCOOL JUNCTION, Neb. --</B> With 70 drivers from nine States and Canada signed in to do battle, the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series put the first event of the 2006 season in the books Friday night with the running of the 3rd Annual Nebraska Spring Thaw at the Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb.

At the end of a nerve-testing night of action, it was a local ace standing in victory lane and a new name added to the O’Reilly USMTS list of winners.

With many of the nation's hottest Modified drivers in attendance, Jason Friesen of Sutton, Neb., survived a tough racetrack and an even tougher field of competition as he stormed to his first career O’Reilly USMTS feature win at the 3/8-mile clay oval.

"I don't know if I can last 25 laps out there," Friesen said after winning the fifth heat race. "I started running (at home) to try and stay in shape, and I think it will help tonight."

It must have.

After starting sixth in the main event, Friesen quickly became a factor as he joined a torrid battle between polesitter Steve Arpin, Jeremy Tibben, John Allen, Jason Hughes and Chevy Hadan. With the first lap in the books, Allen became a victim of the rough track surface as he hooked a rut in turn 1. After being tagged from behind by another car, Allen's machine pitched to the right, dug in and tipped over onto its top. Although unhurt, Allen's race was over.

On the restart, Arpin maintained his advantage while several cars shuffled position behind the young Canadian. By lap 6, both Tibben and Hughes had dropped out of the contest while Friesen powered around the high side of the track and challenged Arpin for the lead.

After a couple of side-by-side laps with Arpin, Friesen secured the top spot as he crossed beneath the flagstand on lap 8 with Arpin, Tommy Myer, Mark Noble and Kelly Shryock in tow. Noble, looking to rebound from a winless 2005 season, had his left rear tire come apart on the next circuit and found himself at the rear of the field for the post-caution restart.

After the restart, Friesen led through lap 12 when Myer ducked to the inside to take over the point. A caution two laps later bunched up the field, and Friesen took advantage as he powered around the outside of Myer and regained the lead on lap 15.

From there, it was all Friesen as he went unchallenged over the final 10 laps to take the checkers and a $2,000 payday. Shryock, embarking on his attempt at an unprecedented eighth straight O’Reilly USMTS title, was no match for Friesen Friday and had to settle for a second-place finish.

Noble, who passed 10 cars in the first four laps of the race and ran as high as third, bounced back from his earlier mishap and passed 12 cars during the last 12 laps to take home a third-place paycheck. Jon Tesch and Ryan Ruter rounded out the top-5 finishers.

Heat race wins went to Shryock, Myer, Hughes, Tibben, Friesen, Allen, Mike Steensma and Hadan, while Noble, Jay Noteboom and Dirk Kirk were victorious in the three Real Racing Wheels "B" Mains.

Oklahoma's Randy Timms was the Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger as he finished ninth after starting 24th in the main event.

By virtue of Friesen's victory, Belleville Motorsports (BMS) claimed the initial points lead in the season-long UNIJIG Builders Championship.

The drivers will have little time to recuperate as the second event of the Nebraska Spring Thaw doubleheader goes green on Saturday afternoon. Gates open at 12 noon with hot laps at 3:00 p.m. and racing to follow.

To learn more about the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series, call (515) 832-7944 or visit www.USMTS.com online.

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<B>OFFICIAL RESULTS

O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series

3rd Annual Nebraska Spring Thaw - Night 1 of 2

Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, Neb.

Friday, March 10, 2006</B>

Showing finishing position, car number, driver, hometown and starting position in parentheses.

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.

<B>ISKY RACING CAMS HEAT #1 (8 laps):</B>

1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (1)

2. 20 - Dustin Boney -- Shawnee, KS (2)

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

4. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (6)

5. 12t - Timmy Current -- Bernard, IA (7)

6. 10c - Justin Cooper -- Prescott, IA (5)

7. 14x - Matt Bonine -- Onawa, IA (4) DNF

8. 2 - Grant Junghans -- Manhattan, KS (9) DNF

9. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (8) DNS

<B>HEAT #2 (8 laps):</B>

1. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (1)

2. 14j - Jake Neal -- Omaha, NE (3)

3. 1cc - Clayton Christensen -- Spencer, IA (6)

4. 42 - Kevin Morrow -- Nevada, MO (7)

5. 81m - Travis Mack -- Alda, NE (8)

6. 70 - Jesse Dennis -- Corning, IA (9)

7. 0 - Troy Girolamo -- Eleva, WI (2)

8. 33g - Shannon Gilchrist -- Rosehill, KS (5) DNF

9. 11 - Steve Burch -- Junction City, KS (4) DNF

<B>HEAT #3 (8 laps):</B>

1. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (2)

2. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (3)

3. 33m - Dustin Daniels -- Zurich, KS (6)

4. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA (9)

5. 55 - Jim Cole -- Sioux City, IA (4)

6. 96j - Johnny Saathoff -- Beatrice, NE (7)

7. 23 - Matt Gilbertson -- Montevideo, MN (8) DNF

8. 90 - Chuck Stanton -- New Hampton, IA (1) DNF

9. 21 - Wade Cross -- Phillips, NE (5) DNF

<B>HEAT #4 (8 laps):</B>

1. 17 - Jeremy Tibben -- Stanton, IA (2)

2. 02 - Tommy Weder -- Woodward, OK (4)

3. 1* - Jason Thoennes -- Alexandria, MN (1)

4. 98 - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN (9)

5. 1 - Scott Mullen -- Seymour, WI (5)

6. X - Mike Wedelstadt -- Hortonville, WI (7)

7. c40 - Mike Chasteen -- Creve Coeur, IL (8)

8. 71 - David Holder -- Clarence, MO (6)

9. m80 - Jim Mathieson -- Sioux City, IA (3)

<B>HEAT #5 (8 laps):</B>

1. 1f - Jason Friesen -- Sutton, NE (7)

2. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (4)

3. z62 - Danny McKeighan -- Carter Lake, IA (3)

4. 3x - Mike Johnson -- Council Bluffs, IA (6)

5. 4g - Gary Clark -- Walker, MO (9)

6. 21h - Jim Horejsi -- Echo, MN (8)

7. 72 - Mike Lineberry -- Fontanelle, NE (1)

8. 35 - Jeff Schluetter -- New Hampton, IA (2) DNF

9. 1k - Tim Karrick -- Bashor, KS (5) DNF

<B>HEAT #6 (8 laps):</B>

1. 98a - John Allen -- Chanute, KS (8)

2. 5 - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK (2)

3. 555 - Ryan Ruter -- Forest City, IA (7)

4. 12h - Mike Hansen -- Alta, IA (4)

5. 02x - Delbert Smith -- Great Bend, KS (1)

6. 37 - Scott Ward -- Watertown, SD (6)

7. 187 - Chris Heller -- Junction City, KS (5)

8. 51 - Chris Oertel -- Marshfield, WI (3) DNF

9. 75 - Jon Thompson -- Superior, NE (9) DNF

<B>HEAT #7 (8 laps):</B>

1. 10 - Mike Steensma -- Luverne, MN (2)

2. 00eh - Steve Arpin -- Fort Frances, ON, CAN (6)

3. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (4)

4. 86jr - Dirk Kirk -- Sloan, IA (7)

5. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (3)

6. 1r - Matt Richards -- Lincoln, NE (8)

7. 4x - Kevin Larkins -- Greenwood, NE (5)

8. 34 - Jay Goosman -- Himton, IA (1) DNF

<B>HEAT #8 (8 laps):</B>

1. 4 - Chevy Hadan -- Waterloo, NE (2)

2. 12d - Scott Drake -- Webb City, MO (3)

3. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (8)

4. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (5)

5. 23L - Brett La Follette -- Kansas City, KS (1)

6. 29 - Greg Metz -- Washington, KS (6)

7. 00 - Joshua Vinnedge -- Forreston, IL (7)

8. 19 - Marlin Kracht -- Luverne, MN (4) DNF

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

1. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (7)

2. 96j - Johnny Saathoff -- Beatrice, NE (11)

3. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (4)

4. 2k - Darrick Klima -- Belleville, KS (5)

5. 14j - Jake Neal -- Omaha, NE (1)

6. 23L - Brett La Follette -- Kansas City, KS (10)

7. 51 - Chris Oertel -- Marshfield, WI (17)

8. 1 - Scott Mullen -- Seymour, WI (9)

9. 90 - Chuck Stanton -- New Hampton, IA (16)

10. m80 - Jim Mathieson -- Sioux City, IA (19)

11. 5 - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK (3) DNF

12. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (6) DNF

13. 37 - Scott Ward -- Watertown, SD (12) DNF

14. 00 - Joshua Vinnedge -- Forreston, IL (15) DNF

15. 12t - Timmy Current -- Bernard, IA (8) DNF

16. 72 - Mike Lineberry -- Fontanelle, NE (14) DNF

17. c40 - Mike Chasteen -- Creve Coeur, IL (13) DNF

18. 1cc - Clayton Christensen -- Spencer, IA (2) DNS

19. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (18) DNS

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

1. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (1)

2. 33m - Dustin Daniels -- Zurich, KS (2)

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

4. 70 - Jesse Dennis -- Corning, IA (8)

5. 3x - Mike Johnson -- Council Bluffs, IA (6)

6. 1* - Jason Thoennes -- Alexandria, MN (5)

7. X - Mike Wedelstadt -- Hortonville, WI (11) DNF

8. 11 - Steve Burch -- Junction City, KS (18) DNF

9. 29 - Greg Metz -- Washington, KS (12) DNF

10. 34 - Jay Goosman -- Himton, IA (17) DNF

11. 71 - David Holder -- Clarence, MO (16) DNF

12. 2 - Grant Junghans -- Manhattan, KS (15) DNF

13. 14x - Matt Bonine -- Onawa, IA (13) DNF

14. 42 - Kevin Morrow -- Nevada, MO (4) DNF

15. 81m - Travis Mack -- Alda, NE (7) DNF

16. 02x - Delbert Smith -- Great Bend, KS (9) DNF

17. 187 - Chris Heller -- Junction City, KS (14) DNF

18. 21h - Jim Horejsi -- Echo, MN (10) DNS

19. 1k - Tim Karrick -- Bashor, KS (19) DNS

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

1. 86jr - Dirk Kirk -- Sloan, IA (4)

2. 12d - Scott Drake -- Webb City, MO (1)

3. 20 - Dustin Boney -- Shawnee, KS (2)

4. z62 - Danny McKeighan -- Carter Lake, IA (5)

5. 55 - Jim Cole -- Sioux City, IA (8)

6. 23 - Matt Gilbertson -- Montevideo, MN (12)

7. 4x - Kevin Larkins -- Greenwood, NE (14)

8. 35 - Jeff Schluetter -- New Hampton, IA (16)

9. 1r - Matt Richards -- Lincoln, NE (10)

10. 10c - Justin Cooper -- Prescott, IA (11)

11. 75 - Jon Thompson -- Superior, NE (19) DNF

12. 12h - Mike Hansen -- Alta, IA (7) DNF

13. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (9) DNF

14. 4g - Gary Clark -- Walker, MO (6) DNF

15. 19 - Marlin Kracht -- Luverne, MN (17) DNF

16. 98 - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN (3) DNF

17. 21 - Wade Cross -- Phillips, NE (18) DNF

18. 0 - Troy Girolamo -- Eleva, WI (13) DNF

19. 33g - Shannon Gilchrist -- Rosehill, KS (15) DNF

<B>HOLLEY "A" MAIN (25 laps):</B>

1. 1f - Jason Friesen -- Sutton, NE (6)

2. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (7)

3. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (14)

4. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (10)

5. 555 - Ryan Ruter -- Forest City, IA (13)

6. 12d - Scott Drake -- Webb City, MO (19)

7. 00eh - Steve Arpin -- Fort Frances, ON, CAN (1)

8. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA (21)

9. 5 - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK (24)

10. 02 - Tommy Weder -- Woodward, OK (11)

11. 86jr - Dirk Kirk -- Sloan, IA (16)

12. 33m - Dustin Daniels -- Zurich, KS (18)

13. 1 - Scott Mullen -- Seymour, WI (23) -1 Lap

14. 4 - Chevy Hadan -- Waterloo, NE (5) -4 Laps

15. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (9) DNF

16. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (20) DNF

17. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (15) DNF

18. 17 - Jeremy Tibben -- Stanton, IA (2) DNF

19. 96j - Johnny Saathoff -- Beatrice, NE (17) DNF

20. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (12) DNF

21. 20 - Dustin Boney -- Shawnee, KS (22) DNF

22. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (4) DNF

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

24. 98a - John Allen -- Chanute, KS (3) DNF

<B>Lap Leaders:</B> Arpin 1-7, Friesen 8-12, Myer 13-14, Friesen 15-25.

<B>Total Laps Led:</B> Friesen 16, Arpin 7, Myer 2.

<B>Provisional Starters:</B> Timms, Mullen.

<B>Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger:</B> Timms (started 24th, finished 9th).

<B>Next Race:</B> March 11, Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, Neb.

<B>O’Reilly National Driver Points (top 10):</B> Friesen 108, Noble 102, Shryock 100, Drake 94, Tesch 93, Ruter 92, McEwan 89, Timms 89, Arpin 79, Mullen 76.

<B>Western Region Points (top 10):</B> Friesen 108, Noble 102, Shryock 100, Drake 94, Tesch 93, Ruter 92, McEwan 89, Timms 89, Arpin 79, Mullen 76.

<B>UNIJIG Builders Championship Points (top 5):</B> BMS 10, Skyrocket 9, Kraft 8, GRT 7, Dirt Works 6.

<B>Contingency Awards:</B>

Bassett Racing Wheel – Noble.

Belleville Motorsports – Ruter, Weder, Myer, Poidinger.

Boyer’s Engine Development – Friesen.

Dynatech Racing Exhaust – Friesen, Shryock.

Edelbrock – Friesen, Shryock.

Fast Shafts – Ruter.

GRT Race Cars – Drake.

Isky Racing Cams – Shryock.

KEVKO Oil Pans & Components – Tesch.

KSE Racing Products – McEwan.

Larson Racing Specialists – Mullen.

Marsh Racing Wheels – not awarded.

QuickTime Performance Parts – Arpin.

RaceQuest – Friesen, Klima.

Real Racing Wheels – Noble, Noteboom.

T.A.R. Race Car Bodies – Weder.

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.