<B>JEFFERSON, S.D. --</B> The O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series rolled into Jefferson, S.D., on Thursday for the 2nd Annual All-Star Challenge presented by Sioux City Journal at the Park Jefferson Speedway with a hefty field of 49 cars and drivers signed in to battle for the $2,000 top prize.

Defending event winner Jay Noteboom of Hinton, Iowa, positioned himself nicely for a shot at a repeat victory by drawing the pole position for the 30-lap main event after a crowd-pleasing run from the eighth starting spot to win the first heat race of the night.

However, Ryan Ruter of Forest City, Iowa, started on the outside of the front row for the Holley "A" Main, and took command of the contest at the drop of the green flag. Noteboom, meanwhile, struggle to make his machine work on the high side of the racing surface and eventually slipped out of the top-10 before retiring from the race on lap 19.

At the front of the pack, Ruter paced the first dozen laps before relinquishing the lead to Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa. From there, it was all Shryock as the seven-time defending O’Reilly USMTS national champion pulled away from Ruter before surviving a late-race caution to capture his fifth win of the 2006 season.

Ruter momentarily surrendered the second spot to Clear Lake, Iowa's Dean Mahlstedt on the restart with two laps to go, but battled back around the high side of the track to claim the runner-up paycheck. Fellow Clear Lake residents Mike and Al Hejna followed Mahlstedt across the finish line to claim the fourth and fifth spots, respectively.

Al Hejna added the Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger honors for the night as the "A Train" raced from the 17th spot on the starting grid to a top-5 finish.

With his triumph, Shryock helped pad the points lead for his Skyrocket Chassis company in the season-long UNIJIG Builders Championship, and narrowed the gap between himself and points leader Mark Noble in both the National and Western Region standings.

Running eighth with three laps remaining, Noble spun in turn 4 to bring out the race's final caution flag. The Blooming Prairie, Minn., veteran wound up 18th -- his first finish outside of the top-10 in 13 O’Reilly USMTS races this season.

Sutton, Neb.'s Jason Friesen brought out the first caution of the main event after spinning his Modified in turn 3 while running second to Ruter. After rebounding for a 10th-place finish, Friesen extended his points lead in the running for the Rookies Rockin' Sports Bar Rookie of the Year award. Friesen, who won the O’Reilly USMTS season-opener at the Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb., also maintains the top spot in the national Home Pride Passing Points contest.

With no winner on Thursday night, the Marsh Racing Wheels Halfway Leader Bonus grows to $350 for Friday, May 26, as the O’Reilly USMTS stars and cars invade the Murray County Speedway in Slayton, Minn., for the 3rd Annual Minnesota Spring Challenge and the first event of the season in the Reich Concrete/Yeager Machine Northeast Region.

On Saturday, the Series returns to Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., for the 4th Annual Justice Brothers Southern Minnesota Spring Challenge. On Sunday, May 28, the Dodge County Speedway in Kasson, Minn., hosts America's Premier Modified Tour for the 5th Annual Minnesota Spring Fling. five straight days of racing concludes on Monday, May 29, at the Pritchard Family Auto Stores Hancock County Speedway for the Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Memorial Day Shootout, and the final show of the 2006 season at the popular Britt, Iowa, facility.

All four remaining Memorial Weekend events will pay $2,000 to win.

For more information, or 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

2nd Annual All-Star Challenge presented by Sioux City Journal

Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, S.D.

Thursday, May 25, 2006</B>

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

The top 12 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. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (8)

2. 10 - Mike Steensma -- Luverne, MN (3)

3. 18s - Brent Bohmont -- Martell, NE (10)

4. 35x - Jeff Berens -- Dakota Dunes, SD (5)

5. 9 - Brett Dejager -- Brandon, SD (2)

6. 13 - Steve Kiraly -- Sioux City, IA (6)

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

8. 25 - Ricky Stephan -- S. Sioux City, NE (1) DNF

9. 80 - Gary March -- Hinton, IA (7) DNS

10. 98 - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN (4) DNS

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

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

2. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (10)

3. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (5)

4. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (9)

5. 86jr - Dirk Kirk -- Sloan, IA (4)

6. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (2)

7. 48 - Bob Moore -- Sioux City, IA (8)

8. 72 - Mike Lineberry -- Fontanelle, NE (6)

9. 1cc - Clayton Christensen -- Spencer, IA (3)

10. 83 - Jesse Cowles -- Sioux City, IA (7) DNF

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

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

2. 174 - Steve Kosiski -- Papillion, NE (6)

3. 16 - Reese Coffee -- Hinton, IA (8)

4. 1m - Mike Wedelstadt -- Hortonville, WI (7)

5. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (9)

6. 1s - John Klynsma -- Hospers, IA (1)

7. 12h - Mike Hansen -- Alta, IA (10)

8. 86 - Tyson Kraft -- Lakefield, MN (5)

9. 35 - Jeff Schluetter -- New Hampton, IA (3) DNF

10. 23 - Matt Gilbertson -- Montevideo, MN (4) DNF

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

1. 12 - Mark Elliott -- Webster City, IA (1)

2. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA (3)

3. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (2)

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

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

6. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (9)

7. 20x - Greg Golden -- Sioux City, IA (6)

8. 5j - Travis Johnson -- Harrisburg, SD (8)

9. z98 - Denny Johnson -- Sioux City, IA (10)

10. 3n - Mark Neal -- N. Sioux City, IA (7)

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

1. 7ii - Mike Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (3)

2. 555 - Ryan Ruter -- Forest City, IA (5)

3. 1z - Kelly Harmelink -- Brookings, SD (2)

4. 28 - Mike Jensen -- Sioux City, IA (9)

5. 14x - Matt Bonine -- Onawa, IA (4)

6. 1x - Bill Flegg -- Omaha, NE (7)

7. 28x - Josh Klay -- Luverne, MN (1)

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

9. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (6) DNF

<B>REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):</B>

1. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (3)

2. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (2)

3. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (1)

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

5. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (4)

6. 4x - Kevin Larkins -- Greenwood, NE (7)

7. 48 - Bob Moore -- Sioux City, IA (11)

8. 9 - Brett Dejager -- Brandon, SD (6)

9. 3n - Mark Neal -- N. Sioux City, IA (19)

10. z98 - Denny Johnson -- Sioux City, IA (15)

11. 72 - Mike Lineberry -- Fontanelle, NE (13)

12. 13 - Steve Kiraly -- Sioux City, IA (9)

13. 1s - John Klynsma -- Hospers, IA (10)

14. 83 - Jesse Cowles -- Sioux City, IA (18)

15. 28x - Josh Klay -- Luverne, MN (12)

16. 1cc - Clayton Christensen -- Spencer, IA (16)

17. 1x - Bill Flegg -- Omaha, NE (8)DNF

18. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (17) DNF

19. 5j - Travis Johnson -- Harrisburg, SD (14) DNF

<B>REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):</B>

1. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (5)

2. 86jr - Dirk Kirk -- Sloan, IA (6)

3. 25 - Ricky Stephan -- S. Sioux City, NE (12)

4. 28 - Mike Jensen -- Sioux City, IA (1)

5. 1m - Mike Wedelstadt -- Hortonville, WI (2)

6. 12h - Mike Hansen -- Alta, IA (8)

7. 23 - Matt Gilbertson -- Montevideo, MN (18)

8. 98 - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN (17)

9. 20x - Greg Golden -- Sioux City, IA (11)

10. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (9)

11. 86 - Tyson Kraft -- Lakefield, MN (13)

12. 1z - Kelly Harmelink -- Brookings, SD (3)

13. 14x - Matt Bonine -- Onawa, IA (7)

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

15. 35x - Jeff Berens -- Dakota Dunes, SD (4)

16. 80 - Gary March -- Hinton, IA (15)DNF

17. 55x - Jim Cole -- Sioux City, IA (14)DNF

18. 35 - Jeff Schluetter -- New Hampton, IA (16)DNF

<B>HOLLEY "A" MAIN (30 laps):</B>

1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (4)

2. 555 - Ryan Ruter -- Forest City, IA (2)

3. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (13)

4. 7ii - Mike Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (7)

5. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (17)

6. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (14)

7. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA (12)

8. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (15)

9. 10 - Mike Steensma -- Luverne, MN (11)

10. 1f - Jason Friesen -- Sutton, NE (3)

11. 18s - Brent Bohmont -- Martell, NE (6)

12. 23 - Matt Gilbertson -- Montevideo, MN (24)

13. 86jr - Dirk Kirk -- Sloan, IA (16)

14. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (21)

15. 1m - Mike Wedelstadt -- Hortonville, WI (22)

16. 16 - Reese Coffee -- Hinton, IA (10)

17. 48 - Bob Moore -- Sioux City, IA (26)

18. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (19)

19. 28 - Mike Jensen -- Sioux City, IA (20)

20. 25 - Ricky Stephan -- S. Sioux City, NE (18)

21. 12 - Mark Elliott -- Webster City, IA (9)

22. 4x - Kevin Larkins -- Greenwood, NE (23) DNF

23. 12h - Mike Hansen -- Alta, IA (25) DNF

24. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (1) DNF

25. 174 - Steve Kosiski -- Papillion, NE (8) DNF

26. 4 - Chevy Hadan -- Waterloo, NE (5) DNF

<B>AMSOIL Lap Leaders:</B> Ruter 1-12, Shryock 13-30.

<B>Total Laps Led:</B> Shryock 18, Ruter 12.

<B>Provisional Starters:</B> Larkins (regional), Gilbertson (national), Hansen (track), Moore (track).

<B>Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger:</B> A. Hejna (started 17th, finished 5th).

<B>Next Race:</B> May 26, Murray County Speedway, Slayton, Minn.

<B>O’Reilly National Driver Points (top 10):</B> Noble 1253, Shryock 1194, Tesch 1105, Ruter 1049, Friesen 977, Myer 969, Mahlstedt 954, McEwan 918, Hejna 900.

<B>Western Region Points (top 10):</B> Noble 573, Shryock 546, Tesch 533, Ruter 493, Friesen 455, McEwan 445, Myer 444, A. Hejna 400, Noteboom 376.

<B>Home Pride Passing Points - National (top 5):</B> Friesen 64.5, Myer 66, Ruter 64.5, A. Hejna 57, McEwan 48.

<B>Home Pride Passing Points - Western Region (top 5):</B> Ruter 40.5, A. Hejna 30, Tesch 28.5, Myer 28.5, Shryock 27.

<B>Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points (top 5):</B> Friesen 293, Schluetter 180, Steensma 175, Gilbertson 134, Poidinger 122.

<B>UNIJIG Builders Championship Points (top 5):</B> Skyrocket 120, Kraft 103, GRT 83, Hughes 81, Bullet 68.

<B>Contingency Awards:</B>

Bassett Racing Wheel – Mahlstedt.

Belleville Motorsports – A. Hejna, Friesen, Wedelstadt, Stephan.

Boyer’s Engine Development – Shryock.

Dynatech Racing Exhaust – Shryock, Ruter.

Edelbrock – Shryock, Ruter.

Fast Shafts – A. Hejna.

GRT Race Cars – Myer.

Isky Racing Cams – Noteboom.

KEVKO Oil Pans & Components – M. Hejna.

KSE Racing Products – Tesch.

Larson Racing Specialists – Kirk.

Marsh Racing Wheels – not awarded.

QuickTime Performance Parts – McEwan.

RaceQuest – Shryock, Reisch.

Real Racing Wheels – Mahlstedt, Myer.

T.A.R. Race Car Bodies – Friesen.

UNIJIG – Kosiski.