BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The ‘best of the best’ in dirt modified racing will invade the Bolivar Speedway USA in Bolivar, Mo., this weekend for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Fall Classic. The doubleheader will serve as the next-to-last event on the 2006 schedule for the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series and ‘The Hunt’ for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship.

Saturday night's main event winner will earn $2,000 while Sunday afternoon's feature winner will pocket $3,000.

Kelly Shryock is chasing his eighth straight O’Reilly USMTS national title, but despite 29 feature wins this season, the Fertile, Iowa, veteran has his work cut out for him. With two wins during ‘The Hunt’ and consistent top-five finishes, Zack VanderBeek of New Sharon, Iowa, controls his own destiny as he leads the points standings by a slim margin (929 to 896) over Shryock. Both drivers have their eyes on the $10,000 prize that accompanies the O’Reilly USMTS national championship.

Neither driver has ever won at Bolivar, which boasts some of the nation's top modified pilots on a weekly basis. In 2005, Jesse Stovall of Galena, Mo., stunned the invading O’Reilly USMTS road warriors and picked up a thrilling, crowd-pleasing win at the 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval. The O’Reilly USMTS debut at Bolivar in 2004 saw Randy Zimmerman of Fort Scott, Kan., take the win, while O’Reilly USMTS mainstay Ryan Ruter of Forest City, Iowa, captured the most recent victory at Bolivar on May 12 of this year.

All of the top-10 drivers in ‘The Hunt’ standings are mathematically alive for a shot at the crown. Jon Tesch of Watertown, S.D., sits third - 27 points behind Shryock - with Jason Friesen of Sutton, Neb. in fourth (859) and Tommy Myer of Blooming Prairie, Minn., fifth (803). Ruter is sixth with 792 markers.

On Saturday, Oct. 28, gates open at 3 p.m. with racing scheduled to begin at 5:30. On Sunday, Oct. 29, gates will open at 12 noon and the mud starts flying at 2:30. Tickets both days are $15 for adults, with youth (ages 6 to 12) tickets just $5. Children under 6 get in for FREE.

Advance discount tickets are available at all area O'Reilly Auto Parts, including more than a dozen locations throughout the Springfield, Mo., area. Click here to find a store.

Super Stocks, Factory Stocks and Bombers will also be on the racing card both days, while Rookies will also join Sunday's line-up.

Bolivar Speedway USA 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. Call (417) 326-3966 for more information, or (417) 326-2235 on race day for current weather and event information.

For more information about the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online.