BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series returned to Bolivar Speedway USA on Saturday for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Fall Classic. The event lived up to its name as Al Hejna and Terry Phillips kept the crowd on their feet with an incredible side-by-side battle for the final 10 laps of the 30-lap contest, with Hejna nipping Phillips by a nose to pick up the victory.

No lead was safe throughout the Holley "A" Main as eight lead changes occurred between four different drivers. Johnny Bone Jr. of Pea Ridge, Ark., used his pole position to grab the early lead as he fended off challenges from South Dakota's Jon Tesch and Arkansas racer Jared Landers. Landers made the pass on lap 6 with local favorite Terry Beckham Jr. of Webb City, Mo., in tow.

The man on the move, however, was Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., as he powered his way from the 10th starting position and began to pressure Landers for the lead on the eighth lap. Phillips muscled his way around Landers to lead lap 9 while the field remained close behind on the multi-grooved high-banked clay oval.

While Phillips paced the action for the next 11 laps, O’Reilly USMTS standouts Kelly Shryock and Al Hejna were slicing their way through the field from their 15th and 16th starting spots, respectively. Both drivers were forced to qualify for the main event after mechanical woes sidelined them during their heat races. After winning their respective Real Racing Wheels "B" Mains earlier from the back of those lineups, Shryock and Hejna were on Phillips' rear bumper by lap 20.

Hejna dove inside of Shryock to take the second spot then moved in on Phillips on lap 21. With Phillips on the extreme high side of the racing surface and Hejna on the bottom, "The A-Train" nosed ahead of Phillips to lead lap 22. Over the final eight laps, the pair traded the lead every lap with Phillips gaining an advantage exiting turn 2 while Hejna struck back on the quicker low side of turn 4.

Phillips was scored the leader on lap 26 and Hejna had the advantage again on lap 27. On lap 28, Phillips made a bold move to the low groove in turn 3 to thwart Hejna's advantage coming out of the fourth turn. Going back to the high side in turn 1, Phillips maintained the top spot while Hejna pulled even in turn 2. Again, with the white flag waving, Phillips took away the low line in turn 4 and crossed beneath the flagstand with Hejna glued to his back bumper.

This time, Phillips chose the low line in turn 1 in an attempt to stifle Hejna's charge. Phillips exited turn 2 and drifted slightly up the track while Hejna pulled alongside down the backstretch. This time Hejna had the advantage entering turn 3 while Phillips made a move to his outside, but it was Hejna crossing the line first ahead of Phillips to pocket the $2,000 top prize and his second main event victory of the 2006 season.

Shryock hung on for third while Dustin Boney of Tonganoxie, Kan., finished fourth. Willy Kraft of Lakefield, Minn., rounded out the top -5 finishers.

With his third-place finish and 14th-place showing by Zack VanderBeek of New Sharon, Iowa, Shryock closed to within two points (1,001 to 999) of VanderBeek in ‘The Hunt’ for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship with just three points race remaining. Tesch, who started on the outside of the front row in Saturday night's feature race, suffered mechanical problems in the main event and finished 20th while Jason Friesen of Sutton, Neb., finished 12th and moved into third ahead of Tesch in ‘The Hunt’ standings. Tommy Myer maintained his fifth-place ranking after racing from 19th on the grid to finish eighth in Saturday's nightcap.

Although the seven-time defending O’Reilly USMTS National Champion is in a struggle to garner his eighth crown, Shryock has wrapped up several other titles for the 2006 season. Following Saturday's race, Shryock has clinched the national Home Pride Passing Points Award. Trailing Shryock 231 to 181½ points, Forest City, Iowa's Ryan Ruter is mathematically eliminated from being able to displace Shryock for the annual award for that recognizes a driver's prolific passing skills in the O’Reilly USMTS heat races throughout the season. Shryock also won the Home Pride Passing Points Award in the Northeast Region, Ruter won the honors in the Western Region and Myer captured the award in both the Central and Southern Regions.

In the season-long UNIJIG Builders Championship, Shryock's Skyrocket Chassis also clinched the title on the strength of 39 victories for Skyrocket pilots. Shryock also clinched the AMSOIL Lap Leader Award three races ago.

When he took the green flag in his heat race on Saturday, Jay Poidinger of Somerset, Wis., assured himself the title of the Rookies Rockin' Sports Bar Rookie of the Year for 2006. Poidinger's show-up points on Saturday made it mathematically impossible for second-place Friesen to overtake him for the honor.

The O’Reilly Auto Parts Fall Classic continues on Sunday, Oct. 29, at Bolivar Speedway USA. Gates open at 12 noon with racing at 3 p.m.

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.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series
O’Reilly Auto Parts Fall Classic - Night 1 of 2
Bolivar Speedway USA, Bolivar, Mo.
Saturday, Oct. 28, 2006

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.

ISKY RACING CAMS HEAT RACE #1 (10 laps):
1. 06 - Jared Landers -- Batesville, AR (2)
2. 97 - Ron Schreiner -- Hudson, WI (1)
3. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (6)
4. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (5)
5. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (8)
6. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (3)
7. 10 - Paul Parker -- Applington, WI (10)
8. 00s - Jesse Stovall -- Galena, MO (9)
9. 91 - Joe Duvall -- Chelsea, OK (7)
10. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (4) DNF

HEAT RACE #2 (10 laps):
1. 555 - Ryan Ruter -- Forest City, IA (1)
2. 6x - Kyle Pleasant -- Robeline, LA (2)
3. 65x - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (6)
4. 1z - Kelly Harmelink -- Brookings, SD (3)
5. 17p - David Payne -- Holts Summit, MO (9)
6. 27t - Bob Test -- Jefferson City, MO (5)
7. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (8)
8. 3e - Rickie Brown -- Richland, MO (7)
9. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (4) DNF

HEAT RACE #3 (10 laps):
1. 222 - Dustin Boney -- Tonganoxie, KS (6)
2. 85 - Jody Tillman -- Branson West, MO (9)
3. X - Mike Wedelstadt -- Hortonville, WI (3)
4. 71 - Jason Meadors -- Fordland, MO (5)
5. 72w - Jake Williams -- Lockwood, MO (8)
6. 4 - Derek Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (2)
7. L75 - Eddie Whitney -- Sturgeon, MO (4)
8. 12s - Tyler Brown -- Richland, MO (7)
9. 6 - Virgil Jeffery -- Ashland, MO (1) DNF

HEAT RACE #4 (10 laps):
1. 83 - Willy Kraft -- Lakefield, MN (2)
2. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (1)
3. 75 - Terry Phillips -- Springfield, MO (7)
4. 26b - Gary Blackburn Jr. -- Fulton, MO (5)
5. 12m - Jason Miller -- Osceola, WI (6)
6. 17 - Garry Oskerson -- Fairmont, MN (4)
7. 10x - Ryan McDaniel -- Mt. Vernon, MO (9)
8. 6L - Freddie Liles -- Bolivar, MO (8)
9. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- E. Woodward, OK (3) DNS

HEAT RACE #5 (10 laps):
1. 12b - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR (1)
2. 33r - Mike Roach -- Woodward, OK (4)
3. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA (6)
4. 27 - Greg Skaggs -- Bixby, OK (5)
5. 70 - Aaron Marrant -- Orrick, MO (3)
6. 25 - Rex Merritt -- Billings, MO (7)
7. 51 - Joe Walker -- Harrisonville, MO (2) DNF
8. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (9) DNF
9. b29 - Tammy Mitchell -- Pea Ridge, AR (8)

HEAT RACE #6 (10 laps):
1. 118 - Terry Beckham Jr. -- Webb City, MO (4)
2. 186 - Jeremy Payne -- Cave City, AR (1)
3. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (8)
4. 1f - Jason Friesen -- Sutton, NE (5)
5. 99t - Eric Turner -- Hermitage, MO (3)
6. 4g - David Holder -- Clarence, MO (9)
7. 58x - Gary Christian -- Broken Bow, OK (6)
8. 26p - Patrick Linn -- Little Rock, AR (10)
9. 60 - William Gould -- Broken Bow, OK (7) DNF
10. 02 - Tommy Weder -- Woodward, OK (2) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 186 - Jeremy Payne -- Cave City, AR (2)
2. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (3)
3. 97 - Ron Schreiner -- Hudson, WI (1)
4. 27 - Greg Skaggs -- Bixby, OK (4)
5. 00s - Jesse Stovall -- Galena, MO (11)
6. 4g - David Holder -- Clarence, MO (6)
7. 25 - Rex Merritt -- Billings, MO (7)
8. 51 - Joe Walker -- Harrisonville, MO (10)
9. 10x - Ryan McDaniel -- Mt. Vernon, MO (9)
10. b29 - Tammy Mitchell -- Pea Ridge, AR (14)
11. 12s - Tyler Brown -- Richland, MO (12) -1 Lap
12. 02 - Tommy Weder -- Woodward, OK (15) DNF
13. 72w - Jake Williams -- Lockwood, MO (5) DNF
14. 27t - Bob Test -- Jefferson City, MO (8) DNF
15. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (13) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (11)
2. 1f - Jason Friesen -- Sutton, NE (4)
3. X - Mike Wedelstadt -- Hortonville, WI (2)
4. 70 - Aaron Marrant -- Orrick, MO (6)
5. 6x - Kyle Pleasant -- Robeline, LA (1)
6. 71 - Jason Meadors -- Fordland, MO (3)
7. 60 - William Gould -- Broken Bow, OK (14)
8. 4 - Derek Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (8)
9. 6 - Virgil Jeffery -- Ashland, MO (13)
10. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (9)
11. 58x - Gary Christian -- Broken Bow, OK (10)
12. 6L - Freddie Liles -- Bolivar, MO (12)
13. 1z - Kelly Harmelink -- Brookings, SD (5)
14. 10 - Paul Parker -- Applington, WI (7) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN #3 (12 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (14)
2. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (4)
3. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (1)
4. 12m - Jason Miller -- Osceola, WI (5)
5. 26b - Gary Blackburn Jr. -- Fulton, MO (3)
6. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (7)
7. 91 - Joe Duvall -- Chelsea, OK (12)
8. 99t - Eric Turner -- Hermitage, MO (6)
9. 26p - Patrick Linn -- Little Rock, AR (10)
10. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- E. Woodward, OK (13)
11. 17 - Garry Oskerson -- Fairmont, MN (8)
12. 3e - Rickie Brown -- Richland, MO (11)
13. 17p - David Payne -- Holts Summit, MO (2) DNF
14. L75 - Eddie Whitney -- Sturgeon, MO (9) DNF

HOLLEY "A" MAIN (30 laps):
1. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (16)
2. 75 - Terry Phillips -- Springfield, MO (10)
3. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (15)
4. 222 - Dustin Boney -- Tonganoxie, KS (7)
5. 83 - Willy Kraft -- Lakefield, MN (8)
6. 06 - Jared Landers -- Batesville, AR (3)
7. 186 - Jeremy Payne -- Cave City, AR (14)
8. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (19)
9. 12b - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR (1)
10. 00s - Jesse Stovall -- Galena, MO (25)
11. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (17)
12. 1f - Jason Friesen -- Sutton, NE (18)
13. 65x - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (12)
14. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (22)
15. 25 - Rex Merritt -- Billings, MO (26)
16. 85 - Jody Tillman -- Branson West, MO (5)
17. 4g - David Holder -- Clarence, MO (24)
18. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA (13)
19. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (11)
20. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (2) -1 Lap
21. 118 - Terry Beckham Jr. -- Webb City, MO (6) DNF
22. 555 - Ryan Ruter -- Forest City, IA (4) DNF
23. X - Mike Wedelstadt -- Hortonville, WI (21) DNF
24. 33r - Mike Roach -- Woodward, OK (9) DNF
25. 02 - Tommy Weder -- Woodward, OK (23) DNF
26. 97 - Ron Schreiner -- Hudson, WI (20) DNF

AMSOIL Lap Leaders: Bone 1-5, Landers 6-8, Phillips 9-21, A. Hejna 22-25, Phillips 26, A. Hejna 27, Phillips 28-29, A. Hejna 30.
Total Laps Led: Phillips 16, A. Hejna 6, Bone 5, Landers 3.
Provisional Starters: Weder (national), Holder (national), Stovall (track), Merritt (track).
Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger: A. Hejna (started 15th, finished 1st).
Next Race: Sunday, Oct. 29, Bolivar Speedway USA, Bolivar, Mo.
‘The Hunt’ Points Standings: VanderBeek 1001, Shryock 999, Friesen 933, Tesch 923, Myer 890, Ruter 844, McEwan 727, A. Hejna 686, Mike Hejna 680, Mondus 617, Poidinger 589, Dean Mahlstedt 470, Mark Noble 252, Hughes 146, Mike Lineberry 5.
Home Pride Passing Points: Shryock 231, Ruter 181½, Myer 165, VanderBeek 162, A. Hejna 160½.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points: Poidinger 832, Friesen 752, Mondus 519, Brent Bohmont 431, Matt Gilbertson 357.
UNIJIG Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 538, Hughes 352, GRT 325, Kraft 309, Bullet 283.

Contingency Awards:
Bassett Racing Wheel – Shryock.
Belleville Motorsports – not awarded.
Boyer’s Engine Development – A. Hejna.
Edelbrock – A. Hejna.
Fast Shafts – Kraft.
GRT Race Cars – not awarded.
Isky Racing Cams – not awarded.
Kevko Oil Pans & Components – Boney.
KSE Racing Products – Myer.
Larson Racing Specialists – Dripps.
Marsh Racing Wheels – not awarded.
QuickTime Performance Parts – not awarded.
RaceQuest – A. Hejna, Linn, Parker.
Real Racing Wheels – Shryock, A. Hejna.
T.A.R. Race Car Bodies – not awarded.
UNIJIG – Kraft.