SAUK RAPIDS, Minn. -– Racing fans who attended the inaugural O’Reilly Auto Parts Bar Stool Racing World Championship on Friday night will never be the same ... and neither will most of the competitors who took part in the wild-and-crazy one-of-a-kind extreme racing showcase on ice at the Sports Arena East in Sauk Rapids, Minn.

With more than 80 drivers representing a cross-section of experience in Late Models, Sprint Cars, Modifieds, Super Stocks, Street Stocks, Go Karts, Motorcycles and Snowmobiles, the event featured more passing than an NFL season and enough mechanical carnage to satisfy any demo derby enthusiast.

And while the entry list was ripe with numerous track champions, touring series titlists and other big names from the world of racing, it was an up-and-coming 18-year-old racer who found the quickest way around the ice-rink-turned-racetrack and pocketed the $10,000 top prize.

O’Reilly USMTS modified pilot Alan Mondus of Lakeville, Minn., took the lead from sprint car driver Lee Grosz of Harwood, N.D., on the second lap of the 25-lap main event, then raced away from the 24-car starting field to score a the biggest win of his young career. Unlike most in the feature race, Mondus avoided trouble as he flawlessly negotiated his Rocket Barstool through continuous traffic and an endless obstacle course of spins, flipping barstool racers and wall-slamming "checks" on the ice that would garner the envy of any hockey player.

"I knew I had a good kart so I just tried to keep all four wheels on the ground and stay out of trouble," Mondus said as he celebrated in QA1 Victory Lane with family and friends. "This race was awesome and there were a bunch of great drivers out there. I can't believe we won this thing!"

The one bit of drama that those in attendance might have witnessed was the possibility of some late-race antics by the leaders while racing for a cool $10,000. It never had a chance to happen, however, as Mondus lapped everybody but the runner-up and zipped past the checkered flag with an enormous half-track advantage over second-place finisher Steve Arpin of Fort Frances, Ont., Canada.

Scott Mondus, who recently took over the reigns as the new promoter of the Dodge County Speedway in Kasson, Minn., enjoyed the win with his son while he was "celebrating the 19th anniversary of his 25th birthday" on Friday night.

Arpin, who often competes against Mondus with the O’Reilly USMTS, was a standout on the ice as he rebounded from a mishap in his qualifying heat to win his last-chance race then come from the rear of the field to score the runner-up paycheck. Jeremie Hedrick of Shawano, Wis., finished third in the main event while Grosz hung on to take the fourth spot. Local street stock racer Dennis Czech of Sauk Rapids rounded out the top-5 finishers.

How other O’Reilly USMTS drivers fared:

Tommy Meyer - After finishing second in his heat, Myer started right next to Mondus on the front row of the main event and ran second or third for most of the 25-lapper. A spin with two laps to go relegated Myer to a sixth-place finish.

Tyson Kraft - Kraft won his heat race and was slated to start on the front row of the main event, but was forced to tag the rear of the field after jumping the start. Ironically, it was Mondus who moved up to fill the front row spot after Kraft was penalized. Kraft wound up 18th after being involved in a number of paint-trading episodes.

Kelly Shryock - After struggling with an ill-handling Rocket Barstool in his heat, Kelly was running third in the "B" Main -- one spot out of a transfer spot -- when he smacked the wall and was bucked off his mount. He climbed back on and finished the race, but must've been sore on Saturday morning.

Mark Noble - Shryock certainly couldn't have had anything on Noble in the aching bones and joints department on Saturday morning. Drawing a spot in the first heat of the night, Noble found himself facing the wrong way three times and wound up at the back of the finishing order. In the $1,000-to-win winner-take-all non-qualifiers race, Noble looked like he was back in his O’Reilly USMTS Modified, lifting the front wheels off the ground as he exited turn 2. The wheelie was too extreme, however, and the momentum carried the kart backwards with Noble flying off the back of the seat and onto his own "seat" on the ice.

Matt Gilbertson - Running second and in a position to make the main event, Gilbertson locked wheels with another racer in turn 3 and ended up separated from his Rocket Barstool. The "B" Main was physically kinder to "Gibby" as he stayed upright, but was a non-factor in the race.

Representing and Recuperating - With three finishers in the top-6 and four overall in the feature race, O’Reilly USMTS drivers were the class of the field. And while the others finished the event with some "battle scars" and less-than-expected results, every one of them left the show grinning from ear to ear and declaring that the $250 entry fee was worth every penny.

The inaugural O’Reilly Auto Parts Bar Stool Racing World Championship was held in conjunction with Saturday's RACEMN Motorsports Expo presented by Lucas Oil and Awesome Racewear in St. Cloud, Minn. For more information, visit www.racemn.com. For more information about Rocket Barstools, grab your mouse and surf on over to www.rocketbarstool.com.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
O’Reilly Auto Parts Bar Stool Racing World Championship
Sports Arena East, Sauk Rapids, Minn.
Friday, November 10, 2006

"A" MAIN (25 laps, $10,000 to win):
1. Alan Mondus
2. Steve Arpin
3. Jeremie Hedrick
4. Lee Grosz
5. Dennis Czech
6. Tommy Meyer
7. Mark Hanson
8. Todd Blaser
9. John Hinkemeyer
10. Jason Miller
11. Trent Follmer
12. Curt Myers
13. Jeff Provinzino
14. Shaun Peterson
15. Luke Hines
16. Ryan Corbett
17. Chad Waller
18. Tyson Kraft
19. Oliver Kollofski
20. Kevin Eder

DID NOT QUALIFY: Roger Bitz, Justin Bjorklund, Mark Blom, Dave Cain, Ryan Canon, Terry Casey, Cory Crapser, Nick Dieter, Wayne Domagala, Troy Dorn, Dustin Doughty, Kelly Estey, Steve Estey, Dave Friendt, Greg Fryer, Clint Garner, Matt Gilbertson, Troy Girolamo, Chris Graf, Scott Greer, Karl Hacken, Steve Hallquist, Ryan Hanson, Adam Hensel, Tom Hovind, Shawn Huse, Shawn Jakes, Joey Jensen, Justin Jones, Ryan Kennedy, Jesse Klug, Cameron Koopman, Dave Mass, Josh Moen, Mark Mondus, Dennis Moore Jr., Mark Noble, Kyle Peterlin, Erik Peterson, Justin Pogones, Robert Pretts, Mike Prochnow, Jake Redetzke, Jesse Redetzke, Cal Rossner, Shane Sabraski, Jason Sanderson, John Seitz, Don Shaw, Kelly Shryock, Paul Sides, Tim Sierks, Andy Simonson, Dave Simonson, Casey Skyberg, Nick Smith, Ryan Stebbins, Steve Stevenson, J.B. Stortz, Brian Tyler, Michael Waseleski, Scott Winters.