W. SILOAM SPRINGS, Okla. -- The O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series kicked off the newly-formed USMTS Southern Series Friday with a blockbuster event at the West Siloam Speedway near W. Siloam Springs, Okla. While it was a first-ever event in a new region with a lot of new faces, it was the most familiar face on the circuit who etched his name into the record books as the first-ever USMTS Southern Series winner.

Taking the lead from Bixby, Okla.’s Greg Skaggs on lap 14, eight-time defending O’Reilly USMTS champion Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa, paced the final 21 laps to secure his first win of the season and first win for the USMTS Southern Series. Polesitter Skaggs waged a spirited battle with Shryock for the first 14 laps, but once out front it was all Shryock to the checkers. He pocketed $2,000 for the triumph.

Last year’s title runner-up, Zack VanderBeek of New Sharon, Iowa, was the only other competitor able to muscle past Skaggs as he finished second and gave the Skyrocket Modifieds a 1-2-3 sweep of the podium. Young gun Rodney Sanders of Happy, Texas, impressed the fans and his fellow racers with a strong run from 17th to finish fourth and garner the Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger honors along with a second-place ranking in the USMTS Southern Series points.

O’Reilly USMTS national points leader Al Hejna of Clear Lake, Iowa, also picked off nine cars during the 35-lapper en route to a fifth-place finish.

Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the year contender Cale Sponsler finished sixth, while Johnny Bone Jr., David Mitchell, Steve Holzkamper and Steven Whiteaker rounded out the top-10 finishers.

Friday night’s event saw the first victory for the new Brodix Aluminum Head combination as Shryock’s spec motor powered him to the winner’s circle. Skaggs also utilized the spec motor, along with Jay Noteboom, who started 21st and finished 11th.

The racing action continues on Saturday with the winner of Saturday’s Holley “A” Main pocketing $3,000. Gates open at 3 p.m. and hot laps will begin at 6. The green flag is scheduled to wave at 6:30. Grandstand tickets are $15, senior citizens get in for $12 and kids ages 6-12 get in for $5. Children under 6 get in for free. Pit passes are $30.

Saturday’s card will also feature Pure Stock, Factory Stock and E-Mod classes in support of the O’Reilly USMTS Modifieds. Saturday will be the Jeff Rowlan Season Opener -- a Factory Stock special paying $500 to win.

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

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

OFFICIAL RESULTS
O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series
Inaugural Event - Night 1 of 2
West Siloam Speedway, W. Siloam Springs, Okla.
Friday, March 16, 2007

Showing finishing position, car number, driver, hometown and starting position in parentheses. The top 12 drivers in Home Pride Passing Points accumulated in the Heats are locked into the Holley “A” Main, with the top 8 re-drawing for starting positions 1-8.

ISKY RACING CAMS HEAT #1 (10 laps):
1. 85d - Mark Dotson -- Cameron, MO (3)
2. 7m - Brandon Melton -- Longview, TX (1)
3. 31j - Jeremy Rasmussen -- Bentonville, AR (5)
4. 37f - Allen Frailey -- Chouteau, OK (7)
5. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (9)
6. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (8)
7. 54w - Dena Wilson -- Coweta, OK (10)
8. 14 - Terry Muskrat -- Stillwell, OK (2) DNF
9. 52 - Chad Davis -- Tulsa, OK (4) DNF
10. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- East Woodward, OK (6) DNF

HEAT #2 (10 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (8)
2. 26x - Brian Williams -- Fayetteville, AR (3)
3. 76 - Chase Allen -- Midlothian, TX (9)
4. 42 - James Longpine -- Drummond, OK (5)
5. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (1)
6. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (2)
7. 9 - Brent Nicholas -- Baytown, TX (6)
8. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (4) DNF
9. 117 - Jason Teague -- Tahlequah, OK (7) DNF

HEAT #3 (10 laps):
1. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (5)
2. 91 - Joe Duvall -- Chelsea, OK (3)
3. 12w - Wade Bates -- West Fork, AR (2)
4. 13 - David Mitchell -- Ashdown, AR (6)
5. 33h - Darren Hacker -- Woodward, OK (9)
6. 27x - Delaney Erickson -- Tahlequah, OK (7)
7. 98 - John Allen -- Chanute, KS (8)
8. 02 - Tommy Weder -- Woodward, OK (1)
9. 4 - Ronnie Barbee -- Siloam Springs, AR (4) DNF

HEAT #4 (10 laps):
1. 27 - Greg Skaggs -- Bixby, OK (3)
2. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (7)
3. 88 - Chad Wheeler -- Muskogee, OK (5)
4. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (4)
5. 17 - Charles Lasater -- Garland, TX (2)
6. 4r - Derek Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (8)
7. 51 - Randy Frailey -- Pryor, OK (6)
8. 54 - Paul Snyder -- Wellswell, KS (9)
9. 4x - Bobby Malchus -- Red Oak, TX (1) DNF

HEAT #5 (10 laps):
1. 93 - Cale Sponsler -- Grimes, IA (2)
2. 5 - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK (3)
3. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (6)
4. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (1)
5. 38r - Jeremy Ross -- West Grove, OK (8)
6. 52 - Trevor Latham -- Rogers, AR (9)
7. 34m - Mitch Lawson -- Rogers, AR (4) DNF
8. 37 - Jeremy Chambers -- Oswego, KS (7) DNF
9. 11x - Bill Kelley -- Kansas, OK (5) DNF

HEAT #6 (10 laps):
1. 12 - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR (8)
2. 38 - Jeran Frailey -- Chouteau, OK (5)
3. 11 - Brandon Morton -- Coweta, OK (6)
4. 89 - Steven Whiteaker -- Corpus Christi, TX (9)
5. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA (2)
6. 69c - Mark Cochran -- Kansas, OK (7)
7. 8 - Robert Ryan -- Grove, OK (4)
8. 222 - Dustin Boney -- Tonganoxie, KS (3) DNF
9. 02 - Jacob Dahle -- Morristown, MN (1) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (7)
2. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (5)
3. 11 - Brandon Morton -- Coweta, OK (1)
4. 12w - Wade Bates -- West Fork, AR (3)
5. 33h - Darren Hacker -- Woodward, OK (4)
6. 98 - John Allen -- Chanute, KS (9)
7. 117 - Jason Teague -- Tahlequah, OK (13)
8. 31j - Jeremy Rasmussen -- Bentonville, AR (2) DNF
9. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (6) DNF
10. 14 - Terry Muskrat -- Stillwell, OK (11) DNF
11. 37 - Jeremy Chambers -- Oswego, KS (12) DNF
12. 69c - Mark Cochran -- Kansas, OK (8) DNS
13. 34m - Mitch Lawson -- Rogers, AR (10) DNS
14. 11x - Bill Kelley -- Kansas, OK (14) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 13 - David Mitchell -- Ashdown, AR (3)
2. 88 - Chad Wheeler -- Muskogee, OK (2)
3. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (5)
4. 4r - Derek Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (7)
5. 42 - James Longpine -- Drummond, OK (4)
6. 222 - Dustin Boney -- Tonganoxie, KS (12)
7. 9 - Brent Nicholas -- Baytown, TX (9)
8. 17 - Charles Lasater -- Garland, TX (6)
9. 54w - Dena Wilson -- Coweta, OK (8)
10. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (11)
11. 7m - Brandon Melton -- Longview, TX (1) DNF
12. 8 - Robert Ryan -- Grove, OK (10) DNF
13. 02 - Jacob Dahle -- Morristown, MN (14) DNF
14. 4 - Ronnie Barbee -- Siloam Springs, AR (13) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #3 (12 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 89 - Steven Whiteaker -- Corpus Christi, TX (1)
2. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (3)
3. 37f - Allen Frailey -- Chouteau, OK (2)
4. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- East Woodward, OK (14)
5. 52 - Trevor Latham -- Rogers, AR (5)
6. 54 - Paul Snyder -- Wellswell, KS (10)
7. 27x - Delaney Erickson -- Tahlequah, OK (7)
8. 52 - Chad Davis -- Tulsa, OK (12)
9. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (8) DNF
10. 02 - Tommy Weder -- Woodward, OK (11) DNF
11. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA (6) DNF
12. 51 - Randy Frailey -- Pryor, OK (9) DNF
13. 38r - Jeremy Ross -- West Grove, OK (4) DNF
14. 4x - Bobby Malchus -- Red Oak, TX (13) DNS

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (3)
2. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (5)
3. 27 - Greg Skaggs -- Bixby, OK (1)
4. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (17)
5. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (14)
6. 93 - Cale Sponsler -- Grimes, IA (2)
7. 12 - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR (7)
8. 13 - David Mitchell -- Ashdown, AR (15)
9. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (19)
10. 89 - Steven Whiteaker -- Corpus Christi, TX (16)
11. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (21)
12. 5 - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK (12)
13. 11 - Brandon Morton -- Coweta, OK (20)
14. 37f - Allen Frailey -- Chouteau, OK (22)
15. 38 - Jeran Frailey -- Chouteau, OK (9)
16. 85d - Mark Dotson -- Cameron, MO (6) DNF
17. 88 - Chad Wheeler -- Muskogee, OK (18) DNF
18. 76 - Chase Allen -- Midlothian, TX (8) DNF
19. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (4) DNF
20. 91 - Joe Duvall -- Chelsea, OK (11) DNF
21. 31j - Jeremy Rasmussen -- Bentonville, AR (24) DNF
22. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (13) DNF
23. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA (23) DNF
24. 26x - Brian Williams -- Fayetteville, AR (10) DNS

AMSOIL Lap Leaders: Skaggs 1-14, Shryock 15-35.
Total Laps Led: Shryock 21, Skaggs 14.
AFCO Pole Award: Shryock.
Provisional Starters: McEwan (Regional), Rasmussen (National).
Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger: Sanders (started 17th, finished 4th).
Next Race: Saturday, March 17, West Siloam Speedway, W. Siloam Springs, Okla.
O’Reilly National Points: Hejna 303, Shryock 298, VanderBeek 262, Noteboom 250, Sponsler 217, Noble 192, Dotson 191, Rasmussen 185, Green 173, Tim Karrick 169.
Southern Region Points: Shryock 105, Sanders 100, VanderBeek 98, Hejna 93, Skaggs 92, Holzkamper 84, Mitchell 83, Sponsler 81, Noteboom 80, Bone 78.
USMTS Southern Series Points: Shryock 105, Sanders 100, VanderBeek 98, Hejna 93, Skaggs 92, Holzkamper 84, Mitchell 83, Sponsler 81, Noteboom 80, Bone 78, Whiteaker 78.
Home Pride Passing Points (National): Shryock 30, Noble 24, Green 16½, Hejna 16½, Noteboom 15.
Home Pride Passing Points (Southern Region): Shryock 10½, Bone 10½, Noble 7½, Holzkamper 6, VanderBeek 6.
Home Pride Passing Points (Southern Series): Shryock 10½, Bone 10½, C. Allen 9½, Noble 7½, Whiteaker 7½.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points: Noteboom 65, Sponsler 59, Andrew Gordon 46, Rasmussen 43, Green 42.
Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 30, Razor 20, Hughes 17, J-Car 14, GRT 13.

Contingency Awards:
Belleville Motorsports – not awarded.
Boyer’s Engine Development – Shryock.
GRT Race Cars – Sponsler.
Hawk Performance – Mitchell.
Isky Racing Cams – Skaggs.
Kevko Oil Pans & Components – Hejna, Morton.
KSE Racing Products –  VanderBeek, Sanders.
Marsh Racing Wheels – not awarded.
Nitroquest Web Solutions - Skaggs.
Pflugerville Machine - Shryock.
Quarter Master – Shryock, Holzkamper.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Bone.
Real Racing Wheels – Hejna, Mitchell, Whiteaker.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

USMTS TITLE SPONSOR: O’Reilly Auto Parts.

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Race Tires, AMSOIL, Holley Performance Products, Home Pride Companies, Intercomp, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, Marsh Racing Wheels, Nitroquest Web Solutions, Olympic Fire Protection, Real Racing Wheels, Reich Concrete, Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar, UNIJIG, Yeager Machine.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Bell Racing, Belleville Motorsports, Bert Transmission, Bilstein Shocks, BORCO LP, Boyer’s Engine Development, Day Motor Sports, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, Edelbrock, Fast Shafts, GRT Race Cars, Hawk Performance, Hyperco, Intensitee Custom Clothing, Isky Racing Cams, Kraft Kars, KSE Racing Products, Quarter Master, QuickTime Performance Race Parts, Racer’s Choice (RCI), US Brake.