KASSON, Minn. — Kelly Shryock did all he could do Sunday night at the Kasson (Minn.) Speedway to help his cause as he seeks an unprecedented ninth O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series national title. From the pole, Shryock led every orbit of the 40-lap Holley “A” Main to capture the $2,000 top prize and get within striking distance of points leader Jason Krohn of Slayton, Minn., in The Hunt for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship.

During the “regular” season, Shryock was as a dominating force, winning 15 of 40 National Events and topping the points in all four regions. Shryock went into ‘The Hunt’ as the points leader, but a combination of mechanical troubles and other drivers stepping up their games found the Fertile, Iowa, veteran sitting fourth in the standings at the halfway point of the title chase.

During the last four races, however, Shryock has been vintage Shryock, scoring a third-place finish, two runner-ups and a win on Sunday night to snap a 12-race winless streak. While his luck seems to have turned, the opposite is true for two of his closest competitors.

Jason Hughes, who entered Friday's event at the Chateau Raceway as the points leader, has struggled in the last three races. A blown motor, a flat tire and a provisional start have dropped the Colcord, Okla., to third in the standings behind Krohn and Shryock. And what as a four-horse race has been trimmed to three as Jon Tesch of Watertown, S.D., has been infected by mechanical gremlins too. Powertrain failures while racing in the top-3 of the main event have twice sidelined Tesch in the last four races, and although he remains fourth in the points, the gap is perhaps to wide to overcome.

A model of consistency during ‘The Hunt’ and the regular season, Krohn took a third-place finish in Sunday's main event and is in the driver's seat as he clings to a 19-point lead over Shryock (1128 to 1109) heading into the final three events of the season. Hughes is third and just 10 points back of Shryock, while Tesch is fourth with 988 points — 140 behind Krohn. The rest of the top-10 are Tommy Myer (980), Tommy Weder Jr. (933), Zack VanderBeek (930), Greg Skaggs (904), Steve Holzkamper (781) and Scott Green (757).

While he may have been one spot short of victory Sunday night, Corey Dripps of Waterloo, Iowa, secured a “moral” victory with his runner-up finish behind Shryock. Dripps entered ‘The Hunt’ with high hopes, but recurring mechanical failures have dashed those. Sunday's second-place finish was his first top-10 in the first 12 races of The Hunt for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship, but a much-needed momentum-builder going into this week's 9th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree.

Tim Donlinger of Rochester, Minn., who won two of the last three O’Reilly USMTS main events, finished fourth Sunday, while Tommy Myer of Blooming Prairie, Minn., captured the fifth spot. Mike Sorensen, Brad Waits, Dean Mahlstedt, Ryan Gustin and Zack VanderBeek rounded out the top-10 finishers. The Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger honors went to VanderBeek, who started 23rd on the 24-car grid.

The wait is nearly over for thousands of race fans in America’s heartland as the 9th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree is up next. Slated for Sept. 5-8 at the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., the Featherlite Fall Jamboree is the undisputed marquee event for America’s most talented Modified drivers, and this year’s event is shaping up to be the biggest ever as 129 of the who’s who of Modified racing have pre-entered for this year’s installment. The star-studded field of superstars consists of drivers come from 13 different States — Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin — as well as the provinces of Ontario and Saskatchewan, Canada.

Three complete shows are on tap for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, along with a practice session on Wednesday night at the high-banked 3/8-mile clay oval in the rural hills outside of Spring Valley, Minn.

Tickets are available online at www.deercreekspeedway.com or by calling the Deer Creek ticket office at 1-877-DCS-RACE during normal business hours. Tickets can also be bought during events at the Deer Creek Speedway ticket window. Only the three-day weekend pass will be sold as reserved tickets, individual nights can be bought in advance but are general admission only. Pre-sale three-day reserved tickets must be bought by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 4.

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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OFFICIAL RESULTS
O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series
6th Annual Kasson Klash - The Hunt for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship (Race 12 of 15)
Kasson Speedway, Kasson, Minn.
Sunday, Sept. 2, 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. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (2)
2. 83 - Willy Kraft -- Lakefield, MN (7)
3. 52w - Nate Wasmund -- Rochester, MN (3)
4. 71 - Jason Cummins -- New Richland, MN (4)
5. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (8)
6. 5h - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (5)
7. 20jr - Dave Wytaske Jr. -- Austin, MN (6) DNF
8. 105 - Kevin Peters -- Monmouth, IL (9) DNF
9. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (1) DNF

HEAT #2 (10 laps):
1. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (2)
2. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (5)
3. 35 - Jeff Schluetter -- New Hampton, IA (3)
4. 49 - Bob Timm -- Rolling Stone, MN (7)
5. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (9)
6. 7e - Neil Eckhart -- Rochester, MN (6)
7. 90 - Steve Wetzstein -- West Concord, MN (4)
8. 25x - Tom Brink -- Winona, MN (8)
9. 42 - Tom Paulson -- Kasson, MN (1)

HEAT #3 (10 laps):
1. 24 - Brad Waits -- Zumbrota, MN (6)
2. 4r - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (4)
3. 19 - Mike Sorensen -- Rochester, MN (7)
4. 55 - Brian Shaw -- Brownsdale, MN (3)
5. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (1)
6. 27 - Greg Skaggs -- Bixby, OK (9)
7. 21x - Joe Wernecke -- Dodge Center, MN (2)
8. 93 - Bob Fisher -- Lyle, MN (5)
9. 58 - Scott Vesely -- Mosinee, WI (8) DNF

HEAT #4 (10 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (3)
2. 45 - Todd Scharkey -- Kasson, MN (2)
3. 3d - Tim Donlinger -- Rochester, MN (8)
4. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (7)
5. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (6)
6. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (4)
7. 02 - Jacob Dahle -- Morristown, MN (5)
8. 76 - Gary Schmidt -- Rochester, MN (1)
9. 75 - James Parker -- Dodge Center, MN (9) DNS

HEAT #5 (10 laps):
1. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (4)
2. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (5)
3. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (7)
4. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (2)
5. 14j - Jake Neal -- Omaha, NE (3)
6. 23 - Darwin Karau -- Kasson, MN (8)
7. 4r - Derek Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (6)
8. 96x - Greg Jensen -- Albert Lea, MN (1)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (2)
2. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (4)
3. 45 - Todd Scharkey -- Kasson, MN (1)
4. 35 - Jeff Schluetter -- New Hampton, IA (3)
5. 7e - Neil Eckhart -- Rochester, MN (9)
6. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (6)
7. 55 - Brian Shaw -- Brownsdale, MN (5)
8. 4r - Derek Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (12)
9. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (7)
10. 21x - Joe Wernecke -- Dodge Center, MN (11)
11. 25x - Tom Brink -- Winona, MN (13)
12. 76 - Gary Schmidt -- Rochester, MN (14)
13. 58 - Scott Vesely -- Mosinee, WI (16) DNF
14. 20jr - Dave Wytaske Jr. -- Austin, MN (10) DNF
15. 23 - Darwin Karau -- Kasson, MN (8) DNF
16. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (15) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 27 - Greg Skaggs -- Bixby, OK (6)
2. 49 - Bob Timm -- Rolling Stone, MN (1)
3. 52w - Nate Wasmund -- Rochester, MN (2)
4. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (3)
5. 71 - Jason Cummins -- New Richland, MN (4)
6. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (9)
7. 14j - Jake Neal -- Omaha, NE (7)
8. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (8)
9. 105 - Kevin Peters -- Monmouth, IL (12)
10. 42 - Tom Paulson -- Kasson, MN (15)
11. 75 - James Parker -- Dodge Center, MN (16)
12. 96x - Greg Jensen -- Albert Lea, MN (14)
13. 93 - Bob Fisher -- Lyle, MN (13) DNF
14. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (5) DNF
15. 90 - Steve Wetzstein -- West Concord, MN (10) DNF
16. 02 - Jacob Dahle -- Morristown, MN (11) DNS

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (1)
2. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (3)
3. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (5)
4. 3d - Tim Donlinger -- Rochester, MN (9)
5. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (2)
6. 19 - Mike Sorensen -- Rochester, MN (11)
7. 24 - Brad Waits -- Zumbrota, MN (8)
8. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (13)
9. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (7)
10. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (23)
11. 49 - Bob Timm -- Rolling Stone, MN (16)
12. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Colcord, OK (15)
13. 71 - Jason Cummins -- New Richland, MN (22)
14. 35 - Jeff Schluetter -- New Hampton, IA (19)
15. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (12)
16. 27 - Greg Skaggs -- Bixby, OK (14)
17. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (20)
18. 52w - Nate Wasmund -- Rochester, MN (18)
19. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (4) DNF
20. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (24) DNF
21. 83 - Willy Kraft -- Lakefield, MN (6) DNF
22. 4rx - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (10) DNF
23. 45 - Todd Scharkey -- Kasson, MN (17) DNF
24. 7e - Neil Eckhart -- Rochester, MN (21) DNF

AMSOIL Lap Leaders: Shryock 1-40.
Total Laps Led: Shryock 40.
AFCO Pole Award: Waits.
Provisional Starters: VanderBeek, Holzkamper.
Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger: VanderBeek (started 23rd, finished 10th).
Next Race: Thursday, Sept. 6, Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn.
O’Reilly USMTS National Championship Points: Krohn 1128, Shryock 1109, Hughes 1099, Tesch 988, Myer 980, Weder 933, VanderBeek 930, Skaggs 904, Holzkamper 781, Green 757.
Home Pride Passing Points: Shryock 211½, Hughes 153, VanderBeek 136½, Al Hejna 120, Weder 115½.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points: Green 907, Lodge 478, Ryan Gustin 389, Richie Gustin Jr. 304, Vesely 280.
Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 491, Hughes 405, Harris 248, GRT 247, BC 205.

Contingency Awards:
Belleville Motorsports – not awarded.
Boyer’s Engine Development – Shryock.
GRT Race Cars – not awarded.
Hawk Performance – Mahlstedt.
Isky Racing Cams – Gustin.
Kevko Oil Pans & Components – Myer.
KSE Racing Products – Dripps, Donlinger.
Marsh Racing Wheels – not awarded.
Nitroquest Web Solutions - Krohn.
Quarter Master – Shryock, Gustin.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Waits.
Real Racing Wheels – Mahlstedt, Skaggs.

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USMTS TITLE SPONSOR: O’Reilly Auto Parts.

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

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Boom Drilling, Day Motor Sports, Gressell Oil Field Services, Hughes Racing Chassis, KraftKar Race Cars, McVicker Oil Fields, Rinehart Trucking.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Belleville Motorsports, Bilstein Shocks, Boyer’s Engine Development, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, GRT Race Cars, Hawk Performance, Hyperco, Isky Racing Cams, KSE Racing Products, Quarter Master, QuickTime Performance Race Parts, Racer’s Choice (RCI).