BAYTOWN, Texas — Kelly Shryock locked up the USMTS Southern Series title on Friday during the second night of the inaugural Texas Winter Nationals presented by Delta Flange Manufacturing & Battarbee Racing. So, with the pressure off of him, Shryock could simply relax and just have fun during Saturday's finale.

Whatever.

The eight-time O'Reilly USMTS National Champion started eighth in his eight-lap heat race but powered to the front to earn the most passing points among the 65 entrants. By passing seven cars in his heat race, he surpassed Tommy Weder Jr. for the season-long Home Pride Passing Points award and also earned an automatic berth in the first four rows of the main event.

Shryock drew the sixth starting spot for the 40-lap feature, but had a tall hill to climb with five tough competitors starting in front of him. Polesitter Jason Hughes — a three-time USMTS Southern Series winner this season — led the 24-car field to the green flag and set a torrid pace throughout the first half of the race on a near-perfect racing surface.

"A bunch of rain here the week before really hurt the track conditions for Thursday's opener," said USMTS promoter Todd Staley. "It was really rough on Thursday, and it kind of rubbered up on Friday, but the track tonight was awesome — probably the best we've seen all year. Hats off to Larry Rollo and his staff."

On lap 21, Shryock made his move around Hughes and beat his fellow chassis-building arch rival to the flagstand to complete the 22nd lap. Behind him, the action was three- and sometimes four-wide for positions throughout the pack. Zack VanderBeek slipped past Hughes a few laps later and Greg Skaggs followed him into third. After making the pass on VanderBeek, Skaggs set his sights on Shryock.

Skaggs made several attempts to get around Shryock while VanderBeek, Hughes and Chris Brown diced for the next three spots. With the white flag in the air, Skaggs fired one final shot and moved door-to-door with Shryock off of the final corner. As they crossed beneath the checkered flags, Shryock nipped Skaggs by a bumper to collect the $3,000 top prize and his sixth USMTS Southern Series victory of the season.

VanderBeek held off Hughes for third while Brown settled for fifth after coming from the 15th starting spot. Weder was sixth, Randy Timms raced from 24th to seventh, Steve Holzkamper was eighth, Howard Willis, ninth, and Chris Henigan rounded out the top-10.

With the win, Shryock expanded the difference between himself and points runner-up Timms in the final standings. Although Skaggs came up short in his quest for a third USMTS Southern Series win, his runner-up finish propelled him to third in the final rankings and dropped Holzkamper to fourth. Hughes wound up fifth — just two points behind Holzkamper. Sixth through 10th in the final 2007 USMTS Southern Series standings are Weder, Scott Green, VanderBeek Rodney Sanders and Steven Whiteaker Jr., respectively.

Saturday's event brought an end to the inaugural season for the USMTS Southern Series. A schedule for 2008 will be announced in the near future as USMTS officials are planning an even bigger and better tour for their sophomore season.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
USMTS Southern Series
Inaugural Texas Winter Nationals presented by Delta Flange Manufacturing & Battarbee Racing - Night 3 of 3
Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, Texas
Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007

Showing finishing position, car number, driver, hometown and starting position in parentheses. The top 13 drivers in Home Pride Passing Points accumulated in the Heats are locked into the “A” Main, with the top 8 re-drawing for starting positions 1-8.

ISKY RACING CAMS HEAT #1 (8 laps):
1. 9h - Shane Hebert -- Scott, LA (4)
2. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- East Woodward, OK (3)
3. 2w - Paul White -- Temple, TX (6)
4. 96x - Michael Knighten -- Shreveport, LA (5)
5. 51 - Jeff Wood -- Willis, TX (7)
6. 5r - Bobby Malchus -- Red Oak, TX (9)
7. 117 - Brennan Poole -- The Woodlands, TX (2)
8. 127 - Edward Wickham -- Baytown, TX (8)
9. 129 - Bryan Vollmer -- Tomball, TX (10) DNF
10. 18 - Pete Sagmiller -- Spring, TX (1) DNF

HEAT #2 (8 laps):
1. 27 - Greg Skaggs -- Bixby, OK (1)
2. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (10)
3. 4r - Derek Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (8)
4. 4$ - Kalif Selier -- Katy, TX (4)
5. 98 - Darryl Seals -- Vidor, TX (3)
6. 9x - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (7)
7. 721 - Doug Cameron -- San Antoino, TX (9)
8. 17 - Brad Lasater -- Garland, TX (5)
9. 50m - Mark McKim -- Friendswood, TX (2) DNF
10. 83 - Willy Kraft -- Woodward, OK (6) DNF

HEAT #3 (8 laps):
1. 15 - Kevin Battarbee -- Houston, TX (5)
2. 88xxx - Clyde Dunn Jr. -- Sunnyville, TX (2)
3. 10 - Kenny Battarbee -- Houston, TX (3)
4. 174 - John Slinui -- Colleyville, TX (4)
5. 118 - John Arthur -- Sour Lake, TX (7)
6. 3g - Glen Grant -- Houston, TX (9)
7. 211 - Chad Fitzgerald -- Baytown, TX (1)
8. 68 - Brandon Watson -- Denison, TX (6) DNF
9. A1 - Phil Dixon -- Crosby, TX (8) DNF

HEAT #4 (8 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (3)
2. 1w - Howard Willis -- Dayton, TX (5)
3. 17 - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (1)
4. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. -- Corpus Christi, TX (4)
5. 15p - John Parker -- Many, LA (6)
6. 7x - Corey Babbitt -- Channelview, TX (7)
7. 156 - Steve Pugh -- Willis, TX (2)
8. 125 - Andy Clower -- Grand Saline, TX (8)
9. 21 - Chris Brown -- Cleveland, TX (9) DNF

HEAT #5 (8 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (8)
2. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (6)
3. 87 - Lawrence Mikuleneak -- Corpus Christi, TX
4. 561 - David Horner -- Houston, TX (1)
5. 4 - Tom Hameka -- Dickson, TX (5)
6. 2 - Andy McClelland -- Beaumont, TX (7)
7. 88b - Keith Wright -- Willas, TX (9)
8. 2wx - Earl Whatley -- Manvel, TX (2)
9. 55m - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (4) DNF

HEAT #6 (8 laps):
1. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (4)
2. 5w - John O. Whittington -- Vidor, TX (1)
3. 5t - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK (5)
4. 8j - Charlie Morrow -- Deville, LA (2)
5. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (6)
6. 99 - Derick Grigsby -- Marshall, TX (7)
7. 9 - Brent Nicholas -- Baytown, TX (3) DNF
8. 8 - Steve Miller -- Georgetown, TX (8) DNF
9. 7jr - Chad Ewell -- Forney, TX (9) DNS

HEAT #7 (8 laps):
1. 01 - Billy Robinson -- Blanchard, LA (6)
2. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (4)
3. 16 - Chris Henigan -- Marshall, TX (9)
4. 19b - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (5)
5. 76x - Jesse Manning -- Brazoria, TX (3)
6. B52 - Brian Boram -- Orange, TX (7)
7. 12x - Dennis Lecroy -- Houston, TX (8)
8. 40f - Steven Fite -- Bastrop, TX (2) DNF
9. 7 - Robert Corbello -- Beaumont, TX (1) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 5w - John O. Whittington -- Vidor, TX (2)
2. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- East Woodward, OK (1)
3. 19b - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (4)
4. 9x - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (9)
5. 83 - Willy Kraft -- Woodward, OK (18)
6. A1 - Phil Dixon -- Crosby, TX (16)
7. 7jr - Chad Ewell -- Forney, TX (17)
8. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (7)
9. 125 - Andy Clower -- Grand Saline, TX (14)
10. 88b - Keith Wright -- Willas, TX (11)
11. 98 - Darryl Seals -- Vidor, TX (8)
12. 99 - Derick Grigsby -- Marshall, TX (10) DNF
13. 40f - Steven Fite -- Bastrop, TX (15) DNF
14. 17 - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (3) DNF
15. 51 - Jeff Wood -- Willis, TX (6) DNF
16. 211 - Chad Fitzgerald -- Baytown, TX (12) DNF
17. 127 - Edward Wickham -- Baytown, TX (13) DNF
18. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. -- Corpus Christi, TX (5) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 21 - Chris Brown -- Cleveland, TX (16)
2. 561 - David Horner -- Houston, TX (5)
3. 156 - Steve Pugh -- Willis, TX (12)
4. 7x - Corey Babbitt -- Channelview, TX (9)
5. 4 - Tom Hameka -- Dickson, TX (8)
6. B52 - Brian Boram -- Orange, TX (10)
7. 7 - Robert Corbello -- Beaumont, TX (17)
8. 4$ - Kalif Selier -- Katy, TX (4)
9. 17 - Brad Lasater -- Garland, TX (13)
10. 118 - John Arthur -- Sour Lake, TX (6)
11. 12x - Dennis Lecroy -- Houston, TX (11) DNF
12. 2w - Paul White -- Temple, TX (1) DNF
13. 129 - Bryan Vollmer -- Tomball, TX (15) DNF
14. 5r - Bobby Malchus -- Red Oak, TX (7) DNF
15. 5t - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK (2) DNF
16. 87 - Lawrence Mikuleneak -- Corpus Christi, TX (3) DNF
17. 2wx - Earl Whatley -- Manvel, TX (14) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #3 (15 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 88xxx - Clyde Dunn Jr. -- Sunnyville, TX (1)
2. 55m - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (16)
3. 96x - Michael Knighten -- Shreveport, LA (3)
4. 10 - Kenny Battarbee -- Houston, TX (2)
5. 117 - Brennan Poole -- The Woodlands, TX (11)
6. 50m - Mark McKim -- Friendswood, TX (15)
7. 2 - Andy McClelland -- Beaumont, TX (9)
8. 3g - Glen Grant -- Houston, TX (7)
9. 174 - John Slinui -- Colleyville, TX (4)
10. 15p - John Parker -- Many, LA (6) DNF
11. 68 - Brandon Watson -- Denison, TX (13) DNF
12. 8j - Charlie Morrow -- Deville, LA (5) DNF
13. 18 - Pete Sagmiller -- Spring, TX (17) DNF
14. 76x - Jesse Manning -- Brazoria, TX (8) DNF
15. 721 - Doug Cameron -- San Antoino, TX (10) DNS
16. 9 - Brent Nicholas -- Baytown, TX (12) DNS
17. 8 - Steve Miller -- Georgetown, TX (14) DNS

“A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (6)
2. 27 - Greg Skaggs -- Bixby, OK (11)
3. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (4)
4. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (1)
5. 21 - Chris Brown -- Cleveland, TX (15)
6. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (8)
7. 5t - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK (24)
8. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (13)
9. 1w - Howard Willis -- Dayton, TX (10)
10. 16 - Chris Henigan -- Marshall, TX (9)
11. 15 - Kevin Battarbee -- Houston, TX (2)
12. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (23)
13. 96x - Michael Knighten -- Shreveport, LA (22)
14. 01 - Billy Robinson -- Blanchard, LA (7)
15. 9h - Shane Hebert -- Scott, LA (5) DNF
16. 561 - David Horner -- Houston, TX (18) DNF
17. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- East Woodward, OK (17) DNF
18. 5w - John O. Whittington -- Vidor, TX (14) DNF
19. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (3) DNF
20. 19b - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (20) DNF
21. 4r - Derek Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (12) DNF
22. 88xxx - Clyde Dunn Jr. -- Sunnyville, TX (16) DNF
23. 156 - Steve Pugh -- Willis, TX (21) DNF
24. 55m - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (19) DNF

Lap Leaders: Hughes 1-21, Shryock 22-40.
Total Laps Led: Hughes 21, Shryock 19.
Pole Award: Shryock.
Provisional Starters: Green, Timms.
Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger: Timms (started 24th, finished 7th).
Next USMTS Southern Series Event: Season complete.
USMTS Southern Series Points (final): Shryock 2005, Timms 1821, Skaggs 1763, Holzkamper 1746, Hughes 1744, Weder 1731, Green 1467, VanderBeek 1258, Sanders 1207, Whiteaker 1142.
USMTS Southern Series Home Pride Passing Points (final): Shryock 97½, Weder 93, Hughes 82½, Skaggs 75, Timms 66.

Contingency Awards:
GRT Race Cars – not awarded.
Hawk Performance – Holzkamper.
Isky Racing Cams – Hebert.
Kevko Oil Pans & Components – Brown.
KSE Racing Products – Skaggs, Hughes.
Marsh Racing Wheels – not awarded.
Nitroquest Web Solutions - VanderBeek.
Quarter Master – Shryock, Willis.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Timms.
Real Racing Wheels – Whittington, Brown.

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USMTS SOUTHERN SERIES OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Race Tires, Arizona Sport Shirts, Fast Company Performance, Holley Performance Products, Home Pride Companies, Intercomp, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, Marsh Racing Wheels, Nitroquest Web Solutions, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Olympic Fire Protection, Real Racing Wheels.

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

USMTS SOUTHERN SERIES 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).