LA MONTE, Mo. — Kelly Shryock snuck by Jason Hughes with six laps to go Friday night, then went on to score the victory on opening night of the 5th Annual Missouri Nationals at the LA Raceway in La Monte, Mo. It was the second win of the season for the eight-time O’Reilly USMTS National Champion and helped him pad his points lead in the Mo-Kan Region of the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour.

Hughes jumped out to a sizeable lead from the pole position and was looking to whip up on the field for his second win of the year. The race's first and only caution waved on lap 11, which bunched up the field with John Allen in the runner-up spot and Shryock in third.

Shryock disposed of Allen on lap 12, then hugged the rear bumper of Hughes for the next 16 laps around the semi-banked 3/8-mile clay oval.

On lap 29, Hughes bobbled slightly in turn 1, which was the opening Shryock needed to slip by for the lead and go on to lead the final six orbits and pocket the $2,000 top prize.

Hughes held on for second, with Jon Tesch third, Allen fourth and Johnny Bone Jr. rounding out the top-5 finishers. Jason Krohn, Jesse Stovall, Brandon Kenny, Justin Boney and Dustin Boney finishing sixth through tenth, respectively.

Stovall earned the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award by climbing 13 spots from his 20th starting position on the 24-car grid.

With his eighth-place finish, Kenny took command of the Rookies Rockin' Sports Bar Rookie of the Year points standings.

The Ruter Farms Long Tow Award went to Julie McDermid, who traveled 680.49 miles from her hometown of Oconto Falls, Wis.

Kevin Blackburn won the free American Racer tire via random draw at the pre-race drivers meeting. American Race Tires — the Official Racing Tire of the USMTS — will be giving away a free tire to one driver at each O’Reilly USMTS National Tour and O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series race this season.

In the manufacturers battles, Sput’s Racing Engines remains atop the COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year standings while Shryock's Skyrocket Chassis broke a tie with Hughes Racing Chassis to take control in the Chassis Builders Championship points.

Shryock continues atop the Mo-Kan Region rankings with a 20-point cushion over Tesch (309 to 289). Allen and Bone are tied for third in the standings with 258 points each, followed by Hughes (255), Justin Boney (248), Zack VanderBeek (237), Greg Skaggs and Dustin Boney (224 each) and Al Hejna (205).

UP NEXT:

Randy Mooneyham's lightning-fast 4/10-mile high-banked red clay oval will be the site on Saturday for Day 2 of the 5th Annual Missouri Nationals. Jason Hughes of Westville, Okla., is the defending race winner and will be looking to capture his second O’Reilly USMTS National Tour victory of the season.

Race fans can pick up $2-off coupons on Saturday at all three Casey's General Stores locations in Lebanon: 669 W. Elm St., 1621 Linn St. and 850 Laclede. Al Hejna and his mud-slinging machine will once again be present from 12-2 p.m. at the Laclede location.

Gates will open at 4 p.m., with hot laps at 6 and racing action kicking off at 6:30. The Lebanon I-44 Speedway is located 6 miles northeast of Lebanon on I-44 to Exit 135 (Sleeper), then north to Outer Dr., then 1.1 miles west on Historic US 66. For more raceday information, call the track hotline at 417-532-2060 or visit www.lebanoni44speedway.net on the World Wide Web.

The O’Reilly USMTS National Tour will wrap up the 5th Annual Missouri Nationals on Sunday at “The Grand Ole Lady” in Monett, Mo. Kelly Shryock captured the win in 2007 at the 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval en route to capturing the regional points crown.

Race fans can pick up $2-off coupons on Sunday at both Casey's General Stores locations in Monett: 728 Hwy. 60 and 1601 E. Cleveland Ave. Al Hejna will make his third stop of the weekend at the Cleveland Ave. location, appearing again from 12-2 p.m.

Gates will open at 4 p.m., with hot laps at 6 and racing action kicking off at 6:30. The Monett Speedway is located 1 mile east of SR 37 on US 60, then north on Chapel Dr. For more information, call the business office at 417-732-2766 or call the track at 417-236-0600 for day-of-the-race info. The track's website can be found at www.monettspeedway.net.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online for the latest news and information from the USMTS — America's Hottest Ticket on Dirt.

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O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series
O’Reilly USMTS National Tour - Mo-Kan Region
5th Annual Missouri Nationals - Day 1 of 3
LA Raceway, La Monte, Mo.
Friday, March 28, 2008

Showing finishing position, car number, driver, hometown and starting position in parentheses. The top 12 drivers in 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. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (3)
2. 71 - David Holder -- Clarence, MO (6)
3. 21 - Johnny Fennewald -- Appleton, MO (2)
4. 220 - Dustin Boney -- Tonganoxie, KS (9)
5. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (10)
6. 56 - Chris Spieker -- Massena, IA (1)
7. 70 - Aaron Marrant -- Orrick, MO (8)
8. 17 - Steve Stewart -- Washington, IA (4)
9. 7x - Jason Bodenhamer -- Centerview, MO (7)
10. B29 - Tammy Mitchell -- Pea Ridge, AR (5)

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (10 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (1)
2. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- East Woodward, OK (5)
3. 12 - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR (10)
4. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (8)
5. 2j - Jason Russell -- Henley, MO (4)
6. 99t - Eric Turner -- Hermitage, MO (9)
7. 1k - Tim Karrick -- Bashor, KS (7)
8. 171 - Donald Dannar -- Odessa, MO (2)
9. 5c - Don Crnkovich -- Lenexa, KS (6)
10. 59 - Jared Stiens -- Maryville, MO (3)

HEAT RACE #3 (10 laps):
1. 98 - John Allen -- Chanute, KS (2)
2. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (3)
3. 22 - Luke Feeback -- Harrisonville, MO (4)
4. 88d - Matt Dotson -- Sturgeon, MO (6)
5 2 - Grant Junghans -- Manhattan, KS (5)
6. 4g - Gary Clark -- Walker, MO (8)
7. 26k - Kevin Blackburn -- Fulton, MO (10)
8. 5 - Buddy Thompson -- Oak Grove, MO (9)
9. 40 - Scott Dickey -- Packwood, IA (1)
10. 00 - Jesse Stovall -- Galena, MO (7) DNF

HEAT RACE #4 (10 laps):
1. 96 - Chad Lyle -- Lone Jack, MO (1)
2. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (6)
3. 19g - Richie Gustin Jr. -- Gilman, IA (5)
4. X - Mike Wedelstadt -- Hortonville, WI (3)
5. 39 - Gary Langworthy Jr. -- Coffeyville, KS (2)
6. 25 - Scott Roberts -- Columbia, MO (10)
7. 8m - James McMillin -- Warrensburg, MO (9)
8. 17c - Lucas Conley -- Spring Hill, KS (8)
9. 1m - Julie McDermid -- Oconto Falls, WI (4)
10. 2 - Carey Umbarger -- Garner, IA (7)

HEAT RACE #5 (10 laps):
1. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (1)
2. 27 - Greg Skaggs -- Bixby, OK (3)
3. 26 - Brian Williams -- Fayetteville, AR (5)
4. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (4)
5. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (6)
6. 52w - Nate Wasmund -- Rochester, MN (9)
7. 68 - Dean Wille -- Warrensburg, MO (2)
8. L7 - Charlie Laizure -- Harrisonville, MO (8)
9. 31j - Jeremy Rasmussen -- Bentonville, AR (7)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 4g - Gary Clark -- Walker, MO (9)
2. 19g - Richie Gustin Jr. -- Gilman, IA (1)
3. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (2)
4. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (6)
5. 88d - Matt Dotson -- Sturgeon, MO (4)
6. 17c - Lucas Conley -- Spring Hill, KS (14)
7. 17 - Steve Stewart -- Washington, IA (13)
8. 31j - Jeremy Rasmussen -- Bentonville, AR (17)
9. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (5)
10. 70 - Aaron Marrant -- Orrick, MO (11)
11. 59 - Jared Stiens -- Maryville, MO (18)
12. 56 - Chris Spieker -- Massena, IA (10)
13. 52w - Nate Wasmund -- Rochester, MN (7) DNF
14. 2 - Grant Junghans -- Manhattan, KS (8) DNF
15. 40 - Scott Dickey -- Packwood, IA (16) DNF
16. 2 - Carey Umbarger -- Garner, IA (19) DNF
17. 21 - Johnny Fennewald -- Appleton, MO (3) DNF
18. 7x - Jason Bodenhamer -- Centerview, MO (15) DNF
19. 68 - Dean Wille -- Warrensburg, MO (12) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 26 - Brian Williams -- Fayetteville, AR (1)
2. X - Mike Wedelstadt -- Hortonville, WI (4)
3. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (3)
4. 00 - Jesse Stovall -- Galena, MO (18)
5. 99t - Eric Turner -- Hermitage, MO (6)
6. 22 - Luke Feeback -- Harrisonville, MO (2)
7. 1k - Tim Karrick -- Bashor, KS (11)
8. 39 - Gary Langworthy Jr. -- Coffeyville, KS (8)
9. 26k - Kevin Blackburn -- Fulton, MO (9)
10. 5 - Buddy Thompson -- Oak Grove, MO (12)
11. 171 - Donald Dannar -- Odessa, MO (13)
12. 8m - James McMillin -- Warrensburg, MO (10)
13. 1m - Julie McDermid -- Oconto Falls, WI (16)
14. 5c - Don Crnkovich -- Lenexa, KS (15) DNF
15. B29 - Tammy Mitchell -- Pea Ridge, AR (17) DNF
16. 2j - Jason Russell -- Henley, MO (7) DNF
17. L7 - Charlie Laizure -- Harrisonville, MO (14) DNF
18. 25 - Scott Roberts -- Columbia, MO (5) DNS

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (6)
2. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (1)
3. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (5)
4. 98 - John Allen -- Chanute, KS (2)
5. 12 - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR (8)
6. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (10)
7. 00 - Jesse Stovall -- Galena, MO (20)
8. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- East Woodward, OK (4)
9. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (18)
10. 220 - Dustin Boney -- Tonganoxie, KS (12)
11. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (17)
12. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (19)
13. 99t - Eric Turner -- Hermitage, MO (22)
14. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (9)
15. 39 - Gary Langworthy Jr. -- Coffeyville, KS (23)
16. 88d - Matt Dotson -- Sturgeon, MO (21)
17. 31j - Jeremy Rasmussen -- Bentonville, AR (24) -1 Lap
18. X - Mike Wedelstadt -- Hortonville, WI (16) DNF
19. 71 - David Holder -- Clarence, MO (3) DNF
20. 19g - Richie Gustin Jr. -- Gilman, IA (15) DNF
21. 4g - Gary Clark -- Walker, MO (13) DNF
22. 27 - Greg Skaggs -- Bixby, OK (11) DNF
23. 96 - Chad Lyle -- Lone Jack, MO (7) DNF
24. 26 - Brian Williams -- Fayetteville, AR (14) DNF

Lap Leaders: Hughes 1-29, Shryock 30-35.
Total Laps Led: Hughes 29, Shryock 6.
AFCO Pole Award: Tesch.
Provisional Starters: Langworthy, Rasmussen.
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award: Stovall (started 20th, finished 7th).
Ruter Farms Long Tow Award: McDermid (680.49 miles).
Next Race: Saturday, March 29, Lebanon I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, Mo. (Mo-Kan Region).
Mo-Kan Region Points: Shryock 309, Tesch 289, Allen 258, Bone 258, Hughes 255, J. Boney 248, VanderBeek 237, Skaggs 224, D. Boney 224, Hejna 205.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points: Kenny 108, Dereck Ramirez 88, Langworthy 69, Rowland 50, Rodney Sanders 44.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Sput’s 45, A.S.I. 40, Buzzard 37, Mullins 33, Wanders 30.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 45, Hughes 44, GRT 41, Harris 25, TRE 20.

Contingency Awards:
American Race Tires - Blackburn.
Belleville Motorsports – not awarded.
BSB Manufacturing - D. Boney.
Hawk Performance - Shryock, J. Boney.
Isky Racing Cams – Tesch.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Williams.
New Vision Graphics - Shryock.
Nitroquest Web Solutions - Tesch.
Quarter Master – Shryock, Kenny.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Stovall.
Real Racing Wheels – Clark, Williams.

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TITLE SPONSOR: O’Reilly Auto Parts.

PRESENTING SPONSOR: Casey’s General Stores.

OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Race Tires, Awesome Race Suits, Bear Tire Company, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Gressel Racing, Houston Specialty Products Co., KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, New Vision Graphics, Nitroquest Web Solutions, QEM Inc., TrackTek Racing Fuel.

PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Boom Drilling, Day Motor Sports, Kraft/Ramirez Race Cars, Olympic Fire Protection, Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar, Ruter Farms, Yeager Machine.

CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Belleville Motorsports, Bert Transmission, BSB Manufacturing, COMP Cams, Duralite Racing Wheels, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, GRT Race Cars, Hawk Performance, Holley Performance Products, Hyperco, ISKY Racing Cams, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, Quarter Master, QuickTime Performance Race Parts, Real Racing Wheels, US Brake.