MINDEN, La. — With 55 top-flight Modified drivers on hand, rain accompanied by wind and lightning brought an early end to the O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series event on Friday, April 25, at the Champion Park Speedway in Minden, La. After completion of six O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series heat races and a pair of Limited Modified heats, the skies opened up as Mother Nature crashed the party around 9 p.m. at the quarter-mile clay oval.

With three Real Racing Wheels “B” Mains and the Holley “A” Main, plus the remainder of the full Limited Modified show yet to go, the event was postponed to today (Thursday, May 8).

The extra 13-day wait didn't bother David Mitchell, however, as he scored his first USMTS-sanctioned victory after chasing the checkered flag for nearly three years on both the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour and O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series campaigns.

The Ashdown, Ark., racer started the Holley “A” Main from the eighth spot, but with a little help it took only two laps for him to secure the top spot which he would never relinquish.

The yellow flag waved after the first lap was completed as Michael Robertson and Erik Scott got tangled up. One lap later, caution waved again as Wes Armstrong made contact with leader John O. Whittington. The pair collected Tracy Denby and sent the top-3 runners to the tail of the field for the next restart.

Mitchell paced the field for the restart and fended off early challenges from Rodney Sanders. Midway through the race, Tommy Weder Jr. had stormed his way from 14th on the 24-car starting grid to take over second place and begin pressuring Mitchell for the lead.

On lap 23 Jason Hughes got together with Jamie Burford to bring out a caution flag, sending both drivers out of the top-5 and to the rear of the field with 12 laps to go in the 35-lapper. On the restart, Weder suffered a flat tire to end his run and gave Mitchell a little more breathing room.

Mitchell hung on for the next dozen orbits to claim the $2,000 top prize, with Shane Hebert notching his career-best USMTS finish by taking the runner-up spot after starting 17th. Sanders finished third, followed by Robertson and veteran Paul White, who collected the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award after racing from 22nd to 5th in the main event.

Shadowing White's run through the pack, Steve Holzkamper came from 23rd to finish 6th, while Whittington clawed his way back to a seventh-place finish after the melee on lap 2. Dereck Ramirez was eighth, Bryan Rowland grabbed ninth and Elias Anderson rounded out the top-10 finishers.

Hughes continues atop the O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series rankings, 467 to 436 over Holzkamper with five races in the books and twenty shows to go. Whittington is third with 370 points and also leads the Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year points. Weder is fourth (360), followed by Kyle Pleasant (360), Mitchell (346), White (341), Hebert (339), Randy Timms (336) and Robertson (319).

The O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series heads for Sabine Speedway in Many, La., on Friday night, then wraps up the tripleheader weekend on Saturday with an inaugural event at the Pike County Speedway in Magnolia, Miss.

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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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series
Inaugural Event
Champion Park Speedway, Minden, La.
Thursday, May 8, 2008

Showing finishing position, car number, driver, hometown and starting position in parentheses. The top 13 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.

NOTE: The six heat races were completed on Friday, April 25, prior to rain causing the Real Racing Wheels “B” Mains and Holley “A” Main to be postponed until today (Thursday, May 8).

ISKY RACING CAMS HEAT RACE #1 (10 laps):
1. 05 - Michael Robertson -- Minden, LA (2)
2. 5w - John O. Whittington -- Vidor, TX (6)
3. 02x - B.J. Robinson -- Shreveport, LA (3)
4. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (1)
5. 10c - Jonathon Cribb -- El Dorado, AR (5)
6. 2w - Paul White -- Temple, TX (9)
7. 12t - Tyler Townsend -- Longview, TX (7)
8. 94 - Caleb Shown -- Hooks, TX (4)
9. 6x - Kyle Pleasant -- Natchitoches, LA (8)

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (10 laps):
1. 5a - Wes Armstrong -- Marshall, TX (5)
2. C8 - Timothy Culp -- West Monroe, LA (1)
3. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (9)
4. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. -- Corpus Christi, TX (8)
5. 5r - Bobby Malchus -- Red Oak, TX (4)
6. 23 - Randy Nolen -- Shreveport, LA (2)
7. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (6)
8. 33 - Darrin Duncan -- Gilmer, TX (7) DNF
9. 57 - Jason Armstrong -- Marshall, TX (3) DNF

HEAT RACE #3 (10 laps):
1. 21 - David Winslett -- Bossier City, LA (2)
2. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (3)
3. 38r - Jeremy Ross -- Locust Grove, OK (4)
4. 16 - Chris Henigan -- Marshall, TX (6)
5. 703 - David Smith -- Copperas Cove, TX (5)
6. 18g - Mike Giddings -- Sibley, LA (7)
7. 78 - Billy Brutchin -- Gladewater, TX (1)
8. 23b - Michael Brunson -- Dubberly, LA (8) DNS
9. 8j - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (9) DNS

HEAT RACE #4 (10 laps):
1. 34e - Erik Scott -- Haughton, LA (2)
2. 31 - Elias Anderson -- Austin, TX (5)
3. 99 - Derick Grigsby -- Marshall, TX (6)
4. 01 - Billy Robinson -- Blanchard, LA (4)
5. 5m - Jon Mitchell -- Texarkana, TX (7)
6. 117 - Jason Teague -- Tahlequah, OK (1)
7. 88b - Brian Boram -- Orange, TX (3)
8. 17 - Brad Lasater -- Garland, TX (8) DNF
9. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (9) DNS

HEAT RACE #5 (10 laps):
1. 7x - Chris Dawson -- Post, TX (2)
2. 22 - Tracy Denby -- Vidor, TX (7)
3. 5t - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK (9)
4. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (6)
5. 8 - Steve Miller -- Georgetown, TX (5)
6. 17 - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (8)
7. 1 - Brett Frazier -- Haughton, LA (3)
8. L1 - Larry Clevenger -- Greenwood, LA (1) DNF
9. 51 - Jeff Wood -- Willis, TX (4) DNF

HEAT RACE #6 (10 laps):
1. 13 - David Mitchell -- Ashdown, AR (2)
2. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (8)
3. A1 - Phil Dixon -- Crosby, TX (1)
4. 1st - Johnny Scott -- Las Cruces, NM (5)
5. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (7)
6. 9 - Shane Hebert -- Lafayette, LA (9)
7. 90 - Jody Davidson -- West Monroe, LA (6)
8. 12h - Jeff Huckaby -- Texarkana, TX (3)
9. 2 - Kenny Gaddis -- Hallsville, TX (4) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 4 advance):
1. 16 - Chris Henigan -- Marshall, TX (3)
2. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (4)
3. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (5)
4. 57 - Jason Armstrong -- Marshall, TX (13)
5. 99 - Derick Grigsby -- Marshall, TX (1)
6. 38r - Jeremy Ross -- Locust Grove, OK (2)
7. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (9) -1 Lap
8. 33 - Jason Ingalls -- Gilmar, TX (11) DNF
9. 1 - Brett Frazier -- Haughton, LA (10) DNF
10. 23 - Randy Nolen -- Shreveport, LA (8) DNF
11. 10c - Jonathon Cribb -- El Dorado, AR (6) DNS
12. 8 - Steve Miller -- Georgetown, TX (7) DNS
13. L1 - Larry Clevenger -- Greenwood, LA (12) DNS
14. 51 - Jeff Wood -- Willis, TX (14) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 4 advance):
1. C8 - Timothy Culp -- West Monroe, LA (1)
2. 02x - B.J. Robinson -- Shreveport, LA (2)
3. 2 - Kenny Gaddis -- Hallsville, TX (14)
4. 2w - Paul White -- Temple, TX (5)
5. 8j - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (13)
6. 01 - Billy Robinson -- Blanchard, LA (4)
7. 17 - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (7)
8. 5r - Bobby Malchus -- Red Oak, TX (6)
9. 23b - Michael Brunson -- Dubberly, LA (11)
10. 78 - Billy Brutchin -- Gladewater, TX (9)
11. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (3) DNF
12. 12h - Jeff Huckaby -- Texarkana, TX (12) DNF
13. 117 - Jason Teague -- Tahlequah, OK (8) DNS
14. 90 - Jody Davidson -- West Monroe, LA (10) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #3 (15 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (13)
2. 9 - Shane Hebert -- Lafayette, LA (5)
3. 6x - Kyle Pleasant -- Natchitoches, LA (12)
4. 111 - Bumper Jones -- Mesilla Park, NM (15)
5. 12t - Tyler Townsend -- Longview, TX (8)
6. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- East Woodward, OK (16)
7. 703 - David Smith -- Copperas Cove, TX (6)
8. R5 - Kyle Cummings -- Sibley, LA (17)
9. 18g - Mike Giddings -- Sibley, LA (7) DNF
10. 1st - Johnny Scott -- Las Cruces, NM (3) DNF
11. 2s - Stormy Scott -- Las Cruces, NM (14) DNF
12. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. -- Corpus Christi, TX (1) DNS
13. A1 - Phil Dixon -- Crosby, TX (2) DNS
14. 5m - Jon Mitchell -- Texarkana, TX (4) DNS
15 88b - Brian Boram -- Orange, TX (9) DNS
16. 94 - Caleb Shown -- Hooks, TX (10) DNS
17. 17 - Brad Lasater -- Garland, TX (11) DNS

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. 13 - David Mitchell -- Ashdown, AR (8)
2. 9 - Shane Hebert -- Lafayette, LA (17)
3. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (5)
4. 05 - Michael Robertson -- Minden, LA (6)
5. 2w - Paul White -- Temple, TX (22)
6. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (23)
7. 5w - John O. Whittington -- Vidor, TX (1)
8. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (18)
9. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (11)
10. 31 - Elias Anderson -- Austin, TX (10)
11. 8j - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (24)
12. 22 - Tracy Denby -- Vidor, TX (2)
13. 6x - Kyle Pleasant -- Natchitoches, LA (20)
14. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (15)
15. 34e - Erik Scott -- Haughton, LA (7)
16. 57 - Jason Armstrong -- Marshall, TX (21)
17. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (14)
18. 02x - B.J. Robinson -- Shreveport, LA (16)
19. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (9)
20. C8 - Timothy Culp -- West Monroe, LA (13) DNF
21. 2 - Kenny Gaddis -- Hallsville, TX (19) DNF
22. 16 - Chris Henigan -- Marshall, TX (12) DNF
23. 5a - Wes Armstrong -- Marshall, TX (4) DNF
24. 21 - David Winslett -- Bossier City, LA (3) DNF
25. 7x - Chris Dawson -- Post, TX (25) DNS
26. 5t - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK (26) DNS

Lap Leaders: Whittington 1-2, Mitchell 3-35.
Total Laps Led: Mitchell 33, Whittington 2.
AFCO Pole Award: W. Armstrong.
Provisional Starters: Holzkamper, Hyde.
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award: White (started 22nd, finished 5th).
Next Race: Friday, May 9, Sabine Speedway, Many, La.
O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series Points: Hughes 467, Holzkamper 436, Whittington 370, Weder 360, Pleasant 360, D. Mitchell 346, White 341, Hebert 339, Timms 336, Robertson 319.
Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year Points: Whittington 87, D. Mitchell 81, Pleasant 79, Robertson 77, Bagley 73, Hebert 73.

Contingency Awards:
American Racer - Shown.
Belleville Motorsports – not awarded.
BSB Manufacturing - Anderson.
Hawk Performance - D. Mitchell, Rowland.
Isky Racing Cams – Robertson.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Winslett.
New Vision Graphics - W. Armstrong.
Nitroquest Web Solutions - Sanders.
Quarter Master – D. Mitchell, Ramirez.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Whittington.
Real Racing Wheels – Henigan, Culp, Weder.
TrackTek Racing Fuel - not awarded.

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TITLE SPONSOR: O’Reilly Auto Parts.

PRESENTING SPONSOR: Casey’s General Stores.

OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Race Tires, Arizona Sport Shirts, Awesome Race Suits, Bear Tire Company, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Childhelp, Gressel Racing, Houston Specialty Products Co., KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, New Vision Graphics, Nitroquest Web Solutions, Q.E.M., Inc., TrackTek Racing Fuel, Western Flyer Xpress.

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.