BAYTOWN, Texas — Jason Hughes of Westville, Okla., notched his fourth O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series win of the season Saturday with a wire-to-wire triumph in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Showdown at Baytown at Houston Raceway Park.

The current points leader started third in the Holley “A” Main, but had the lead by the completion of the first lap. Steve Holzkamper of Gentry, Ark., who came into the event ranked second in points, started second and finished second in the main event as he was unable to mount an attack on Hughes.

Howard Willis of Dayton, Texas, started 10th and finished third while Tommy Weder Jr. of Woodward, Okla., finished fourth after using a provisional to start 23rd in the 30-lap nightcap. Polesitter Brandon Kenny, also of Woodward, stayed faithful to the extreme high side of the racetrack throughout the race and hung on for a fifth-place paycheck.

Dereck Ramirez, Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year points leader John O. Whittington, 22nd-starting Shane Hebert, Steven Whiteaker Jr. and Timothy Culp finished sixth through 10th, respectively.

Hughes extended his points lead with Saturday's $2,000 win, and leads Holzkamper by 43 points (838 to 795) with 16 of 25 races remaining on the 2008 O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series schedule. Weder remains third with 693 markers, followed by Whittington (638), Paul White (624), Hebert (624), Ramirez (580), Bryan Rowland (578), Kenny (577) and Morgan Bagley (562).

The O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series returns to Houston Raceway Park on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4-6, for the season-ending Texas Winter Nationals and the crowning of the 2008 points champion.

After opening the 2008 season with five straight weekends of racing, the O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series teams get a well-deserved break before returning to action in 17 days for the first of six straight nights of action during Southern Speedweek:

Tuesday, June 3 … Tri-State Speedway, Pocola, OK
Wednesday, June 4 … I-30 Speedway, Little Rock, AR
Thursday, June 5 … Ark-La-Tex Speedway, Vivian, LA
Friday, June 6 … Monticello Speedway, Monticello, AR
Saturday, June 7 … Fast Trax Speedway, Chatham, LA
Sunday, June 8 … Thunder Valley Speedway, Glenmora, LA

The O’Reilly USMTS National Tour jumps back into high gear in just four days, however, for six straight nights of excitement during the Memorial Day Weekend:

Wednesday, May 21 … Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA
Thursday, May 22 … Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA
Friday, May 23 … Chateau Raceway, Lansing, MN
Saturday, May 24 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN
Sunday, May 25 … Kasson Speedway, Kasson, MN
Monday, May 26 … Steele County Speedway, Owatonna, MN

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
O’Reilly Auto Parts Showdown at Baytown
Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, Texas
Saturday, May 17, 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. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (2)
2. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (5)
3. 9 - Shane Hebert -- Lafayette, LA (1)
4. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (4)
5. 21 - Chris Brown -- Cleveland, TX (7)
6. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (11)
7. 117 - Brennan Poole -- The Woodlands, TX (10)
8. 78 - Ty Russell -- Montgomery, TX (3)
9. 703 - David Smith -- Copperas Cove, TX (8)
10. 9n - Brent Nicholas -- Baytown, TX (9)
11. 11 - Mark Smith -- Lufkin, TX (6) DNF

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (10 laps):
1. 18 - Pete Sagmiller -- Spring, TX (4)
2. 12x - Corey Babbitt -- Channelview, TX (1)
3. 2s - Stormy Scott -- Las Cruces, NM (9)
4. 5w - John O. Whittington -- Vidor, TX (8)
5. 17 - Brad Lasater -- Garland, TX (6)
6. 1st - Johnny Scott -- Las Cruces, NM (5)
7. 8j - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (11)
8. 51 - Jeff Wood -- Willis, TX (7)
9. 88b - Brian Boram -- Orange, TX (10)
10. 22 - Tracy Denby -- Vidor, TX (3)
11. 12h - Jeff Huckaby -- Texarkana, TX (2)

HEAT RACE #3 (10 laps):
1. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- East Woodward, OK (2)
2. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (7)
3. 561 - David Horner -- Houston, TX (4)
4. 31 - Elias Anderson -- Austin, TX (5)
5. 15 - Kevin Battarbee -- Houston, TX (10)
6. 51 - Benny Perry -- Liberty, TX (1)
7. 16 - Tom Hameka -- Dickson, TX (6)
8. 68 - Danny Barringer -- Lufkin, TX (8)
9. 10 - Kenny Battarbee -- Houston, TX (9) DNF
10. 38 - Adam Epperson -- Onalaska, TX (3) DNF

HEAT RACE #4 (10 laps):
1. C8 - Timothy Culp -- West Monroe, LA (4)
2. 2w - Paul White -- Temple, TX (1)
3. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (2)
4. 91 - Robert Metz Jr. -- Lumberton, TX (5)
5. A1 - Phil Dixon -- Crosby, TX (7)
6. 01 - Billy Robinson -- Blanchard, LA (8)
7. 5m - Joe Mayhew -- Highlands, TX (3)
8. 99h - Danny Hebert -- Duson, LA (10)
9. 955 - Craig Rayon -- Vidor, TX (6)
10. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (9) DNF

HEAT RACE #5 (10 laps):
1. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. -- Corpus Christi, TX
2. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (2)
3. 1w - Howard Willis -- Dayton, TX (6)
4. 56 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (10)
5. 5r - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (7)
6. 111 - Bumper Jones -- Mesilla Park, NM (8)
7. 129 - Bryan Vollmer -- Tomball, TX (5)
8. 38r - Jeremy Ross -- Locust Grove, OK (9)
9. 8jx - Tim Jones -- Hockley, TX (4)
10. 13 - David Mitchell -- Ashdown, AR (3) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (1)
2. 21 - Chris Brown -- Cleveland, TX (6)
3. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (3)
4. 5r - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (7)
5. 561 - David Horner -- Houston, TX (2)
6. 31 - Elias Anderson -- Austin, TX (4)
7. 38r - Jeremy Ross -- Locust Grove, OK (13)
8. 1st - Johnny Scott -- Las Cruces, NM (10)
9. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (5)
10. 22 - Tracy Denby -- Vidor, TX (18)
11. 51 - Jeff Wood -- Willis, TX (14)
12. 16 - Tom Hameka -- Dickson, TX (11)
13. 129 - Bryan Vollmer -- Tomball, TX (12)
14. 11 - Mark Smith -- Lufkin, TX (20)
15. 88b - Brian Boram -- Orange, TX (15) DNF
16. 8j - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (9) DNF
17. 8jx - Tim Jones -- Hockley, TX (17) DNF
18. 01 - Billy Robinson -- Blanchard, LA (8) DNF
19. 10 - Kenny Battarbee -- Houston, TX (16) DNS
20. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (19) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 5w - John O. Whittington -- Vidor, TX (1)
2. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (5)
3. 111 - Bumper Jones -- Mesilla Park, NM (8)
4. A1 - Phil Dixon -- Crosby, TX (6)
5. 9 - Shane Hebert -- Lafayette, LA (2)
6. 703 - David Smith -- Copperas Cove, TX (15)
7. 15 - Kevin Battarbee -- Houston, TX (3)
8. 9n - Brent Nicholas -- Baytown, TX (17)
9. 99h - Danny Hebert -- Duson, LA (12)
10. 68 - Danny Barringer -- Lufkin, TX (14)
11. 955 - Craig Rayon -- Vidor, TX (16)
12. 91 - Robert Metz Jr. -- Lumberton, TX (4) DNF
13. 5m - Joe Mayhew -- Highlands, TX (11) DNF
14. 12h - Jeff Huckaby -- Texarkana, TX (20) DNF
15. 17 - Brad Lasater -- Garland, TX (7) DNF
16. 117 - Brennan Poole -- The Woodlands, TX (9) DNF
17. 51 - Benny Perry -- Liberty, TX (10) DNF
18. 78 - Ty Russell -- Montgomery, TX (13) DNF
19. 38 - Adam Epperson -- Onalaska, TX (18) DNS
20. 13 - David Mitchell -- Ashdown, AR (19) DNS

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (30 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (3)
2. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (2)
3. 1w - Howard Willis -- Dayton, TX (10)
4. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (23)
5. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- East Woodward, OK (1)
6. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (7)
7. 5w - John O. Whittington -- Vidor, TX (14)
8. 9 - Shane Hebert -- Lafayette, LA (22)
9. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. -- Corpus Christi, TX (5)
10. C8 - Timothy Culp -- West Monroe, LA (8)
11. A1 - Phil Dixon -- Crosby, TX (20)
12. 111 - Bumper Jones -- Mesilla Park, NM (18)
13. 5r - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (19)
14. 12x - Corey Babbitt -- Channelview, TX (11)
15. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (16)
16. 21 - Chris Brown -- Cleveland, TX (15)
17. 2w - Paul White -- Temple, TX (12)
18. 38r - Jeremy Ross -- Locust Grove, OK (24)
19. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (13)
20. 18 - Pete Sagmiller -- Spring, TX (6) DNF
21. 561 - David Horner -- Houston, TX (21) DNF
22. 56 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (9) DNF
23. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (17) DNF
24. 2s - Stormy Scott -- Las Cruces, NM (4) DNF

Lap Leaders: Hughes 1-30.
Total Laps Led: Hughes 30.
AFCO Pole Award: Sagmiller.
Provisional Starters: Weder, Ross.
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award: S. Hebert (started 22nd, finished 8th).
Next O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series Race: Tuesday, June 3, Tri-State Speedway, Pocola, Okla.
Next O’Reilly USMTS National Tour Race: Wednesday, May 21, Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, Iowa (Central States Region).
O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series Points: Hughes 838, Holzkamper 795, Weder 693, Whittington 638, White 624, S. Hebert 624, Ramirez 580, Rowland 578, Kenny 577, Bagley 562.
Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year Points: Whittington 156, S. Hebert 139, Ramirez 138, Bagley 134, Hyde 124.

Contingency Awards:
American Racer - Huckaby.
Belleville Motorsports – not awarded.
BSB Manufacturing - Culp.
Hawk Performance - Hughes, Whiteaker.
Isky Racing Cams – Holzkamper.
Marsh Racing Wheels – S. Scott.
New Vision Graphics - not awarded.
Nitroquest Web Solutions - Willis.
Quarter Master – Hughes, S. Hebert.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Whittington.
Real Racing Wheels – Rowland, Whittington.
TrackTek Racing Fuel - Horner.

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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.