SPRING VALLEY, Minn. – After a first-lap crash that knocked him out of the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour main event at the Chateau Raceway on Friday night, Jason Hughes of Westville, Okla., rebounded in style Saturday night as he topped the 6th Annual Olympic Fire Protection Southern MN Spring Challenge at the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., with a late-race pass of Brad Waits.

Waits, from nearby Zumbrota, Minn., started the 35-lap Holley “A” Main from the outside of the second row and took the lead away from Clear Lake, Iowa's Al Hejna on lap 2. Running the extreme high side of the high-banked dirt oval, Waits and Hejna raced nose to tail throughout most of the race while Hughes clawed his way to the front from his eighth-place starting spot.

Hughes motored his Casey's General Stores #12 Hughes Chassis around Hejna with 10 laps to go, then set his sights on Waits, who was battling thick lapped traffic. Lap by lap, Hughes eroded the distance between himself and the leader, finally moving alongside Waits with five laps to go.

Coming to the flagstand to complete lap 32, Waits slid a bit too high and Hughes nudged ahead by a whisker at the stripe. Waits continued to show his front bumper to Hughes in every corner, but was unable to make the pass as Hughes collected the $2,000 top prize while Waits had to settle for his third runner-up finish in three starts this season with the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour.

Hejna hung on for third while fellow Clear Lake, Iowa, resident Dean Mahlstedt pocketed a fourth-place paycheck in his first O’Reilly USMTS National Tour start of 2008. Zack VanderBeek of New Sharon, Iowa, recorded his second fifth-place finish in as many nights.

AFCO Pole Award winner Tim Donlinger finished sixth, while eight-time O’Reilly USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock was seventh. Mike Sorensen, Tommy Myer and Dereck Ramirez rounded out the top-10 finishers.

On the strength of seven passing points Saturday night, Shryock gained the top spot in the Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region points standings by the thinnest of margins. Shryock leads Donlinger 282 to 281, while Friday night's winner, Jason Krohn, is third with 274 markers. Hejna is fifth with 265, followed by VanderBeek (263), Hughes (256), Myer (252), Steve Wetzstein (217), Kevin Pittman (210) and Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year points leader Brandon Kenny (207).

UP NEXT:

Set your TIVO to record the Indy 500 and World 600 because the best racing on Sunday will be at the Kasson Speedway for the 7th Annual Stars & Stripes Shootout. Located less than 42 miles from Deer Creek Speedway, pit gates at the Dodge County Fairgrounds in Kasson will open at 2 p.m. with grandstands open at 3. Hot laps are at 5:30 with racing at 6 p.m. WISSOTA Midwest Mods, Pure Stocks, Street Stocks are also on tap for Sunday's show.

Hughes and his familiar #12 Hughes Chassis machine will be at the Casey's General Store location at 4500 18th Ave. NW in Rochester from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Race fans can pick up $2-off grandstand admission coupons on race day at Casey's General Store locations in Rochester.

The Kasson Speedway is a 1/3-mile semi-banked dirt oval located 1.1 mile north of US 14 on SR 57 (at the Dodge County Fairgrounds). For more info, call 651 226-3706 or 507 634-6400 on raceday or visit www.kassonspeedway.com online.

Just a short 28-mile drive down the road from Kasson, the whirlwind weekend will wrap up with the long-awaited return of the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour for the 5th Annual Memorial Day Shootout at the Steele County Speedway in Owatonna, Minn., on Monday, May 26. Pit gates are slated to open at 2 p.m. and grandstands begin filling up at 3. Hot laps are at 5 and the mud starts flying at 4:30. WISSOTA-sanctioned Midwest Mods will also be racing.

Hughes will make his final on-site salute to the fans on Monday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Casey's General Stores location at 475 18th St. SE in Owatonna, just a few blocks from the track. Race fans can pick up $2-off grandstand admission coupons on race day at Casey's General Store locations in Owatonna.

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 National Tour
6th Annual Olympic Fire Protection Southern MN Spring Challenge
Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn.
Saturday, May 24, 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 (8 laps):
1. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (5)
2. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (1)
3. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (6)
4. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (9)
5. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (2)
6. 45 - Todd Scharkey -- Kasson, MN (4)
7. 02 - Jacob Dahle -- Morristown, MN (10)
8. 6m - Ted Marrs -- Bethel, MN (8)
9. 7kp - Kris Peterson -- Mukwonago, WI (3)
10. 96x - Neil Eckhart -- Rochester, MN (7) DNF

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 3d - Tim Donlinger -- Rochester, MN (6)
2. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (4)
3. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (8)
4. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (7)
5. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (5)
6. 61m - Shawn Peterson -- Cottage Grove, MN (2)
7. 14j - Jake Neal -- Omaha, NE (10)
8. 23 - Darwin Karau -- Kasson, MN (1)
9. 88t - Terry Timmerman -- Stewartville, MN (3)
10. 42 - Tom Paulson -- Kasson, MN (9)

HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (1)
2. 7c - Nate Caruth -- Ames, IA (4)
3. 19 - Mike Sorensen -- Rochester, MN (8)
4. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (3)
5. 52w - Nate Wasmund -- Rochester, MN (7)
6. 1r - Ryan York -- Racine, MN (2)
7. 66 - Dan Bohr -- Decorah, IA (10)
8. 4s - Brian Shaw -- Brownsdale, MN (5)
9. 96 - Greg Jensen -- Albert Lea, MN (6)
10. 75 - James Parker -- Dodge Center, MN (9)

HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 49 - Bob Timm -- Rollingstone, MN (4)
2. 26p - Kevin Pittman -- Waterloo, IA (2)
3. 21x - Joe Wernecke -- Dodge Center, MN (1)
4. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (5)
5. 90 - Steve Wetzstein -- West Concord, MN (8)
6. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (6)
7. 98 - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN (10)
8. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (7)
9. 18 - Mick Glenn -- Minnesota City, MN (3)
10. 17 - Steve Stewart -- Washington, IA (9)

HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. 24 - Brad Waits -- Zumbrota, MN (4)
2. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (5)
3. 1k - Pat Graham -- Ames, IA (3)
4. 72 - Doug Hillson -- Blooming Prairie, MN (2)
5. 2 - Joey Schaefer -- Waterloo, IA (1)
6. 3x - Brady Peterson -- Cottage Grove, MN (7)
7. 96 - Jay Ihrke -- Dover, MN (6)
8. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (9)
9. 01 - Brandon Aggen -- Rushmore, MN (8)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (14 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 45 - Todd Scharkey -- Kasson, MN (10)
2. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (6)
3. 96 - Jay Ihrke -- Dover, MN (12)
4. 42 - Tom Paulson -- Kasson, MN (18)
5. 26p - Kevin Pittman -- Waterloo, IA (1)
6. 90 - Steve Wetzstein -- West Concord, MN (4)
7. 66 - Dan Bohr -- Decorah, IA (9)
8. 2 - Joey Schaefer -- Waterloo, IA (7)
9. 17 - Steve Stewart -- Washington, IA (19)
10. 6m - Ted Marrs -- Bethel, MN (13)
11. 7kp - Kris Peterson -- Mukwonago, WI (15)
12. 72 - Doug Hillson -- Blooming Prairie, MN (5)
13. 4s - Brian Shaw -- Brownsdale, MN (14) DNF
14. 02 - Jacob Dahle -- Morristown, MN (8) DNF
15. 01 - Brandon Aggen -- Rushmore, MN (17) DNF
16. 1r - Ryan York -- Racine, MN (11) DNF
17. 1k - Pat Graham -- Ames, IA (3) DNF
18. 96 - Greg Jensen -- Albert Lea, MN (16) DNF
19. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (2) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (1)
2. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (3)
3. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (11)
4. 52w - Nate Wasmund -- Rochester, MN (5)
5. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (14)
6. 98 - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN (9)
7. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (6)
8. 88t - Terry Timmerman -- Stewartville, MN (15)
9. 18 - Mick Glenn -- Minnesota City, MN (16)
10. 61m - Shawn Peterson -- Cottage Grove, MN (10)
11. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (4)
12. 23 - Darwin Karau -- Kasson, MN (13)
13. 75 - James Parker -- Dodge Center, MN (18)
14. 14j - Jake Neal -- Omaha, NE (8) DNF
15. 3x - Brady Peterson -- Cottage Grove, MN (7) DNF
16. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (12) DNF
17. 21x - Joe Wernecke -- Dodge Center, MN (2) DNF
18. 96x - Neil Eckhart -- Rochester, MN (17) DNS

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (8)
2. 24 - Brad Waits -- Zumbrota, MN (4)
3. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (2)
4. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (11)
5. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (6)
6. 3d - Tim Donlinger -- Rochester, MN (5)
7. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (14)
8. 19 - Mike Sorensen -- Rochester, MN (3)
9. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (16)
10. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (1)
11. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (9)
12. 49 - Bob Timm -- Rollingstone, MN (7)
13. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (12)
14. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (15)
15. 96 - Jay Ihrke -- Dover, MN (17)
16. 45 - Todd Scharkey -- Kasson, MN (13)
17. 7c - Nate Caruth -- Ames, IA (10)
18. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (18)
19. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (22)
20. 52w - Nate Wasmund -- Rochester, MN (20)
21. 90 - Steve Wetzstein -- West Concord, MN (23)
22. 26p - Kevin Pittman -- Waterloo, IA (21) -1 Lap
23. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (24) -1 Lap
24. 42 - Tom Paulson -- Kasson, MN (19) -1 Lap

Lap Leaders: Hejna 1, Waits 2-31, Hughes 32-35.
Total Laps Led: Waits 30, Hughes 4, Hejna 1.
AFCO Pole Winner: Donlinger.
Provisional Starters: Wetzstein, Noteboom.
Ruter Farms Long Tow: Neal (335.08 miles).
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Hughes (started 8th, finished 1st).
Next Race: Sunday, May 25, Kasson Speedway, Kasson, Minn.
Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region Points: Shryock 282, Donlinger 281, Krohn 274, Hejna 265, VanderBeek 263, Hughes 256, Myer 252, Wetzstein 217, Pittman 210, Kenny 207 .
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points: Kenny 273, Ramirez 184, Rowland 149, Gary Langworthy Jr. 128, Rodney Sanders 90 .
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Sput’s 101, A.S.I. 96, Mullins 82, Wanders 73, JR 58 .
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 111, Hughes 95, Harris 75, GRT 53, TRE 44, Kraft 44 .

Contingency Awards:
American Racer – York.
Belleville Motorsports – not awarded.
BSB Manufacturing – Ramirez.
Hawk Performance – Hughes, Myer.
Isky Racing Cams – VanderBeek.
KSE Racing Products – Hughes.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Paulson.
New Vision Graphics – Donlinger.
Nitroquest Web Solutions - Hejna.
Quarter Master – Hughes, Sorensen.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Shryock.
Real Racing Wheels – Shryock.
Ruter Farms – Neal.
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.