POCOLA, Okla. – He's been close many times, and really close a couple of times this season, but Eddie Martin finally found his way back to the winner's circle Tuesday night as the O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series kicked off Southern Speedweek at the Tri-State Speedway in Pocola, Okla.

“We've been waiting a long time to get another one of these,” Martin said in victory lane after topping the 30-lap main event.

Before anybody could ask, Martin added “June of 2000 at South Coffeyville.”

June 29, 2000 to be exact.

That was the last time the 41-year-old from Stilwell, Okla., captured a USMTS checkered flag. That was 2,896 days ago – one day after his 34th birthday.

At the time of Martin's first win nearly eight years ago at the Mid America Speedway in South Coffeyville, Okla., he was tied in career wins with Kelly Shryock. Since then, Shryock has accumulated more than 100 USMTS victories, but Martin kept the eight-time O’Reilly USMTS National Champion from adding Tri-State Speedway to his list of conquered racetracks.

One of the top-8 qualifiers among the 56 entries Tuesday night, Martin had the worst redraw for the Holley "A" Main and started eighth in the 24-car field. He didn't stay there long, however, as he powered ahead of polesitter Larry Campbell on lap 10 then flawlessly circled the big 3/8-mile oval over the next 20 laps to claim the win and the $2,000 winner's share of the purse.

A caution flag with five laps to go gave Shryock a shot at the leader, but Martin drove away on the restart and cruised to victory ahead of the defending O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series champion.

Current points leader Jason Hughes of Westville, Okla., picked up the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award after racing from 13th to third at the finish, while Campbell held on for a fourth-place paycheck. Tommy Weder Jr. made it three Okies in the top-5 as he came from 12th to take the fifth spot.

Brian Williams, Steve Holzkamper, Paul White, Rodney Sanders and Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year points leader John O. Whittington completed the top-10.

With his third-place finish, Hughes extended his points lead over Holzkamper (939 to 881) with 10 races in the books. Weder ranks third with 784 points, followed by Whittington (719), White (700), Shane Hebert (680), Bryan Rowland (640), Brandon Kenny (637), Dereck Ramirez (637) and Morgan Bagley (614).

UP NEXT:

Wednesday, June 4, will find the rugged road warriors of the O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series at the I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark., for another first-time-ever invasion by the United States Modified Touring Series. The second race of Southern Speedweek will also serve as a tune-up for the 10th Annual Topless Modified Nationals, Oct. 3-4, so TIVO the taxi cab show on HBO and come out to see real dirt track racers go head to head on the exciting I-30 Speedway bullring.

I-30 Speedway is a 1/4-mile high-banked clay oval located 7.0 miles southwest of Little Rock on I-30 to Exit 126 (County Line Rd.), then south to frontage road, then east (SSR). The track phone number is (501) 455-4567 and the website is www.i-30speedway.com.

Race #3 of Southern Speedweek will take place at Ark-La-Tex Speedway in Vivian, La., on Thursday, June 5. On Friday, June 6, the O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series returns to the Monticello Speedway in Monticello, Ark., for an encore of one of the biggest races on last year's calendar that saw 73 Modifieds in attendance. Southern Speedweek will wrap up on Saturday, June 7, with a return to Fast Trax Speedway in Chatham, La.

The USMTS is celebrating its 10th Anniversary Season in 2008 with many special promotions to show thanks to the fans, drivers, team members, families and sponsors who have helped make the USMTS the premier dirt modified series in the nation.

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.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series
Southern Speedweek - Race #1 of 2
Tri-State Speedway, Pocola, Okla.
Tuesday, June 3, 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.

ISKY RACING CAMS HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. 51 - Eddie Martin -- Stilwell, OK (4)
2. 26 - Brian Williams -- Fayetteville, AR (3)
3. 15L - Larry Campbell -- Van Buren, AR (9)
4. 02x - B.J. Robinson -- Shreveport, LA (6)
5. 5w - John O. Whittington -- Vidor, TX (5)
6. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. -- Corpus Christi, TX
7. 6m - Andy Milliken -- Greenwood, AR (1)
8. 22h - J.P. Hassett -- Fort Smith, AR (10)
9. 88 - A.J. Sharpensteen -- Amarillo, TX (2) DNF
10. 64 - Jay Sale -- Edmond, OK (7) DNF

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (10 laps):
1. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (2)
2. 54 - Dena Wilson -- Coweta, OK (3)
3. 18x - Brandon Watts -- Fort Gibson, OK (1)
4. C8 - Timothy Culp -- West Monroe, LA (6)
5. 2a - Tim Adams -- Fort Smith, AR (5)
6. 1/4 - Brandon Hunter -- Alma, AR (7)
7. 5x - Dustin Reed -- Little Rock, AR (8)
8. 55 - Brandon Cheek -- Hackett, AR (4) DNF
9. 40 - Brian Green -- Pierce City, MO (9) DNF
10. 13 - David Mitchell -- Ashdown, AR (10) DNS

HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 60 - William Gould -- Fort Smith, AR (2)
2. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (3)
3. 2w - Paul White -- Temple, TX (8)
4. 26x - Allen Chickering -- Okarche, OK (4)
5. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (9)
6. 18 - Jack Sullivan -- Greenbrier, AR (6)
7. 8j - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (7)
8. 17 - Brad Lasater -- Garland, TX (1)
9. 46 - Trevor Latham -- Rogers, AR (5) DNF

HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 12b - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR (1)
2. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (2)
3. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (6)
4. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (4)
5. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (5)
6. 17h - Brent Holman -- Rogers, AR (7)
7. 1 - George Martin -- Fort Smith, AR (8)
8. 12h - Jeff Huckaby -- Texarkana, TX (9)
9. 33 - Lonnie Robbins -- Alma, AR (3) DNF

HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (7)
2. 89 - Tate Cole -- Muskogee, OK (2)
3. 75 - Alan Sharpensteen -- Amarillo, TX (5)
4. 8h - Brandon Henry -- Ozark, AR (1)
5. 5r - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (8)
6. B29 - Tammy Mitchell -- Pea Ridge, AR (3) DNF
7. 88 - Chad Wheeler -- Muskogee, OK (6) DNF
8. 9 - Shane Hebert -- Lafayette, LA (4) DNF
9. 15w - Lee Walchli -- Lavaca, AR (9) DNF

HEAT RACE #6 (8 laps):
1. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (2)
2. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (3)
3. 15 - Curtis Allen -- Yukon, OK (8)
4. 31 - Elias Anderson -- Austin, TX (1)
5. 38r - Jeremy Ross -- Locust Grove, OK (5)
6. 117 - Jason Teague -- Tahlequah, OK (9)
7. 011 - Mac Harmon -- Hewitt, TX (4)
8. X - Brandon Wilson -- Fort Smith, AR (7) DNF
9. 41 - Dustin Davis -- Kansas, OK (6) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (1)
2. 75 - Alan Sharpensteen -- Amarillo, TX (2)
3. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. -- Corpus Christi, TX (7)
4. C8 - Timothy Culp -- West Monroe, LA (3)
5. 2a - Tim Adams -- Fort Smith, AR (6)
6. 1 - George Martin -- Fort Smith, AR (9)
7. 15w - Lee Walchli -- Lavaca, AR (14)
8. 12h - Jeff Huckaby -- Texarkana, TX (11)
9. 26x - Allen Chickering -- Okarche, OK (4) DNF
10. 31 - Elias Anderson -- Austin, TX (5) DNF
11. 88 - Chad Wheeler -- Muskogee, OK (10) DNF
12. 18 - Jack Sullivan -- Greenbrier, AR (8) DNF
13. 9 - Shane Hebert -- Lafayette, LA (12) DNF
14. 40 - Brian Green -- Pierce City, MO (13) DNF
15. 13 - David Mitchell -- Ashdown, AR (15) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (1)
2. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (4)
3. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (3)
4. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (6)
5. 18x - Brandon Watts -- Fort Gibson, OK (2)
6. 117 - Jason Teague -- Tahlequah, OK (5)
7. 46 - Trevor Latham -- Rogers, AR (13)
8. 6m - Andy Milliken -- Greenwood, AR (9)
9. 1/4 - Brandon Hunter -- Alma, AR (7)
10. 011 - Mac Harmon -- Hewitt, TX (10)
11. 55 - Brandon Cheek -- Hackett, AR (11)
12. 41 - Dustin Davis -- Kansas, OK (14)
13. X - Brandon Wilson -- Fort Smith, AR (12) DNF
14. B29 - Tammy Mitchell -- Pea Ridge, AR (8) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #3 (12 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 89 - Tate Cole -- Muskogee, OK (1)
2. 5w - John O Whittington -- Vidor, TX (5)
3. 8h - Brandon Henry -- Ozark, AR (4)
4. 5r - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (3)
5. 17h - Brent Holman -- Rogers, AR (7)
6. 33 - Lonnie Robins -- Alma, AR (13)
7. 38r - Jeremy Ross -- Locust Grove, OK (6)
8. 8j - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (9)
9. 17 - Brad Lasater -- Garland, TX (11)
10. 22h - J.P. Hassett -- Fort Smith, AR (10)
11. 64 - Jay Sale -- Edmond, OK (14) DNF
12. 5x - Dustin Reed -- Little Rock, AR (8) DNF
13. 02x - B.J. Robinson -- Shreveport, LA (2) DNF
14. 88 - A.J. Sharpensteen -- Amarillo, TX (12) DNS

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (30 laps):
1. 51 - Eddie Martin -- Stilwell, OK (8)
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (5)
3. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (13)
4. 15L - Larry Campbell -- Van Buren, AR (1)
5. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (12)
6. 26 - Brian Williams -- Fayetteville, AR (10)
7. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (15)
8. 2w - Paul White -- Temple, TX (4)
9. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (2)
10. 5w - John O Whittington -- Vidor, TX (19)
11. 60 - William Gould -- Fort Smith, AR (6)
12. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. -- Corpus Christi, TX (20)
13. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (18)
14. 8h - Brandon Henry -- Ozark, AR (22)
15. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (3)
16. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (14)
17. 54 - Dena Wilson -- Coweta, OK (11)
18. 9 - Shane Hebert -- Lafayette, LA (23)
19. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (21)
20. 89 - Tate Cole -- Muskogee, OK (16) DNF
21. 12b - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR (7) DNF
22. 5r - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (24) DNF
23. 15 - Curtis Allen -- Yukon, OK (9) DNF
24. 75 - Alan Sharpensteen -- Amarillo, TX (17) DNF

Lap Leaders: Campbell 1-9, E. Martin 10-30.
Total Laps Led: E. Martin 21, Campbell 9 .
AFCO Pole Winner: Shryock.
Provisional Starters: Hebert, Bagley.
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Hughes (started 13th, finished 3rd).
Next Race: Wednesday, June 4, I-30 Speedway, Little Rock, Ark.
O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series Points: Hughes 939, Holzkamper 881, Weder 784, Whittington 719, White 700, Hebert 680, Rowland 640, Kenny 637, Ramirez 637, Bagley 614.
Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year Points: Whittington 181, Hebert 160, Ramirez 157, Bagley 151, Rowland 143.
Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 93, Shinook 75, Wells 62, Wall2Wall 51, Sput’s 45.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Hughes 93, TRE 82, Skyrocket 66, Kraft 57, Dust Devil 48.

Contingency Awards:
American Racer – Sullivan.
Belleville Motorsports – not awarded.
BSB Manufacturing – Whittington.
Hawk Performance – E. Martin, Sanders.
Isky Racing Cams – E. Martin.
KSE Racing Products – Hughes.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Alan Sharpensteen.
New Vision Graphics – Sanders.
Nitroquest Web Solutions - Hughes.
Quarter Master – E. Martin, White.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Holzkamper.
Real Racing Wheels – Kenny, Holzkamper.
Ruter Farms – not awarded.
TrackTek Racing Fuel – not awarded.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

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., Karl Chevrolet, 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.