BRITT, Iowa – Mother Nature was determined to wipe out Tuesday's triumphant return of the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour to the Hancock County Speedway, but promoters John Pletcher and Darlene Weber were even more determined to make the 3rd Annual Ruter Farms Iowa Spring Challenge a reality.

Heavy rains plagued Northern Iowa in the days leading up to the event, and the Britt, Iowa, speedplant was not spared. On Monday morning, track officials were faced with a racetrack that had been transformed into a lake.

Workers spent the next 24 hours pumping thousands of gallons of water out of the track and into an empty field several blocks away. After working throughout the night and all day Tuesday, gates swung open as planned at 5 p.m., and a jam-packed grandstand of race fans were rewarded with an exciting night of action.

In the 35-lap main event, Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year contender Dereck Ramirez grabbed the lead at the drop of the green flag. The 21-year-old from Woodward, Okla., held on to the top spot for eight laps before Kelly Shryock of nearby Fertile, Iowa, ducked underneath to take away the position.

Despite several cautions that kept the field tight, and race-long challenges from Ramirez, Tommy Weder Jr., Zack VanderBeek and Al Hejna, the eight-time O’Reilly USMTS National Champion never faltered and raced on to his second win of the season in the Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region.

The $2,000 win was Shryock's fifth overall this season.

Polesitter Bob Timm of Rollingstone, Minn., drifted back as far as eighth during the race, but clawed his way back to the front to take the runner-up spot at the checkered flag. Hejna was third, Mike Sorensen grabbed fourth and Jay Noteboom rounded out the top-5 finishers.

Mark Noble debuted his #74 Miller Lite/Casey's General Stores Modified and earned the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award by racing from 17th on the starting grid to sixth at the finish line. Ryan Gustin, Ramirez, 24th-starting Alan Mondus and Tim Donlinger finished seventh through tenth, respectively.

After challenging Shryock early in the contest, both Weder and VanderBeek suffered mechanical problems and did not finish. Jason Hughes, who came into the event as the points leader in the Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region, started 18th and was up to third by using the extreme high side of the racing surface before slipping over the embankment in turn 3 with 10 laps to go and winding up 12th.

Donlinger came into Tuesday's race trailing Hughes by one point, but left Britt leading by one point (533 to 532) in the Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region. Shryock moved up two spots to third in the rankings with 520 points. Hejna is fourth with 517, followed by VanderBeek (471), Noble (433), Brandon Kenny (424), Steve Wetzstein (422), Mondus (398) and Tommy Myer (394).

UP NEXT:

The O’Reilly USMTS National Tour will return to action on Monday, June 16, for NASCAR Night presented by Karl Chevrolet at the Iowa State Fair Speedway in Des Moines, Iowa. NASCAR star Ken Schrader will strap on his helmet and stand on the gas as he competes with the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour.

Pit gates will open at 4:30 p.m. and grandstand gates will swing open at 5. Schrader will be signing autographs for the fans from 5:30 to 6:30. The first green flag is scheduled to wave at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the track, and all grandstand seating will be general admission only, so get there early to grab your seat for this one-of-a-kind event.

Also on the racing card will be Stock Cars, B-Mods and Hobby Stocks. Cars legal under USRA or IMCA rules will be able to compete, but there will be no points awarded and the claim rule will not be in effect.

Race fans can pick up $2-off coupons for the event at Casey's General Stores locations in Ankeny, Des Moines and Pleasant Hill. Mark Noble, who will be driving the Miller Lite/Casey's General Stores #74 Modified will meet and greet fans at the Casey's General Stores location at 1010 SE Oralabor Rd. in Ankeny from 12-2 p.m. At the Casey's General Stores location at 1125 N. Hickory Rd. in Pleasant Hill, Zack VanderBeek will be on hand from 12-2 p.m. with his Cheetos/Casey's General Stores #33z Modified.

The Iowa State Fair Speedway is a half-mile semi-banked dirt oval located on the east side of Des Moines at 30th St. and University Ave. For more information, call (515) 201-5526 or visit www.jjam.2y.net/statefair.html online.

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.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
O’Reilly USMTS National Tour
3rd Annual Ruter Farms Iowa Spring Challenge
Hancock County Speedway, Britt, Iowa
Tuesday, June 107, 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. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (1)
2. 66 - Dan Bohr -- Decorah, IA (3)
3. 3 - Jeff Feaster -- Dakota City, IA (4)
4. 555 - Ryan Ruter -- Kanawha, IA (5)
5. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (7)
6. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (6)
7. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (8)
8. 2 - Carey Umbarger -- Garner, IA (2) DNF

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (2)
2. 19 - Mike Sorensen -- Rochester, MN (3)
3. 1k - Pat Graham -- Ames, IA (8)
4. 3d - Tim Donlinger -- Rochester, MN (7)
5. 68 - J.J. Wise -- Manly, IA (6)
6. 50 - Brad Bakken -- Garner, IA (5)
7. 63 - Josh Meyer -- Fairmont, MN (1) DNF
8. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (4) DNF

HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (1)
2. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (5)
3. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (6)
4. 7d - Eric Dailey -- Armstrong, IA (4)
5. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (7)
6. 7ii - Mike Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (8)
7. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (2) DNF
8. 17 - Justin Sackett -- Schaller, IA (3) DNF

HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 49 - Bob Timm -- Rollingstone, MN (6)
2. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (5)
3. 72 - Doug Hillson -- Blooming Prairie, MN (4)
4. 3L - Oliver Kollofski -- Fairmont, MN (2)
5. 1 - T.J. Stalker -- Mason City, IA (3)
6. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (7)
7. 93 - Cale Sponsler -- Grimes, IA (1) DNF

HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (2)
2. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (6)
3. 90 - Steve Wetzstein -- West Concord, MN (4)
4. 2 - Joey Schaefer -- Waterloo, IA (7)
5. 7c - Nate Caruth -- Ames, IA (1)
6. 46 - Gary Pesicka -- Burt, IA (3) DNF
7. 14j - Jake Neal -- Omaha, NE (5)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 90 - Steve Wetzstein -- West Concord, MN (2)
2. 7d - Eric Dailey -- Armstrong, IA (4)
3. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (5)
4. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (10)
5. 68 - J.J. Wise -- Manly, IA (6)
6. 3 - Jeff Feaster -- Dakota City, IA (1)
7. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (11)
8. 50 - Brad Bakken -- Garner, IA (9)
9. 7c - Nate Caruth -- Ames, IA (7)
10. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (8)
11. 2 - Joey Schaefer -- Waterloo, IA (3)
12. 14j - Jake Neal -- Omaha, NE (12)
13. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (13) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 3d - Tim Donlinger -- Rochester, MN (2)
2. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (5)
3. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (8)
4. 93 - Cale Sponsler -- Grimes, IA (11)
5. 1 - T.J. Stalker -- Mason City, IA (6)
6. 555 - Ryan Ruter -- Kanawha, IA (3)
7. 63 - Josh Meyer -- Fairmont, MN (10)
8. 2 - Carey Umbarger -- Garner, IA (12)
9. 72 - Doug Hillson -- Blooming Prairie, MN (1)
10. 7ii - Mike Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (7)
11. 3L - Oliver Kollofski -- Fairmont, MN (4) DNS
12. 46 - Gary Pesicka -- Burt, IA (9) DNS
13. 17 - Justin Sackett -- Schaller, IA (13) DNS

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (3)
2. 49 - Bob Timm -- Rollingstone, MN (1)
3. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (8)
4. 19 - Mike Sorensen -- Rochester, MN (11)
5. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (12)
6. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (17)
7. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (5)
8. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (2)
9. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (24)
10. 3d - Tim Donlinger -- Rochester, MN (14)
11. 555 - Ryan Ruter -- Kanawha, IA (26)
12. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (18)
13. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (6)
14. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (23)
15. 66 - Dan Bohr -- Decorah, IA (10)
16. 93 - Cale Sponsler -- Grimes, IA (20)
17. 1 - T.J. Stalker -- Mason City, IA (22)
18. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (16)
19. 3 - Jeff Feaster -- Dakota City, IA (25) DNF
20. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (4) DNF
21. 68 - J.J. Wise -- Manly, IA (21) DNF
22. 1k - Pat Graham -- Ames, IA (9) DNF
23. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (7) DNF
24. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (19) DNF
25. 7d - Eric Dailey -- Armstrong, IA (15) DNF
26. 90 - Steve Wetzstein -- West Concord, MN (13) DNF

Lap Leaders: Ramirez 1-8, Shryock 9-35.
Total Laps Led: Shryock 27, Ramirez 8.
AFCO Pole Winner: Timm.
Provisional Starters: Kenny, Mondus, Feaster (track), Ruter (track).
Ruter Farms Long Tow: Ramirez.
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Noble (started 17th, finished 6th).
Next Race: Monday, June 16, Iowa State Fair Speedway, Des Moines, Iowa (Central States Region).
Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region Points: Donlinger 533, Hughes 532, Shryock 520, A. Hejna 517, VanderBeek 471, Noble 433, Kenny 424, Wetzstein 422, Mondus 398, Tommy Myer 394.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points: Kenny 344, Ramirez 299, Rowland 218, Gary Langworthy Jr. 128, Steve Stewart 96.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Sput’s 147, Mullins 123, A.S.I. 112, Wanders 108, JR 97.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 158, Hughes 134, Harris 110, Kraft 67, GRT 53.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – Timm.
American Racer – Shryock.
Belleville Motorsports – not awarded.
BSB Manufacturing – Donlinger.
Hawk Performance – Shryock, Mondus.
Isky Racing Cams – Rowland.
KSE Racing Products – Noble.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Wetzstein.
New Vision Graphics – A. Hejna.
Nitroquest Web Solutions - A. Hejna.
Quarter Master – Shryock, Ramirez.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Gustin.
Real Racing Wheels – Wetzstein, Donlinger.
Ruter Farms – Ramirez.
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., 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.