JEFFERSON, S.D. – Jason Hughes of Westville, Okla., chalked up his sixth O’Reilly USMTS National Tour victory of the season Wednesday as the third race in a “Dozen Days of Dirt” thrilled a packed house at the Park Jefferson Speedway in Jefferson, S.D.

Polesitter Josh Reisch of Luverne, Minn., led the first two orbits around the 1/2-mile slightly-banked clay oval before New Sharon, Iowa's Zack VanderBeek powered into the lead.

Eyeing his second straight win in his Cheetos/Casey's General Stores #33z Skyrocket Modified, “The Z-Man” set a torrid pace for the next 20 laps before Hughes edged ahead to lead lap 23.

During the remaining 12 laps, VanderBeek never let Hughes out of his sights and made one final charge at the finish but Hughes held on to score the $2,000 victory over the 24-car field.

Jon Tesch of Watertown, S.D., grabbed a third-place paycheck while eight-time O’Reilly USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa, took fourth. Dean Mahlstedt of Clear Lake, Iowa, rounded out the top-5 finishers.

Sixth went to NASCAR fan favorite Kenny Wallace, who picked up two additional spots on the final lap when Corey Dripps and Jay Noteboom collided while racing for position. Rookies Rockin' Sports Bar Rookie of the Year contender Bryan Rowland earned the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award, racing from 21st on the starting grid to seventh a the checkered flag.

Tommy Weder Jr., 19th-starting Ken Schrader and Scott Green completed the top-10 at the flagstand.

The Great Plains Region points battle boasts a tie between Shryock and VanderBeek at the top with 377 points each. Tesch currently ranks third with 355 markers, followed by Justin Boney (325), Weder (291), Brandon Kenny (276), John Allen (274), Green (261), Dereck Ramirez (260) and Al Hejna (247). Three drivers — Steve Kosiski, Jason Krohn and Reisch — are tied for 11th, just ten points behind Hejna.

Buena Vista Raceway in Alta, Iowa, will host the next Great Plains Region event on Tuesday, June 24.

UP NEXT:

The O’Reilly USMTS National Tour will be back in action again tomorrow (Thursday, June 19) at the Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kan., for a Mo-Kan Region event. Shryock is the current points leader in the region, followed by Hughes, Tesch, Johnny Bone Jr. and John Allen.

Race fans can pick up $2-off coupons for the event at Casey's General Stores locations in Holton, Ozawkie, Perry, Silver Lake and Topeka. Zack VanderBeek will be on hand to meet and greet fans at the Casey's General Store location at 208 W. 5th in Holton from 1-3 p.m. with his Cheetos/Casey's General Stores #33z Skyrocket Modified.

Pit gates open at 4:30 p.m. and grandstand gates open at 5, with hot laps at 6:45 and racing at 7:15 p.m. Also on the racing card will be B-Mods and Factory Stocks.

Thunderhill Speedway is a 4/10-mile high-banked clay oval located 14.6 miles north of US 24 on US 75 to 142nd St., then 2.2 miles west. For race day information, call the track hotline at (785) 966-2844 or visit www.thunderhillmayetta.com online.

Thursday's event at the Thunderhill Speedway will be the fourth of 12 events over 13 grueling days:

Mon Jun 16 - Iowa State Fair Speedway, Des Moines, Iowa (winner: Jason Hughes)
Tue Jun 17 … Mineral City Speedway, Fort Dodge, Iowa (winner: Zack VanderBeek)
Wed Jun 18 … Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, S.D. (winner: Jason Hughes)
Thu Jun 19 … Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, Kan.
Fri Jun 20 … U.S. 36 Raceway, Osborn, Mo.
Sat Jun 21 … Mid America Speedway, South Coffeyville, Okla.
Mon Jun 23 … Independence Motor Speedway, Independence, Iowa
Tue Jun 24 … Buena Vista Raceway, Alta, Iowa w/ Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace
Wed Jun 25 … Huset’s Speedway, Brandon, S.D. w/ Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace
Thu Jun 26 … Casino Speedway, Watertown, S.D.
Fri Jun 27 … Rapid Speedway, Rock Rapids, Iowa
Sat Jun 28 … Nobles County Speedway, Worthington, Minn.

Afterwards, the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour teams get a well-deserved Summer Break before returning to action on Tuesday, July 22, at the Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa, for the final stretch run to the Casey's General Stores Hunt for the USMTS National Championship.

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 National Tour (Great Plains Region)
4th Annual All-Star Challenge
Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, S.D.
Wednesday, June 18, 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. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (2)
2. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (1)
3. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (4)
4. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (9)
5. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (3)
6. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (7)
7. 55 - Jim Cole -- Sioux City, IA (6)
8. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (5) DNF
9. M80 - Jim Mathieson -- Sioux City, IA (8) DNF

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (2)
2. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (5)
3. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (6)
4. 27 - Don Gerritsen Jr. -- Rock Rapids, IA (4)
5. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (7)
6. 48 - Bobby Moore -- Sioux City, IA (3)
7. 14r - Randy Rosenboom -- Rock Rapids, IA (8)
8. 36 - Kenny Wallace -- Concord, NC (1) DNF

HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (3)
2. 98 - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN (4)
3. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (7)
4. 17 - Garry Oskerson -- Fairmont, MN (2)
5. 96r - Steve Reynolds -- Springfield, SD (5)
6. 2x - Greg Peck -- Sioux City, IA (1)
7. 83 - Jesse Cowles -- Council Bluffs, IA (8) DNF
8. 9 - Ken Schrader -- Concord, NC (6) DNF

HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (1)
2. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (8)
3. 86jr - Dirk Kirk -- Sloan, IA (3)
4. 2 - Carey Umbarger -- Garner, IA (2)
5. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (5)
6. 72 - Mike Lineberry -- Fremont, NE (6)
7. 1x - Chris Abelson -- Sioux City, IA (4) DNF
8. 1j - Jonah Chinn -- Sioux City, IA (7) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 86jr - Dirk Kirk -- Sloan, IA (1)
2. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (3)
3. 2x - Greg Peck -- Sioux City, IA (6)
4. 9 - Ken Schrader -- Concord, NC (10)
5. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (5)
6. 14r - Randy Rosenboom -- Rock Rapids, IA (7)
7. 96r - Steve Reynolds -- Springfield, SD (4)
8. M80 - Jim Mathieson -- Sioux City, IA (11)
9. 55 - Jim Cole -- Sioux City, IA (8)
10. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (9) DNF
11. 17 - Garry Oskerson -- Fairmont, MN (2) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (3)
2. 36 - Kenny Wallace -- Concord, NC (9)
3. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (4)
4. 27 - Don Gerritsen Jr. -- Rock Rapids, IA (1)
5. 48 - Bobby Moore -- Sioux City, IA (5)
6. 2 - Carey Umbarger -- Garner, IA (2)
7. 83 - Jesse Cowles -- Council Bluffs, IA (7)
8. 72 - Mike Lineberry -- Fremont, NE (6)
9. 1x - Chris Abelson -- Sioux City, IA (8) DNF
10. 1j - Jonah Chinn -- Sioux City, IA (10) DNS

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (3)
2. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (2)
3. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (6)
4. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (8)
5. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (12)
6. 36 - Kenny Wallace -- Concord, NC (16)
7. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (21)
8. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (10)
9. 9 - Ken Schrader -- Concord, NC (19)
10. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (18)
11. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (14)
12. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (15)
13. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (5)
14. 48 - Bobby Moore -- Sioux City, IA (22)
15. 27 - Don Gerritsen Jr. -- Rock Rapids, IA (20)
16. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (24)
17. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (7)
18. 2 - Carey Umbarger -- Garner, IA (23) -1 Lap
19. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (11) DNF
20. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (9) DNF
21. 2x - Greg Peck -- Sioux City, IA (17) DNF
22. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (4) DNF
23. 98 - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN (1) DNF
24. 86jr - Dirk Kirk -- Sloan, IA (13) DNF

Lap Leaders: Reisch 1-2, VanderBeek 3-22, Hughes 23-35.
Total Laps Led: VanderBeek 20, Hughes 13, Reisch 2.
AFCO Pole Winner: VanderBeek.
Provisional Starters: Umbarger, Noteboom.
Ruter Farms Long Tow: Weder (611.14 miles).
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Rowland (started 21st, finished 7th).
Next Race: Thursday, June 19, Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, Kan. (Mo-Kan Region).
Great Plains Region Points: Shryock 377, VanderBeek 377, Tesch 355, Boney 325, Weder 291, Kenny 276, John Allen 274, Green 261, Ramirez 260, Hejna 247.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points: Kenny 398, Ramirez 370, Rowland 276, Gary Langworthy Jr. 128, Colt Mather 111.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Sput’s 172, Mullins 149, A.S.I. 133, Wanders 131, JR 118.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 186, Hughes 161, Harris 128, Kraft 83, Side Biter 57.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – VanderBeek.
American Racer – Boney.
Belleville Motorsports – Mahlstedt, Green, Boney.
BSB Manufacturing – Green.
Hawk Performance – Hughes, Schrader.
Isky Racing Cams – Dripps.
KSE Racing Products – Rowland.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Reisch.
New Vision Graphics – Hughes.
Nitroquest Web Solutions - Tesch.
Quarter Master – Hughes, Weder.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Rowland.
Real Racing Wheels – Kenny.
Ruter Farms – Weder.
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.