BLOOMFIELD, Iowa – Anybody who was thinking that Kelly Shryock may be losing his touch were given a loud wake-up call Friday night as the eight-time O'Reilly USMTS National Champion dominated the first night of the 3rd Annual Iowa-Missouri Border War at the Bloomfield (Iowa) Speedway.

Shryock started on the pole for the 35-lap Holley "A" Main, and was never challenged en route to his tenth O'Reilly USMTS National Tour win of the season.

The win, worth $2,000, was a timely pick-me-up for Shryock, who had suffered a career-worst three DNFs in three of the last six main events.

Shryock's failure to finish Thursday night's main event at the Knox County Fairgrounds allowed Zack VanderBeek to close the gap on the Central Region points leader.

But Shryock's performance on Friday, coupled with VanderBeek's 13th-place finish, gives Shryock a wide enough cushion that simply showing up for Saturday's race at the 24 Raceway in Moberly, Mo., should be enough to seal the deal in the Central States Region finale.

In a battle between the two drivers from Woodward, Okla., fighting for the Rookies Rockin' Sports Bar Rookie of the Year crown, Brandon Kenny came from 14th to finish fourth—one spot ahead of Dereck Ramirez—and garnered the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award in the process.

The pair are currently neck-and-neck in what is proving to be the closest-ever race for the rookie title.

Although Kenny holds a slim 14-point lead (726 to 712) over Ramirez, there are still 23 events left on the 58-race O'Reilly USMTS National Tour schedule.

After claiming his first AFCO Pole Award, Ryan Gustin went on the take sixth in Friday's main event, followed by Dean Mahlstedt, Scott Green, Michael Long and Al Hejna.

With Shryock sitting comfortably atop the rankings going into Saturday's Central States Region finale, and VanderBeek a safe bet to lock-up second in points, the battles for positions behind them are hot and tight.

Ramirez is currently third with 798 points, with Hejna just three markers behind in fourth. Fifth is Gustin with 726, followed by Ver Beek (701), Jason Hughes (655), Donovan Lodge (655), Dean Mahlstedt (573) and Alan Mondus (563).

UP NEXT:

The 3rd Annual Iowa-Missouri Border War moves from the Hawkeye State to the Show-Me State as the O'Reilly USMTS National Tour invades the 24 Raceway in Moberly, Mo., for the first time in the ten-year history of the series. Saturday's event will be the final points race in the Central States Region, with 24 Raceway's weekly B-Mods, Sportsmans, Hobby Stocks and Hornets also on the racing card.

Pit gates will open at 4 p.m., hot laps begin at 6:15 and the first heat race is at 7 p.m. Adults grandstand tickets are just $15, kids ages 6-12 are $5 and children, 5 & Under get in for free. Pit passes are $25.

Race fans can pick up $2-off discount coupons at all Casey's General Stores locations in Macon, Madison and Moberly. Zack VanderBeek and his Casey's General Stores/Cheetos #33z Skyrocket Modified will meet and greet fans at the Casey's General Stores located at 1222 Hurley St. in Moberly from 12-2 p.m.

The 24 Raceway is a 4/10-mile high-banked clay oval located 3.5 miles east of US 63 on US 24. For more information, call (573) 881-8861 or visit the track's website at www.24racewayinmoberly.com.

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 (Central States Region)
3rd Annual Iowa-Missouri Border War (Night 1 of 2)
Bloomfield Speedway, Bloomfield, Iowa
Friday, Aug. 1, 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. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (1)
2. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (4)
3. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (8)
4. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (9)
5. 45 - Tony Fraise -- Donnellson, IA (6)
6. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (7)
7. 71 - David Holder -- Clarence, MO (5)
8. 49j - Jason Murray -- Hartford, IA (3)
9. 105 - Kevin Peters -- Monmouth, IL (2) DNF

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (10 laps):
1. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (4)
2. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (2)
3. 4rv - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (7)
4. 19 - Richie Gustin Jr. -- Gilman, IA (8)
5. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (6)
6. 22 - Brandon Banks -- Washington, IA (1)
7. 77 - Jim Lynch -- Bloomfield, IA (3)
8. 4 - Tony Dunker -- Quincy, IL (5)

Q.E.M., INC. HEAT RACE #3 (10 laps):
1. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (2)
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (3)
3. 40 - Scott Dickey -- Packwood, IA (4)
4. 18L - Michael Long -- Quincy, IL (8)
5. 17p - Brad Pinkerton -- New Sharon, IA (7)
6. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (5)
7. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (6)
8. 98 - Mitch Morris -- Long Grove, IA (1)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN (12 laps, top 10 advance):
1. 45 - Tony Fraise -- Donnellson, IA (2)
2. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (4)
3. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (9)
4. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (3)
5. 71 - David Holder -- Clarence, MO (7)
6. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (6)
7. 22 - Brandon Banks -- Washington, IA (5)
8. 17p - Brad Pinkerton -- New Sharon, IA (1)
9. 4 - Tony Dunker -- Quincy, IL (11)
10. 105 - Kevin Peters -- Monmouth, IL (13) DNF
11. 77 - Jim Lynch -- Bloomfield, IA (8) DNF
12. 49j - Jason Murray -- Hartford, IA (10) DNF
13. 98 - Mitch Morris -- Long Grove, IA (12) DNS

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (1)
2. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (5)
3. 4rv - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (3)
4. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (14)
5. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (4)
6. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (6)
7. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (7)
8. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (2)
9. 18L - Michael Long -- Quincy, IL (11)
10. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (8)
11. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (9)
12. 19 - Richie Gustin Jr. -- Gilman, IA (10)
13. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (15)
14. 17p - Brad Pinkerton -- New Sharon, IA (20)
15. 71 - David Holder -- Clarence, MO (17)
16. 40 - Scott Dickey -- Packwood, IA (12)
17. 4 - Tony Dunker -- Quincy, IL (21)
18. 45 - Tony Fraise -- Donnellson, IA (13) DNF
19. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (18) DNF
20. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (16) DNF
21. 49j - Jason Murray -- Hartford, IA (24) DNF
22. 105 - Kevin Peters -- Monmouth, IL (22) DNF
23. 22 - Brandon Banks -- Washington, IA (19) DNF

Lap Leaders: Shryock 1-35.
Total Laps Led: Shryock 35.
AFCO Pole Winner: Ramirez.
Provisional Starters: Murray.
Ruter Farms Long Tow: Green (400.29 miles).
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Kenny (started 14th, finished 4th).
Next Race: Saturday, Aug. 2, 24 Raceway, Moberly, Mo. (Central States Region).
Central States Region Points: Shryock 910, VanderBeek 851, Ramirez 798, Hejna 795, Gustin 726, Ver Beek 701, Jason Hughes 655, Lodge 655, Mahlstedt 573, Alan Mondus 563.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points: Kenny 726, Ramirez 712, Rowland 465, Colt Mather 191, Gary Langworthy Jr. 161.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Sput’s 314, Mullins 260, Wanders 242, A.S.I. 228, JR 213.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 331, Hughes 267, Harris 213, Kraft 207, Specialty 94.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – Ramirez.
American Racer – Ryan Gustin.
Belleville Motorsports – not awarded.
BSB Manufacturing – Hejna.
Hawk Performance – Shryock, Long.
Isky Racing Cams – Ryan Gustin.
KSE Racing Products – Kenny.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Banks.
New Vision Graphics – Ramirez.
Nitroquest Web Solutions - Ver Beek.
Quarter Master – Shryock, Green.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Mahlstedt.
Real Racing Wheels – Kenny.
Ruter Farms – LongestTow.
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, AwesomeRaceSuits.com, 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, Buzzard Racing Engines, 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.