PARK CITY, Kan. – In front of a jam-packed grandstand—perhaps the largest ever for an O'Reilly USMTS National Tour event—Jason Hughes parlayed his pole position into his seventh O'Reilly USMTS National Tour victory of the season as he and his fellow road warriors took on the O'Reilly NCRA Modified Series at the 81 Speedway in Park City, Kan.

Although he led every lap of the 35-lapper, Hughes was shadowed throughout the event by Zack VanderBeek, then by five-time NCRA titleist Brian Franz, then again by VanderBeek in the closing laps.

Franz, who captured the AFCO Pole Award after racing from tenth to first in his heat race, started seventh in the Holley "A" Main, but clawed his way to second by the 12th lap. While Hughes chewed away at the extreme high side of the 3/8-mile clay oval, Franz hugged the bottom and challenged Hughes lap after lap to the delight of the fans at the home track of the NCRA.

By lap 25, VanderBeek found his groove and moved in front of Franz to take the runner-up spot, while Real Racing Wheels "B" Main transfers Jon Tesch, Jason Krohn, Kelly Shryock and Tommy Weder Jr. battled it out behind them.

A caution with five laps to go bunched the field and gave VanderBeek one last shot at Hughes, but this night belonged to the chassis builder from Westville, Okla.

VanderBeek settled for second for the second straight night while Tesch came from 18th to take third. Not to be outdone, Krohn turned his 21st starting position into a fourth-place finish and collected the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award.

John Allen stayed with the leaders the entire race and ended up fifth, followed by 14th-starting Brandon Kenny, Weder, 15th-starting Shryock, 16th-starting NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader and current NCRA points leader Marc Hurd, who thwarted a top-10 sweep by the USMTS invaders.

After a spectacular night, Franz slowly pulled into the pits as the white flag waved and wound up a disappointing 19th on the final scorecard.

Two events remain in the Mo-Kan Region for the O'Reilly USMTS National Tour, with Shryock comfortably out front of Tesch with a 957- to 874-point lead. Hughes is third with 865 markers, followed by Allen (820), Kenny (736), VanderBeek (734), Krohn (707), Justin Boney (706), Johnny Bone Jr. (694) and Bryan Rowland (568).

UP NEXT:

Tomorrow (Wednesday, Aug. 6) the O'Reilly USMTS heads two hours north to Heartland Park Topeka for the next-to-last Mo-Kan Region race and the second of five straight first-time venues for the United States Modified Touring Series. The inaugural event will also featuring Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace for the third straight night, with pit gates opening at 4 p.m., hot laps at 6:45 and the first heat race slated for 7:15.

Adults tickets are just $15, kids ages 6 through 12 are $5 and children 5 and under get in for free. Pit passes are $30. Race fans can pick up $2-off discount coupons at all Casey's General Stores locations in Carbondale and Topeka.

Also on the racing card will be B-Mods and Hobby Stocks.

Heartland Park Topeka is a 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval located 3.9 miles south of I-335 (Kansas Turnpike) on Topeka Blvd. For race day information, call (785) 274-0001 or visit www.hpt.com on the World Wide Web.

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 (Mo-Kan Region)
Inaugural O’Reilly NCRA vs. USMTS Modified Showdown
81 Speedway, Park City, Kan.
Tuesday, Aug. 5, 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. 29 - Marlin Farr -- Nickerson, KS (1)
2. 1d - Don Renfro -- Wichita, KS (4)
3. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (5)
4. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (7)
5. 3k - Kirk Coleman -- Wichita, KS (3)
6. 19t - Travis Govern -- Wichita, KS (8)
7. D8 - Don Hodge -- Wichita, KS (6)
8. 19b - Nic Baalman -- Wichita, KS (9)
9. 4 - Bill Stahl -- Newton, KS (2) DNF
10. 37 - Ryan Stringfellow -- Wichita, KS (10) DNS

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (4)
2. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (2)
3. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (10)
4. 117 - Jason Teague -- Tahlequah, OK (1)
5. 92 - Marc Robe -- Wichita, KS (8)
6. 77b - Brad Johnston -- Haysville, KS (9)
7. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (7) DNF
8. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (6) DNF
9. 87 - Kenneth Sweet -- Wichita, KS (3) DNF
10. 44 - Brian Powers -- Wichita, KS (5) DNF

Q.E.M., INC. HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (1)
2. 50 - Rodney Dodds -- Haysville, KS (2)
3. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (5)
4. 77 - Mike Jarvis -- Wichita, KS (4)
5. 33 - Bo Key -- Colwich, KS (6)
6. 15 - Greg Stephens -- Wichita, KS (9)
7. 9 - Ken Schrader -- Concord, NC (3)
8. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (10)
9. 69 - Cecil Dymond -- Goddard, KS (7)
10. 27 - Kevin Patton -- Wichita, KS (8) -1 Lap

HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 86 - Brian Franz -- Halstead, KS (10)
2. 98 - John Allen -- Chanute, KS (6)
3. 36 - Kenny Wallace -- Concord, NC (4)
4. 96 - Jim Johnson -- Derby, KS (7)
5. 65 - Taylor Davis -- Wichita, KS (8)
6. 90 - Shane Gerber -- Wichita, KS (9)
7. 16r - Richard Leatherman -- Andover, KS (1) DNF
8. 65t - Tim Leiker -- Garden City, KS (2) DNF
9. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (5) DNF
10. 71 - Patrick McManus -- Derby, KS (3) DNF

HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. 10 - Marc Hurd -- Wichita, KS (1)
2. 32 - Bobby Bills -- Wichita, KS (4)
3. 3d - Dan Daniels -- Humboldt, KS (3)
4. 91 - Ross Shipman -- Belle Plaine, KS (7)
5. 97 - Lincoln Moore -- Wichita, KS (8)
6. 12d - Scott Drake -- Webb City, MO (6)
7. 21j - Jason Schniepp -- Wichita, KS (10)
8. 16v - Vickie Leatherman -- Andover, KS (5) -1 Lap
9. 12g - Jeremy Green -- Enid, OK (2) DNF
10. 22b - Brian Casey -- Hutchinson, KS (9) DNF

HEAT RACE #6 (8 laps):
1. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (3)
2. 2b - Jason Bodenhamer -- Centerview, MO (1)
3. 8w - Jordan Whitehead -- Andover, KS (5)
4. 13 - Brent Burkhart -- Hutchinson, KS (6)
5. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (9)
6. 911j - Straun Taylor -- Hutchinson, KS (4)
7. K1 - Ron Lundry -- Wichita, KS (2)
8. 2w - Richard Wilson -- Wichita, KS (7) -2 Laps
9. 26 - Jimmie Hobbs -- Wichita, KS (8) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (1)
2. 36 - Kenny Wallace -- Concord, NC (2)
3. 91 - Ross Shipman -- BiellePlain, KS (3)
4. 44 - Brian Powers -- Wichita, KS (15)
5. 90 - Shane Gerber -- Wichita, KS (7)
6. 87 - Kenneth Sweet -- Wichita, KS (13)
7. D8 - Don Hodge -- Wichita, KS (9)
8. 33 - Bo Key -- Colwich, KS (6)
9. 97 - Lincoln Moore -- Wichita, KS (5)
10. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (4)
11. 22b - Brian Casey -- Hutchinson, KS (16)
12. 16v - Vickie Leatherman -- Andover, KS (12)
13. 21j - Jason Schniepp -- Wichita, KS (8)
14. 16r - Richard Leatherman -- Andover, KS (10) DNF
15. 19b - Nic Baalman -- Wichita, KS (11) DNF
16. 12g - Jeremy Green -- Enid, OK (14) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (1)
2. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (2)
3. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (11)
4. 3d - Dan Daniels -- Humboldt, KS (3)
5. 12d - Scott Drake -- Webb City, MO (8)
6. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (9)
7. 3k - Kirk Coleman -- Wichita, KS (7)
8. 2w - Richard Wilson -- Wichita, KS (12)
9. 77b - Brad Johnston -- Haysville, KS (6)
10. 69 - Cecil Dymond -- Goddard, KS (13)
11. 92 - Marc Robe -- Wichita, KS (4) DNF
12. 26 - Jimmie Hobbs -- Wichita, KS (14) DNF
13. 117 - Jason Teague -- Tahlequah, OK (5) DNF
14. K1 - Ron Lundry -- Wichita, KS (10) DNS
15. 27 - Kevin Patton -- Wichita, KS (15) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #3 (15 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 9 - Ken Schrader -- Concord, NC (9)
2. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (13)
3. 96 - Jim Johnson -- Derby, KS (2)
4. 8w - Jordan Whitehead -- Andover, KS (1)
5. 911j - Straun Taylor -- Hutchinson, KS (8)
6. 65t - Tim Leiker -- Garden City, KS (11)
7. 13 - Brent Burkhart -- Hutchinson, KS (3)
8. 19t - Travis Govern -- Wichita, KS (7)
9. 71 - Patrick McManus -- Derby, KS (15)
10. 77 - Mike Jarvis -- Wichita, KS (5)
11. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (10) DNF
12. 4 - Bill Stahl -- Newton, KS (12) DNF
13. 15 - Greg Stephens -- Wichita, KS (6) DNF
14. 65 - Taylor Davis -- Wichita, KS (4) DNF
15. 37 - Ryan Stringfellow -- Wichita, KS (14) DNS

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (1)
2. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (6)
3. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (18)
4. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (21)
5. 98 - John Allen -- Chanute, KS (4)
6. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (14)
7. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (8)
8. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (15)
9. 9 - Ken Schrader -- Concord, NC (16)
10. 10 - Marc Hurd -- Wichita, KS (2)
11. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (23)
12. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (19)
13. 29 - Marlin Farr -- Nickerson, KS (5)
14. 3d - Dan Daniels -- Humboldt, KS (24)
15. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (26)
16. 91 - Ross Shipman -- Belle Plaine, KS (20)
17. 1d - Don Renfro -- Wichita, KS (9)
18. 50 - Rodney Dodds -- Haysville, KS (12)
19. 86 - Brian Franz -- Halstead, KS (7) DNF
20. 96 - Jim Johnson -- Derby, KS (22) DNF
21. 2b - Jason Bodenhamer -- Centerview, MO (13) DNF
22. 36 - Kenny Wallace -- Concord, NC (17) DNF
23. 32 - Bobby Bills -- Wichita, KS (10) DNF
24. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (11) DNF
25. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (3) DNF
26. 44 - Brian Powers -- Wichita, KS (25) DNF

Lap Leaders: Hughes 1-35.
Total Laps Led: Hughes 35.
AFCO Pole Winner: Franz.
Provisional Starters: Boney, Ramirez, Powers (NCRA), Daniels (NCRA).
Ruter Farms Long Tow: Burford (525.98 miles).
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Krohn (started 21st, finished 4th).
Next Race: Wednesday, Aug. 6, Heartland Park Topeka (Kan.). (Mo-Kan Region).
Mo-Kan Region Points: Shryock 957, Tesch 874, Hughes 865, Allen 820, Kenny 736, VanderBeek 734, Krohn 707, Boney 706, Johnny Bone Jr. 694, Rowland 568.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points: Kenny 797, Ramirez 775, Rowland 536, Colt Mather 191, Gary Langworthy Jr. 178.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Sput’s 340, Mullins 280, Wanders 270, A.S.I. 249, JR 220.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 359, Hughes 291, Kraft 232, Harris 223, Specialty 94.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – not awarded.
American Racer – draw.
Belleville Motorsports – not awarded.
BSB Manufacturing – not awarded.
Hawk Performance – Hughes, Schrader.
Isky Racing Cams – not awarded.
KSE Racing Products – Krohn.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Sanders.
New Vision Graphics – Sanders.
Nitroquest Web Solutions - Tesch.
Quarter Master – Hughes, Shryock.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Weder.
Real Racing Wheels – Kenny, Shryock, Schrader.
Ruter Farms – Burford.
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.