NEVADA, Mo. – On the eve of the opening event of the Casey's General Stores Hunt for the O'Reilly USMTS National Championship, Tommy Weder Jr. positioned himself as the hottest driver entering the title chase as he scored his second victory in as many nights with another late-race charge to the checkers.

On Wednesday night, Weder ran down eight-time O'Reilly USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock to take the lead and pick up his career-first O'Reilly National Tour win at Heartland Park Topeka.

In similar fashion, the 23-year-old from Woodward, Okla., ducked underneath Scott Green with 13 laps to go and went on to win Thursday's Mo-Kan Region Championship presented by Buzzard Racing Engines at the Nevada (Mo.) Speedway.

Green, who was seeking his first O'Reilly USMTS National Tour triumph, earned the AFCO Pole Award with a prolific passing seminar in his heat race, then jumped into the lead at the start of the 40-lap Holley "A" Main from his outside front row starting spot. Using the high side of the quarter-mile bullring, Green paced the first 27 laps before Weder scooted by on the inside to take the reigns.

Weder, who started fourth, followed Green around the top of the racetrack throughout most of the race until Justin Boney showed his nose to the leaders on lap 25. Weder dove to the bottom on the next lap to slow Boney's charge and took the top spot away from Green one lap later.

While Weder pocketed he $2,000 top prize, Boney also got by Green to take the runner-up paycheck. Jason Hughes was fourth and Bryan Rowland rounded out the top-5 finishers. Sixth through tenth, respectively, went to Shryock, Brian Bolin, Jamie Burford, Jason Teague and Dereck Ramirez.

With his 11th top-10 finish in 12 starts, Shryock secured the Mo-Kan Region title ahead of Hughes, Jon Tesch, John Allen, Brandon Kenny, Boney, Zack VanderBeek, Jason Krohn, Weder and Johnny Bone Jr. With their top-10 finish in the final Mo-Kan Region rankings, three drivers—Allen, Boney and Bone—secured a berth in the Casey's General Stores Hunt for the O'Reilly USMTS National Championship while the other seven padded their base points total going into Friday night's Hunt kickoff at the Midway Speedway in Lebanon, Mo.

Rowland finished 11th in the final Mo-Kan Region standings, but earned an additional 5 points for perfect attendance in the region.

With action in all four regions complete, a record 39 O'Reilly USMTS National Tour and O'Reilly USMTS Southern Series drivers are qualified for the Casey's General Stores Hunt for the O'Reilly USMTS National Championship and a shot at becoming the 10th O'Reilly USMTS National Champion.

Shryock leads the field into battle as the initial points leader in the Casey's General Stores Hunt for the O'Reilly USMTS National Championship, but any one of the 39 qualified drivers has a legitimate shot at becoming the O'Reilly USMTS National Champion.

The class of 2008:

1. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa … 57 points
2. Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa … 51
3. Jason Hughes, Westville, Okla. … 45
4. Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla. … 42
5. Brandon Kenny, Woodward, Okla. … 38
6. Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa … 34
7. Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D. … 26
8. Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, Okla. … 18
9. Tim Donlinger, Rochester, Minn. … 15
9. Scott Green, Derby, Kan. … 15
11. Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, Ark. … 14
12. John O Whittington, Vidor, Texas … 12
12. Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla. … 12
12. John Allen, Chanute, Kan. … 12
15. Paul White, Temple, Texas … 11
15. Ron Ver Beek, Oskaloosa, Iowa … 11
17. Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa … 10
17. Alan Mondus, Lakeville, Minn. … 10
17. Donovan Lodge, Moline, Ill. … 10
17. Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn. … 10
17. Justin Boney, Leavenworth, Kan. … 10
22. Bob Timm, Rollingstone, Minn. … 9
23. Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La. … 8
24. Dustin Hyde, Texarkana, Texas … 6
25. Jamie Burford, Keatchie, La. … 5
25. Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas … 5
25. David Mitchell, Ashdown, Ark. … 5
25. Morgan Bagley, Longview, Texas … 5
25. Timothy Culp, West Monroe, La. … 5
25. Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas … 5
25. Jeremy Ross, Locust Grove, Okla. … 5
25. Jeff Huckaby, Texarkana, Texas … 5
25. Josh Reisch, Luverne, Minn. … 5
25. Dan Bohr, Decorah, Iowa … 5
25. Jake Neal, Omaha, Neb. … 5
36. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa … 4
37. Dean Mahlstedt, Clear Lake, Iowa … 2
38. Steve Wetzstein, West Concord, Minn. … 1
38. Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge, Ark. … 1

The schedule:

Friday, Aug. 8 … Midway Speedway, Lebanon, Mo.
Saturday, Aug. 9 … Springfield Raceway, Springfield, Mo.
Sunday, Aug. 10 … Monett Speedway, Monett, Mo.
Monday, Aug. 11 … Belleville High Banks, Belleville, Kan.
Tuesday, Aug. 12 … U.S. 36 Raceway, Osborn, Mo.
Wednesday, Aug. 13 … Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, Iowa
Thursday, Aug. 14 … Steele County Speedway, Owatonna, Minn.
Friday, Aug. 15 … Tri-Oval Speedway, Fountain City, Wis.
Thursday, Aug. 28 … Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, Iowa
Friday, Aug. 29 … Chateau Raceway, Lansing, Minn.
Saturday, Aug. 30 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn.
Sunday, Aug. 31 … Kasson Speedway, Kasson, Minn.
Monday, Sept. 1 … Steele County Speedway, Owatonna, Minn.
Saturday, Sept. 13 … Marshalltown Speedway, Marshalltown, Iowa
Sunday, Sept. 14 … Fayette County Speedway, West Union, Iowa
Thursday, Sept. 18 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn.
Friday, Sept. 19 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn.
Saturday, Sept. 20 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn.

The Casey's General Stores Hunt for the O'Reilly USMTS National Championship is slated for 18 races—more events than most series stage in an entire season—beginning with Friday's event at the Midway Speedway and ending at the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., on the final night of the 10th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree on Saturday, Sept. 20.

Expected entries for the local area racers include former track champions Jamie Ragland, Tony Jackson Jr. and Eric Hudson, along with Justin Neuman, Eric Turner, Rex Merritt, Steve Muilenburg, Terry Phillips, Jeremy Payne and many more.

"We have had many different types of specials at Midway and this should rank up with the best show ever," said promoter Jack Jones. "Midway has provided excellent close action this season and this will even raise the bar as 40 or more Modifieds are expected to be on hand. This will be like the old western shootout days where the out-of-town drivers ride into the area and tangle with the local standouts.

This will be the third season using the Hunt format to determine the O'Reilly USMTS National Champion. Shryock won his eighth title in 2006 while Jason Krohn took the 2007 title to become the only other driver besides Shryock to wear the crown. Krohn started last year's 15-race Hunt in 16th place and with just seven points.

The Midway Speedway is a 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval located 0.5 mile south of SR 32 on CR B in Lebanon, Mo. Gates will open on Friday at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 7:30 and racing at 8 p.m. For race day information call the track hotline at (417) 588-4430 or check out www.lebanonmidwayspeedway.com online.

Race fans can pick up $2-off discount coupons at al three Casey's General Stores locations in Lebanon. Shryock and his Casey's General Stores #3 Skyrocket Modified will meet and greet fans from 12-2 p.m. at the Casey's store at 669 W. Elm St. in Lebanon.

Local Midway Speedway Bombers, Super Stocks and Factory Stocks will round out Friday's racing card.

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)
Mo-Kan Championship presented by Buzzard Racing Engines
Nevada Speedway, Nevada, Mo.
Thursday, Aug. 7, 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. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (4)
2. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (3)
3. 5c - Don Crnkovich -- Lenexa, KS (5)
4. 23 - Lucas Dobbs -- El Dorado Springs, MO (7)
5. 8j - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (9)
6. 43 - Craig Wood -- El Dorado Springs, MO (1)
7. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (6)
8. 6 - Donnie Powers -- Henderson, TX (2) DNF
9. 76 - Jeff Douty -- Butler, MO (8) DNF

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (10 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (2)
2. X2 - Brian Bolin -- Fort Scott, KS (1)
3. 63 - Ryan Whitworth -- Humboldt, KS (3)
4. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (5)
5. 20 - Jack Simmons -- Erie, KS (4)
6. 56 - Tony Jackson Jr. -- Lebanon, MO (6)
7. 120 - Bob Kerbs -- Nevada, MO (7)
8. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (8) DNS

Q.E.M., INC. HEAT RACE #3 (10 laps):
1. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (1)
2. 4g - Gary Clark -- Walker, MO (2)
3. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (5)
4. 98 - John Allen -- Chanute, KS (7)
5. 52 - Mitch Keeter -- Webb City, MO (3)
6. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (6)
7. 118 - Terry Beckham II -- Webb City, MO (4)
8. 66x - Dustin Campbell -- Nevada, MO (8) DNS

HEAT RACE #4 (10 laps):
1. 117 - Jason Teague -- Tahlequah, OK (1)
2. 66 - Mike Paillou -- Pass Christian, MS (3)
3. 8r - Darren Roberts -- Archie, MO (7)
4. 47 - Andy Claiborne -- Fort Scott, KS (2)
5. 4 - Josh Poe -- Garnett, KS (4)
6. 71 - Jim Body -- Diamond, MO (8)
7. 12t - Tyler Townsend -- Longview, TX (5) DNF
8. 21 - Jackie Dalton -- Carthage, MO (6) DNF

HEAT RACE #5 (10 laps):
1. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (4)
2. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (6)
3. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (5)
4. 11s - Scotty Bough -- Nevada, MO (1)
5. 12e - Cody Elnicki -- Girard, KS (3)
6. 19sb - Lance Mari -- El Centro, CA (7)
7. 8 - Ronnie Bunn -- Deerfield, MO (2)
8. 19t - Kelby Taylor -- Bolivar, MO (8) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (1)
2. 63 - Ryan Whitworth -- Humboldt, KS (3)
3. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (4)
4. 118 - Terry Beckham II -- Webb City, MO (11)
5. 56 - Tony Jackson Jr. -- Lebanon, MO (9)
6. 21 - Jackie Dalton -- Carthage, MO (14)
7. 11s - Scotty Bough -- Nevada, MO (5)
8. 23 - Lucas Dobbs -- El Dorado Springs, MO (2)
9. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (10)
10. 19sb - Lance Mari -- El Centro, CA (8)
11. 12e - Cody Elnicki -- Girard, KS (7) DNF
12. 8 - Ronnie Bunn -- Deerfield, MO (12) DNF
13. 52 - Mitch Keeter -- Webb City, MO (6) DNF
14. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (13) DNS
15. 76 - Jeff Douty -- Butler, MO (15) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 98 - John Allen -- Chanute, KS (2)
2. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (9)
3. 8j - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (3)
4. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (1)
5. 20 - Jack Simmons -- Erie, KS (5)
6. 71 - Jim Body -- Diamond, MO (7)
7. 66x - Dustin Campbell -- Nevada, MO (13)
8. 120 - Bob Kerbs -- Nevada, MO (10)
9. 47 - Andy Claiborne -- Fort Scott, KS (4)
10. 12t - Tyler Townsend -- Longview, TX (11)
11. 19t - Kelby Taylor -- Bolivar, MO (14)
12. 4 - Josh Poe -- Garnett, KS (6)
13. 6 - Donnie Powers -- Henderson, TX (12)
14. 43 - Craig Wood -- El Dorado Springs, MO (8) DNF

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (4)
2. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (6)
3. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (2)
4. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (5)
5. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (8)
6. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (13)
7. X2 - Brian Bolin -- Fort Scott, KS (10)
8. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (3)
9. 117 - Jason Teague -- Tahlequah, OK (1)
10. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (20)
11. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (16)
12. 63 - Ryan Whitworth -- Humboldt, KS (15)
13. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (17)
14. 8j - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (18)
15. 98 - John Allen -- Chanute, KS (14)
16. 56 - Tony Jackson Jr. -- Lebanon, MO (21)
17. 4g - Gary Clark -- Walker, MO (11)
18. 66 - Mike Paillou -- Pass Christian, MS (9)
19. 5c - Don Crnkovich -- Lenexa, KS (12)
20. 8r - Darren Roberts -- Archie, MO (7)
21. 118 - Terry Beckham II -- Webb City, MO (19) DNF
22. 20 - Jack Simmons -- Erie, KS (22) DNF
23. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (23) DNF
24. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (24) DNS

Lap Leaders: Green 1-27, Weder 28-40.
Total Laps Led: Green 27, Weder 13.
AFCO Pole Winner: Green.
Provisional Starters: VanderBeek, Krohn.
Ruter Farms Long Tow: Paillou (761.28 miles).
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Ramirez (started 20th, finished 10th).
Next Race: Friday, Aug. 8, Midway Speedway, Lebanon, Mo. (Casey's General Stores Hunt for the O'Reilly USMTS National Championship).
Mo-Kan Region Points (final): Shryock 1114, Hughes 1055, Tesch 1032, Allen 946, Kenny 895, Boney 892, VanderBeek 867, Krohn 806, Weder 766, Johnny Bone Jr. 694.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points: Kenny 841, Ramirez 821, Rowland 561, Rodney Sanders 193, Colt Mather 191.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Sput’s 358, Mullins 300, Wanders 279, A.S.I. 260, JR 220.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 376, Hughes 311, Kraft 244, Harris 227, GRT 96.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – Green.
American Racer – Hyde.
Belleville Motorsports – not awarded.
BSB Manufacturing – Ramirez.
Buzzard Racing Engines – Weder.
Hawk Performance – Weder.
Isky Racing Cams – Green.
KSE Racing Products – Ramirez.
Marsh Racing Wheels – VanderBeek.
New Vision Graphics – Hughes.
Nitroquest Web Solutions – Green.
Quarter Master – Weder, Burford.
QuickTime Performance Parts – not awarded.
Real Racing Wheels – Shryock, Allen.
Ruter Farms – Paillou.
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.