OSBORN, Mo. – Five days ago, Tim Donlinger had a decision to make: race at his hometrack where he had won six features this season and was the points leader, or head south and compete for the chance to become the 2008 O'Reilly USMTS National Champion.

Last Friday found Donlinger at the Midway Speedway in Lebanon, Mo., for the first race of the Casey's General Stores Hunt for the O'Reilly USMTS National Championship, where he finished sixth in the main event. But on Saturday, rain washed out the event scheduled at the Springfield (Mo.) Raceway while back home in nearby Spring Valley, Minn., the 2008 USRA Modified track championship at the Deer Creek Speedway became an impossibility.

Sunday's O'Reilly USMTS National Tour event was rained out too, so Donlinger and the rest of the teams headed for the Belleville (Kan.) High Banks. The World's Fastest Half-Mile Dirt Track was not kind to Donlinger as the engine in his Ron's Automotive #3D Skyrocket erupted in a cloud of smoke on the final lap of his heat race, sidelining him for the evening.

Tuesday night, however, was just what the doctor ordered.

After a dominating performance in his heat race where he bolted from sixth to first in the eight-lapper, Donlinger started the main event fifth but wasted just eight more laps before snagging the lead away from Justin Boney then running away and hiding from the field at the U.S. 36 Raceway in Osborn, Mo.

The $2,000 victory advanced the Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region titleist up four spots in the points standings to seventh—57 markers behind points leader Kelly Shryock.

Sixth through tenth, respectively, in Tuesday's Holley "A" Main were Boney, Jason Krohn, Scott Green, Brandon Kenny and Ron Ver Beek.

Although the first three races of the Casey's General Stores Hunt for the O'Reilly USMTS National Championship have been memorable ones, Jason Hughes would probably prefer to take a mulligan and start over. After finishing eighth on Friday, Hughes has found himself in the pits with his helmet removed before the finish of the last two races. While running third in the main event on Monday, a blown engine sidelined Hughes.

Again Tuesday night, Hughes was sixth in the latter stages of the race when his machine erupted into a fireball down the back-stretch. He was able to pull his car into the infield and climb out quickly without suffering injury. Nonetheless, after coming into The Hunt sitting third in the standings, Hughes is now tied for 11th and 80 points behind the leader.

UP NEXT:

No rest for the wicked as the O'Reilly USMTS National Tour treks from the northwest corner of Missouri to the northeast corner of Iowa on Wednesday for the 4th Annual Summer Challenge at the Upper Iowa Speedway in Decorah, Iowa.

Gates open at 5 p.m. and hot laps start at 6:30. Racing will immediately follow.

Shryock and his Casey's General Stores #3 Skyrocket Modified will appear at the Casey's General Store at 401 College Dr. in Decorah from 1-3 p.m. Race fans can pick up $2-off admission coupons all day long at the same Casey's location.

The Upper Iowa Speedway is a 1/4-mile semi-banked clay oval located 1.8 miles east of US 52 on SR 9, then 1.0 mile northwest on Montgomery St., then northeast on E. Main St. (at the Winneshiek County Fairgrounds). For race day information, call the track hotline at (563) 382-9984 or visit www.upperiowaspeedway.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 (Casey's General Stores Hunt for the O'Reilly USMTS National Championship)
Inaugural Event
U.S. 36 Raceway, Osborn, Mo.
Tuesday, Aug. 12, 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. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (2)
2. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (3)
3. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (6)
4. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (1)
5. 4rv - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (4)
6. 8j - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (7)
7. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (5) DNF

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (1)
2. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (2)
3. 49 - Bob Timm -- Rollingstone, MN (3)
4. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (5)
5. 09 - Josh Stephens -- Independence, MO (7)
6. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (6)
7. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (4) DNF

Q.E.M., INC. HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 3d - Tim Donlinger -- Rochester, MN (6)
2. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (4)
3. 14j - Jake Neal -- Omaha, NE (3)
4. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (5)
5. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (7)
6. 2 - Carey Umbarger -- Garner, IA (2) DNF
7. 29 - Dennis Elliott -- Mt. Ayr, IA (1) DNF

HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 98 - John Allen -- Chanute, KS (4)
2. 36 - Kenny Wallace -- Concord, NC (1)
3. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (7)
4. 5c - Don Crnkovich -- Lenexa, KS (5)
5. 55d - Michael Dotson -- Lathrop, MO (2)
6. 32 - Cody Owens -- Kansas City, MO (3)
7. 0 - Kevin Kohler -- Bethany, MO (6)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (10 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (1)
2. 4rv - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (4)
3. 5c - Don Crnkovich -- Lenexa, KS (2)
4. 8j - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (5)
5. 29 - Dennis Elliott -- Mt. Ayr, IA (8)
6. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (7)
7. 2 - Carey Umbarger -- Garner, IA (6)
8. 09 - Josh Stephens -- Independence, MO (3) -1 Lap

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (10 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (2)
2. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (1)
3. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (3)
4. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (7)
5. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (5)
6. 55d - Michael Dotson -- Lathrop, MO (4)
7. 32 - Cody Owens -- Kansas City, MO (6)
8. 0 - Kevin Kohler -- Bethany, MO (8) -1 Lap

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. 3d - Tim Donlinger -- Rochester, MN (5)
2. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (2)
3. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (8)
4. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (3)
5. 98 - John Allen -- Chanute, KS (4)
6. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS (1)
7. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (9)
8. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (23)
9. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (7)
10. 4rv - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (15)
11. 14j - Jake Neal -- Omaha, NE (12)
12. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (14)
13. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (20)
14. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (13)
15. 8j - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (19)
16. 29 - Dennis Elliott -- Mt. Ayr, IA (21)
17. 36 - Kenny Wallace -- Concord, NC (10)
18. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (18)
19. 2 - Carey Umbarger -- Garner, IA (24)
20. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (6) DNF
21. 5c - Don Crnkovich -- Lenexa, KS (17) DNF
22. 49 - Bob Timm -- Rollingstone, MN (11) DNF
23. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (16) DNF
24. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (22) DNF

Lap Leaders: Boney 1-8, Donlinger 9-35.
Total Laps Led: Donlinger 27, Boney 8.
AFCO Pole Winner: Donlinger.
Provisional Starters: Green, Umbarger.
Ruter Farms Long Tow: Weder (458.92 miles).
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Mondus (started 20th, finished 13th).
Next Race: Wednesday, Aug. 13, Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, Iowa.
Casey's General Stores Hunt for the O'Reilly USMTS National Championship Points: Shryock 317, VanderBeek 312, Tesch 288, Hejna 265, Allen 262, Ramirez 259, Donlinger 258, Krohn 253, Ver Beek 249, Rowland 243.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points: Kenny 906, Ramirez 892, Rowland 628, Rodney Sanders 193, Colt Mather 191.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Sput’s 387, Mullins 320, Wanders 300, A.S.I. 280, JR 239.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 403, Hughes 336, Kraft 270, Harris 243, GRT 112.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – Donlinger.
American Racer – Umbarger.
Belleville Motorsports – not awarded.
BSB Manufacturing – Ver Beek.
Hawk Performance – Donlinger, Kenny.
Isky Racing Cams – Weder.
KSE Racing Products – Mondus.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Hejna.
New Vision Graphics – Shryock.
Nitroquest Web Solutions – Shryock.
Quarter Master – Donlinger, Green.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Krohn.
Real Racing Wheels – Tesch, Ramirez.
Ruter Farms – Weder.
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.