LANSING, Minn. – Even if their favorite driver came up short, it would have been difficult for any person sitting in the jam-packed Chateau Raceway grandstands Friday night to leave the track without grinning from ear to ear.

Eight-time O'Reilly USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock drew the pole for the Holley "A" Main while current Rookies Rockin' Sports Bar Rookie of the Year points leader Brandon Kenny started made it a Skyrocket Chassis front row for the start of the 40-lapper.

With Kenny chewing away at the high side and Shryock hugging the bottom of the 1/3-mile clay oval, the pair ran literally side by side for the first half of the race. Kenny edged Shryock at the flagstand for the first 10 laps before Shryock was finally credited with leading a lap on the 11th circuit. Kenny regained the lead the next time around and kept a bumper-length advantage over Shryock at the stripe for the next eight laps.

A caution on lap 20 slowed the field with Kenny leading the charge for the restart. This time, however, Shryock got the advantage and took a car-length lead on lap 21 while Jon Tesch remained third with the best seat in the house to watch the battle up front.

While Shryock clung to a slight advantage over Kenny, Tim Donlinger was bringing his Skyrocket to the front. After disposing of Tesch, Donlinger closed in on the leader with six laps to go.

During the redraw prior to the start of the main event, the last two drivers to draw were Donlinger and Shryock with the number 1 and 8 the remaining numbers. Donlinger, who had scored five runner-up finishes in his five weekly starts this season at Chateau Raceway, was first to draw and picked the 8, sending him to the outside of the fourth row for the start and leaving the pole for Shryock.

Donlinger's tough draw got worse as he was forced up high on the first lap and fell completely out of the top 10.

But with three laps to go, Donlinger was able to sneak his nose underneath Shryock to lead lap 38. From there, Donlinger was able to keep his Modified in front of Shryock's to cruise to his fourth O'Reilly USMTS National Tour victory of the season. The $2,000 triumph was his second of the Casey's General Stores Hunt for the O'Reilly USMTS National Championship as he became the first repeat winner in the eight events staged so far.

Shryock had to settle for the runner-up paycheck while Steve Wetzstein advanced to third in the late stages of the race. Tesch finished fourth and Kenny slipped to fifth at the checkered flag. Sixth through 10th, respectively, went to Zack VanderBeek, Jacob Dahle, Todd Scharkey, Tommy Weder Jr. and Ryan Gustin.

Although still winless in ’The Hunt’, Shryock's second-place finish was good enough to move him into the points lead—just one point ahead of Donlinger (743 to 742). VanderBeek slipped to third, but is a mere seven points out of the lead with 736 markers. Tesch is fourth with 723, followed by Al Hejna (701), Dereck Ramirez (627), Weder (612), Corey Dripps (573), Kenny (573) and Alan Mondus (571).

WHAT'S ON TAP?

SATURDAY, AUG. 30 – Saturday will find the Modified Monsters at the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., for the 5th Annual Labor Day Dual, and the final tune-up race before the 10th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree, Sept. 17-20. A huge field of cars is expected, along with a jam-packed grandstand as the WDRL Late Model Series will also make an appearance. Pit gates will open at 2 p.m. and the grandstands will begin filling up at 3, with hot laps slated for 5 and racing at 5:30.

The 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval is located off of I-90 at Exit 209, then 11.3 miles south on US 63 (0.7 mile north of SR 16). Day-of-race info is available by calling (507) 346-2342 or check out www.deercreekspeedway.com online.

SUNDAY, AUG. 31 – The four-race weekend wraps up on Sunday, Aug. 31 at the Dodge County Speedway in Kasson, Minn. for the 7th Annual Kasson Klash—the 22nd USMTS event staged at the 1/3-mile semi-banked clay oval. Gates open at 3 p.m. and the mud starts flying at 5 p.m. Late Models, Super Stocks, Midwest Mods and Street Stocks will also be featured.

The Dodge County Speedway (formerly Kasson Speedway) is located 1.1 miles north of US 14 on SR 57 (at the Dodge County Fairgrounds). For more information, call Track: (507) 634-4281 or check out www.dodgecountyspeedway.com.

Fans can pick up $2-off discount coupons all weekend long at Casey's General Stores locations in Austin, Owatonna, Rochester and Stewartville, Minn. On Saturday, Kelly Shryock will be on hand to meet and greet fans at the Casey's General Store located at 605 S. Main St. in Stewartville from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and on Sunday Shryock fans can meet the man and his machine at the Casey's General Store location at 4500 18th Ave. NW in Rochester from 12-2 p.m.

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
3rd Annual Cedar River Races
Chateau Raceway, Lansing, Minn.
Friday, Aug. 29, 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. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (2)
2. 21x - Joe Wernecke -- Dodge Center, MN (1)
3. 02 - Jacob Dahle -- Morristown, MN (7)
4. 50 - Brad Bakken -- Garner, IA (3)
5. 72 - Doug Hillson -- Blooming Prairie, MN (5)
6. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (4)
7. 96 - Greg Jensen -- Albert Lea, MN (8)
8. 98 - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN (6)

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 45 - Todd Scharkey -- Kasson, MN (2)
2. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (5)
3. 19 - Richie Gustin Jr. -- Gilman, IA (7)
4. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (6)
5. 55s - Brian Shaw -- Brownsdale, MN (4)
6. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (1)
7. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (3)
8. 75 - James Parker -- Dodge Center, MN (8)

Q.E.M., INC. HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (2)
2. 90 - Steve Wetzstein -- West Concord, MN (3)
3. 0 - Les Duellman -- Winona, MN (4)
4. 4r - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (6)
5. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (5)
6. 20jr - Dave Wytaske Jr. -- Austin, MN (7)
7. 2 - Joey Schaefer -- Waterloo, IA (1)

HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (3)
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (4)
3. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (5)
4. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (6)
5. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (1)
6. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (7)
7. 66 - Dan Bohr -- Decorah, IA (2)

HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (2)
2. 3d - Tim Donlinger -- Rochester, MN (5)
3. 19 - Mike Sorensen -- Rochester, MN (1)
4. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (3)
5. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (7)
6. 14j - Jake Neal -- Omaha, NE (4)
7. 4a - Joel Alberts -- Mantorville, MN (6)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 19 - Mike Sorensen -- Rochester, MN (2)
2. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (1)
3. 4r - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (3)
4. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (5)
5. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (8)
6. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (7)
7. 2 - Joey Schaefer -- Waterloo, IA (11)
8. 96 - Greg Jensen -- Albert Lea, MN (10)
9. 4a - Joel Alberts -- Mantorville, MN (12)
10. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (9)
11. 75 - James Parker -- Dodge Center, MN (13)
12. 50 - Brad Bakken -- Garner, IA (4)
13. 55s - Brian Shaw -- Brownsdale, MN (6)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (2)
2. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (4)
3. 14j - Jake Neal -- Omaha, NE (9)
4. 0 - Les Duellman -- Winona, MN (1)
5. 72 - Doug Hillson -- Blooming Prairie, MN (5)
6. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (10)
7. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (6)
8. 98 - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN (12)
9. 66 - Dan Bohr -- Decorah, IA (11)
10. 20jr - Dave Wytaske Jr. -- Austin, MN (7)
11. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (8)
12. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (3)

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. 3d - Tim Donlinger -- Rochester, MN (8)
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (1)
3. 90 - Steve Wetzstein -- West Concord, MN (11)
4. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (4)
5. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (2)
6. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (3)
7. 02 - Jacob Dahle -- Morristown, MN (9)
8. 45 - Todd Scharkey -- Kasson, MN (7)
9. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (15)
10. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (13)
11. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (14)
12. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (23)
13. 14j - Jake Neal -- Omaha, NE (17)
14. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (18)
15. 19 - Richie Gustin Jr. -- Gilman, IA (10)
16. 0 - Les Duellman -- Winona, MN (19)
17. 72 - Doug Hillson -- Blooming Prairie, MN (21)
18. 4r - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (16)
19. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (20)
20. 21x - Joe Wernecke -- Dodge Center, MN (12)
21. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (5) DNF
22. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (22) DNF
23. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (24) DNF
24. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (6) DNF

Lap Leaders: Kenny 1-10, Shryock 11, Kenny 12-20, Shryock 21-37, Donlinger 38-40.
Total Laps Led: Kenny 19, Shryock 18, Donlinger 3.
AFCO Pole Winner: Noble.
Provisional Starters: Dripps, Mondus, Myer.
Ruter Farms Long Tow: Weder (767.63 miles).
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Wetzstein (started 11th, finished 3rd).
Next Event: Saturday, Aug. 30, Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn.
O'Reilly USMTS National Championship Points: Shryock 743, Donlinger 742, VanderBeek 736, Tesch 723, Hejna 701, Ramirez 627, Weder 612, Dripps 573, Kenny 573, Mondus 571.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year Points: Kenny 1027, Ramirez 1009, Rowland 687, Rodney Sanders 193, Colt Mather 191.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Sput’s 430, Mullins 353, Wanders 334, A.S.I. 316, JR 272.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 449, Hughes 371, Kraft 309, Harris 282, Specialty 131.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – Noble.
American Racer – Mondus.
Belleville Motorsports – not awarded.
BSB Manufacturing – Ryan Gustin.
Hawk Performance – Donlinger, Weder.
Isky Racing Cams – VanderBeek.
KSE Racing Products – Wetzstein.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Noble.
New Vision Graphics – Tesch.
Nitroquest Web Solutions – Wetzstein.
Quarter Master – Donlinger.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Dahle.
Real Racing Wheels – Sorensen, Ryan Gustin.
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.