EDNA, Texas – As the inaugural O'Reilly USMTS Southern Series Texas Winter Challenge concluded on Texana Raceway Park’s 5/16-mile semi-banked clay oval Saturday night, three new late arrivals found their way to the tightly-packed pit area and Mother Nature provided a much nicer day than the night before.

Qualifying for both classes was the same as previous nights, with Heat Races and Real Racing Wheels "B" Mains setting the line-ups. The USMTS also provided for two provisional starters to fill their 24-car field for the big 40-lap, $3,000-to-win finale.

Westville, Okla.’s Jason Hughes waited patiently for the track to track to come to him in Saturday night's Holley "A" Main. Hughes got by Allen Chickering early for second, then was joined by Tommy Weder Jr. as they chased leader Steve Holzkamper. With Holzkamper running the cushion and Hughes hugging the bottom, Weder was looking for a gap between the two.

NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader joined in the fun as he and Weder swapped third. After a lap 20 restart, Hughes got alongside Holzkamper and the two ran side by side for five laps until Hughes finally secured the spot. From there on, Hughes built his margin lap after lap, while Schrader got by Holzkamper for second. The current O'Reilly USMTS Southern Series points leader easily took the victory.

"It takes some luck and a good race track like we had tonight," noted Hughes. "You have to have your stuff together to race with these guys. They’re all prepared and ready to go all the time. Anytime you win an USMTS race you’ve earned it. There’s a lot of good guys out here.

"I was just kind of riding around waiting a while. I knew the top was going to go away and get father out. The bottom was still wet, so I was waiting on it to come in. It just took us a little time to get going, get some heat in the tires, and turn better for us. I just had to wait for our opportunity."

With U.S. flags waving high, the main event grid split into the traditional "Tribute to America and the Fans" four-wide salute and readied for the big finale of the weekend tripleheader.

As the green flag dropped on the 24-car field of ground-pounding Modifieds, Holzkamper got a big run off turn 4 to beat Chickering into turn 1. Chickering fought back out of turn 2 and the two ran side by side back to the line with Holzkamper leading by inches, Chickering second and Hughes moving into third.

Hughes snuck by Chickering on lap 2 as Holzkamper began to check out, but Dustin Hyde slowed with a flat tire to bring out a yellow. On the restart, Chickering drove in under Holzkamper, with Hughes briefly trying three wide. Back in the pack, Howard Willis and Jon Tesch got together in turn 1 bringing the yellow quickly back out. Once back to green Holzkamper got a good jump, with Hughes taking second and Schrader getting fourth.

Just as Hughes was trying to make a move under Holzkamper, Brian Boram got turned around on lap 3 for a caution. As the top four got away on green, Steve Miller got loose and fell from fifth to seventh as Thursday night's winner, Scott Green, and Dustin Duncan Memorial "Just Say Yes" Rookie of the Year points leader John O Whittington got by. Whittington then showed no respect for the NASCAR pilot as he snagged fourth on lap 4. Jamie Burford suffered a flat on lap 5 and stopped, while Brad Lasater was spinning. Lasater would spin again on the restart.

As racing resumed, Schrader regained fourth from Whittington. Chickering was alongside Hughes for second when Boram looped it again for a yellow on lap 6. Holzkamper, Hughes and Chickering got away clean on green with Schrader, Whittington and Mike Dillard three wide for fourth. Whittington got the spot on lap 7, while Weder was charging from his ninth row starting spot to get by Dillard for sixth.

Weder then got into the top five going by Schrader on lap 8. By lap 10, Holzkamper was increasing his lead over Hughes who had a good margin back to Chickering and Weder. A spin on lap 10 by Miller closed those gaps back up. Weder got the jump on Whittington and Chickering, who briefly tangled for third as the green flew again. Weder then got by Hughes for second on lap 11.

Holzkamper, Weder and Hughes were nose to tail on lap 12, but Holzkamper was able to inch ahead by lap 14 as he raced the extreme high side of the racing surface. Lasater brought out another caution on lap 15 with a spin. On the restart Hughes got second back from Weder who was being challenged by Schrader. Hughes now decided it was time to make his charge on Holzkamper. Hughes dove under Holzkamper in the corners, but Holzkamper held him off on the straights.

At the crossed flags it was Holzkamper being hounded by Hughes, Schrader, Weder and Whittington in the top five, with Jack Sullivan getting sixth from Dereck Ramirez. Dillard found the turn 1 wall on lap 20 for a caution. Weder just got by Schrader on green, but Lasater and Tyler Townsend tangled to bring the yellow quickly back out.

When the green waved again the top three went into turn 1 nearly three wide. Hughes hugged the bottom, with Holzkamper still running to top side. Hughes was able to inch ahead on lap 21, with a virtual dead heat on lap 22. Hughes got the bumper out front again on lap 26 and secure the spot on lap 27. Once clear Hughes set sail, while Holzkamper was still trying to run the cushion that was going away.

On lap 30, Weder and Whittington began their own battle for fourth. Those two ran wheel to wheel, then swapped the spot on consecutive laps. Up front Hughes was hammer down, and pulling away. With five to go Hughes was a full straightaway ahead of Holzkamper, who now had Schrader breathing down his back.

With two to go, Schrader got Holzkamper, but Hughes was nowhere in sight. As the checkers waved in was Hughes in the Gressel Oil/Braka Operating/West Siloam Pawn/Rainbow Graphics/Integra Shocks/Quartermaster/Hot Brake Pads/Pro Blend Motorsports/Mullins Race Engines powered Hughes Chassis #12 grabbing the win.

"It was really hard to pass the first two nights," Hughes added. "They gave a track we could race on tonight, it was a real good track.

"I was fortunate enough to win that race in The Valley four times. Everyone liked to go down there for vacation. It was always a pretty good race, everyone wanted to win it. It was always a lot of fun down there."

With the win, Hughes extended his points lead over Holzkamper (1626 to 1536) heading into the final weekend of competition, Dec. 4-6. Weder sits comfortably in third spot with 1447 points, followed by Whittington (1272), Paul White (1229), Ramirez (1188), Morgan Bagley (1147), Shane Hebert (1129), Green (1115) and Hyde (1079).

UP NEXT:

The 2nd Annual Texas Winter Nationals will be held Dec. 3-6 at the Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas, where the 2008 O'Reilly USMTS Southern Series champion will be crowned. Last year nearly 70 top-flight Modified racers competed in the inaugural event, and officials expect to top that number this year, possibly eclipsing the 100 entry threshold.

Defending winners of the Texas Winter Nationals are Paul White (Thursday), Alan Mondus (Friday) and Kelly Shryock (Saturday).

The event will be the highest-paying O'Reilly USMTS Southern Series event in the two-year existence of the popular tour, with a possible $9,000 to win over three nights. The main event will pay $2,000 to win on Thursday, with $3,000 earmarked for Friday's winner and $4,000 to win on Saturday.

An open practice will be held on Wednesday night, Dec. 3. All classes are invited to participate. Due to the high number of racecars expected for the weekend tripleheader, this will be the only night for hot laps. The pit gate will open at 4 p.m. and practice will be held from 6-10 p.m. Pit passes are $20 and admission to the grandstands will be free.

On Thursday and Friday, Dec. 4-5, gates will open at 5 p.m. with racing at 7:30. On Saturday, Dec. 6, gates open at 4 p.m. and the mud starts flying at 6:30.

Limited Mods will also be competing all three nights, racing for $500 to win on Thursday, $700 to win on Friday and $1,000 to win on Saturday. More than 60 different Limited Mod drivers competed in last year's event.

Houston Raceway Park is a 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval located east of Houston on I-10 to Exit 798, then 3.0 miles south on SR 146, then 0.9 miles SE on FM 1405, then 1.5 miles NE on FM 565. For more information, call the track office at (281) 383-RACE or visit www.houstonraceway.com online.

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 Southern Series
Inaugural Texas Winter Challenge - Night 3 of 3
Texana Raceway Park, Edna, Texas
Saturday, November 22, 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 (10 laps):
1. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (1)
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (2)
3. 2w - Paul White -- Temple, TX (3)
4. 4m - Bobby Malchus -- Red Oak, TX (4)
5. 51 - Eddie Martin -- Stilwell, OK (7)
6. 91 - Robert Metz Jr. -- Lumberton, TX (8)
7. 87 - Lawrence Mikulencak -- Corpus Christi, TX (5)
8. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. -- Corpus Christi, TX (6)
9. B29 - Tammy Mitchell -- Pea Ridge, AR (9)
10. 95 - Kevin Pratt -- Houston, TX (10)

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (10 laps):
1. 26x - Allen Chickering -- Okarche, OK (2)
2. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (8)
3. C8 - Timothy Culp -- West Monroe, LA (3)
4. 561 - David Horner -- Houston, TX (5)
5. 21c - Chris Brown -- Cleveland, TX (4)
6. 88d - Matt Dotson -- Sturgeon, MO (6)
7. 57 - Dale Flanagan -- Corpus Christi, TX (7)
8. 38 - David Schury -- Corpus Christi, TX (9)
9. 98 - Markus Elder -- New Waverly, TX (1)

Q.E.M., INC. HEAT RACE #3 (10 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (2)
2. 88 - Brian Boram -- Orange, TX (1)
3. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (4)
4. 71k - Kevin Sustaire -- Emery, TX (3)
5. 12t - Tyler Townsend -- Longview, TX (5)
6. L1 - Larry Clevenger -- Greenwood, LA (7)
7. E - Howard Willis -- Dayton, TX (9)
8. 31 - Elias Anderson -- Austin, TX (8)
9. 55 - Danny Brown -- Corpus Christi, TX (6)

HEAT RACE #4 (10 laps):
1. 9 - Ken Schrader -- Concord, NC (2)
2. 17 - Brad Lasater -- Garland, TX (1)
3. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (8)
4. 117 - Brennan Poole -- The Woodlands, TX (4)
5. 8j - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (6)
6. 51p - Benny Perry -- Liberty, TX (7)
7. 4$ - Kalif Sellier -- Katy, TX (9)
8. 71a - Ryan Aho -- Chisholm, MN (5)
9. 174 - Max Helms -- Victoria, TX (3)

HEAT RACE #5 (10 laps):
1. 9 - Shane Hebert -- Lafayette, LA (2)
2. 5w - John O Whittington -- Vidor, TX (5)
3. 39 - Jed Rollins -- Corpus Christi, TX (1)
4. 54 - Dena Wilson -- Coweta, OK (6)
5. 76 - Jesse Manning -- Brazoria, TX (7)
6. 13 - Ken Hobbs -- Corpus Christi, TX (3)
7. 18 - Jack Sullivan -- Greenbrier, AR (9)
8. 8g - Greg Dinsmore -- Kerrville, TX (4)
9. 5t - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK (8)

HEAT RACE #6 (10 laps):
1. 8 - Steve Miller -- Georgetown, TX (2)
2. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (6)
3. 66x - Mike Dillard -- Allen, TX (5)
4. 148 - Russell Moore -- Conroe, TX (1)
5. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (8)
6. 5r - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (3)
7. 91b - Shawn Brassfield -- Ada, OK (7)
8. 94 - Nick Hardcastle -- Corpus Christi, TX (9)
9. 37 - Brian Spindelman -- Brookshire, TX ( 4)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 561 - David Horner -- Houston, TX (3)
2. 21c - Chris Brown -- Cleveland, TX (6)
3. 66x - Mike Dillard -- Allen, TX (1)
4. L1 - Larry Clevenger -- Greenwood, LA (7)
5. 71k - Kevin Sustaire -- Emery, TX (4)
6. C8 - Timothy Culp -- West Monroe, LA (2)
7. 71a - Ryan Aho -- Chisholm, MN (12)
8. 57 - Dale Flanagan -- Corpus Christi, TX (10)
9. 5t - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK (14)
10. 51 - Eddie Martin -- Stilwell, OK (5)
11. 4$ - Kalif Sellier -- Katy, TX (9)
12. 94 - Nick Hardcastle -- Corpus Christi, TX (11)
13. 13 - Ken Hobbs -- Corpus Christi, TX (8)
14. 98 - Markus Elder -- New Waverly, TX (13)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (1)
2. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (3)
3. 12t - Tyler Townsend -- Longview, TX (6)
4. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. -- Corpus Christi, TX (11)
5. 5r - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (8)
6. 51p - Benny Perry -- Liberty, TX (7)
7. 8g - Greg Dinsmore -- Kerrville, TX (12)
8. 117 - Brennan Poole -- The Woodlands, TX (4)
9. 37 - Brian Spindelman -- Brookshire, TX (14)
10. 39 - Jed Rollins -- Corpus Christi, TX (2)
11. 91b - Shawn Brassfield -- Ada, OK (10)
12. 76 - Jesse Manning -- Brazoria, TX (5)
13. 55 - Danny Brown -- Corpus Christi, TX (13)
14. 18 - Jack Sullivan -- Greenbrier, AR (9)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #3 (15 laps, top 3 advance):
1. E - Howard Willis -- Dayton, TX (8)
2. 8j - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (5)
3. 2w - Paul White -- Temple, TX (1)
4. 31 - Elias Anderson -- Austin, TX (11)
5. 54 - Dena Wilson -- Coweta, OK (2)
6. 87 - Lawrence Mikulencak -- Corpus Christi, TX (9)
7. 148 - Russell Moore -- Conroe, TX (4)
8. 174 - Max Helms -- Victoria, TX (13)
9. 91 - Robert Metz Jr. -- Lumberton, TX (6)
10. 38 - David Schury -- Corpus Christi, TX (10)
11. B29 - Tammy Mitchell -- Pea Ridge, AR (12)
12. 4m - Bobby Malchus -- Red Oak, TX (3)
13. 88d - Matt Dotson -- Sturgeon, MO (7)
14. 95 - Kevin Pratt -- Houston, TX (14)

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (4)
2. 9 - Ken Schrader -- Concord, NC (7)
3. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (2)
4. 5w - John O Whittington -- Vidor, TX (5)
5. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (18)
6. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (9)
7. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (10)
8. E - Howard Willis -- Dayton, TX (16)
9. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (15)
10. 21c - Chris Brown -- Cleveland, TX (17)
11. 2w - Paul White -- Temple, TX (22)
12. 8j - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (19)
13. 9 - Shane Hebert -- Lafayette, LA (6)
14. 12t - Tyler Townsend -- Longview, TX (21)
15. 26x - Allen Chickering -- Okarche, OK (1)
16. 88 - Brian Boram -- Orange, TX (12)
17. 17 - Brad Lasater -- Garland, TX (13)
18. 8 - Steve Miller -- Georgetown, TX (3)
19. C8 - Timothy Culp -- West Monroe, LA (24)
20. 66x - Mike Dillard -- Allen, TX (20)
21. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. -- Corpus Christi, TX (23)
22. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (8)
23. 561 - David Horner -- Houston, TX (14)
24. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (11)

Lap Leaders: Holzkamper 1-27, Hughes 28-40.
Total Laps Led: Holzkamper 27, Hughes 13.
AFCO Pole Winner: Green.
Provisional Starters: Whiteaker, Culp.
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Weder (started 18th, finished 5th).
Next Race: Thursday, Dec. 4, Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, Texas.
O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series Points: Hughes 1626, Holzkamper 1536, Weder 1447, Whittington 1272, White 1229, Ramirez 1188, Bagley 1147, Hebert 1129, Green 1115, Hyde 1079.
Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year Points: Whittington 336, Ramirez 307, Bagley 285, Hebert 276, Hyde 266.
Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 157, Shinook 123, Sput’s 108, Wells 84, CB 65.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Hughes 160, TRE 142, Skyrocket 132, Ramirez 100, Shaw 93.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – Green.
American Racer – Burford.
Belleville Motorsports – not awarded.
BSB Manufacturing – C. Brown.
Hawk Performance – Hughes, Ramirez.
Isky Racing Cams – Tesch.
KSE Racing Products – Weder.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Shryock.
New Vision Graphics – Chickering.
Nitroquest Web Solutions – Holzkamper.
Quarter Master – Hughes, Willis.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Burford.
Real Racing Wheels – Horner, Ramirez, Willis.
Ruter Farms – not awarded.
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.