LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (March 20) – Michael Robertson of Minden, La., captured his first USMTS Southern Series checkered flag Friday as he wired the field in the opening night of the 10th Annual GRT Race Cars Topless Modified Nationals at the I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark.

With 74 entries jam-packed into the pit area at the high-banked quarter-mile clay oval, fans were treated to eight Heat Races, four Real Racing Wheels "B" Mains and a 30-lap Sunoco "A" Main. Robertson won the first heat of the night, then led the main event from start to finish to capture the $2,000 top prize.

Jack Sullivan of Greenbrier, Ark., who won the 'Topless' in 2001, finished second in Friday night's preliminary while Little Rock's Patrick Linn came home in third. Tommy Myer of Blooming Prairie, Minn., was fourth and Rodney Sanders of Happy, Texas, claimed the fifth-place paycheck,

Fresh off a win at the Humboldt (Kan.) Speedway last Saturday, 14th-starting Steve Holzkamper finished sixth, followed by William Gould, defending USMTS Southern Series champ Jason Hughes, Chris Henigan and Casey Findley.

Past winners of the GRT Race Cars Topless Modified Nationals include Charlie Armstrong (1999-2000), Sullivan (2001), Skeet Amason (2002), Wayne Brooks (2003), Kevin Salter (2004), Tim Crawley (2005-06) and Mike Bowers (2007).

Round 2 of the 10th Annual GRT Race Cars Topless Modified Nationals takes place on Saturday, with a $5,000 top prize up for grabs. Pits open at 5 p.m., grandstand gates open at 5:30, hot laps begin at 7 and the mud starts flying at 7:30. Mini-Sprints will also be on the racing card.

The I-30 Speedway is a 1/4-mile high-banked clay oval located 7.0 miles southwest of Little Rock on I-30 to County Line Rd. (Exit 126), then south to frontage road, then east (SSR). For more information, call 501-455-4567 or check out www.i-30speedway.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.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
USMTS Southern Series (East Region)
10th Annual GRT Race Cars Topless Modified Nationals - Night 1 of 2
I-30 Speedway, Little Rock, Ark.
Friday, March 20, 2009

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 “A” Main, with the top 8 re-drawing for starting positions 1-8.

ISKY RACING CAMS HEAT RACE #1 (10 laps):
1. 05 - Michael Robertson -- Minden, LA (2)
2. 18 - Jack Sullivan -- Greenbrier, AR (10)
3. 1t - T.J. Herndon -- Atwood, TN (7)
4. 02s - Arlen Stewart -- Benton, AR (6)
5. 34 - Ben Stephens -- Hattiesburg, MS (5)
6. 52 - Chad Davis -- Tulsa, OK (3)
7. 12h - Jeff Huckaby -- Texarkana, TX (9)
8. 20x - Randy Smith -- Benton, AR (8)
9. 18 - Jeremy Tussey -- Texarkana, AR (1)
10. F27 - Lynnsee Provence -- Little Rock, AR (4)

HEAT RACE #2 (10 laps):
1. 60 - William Gould -- Calera, OK (1)
2. ME2 - Buddy Pifer -- Little Rock, AR (4)
3. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (3)
4. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (7)
5. 60b - Mike Bowers -- N. Little Rock, AR (9)
6. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (5)
7. 15 - Grant Box -- White Hall, AR (2)
8. 19x - Jeremy Kester -- Mapleville, AR (8)
9. 22m - Casey Minton -- Bryant, AR (10) DNF
10. 44 - Ricky Anderson -- Bald Knob, AR (6) DNF

HEAT RACE #3 (10 laps):
1. 26 - Patrick Linn -- Little Rock, AR (2)
2. 88 - Chad Wheeler -- Muskogee, OK (1)
3. C8 - Timothy Culp -- West Monroe, LA (8)
4. 11 - Jason Armstrong -- Marshall, TX (7)
5. 1 - Brett Frazier -- Haughton, LA (5)
6. 0 - Andy Brown -- Mabelvale, AR (6)
7. 8h - Bryan Harton -- Little Rock, AR (4) DNF
8. 94 - Chris Shown -- Hooks, TX (9) DNF
9. 2 - Tyler Stevens -- Searcy, AR (3) DNF

HEAT RACE #4 (10 laps):
1. 66x - Mike Dillard -- Allen, TX (1)
2. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (6)
3. 89x - Tate Cole -- Muskogee, OK (4)
4. 88S - Donnie Stringfellow -- Heber Springs, AR
5. 17x - Michael Murphree -- Little Rock, AR (9)
6. 02x - B.J. Robinson -- Shreveport, LA (3)
7. 16 - Chris Henigan -- Marshall, TX (7)
8. XXX - Rick Hearnsberger -- Arkadelphia, AR (2)
9. 90 - Steve Wetzstein -- W. Concord, MN (5) DNF

HEAT RACE #5 (10 laps):
1. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (4)
2. 1010 - Shawn Blees -- Mountain Pine, AR (2)
3. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (8)
4. 71k - Kevin Sustaire -- Emery, TX (5)
5. 13 - David Mitchell -- Ashdown, AR (7)
6. 10k - Kyle Schmidt -- Farmington, AR (1)
7. 5t - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK (6) DNF
8. 15w - Lee Walchli -- Lavaca, AR (3) DNF
9. 194 - Caleb Shown -- Hooks, TX (9) DNS

HEAT RACE #6 (10 laps):
1. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (3)
2. 8j - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (2)
3. L1 - Larry Clevenger -- Greenwood, LA (4)
4. 5r - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (7)
5. 601 - Curtis Cook -- Conway, AR (6)
6. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. -- Corpus Christi, TX
7. 5a - Wes Armstrong -- Marshall, TX (9)
8. 11s - Mike Sellers -- Little Rock, AR (8)
9. 23b - Brandon Davis -- Castle Rock, CO (1)

HEAT RACE #7 (10 laps):
1. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (4)
2. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (5)
3. 14t - Tristan Dycus -- Midlothian, TX (2)
4. 92 - Chad Mallett -- Greenbrier, AR (9)
5. 48 - Alan Brown -- Alexander, AR (3)
6. 38 - Jeremy Ross -- Locust Grove, OK (7) DNF
7. 9 - Shane Hebert -- Lafayette, LA (1) DNF
8. 29 - Jeremy Kuykendall -- Little Rock, AR (8) DNF
9. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (6) DNF

HEAT RACE #8 (10 laps):
1. 12b - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR (1)
2. 17f - Casey Findley -- Bryant, AR (8)
3. 30 - David Baser -- Jacksonville, AR (5)
4. 39 - Gary Langworthy Jr. -- Coffeyville, KS (3)
5. 10 - George White -- Fort Worth, TX (2)
6. 71 - Robert Baker -- Benton, AR (7)
7. 12t - Tyler Townsend -- Longview, TX (4) DNF
8. F1 - Randy Weaver -- Little Rock, AR (6) DNF
9. 4m - Bobby Malchus -- Red Oak, TX (9) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 2 advance):
1. 8j - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (2)
2. 5r - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (4)
3. 60b - Mike Bowers -- N. Little Rock, AR (5)
4. 89x - Tate Cole -- Muskogee, OK (3)
5. 13 - David Mitchell -- Ashdown, AR (6)
6. ME2 - Buddy Pifer -- Little Rock, AR (1)
7. 9 - Shane Hebert -- Lafayette, LA (11)
8. 52 - Chad Davis -- Tulsa, OK (8)
9. 29 - Jeremy Kuykendall -- Little Rock, AR (13)
10. 2 - Tyler Stevens -- Searcy, AR (14) DNF
11. 48 - Alan Brown -- Alexander, AR (7) DNF
12. 15 - Grant Box -- White Hall, AR (10) DNF
13. 10k - Kyle Schmidt -- Farmington, AR (9) DNF
14. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (15) DNF
15. 19x - Jeremy Kester -- Mapleville, AR (12) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 2 advance):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (4)
2. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. -- Corpus Christi, TX (9)
3. L1 - Larry Clevenger -- Greenwood, LA (3)
4. 601 - Curtis Cook -- Conway, AR (6)
5. 1t - T.J. Herndon -- Atwood, TN (1)
6. 17x - Michael Murphree -- Little Rock, AR (5)
7. 10 - George White -- Fort Worth, TX (7)
8. 90 - Steve Wetzstein -- W. Concord, MN (14)
9. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (8)
10. F1 - Randy Weaver -- Little Rock, AR (13)
11. 4m - Bobby Malchus -- Red Oak, TX (15)
12. 92 - Chad Mallett -- Greenbrier, AR (2)
13. 8h - Bryan Harton -- Little Rock, AR (10)- 1lap
14. XXX - Rick Hearnsberger -- Arkadelphia, AR (12) DNF
15. 12t - Tyler Townsend -- Longview, TX (11) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #3 (15 laps, top 2 advance):
1. 88 - Chad Wheeler -- Muskogee, OK (1)
2. 16 - Chris Henigan -- Marshall, TX (10)
3. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (3)
4. 71k - Kevin Sustaire -- Emery, TX (5)
5. 30 - David Baser -- Jacksonville, AR (2)
6. 14t - Tristan Dycus -- Midlothian, TX (4)
7. 94 - Chris Shown -- Hooks, TX (11)
8. 34 - Ben Stephens -- Hattiesburg, MS (6)
9. 0 - Andy Brown -- Mabelvale, AR (8)
10. 22m - Casey Minton -- Bryant, AR (13) DNF
11. F27 - Lynnsee Provence -- Little Rock, AR (15) DNF
12. 15w - Lee Walchli -- Lavaca, AR (12) DNF
13. 12h - Jeff Huckaby -- Texarkana, TX (9) DNF
14. 38 - Jeremy Ross -- Locust Grove, OK (7) DNS
15. 194 - Caleb Shown -- Hooks, TX (14) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #4 (15 laps, top 2 advance):
1. 1010 - Shawn Blees -- Mountain Pine, AR (1)
2. 1 - Brett Frazier -- Haughton, LA (6)
3. 02x - B.J. Robinson -- Shreveport, LA (8)
4. 11s - Mike Sellers -- Little Rock, AR (12)
5. 71 - Robert Baker -- Benton, AR (7)
6. 11 - Jason Armstrong -- Marshall, TX (3)
7. 88s - Donnie Stringfellow -- Heber Springs, AR (2)
8. 5a - Wes Armstrong -- Marshall, TX (9)
9. 39 - Gary Langworthy Jr. -- Coffeyville, KS (5)
10. 5t - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK (10)
11. 02s - Arlen Stewart -- Benton, AR (4)
12. 20x - Randy Smith -- Benton, AR (11) DNF
13. 44 - Ricky Anderson -- Bald Knob, AR (15) DNF
14. 18 - Jeremy Tussey -- Texarkana, AR (13) DNF
15. 23b - Brandon Davis -- Castle Rock, CO (14) DNS

SUNOCO “A” MAIN (30 laps):
1. 05 - Michael Robertson -- Minden, LA (1)
2. 18 - Jack Sullivan -- Greenbrier, AR (3)
3. 26 - Patrick Linn -- Little Rock, AR (2)
4. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (5)
5. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (6)
6. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (14)
7. 60 - William Gould -- Calera, OK (10)
8. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (23)
9. 16 - Chris Henigan -- Marshall, TX (21)
10. 17f - Casey Findley -- Bryant, AR (7)
11. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. -- Corpus Christi, TX (20)
12. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (4)
13. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (24)
14. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (16)
15. 66x - Mike Dillard -- Allen, TX (11)
16. 1 - Brett Frazier -- Haughton, LA (22)
17. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (8)
18. C8 - Timothy Culp -- West Monroe, LA (13)
19. 5r - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (19)
20. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (9)
21. 12b - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR (12) DNF
22. 8j - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (15) DNF
23. 88 - Chad Wheeler -- Muskogee, OK (17) DNF
24. 1010 - Shawn Blees -- Mountain Pine, AR (18) DNF

Lap Leaders: Robertson 1-30.
Total Laps Led: Robertson 30.
AFCO Pole Winner: Sullivan.
Provisional Starters: Hughes, Ramirez.
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Henigan (started 21st, finished 9th).
Next Race: Saturday, March 21, I-30 Speedway, Little Rock, Ark. (East Region).
East Region Points: Robertson 103, Sullivan 96, Linn 91, Holzkamper 89, Henigan 86, Sanders 85, Gould 81, Whiteaker 79, Hughes 76, Ramirez 66, Shryock 66, Frazier 66.
Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year Points: Robertson 25, Linn 23, Henigan 21, Dillard 19, Frazier 17.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: PTS 10, BMS 9, Sput’s 8, A.S.I. 7, Shinook 6.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Ramirez 10, GRT 9, Skyrocket 8, TRE 7, Hughes 6.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – Sullivan.
American Racer – Murphree.
Isky Racing Cams – Robertson.
KSE Racing Products – Henigan.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Blees.
Nitroquest – Linn.
Quarter Master – Robertson, Hughes.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Gould.
Real Racing Wheels – Pifer, Murphree, Dycus, J. Armstrong.

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USMTS TITLE SPONSOR: Casey’s General Stores.

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Awesome Racewear, AwesomeRaceSuits.com, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, COMP Cams, Intensitee Custom Racewear, Karl Chevrolet, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, Nitroquest, PBM Performance Products, Sunoco Race Fuels.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: ASi Racewear, Bear Tire, DandyLand Farms, Day Motor Sports, Diamond Oil Company, Gressel Oil Field Service, Just Say Yes, Ramirez Race Cars, Lone Star Super Gas, Olympic Fire Protection, Ruter Farms, Yeager Machine.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Big Dog Chassis & Fabrication, ButlerBuilt Safety Systems, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, Hyperco, ISKY Racing Cams, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, Out-Pace Racing Products, Quarter Master, QuickTime Performance Race Parts, Real Racing Wheels, US Brake.