HIGHLANDS, Texas – In each of the last two seasons, Chris Brown has raced to victory when the USMTS Southern Series competes at his home track in Cleveland, Texas. But last month, the annual stop was rained out, so Brown had to find another town to cash in at.

Just 46 miles down the road, 49 Modified pilots invaded the Battleground Speedway in Highlands, Texas, Friday night for Round 2 of the 3rd Annual Rinehart Texas Shootout, and once again the 30-year-old Brown found his way to the winner's circle as he captured the 35-lap main event at the 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval.

After starting fifth on the 26-car grid, Brown worked his way to the front of the field, then slipped by race-long leader Rodney Sanders just past the halfway point. Sanders kept Brown in his cross-hairs over the final 17 laps, but had to settle for the runner-up paycheck for the second time in as many nights while Brown took home the $2,000 winner's share of the prize money.

Defending USMTS Southern Series champion and current points leader Jason Hughes made the most of his Real Racing Wheels "B" Main triumph by racing from 14th to third and earning the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award.

John O Whittington scored his third top-10 in three races with a fourth-place finish, while Bumper Jones grabbed the fifth spot for the second straight night. Sixth through tenth were Eddie Martin, Steven Whiteaker Jr., Shane Hebert, Kelly Shryock and Bryan Rowland, who captured Thursday's Sunoco "A" Main at the Golden Triangle Raceway Park in Beaumont, Texas.

Hughes remains the front-runner in the USMTS Southern Series West Region standings after Friday's event at Battleground with a 75-point bulge over Sanders (511 to 436). Shryock is third with 417 points, followed by Whiteaker (386), Rowland (381), Hebert (362), Jon Tesch (344), Jones (342), Martin (334) and Morgan Bagley (326).

The 3rd Annual Rinehart Texas Shootout features four events over four straight nights at four distinct Texas dirt tracks. Despite back-to-back bridesmaid runs by Sanders, Hughes earned enough passing points to pull even with the 19-year-old young gun in the 'Shootout' standings. Both drivers have 199 points with two down and two to go, Brown is third with 187 points and Rowland is tied with Jones for fourth with 182 apiece.

More than $60,000 in purse money is up for grabs during the 3rd Annual Rinehart Texas Shootout, including a $2,000 top prize at each of the four events and a points fund which will pay $500 to the top points earner, $300 for second and $200 for third over the course of the four-race swing.

^{Garrett Durrett grenades an engine during his heat race.}

Tomorrow (Saturday, May 9), the Houston Raceway Park in Baytown is on the invasion menu for race #3 of 4 in the 3rd Annual Rinehart Texas Shootout. With seven shows since 2007, more USMTS Southern Series events have been held at HRP than any other facility – and, weather permitting, the total will increase to 11 with the conclusion of the 3rd Annual Texas Winter Nationals, Dec. 3-5.

The nine-year-old facility has a main grandstand seating capacity of 7,500 which includes fourteen VIP luxury suites and boasts a state-of-the-art MUSCO Lighting system for TV productions.

Paul White won the first-ever USMTS Southern Series event at Houston Raceway Park. Since then, trips to victory lane have also been made by Alan Mondus, Kelly Shryock, Jason Hughes, Tommy Weder Jr., Johnny Bone Jr. and Zack VanderBeek. Local aces expected to compete include David Smith, Corey Neil, Kevin Battarbee, Joe Mayhew, Kenny Battarbee, Ed Wickham, Brent Nicholas, Brian Spindleman, Brian Sellier and others.

Pit gates will open at 4:00 on Saturday with grandstands opening at 6:00. Hot laps are at 6:30 and racing begins at 7:00. USRA Southern Limited Modifieds will round out the night's racing card.

The Houston Raceway Park is a state-of-the-art 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 southeast on FM 1405, then 1.5 miles northeast on FM 565. For more information, call the track office at 281-383-RACE or visit www.houstonraceway.com online.

SUNDAY, MAY 10 - GATOR MOTORPLEX

The four-race weekend wraps up at the Gator Motorplex in Willis on Sunday, May 10, to make-up the rained-out show on April 18. Gates will open early at 12 noon, with hot laps slated for 3:30 and the first green flag flying 4:00. Also competing will be USRA Southern Limited Modifieds, Hobby Stocks and Pure Stocks.

Fans can meet the drivers prior to hot laps and a free meal from Hickory Hut Concessions are part of the special Mothers Day prizes that will be distributed at the races. Mother's Day prize sponsors include Speed Tan, Gene's Hickory Hut, Performance Tinters, SDR Photography, Checkerflag Diner, Waffle House, Starbucks, Sonic, Subway and more.

Past USMTS Southern Series winners at the Gator Motorplex include Greg Skaggs (2007) and Steve Holzkamper (2008). Local favorites than fans can expect to see defending their home turf are Kevin Sturgess, Bryan Vollmer, Doug Byrns, Keith Wright, Monty Locke, Alan Drewry, Steve Pugh, Derek Knowles, Kalif Sellier, Jeff Wood and others.

The Gator Motorplex is a 1/4-mile high-banked clay oval located off I-45 to Shepherd Hill (Exit 98), then east, then 1.4 miles south on SR 75. The track's official website is online at www.gatormotorplex.net.

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 (West Region)
Battleground Speedway, Highlands, Texas
3rd Annual Rinehart Texas Shootout - Event #2 of 4
Friday, May 8, 2009

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

ISKY RACING CAMS HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. 21 - Chris Brown -- Cleveland, TX (1)
2. 51w - Jeff Wood -- Willis, TX (4)
3. 8 - Steve Miller -- Georgetown, TX (5)
4. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (8)
5. 5t - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK (6)
6. 10 - Kyle Schmidt -- Farmington, AR (9)
7. 56 - David Horner -- Houston, TX (2)
8. 23b - Brandon Davis -- Castle Rock, CO (7)
9. 18 - Cody Smith -- Kaufman, TX (3) DNF
10. 9 - Doug Begnaud -- Cypress, TX (10) DNS

HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. -- Corpus Christi, TX (3)
2. 12c - Corey Babbitt -- Channelview, TX (2)
3. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (4)
4. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (5)
5. 111 - Bumper Jones -- Mesilla Park, NM (9)
6. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (6)
7. 18t - Tim Clonch -- Quinlan, TX (7)
8. L1 - Larry Clevenger -- Greenwood, LA (1) DNF
9. 85d - Mark Dotson -- Cameron, MO (10) DNF
10. 71k - Kevin Sustaire -- Emery, TX (8) DNF

HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. E - Howard Willis -- Dayton, TX (1)
2. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (6)
3. 88xxx - Clyde Dunn Jr. -- Sunnyville, TX (7)
4. 5w - John O Whittington -- Vidor, TX (9)
5. 4m - Bobby Malchus -- Red Oak, TX (10)
6. 88b - Brian Boram -- Orange, TX (2)
7. 5m - Joe Mayhew -- Highlands, TX (5)
8. 71 - Tracy Denby Sr. -- Vidor, TX (4)
9. 05x - Garrett Durrett -- Simsboro, LA (8) DNF
10. 68 - Danny Barringer -- Lufkin, TX (3) DNF

HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 9 - Shane Hebert -- Lafayette, LA (1)
2. 5a - Wes Armstrong -- Marshall, TX (4)
3. 2w - Paul White -- Temple, TX (3)
4. 57 - Jason Armstrong -- Marshall, TX (2)
5. A1 - Phil Dixon -- Crosby, TX (5)
6. 5r - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (8)
7. 51 - Eddie Martin -- Stilwell, OK (9)
8. 129 - Bryan Vollmer -- Tomball, TX (7)
9. 7g - Mark Smith -- Lufkin, TX (6)
10. 96 - Donald Mick -- Dayton, TX (10) DNS

HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. 75 - Alan Sharpensteen -- Amarillo, TX (1)
2. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (9)
3. 60 - William Gould -- Calera, OK (5)
4. 51 - Tracy Denby Jr. -- Vidor, TX (3)
5. 52 - Chad Davis -- Tulsa, OK (7)
6. 15g - Bubba Gates -- Santa Fe, TX (2)
7. 10k - Kenny Battarbee -- Houston, TX (6)
8. 91 - Robert Metz Jr. -- Lumberton, TX (8)
9. 29 - Mike Walling -- Baytown, TX (4)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 111 - Bumper Jones -- Mesilla Park, NM (4)
2. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (2)
3. 85d - Mark Dotson -- Cameron, MO (15)
4. 2w - Paul White -- Temple, TX (3)
5. 5r - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (8)
6. 51 - Eddie Martin -- Stilwell, OK (10)
7. 18t - Tim Clonch -- Quinlan, TX (11)
8. 52 - Chad Davis -- Tulsa, OK (6)
9. 88b - Brian Boram -- Orange, TX (9)
10. 71k - Kevin Sustaire -- Emery, TX (18)
11. 10k - Kenny Battarbee -- Houston, TX (12)
12. 129 - Bryan Vollmer -- Tomball, TX (14)
13. 29 - Mike Walling -- Baytown, TX (17)
14. 10 - Kyle Schmidt -- Farmington, AR (7) DNF
15. 57 - Jason Armstrong -- Marshall, TX (5) DNF
16. 8 - Steve Miller -- Georgetown, TX (1) DNF
17. L1 - Larry Clevenger -- Greenwood, LA (13) DNS
18. 05x - Garrett Durrett -- Simsboro, LA (16) DNS
19. 96 - Donald Mick -- Dayton, TX (19) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (4)
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (2)
3. 60 - William Gould -- Calera, OK (1)
4. 5t - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK (6)
5. 4m - Bobby Malchus -- Red Oak, TX (3)
6. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (8)
7. 56 - David Horner -- Houston, TX (10)
8. 51 - Tracy Denby Jr. -- Vidor, TX (5)
9. 71 - Tracy Denby Sr. -- Vidor, TX (13)
10. 18 - Cody Smith -- Kaufman, TX (15)
11. 5m - Joe Mayhew -- Highlands, TX (11)
12. 91 - Robert Metz Jr. -- Lumberton, TX (14)
13. 15g - Bubba Gates -- Santa Fe, TX (9)
14. 23b - Brandon Davis -- Castle Rock, CO (12) DNF
15. 68 - Danny Barringer -- Lufkin, TX (18) DNF
16. A1 - Phil Dixon -- Crosby, TX (7) DNF
17. 7g - Mark Smith -- Lufkin, TX (16) DNF
18. 9 - Doug Begnaud -- Cypress, TX (17) DNS

SUNOCO “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. 21 - Chris Brown -- Cleveland, TX (5)
2. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (2)
3. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (14)
4. 5w - John O Whittington -- Vidor, TX (12)
5. 111 - Bumper Jones -- Mesilla Park, NM (13)
6. 51 - Eddie Martin -- Stilwell, OK (23)
7. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. -- Corpus Christi, TX (6)
8. 9 - Shane Hebert -- Lafayette, LA (7)
9. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (16)
10. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (15)
11. 5r - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (21)
12. E - Howard Willis -- Dayton, TX (4)
13. A1 - Phil Dixon -- Crosby, TX (25)
14. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (8)
15. 75 - Alan Sharpensteen -- Amarillo, TX (1)
16. 5t - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK (20)
17. 88xxx - Clyde Dunn Jr. -- Sunnyville, TX (10)
18. 4m - Bobby Malchus -- Red Oak, TX (22)
19. 15g - Bubba Gates -- Santa Fe, TX (26)
20. 51w - Jeff Wood -- Willis, TX (3)
21. 60 - William Gould -- Calera, OK (18)
22. 85d - Mark Dotson -- Cameron, MO (17)
23. 2w - Paul White -- Temple, TX (19) DNF
24. 5a - Wes Armstrong -- Marshall, TX (9) DNF
25. 12c - Corey Babbitt -- Channelview, TX (11) DNF
26. 71k - Kevin Sustaire -- Emery, TX (24) DNF

Lap Leaders: Sanders 1-18, Brown 19-35.
Total Laps Led: Sanders 18, Brown 17.
AFCO Pole Winner: Sanders.
Provisional Starters: Martin, Sustaire, Dixon (track), Gates (track).
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Hughes (started 14th, finished 3rd).
Next Race: Saturday, May 9, Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, Texas (West Region).
West Region Points: Hughes 511, Sanders 436, Shryock 417, Whiteaker 386, Rowland 381, Hebert 362, Tesch 344, Jones 342, Martin 334, Bagley 326.
Rinehart Texas Shootout Points: Hughes 199, Sanders 199, Brown 187, Rowland 182, Jones 182.
Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year Points: W. Armstrong 163, J. Armstrong 159, Sustaire 132, Schmidt 131, C. Davis 129.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: A.S.I. 76, Mullins 72, Sput’s 45, Young’s 44, BMS 38.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Hughes 83, Skyrocket 83, GRT 68, Ramirez 68, TRE 66.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – Sanders.
American Racer – Martin.
Isky Racing Cams – Brown.
KSE Racing Products – Hughes.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Sustaire.
Nitroquest – Hughes.
Quarter Master – Brown, Hebert.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Whiteaker.
Real Racing Wheels – Martin, Ramirez.

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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, Intercomp, Karl Chevrolet, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, Nitroquest, PBM Performance Products, Sunoco Race Fuels.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: ASi Racewear, Bear Tire, Big Dog Chassis & Fabrication, 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, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat 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.