MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa – One mistake cost Jon Tesch a victory Tuesday night, but an error-free race Wednesday night sent the Watertown, S.D., racer to victory lane as the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour made its long-awaited debut in front of a jam-packed grandstand at the Marshalltown Speedway in Marshalltown, Iowa.

For the second straight night, Tesch started on the outside of the front row and snatched the lead at the drop of the green flag. Tesch led the first 26 of 30 laps Tuesday night before tagging the first turn fence and allowing Jason Hughes to take the lead and eventual win.

Hughes was right there again Wednesday night, but this time Tesch didn't blink and this time he was in front of Hughes as the pair crossed beneath the checkered flags.

Both drivers earned heat race wins earlier in the program, then drew the second and eighth starting spots, respectively, for the 40-lap Sunoco “A” Main at Toby Kruse's quick high-banked quarter-mile at the Central Iowa Fairgrounds.

Polesitter Kelly Shryock got the initial jump on the field as the green flag waved, but a multi-car crash at the exit of turn 4 brought about a complete restart.

As the field roared toward the flagstand to complete the first circuit, Tommy Myer and AFCO Pole Award winner Ryan Dolan made contact which sent Dolan into the wall. Both drivers were along for the ride at that point as their Modifieds collided and spun down the front-stretch, sending the oncoming field scrambling to avoid the melee.

Both Dolan and Myer, as well as Rodney Sanders, retired to the pit area on the hook of a wrecker while Scott Drake also exited the race with a damaged mount. The loss of Myer, Dolan and Drake moved Hughes ahead three spots for the complete restart.

Using the preferred high side of the racing surface, Tesch got the jump with the do-over as he paced Shryock to complete the first lap.

With Tesch pulling away from the field, Hughes moved up to battle Shryock on lap 3. The duel was short-lived, however, as Shryock's right rear tire slipped over the top lip in turn 2 and forced the eight-time USMTS National Champion to lift off the accelerator in order to keep from completely sliding over the embankment. By the time he regained full speed in the next turn, he had fallen to eighth place.

From that point on, it was a repeat of Tuesday's main event with Tesch and Hughes checking out from the competition. This time, however, Tesch never bobbled as he led wire to wire to score the $2,000 top prize and his third USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour of the 2009 season.

Zack VanderBeek finished third after starting 16th and earned the PBM Performance Products Hard Charger Award. Ryan Gustin, who beat VanderBeek in the second Real Racing Wheels "B" Main to earn a spot in the feature race, came from 14th to take fourth while Corey Dripps also advanced ten spots from 15th to fifth.

Shryock recovered from his earlier slip and was up to fourth before dropping two spots in the final lap-and-a-half. Scott Green was seventh, Michael Long eighth, Kenny Wallace came from 20th to ninth and Steve Wetzstein rounded out the top-10 finishers.

Despite a perfectly-prepared racing surface that garnered unanimous praise from the 42 drivers in attendance, just 12 of the 26 starters were able to finish the 40-lapper.

ON TO THE MIGHTY HOWARD COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS ...

Ken Schrader will be making his third straight start tomorrow night (Thursday, May 21) as the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour invades the Cresco Speedway in Cresco, Iowa, for the 5th Annual Cresco Bowl and the first race of 2009 in the tough Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region.

Schrader will be making his 27th career start with the USMTS, where he has six top-5 and twelve top-10 finishes with a career-best of third (twice in 2008).

The rugged road warriors of the USMTS will be led into battle by defending USMTS National Champion Tim Donlinger, who will be making his season debut with the USMTS. Other drivers expected for Thursday's barnburner include defending Cresco Speedway track champion Darrin Walch, Zack VanderBeek, Jason Hughes, eight-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock, Al Hejna, Alan Mondus, Bob Timm, Dereck Ramirez, Steve Wetzstein, Dan Bohr, Tommy Myer, 2007 USMTS National Champion Jason Krohn, Mark Noble, Corey Dripps, Dean Mahlstedt, Mike Sorensen, Brad Waits, Doug Hillson, Bryan Rowland, Ryan Gustin, Jeff Schluetter, Scott Green, Jay Poidinger, Ryan York, Tom Paulson, Joe Wernecke, Nate Wasmund, Josh Reisch, Terry Timmerman, Ron Konkel, Jay Ihrke, Layne Meyer, Jon Tesch, Joel Alberts, Josh Angst, Don Eischens, Andrew Gordon, Pat Graham, Rich Lewerke, Anthony Mann, Craig Scott, Matt Waugh and many others.

Also on tap for the season opener at the Mighty Howard County Fairgrounds will be the first points race of the season for the American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series featuring USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars, USRA Karl Chevrolet B-Mods and USRA Hobby Stocks.

Pit gates will open at the Mighty Howard County Fairgrounds at 4:00, with grandstand gates opening at 5:00. Hot laps begin at 6:30 and the first heat race takes to the track at 7:00.

Fans can pick up $2-off discount coupons on race day at Casey's General Store locations in Cresco, Decorah and New Hampton.

The Cresco Speedway is a 4/10-mile semi-banked clay oval located 0.2 miles north of SR 9 on SW 7th (at the Howard County Fairgrounds). For more information, contact the RL Promotions offices at (515) 832-6000 or visit www.rlpromotions.com online. Race day info is available by calling the track hotline at (563) 547-3400.

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 Casey’s General Stores National Tour (Central States Region)
Inaugural Event
Marshalltown Speedway, Marshalltown, Iowa
Wednesday, May 20, 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. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (3)
2. 7 - Ryan Dolan -- Lisbon, IA (7)
3. 18 - Michael Long -- Quincy, IL (5)
4. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (9)
5. 14j - Jake Neal -- Omaha, NE (8)
6. 00 - J.D. Auringer -- Waterloo, IA (2)
7. 2 - Grant Junghans -- Manhattan, KS (4)
8. 4r - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (6)
9. 42t - Tim Shields -- Kansas City, MO (1)

HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 12d - Scott Drake -- Webb City, MO (2)
2. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (3)
3. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (8)
4. 12h - Mike Hansen -- Alton, IA (9)
5. 8 - Colt Mather -- Webster, IA (1)
6. 26 - Dan Fetters -- Montour, IA (5)
7. 43s - Scott Simatovich -- State Center, IA (7)
8. 12x - Brett Ladehoff -- Marshalltown, IA (4)
9. 40rc - Rodney Clement -- Rhodes, IA (6)

HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 2x - Mike O'Lear -- Marshalltown, IA (2)
2. 9 - Ken Schrader -- Concord, NC (4)
3. 19 - Jimmy Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (1)
4. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (7)
5. 29d - Brad Dierks -- Clarence, IA (3)
6. 35 - Jeff Schluetter -- New Hampton, IA (6)
7. 32s - Rick Speck -- Garwin, IA (8)
8. 61 - Noah Coppess -- Stanwood, IA (5) DNF

HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (3)
2. 19 - Richie Gustin Jr. -- Gilman, IA (2)
3. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (8)
4. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (5)
5. 1k - Pat Graham -- Ames, IA (7)
6. 73 - Brad Moriarty -- Des Moines, IA (4)
7. 13 - Matt Waugh -- Des Moines, IA (6)
8. Z3 - Mike Albertsen -- Audubon, IA (1) DNF

HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (2)
2. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (1)
3. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (4)
4. 90 - Steve Wetzstein -- West Concord, MN (6)
5. 36 - Kenny Wallace -- Concord, NC (8)
6. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (7)
7. 555 - Ryan Ruter -- Kanawha, IA (3)
8. 47 - Josh Truman -- Indianola, IA (5)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 18 - Michael Long -- Quincy, IL (2)
2. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (3)
3. 29d - Brad Dierks -- Clarence, IA (7)
4. 90 - Steve Wetzstein -- West Concord, MN (4)
5. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (1)
6. 14j - Jake Neal -- Omaha, NE (5)
7. 555 - Ryan Ruter -- Kanawha, IA (12)
8. 12x - Brett Ladehoff -- Marshalltown, IA (13)
9. 1k - Pat Graham -- Ames, IA (6)
10. 42t - Tim Shields -- Kansas City, MO (15)
11. Z3 - Mike Albertsen -- Audubon, IA (14)
12. 35 - Jeff Schluetter -- New Hampton, IA (9) DNF
13. 32s - Rick Speck -- Garwin, IA (10) DNF
14. 43s - Scott Simatovich -- State Center, IA (11) DNF
15. 00 - J.D. Auringer -- Waterloo, IA (8) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (2)
2. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (7)
3. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (4)
4. 36 - Kenny Wallace -- Concord, NC (5)
5. 12h - Mike Hansen -- Alton, IA (1)
6. 2 - Grant Junghans -- Manhattan, KS (10)
7. 26 - Dan Fetters -- Montour, IA (8)
8. 73 - Brad Moriarty -- Des Moines, IA (9)
9. 4r - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (12)
10. 47 - Josh Truman -- Indianola, IA (14)
11. 40rc - Rodney Clement -- Rhodes, IA (15)
12. 8 - Colt Mather -- Webster, IA (6) DNF
13. 19 - Jimmy Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (3) DNF
14. 61 - Noah Coppess -- Stanwood, IA (13) DNF
15. 13 - Matt Waugh -- Des Moines, IA (11) DNF

SUNOCO “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (2)
2. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (8)
3. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (16)
4. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (14)
5. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (15)
6. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (1)
7. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (10)
8. 18 - Michael Long -- Quincy, IL (13)
9. 36 - Kenny Wallace -- Concord, NC (20)
10. 90 - Steve Wetzstein -- West Concord, MN (19)
11. 19 - Richie Gustin Jr. -- Gilman, IA (11)
12. 9 - Ken Schrader -- Concord, NC (9)
13. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (21) DNF
14. 14j - Jake Neal -- Omaha, NE (24) DNF
15. 8 - Colt Mather -- Webster, IA (23) DNF
16. 43s - Scott Simatovich -- State Center, IA (26) DNF
17. 2x - Mike O'Lear -- Marshalltown, IA (7) DNF
18. 19 - Jimmy Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (25) DNF
19. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (18) DNF
20. 12h - Mike Hansen -- Alton, IA (22) DNF
21. 29d - Brad Dierks -- Clarence, IA (17) DNF
22. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (5) DNF
23. 12d - Scott Drake -- Webb City, MO (6) DNF
24. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (12) DNF
25. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (4) DNF
26. 7 - Ryan Dolan -- Lisbon, IA (3) DNF

Lap Leader: Tesch 1-40.
Total Laps Led: Tesch 40.
AFCO Pole Winner: Dolan.
Provisional Starters: Mather, Neal, J. Gustin (track), Simatovich (track).
Ruter Farms Long Tow: Ramirez (645.85 miles).
PBM Performance Products Hard Charger: VanderBeek (started 16th, finished 3rd).
Next Race: Thursday, May 21, Cresco Speedway, Cresco, Iowa (Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region).
Central States Region Points: Hughes 204, Tesch 202, VanderBeek 195, Ryan Gustin 188, Dripps 160, Long 158, Shryock 154, Hejna 141, Mahlstedt 139, Mather 138.
DandyLand Farms Rookie of the Year Points: Tate Cole 124, Shields 109, Junghans 87, Brian Bolin 75, Mather 75.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Sput’s 82, Mullins 80, a.s.i. 64, Homegrown 39, AEM 37.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Hughes 88, Skyrocket 80, Ramirez 76, TRE 55, GRT 53.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – Dolan.
American Racer – Long.
Isky Racing Cams – Hughes.
KSE Racing Products – Hughes.
PBM Performance Products – VanderBeek.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Dolan.
Nitroquest – VanderBeek.
Out-Pace Racing Products – Richie Gustin Jr.
Quarter Master – Tesch, Long.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Green.
Real Racing Wheels – Neal, Junghans.
Ruter Farms – 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.