ELDON, Mo. – With a jam-packed grandstand looking on, Mike Harrison scored one for the locals Saturday night as he scored a decisive victory as the mud-slinging Modifieds of the United States Modified Touring Series made their debut at the Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Mo.

Current Bear Tire Mo-Kan Region points leader Jason Hughes of Westville, Okla., drew the pole position for the 35-lap Sunoco "A" Main and jumped in front to lead the first dozen laps at Kevin and Tammy Gundaker's state-of-the-art 3/8-mile oval.

While Hughes had his sixth USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour win in his crosshairs, Harrison had other plans.

With Hughes and much of the 24-car field running the low side of the track, Harrison took to the high side of the racing surface from his eighth row starting spot and began picking off competitors lap by lap.

As Hughes and his #12 Hughes Chassis streaked beneath the flagstand to lead lap 12, Harrison powered around the outside of the leader in the next turn and took the top spot away.

That was as close and anybody would get to Harrison after that as the Highland, Ill., pilot led the final 23 orbits to score his career-first Sunoco "A" Main against the 'Best of the Best.'

Third-running Terry Phillips attempted a last-lap pass of Hughes, but instead dropped the show spot to eight-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock while Jon Tesch completed the top-5 at the finish line.

Phillips, who started 20th, earned his second PBM Performance Products Hard Charger Award of the season with his passing of 14 drivers — one better than Harrison's winning run.

Sixth through tenth, respectively, went to Curt Rackers, Bryan Rowland, Rodney Sanders, Friday night winner Zack VanderBeek and 2007 USMTS Rookie of the Year Scott Green.

With 10 races in the books in the Bear Tire Mo-Kan Region, Hughes leads the points battle with a 14-point cushion over Shryock (813 to 799). Sanders is third with 779 markers, followed by VanderBeek (761), Dustin Boney (711), Dereck Ramirez (703), Rowland (687), Johnny Bone Jr. (684), Green (662) and Tesch (648).

The throttle-mashing touring titans of the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour are back in action on Monday, June 1, with the 3rd Annual Duel in Des Moines presented by Karl Chevrolet at the Iowa State Fair Speedway.

Monday's Central States Region tilt will be the first of six events at six racetracks in six nights to kick off the sixth month of the year, and race fans can look forward to seeing NASCAR superstar Kenny Wallace in action and signing autographs.

Also on the racing card will be USRA/IMCA Stock Cars ($300 to win, can also run Webster City and Fort Dodge carburetor), USRA/IMCA Hobby Stocks ($300 to win), USRA/IMCA B-Mods ($300 to win) and Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks ($350 to win).

The pit gates open at 4:00 and the grandstand gates open at 5:00. Hot laps will begin at 6:15 and the first heat race takes to the track at 7:00.

Race fans can pick up $2-off coupons on race day at the Casey's General Stores locations in Ankeny, Des Moines and Pleasant Hill.

The Iowa State Fair Speedway is a half-mile semi-banked clay oval located on the east side of Des Moines at 30th St. and University Ave. For more information, call 515-201-JJAM or check out www.jjamracing.net 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.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour (Bear Tire Mo-Kan Region)
Inaugural Event presented by Advantage Metals
Lake Ozark Speedway, Eldon, Mo.
Saturday, May 30, 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. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (5)
2. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (3)
3. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (2)
4. 2j - Jason Russell -- Henley, MO (4)
5. 24h - Mike Harrison -- Highland, IL (8)
6. 18 - Michael Long -- Quincy, IL (9)
7. 12h - Mike Hansen -- Alton, IA (6)
8. 2 - Grant Junghans -- Manhattan, KS (1)
9. L75 - Eddie Whitney -- Sturgeon, MO (7)

BRODIX HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (1)
2. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (7)
3. 17 - Earl Roark -- Henley, MO (8)
4. 11 - Dane Gundaker -- Bridgeton, MO (5)
5. 78 - Danny Crane -- Columbia, MO (3)
6. 9j - Darrell Jones -- Ashland, MO (6)
7. 75 - Terry Phillips -- Springfield, MO (4) DNF
8. 53 - Ronnie Woods -- Mexico, MO (2) DNF
9. 22 - Darrel Moser -- New Haven, MO (9) DNF

AWESOME RACEWEAR HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 74 - Howard Hall -- Columbia, MO (1)
2. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (4)
3. 25 - Scott Roberts -- Columbia, MO (6)
4. 5 - Dustin Vandeloecht -- Steedman, MO (3)
5. 7L - Steve Long -- Warrenton, MO (8)
6. 22 - Curt Rackers -- Holts Summit, MO (2) DNF
7. 31 - Steve Cain -- Columbia, MO (5) DNF
8. 5 - Larry Winn -- Hallsville, MO (7) DNF

INTERCOMP HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (2)
2. 22 - Dustin Boney -- Tonganoxie, KS (5)
3. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (1)
4. 6 - Rowland Blythe -- Ashland, MO (4)
5. 11p - Curt Potter -- Boonville, MO (8)
6. 0028 - Richard Kimberling -- Slater, MO (3)
7. 2h - Mike Hoover -- Mexico, MO (6)
8. 15 - Richard Payne -- Jefferson City, MO (7)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 4 advance):
1. 2j - Jason Russell -- Henley, MO (3)
2. 6 - Rowland Blythe -- Ashland, MO (4)
3. 22 - Curt Rackers -- Holts Summit, MO (6)
4. 11 - Dane Gundaker -- Bridgeton, MO (1)
5. 2 - Grant Junghans -- Manhattan, KS (9)
6. 5 - Larry Winn -- Hallsville, MO (10)
7. 78 - Danny Crane -- Columbia, MO (5)
8. L75 - Eddie Whitney -- Sturgeon, MO (11)
9. 12h - Mike Hansen -- Alton, IA (7) DNF
10. 31 - Steve Cain -- Columbia, MO (8) DNF
11. 7L - Steve Long -- Warrenton, MO (2) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 4 advance):
1. 18 - Michael Long -- Quincy, IL (4)
2. 24h - Mike Harrison -- Highland, IL (1)
3. 11p - Curt Potter -- Boonville, MO (2)
4. 75 - Terry Phillips -- Springfield, MO (7)
5. 15 - Richard Payne -- Jefferson City, MO (10)
6. 9j - Darrell Jones -- Ashland, MO (5)
7. 0028 - Richard Kimberling -- Slater, MO (6)
8. 5 - Dustin Vandeloecht -- Steedman, MO (3)
9. 2h - Mike Hoover -- Mexico, MO (8)
10. 53 - Ronnie Woods -- Mexico, MO (9) DNS
11. 22 - Darrel Moser -- New Haven, MO (11) DNS

SUNOCO “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. 24h - Mike Harrison -- Highland, IL (16)
2. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (1)
3. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (5)
4. 75 - Terry Phillips -- Springfield, MO (20)
5. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (6)
6. 22 - Curt Rackers -- Holts Summit, MO (17)
7. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (12)
8. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (11)
9. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (4)
10. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (9)
11. 11p - Curt Potter -- Boonville, MO (18)
12. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (3)
13. 17 - Earl Roark -- Henley, MO (8)
14. 2 - Grant Junghans -- Manhattan, KS (21)
15. 11 - Dane Gundaker -- Bridgeton, MO (19)
16. 74 - Howard Hall -- Columbia, MO (2)
17. 15 - Richard Payne -- Jefferson City, MO (22)
18. 78 - Danny Crane -- Columbia, MO (23) DNF
19. 6 - Rowland Blythe -- Ashland, MO (15) DNF
20. 31 - Steve Cain -- Columbia, MO (24) DNF
21. 2j - Jason Russell -- Henley, MO (13) DNF
22. 22 - Dustin Boney -- Tonganoxie, KS (7) DNF
23. 25 - Scott Roberts -- Columbia, MO (10) DNF
24. 18 - Michael Long -- Quincy, IL (14) DNF

Lap Leaders: Hughes 1-12, Harrison 13-35.
Total Laps Led: Harrison 23, Hughes 12.
AFCO Pole Winner: VanderBeek.
Provisional Starters: Payne, Junghans, Crane (track), Cain (track).
Ruter Farms Long Tow: Tesch (619.47 miles).
PBM Performance Products Hard Charger: Phillips (started 20th, finished 4th).
Next Race: Monday, June 1, Iowa State Fair Speedway, Des Moines, Iowa (Central States Region).
Bear Tire Mo-Kan Region Points: Hughes 813, Shryock 799, Sanders 779, VanderBeek 761, Boney 711, Ramirez 703, Rowland 687, Johnny Bone Jr. 684, Green 662, Tesch 648.
DandyLand Farms Rookie of the Year Points: Junghans 183, Hansen 134, Tate Cole 124, Tim Shields 109, Rich Lewerke 90.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Sput’s 146, Mullins 134, a.s.i. 119, Hatfield 49, AEM 48.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Hughes 148, Skyrocket 145, Ramirez 133, GRT 71, TRE 67.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – VanderBeek.
American Racer – S. Long.
Isky Racing Cams – VanderBeek.
KSE Racing Products – Roark
PBM Performance Products – Phillips.
Marsh Racing Wheels – M. Long.
Nitroquest – Shryock.
Out-Pace Racing Products – Potter.
Quarter Master – Harrison, Sanders.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Rowland.
Real Racing Wheels – Winn, Jones.
Ruter Farms – Tesch.

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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.