POCOLA, Okla. – For the seventh time this season, Jason Hughes of Westville, Okla., found himself in victory lane in a USMTS Southern Series event — this time in the USMTS Southern Speedweek opener presented by Schoenfeld Headers on Tuesday night at the Tri-State Speedway in Pocola, Okla.

Hughes has been at the top of his game every race night in 2009, and at the top of the rankings in most categories as well.

Tuesday night at the 3/8-mile high-banked dirt oval located just a few feet from the Arkansas-Oklahoma border, Hughes was dominant from the time the mud started flying until the dust had settled following a wire-to-wire win in the 30-lap Sunoco "A" Main.

After claiming his fourth AFCO Pole Award of the season, Hughes drew the outside front row starting spot for the main event for the third time this year and won from the spot for the third time.

Johnny Bone Jr. closed the gap on Hughes in the final laps of Tuesday's nightcap, but had to settle for the runner-up paycheck ahead of polesitter William Gould.

Garrett Durrett finished fourth and USMTS Southern Series East Region points leader Jack Sullivan rounded out the top-5. Sixth through tenth, respectively, went to Chris Henigan, Rodney Sanders, Johnny Scott, Shane Hebert and Kelly Shryock.

The KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award went to Steve Holzkamper, who started 17th and finished 11th in the feature race.

Sullivan's solid top-5 keeps him atop the East Region standings with a 27-point cushion over Holzkamper (509 to 482). Bone is third with 479 points, followed by Hughes (472), Sanders (463), Shryock (443), Steven Whiteaker Jr. (442), Morgan Bagley (423), Dereck Ramirez (403) and Henigan (391).

Fifty-four drivers representing eight different States signed in to do battle Tuesday night in the first of six straight nights comprising the 3rd Annual USMTS Southern Speedweek.

Tuesday's show was also the debut of WatchModsLive.com, which broadcasted nearly six hours of live real-time video footage from the event. All remaining USMTS Southern Series events will also be broadcast live on the World Wide Web. To learn more or to sign-up to watch all the action from the comfort of your own living room, check out www.WatchModsLive.com on the World Wide Web.

The Fast Shafts Challenge bonus money carries over to Wednesday night'e event at the I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark., and will now be worth $200 if the winning driver is utilizing a nine-inch Ford rearend. If the award is not won, Thursday's prize will grow to $300 and so on, with a possible $600 bonus at Sunday's USMTS Southern Spedweek finale. To learn more about Fast Shafts, call toll-free 800-622-6617 or visit www.fastshafts.com online.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10 … I-30 SPEEDWAY, LITTLE ROCK, ARK.

On Wednesday, June 10, the stars and cars of the USMTS Southern Series invade the action-packed I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark., for the second affair of the week. Johnny Bone Jr. pocketed the $5,000 top prize back in March during the 10th Annual Topless Modified Nationals at the Clay family's famous facility, and the Pea Ridge, Ark., resident looks to add another $2,000 to his take home pay from the quick quarter-mile bullring this season.

Jack Sullivan captured last year's USMTS Southern Speedweek event at his home track as he hopes to continue his momentum toward the USMTS Southern Series title on familiar ground.

Local aces such as Jeremy Kuykendall, David Baser, Mike Sellers, Randy Weaver, Robert Baker, Scooter Scruggs, Jayson Hefley, Chad Mallett, Emmett Lawson, Chris Carter and others to cheer on to take home the top prize.

Race fans will get an added bonus and drivers get an added challenge as NASCAR fan favorite and television personality Kenny Wallace. “The Hermanator” will join the action on the track and will also be available to sign autographs for the fans at the I-30 Speedway.

Pit gates open at 4:00, grandstands open at 5:00, hot laps are at 7:00 and the mud starts flying at 7:30. Joining the racing card Wednesday night will be local Super Stocks and Mini-Sprints.

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 Exit 126 (County Line Rd.), then south to frontage road, then
east (SSR). For day-of-race information, call 501-455-4567 or check out the track's website at www.i-30speedway.com.

Thursday, June 11, will find the tireless touring titans at the Ark-La-Tex Speedway in Vivian, La. Fast Trax Speedway in Chatham, La., is the site of event #4 on the USMTS Southern Speedweek schedule Friday. The Drew County Speedway in Monticello, Ark., plays host to round 5 on Saturday, with the six-race swing wrapping up on Sunday, June 14, at the Boothill Speedway in Greenwood, La.

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)
3rd Annual USMTS Southern Speedweek presented by Schoenfeld Headers - Event #1 of 6
Tri-State Speedway, Pocola, Okla.
Tuesday, June 9, 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 Sunoco “A” Main, with the top 8 re-drawing for starting positions 1-8.

ISKY RACING CAMS HEAT RACE #1 (10 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (4)
2. 10k - Kyle Schmidt -- Farmington, AR (2)
3. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (5)
4. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (8)
5. 02x - B.J. Robinson -- Shreveport, LA (6)
6. 7x - Chris Dawson -- Post, TX (9)
7. 15w - Lee Walchli -- Lavaca, AR (3)
8. 12h - Jeff Huckaby -- Texarkana, TX (7)
9. 74 - Robert Janes -- Siloam Springs, AR (1) DNF

BRODIX HEAT RACE #2 (10 laps):
1. 12b - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR (1)
2. 05 - Michael Robertson -- Minden, LA (2)
3. F9 - Eric Beshoner -- Pocola, OK (6)
4. 8j - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (4)
5. 21b - Larry Campbell -- Van Buren, AR (9)
6. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. -- Corpus Christi, TX
7. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (5)
8. 31 - Ray Peacock -- Alma, AR (7)
9. B29 - Tammy Mitchell -- Pea Ridge, AR (3)

AWESOME RACEWEAR HEAT RACE #3 (10 laps):
1. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (1)
2. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (2)
3. 1b - Brandon Wilson -- Fort Smith, AR (3)
4. 5r - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (4)
5. 88 - Chad Wheeler -- Muskogee, OK (7)
6. 117 - Jason Teague -- Tahlequah, OK (5)
7. 12t - Tyler Townsend -- Longview, TX (8)
8. 5t - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK (6)
9. 21f - Kyle Sweeney -- Purcell, OK (9)

INTERCOMP HEAT RACE #4 (10 laps):
1. 05x - Garrett Durrett -- Simsboro, LA (4)
2. 18 - Jack Sullivan -- Greenbrier, AR (3)
3. 21 - Jarrod Havens -- Muskogee, OK (6)
4. 5a - Wes Armstrong -- Marshall, TX (7)
5. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (8)
6. 4r - Jared Russell -- Muskogee, OK (2) DNF
7. 21 - David Winslett -- Bossier City, LA (5) DNF
8. 7$ - Tim Weaver -- Westville, OK (1) DNF

AMERICAN RACER HEAT RACE #5 (10 laps):
1. 60 - William Gould -- Calera, OK (2)
2. 16 - Chris Henigan -- Marshall, TX (6)
3. 4 - Ronnie Barbee -- Siloam Springs, AR (3)
4. 89x - Tate Cole -- Muskogee, OK (8)
5. 24b - Larry Bratti -- Springdale, AR (4)
6. 91 - Joe Duvall -- Chelsea, OK (7)
7. 22h - J.P. Hassett -- Fort Smith, AR (1)
8. 2 - Jerry Standifer -- Howe, OK (5) DNF

KEVKO OIL PANS & COMPONENTS HEAT RACE #6 (10 laps):
1. 9 - Shane Hebert -- Lafayette, LA (1)
2. 1st - Johnny Scott -- Las Cruces, NM (3)
3. 24t - Glenn Bratti -- Springdale, AR (5)
4. 36 - Kenny Wallace -- Concord, NC (7)
5. 4m - Bobby Malchus -- Red Oak, TX (8)
6. 5j - John Schwab -- Liberal, KS (2)
7. 52 - Chad Davis -- Tulsa, OK (4)
8. 42 - James Longpine -- Drummond, OK (6)
9. 57 - Jason Armstrong -- Marshall, TX (9) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (2)
2. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (1)
3. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. -- Corpus Christi, TX (7)
4. 36 - Kenny Wallace -- Concord, NC (3)
5. 21b - Larry Campbell -- Van Buren, AR (4)
6. 8j - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (5)
7. 02x - B.J. Robinson -- Shreveport, LA (6)
8. 2 - Jerry Standifer -- Howe, OK (12)
9. 22h - J.P. Hassett -- Fort Smith, AR (10)
10. B29 - Tammy Mitchell -- Pea Ridge, AR (13)
11. 31 - Ray Peacock -- Alma, AR (11)
12. 15w - Lee Walchli -- Lavaca, AR (9)
13. 4r - Jared Russell -- Muskogee, OK (8) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (1)
2. 89x - Tate Cole -- Muskogee, OK (2)
3. 7x - Chris Dawson -- Post, TX (6)
4. 91 - Joe Duvall -- Chelsea, OK (7)
5. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (4)
6. 5t - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK (11)
7. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (9)
8. 42 - James Longpine -- Drummond, OK (12)
9. 1b - Brandon Wilson -- Fort Smith, AR (3)
10. 52 - Chad Davis -- Tulsa, OK (10)
11. 5j - John Schwab -- Liberal, KS (8)
12. 5r - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (5) DNF
13. 21f - Kyle Sweeney -- Purcell, OK (13) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #3 (12 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 24t - Glenn Bratti -- Springdale, AR (1)
2. 4m - Bobby Malchus -- Red Oak, TX (4)
3. 88 - Chad Wheeler -- Muskogee, OK (5)
4. 5a - Wes Armstrong -- Marshall, TX (2)
5. 117 - Jason Teague -- Tahlequah, OK (7)
6. 12h - Jeff Huckaby -- Texarkana, TX (10)
7. 24b - Larry Bratti -- Springdale, AR (6)
8. 21 - David Winslett -- Bossier City, LA (9)
9. 12t - Tyler Townsend -- Longview, TX (8)
10. 74 - Robert Janes -- Siloam Springs, AR (12)
11. 7$ - Tim Weaver -- Westville, OK (11)
12. 4 - Ronnie Barbee -- Siloam Springs, AR (3) DNS
13. 57 - Jason Armstrong -- Marshall, TX (13) DNS

SUNOCO “A” MAIN (30 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (2)
2. 12b - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR (3)
3. 60 - William Gould -- Calera, OK (1)
4. 05x - Garrett Durrett -- Simsboro, LA (6)
5. 18 - Jack Sullivan -- Greenbrier, AR (7)
6. 16 - Chris Henigan -- Marshall, TX (4)
7. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (8)
8. 1st - Johnny Scott -- Las Cruces, NM (9)
9. 9 - Shane Hebert -- Lafayette, LA (5)
10. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (15)
11. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (17)
12. 89x - Tate Cole -- Muskogee, OK (18)
13. 24t - Glenn Bratti -- Springdale, AR (16)
14. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. -- Corpus Christi, TX (20)
15. 05 - Michael Robertson -- Minden, LA (13)
16. 5r - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (23)
17. 88 - Chad Wheeler -- Muskogee, OK (22)
18. 36 - Kenny Wallace -- Concord, NC (27)
19. 02x - B.J. Robinson -- Shreveport, LA (24)
20. 10k - Kyle Schmidt -- Farmington, AR (12)
21. 22h - J.P. Hassett -- Fort Smith, AR (26)
22. F9 - Eric Beshoner -- Pocola, OK (10) -1 Lap
23. 1b - Brandon Wilson -- Fort Smith, AR (25) -1 Lap
24. 4m - Bobby Malchus -- Red Oak, TX (19) DNF
25. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (14) DNF
26. 7x - Chris Dawson -- Post, TX (21) DNF
27. 21 - Jarrod Havens -- Muskogee, OK (11) DNF

Lap Leader: Hughes 1-30.
Total Laps Led: Hughes 30.
AFCO Pole Winner: Hughes.
Provisional Starters: Bagley, Robinson, Wilson (track), Hassett (track), Wallace (promoter).
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Holzkamper (started 17th, finished 11th).
Next Race: Wednesday, June 10, I-30 Speedway, Little Rock, Ark. (East Region).
East Region Points: Sullivan 509, Holzkamper 482, Bone 479, Hughes 472, Sanders 463, Shryock 443, Whiteaker 442, Bagley 423, Ramirez 403, Henigan 391.
Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year Points: W. Armstrong 204, J. Armstrong 189, Kevin Sustaire 180, Schmidt 171, Davis 159.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 102, a.s.i. 95, Sput’s 66, Young’s 58, BMS 51.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Hughes 113, Skyrocket 106, Ramirez 87, TRE 83, GRT 76.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – Hughes.
American Racer – Hyde.
Fast Shafts – not awarded.
Isky Racing Cams – Hughes.
KSE Racing Products – Holzkamper.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Havens.
Nitroquest – Gould.
Quarter Master – Hughes, Scott.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Sanders.
Real Racing Wheels – Hyde, Timms, Huckaby.

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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, Fast Shafts, 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.