Jon Tesch of Watertown, S.D., picked up the O'Reilly USMTS feature win Saturday night at the Hancock County Speedway in Britt, Iowa.

BRITT, Iowa -- A blown engine during his heat race forced Jon Tesch to take a provisional starting spot just to make the main event on Friday night when the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series rolled into the Hancock County Speedway in Britt, Iowa. He powered from his 24th starting spot to finish seventh, earning him the Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger Award.

On Saturday, the Watertown, S.D., pilot picked up another honor -- this time it was the $3,000 top prize for winning the 35-lap Holley "A" Main. Tesch, who also won at Hancock County Speedway when the O’Reilly USMTS visited on April 9, started third in Saturday's main event and took the lead from front-row starter Bruce Hanford of Davenport, Iowa, on the third circuit.

From there, Tesch went uncontested to claim his first O’Reilly USMTS victory of the 2005 season.

In his first O’Reilly USMTS appearance of the season, Scott Drake of Webb City, Mo., took the runner-up spot while defending O’Reilly USMTS champion Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa, raced from 13th to third at the finish. Hanford and Jason Hughes of Colcord, Okla., completed the top-5.

Perennial O’Reilly USMTS power Mark Noble of Blooming Prairie, Minn., had been battling mechanical gremlins through the first five events of the season, but sat on the pole for Saturday's main event. On the first lap, however, Noble's ride rode over the embankment and slipped him to the back of the field. He pulled into the pits 28 laps later with mechanical woes.

The Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger Award went to Storm Lake, Iowa's Brad McEwan, who started 22nd and finished 12th.

With six shows down and 52 more to go, the O’Reilly USMTS teams get less than a week to catch their breath as "America's Premier Modified Series" heads for the fast half-mile oval at the Carricker Ford Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa, for another big doubleheader on Friday and Saturday, April 8-9.

Shryock leads the Modified masters into "Osky" with the points lead as he chases his seventh O’Reilly USMTS crown in nine years. Along with Shryock, a huge field of cars and drivers are expected for this event, including O’Reilly National Drivers Jason Hughes, Corey Dripps, Brad McEwan, Mike Sorensen, Jon Tesch, Tommy Myer, Julie McDermid, Roger Hadan, Zack VanderBeek, Ryan Ruter, Al Hejna, Greg Metz, Mike Wedelstadt, Mark Noble, Dustin Boney, Jeremy Payne, Jason Krohn, Mike Hejna, Dean Mahlstedt, Bruce Hanford, Jake Neal, Lynn Nillson, Steve Wetzstein, Jesse Frericks, Bub Lerette, Brad Bakken, Gary March, Jeff James, Matt Gilbertson, Scott Drake, Bob Timm, Gary Clark, Ray Guss Jr., Mike Chasteen, Tim Vogt, Danny Concelman, Brian Mullen, Willy Kraft, Scott Mullen, David Murray, Dan Daniels, Nate Wasmund, Danny McKeighan, Jordy Nelson, Dan Fetters, Sean Jerovetz, Matt McDermid, Alan Mondus, Joe McBirnie, Neil Eckhart, Mark Dotson, Justin Cooper and Brad Waits.

This weekend's "Greiner Buildings Iowa Spring Classic" will be the seventh and eighth races of the season for the O’Reilly USMTS -- part of 10 events comprising Swing #1 on the 2005 slate. Friday's Holley "A" Main winner will pocket $2,000 while Saturday's winner will take home $3,000.

Hobby Stocks, Stock Cars and B-Mods will also be on the racing card both days (no entry fee - pit pass only). The Hobby Stock winner will earn $200 on Friday and $300 on Saturday. Stock Cars will pay $300 to win on Friday and $400 on Saturday. The B-Mod feature winner will earn $250 on Friday and $350 on Saturday.

Pit gates open at 4 p.m. on Friday with grandstand gates opening at 5 p.m., hot laps at 6:30 and racing to follow at 7 p.m. Grandstand general admission is $12 for adults and $4 for kids. On Saturday, pit gates open at 2:30 p.m., with grandstand gates open at 3:30, hot laps at 5 and racing at 5:30 p.m. Grandstand general admission is $15 for adults and $5 for kids. Pit passes are $25 each day.

A pre-event open practice at the Carricker Ford Southern Iowa Speedway is scheduled for Thursday night from 6-9:30 p.m. Any class is welcome to practice on Thursday night. The cost is $15 per person in the pit area, with free admission to the grandstands.

The Carricker Ford Southern Iowa Speedway is located at the west edge of Oskaloosa on SR 92, then north on I St. (at the fairgrounds).

For more information, contact the USMTS office by calling 515-832-7944 or email Race Director Todd Staley at todd@usmts.com. The O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series is online at www.USMTS.com.

RESULTS

(Top 12 in passing points advance from the Heats to the Holley "A" Main)

FIRST HEAT (10 laps):

1. 12 Jason Hughes, Colcord, Okla.

2. 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn.

3. 17 Jeremy Tibbens, Stanton, Iowa

4. 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa

5. 50 Brad Bakken, Garner, Iowa

6. 71d Dan Hill, Waterville, Minn.

7. 3f Jeff Feaster, Dakota City, Iowa

8. 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa

9. 3L Bub Lerette, Council Bluffs, Iowa

SECOND HEAT (10 laps):

1. 61 Bruce Hanford, Davenport, Iowa

2. 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa

3. 90 Steven L. Wetzstein, W. Concord, Minn.

4. 24 Brad Waits, Zumbrota, Minn.

5. 83 Willy Kraft, Lakefield, Minn.

6. 67 Matt McDermid, Fremont, Wis.

7. 95 Kevin Kollofski, Fairmont, Minn.

8. 5M Gary March, Hinton, Iowa

9. 37j Sean Jerovetz, Little Suamico, Wis.

10. 02 Ed Green, Algona, Iowa

THIRD HEAT (10 laps):

1. 7II Mike Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa

2. 68 Doug Gustafson, Frederick, Wis.

3. 19 Mike Sorensen, Rochester, Minn.

4. X Mike Wedelstadt, Hortonville, Wis.

5. 186 Jeremy Payne, Cave City, Ark.

5. 26 Brad McEwan, Storm Lake, Iowa

6. 4 Roger Hadan, Omaha, Neb.

7. 26f Stan Fetters, Montour, Iowa

8. 29 Greg Metz, Washington, Kan.

9. 10c Justin Cooper, Prescott, Iowa

FOURTH HEAT (10 laps):

1. 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D.

2. 22 Ray Guss Jr., Milan, Ill.

3. 21m Dean Mahlstedt, Garner, Iowa

4. 3d Dan Olson, Braham, Minn.

5. 4g Gary Clark, Walker, Mo.

6. 23 Matt Gilbertson, Montevideo, Minn.

7. 37w Scott Ward, Watertown, S.D.

8. 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa

9. 52 Jesse Frericks, Pine Island, Minn.

FIFTH HEAT (10 laps):

1. 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn.

2. 26p Kevin Pittman, Waterloo, Iowa

3. 72 Brian Mullen, Seymour, Wis.

4. m12 Jason Miller, Osceola, Wis.

5. 1m Julie McDermid, Fremont, Wis.

6. 12n Lynn Nilsson, Nunda, S.D.

7. 9 Brian Edel, Oskaloosa, Iowa

8. 55 Alan Mondus, Lakeville, Minn.

9. 9g Rick Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa

SIXTH HEAT (10 laps):

1. 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanahwa, Iowa

2. 12d Scott Drake, Webb City, Mo.

3. 14j Jake Neal, Omaha, Neb.

4. 72 Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, Minn.

5. 3x Jason Schueller, Dubuque, Iowa

6. 7k Tyler Keyser, Baldwin, Wis.

7. 10h Todd Hanson, Clear Lake, Iowa

8. 10 Jeremy Mills, Garner, Iowa

9. 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn.

FIRST "B" MAIN (15 laps, top 5 advance):

1. 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa

2. 26p Kevin Pittman, Waterloo, Iowa

3. 83 Willy Kraft, Lakefield, Minn.

4. 4 Roger Hadan, Omaha, Neb.

5. 4g Gary Clark, Walker, Mo.

6. 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa

7. 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa

8. 50 Brad Bakken, Garner, Iowa

9. 26f Stan Fetters, Montour, Iowa

10. 10c Justin Cooper, Prescott, Iowa

11. m12 Jason Miller, Osceola, Wis.

12. 186 Jeremy Payne, Cave City, Ark.

13. 95 Kevin Kollofski, Fairmont, Minn. (DNF)

14. 26 Brad McEwan, Storm Lake, Iowa (DNF)

15. 55 Alan Mondus, Lakeville, Minn. (DNF)

16. 3L Bub Lerette, Council Bluffs, Iowa (DNF)

17. 23 Matt Gilbertson, Montevideo, Minn. (DNF)

18. 24 Brad Waits, Zumbrota, Minn. (DNF)

19. 9 Brian Edel, Oskaloosa, Iowa (DNF)

DNS - 50 Jimmy Davis, Medford, Minn.

DNS - 3f Jeff Feaster, Dakota City, Iowa

DNS - 29 Greg Metz, Washington, Kan.

DNS - 9g Rick Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa

SECOND "B" MAIN (15 laps, top 5 advance):

1. 90 Steven L. Wetzstein, W. Concord, Minn.

2. 68 Doug Gustafson, Frederick, Wis.

3. X Mike Wedelstadt, Hortonville, Wis.

4. 19 Mike Sorensen, Rochester, Minn.

5. 5M Gary March, Hinton, Iowa

6. 1m Julie McDermid, Fremont, Wis.

7. 10 Jeremy Mills, Garner, Iowa

8. 3d Dan Olson, Braham, Minn.

9. 67 Matt McDermid, Fremont, Wis.

10. 52 Jesse Frericks, Pine Island, Minn.

11. 14j Jake Neal, Omaha, Neb.

12. 37w Scott Ward, Watertown, S.D.

13. 10h Todd Hanson, Clear Lake, Iowa

14. 02 Ed Green, Algona, Iowa

15. 71d Dan Hill, Waterville, Minn.

16. 12n Lynn Nilsson, Nunda, S.D. (DNF)

17. 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa (DNF)

18. 7k Tyler Keyser, Baldwin, Wis. (DNF)

19. 3x Jason Schueller, Dubuque, Iowa (DNF)

DNS - 72 Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, Minn.

DNS - 37j Sean Jerovetz, Little Suamico, Wis.

DNS - 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn.

HOLLEY "A" MAIN (35 laps):

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, hometown, laps completed and reason out (if any)

1. (3) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D., 35.

2. (5) 12d Scott Drake, Webb City, Mo., 35.

3. (13) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, 35.

4. (2) 61 Bruce Hanford, Davenport, Iowa, 35.

5. (9) 12 Jason Hughes, Colcord, Okla., 35.

6. (7) 22 Ray Guss Jr., Milan, Ill., 35.

7. (10) 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn., 35.

8. (8) 7II Mike Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa, 35.

9. (12) 72 Brian Mullen, Seymour, Wis., 35.

10. (20) 19 Mike Sorensen, Rochester, Minn., 35.

11. (21) 4g Gary Clark, Walker, Mo., 35.

12. (24) 26 Brad McEwan, Storm Lake, Iowa, 35.

13. (25) 7 Al Hejna, Clear lake, Iowa, 35.

14. (6) 21m Dean Mahlstedt, Garner, Iowa, 35.

15. (16) 68 Doug Gustafson, Frederick, Wis., 35.

16. (18) X Mike Wedelstadt, Hortonville, Wis., 35.

17. (26) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, 35.

18. (23) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa, 31, mechanical.

19. (1) 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn., 29, mechanical.

20. (19) 4 Roger Hadan, Omaha, Neb., 29, mechanical.

21. (15) 26p Kevin Pittman, Waterloo, Iowa, 26, mechanical.

22. (22) 5M Gary March, Hinton, Iowa, 25, mechanical.

23. (11) 17 Jeremy Tibbens, Stanton, Iowa, 24.

24. (17) 83 Willy Kraft, Lakefield, Minn., 10, mechanical.

25. (4) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanahwa, Iowa, 8, mechanical.

26. (14) 90 Steven L. Wetzstein, W. Concord, Minn., 4, flat tire.

Lap Leaders: Hanford 1-2, Tesch 3-35.

Provisional Starters: Dripps, McEwan.

Sponsor Provisionals: A. Hejna, VanderBeek.

Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger: McEwan (started 22nd, finished 12th).

O’Reilly National Driver Points (top 10): Shryock 589, Hughes 548, Dripps 527, McEwan 521, Sorensen 504, Tesch 482, Myer 463, J. McDermid 393, Hadan 388, VanderBeek 386.

Next Race: April 8-9, Carricker Ford Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, Iowa.