Mother Nature was determined to wipe out Tuesday's triumphant return of the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour to the Hancock County Speedway, but promoters John Pletcher and Darlene Weber were even more determined to make the 3rd Annual Ruter Farms Iowa Spring Challenge a reality. …

Southern Speedweek wrapped up Saturday at Fast Trax Speedway in Chatham, La., with the fifth different winner emerging during the five-day, five-track stretch. From the pole position, Johnny Bone Jr. of Pea Ridge, Ark., led every lap and picked up his first O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series victory in his 21st start. …

According to news reports, more than half of Parkersburg - a town of 1,900 people - was destroyed, including several hundred homes, the city hall and high school. The path of the tornado that churned through Parkersburg and several other communities was up to a mile wide. …

Jason Hughes garnered his fifth O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series win of the season Friday night with a victory at the Monticello Speedway in Monticello, Ark. The veteran from Westville, Okla., hustled past polesitter Jack Sullivan to lead the third lap, then paced the remaining 27 circuits to pocket the $2,000 top prize and his first Southern Speedweek checkered flag. …

Duke Whiseant of Texarkana, Ark., became the second first-time winner in as many nights as he captured the 40-lap Holley "A" Main for the O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series Thursday at the Ark-La-Tex Speedway in Vivian, La. …

News and notes from Southern Speedweek provided by Bill Kitchen of Hooks RPM. …

Jack Sullivan used home field advantage Wednesday night to chalk up his career-first USMTS victory at the I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark. Sullivan grabbed the lead on lap 2 of the O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series 40-lap main event and never looked back. …

Veteran racer and perennial fan favorite Mark Noble unveiled the new look for his USMTS Modified this week. As one of five drivers which comprise the Casey's Crew, Noble's machine which will carry sponsorship from Miller Lite and Casey's General Stores for 10-12 events this season as he competes with the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour. …

He's been close many times, and really close a couple of times this season, but Eddie Martin finally found his way back to the winner's circle Tuesday night as the O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series kicked off Southern Speedweek at the Tri-State Speedway in Pocola, Okla. …

After opening the 2008 season with five straight weekends of racing in April and May, the O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series return to action this week with five shows over five nights during Southern Speedweek, June 3-7. …