COLUMBUS, NE (May 25, 2000) — The last night of the three-race Nebraska swing for the USMTS Modifieds was scheduled for the U.S. 30 Speedway in Columbus. A strong field of 47 cars were on hand for the racing action. There was rain all around the area, but the rain didn’t hurt the racing action as there was three- and four-wide racing action all over the race track. Luke Cochran of Omaha jumped out to the early lead from the AFCO pole, but was short-lived as Mark Noble of Blooming Prairie, Minn., took the spot away early in the race. Noble seemed to have things in control when Johnny Saathoff went by Noble on the outside of turns three and four and looked as if he would win another. Saathoff had his sights on the checkered flag with Noble right on the bumper of the Jet Mod running in the middle of the track. Mike Chasteen took his MasterSbilt car right on the bottom of the track and drove right by Noble with three laps to go and set his sights on spoiling Saathoff's night. With two laps to go, Chasteen stuck his car right to the bottom of the speedway and took the lead on lap 38 and held on for the win. For the win, Chasteen took home the $2,000 payday and also spoiled the $1,000 bonus that "The Jet" was going to receive from Gerdes Racing. All in all, the racing action was very intense each and every night and three more new winners were added to the list of already new winners for the 2000 season. So far in the 2000 season, The USMTS has had five new winners in the series and already a total of over 200 different cars race the series. Kelly Shryock still holds onto the series points lead as Chad Lyle holds onto the Midwest Motorsports rookie lead. Kevin Peters leads the Home Pride Companies Passing Points and Corey Dripps leads the Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger standings. The USMTS is averaging 51 cars per race so far in the 2000 season. The next race for the USMTS will be June 8 at the Butler County Speedway in Allison, Iowa. This race will be a qualifier for the Mr. Midwest race that is held at the Drivers Dream Race in Des Moines, Iowa, on Labor Day Weekend. The winner of the race at Allison will be qualified for this race that pays the winner $5,000. This will also be the first race for the USMTS Stock Cars and Hobby Stocks. These classes will pay $600 and $300 to win. The USMTS is also working on two more races in Nebraska for July and these races will be held at Deshler and Columbus. For more info, call Todd Staley at (515) 832-6321. RESULTS HEAT 1 - Larry Clawson, Mike Spaulding. Darrick Klima, John VanDenBerg, John Anderson. HEAT 2 - Mark Noble, Tim Donlinger, Chad Lyle, Mike Sorensen, Marvin Fuller. HEAT 3 - Johnny Bone, Luke Cochran, Dan Daniels, Klint Pursley, Darin Thye. HEAT 4 - Dan Chapman, Mike Chasteen, Garold Russell, Bruce Hanford, Mike Gaver. HEAT 5 - Ron Jones, Johnny Sasthoff, David Murray, Rich Smith, Kevin Peters. B-MAIN 1 - Tim Donlinger, Dan Daniels, Rich Smith, Kelly Shryock, Mike Sorensen. B-MAIN 2 - John VanDenBerg, John Anderson, Darrick Klima, Darin Thye, Marvin Fuller. A-MAIN - Mike Chasteen, Johnny Saathoff, Mark Noble, Ron Jones, Tim Donlinger, Luke Cochran, Rich Smith, Dan Chapman, Johnny Bone, Chad Lyle, John VanDenBerg, Garold Russell, Corey Dripps, Mike Sorensen, John Anderson, Dan Daniels, Darin Thye, Kelly Shryock, Darrick Klima, David Murray, Marvin Fuller, Mike Spaulding, Jeremy Mills, Larry Clawson.