McCOOL JUNCTION, Neb. -- A large crowd of race fans hungry for their first taste of racing in the Cornhusker State braved chilly temperatures Friday night as the Junction Motor Speedway kicked off their sophomore season with the USMTS Frost Buster.

Kelly Shryock in victory lane after winning Friday night's USMTS Frost Buster feature race at Junction Motor Speedway. (Photo credit: Jason Rief/RacewayPhoto.com)

A stout field of 65 modifieds were on hand for the first-ever visit by the popular United States Modified Touring Series to the high-banked 3/8-mile clay oval. While the field fought to find the fastest way around unfamiliar territory, it was a familiar face that found the finish line first.

By virtue of earning the most passing points during his heat race, Johnny Saathoff of Beatrice sat on the pole for the main event. “The Jet” jumped out to the lead at the drop of Todd Staley's green flag, but his reign was short-lived as he pulled to a stop at the top of turn 4 after leading just two laps.

Defending USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock paced the field for the restart, and that would be as close as any driver would get to the Fertile, Iowa, ace as he kept Mark Noble at bay for the duration of the “A” Feature despite several cautions, including three red flags. The Blooming Prairie, Minn., veteran was able to hang on for second behind Shryock's no. 3 Skyrocket, while Ryan Ruter of Kanawha, Iowa, finished third after a rim-riding exhibition on the high side of the track.

Eventual winner Kelly Shryock (3) passes Johnny Saathoff (96) for the lead during the third lap. (Photo credit: Jason Rief/RacewayPhoto.com)

Shryock pocketed $2,000 for the victory -- his second of the season -- and catapulted the second-generation driver into the top spot of the USMTS National Championship points standings.

Jon Tesch of Watertown, S.D., captured the third Midwest Motorsports “B” Feature, then charged through the field to grab fourth in the “A” Feature, just nipping Tommy Myer of Blooming Prairie, Minn., at the checkers.

During Friday night's main event, both Tony Gregg of Hastings, Neb., and Corey Dripps of Cedar Falls, Iowa, walked away uninjured after destroying their machines in two separate roll-over incidents on the backstretch.

The USMTS Frost Buster finale is set for Saturday night ‘The Junction’ with races scheduled to start at 5 p.m. The pit gate opens at 2 p.m. with hot laps starting at 4:30. Also appearing with the USMTS modifieds will be cruisers and open stock cars.

Saturday's USMTS Modified main event pays $3,000 to the winner.

Admission prices will be $12 for adults, $5 for kids 6-12 years old, with children 5 and under admitted free. Pit fees are $25. Junction Motor Speedway is located just 4.5 miles south of the I-80 York exit on Hwy. 81.

RESULTS

FIRST HARRIS AUTO RACING HEAT: 1. Jay Noteboom, Orange City, Iowa; 2. Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn.; 3. Gary Marsh, Hinton, Iowa; 4. Jon Thompson, Superior, Neb.; 5. Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, Okla.; 6. David Trauernicht, Beatrice, Neb.; 7. Brandon Blochlinger, Concordia, Kan.; 8. Julie McDermid, Fremont, Wis.; 9. Dan DeMay, Denison, Iowa; 10. Doug Holzmeister, Colby, Kan.; 11. Neil Eckhart, Rochester, Minn.

SECOND HARRIS AUTO RACING HEAT: 1. Jeff Stephens, Arion, Iowa; 2. Dean Mahlstadt, Garner, Iowa; 3. Reese Coffee, Hinton, Iowa; 4. John Klynsma, Hospers, Iowa; 5. Joe Kosiski, Omaha, Neb.; 6. Greg Stelse, New London, Wis.; 7. Jarrod Johnston, Condia, Kan.; 8. Steve Burch, Junction City, Kan.; 9. Tony Bayne, North Platte, Neb.; 10. Brian Levander, Grand Island, Neb.; 11. Tim Vogt, Elmwood, Neb.

THIRD HARRIS AUTO RACING HEAT: 1. Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn.; 2. Brad Bakken, Garner, Iowa; 3. Greg Metz, Washington, Kan.; 4. Mike Wedelstadt, Hortonville, Wis.; 5. Jerry Warner, LaVista, Neb.; 6. Roger Hadan, Omaha, Neb.; 7. Chris Heller, Junction City, Kan.; 8. Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D.; 9. Jeff James, Stanton, Iowa; 10. Aaron Wiersma, Brookings, S.D.; 11. Wade Cross, Doniphan, Neb.

FOURTH HARRIS AUTO RACING HEAT: 1. Johnny Saathoff, Beatrice, Neb.; 2. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa; 3. Al Hejna, Ventura, Iowa; 4. Aaron White, Plainview, Neb.; 5. Kurt Johnston, Concordia, Kan.; 6. Eddie Martin, Stillwell, Okla.; 7. Jason Friesen, Sutton, Neb.; 8. Stacey Wilhelm, Martell, Neb.; 9. Jason Logan, Diller, Neb.; 10. Jerry Goebel, Esterville, Iowa; 11. Jordy Nelson, Marysville, Kan.

FIFTH HARRIS AUTO RACING HEAT: 1. Tony Gregg, Hastings, Neb.; 2. Corey Dripps, Cedar Falls, Iowa; 3. Luke Cochran, Omaha, Neb.; 4. Zach VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa; 5. Don Hagan, Culbertson, Neb.; 6. J.P. Karpowicz, Lancaster, Ky.; 7. Robert Shepard, Ogden, Kan.; 8. Rob Goebel, Ogden, Kan.; 9. Dave Vogt, Lincoln, Neb.; 10. Brant Fastnacht, Grand Island, Neb.; 11. Kelly Harmelink, Brookings, S.D.

SIXTH HARRIS AUTO RACING HEAT: 1. Alan Dix, Stockton, Kan.; 2. Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa; 3. Bill Flegg, Omaha, Neb.; 4. Jon Schwartz, Omaha, Neb.; 5. Brian Foote, Essex, Iowa; 6. Jesse Drost, Worthington, Minn.; 7. Terry Hurt, Omaha, Neb.; 8. Brad Morris, Junction City, Kan.; 9. Lyle Shepard, Manhattan, Kan.; 10. Charles Stryker, Eddyville, Neb.

FIRST MIDWEST MOTORSPORTS “B” FEATURE: 1. Thompson; 2. Foote; 3. White; 4. K. Johnston; 5. Martin; 6. D. Vogt; 7. Levander; 8. R. Goebel; 9. Friesen; 10. Warner; 11. Bakken; 12. Blochlinger; 13. VanderBeek; 14. Hurt; 15. Bayne; 16. Fastnacht; 17. T. Vogt; 18. Harmelink.

SECOND MIDWEST MOTORSPORTS “B” FEATURE: 1. Metz; 2. Dripps; 3. Schwartz; 4. Burch; 5. Karpowicz; 6. Klynsma; 7. L. Shepard; 8. James; 9. Hagan; 10. Hadan; 11. Morris; 12. McDermid; 13. Stryker; 14. Trauernicht; 15. Cross; 16. Wiersma; 17. J. Johnston; 18. Lynn Nillson, Nunda, S.D.

THIRD MIDWEST MOTORSPORTS “B” FEATURE: 1. Tesch; 2. Kosiski; 3. Drost; 4. Holtzmeister; 5. Weder; 6. Wedelstadt; 7. Nelson; 8. R. Shepard; 9. J. Goebel; 10. Logan; 11. Flegg; 12. Eckhart; 13. Stelse; 14. Heller; 15. Cochran; 16. DeMay; 17. Eilhelm.

“A” FEATURE: 1. Shryock; 2. Noble; 3. Ruter; 4. Tesch; 5. Myer; 6. Metz; 7. Coffee; 8. Dix; 9. Schwartz; 10. Foote; 11. James; 12. White; 13. Hejna; 14. Karpowicz; 15. Noteboom; 16. March; 17. Mahlstedt; 18. Thompson; 19. Kosiski; 20. Stephens; 21. Martin; 22. Dripps; 23. Drost; 24. Saathoff; 25. Gregg.